View Full Version : Sick of Comcast. Switching to Direct tv & Century link.
Tittle says it all. Looking for advice and experiences. Keep them separate ? Bundle ? Horror stories ?
As much as I hate comcast I hate direct tv and century link more. Google fiber would be nice to try out when they decide to offer it in CO. Have you tried talking to comcast loyalty department?
They all have problems. Pick your poison. I went the opposite way. I dumped Satellite TV and home phone, ported my home number to a cell phone and got comcast just for HS internet.
I get 52 OTA HD broadcast channels, have a Chromecast and Firestick and I do pay for Sling to get ESPN. Cut my bills to under $60/month for TV, internet and phone doing it that way and I could not be more pleased.
We have their alarm too and are dropping it for sure ,but we are going talk to them first to see what they will do I need to get my bill down somehow. I figured they both have problems. Keep it comin fellas.
Rooskibar03
08-23-2015, 09:47
I'll tell you what. Comcast internet was always faster than my CL is now. I've also gone through two modems from CL since November. My Motorola modem for Comcast never had issues.
But it of you decide to cancel may I suggest the only way to do so. Unhook all your equipment and take to closest comcast service center, lay it on the counter and tell them you want to cancel service. Those guys don't give a rats ass and won't spend 20 minutes trying to convince you to stay like the phone rep. Just get a recipt for what you drop off in case they "forget" to note your account.
mackbamf
08-23-2015, 09:49
Had Comcast for years and just switched to Direct TV and Century Link about here months ago. I really like DirectTV, better picture, HD in every room, NFL Sunday Ticket. Less Internet speed but nothing that affects me too much. About the biggest perk is that I prefer it more and it is costing me way less than Comcast.
BushMasterBoy
08-23-2015, 09:59
CenturyLink was horrible. Disconnected 8-20 times a day on the DSL internet. I finally found a wireless ISP. $150 install, $50 a month service fee. Still have not received UPS label for modem they are renting me. Centurylink won't even answer my email messages about returning the modem! Trying to get Centurylink on the phone is a nightmare. The wireless service is 10 times faster for $10 a month more and no daily disconnects. I had Centurylink DSL for 8 years...
Mr Spooky
08-23-2015, 10:28
Century link was horrible. Lost connection throughout the day, could not bill correctly and their customer service is only open like 4 hrs a day. Directv is alright but expensive. It looses picture every rain or snow storm though. At least I can get a hold of Comcast 24/7.
I hated Comcast. We dropped Comcast and went with CL for our internet. We now stream our TV, and we haven't had any problems. I have a feeling it depends on your location and what you use your internet for. The nice thing is that you get a 30-day trial, so you can try things ut and see what you think. Our internet is about $30/month, and we got a Roku and Netflix. It's FAR better than $160+ for Comcast's dubious "service."
cableguy11
08-23-2015, 10:32
Comcast for internet...Speed is the best, with my own router and wireless. OTA via indoor antenna, netflix, hulu plus, and amazon prime on my Amazon TV and firestick. For home phone I use Ooma VOIP, its connected to my router and I pay for the extras that come with it..I think its 14.99 a month. Like a cell phone but have a local number I ported from comcast.
Comcast for internet, antenna in the attic with a signal amplifier, and a android based box to stream more tv and movies...
Until google fiber, you won't find a more reliable fast internet than comcast. I've used century link twice and both times at different addresses suck! I'm in the process of switching my parents to comcast, they pay $90 for basic phone and shit speeds.
Comcast internet uber alles.
Dropped them for ~18 months for CL and it was pure hell. I work from home and just could not tolerate the outages and poor speed. I've been back on Comcast now for a few years and it just doesn't get any better -- love em or hate. Currently getting ~95/12MBps on the edge of Parker. Have seen higher UL speeds during the weekdays.
That said, I've had Dish for about 15 years now. Lowered the package and dropped all the movie channels. I do like my Hopper system and still haven't seen where X1 is reliable enough to make a switch.
