How much are you paying?

[E.T.]

Im looking for best deal on fast internet connection.
What are you paying for DSL, broadband/cable etc?
Got any experiences on what to/not get?

[Aku]

I'm looking too. It's not just about what's fastest, it's about what's the best service. SBC Yahoo has the current best best deal, at $30 a month. However, on my nighborhood discussion forums, several people say they don't like it. Also, depending on where you live, your actual connection speed might not be what the advertised speed is. I was thinking of doing Earthlink DSL, because I have two phone lines in the house now, and I could go to DSL and save $20 a month getting rid of one phone line, while paying $25 more a month for the DSL (after their introductory rate expires).

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">I'm looking too. It's not just about what's fastest, it's about what's the best service. SBC Yahoo has the current best best deal, at $30 a month. However, on my nighborhood discussion forums, several people say they don't like it. Also, depending on where you live, your actual connection speed might not be what the advertised speed is. I was thinking of doing Earthlink DSL, because I have two phone lines in the house now, and I could go to DSL and save $20 a month getting rid of one phone line, while paying $25 more a month for the DSL (after their introductory rate expires).</div>

Im using similar rational regarding DSL as an upgrade over what I have now. What makes it a little harder for me is I received one year free AOL service w/new system [though its poor service, deserving of its criticism]. But hey, free is free.....

Didnt know about the "-" on SBC Yahoo....

Can you imagine turning a three [3] hour download into a 10 minute dowload??? Think of all those demos out there!

[Renzatic Gear]

Due to a clerical error I've been getting my 60 buck 3.5mb down 768kb up cable connection free for the past 7 months.

I ordered digital cable one day and the contractor didn't come out to install it, so I cancelled it. Next bill shows up and has the digital on it, but is missing the broadband charge. I give em a call to tell em about the error...next month, no digital cable OR broadband charge. I've called em a few more times after that to tell em about the mistake (I'm honest) and they never did anything about it. So now I'm not gonna worry about it, just enjoy it.

It doesn't surprise me one bit that it happened though, I used to work for em and I know how stupid they can be.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Due to a clerical error I've been getting my 60 buck 3.5mb down 768kb up cable connection free for the past 7 months.

I ordered digital cable one day and the contractor didn't come out to install it, so I cancelled it. Next bill shows up and has the digital on it, but is missing the broadband charge. I give em a call to tell em about the error...next month, no digital cable OR broadband charge. I've called em a few more times after that to tell em about the mistake (I'm honest) and they never did anything about it. So now I'm not gonna worry about it, just enjoy it.</div>

So..where do I sign up for such a deal?? LOL!

[Renzatic Gear]

You have 2 choices. Hope your local cable and/or telco is stupid...or blackmail. Either will work for you, though the stupidity route is a bit more legal.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">You have 2 choices. Hope your local cable and/or telco is stupid...or blackmail. Either will work for you, though the stupidity route is a bit more legal.</div>

This could potentially be a dangerous situation.
Stupid Companies have been known to blame customers for their own bookeeping flaws.
Our Utility Company practices "stupidity" & wins [almost]
A utility customer accepts [as we all do] the monthly bill sent to them.
Customer pays bill faithfully, on time for three years.
Utility Company suddenly presents customer w/$3200 bill "adjustment", claiming the customer had been undercharged for last three years!
[oddly, utility company keeps monthly rate the same]
A local newscast investigated & found this customer was not alone. Seems Utility Co. has practiced this "fast & loose" billing for some time.
As a result, shocked customer gets a reduction in $3200 bill [50%].
Stupid Utility Co. gives public appearance of fairness, but fails to bill customers actual amount used.

If it sounds to good to be true..........

Im gonna check out what Yahoo! cable has to offer for $30 mo., see if I can dig up some customer feedback on service etc.

[Renzatic Gear]

That scenario is a bit different than what I'd be facing. See, for the first 4 months I'd call them up to tell them about the error, they'd say that they would go ahead and fix it and my next bill would be business as usual...only to see that I was still getting free broadband when the next month rolled around.

So I talked to my friend who works at the telco and he said that basically I was absolved of all responsibility since I told them of the error. If they were to catch me using it during an audit all they could do is shut down my service. I lucked out in alot of ways.

Anyway, if you wanna read up on broadband services check out DSLreports.com.

[E.T.]

I did find this:
http://ispfinder.com/

Provides services listed by area codes.

[Renzatic Gear]

Oh yeah, another good word of advice: buy your modem if they don't offer you one for free. You might pay more up front, but in the long run it won't be as expensive as shelling out $7 a month for the rental.

[OahuSilverado]

Im looking for best deal on fast internet connection.
What are you paying for DSL, broadband/cable etc?
Got any experiences on what to/not get?

Yeah, I pay thirty-something for my Verizon DSL residential!

[Static_Fred]

I pay $30 for residential Cable. It's faster than what my DSL provider offers, but its totally unreliable!!! My best friend and i usually play online games from 10PM to 2AM a few times a week and we always complain about the damn connection problems! He actually got fed up enougth to switch to DSL recently, but because it was considerably slower, he switched back to cable (LOL). It's a no-win situation where i live... I can have reliable slower DSL, or semi-unreliable fast cable for the same price... decisions decisions.... HMMM

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">I pay $30 for residential Cable. It's faster than what my DSL provider offers, but its totally unreliable!!! My best friend and i usually play online games from 10PM to 2AM a few times a week and we always complain about the damn connection problems! He actually got fed up enougth to switch to DSL recently, but because it was considerably slower, he switched back to cable (LOL). It's a no-win situation where i live... I can have reliable slower DSL, or semi-unreliable fast cable for the same price... decisions decisions.... HMMM</div>

Hmmm, I'd almost go with the slower, more reliable connection. There's plenty of tweaks you can do to cut corners to make your games run quicker and make the experience smoother (lowering your rez and textures to free up CPU cycles to transmit to the internet, and using weapons that spray over wide areas as opposed to snipers rifles). Having a great MP experience get cut short by a dropped connection is never fun at all...