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wire1
Joined: 27 Jan 2008
Posts: 11
Location: Shippensburg
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 Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:11 am Post subject: Sprint vs. ??? Is there any other option? |
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I am looking for options for phone and/or internet service. Heres my situation...
--I have Directv as my tv source (so cable internet would be a waste of money because most won't give you internet service without charging for cable service too).
--Sprint is my phone and internet provider. I don't really care about the phone part but again (they wouldn't give me internet without phone service). Oh, yeah, and it costs me over $65 to do it this way.
--I would like to keep Directv as my tv source and whoever for internet service. But I don't want to have to pay for phone and internet when I really only use internet.
I live in the metropolis of Newburg!
Any ideas?
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Me!!!!!!!!
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 306
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:59 am Post subject: |
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kuhn cable...I hear it is cheaper than comcast.
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Coppy
Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 2663
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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This has been the biggest problem for most of us when we want to have a choice.
Kuhn has very limited availability in the area, but I don't know anything about the services they offer. I'm sure they offer Internet service but I don't know if it's cable internet and I don't know if they require you to get their tv service.
Also, Kuhn's channel lineup is comparable, but still not as extensive as Comcast's.
So you have DirecTV, which means that cable Internet is out. That means you have only ONE choice for Internet: Sprint DSL. And you can get DSL from other providers, but Sprint requires you to have landline phone service in order to have DSL of any kind (despite it being perfectly possible to implement toneless DSL that does not require phone service). Sprint owns the lines, so you have to pay them.
Here is why they do that; VoIP (voice over internet protocol) is becoming more reliable and considerably cheaper than traditional phone service. Phone companies, like Sprint (actually they are called Embarq now) know this, so they force you to buy their antiquated phone service so that you don't go and get a cheaper calling plan alternative while you use them just for DSL.
That means if you want bundled services like TV, Internet and/or phone service, your ONLY legitimate choice is Comcast. |
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paul_milander
Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 591
Location: Shippensburg, PA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| Coppy wrote: | This has been the biggest problem for most of us when we want to have a choice.
Kuhn has very limited availability in the area, but I don't know anything about the services they offer. I'm sure they offer Internet service but I don't know if it's cable internet and I don't know if they require you to get their tv service.
Also, Kuhn's channel lineup is comparable, but still not as extensive as Comcast's.
So you have DirecTV, which means that cable Internet is out. That means you have only ONE choice for Internet: Sprint DSL. And you can get DSL from other providers, but Sprint requires you to have landline phone service in order to have DSL of any kind (despite it being perfectly possible to implement toneless DSL that does not require phone service). Sprint owns the lines, so you have to pay them.
Here is why they do that; VoIP (voice over internet protocol) is becoming more reliable and considerably cheaper than traditional phone service. Phone companies, like Sprint (actually they are called Embarq now) know this, so they force you to buy their antiquated phone service so that you don't go and get a cheaper calling plan alternative while you use them just for DSL.
That means if you want bundled services like TV, Internet and/or phone service, your ONLY legitimate choice is Comcast. |
Well this answered my next post. I want to get Direct TV but I need a high speed connection to the internet. I will never ever go back to dial up. So I wonder what it would cost if I got Direct TV, Sprint DSL and then get Vonage
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koozie
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 124
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Actually, Embarq has a package plan with phone, dsl and either direct tv or dish network (not sure which one) for $99. Just go to embarq.com and it spells it out for ya. |
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.45chel
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 3093
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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It's Dish.
I considered it, but the channels I primarily watch were extra so I stuck with DirecTV.
It's a good deal if you're happy with the channel selection (which, for the record, is generous, just wasn't what I wanted.)
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paul_milander
Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 591
Location: Shippensburg, PA
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.45chel
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 3093
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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It seems like that's the common problem around here. There are certainly some people I would kill to get FiOS, but, as of yet, no one has accepted my offers.
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paul_milander
Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 591
Location: Shippensburg, PA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| .45chel wrote: | | It seems like that's the common problem around here. There are certainly some people I would kill to get FiOS, but, as of yet, no one has accepted my offers. |
My friend in Mechanicsburg loves it
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Coppy
Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 2663
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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| paul_milander wrote: |
So I wonder what it would cost if I got Direct TV, Sprint DSL and then get Vonage |
It's been hard for me to convey how DSL can be a rip off, but I'll try to put it like this:
Let's say DSL from Embarq (formerly Sprint) costs $30/month. That's a pretty good deal, BUT, you are required to also pay for local phone service. That's another $15/month. So in reality, you're paying $45/month for DSL even if you don't use the local phone service at all. I only use my cell phone; I have no use for any landline phone, VoIP (Vonage) or otherwise.
So for me, it makes sense to get cable Internet; even though it costs about $45/month, I'm not required to buy a local calling plan with it and it's faster than DSL. But here's the rub; if you don't get Comcast TV service, and only get their cable Internet, it actually costs $55/month. So if I wanted DirecTV then my only two choices are Comcast ($55/month but faster) or DSL ($30+$15/month but slower).
Considering Vonage really throws things out of wack, but lets explain for a second.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is using your existing broadband internet connection for phone service. It's traditionally cheaper and comes with more features that regular calling plans and offers a flat rate for long distance.
Vonage was a popular company for this, but Embarq and Comcast both caught on and they now offer VoIP service as part of a bundled plan. With bundling, it basically forces the consumer to get their service over a standalone plan like Vonage.