Scanker19
08-23-2015, 12:12
I've always liked comcast. I guess others have had issues with them, but the customer service i've received from them has been great. My signal does drop from time to time, but it also did when I had century link as well. They've always answered the phone within minutes, if not instantly, and have always been clear about what I'm paying for.
Now about them bitches (century link)....
So a few years ago, I decided that when I moved here I would try century link. When I called I was told that I would get one (1) month for free and a $100 dollar gift card. Well towards the end of the month I receive a bill, and not a gift card. When I called I was told that the one month for free was the "30 day trial" in which I could cancel. I told them that I would like to use that option and cancel. I took two months to get those "free" charges removed, to include the "free" install.
Come month three, I received another bill, a fairly large one closing in on $200. When I called and asked "WTF?" they said that they did not receive my equipment. I had saved my tracking number, gave it to them on the same phone call, to which they replied, "Oh, yeah. We got it, never mind."
This exact same thing happened to another person I know, and they only didn't have to pay for the equipment because I told them to keep the receipt from UPS. Both times we requested our "package bundle whatever" in writing, and never received it. It became a "he said, she said" on what we were actually receiving and paying for from century link. IF you switch keep all receipts and paperwork.
The moral of the story. Keep your paper work and get stuff in writing. Also Fuck Century link.
Edit: Also, dropping TV altogether, has been great for me. There is nothing that I can't watch between Netflix or amazon Instant. And even if there is one of those Niche shows that isn't on Amazon Prime instant, a full season costs about $25 and they air the shows the day after they air on TV. Netlfix and Amazon are about $10 a month each?
Hell, I think some sports channels have Apps for, Apple TV, PS3/4, Chrome cast that will broadcast sports games. Or watch the game at BWWs and let them deal with the mess. But YMMV...
HoneyBadger
08-23-2015, 12:34
I gladly just switched BACK to Comcast after 2 years of DirecTV and Centurylink. Better service (especially internet) for significantly less money. When we moved out here 2 months ago, we went with Comcast.
My Motorola modem for Comcast never had issues.
It's funny you mention this - I had the same problems. I went through 3 CenturyLink modems in 2 years, and when I switched back to Comcast, my old Surfboard Comcast modem still worked beautifully.
CenturyLink is coming out with their own fiber TV service. It is called Prism and you can go online to see if it is in your neighborhood.
StagLefty
08-23-2015, 12:43
MagicJack phone service-$36 a YEAR. Dish (have the cheapest package) $25/month. Comcast for internet $40/month= $68 a month.
Separate services- no bundles or contracts for me !!
Its pretty one sided, but yet another for go comcast, fuck century link
Now I find out the wife signed a contract that is good till next December. $130 to cancel ,going to call and see if we can switch packages without the fee to get my bill down. Thanks for the replies , the lady at the Comcast store was absolutely useless. I had to get up and walk out.
blacklabel
08-23-2015, 14:01
Does Comcast suck? Yes. Is it the best option available? Unfortunately.
Pretty much at this point. Gonna have to work with them even though it's worse than pulling teeth.
Great-Kazoo
08-23-2015, 15:20
The only reason we have comcast. The people i know who work for CL, said DON'T GO WITH CL. They've worked for CL since it was qwest.
For good Internet service, the only option that works really well in my area is Comcast. Very few outages over the years. Had DSL before that and it sucked.
For home phone I've been using ViaTalk (http://www.viatalk.com/) VoIP for years. They have buy one year get the second free deals all the time. I think the math including the required monthly fees works out to something like $11 and change/month for home phone with a ton of features. They're currently running an offer of $189/yr with second year free for an average of $7.87/month (+ those fees I mentioned earlier).
