Eliminating Comcast from my HT & life

[jc480]

I really dislike Comcast. They're ever-changing bills, gotcha pricing policies and unexpected price increases have worn me out. I feel like I have to watch them every month to make sure I'm not getting ripped off.

I am opting to climb off the hamster wheel.

I have installed a Channel Master 4228HD antenna in my attic. I've ordered a pre-amp and a new 8-way splitter (I have 8 TVs in my house...yes). As an aside, the picture quality off this digital antenna is MUCH superior to the Comcast picture. I have an older CRT that the HD channels (using a box) make it look like a new TV.

My problem is that I have them for internet. I really don't want a dial-up. Comcast charges $24.95 for their basic internet....$39.95 if you aren't a video subscriber...which I'm not.

Alternatives
AT&T U-Verse - You must be a video subscriber to get their internet - same problem as Comcast
AT&T DSL - Not available in my neighborhood
Verizon FIOS - Not available in my neighborhood
Satellite internet - Seems to be about $60/month for slow speeds and limited bandwidth
T-1 line - partials start out at over $150/month (too expensive)
Sprint MobileBroadband - $60/month with limited bandwidth and overage charges

The only thing that I can even think of is ISDN. Guess I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing, if anyone uses ISDN and if anyone else is wrestling with this. My target cost for internet access is $20 or less per month.

[davhas]

I am pretty sure that you do not have to keep cable to get their internet. The last place I lived in Comca$t had put a video filter on the cable so that only internet would make it to the condo. Luckily the house I bought had FIOs available so I too was able to give them the heave ho. I think though you should push them, I am not sure it is even legal any more for them to force you to subscribe to a service you dont need to recieve an unrelated service.

reading wiki it looks like you can get u-verse internet only. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-Verse

an older version of that wiki (google cache):

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&gl=us

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by jc480

I really dislike Comcast. They're ever-changing bills, gotcha pricing policies and unexpected price increases have worn me out. I feel like I have to watch them every month to make sure I'm not getting ripped off.

I am opting to climb off the hamster wheel.

I have installed a Channel Master 4228HD antenna in my attic. I've ordered a pre-amp and a new 8-way splitter (I have 8 TVs in my house...yes). As an aside, the picture quality off this digital antenna is MUCH superior to the Comcast picture. I have an older CRT that the HD channels (using a box) make it look like a new TV.

My problem is that I have them for internet. I really don't want a dial-up. Comcast charges $24.95 for their basic internet....$39.95 if you aren't a video subscriber...which I'm not.

Alternatives
AT&T U-Verse - You must be a video subscriber to get their internet - same problem as Comcast
AT&T DSL - Not available in my neighborhood
Verizon FIOS - Not available in my neighborhood
Satellite internet - Seems to be about $60/month for slow speeds and limited bandwidth
T-1 line - partials start out at over $150/month (too expensive)
Sprint MobileBroadband - $60/month with limited bandwidth and overage charges

The only thing that I can even think of is ISDN. Guess I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing, if anyone uses ISDN and if anyone else is wrestling with this. My target cost for internet access is $20 or less per month.

I just left Comcast for satellite for my video, but had to keep Comcast for Internet for the same reasons you have.

If they are charging you $25-40, then you are getting a good deal. I'm paying about $60 something for the 16Mbps service.

[Aerodude73]

I have had them for almost 2 years I think, and their HD channels are top-notch IMO. Usually the cust. service is pretty good once you filter thru a couple people to find the Right person with a working brain.

If they're avail. in your area, give em' a call, see if their prices work & Good Luck!

(I have COX for my Internet & they're alright for what they do I guess)

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

I just left Comcast for satellite for my video, but had to keep Comcast for Internet for the same reasons you have.

If they are charging you $25-40, then you are getting a good deal. I'm paying about $60 something for the 16Mbps service.

I did and am doing this exact same thing now. Left Comcast for DirecTv due to their pricing and policies and had to keep their internet as there is no other option around us (believe it or not, but it's either Comcast or dial up!) and it is costing me $63 a month for just internet...

[DonRSD]

well where i live (coral springs, fl) we dont get Comcast

the city leases its cable lines to a local company 'advanced communications'

they want $65/mo for internet PLUS $10 for modem rental ($75 total).....screw them

i have directv with every station known to man, 3 hddvr boxes - 1 reg dvr box (6 year old sons room), and my internet from at&t (6meg) with a basic phone line with NO features (i mostly use my cell anyway) and i pay like $175/mo for everything from directv/att

comcast sucks......in my previous house we had 3 hddvr boxes & 1 reg hd box and every channel PLUS 8meg internet and the bill was $240/mo

not to mind you that comcast hd selection sucks.

best thing i ever did was go to directv.....though i liked the cable over dsl for internet, i could care less. as long as my wife can surf the web & i can play games online with no lag is all i care about

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by DonRSD

comcast sucks......in my previous house we had 3 hddvr boxes & 1 reg hd box and every channel PLUS 8meg internet and the bill was $240/mo

not to mind you that comcast hd selection sucks.

I totally agree. Plus Comcast compressing the hec out of their signal so much so that what they call HD compared to DirecTv is basically glorified SD!

[jc480]

Most of you guys are opting for the high-end internet service. I just want the cheapest available (that is better than dialup of course).

I do not believe for a second that you actually achieve 16MBps. There are so many bottlenecks to bandwidth...the servers you connect to, the hubs, your internal electronics on your computer.

I think people are paying premiums for these speeds that just don't exist.

