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Internet Refuge
updated: Oct 19, 2012, 12:44 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

Does anyone know another option for internet access in my house other than cox? The quality with cox is good but they just keep raising the rate. The current charge is $58.39 for what they say is up to 25 MBPS. Maybe it's a good deal, it just seems expensive.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 333293	2012-10-19 12:59 PM
I had the same Cox service and just downgraded it to 3 MBPS ($34/month) and my internet connection is EXACTLY the same as it was with the more expensive level. I've got a PC, laptop and Wii (Netflix and Hulu Plus) all using WiFi and they all work fine. I would recommend though Verizon DSL because it's cheaper and is more consistent. Unfortunately, when we moved into Winchester Canyon we were unable to get Verizon.
COMMENT 333299	2012-10-19 01:05 PM
We have Verizon DSL it is $39 for 30MBPS.My rate hasn't gone up since I got a few years ago
COMMENT 333302	2012-10-19 01:12 PM
What do you need 25Mb/s for? If you need that kind of data pipeline then cable is your main option but if you only need 1.2Mb/s or so Verizon's Dsl could be more affordable. Either way you're going to get pretty poor customer service.
ROGER DODGER	2012-10-19 01:22 PM
Google is your fiend there is all kinds of services out there.
COMMENT 333312P	2012-10-19 01:24 PM
Be very careful about Verizon DSL. We switched after winter storms, two years in a row, left us without service for weeks at a time. Verizon is understaffed and they don't maintain their equipment. Customer support was a nightmare. Our DSL flaked out regularly year-round. We haven't had an outage since we switched to Cox.
COMMENT 333313	2012-10-19 01:28 PM
I had Verizon DSL for years and my speeds NEVER went over 3mbs. I switched to Cox about 90 days ago and love the 27mbs.
COMMENT 333316	2012-10-19 01:35 PM
DSL sucks, the speed is awful. Having those terrible looking DSL filters on your phones is not attractive either. I switched 5 years ago and glad I did. If you have lots of devices and a son that plays video games online, 3mb/s doesn't cut it.
COMMENT 333317	2012-10-19 01:35 PM
There are only a few options in SB for home service. Cox Verizon DSL Hughes Rincon Wireless Mobile carriers. Cox really is the best unless you want to pay a lot to a local data reseller (they're here but they'll cost you a lot) The downside to DSL is that you need a landline so add the monthly phone costs to your estimate. Rincon is a good option but you need line of sight to their tower up on Gilbrator Rd. Hughes has really slow upload - dial up slow. You can also do a Sprint or ATT or T-mobile mobile connection but they severely limit your total bandwidth and have high overage charges.
COMMENT 333319	2012-10-19 01:35 PM
I have Verizon and live in the mountains. Have never had a problem and only pay $40 a month. Love it! When I had Cox I had all sorts of problems and their customer service was terrible.
COMMENT 333344	2012-10-19 02:13 PM
Verizon DSL
COMMENT 333345P	2012-10-19 02:15 PM
317: You do not need a land line for Verizon DSL have not for a few years now. It is called "dry loop" DSL that does not carry a phone number. IMO it is more reliable than anything else. People complain about slow speed less than they do about the service being out. So I'd take reliable over speed any day.
COMMENT 333352	2012-10-19 02:37 PM
I have Verizon DSL at my apartment, and it's great. 6 years and it's only gone out once on me. I pay $40 for 10Mbit, although what they offer will vary depending on where you live relative to their various junction points. Cox used to go out at least once every couple of months back when I had it in my Isla Vista days. Verizon's not the cheapest and everybody has lousy customer service, but their service has been rock solid for me. If you do go Verizon, buy your own DSL modem though. The ones they supply are super crappy.
COMMENT 333353	2012-10-19 02:39 PM
I can't wait until internet access is 1. Free to all and 2. accessible to everyone. If Obama is elected we have a good chance of this happening.
COMMENT 333354	2012-10-19 02:40 PM
Verizon is the way to go.....
SBJULES	2012-10-19 03:00 PM
If you are asking about access to TV, there is direct TV.
COMMENT 333368	2012-10-19 03:04 PM
333353 - Spoken like a true communist. There is no such thing as "Free" internet access any where in the world. The access is being paid for, whether it be your tax dollars or that $4.59 latte....it most definitely ain't "free".
COMMENT 333372	2012-10-19 03:07 PM
Completely agree with 313. We had Ver DSL for 12 years and it just seemed to get slower and slower. It was cheap, but PAINFUL to watch YouTube or Netflix videos. It would take 4-5 minutes to watch a 2 minute video. We threw in the towel a year ago and have been pleased with Cox. Neither has great customer service, but Verizon's was laughable, if it weren't so frustrating. You get what you pay for.
COMMENT 333377P	2012-10-19 03:19 PM
I have Verizon and the max speed is 3 mbs where we live. The service is sketchy, especially after it rains. Although it passes the speed test, it seems to go in and out all the time. Verizon hasn't upgraded their wiring in this area and they don't plan to. Someday when they have fiber optic cable installed, it will be great. I am really thinking of changing to Cox. I can pay Verizon $20 a year to keep my old e-mail address, so I can use that while I try out Cox to see if it is really better.