I work at Dish and get an employee discount, so that's what I use for TV. I switched from DirecTV in 1999 and have had Dish HDTV STB's since the 6000 w/8VSB module. The Hopper with Sling really does work well and is the best STB product I've ever seen from the company.
blacklabel
08-23-2015, 16:26
What benefits do you guys find in having a home phone? I haven't had one since I moved out on my own.
cmailliard
08-23-2015, 16:26
Had Comcast. Dumped it when we needed to cut bills, went to OTA and streaming with Netflix and Century Link. Century Link started sucking on connection and . . . well about everything. Went back to Comcast with basic cable (no HD) on one TV and still use Netflix and Amazon for streaming. I use my own modem and WiFi setup to avoid that cost. First modem went out a month ago, went to Best Buy grabbed a new one had it back up in less than 15 minutes.
It a shame when your metric is Who Sucks Less!
The Hopper with Sling really does work well and is the best STB product I've ever seen from the company.
Unless you want to watch live TV on Dish Anywhere using Chrome. :-(
Also tech hint: Make sure multiple Hoppers are all on either WAN [edit] WiFi or LAN, don't mix them... Ask me how I know.
StagLefty
08-23-2015, 16:56
What benefits do you guys find in having a home phone? I haven't had one since I moved out on my own.
When I retired I turned in my company phone and haven't looked back. I realize there's legitimate reasons for cell phones but for me I have no desire or need for one.
Just make sure they bundle you if you go that route. I initially did the bundle and after 3mo of arguing with them I dropped the bundle that was never a bundle and only have HS internet with CL.
What benefits do you guys find in having a home phone?
I get crappy cell service at my house, especially in my office in the basement. I have cordless phones throughout the house which is very convenient, where I may not have my cell phone with me at home. I also have needed to submit faxed financial documents, and that doesn't work too well with a cell phone (fax/MFP is on a free 2nd line from my VoIP provider). I also have the ability to customize incoming call handling from my VoIP provider that I can't do through my cell phone. Things like giving certain numbers a busy signal no matter what...marketers get a disconnect tone and message, things like that. I'm more comfortable giving people my home phone number than my cell number.
Once my cell provider (Verizon) enables WiFi calling from my cell phone, I can see less need for the home phone. As it is now, voicemail from the home phone gets emailed to our cell phones.
Unless you want to watch live TV on Dish Anywhere using Chrome. :-(
Also tech hint: Make sure multiple Hoppers are all on either WAN or LAN, don't mix them... Ask me how I know.
Not to hijack the thread, but I'm not sure what you're talking about. Works fine for me on Chrome v44.
I'm also a bit curious as to how you're putting a hopper on a Wide Area Network (WAN). I have my Hopper with Sling attached to the router in my home office and the Hopper with a USB Sling adapter connected via powerline Ethernet extender and they both work well. What have you experienced that's not working?
Holger Danske
08-23-2015, 19:31
CenturyLink was horrible. Disconnected 8-20 times a day on the DSL internet. I finally found a wireless ISP. $150 install, $50 a month service fee. Still have not received UPS label for modem they are renting me. Centurylink won't even answer my email messages about returning the modem! Trying to get Centurylink on the phone is a nightmare. The wireless service is 10 times faster for $10 a month more and no daily disconnects. I had Centurylink DSL for 8 years...
Who are you using for direct wireless?
Id like to get off CL, but comcast is not in my area.
HoneyBadger
08-23-2015, 19:41
It a shame when your metric is Who Sucks Less!
Sounds like politics... [facepalm]
gnihcraes
08-23-2015, 20:10
everyone will experience problems with different vendors based on the neighborhood wiring. (so it seems)
I've had great luck with CL and Dish/Direct, comcast seems ok here with some of the neighbors. (older neighborhood was upgraded years ago with new copper and fiber)
Some of the middle aged neighborhoods can't even get DSL, forced to comcast.
etc.
I don't like pricing but Qwest/CL has been fine for internet. I have been with them for 8+ years and no outages that I recall. Maybe once a year, but minor.
Daily outages with CenturyLink. Power cycle the modem everyday. Just called tech support again today, and supposedly they "maximized" the line.
Messing with my Plex server right now to see if I can get it to work.
BushMasterBoy
08-23-2015, 21:23
Who are you using for direct wireless?
