I’d want to change everything together and have one bill. I like to assume the “package deals” are at least somewhat real, so getting all from one company should be better than doing everything a la carte from the various providers.
I’m considering getting a moderately priced HDTV if the service isn’t going to be a complete budget-killer.
i wish i had fios
They do divide if up nicely which is why you get those packages…I don’t know how the network is designed but their are going to be physical limitations on the amount of bandwidth a certian neighborhood or large area can use…dividing up bandwidth with out limiting it on per port basis is a bitch also…
do they have Verizon in california?
The “Triple play” that we’re changing to boils down to:
Unlimited local & long distance, the usual features (VM, CID, etc)
20 / 5 internet
TV with no premium channels & 3 boxes (SD, HD, Media server DVR
Our net bill will be ~$124 (before fees / taxes)
After the first year it should adjust to ~$144 (bf/t)
At $144 it will be ~$57 cheaper then what I pay now for the “Double play” & DISH.
If you’re planning on picking up an HD set - REGARDLESS of what television provider you choose - you will want as many HD channels as possible so that you can actually take advantage of your set. At first the novelty is cool and you don’t mind watching SD broadcasts… but after a relatively short time you will be bothered by it to some extent.
As far as which provider - I can tell you that you will pay a $10 “HD access” fee through DISH Network, and FIOS TV charges no fee for HD channels.
I cannot speak with respect to DTV or TW. I left TW nearly three years ago in favor of DISH… and judging by the posts above - not much has changed there.
$0.02
pumice: do you need home phone service?
Yeah. I can’t use my cell phone in the basement, not to mention, it’s just a good idea to have some kind of non-cellular phone at home.
FiOS in Rochester = soon.
Co-worker’s brother-in-law recently went to training for selling FiOS in Rochester.
I’m pining for it here…just moved and basic Internet, plus HDTV DVR is running me a whopping $108/mo. I’d love more HD channels and a faster connection for less money.
I really hate how TW punishes long standing customers. When you sign up you get discounts, then the longer you’re with them the more you pay.
lol, not being able to use it in the basement requires a landline?
cellular is more reliable than landline, too.
Yes. I use my basement. Is that ok with you?!
How is cellular more reliable? I drop calls constantly on my cell phone, I’m yet to have a land-line call lose signal. 
Landline (VOIP) has it’s weak points as well. :fyi:
That’s cause you are on sprint 
I dont drop calls on VZW, I’m sure the ATT guys will tell you the same thing.
When the october storm knocked everything out, my cell phone still worked no problem. Landlines were down for awhile…
edit: I use my basement as well, no problems talking while doing laundry.
I realize the downside to digital phone service. For normal in-home use, it’s still better than dropping calls or missing 1/2 the conversation due to a weak cell signal.
Fine, it’s Sprint’s fault. Come November, I’ll probably switch to VXW, or get the iPhone the company offered to buy for me and be on ATT. Either way, I’ll probably want a home line.
eww, iphone.
Take your pick from the lesser of two evils:
Palm OS Smartphone
Apple iPhone
:lol:
Ok. Back to the point of the thread, please. I’ll look up what I’m paying for T-W later, maybe that’ll help the discussion.
What type of contract does verizon want you to sign when they come to install fios?
I read somewhere that they spend 5 grand per installation to get it up and running.
12 mos.
You can do monthly billing for a “few” dollars more. I didn’t check the difference for TV, but IIRC the internet connection was ~12/month more w/o contract.
I can aesily see the ONT being a rather expensive piece… surely not $5k, but surely a fuck of alot more then a couple of splitters.
When we had FIOS installed a few months back, the tech stated that same unit is required for TV, and so we were “pre-wired” for TV when it rolled out. FWIW.
Wow, contract…didn’t think of that. There’s no contract with TW. (Right?)
Our apartment complex is supposed to get FiOS by the end of Dec.
I am praying because MDU sucks balls… and by balls I mean balls full of razors coated with AIDS.
I currently pay $122.32 per month (actual payment after taxes, etc.) for:
Digital Cable on 1 TV
Digital Phone
Broadband Internet
No extra channels, no HD, no super-high-speed special internet other than whatever comes standard with the digital phone modem (I know they offer some other Road Runner which is faster than what I have).