But that's another debate. Feds should have took a portion of that stimulus money and built freaking radio towers all over the country so the populace can have free (albeit slower) internet access. Or at least the infrastructure to lease it to private enterprise who can sell internet to rural people at a decent price.

[jc480]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

I totally agree. Plus Comcast compressing the hec out of their signal so much so that what they call HD compared to DirecTv is basically glorified SD!

My passive antenna signal HD quality is superior to the Comcast HD signal quality by a factor of at least 2 to 3. Really angry that I've paid for a subscription all these years for an inferior picture to what is available over-the-air for free.

[DonRSD]

Originally Posted by jc480

My passive antenna signal HD quality is superior to the Comcast HD signal quality by a factor of at least 2 to 3. Really angry that I've paid for a subscription all these years for an inferior picture to what is available over-the-air for free.

go to directv. better quality & free installation.

with NO internet you get every channel with your hr21 directv dvr for like 115/mo with tax
you cant beat it man!!!
then get att dsl, like a 3 meg connection for 34.99/mo and youre set

youre pissing in the wind paying comcast all that money for poor service

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by DonRSD

go to directv. better quality & free installation.

with NO internet you get every channel with your hr21 directv dvr for like 115/mo with tax
you cant beat it man!!!
then get att dsl, like a 3 meg connection for 34.99/mo and youre set

youre pissing in the wind paying comcast all that money for poor service

This is good advice, especially DirecTv. If I could pay less for even slower internet (not dial-up though) I would. Where I live I have no freakin' choice. I like what DonRSD said above. Hopefully that will fall within your price range and you'll get more for your money too!

[jc480]

I don't want to pay anything for television.

I receive like 20-25 OTA channels in H.D. For the monthly fee of a service, I can order around 8 or so moderately priced BDs per month. I'd much rather do that than order Satellite. My family watches crap like Dancing with the stars, american idol etc...most of the movies on HBO/Cinemax/etc I don't want to watch anyway.

And I'll live w/o ESPN. I like it, but I'm done paying for subscription TV feeds.

Anyway, this is about an alternative ISP to Comcast : )

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by jc480

I don't want to pay anything for television.

I receive like 20-25 OTA channels in H.D. For the monthly fee of a service, I can order around 8 or so moderately priced BDs per month. I'd much rather do that than order Satellite. My family watches crap like Dancing with the stars, american idol etc...most of the movies on HBO/Cinemax/etc I don't want to watch anyway.

And I'll live w/o ESPN. I like it, but I'm done paying for subscription TV feeds.

Just a quick question, but are you still going to be able to get those signals when the Digital switch occurs on June12th? I really don't know much about OTA's and the service they can provide to be honest.

[mtbkr]

comcast does offer different speed tiers for their internet service at lower cost. is clearwire available in your area? did you have a tech come out and disconnect your tv service like we chatted about in your previous thread?

[jc480]

forsberg: I have an antenna mounted in my attic that will receive television station signals, including HD. In my home, I have a converter box (the ones that the gov't was giving away the $40 coupons for) that I feed the signal into...from there it goes into an old CRT TV (until my Pioneer comes) that looks STUNNING. In my gallery is a picture kinda like my setup. Once I get the inclination, I'll go up and take some shots of my attic system. I have a pre-amp and a 8-way RF splitter I have to install. The old splitter amp seems to be for cable as when I powered it on it kills the antenna signal.

mtbkr: I have called comcast and they are sending a technician out to install the loop that blocks the signal...they will be adding a $24.95 fee to my bill for this (which is the icing on the cake).

I have already disconnected the comcast coax from my home television coax system and re-routed the comcast coax to the one portion of my home where my wireless router is. I do appreciate your suggestions and input. I know some great people work at Comcast. I just don't like doing business with them anymore.

[mtbkr]

no problem. i work for them so i get all my internet cable and phone for free. i have nothing to complain about. i hear your story about 100 times a day, so i have been through this more times than i can remember. the advice i am giving you is from a fellow ht lover not as a cable employee. by installing a "loop" do you mean a filter that blocks you catv? they are just charging you for the downgrade trip? any wireless alternatives in your area for internet? or if you are really lucky you can sneek into a neighbors wireless router"unsecured networks". i see this happen on a daily basis also.

[bongzilla]

I hear you dude, just yesterday I rounded up my HD tv box, and cable
modem and took back to TWC and told them I can live without any
of that anymore, will save me $100.00 a month. I can live with just internet at work for now on.

[mtbkr]

no love for comcast in these parts. i have become so used to getting all my services for free and i get all the coax, cat5, component, hdmi, and all the tools to work on this stuff for free. i guess that i have been to spoiled for to long. sorry for rubbing it in. i have just forgotten what its like to be a cable CUSTOMER.

[chasswen]

what about plain old dsl 768kb?

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by jc480

I don't want to pay anything for television.

I receive like 20-25 OTA channels in H.D. For the monthly fee of a service, I can order around 8 or so moderately priced BDs per month. I'd much rather do that than order Satellite. My family watches crap like Dancing with the stars, american idol etc...most of the movies on HBO/Cinemax/etc I don't want to watch anyway.

And I'll live w/o ESPN. I like it, but I'm done paying for subscription TV feeds.

Anyway, this is about an alternative ISP to Comcast : )

This will sound like a PS3 fanboy thing, but it's really not. If you get a PS3, coupled with the PlayOn media server, or if you use a PC media server, you can use supplement your over-the-air programming with on-demand type programming from Netflix, Hulu, or direct from network sites. It's really cool, and it's all done without the charges from Comcast, DirectTv, Dish, etc. I use my PS3 for this, and get full-screen streaming almost instantly. Just adding a DVR or Tivo would have all the bases covered.