In other words, if you decided to get Embarq DSL, you will have to get Embarq VoIP... because it will be considerably cheaper for you. But you'll still have to pay that $15/month for local calling.
But now Comcast offers TV, Internet and VoIP for $99/month. It's how they monopolize the entire industry; the more services you buy from one company, the cheaper each will be. Even thought his seems like a good deal, the power of consumer choice is taken out of the equation.
Even Verizon, with their superior FiOS service has jumped into the TV industry and offers a TV/Internet/Phone package similar to Comcast's. Embarq doesn't offer TV service at this point, but since they technically own the phone lines run around here, you are required to pay them for local phone service to get any third party DSL or VoIP service.
I know I'm going on and on, but it's hard for me to articulate how complicated and annoying this sort of thing is. Paul, let me know if there's anything you don't understand and I'll do my best to help clarify it for you. |
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paul_milander
Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 591
Location: Shippensburg, PA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Coppy wrote: | | paul_milander wrote: |
So I wonder what it would cost if I got Direct TV, Sprint DSL and then get Vonage |
It's been hard for me to convey how DSL can be a rip off, but I'll try to put it like this:
Let's say DSL from Embarq (formerly Sprint) costs $30/month. That's a pretty good deal, BUT, you are required to also pay for local phone service. That's another $15/month. So in reality, you're paying $45/month for DSL even if you don't use the local phone service at all. I only use my cell phone; I have no use for any landline phone, VoIP (Vonage) or otherwise.
So for me, it makes sense to get cable Internet; even though it costs about $45/month, I'm not required to buy a local calling plan with it and it's faster than DSL. But here's the rub; if you don't get Comcast TV service, and only get their cable Internet, it actually costs $55/month. So if I wanted DirecTV then my only two choices are Comcast ($55/month but faster) or DSL ($30+$15/month but slower).
Considering Vonage really throws things out of wack, but lets explain for a second.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is using your existing broadband internet connection for phone service. It's traditionally cheaper and comes with more features that regular calling plans and offers a flat rate for long distance.
Vonage was a popular company for this, but Embarq and Comcast both caught on and they now offer VoIP service as part of a bundled plan. With bundling, it basically forces the consumer to get their service over a standalone plan like Vonage.
In other words, if you decided to get Embarq DSL, you will have to get Embarq VoIP... because it will be considerably cheaper for you. But you'll still have to pay that $15/month for local calling.
But now Comcast offers TV, Internet and VoIP for $99/month. It's how they monopolize the entire industry; the more services you buy from one company, the cheaper each will be. Even thought his seems like a good deal, the power of consumer choice is taken out of the equation.
Even Verizon, with their superior FiOS service has jumped into the TV industry and offers a TV/Internet/Phone package similar to Comcast's. Embarq doesn't offer TV service at this point, but since they technically own the phone lines run around here, you are required to pay them for local phone service to get any third party DSL or VoIP service.
I know I'm going on and on, but it's hard for me to articulate how complicated and annoying this sort of thing is. Paul, let me know if there's anything you don't understand and I'll do my best to help clarify it for you. |
I was excited about Embarq because they have a bundle with Direct TV but they only offer the phone service on my end of town. I guess Comcast has me by the nutsack
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Coppy
Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 2663
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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Hahhaa, yeah, I guess you can say that.
Embarq did partner up with DirecTV to compete with Comcast and Verizon's service bundling, but as you said that's not available around here.
I should warn you, as nostalgic as PA may be to you, you may be taking a few steps back in terms of modern conveniences. |
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paul_milander
Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 591
Location: Shippensburg, PA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Coppy wrote: | Hahhaa, yeah, I guess you can say that.
Embarq did partner up with DirecTV to compete with Comcast and Verizon's service bundling, but as you said that's not available around here.
I should warn you, as nostalgic as PA may be to you, you may be taking a few steps back in terms of modern conveniences. |
Yeah I know, I can give to get.. I can see many a trip to HBG to see a movie or eat, play, etc.. But I can also see me going to the State Parks, Gettysburg, Mountains..etc.. I guess we will see how I feel about being home come December or January
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paul_milander
Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 591
Location: Shippensburg, PA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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Ok Embarq needs to redo their website, when I used it to see if I could get service it said that I could only get phone lines. I called the 800 number today and after spending 10 minutes convincing the person that my address was in Franklin County he was able to verify my address and I can get the whole bundle if I want. Unlimited Phone, Direct TV, and DSl for $99.99 a motnh plus $5.95 for the rental of the DVR. And if I wanted Sprint Wireless then I could get that too. So now I need to figure out, Embarq Three Way Bundle or Comcast Triple Play?
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Coppy
Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 2663
Location: Chambersburg
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| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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I think that experience alone should sour you toward Embarq.
I wouldn't go with them, and this is why... you'll probably get better service from Comcast. Oh dear Lord, I can't believe I just said that.
Embarq is in a shaky situation at best. They're going to continue to feel pressure from Verizon and Comcast, especially since they have absolutely no plans for laying optical fiber. I think they'll be obsolete in 4-6 years without it, if they don't get bought out by then. Landline telephone is becoming an industry supported mainly by senior citizens.
I hate Comcast as much as anyone, and I like Embarq... but at this point, Comcast is probably the best way to go. If Embarq and Comcast's "three tier" service are both 99.99/month, then Comcast is just the better option. you also mentioned Tivo, which Comcast may offer as part of it's DVR package at some point.
I'm willing to bet, also, that the 99.99 from Embarq does not include the mandatory local calling service in order to subscribe to DSL. |
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