Have dial-up (I know, I know...) please help me upgrade-BUDGET

[Shadeaux]

Please note that if you do go the satellite route, check up on the Fair Access Policy. Satellite companies price their plans on the amount of information you download. Basic packages have only 200MB in downloads in a 24 hour period. If you surpass that, you get restricted for 24 hours. You can 'use' the service; however, the transmission is SLOWER than dial up. We pay 69.99 per month for the 325MB download package (Hughesnet). They give you unrestricted access (doesn't count towards your daily usage) from 2-7 am (eastern) everyday...that's when they request you do your large downloads.

Are you happy with Hughesnet? We live in an area where satellite is our only option if we want broadband internet. I'm SO sick of being stuck on dial up, but I've heard nothing but bad things about satellite internet.

 

[QT Pooh]

Are you happy with Hughesnet? We live in an area where satellite is our only option if we want broadband internet. I'm SO sick of being stuck on dial up, but I've heard nothing but bad things about satellite internet.

I have to say - we had tried satellite internet when we first moved here in 2001. It required a telephone line and worked sporadically. We gave it up within a few months. We tried it again starting 2 years ago. The technology has come VERY far. We have been happy with it...although not thrilled with the Fair Access Policy restriction. I have two teenagers so I really have to monitor the downloads. Other than that, our satellite internet doesn't go down very frequently - it has been more consistent than when we had AOL over dial-up. Sometimes when there are heavy clouds, like right before a bad thunderstorm, the service will get slow. But...we live in NH so it doesn't happen that often. Installation and equipment (the dish and modem) can be almost $400 - but they often run promotions and also offer you to lease the equipment. When you sign up, you have to sign up with a 24 month contract.

We're in the same position that you are - we either have to have satellite or our only other option is dial up...there's no cable wired on our street, we don't get cell reception and we're not within 3 miles of the telco's central office - so no DSL for us.

 

[Shadeaux]

We're in the same position that you are - we either have to have satellite or our only other option is dial up...there's no cable wired on our street, we don't get cell reception and we're not within 3 miles of the telco's central office - so no DSL for us.

Thanks for your input. If you hadn't said you lived in NH, I'd have asked if you were one of my neighbors. LOL, same exact situation here. I told my husband it's as if we're living in the middle of the desert (and they probably have more high speed options than we do!)

We get heavy rain & storms down here quite often so I'm afraid we'd lose internet way too often. We have Directv which goes out a lot more than it should, but that might be due to having a 9 yr. old dish. I know the technology has improved vastly in recent years which is why we'll be getting a new one soon. One of the biggest reasons we've hesitated getting Hughesnet is the 2 year commitment. With my luck, as soon as we signed up, every other broadband option will become available out here.

 

[disneybound31]

Maybe BellSouth might be the way to go then for you (and your budget!). Granted, it's not as fast as what Comcast might offer, but I am sure at this point anything would be a big improvement over dial-up .

So I am on my account page at Bellsouth and it says that at my address I can only get Dial Internet Service- says up to 5 times faster than standard dial up. At my address DSL is not available...? It would add $22.95 to my bill if I hook up this Dial Internet Service and says I can get the CD shipped to my house and register when it comes? Doesn't this sound exactly like crappy netzero dial up with a cd like I already have? Opinions, anyone? I'm so confused about what to do now.

 

[tcmsu]

I know you have expressed your dislike of comcast, but compared to your other limited options, I would really suggest seeing what they offer.
Chances are they would offer you an introductory promotion of like 19.95 for six months, and then about $45 a month after that. Much better
than dial up, including the special super dialup (which is still dialup....).

We have the most basic comcast TV package, and comcast internet. This is not a promotional bundle or anything, just the best price we can
get for both services without committing to 12months or more.

Good luck, hope it works out for you.

 

[pixiewings71]

I just REALLY don't want to go thru my cable comp...it is Comcast and as the only cable provider available in this area they have a monopoly on us and mess up our cable at least twice a year and have to re-route our underground wires- i just fought for two weeks to get someone out after they cut our line instead of our moving neighbors and I DO NOT want to have it messed up again.

So is there no way to get a wireless router (?) and get faster internet that way? What am I missing here? I know alot about some things, but computer hook-up is not one of them- lol. All our friends say 'Comcast bundle package, Bellsouth bundle pkg, or other bundle' but I just don't want that. That Verizon FIOS aounds interesting, but we do not have a Verizon cell account- does that matter? Actually, our son has a Verizon phone that occasionally we put minutes on when he travels..that count?

Thanks for all the help, guys. I am trying to understand the lingo and get with the program and you are helping alot!

ETA: we NEVER use our home phone- people only call our cells so we really don't want to keep the home phone unless that is our only option to get faster internet and I don't want to pay over $50 phone bill/internet combined...possible? I keep getting put on hold when I call Bellsouth...