COMMENT 333381	2012-10-19 03:28 PM
Cox is good quality and reliable. Verizon is poor service. Verizon never delivered the service levels that they promised and as time went on the service got worse. If you are happy with 1.5 Mb/s use Verizon. Streaming audio or video is impossible. I enjoy the 30 Mb/s from Cox.
COMMENT 333390	2012-10-19 03:52 PM
I have had Verizon DSL for a long time too and I'm also about to give up. I noticed it being a lot slower over the years and now its almost at dial up speed. Frustrating!
COMMENT 333403	2012-10-19 04:08 PM
Verizon DSL - the Greyhound bus of Internet Carriers! Didn't use to be this way. As recently as 2003, Verizon staffed over 117 local techs who performed daily preventative maintenance on the copper network that supplies DSL to your home. At last count, the Patterson yard has less that 20 people to maintain a system that was put in place over 2 decades ago. FIOS would have been great - fiber optic speeds approaching 100 meg to your house, but the shift in capital funding towards the wireless side of the house killed that project. If you want high speed - your only options are Cox or run your devices over a 3G/4G wifi bridge thru your Verizon cell plan.
COMMENT 333430	2012-10-19 05:13 PM
I use an app called PdaNet on my Android phone to connect (via a UPC cable) to Verizon's 4G LTE network on my desktop PC. No need for wifi or paying Verizon to make my phone a mobile hot spot. There was a one-time charge for the app of about $20 and now my internet usage is covered by my cell phone bill, so total monthly cost for phone & internet is about $70. I don't know what speed I get, but I don't stream video or play games, so it works ok for me.
COMMENT 333447	2012-10-19 05:52 PM
For the money, the 3mbps tier is better than anything you'll get from another provider. If you're diligent, you can call every 6 months and just get the promo rate of $35 for the 20mbps tier which is an unmatched value.
COMMENT 333469	2012-10-19 06:43 PM
speakeasy.net
COMMENT 333484	2012-10-19 07:26 PM
impulse.net is launching what they call "next-gen" broadband (bonded ADSL2+) which can reach speeds of 40-50Mbps. They are business class services so they charge a bit more, however if your line goes down at 2am there's someone on call to fix it (unlike Cox who will schedule a service window who knows when). I suggest trying them to see what residential offers they have, support is great and all local.
COMMENT 333485	2012-10-19 07:27 PM
Verizon Wireless has a new service called HomeFusion. Very fast internet connection. Heard about it from SB Auto Stereo+Wireless up on Las Positas and State. 682-2505
COMMENT 333520P	2012-10-19 09:59 PM
I used cox cable internet for 2 years because the neighborhood I was in didn't have dsl and it was SO unreliable, hated it! Used it for my Dad and same thing, constantly knocked off line. I have had verizon dsl for years and I love it, I never lose my connection and it's plenty fast to watch movies and tv episodes online.
COMMENT 333529P	2012-10-20 12:37 AM
Kinda sounds like it's all relative. Just so you know, each of these big companies has some version of a "Customer Retention" Department. 447 mentions "calling for the promo rate." All I know is, none of these companies wants to lose you as a customer. Call before you see your bill take a hike from promo rate, and hint that you're thinking of switching providers. You will get a better rate. Ask how long this "deal" will last; then call again before it expires, same song and dance. Too bad we have to play these little games, but I do so hate paying through the nose for internet. Oh well.
MTNDRIVER	2012-10-20 11:33 AM
We've had Cox for as long as we've had internet service, and have had very few problems--maybe once every six months it gets very slow for a day or so. Download speed is usually around 25mbps, upload around 5. But we pay $54 for internet only, no TV. Often speed problems are an inside the house issue, the router or modem. Of course Cox will always try to blame your modem, but often they're actually right.
COMMENT 333601	2012-10-20 11:40 AM
333353 - While in the opinions of some Obama can get away with significantly violating the constitution, he can only get away with violating the laws of economics in minor ways for short periods of time, and he'll never be able to violate the laws of physics. So forget about internet access being free and ubiquitous anytime soon.
COMMENT 333607	2012-10-20 12:02 PM
you can switch to Verizon if you have all day. DSL crawls compared to cable.
COMMENT 333655P	2012-10-20 02:09 PM
a municipal broadband wireless setup is a great idea, it isn't "communist." houston texas has one in place, it's a great incentive for businesses and individuals alike. the red scare thing has gotten so old already. if you don't like the federal government, stop paying your taxes or just move somewhere like haiti or khazakstan and see what happens.
COMMENT 333667	2012-10-20 02:46 PM
The internet is free at the library.
MTNDRIVER	2012-10-21 12:50 PM
Okay, I take back what I said yesterday. Cox internet was down for a couple hours here today--Las Canoas area, near Sheffield reservoir.

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