Need local guidance on Hi-Speed I-Net access in St Paul

[bvar22]

I recently moved into an apartment in St. Paul, and am shopping for Hi-Speed Internet access. I also will obtain some type of TV access (cable or) dish.

As I see it, the options are:
1) Through cable TV. Is there more than ONE provider in St Paul?

2) DirectTV Satellite dish.

3) DSL through the Phone line. ( I currently use a cell phone, and am not planning to install a land line unless I-Net access quality and pricing)


What are you using? What would you recommend?
Thanks!
Bob
St Paul

[Deja Q]

1. I use DSL, here's why:

ComCast charges $50/mo. You get only one IP address, sooner or later they'll detect and disable routers, and while the download speed is 3Mbps, the upload speed is a laughable 256Kbps. Useless if you play online games or upload files. Not to mention, EVERYONE else on the same segment uses your connection. So don't expect anything ear 3M/256K speeds. And they can see your computer too, unless you install a firewall.

Satellite? Say "no connection" during a cloudburst.

DSL: Qwest, or others if available, have a 256/256Kbps connection for $26.99/mo (or $31.99 if you don't have a package plan, which is okay because the non-package plan plus $31.99/mo is still LESS than the package ver w/discount). They also have a 1.5Mbps/768Kbps down/up speed, that I use. $42.99 for me. Online Games play flawlessly and uploads are near-instantaneous. As I also have a small LAN with a internet gateway/router at the center of it all. Oh, and the DSL line is dedicated - no snoopers can directly get in because I'm the only one on my 'segment'. (loose terminology)

[bvar22]

3. Thanks for the info.

Thanks.
Your info tempts me to install a landline and go DSL.
Do you also have a cable or sat connection for TV? It looks significantly cheaper to combine those services, but (if I read you correctly) the hit would be in security and quality of service.

[Dickie Flatt]

6. I use cable, I don't have those problems

I've had a router for over a year now. I got in on the advice of Comcast tech support. They know I have a router; they've asked me on tech support calls and they told me to reset the router (which fixed my problem). I've never had a problem with slow speeds. I regularly download files at hundreds of kilobytes per second. And if you're on a high speed connection and you don't have a firewall, you need to get one.

[Another Bill C.]

2. Internet service

I use Comcast. It's the only Broadband service available in St. Paul. If you live in an old neighborhood, chances are that your phone line won't handle DSL. I tried to get DSL for about 5 years before I gave up.

If you want the best rate, sign up for minimum cable service (about $7.95 and that will give you the discounted broadband service.

[bvar22]

4. Thanks.

I AM in an older building in St. Paul, above a business on W.7th St.
The apt has a cable outlet, and broadband cable with TV seems the easiest since I wouldn't have to install a phone line. There seems to be a security problem (mentioned in post #1), but I have some security hardware and software I could use.

Has the Comcast service been acceptable, and do you use any of their Premium Services?

Bob
St Paul

[Another Bill C.]

7. You might be close enough

to the Market Street switching station that you can get DSL. I would try that first. I'm across the river.

I've been happy with Comcast. I don't do games but I regularly upload large publication files and have had no problems with that function.

[bvar22]

5. Does anyone use a dish connection?

or know anyone that uses a dish connection?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. I've used both DSL and cable

I started with DSL, because the apartment's cable outlet was too far away from the room I wanted to use as an office. Taking the path of least resistance, I went with Qwest, which pushed me to sign up with MSN. Big mistake! The speed was all right, but MSN kept losing my e-mail, both incoming and outgoing. This is a nuisance for anyone, but deadly when you depend on your e-mail for business purposes.

Someone told me that Visi was better, but when I called them, they told me that I'd have to go through a huge hassle to switch, possibly doing without Internet service for a time. Again, I could not be out of communication with my translation clients.

I then looked into setting up a wireless network at home and found that I could afford it. This opened the way to getting cable Internet (I already had cable TV). Until I had all the wireless equipment purchased and set up, I plugged my laptop into the cable modem and worked in the living room.

Once the wireless network was set up (with Apple's Airport), I not only could work in the second bedroom, fifty feet away from from the cable modem, but could also take my laptop to the local Dunn Brothers to work whenever the walls of the apartment began closing in on me.

On the whole, I'm happy with cable. There's the occasional outage or funky behavior on the part of the modem, but in most cases, all I have to do is reset the modem. Cable Internet is pricey, but on the upside, I get one bill for both TV and Internet.

I'm not a gamer, and I rarely upload anything, so speed hasn't been a problem.

If you choose to get DSL, do not get MSN. Visi has a very good reputation, though.

[lakeguy]

9. Cable

I'm have Comcast (monopoly:mad:) cable right now for $20 per month (for six months) and got a $150 rebate from Staples. Hard to beat. I had it for $30 a month before that and got a free modem and $75 BB gift card. I cancelled and resubscribed under girlfriend's name to get the latest deal. If you don't want that hassel you can just call after your promo expires and they will usually drop the price anyway. You can check out deals here:

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=18&threadid=212660&highlight_key=y&keyword1=comcast

The one IP is easy to get around, all you need is a router (I've got a Netgear) and they are generally very easy to set up. I've never heard of a router being deactivated remotely. Built in firewall in most routers too but I would suggest zone alarm (free at www.zonelabs.com) also. "Snoopers" can get into any computer but won't generally spend the extra time to get into minimally protected ones because there are so many easy pickens elswhere. If you get a wireless router make sure you set it so that only computers you assign (by mac address) can use the connection. Otherwise your neighbors might "borrow" the connection.

I've had both cable and dsl (Quest, and it sucked!) and cable is faster by far. My bandwith is about 2.5 mbps (better than T1) so it's not the advertised 3mbps but I've never had a problem with the latest online games. I can download a 700 MB file in ~15 mins if the other connection is good too.

If you have to get a land line for the dsl that almost ups the cost to regular priced cable anyway.

[bvar22]

13. Thanks. How did you get the freebies?

>cable right now for $20 per month (for six months) and got a $150 rebate from Staples. Hard to beat. I had it for $30 a month before that and got a free modem and $75 BB gift card<

If I decide on Comcast, I would like to get the freebies!

[pauliedangerously]

10. I've had DSL for almost five years now...

I've never had a problem with it. I wasn't too crazy about the MSN migration, but I have found that they are offering Qwest.net again, which is what I originally had, and I'm probably going to change over to that and the higher speed connection thay are now offering. I've been running the 640 down/256 up and it is just fantastic.

I'm getting ready to drop my Comcast cable tv because it is too expensive and I'm sick of their phone solicitors calling me all the time. I've heard that satellite goes down in bad weather, but the picture quality is better and the price is about half of Cable. Right now, I'm just sick of paying for tv and I'm going with rabbit ears and DVDs. Most of the stuff on tv is crap anyway.

For the most bang for the buck, I would go with the basic analog cable service and Qwest DSL. The DSL service has nothing to do with how old the neighborhood is; my house was bult in 1912. What does matter is how close you are to the switching office. Qwest can do a line test and tell you if the service will reach you.

[pauliedangerously]

11. One other thing:

Comcast is non-union and Qwest is union. If you are pro-labor, don't use Comcast.

[lakeguy]

12. didn't know comcast was anti-union..that sucks!