Id like to get off CL, but comcast is not in my area.
The company I use doesn't service Colorado Springs, here is a list for your area...
http://broadbandnow.com/Colorado/Colorado-Springs
NFATrustGuy
08-23-2015, 21:36
I've got Comcast for Internet only. Haven't had any significant problems with them. Total bill with taxes is ~$65/mo. I use an antenna and a TiVo system fot TV. I stream a bit from Amazon Prime. I download a movie or a TV series every so often.
I'm having significant issues with the VoIP service I use for my office phone. My provider is VoiPo. The service has become really unreliable. Inbound calls don't always ring and I have frequent (80% of the time) calls when the person I'm talking to can't hear me, but I can hear them. I've spent hours and hours on the phone with Voipo support and they can't seem to fix the problem. I want some form of "other-than-cell" phone service because my house seems to be a dead zone with Verizon.
If anyone out there has a good VoIP provider that you know works with Comcast, a Motorola modem, and an Apple AirPort Extreme router, I'm definitely interested.
I've got Comcast for Internet only. Haven't had any significant problems with them. Total bill with taxes is ~$65/mo. I use an antenna and a TiVo system fot TV. I stream a bit from Amazon Prime. I download a movie or a TV series every so often.
I'm having significant issues with the VoIP service I use for my office phone. My provider is VoiPo. The service has become really unreliable. Inbound calls don't always ring and I have frequent (80% of the time) calls when the person I'm talking to can't hear me, but I can hear them. I've spent hours and hours on the phone with Voipo support and they can't seem to fix the problem. I want some form of "other-than-cell" phone service because my house seems to be a dead zone with Verizon.
If anyone out there has a good VoIP provider that you know works with Comcast, a Motorola modem, and an Apple AirPort Extreme router, I'm definitely interested.
VOIP needs quite a bit of upload throughput, and doesn't like packet loss. Comcast offers tons of down load, upload not as much. Comast gives priorty to voice data if using their voice product. If using a third party VOIP you get to deal with packet loss and timeouts. The download is where Comcast shines, the upload is extreamly fragile. Ask the VOIP people how much us speed is required. Maybe you can set the compression lower. I had to have my alarm modem Baud changed because Comcast did something, thanks. Double check that your upload speed is high enough to work with VOIP.
VOIP needs quite a bit of upload throughput, and doesn't like packet loss. Comcast offers tons of down load, upload not as much. Comast gives priorty to voice data if using their voice product. If using a third party VOIP you get to deal with packet loss and timeouts. The download is where Comcast shines, the upload is extreamly fragile. Ask the VOIP people how much us speed is required. Maybe you can set the compression lower. I had to have my alarm modem Baud changed because Comcast did something, thanks. Double check that your upload speed is high enough to work with VOIP.
Comcast likes to reduce priority on standard SIP ports (5060/5061) to screw with competing VoIP products. My provider's dashboard has the ability to use non-standard ports and my traffic issues immediately went away. Check to see if your provider has the ability to change your SIP ports.
Not to hijack the thread, but I'm not sure what you're talking about. Works fine for me on Chrome v44.
I'm also a bit curious as to how you're putting a hopper on a Wide Area Network (WAN). I have my Hopper with Sling attached to the router in my home office and the Hopper with a USB Sling adapter connected via powerline Ethernet extender and they both work well. What have you experienced that's not working?
Stuck at Chrome 41 for various reasons.
Derp. Meant WiFi, typed WAN. Too many days in a former life doing circuits. When I had one Hopper on LAN and one on WiFi, watching a show from one to the other was fraught with disaster.
Madeinhb
08-23-2015, 23:24
Messing with my Plex server right now to see if I can get it to work.
Let me know how that goes. I haven't looked at mine yet.
Let me know how that goes. I haven't looked at mine yet.
It worked long enough for me to test it, now it won't recognize the server again.
Also, I thought it was free, but it told me it was only a 30 day trial. Otherwise, it works great.
Madeinhb
08-24-2015, 07:14
It worked long enough for me to test it, now it won't recognize the server again.