Ok I understand you've said you hate Comcast BUT, we have it and it's not a problem. We just went down last Friday and cancelled our home phone and extended cable, we now have basic cable and high speed internet and we will pay about $50 a month so you may want to go with it. I understand you are getting some free upgraded cable but you may want to check into it, they offered us a $99 a month deal that was home phone, extended cable and high speed internet and that would have been good for 12 months with NO contract.

 

[eatatmidnight]

One of my good friends has a plan with AT & T. They have no other services in their home with AT&T. They have a "data line" It is affordable and very reliable. You may want to check into that.

 

[blondietink]

I also live in an area where the ONLY options are dial-up or satellite. We have had Highesnet for about 4 years and haven't had any problems. Other people are correct in the download category. You must download large items between 2 am and 7 am or you will get your service slowed for 24 hours if you go over their download threshold during the other times of day. we would sswitch to phone or cable high speed if it was available here but that probably won't happen for another 100 years.

 

[disneybound31]

Ok I understand you've said you hate Comcast BUT, we have it and it's not a problem. We just went down last Friday and cancelled our home phone and extended cable, we now have basic cable and high speed internet and we will pay about $50 a month so you may want to go with it. I understand you are getting some free upgraded cable but you may want to check into it, they offered us a $99 a month deal that was home phone, extended cable and high speed internet and that would have been good for 12 months with NO contract.

okay, this does sound do-able. do you mind me asking where you live? ballpark, I mean? we are in east tn and it seems that anytime we ask we hear "not available in your area". I would be willing to do $50 a month with no contract for the internet and basic cable. We have enjoyed the extended cable for the past 2 months, but are in no way 'addicted' enough to it to pay for it or cry when it leaves us. At this point they put no time limit on our freebie cable so it could be one more month or one more day or one more year for all I know...I hate for it to get cut off earlier than they intended by messing with our plan, but nothing is worth this slow internet anymore. So, just to be clear- your internet runs thru your cable and not a phone line and it runs fast enough for your needs?

 

[BCV2003]

okay, this does sound do-able. do you mind me asking where you live? ballpark, I mean? we are in east tn and it seems that anytime we ask we hear "not available in your area". I would be willing to do $50 a month with no contract for the internet and basic cable. We have enjoyed the extended cable for the past 2 months, but are in no way 'addicted' enough to it to pay for it or cry when it leaves us. At this point they put no time limit on our freebie cable so it could be one more month or one more day or one more year for all I know...I hate for it to get cut off earlier than they intended by messing with our plan, but nothing is worth this slow internet anymore. So, just to be clear- your internet runs thru your cable and not a phone line and it runs fast enough for your needs?

This is the same service that I have for $37/month. Runs through cable and not through a phone line. I have the lower speed internet access and it works fine for my needs. In my area it is the most reliable service.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not only will they cut off that perk as soon as I start messing with our service I am convinced they will mess the WHOLE thing up and I cannot deal with them right now.

Um, well, that shouldn't mess it up. The people (person?) who cut your cable aren't nearly the same person (people?) who set up the free service for you. And neither are the same ones who would arrange for your high speed internet.

I hate COmcast so badly and wish we had another choice (other than DirecTV or Sat) and I refuse to add and pay for another service from them knowing I will sit on hold day after day begging them to come back out and re-hook it up properly

If anybody in your house is technically-minded, ask about doing it yourself. No waiting for someone to come back to rehook anything up properly when you do it yourself, AND you don't pay anyone to hook it up in the first place!

So, just to be clear- your internet runs thru your cable and not a phone line

Correct (yeah, I know I'm not the person you were asking, but I can't sleep ).

We have enjoyed the extended cable for the past 2 months, but are in no way 'addicted' enough to it to pay for it or cry when it leaves us. At this point they put no time limit on our freebie cable so it could be one more month or one more day or one more year for all I know...I hate for it to get cut off earlier than they intended by messing with our plan

I know for a while, they were advertising something like, "if we can't solve a simple problem in one service call, we give you a free (something)" and that was for a month - I forget the exact wording. Your problem doesn't sound simple!!!! Call and just ask. Don't say ANYTHING about the internet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You just want to ask a question about your bill, or your service, or whatever. Ask how long you're getting those stations free, you need to know the exact date it ends. Find out if it ends automatically or if you have to cancel it, because you don't want to suddenly start being billed!

Then, if you want, ask questions about the internet service. Or call back some other time.

 

[pixiewings71]

okay, this does sound do-able. do you mind me asking where you live? ballpark, I mean? we are in east tn and it seems that anytime we ask we hear "not available in your area". I would be willing to do $50 a month with no contract for the internet and basic cable. We have enjoyed the extended cable for the past 2 months, but are in no way 'addicted' enough to it to pay for it or cry when it leaves us. At this point they put no time limit on our freebie cable so it could be one more month or one more day or one more year for all I know...I hate for it to get cut off earlier than they intended by messing with our plan, but nothing is worth this slow internet anymore. So, just to be clear- your internet runs thru your cable and not a phone line and it runs fast enough for your needs?

yes, our internet runs through our cable and it's great, I can watch TV on my laptop with no problems. I live in Nor Cal, I'm halfway between Sacramento and San Francisco.

