Internet Connections

[dirtybuck]

AT&T U-verse

24.95 a month, and I'm supposed to have speeds up to 12.0 MB. I decided to run a test on both the desktop and laptop using AT&T and Speedtest.net. The laptop is using a wi-fi connection from the modem.

Here are the results (for some reason on the desktop, AT&T would not give me results on an upload speed):

Desktop AT&T DL:11.37 Speedtest DL:11.06 Speedtest UL:0.94
Laptop Speedtest DL:11.42 UL:0.63 AT&T DL:9.23 UL:0.59

It's basically what I expected. However, I'm on a one year contract with AT&T and won't be out of it until late September. I was thinking of getting cable, but Mediacom here in Springfield has such a lousy reputation, so I believe it would be better to stay with AT&T.

I also have a landline connection and refuse to get rid of it. Even though I have a cellphone, landline is what I was brought up on.

 

[chuffle]

Verizon DSL...

...here in the country. I pay $19.95 a month for the service, and am pleased with it. Sometimees YouTube bogs down, but no biggie. As there is no TV cable in my area, it is either Verizon or satellite. A friend of mine has satellite Internet and has more problems than it's worth.

Don't know what my speed is out here.

Joe

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>Don't know what my speed is out here.</blockquote> Try the speed tests I linked.  Speed varies per the selected test server so try more than one if several targets are offered on a given test.

 

[seamusuk]

Virgin Media here....

Hey Guys

I was on 10MB, got doubled to 20MB although all new customers get a minimum of 30MB so might have to give them a call......
I pay roughly £48 a month for broadband, unlimited landline calls, top TV pack (exc Sky Sports/Movies),Tivo in the lounge, and my old V+ in the bedroom......Customer loyalty deals rock.......

Finn

Do you have a Superhub? Now the early software issues have been sorted its actually ok.........

Seamus

[this post was last edited: 6/25/2012-03:04]

 

[cuffs054]

We're kinda stuck with either ComCast or ATT. I went with the fastest ATT DSL and bought an Ooma to use for 'land line' phone. So far so good.

 

[countryguy]

I just tried speedtest.net here at work.  Using Firefox I got a download speed of 53.62 mbps & upload 74.56 mbps; with IE9 download 90.89 mbps & upload 15.23 mbps.  It seems IE downloads a lot faster but FF uploads faster.  In everyday use however I still seem to find that FF is faster.

 

Gary 

 

[dirtybuck]

cuffs054

What is Ooma?

 

[cuffs054]

DirtyBuck,
It's a VOIP system that has been reliable so far going into year two. It works with my cordless phones and doesn't need the computer to be on. I can access my voice mails from any computer when I'm away. The best thing has been the "Blacklist" option. It lets you program incoming numbers and can stop/block them in a number of ways. I was having to pay ATT for their long distance packages since I live outside the main Atlanta calling areas and it just got too expensive. The Ooma has been much cheaper.

 

[mattl]

I'm a big fan of VOIP.  I use voip.ms, I think it's one of the best and cheapest VOIP services out there.  All you need is a voip adapter, I got mine for $40, and you can transfer you existing phone number for about $20.  I get a decent number of calls and I put $25 on my account and it lasts for 3 months or so.  They charge $.95 a month service charge if you use one of their numbers, they have them available in virtually all area codes or $1.95/mo if you transfer your number.  Then it's only $.01 a minute or less for calls.  They also have other plans with all incoming calls for free, but then the rate jumps to $4.95 and $6.95 respectively.  I have 2 phone lines, one I transferred the number on, one using one of their numbers.  I use the second one for the very rare fax I send or receive, but for $.95/mo it's worth it, so my base charge each month is $2.93 -- and there are no taxes of fees, and 911 works.

 

I've been using them for over 2 years and have had zero problems, calls sound great, and there are no long distance charges anywhere in the US and I believe Canada where they are based.  The one main advantage they have is that they have servers all over the world, I think 6 in the US and you connect through whichever one is the closest, I use Chicago, so there is no echo or lag.  Can't recommend them enough.

 

[cuffs054]

Mattl,
Have you looked at Ooma? It may be even cheaper. I got my Ooma "box" on Woot for $40.00

 

[mattl]

$40 is a great price. I had looked into it but felt the upfront cost at the time was too high, I think it was$250+. At this point I'm sold on what I've got, plus I'm not locked into any certain provider, there are dozens of VoIP services out there, and I can switch at any time if need be.