Also, I thought it was free, but it told me it was only a 30 day trial. Otherwise, it works great.
It should be free. I have it working inside my house. Just haven't set it up for outside my wifi yet.
StagLefty
08-24-2015, 07:17
It worked long enough for me to test it, now it won't recognize the server again.
Also, I thought it was free, but it told me it was only a 30 day trial. Otherwise, it works great.
It is free unless you got to I think it's Plex Plus. I've been using it for a few years know and it can get squirrely from time to time.
Lets see, CenturyLInk. Last year my phone and internet were down about a month; I did complain and get a refund for the month. This year, the county cut the line, reported it, and CenturyLink had no clue when I called, and required that I stay home from work...pissed me off since they should have known the issue. It took them four days to come and splice it (temp fix). The line is still spliced and laying on the ground three weeks later. I kept the service for my son, but it is becoming more and more not worth the trouble.
I haven't had any issues with DirectTV.
When I tried to bundle the services, they couldn't get the billing right. I spent several months fighting that.
DenverDave
08-24-2015, 17:46
I ditched comcast and switched to the century link 40mb+ service. I use Apple TV for my TV service which runs off the internet connection. Century link is a little slower than comcast Blast was most of the time. But it works well enough and is only $35 a month. I don't miss having cable TV as I can stream almost everything to my Apple TV. However, I am able to access all the networks via the Apple TV because I have the log in info from my parents cable subscription service. No don't have a phone line as I use my cell for everything. To get this deal $35 monthly for century link 40mbps+ service you need to set up your account at the regular rate $70 monthly than call the loyalty dept and ask for the 50% discount. They will guarantee that price for a year. To get out of the contract they will inevitably try and talk you into tell they that you may need to move for work, say you might be moving to NYC as they don't have century link service there.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RYAN50BMG
08-24-2015, 20:09
What benefits do you guys find in having a home phone? I haven't had one since I moved out on my own.
The Missus and I can't answer the phone at work,so a home phone gives people a place to leave messages. Also, FUCK Centurylink. Had a door to door salesman come by (despite the "No Soliciting" sign)and it came down to slam the door in his face, or put a gun in his face. I would'nt use Centurylink if they were free.
NFATrustGuy
08-24-2015, 20:39
Comcast likes to reduce priority on standard SIP ports (5060/5061) to screw with competing VoIP products. My provider's dashboard has the ability to use non-standard ports and my traffic issues immediately went away. Check to see if your provider has the ability to change your SIP ports.
Thanks for the tip. I'll call Voipo support tomorrow to see if this can be done.
I'm almost frustrated enough with the VoIP experience to [gasp] go back to a wired line.
Madeinhb
08-24-2015, 23:24
The Missus and I can't answer the phone at work,so a home phone gives people a place to leave messages. Also, FUCK Centurylink. Had a door to door salesman come by (despite the "No Soliciting" sign)and it came down to slam the door in his face, or put a gun in his face. I would'nt use Centurylink if they were free.
Google voice or voip phones do the same. My home phone is a voip through Ooma. $3 and some change a month.
buckshotbarlow
08-25-2015, 07:08
i work from home...tried CL and had more outages then holes in my underwear. Been on comcrap and exp appx 1 outage a month. I have CL for basic phone alarm and hate it. i run ooma for our voip lines and love it...trying to get the alarm system on ooma has been a challange and is in the todo list. as for tv i run dish...its not for me, but it has lifetime for women and thats what my wife requires....i hate all this B.S.
Madeinhb
08-25-2015, 08:09
i work from home...tried CL and had more outages then holes in my underwear. Been on comcrap and exp appx 1 outage a month. I have CL for basic phone alarm and hate it. i run ooma for our voip lines and love it...trying to get the alarm system on ooma has been a challange and is in the todo list. as for tv i run dish...its not for me, but it has lifetime for women and thats what my wife requires....i hate all this B.S.
Trying getting cellular for alarm. That's how I have mine setup.
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