 

[disneybound31]

OP here- I called COmcast and they offered me Performance Internet service at $19.99 for 6 months and then it jumps to $42.95 per month after that. The offer can be seen on comcast.com, but then under that offer there is Economy Internet available for $24.95 per month and I'm wondering which one I actually need? From what I can decipher the first one is fancier. faster and obviously more expensive...can some of you comp techs loko at the lingo and numbers for me and advise which one is better for me?

I don't need it for gaming at all, but it would be nice for videos and research material to load quickly- I know my kids have needed educational video to laod before and it just times out. Very frustrating. I appreciate all the help- I really do.

ETA- I just looked into this a bit more...so I need to lease a modem or router or something for an additional $5 or $10 a month AND have to pay an additional $49.95 professional installation fee??? See, this is why I have crappy $10 netzero dial-up. It does say I can pay $10 and self-install it...how in the world do I do that?!? Plus with fees and taxes that they will not disclose beforehand I am sure it will come well above the $19.99 or $42.95 price in the end...thanks for letting me vent.

 

[kaytieeldr]

One: Comcast has a 30 day money back guarantee. I know this will apply to the $19.99, I don't know if it would apply if you later switched to the slower speed after the six months is up.

Two: Their high speed - the $19.99 - superfast compared to dial-up. I went from AOL to Comcast and while I don't download a lot, just being able to connect to websites without having time to cook (and sometimes eat) dinner while I wait is amazing but the speed isn't really important to me, either. The economy speed is about equal to DSL: a lot faster than dial-up, a lot slower than high-speed.

Three: you don't HAVE to lease their modem. You can go out and buy your own. Pro - no monthly fee. Con - if it breaks down, you have to replace it yourself; if theirs breaks down, they replace it. Four: do you know anybody who can install it for you? My understanding is, it's easy. They send you a disc and instructions. Five: I could be wrong (REALLY wrong) but I'm in Massachusetts, and hold on, my Comcast bill just came today... yeah, we're one of the most tax-happy states in the country, but NO TAX on the internet portion!

 

[disneybound31]

One: Comcast has a 30 day money back guarantee. I know this will apply to the $19.99, I don't know if it would apply if you later switched to the slower speed after the six months is up.

Two: Their high speed - the $19.99 - superfast compared to dial-up. I went from AOL to Comcast and while I don't download a lot, just being able to connect to websites without having time to cook (and sometimes eat) dinner while I wait is amazing but the speed isn't really important to me, either. The economy speed is about equal to DSL: a lot faster than dial-up, a lot slower than high-speed.

Three: you don't HAVE to lease their modem. You can go out and buy your own. Pro - no monthly fee. Con - if it breaks down, you have to replace it yourself; if theirs breaks down, they replace it. Four: do you know anybody who can install it for you? My understanding is, it's easy. They send you a disc and instructions. Five: I could be wrong (REALLY wrong) but I'm in Massachusetts, and hold on, my Comcast bill just came today... yeah, we're one of the most tax-happy states in the country, but NO TAX on the internet portion!

I'm so excited to hear from somebody who can remember what real dial-up is like!!! Sometimes I can start a new load of laundry, dry and fold it by the time my Regions internet banking site has loaded! That is just ridiculous! And forget ever seeing the cute baby pics my friends send via email and facebook takes so long just to log me one that I only get on there once a month to make sure no one posted any scary old pics of me...Soooooo ready for a change.

How much might a modem cost me and how in the world do I figure out which one to get? The website does say hey would send along a do-it-yourself CD-Rom for just $10 compared to a guy I will have to wait all day on for $50.

And, btw, it took over two minutes for this 'reply with quote' page to load

 

[kaytieeldr]

Do you have a Best Buy or Radio Shack near you? You DON'T want or need an expensive modem. Just something basic for high speed internet connection, but a nice sales person should understand that and NOT try to oversell or upsell you. Mine is from Comcast, so I can't tell you how much you should expect to pay.

eta: this took about three seconds to appear

 

[disneybound31]

Do you have a Best Buy or Radio Shack near you? You DON'T want or need an expensive modem. Just something basic for high speed internet connection, but a nice sales person should understand that and NOT try to oversell or upsell you. Mine is from Comcast, so I can't tell you how much you should expect to pay.

eta: this took about three seconds to appear

Lol. Too funny. Another 1.5 minutes for me--yours sounds super awesome. I can try the Radio Shack route maybe tomorrow, but I may jsut go with Comcast AND have the people come out for the huge fee...I just don't trust myself and I have known this has been coming for a long time and rode my frugal-ness train as far as could go. I recognize we are now at the end of our dial-up journey and I am relenting to the 'real' world.