Goodbye Comcast, Hello Direct TV

[Irritech]

I just couldn't take the terrible customer no service and my HBO-on-Demand only working half the time anymore. I have Direct Tv going in today and DSL modem is on the way. I know it won't be quite as fast as Road Runner, but the saleslady says they are going to 6.0 soon and then it will be faster. Plus, and this is big, I'm saving close to $70/ month. Unreal! More money for cigars, or uhh, diapers. Screw Comcast!! :glassesgr

 

[tedski]

Good move. I had cable long ago and then switched to satellite (Dish) in 1994 and have not looked back. I sampled Comcast over the last few years when they moved into our area with their "Free 30 day trial" ... but they still did not measure up in either quality or usability.

 

[tuffy]

I don't blame you for switching from comcrap. For years I forced myself to stay with them because of their internet speeds compared to DSL. And to save $10 a month on my internet, I subscribed to their tv package, which sucks for the price (half of the channels were analog and looked like crap). I got tired of outages, bad customer service, and paying outrageous prices.

I have always had Directv, but would suspend my account from January to August. From September to December I would sub to the cheapest package, but sign up for NFL Sunday Ticket.

Last fall I did the math and bit the bullet. I canceled all of my comcast services and signed up with Directv and Qwest for dsl. Technically the DSL is much slower, but for browsing, I don't notice a difference at all. The only time I notice a difference is when I am downloading a file. I don't download often and they usually aren't very large files, so I can deal with the slower speeds. I am now getting my internet, TV, and phone service for the same price I was paying for tv and internet with comcast. I am saving about $50 a month.

The only bad part about Directv is they charge you $5 for every additional receiver you need. We have 5 receiver activated right now and I have two more TV's that could use them, but it's not worth paying an extra $10 a month for two tv's that don't get much use.

 

[Irritech]

This sucks!! Turns out I live in about the worst possible location I could for my neighborhood. There's no way for me to get local channels because of tree interferance. I called 1800 Directv and a guy seemed surprised the installer never mentioned an off air antenna for local. He gave me the service # and the lady I spoke with was awesome. She obviously couldn't come right out and tell me the antenna sucks, but she gave me enough of a hint for me to get the picture. Someone not just worried about a sale, makes me that much more upset I can't use them.

Technically the DSL is much slower, but for browsing, I don't notice a difference at all. The only time I notice a difference is when I am downloading a file. I don't download often and they usually aren't very large files, so I can deal with the slower speeds.

Now this scares me because I do download large files. Movie files in fact so this may be a problem for me. UGGHHHHH!! What a friggin monopoly cable has on this area! :angryteet

 

[cvm4]

Good luck, Comcast just rearranged all the channels here so I have no clue where anything is.

 

[Headbanger]

Same boat, I am with Comcast now as they bought out another company. If Verizon would get fiber-optics or cable, I will get DirecTV and go with Verizon as my ISP. Sick and tired of the cable companies raising the rates every single year for average services.

 

[tuffy]

Now this scares me because I do download large files. Movie files in fact so this may be a problem for me. UGGHHHHH!! What a friggin monopoly cable has on this area! :angryteet

Keep in mind that the fastest speed available to me from Qwest is 1.5 Mbps/896 Kbps. My upload speeds are more than double what comcast offered, but about 4 times as slow as the download speeds.

Your DSL might be faster then what I can get here. I know people who live closer to the CO (within 10,000 feet I think) can get upto 6 Mbps.

As for the local channel problem, do you have HDTV? Are you going to get an HD DVR? I personally like OTA (antenna) local channels in HD more than the MPEG4 compressed channels that DTV offers in HD.

 

[TexaSmoke]

You can't have Roadrunner by itself where you live?

That's strange to me b/c I can get RR by itself where I live. Plus that saving is crazy, when I compared cable and satellite last year there was virtually no difference in price. I would have definitely switich with that type of savings.

 

[derek]

I just left Dish network and DSL(AT&T) after 2 yeas. Going back to Comcast, gets installed on the 11th. I had Comcast for years and I regret ever leaving.

My satellite was always having problems, snow, rain, thunderstorm etc. My DSL, I pay for 1.5M bps but only get around 700 kbps. When I asked why they said "cause I'm to far from a switch station". So why charge me for what I cannot have?

I noticed the difference in the speed when I switched an thought I could live with it, no way 6 mbps is nice and speed boost. Plus for work I need a more speed when connecting to the work service to do what I need to.

For the past 6 months I have been having problems with my home phone (part of the bundle) and the customer service has been horrible. They get the phone fixed, but killed my DSL was down 3 weeks till they realized they deactivated my account. Got some geniuses working there.

Then my bill comes in 2 weeks ago, I opened and screamed, $163.51, the month before 127.39. I went crazy. I call them and ask why. They said service rates have gone up in my area, plus I lost my bundle pricing. I said I lost that a year ago tho. They said well since AT&T has taken us over thing are now changing. They are sorry, but thats how it is.

I'm now bundling Digital On demand(plus a DVR), Digital Voice and Cable internet for 100.00 a month. Only tax on the cable, not on the internet or voice service. Nice for now. After the year is up I will worry about it then.

I have a friend who works for AT&T and another for Comcast. The guy from AT&T says Comcast services are much better. I have been able to see some non-public information about customers in CT. The AT&T customers have been leaving rapidly since AT&T has taken complete owner ship of SBC.

Oh I did have to pay an extra $4.95 a month for the speed channel.

 

[tuffy]

Then my bill comes in 2 weeks ago, I opened and screamed, $163.51, the month before 127.39. I went crazy. I call them and ask why. They said service rates have gone up in my area, plus I lost my bundle pricing. I said I lost that a year ago tho. They said well since AT&T has taken us over thing are now changing. They are sorry, but thats how it is.

That's screwed up! I am holding out for a muni-fiber project that is being installed in my area. I have another year or two to go until I can get 15 Mbps symmetrical for $40 a month.

 

[derek]

I asked when I would be able to get a quicker DSL package, they said there is no future plans to improve it in my area. However, they would let me know when a beta version of AT&T's cable is out and I can try that. I was like wtf does that got to do with DSL or is it they choose to work on their own cable and say screw the DSL for now.

 

[Irritech]

I asked when I would be able to get a quicker DSL package, they said there is no future plans to improve it in my area. However, they would let me know when a beta version of AT&T's cable is out and I can try that. I was like wtf does that got to do with DSL or is it they choose to work on their own cable and say screw the DSL for now.

I know just how you feel. I just don't understand why there are so few options available. There obviously is serious money up for grabs so why are not more companies coming up with different options? It's very depressing. You know ever since I informed Comcast I would be disconnecting my service not a single phone call to see why or if anything they can do to change my mind. Also, the lady I gave this info to actually turned rude on me when I told her of my plans. That's a company not worried one iota about competition...SAD!! :argh:

 

[tubaman]

I have DirecTV and Verizon fiber optic for internet service. LOVE IT!!!!!!! Blazing fast service!