Internet/phone provider-- options?

My phone/internet bill came today-- just under $90.

Measuring 2.12 Mbps down and .34 Mbps up per Speakeasy speed test.

I stopped answering my home phone and disconnected the machine 1-2 years ago (it was only solicitors), but I need the line occasionally to send out faxes. I also like to think it would be good to have as a backup to my cell phone, although since switching to Verizon there hasn't been a single incident where this would have been necessary.

Seems like I should be able to get this unspectacular level of service for less than $90 . . .

Anyways, do I have any options besides Comcast? I've looked into them and the introductory deals are not bad but when they expire I'm back in the same boat. Plus I had continual interruptions with their service before switching to ATT DSL.

Thanks for any info/clarifying questions/links. I'm near SW (60608).

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Permalink Reply by Laura on January 17, 2011 at 6:23am

I have clear and do not like it. We have to reset the modem often and sometimes streaming movies pause. However it has been better in the past 2 weeks then the months previous.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 17, 2011 at 6:23am

There is no installation with Clear, you plug it in and have internet.

Mine is next to a brick wall away from windows and I have no issues. One day I will buy a longer cable and move it near the windows to see if it improves but I am lazy,

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 17, 2011 at 8:08am

I had Comcast previously and found them horrible.

Can any of you Clear folks take a minute and let me know what kind of speed you're getting?

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Dug, sorry, I should have been clearer-- what do you have to pay upfront for Home internet?

I saw some comments in the Yelp reviews about buying vs. renting the modem, and a common theme was that those refunded got majorly dinged on equipment.

(edit-- the site I found before must have been from one of their resellers-- I see the modem costs $85 or $5/mo. Will have to look some more later to see what I'm out if I discover that it barely works at my location.)

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on January 17, 2011 at 4:27pm

Kristian,

Who is your internet provider?

Kristian M Zoerhoff said:

You're getting hosed here; my long distance and local toll are through Total Call International. No monthly fee, so if I don't call long distance, I pay $0.00, and it's < 4 cents/minute when I do use it. My internet is something just under $40, and I got a consumer's choice package with Caller ID/call waiting for around $20.

H3N3 said:

I think there's something like a $6 long distance package so when I fax to over 8 miles it doesn't kill me.

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Permalink Reply by Robot Gabe on January 17, 2011 at 4:33pm

I come across a discussion like this every year when I look at switching to something else. There doesn't seem to be a perfect solution. I currently have ATT express service with a land line. I think I pay a total of $35 for the 385kbps-1.5kpbs. This speed was never a problem but now that I have iphones, apple tv, and stream Netflix I need to upgrade my speed.

I was thinking of upgrading to a higher speed with one of the No-Land Line options.

I have never had any problems with ATT internet in regards to service. The biggest inconvenience I've had is restarting the router once every six months. Otherwise all good.