Some time ago my cable company upped me to my current speed of 4 down and 512 up for the same price that I'm paying now, $39.95 a month. This I can handle, because compared to DSL, cable is the best thing running here and I would pay just about anything to not have dial-up.
Last night I contacted my cable company (Suddenlink formerly Cox) to see what the fastest service was currently and to check on an upgrade. The fastest service available is 5 down and 1 up. I wasn't too excited about the 5 down because speed tests show that I'm already achieving 5 down, but only 512 up.
I asked if I could be upgraded to the faster service for the same monthly fee (as I was before). She told me that the faster service was $59.95 a month!
I decided not to go for the faster service, because the increase was minimal, if it was double my speed I would of done it.
What are you others getting/paying for? I know some of you here have posted way faster speeds for alot less than than $60 a month.
#5. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to Jane (Reply # 1)
Jane,
If you upgrade to the Xtreme you will need to ask for a new modem. In fact, insist on it. All, but the latest model, may choke on the higher speed. If you use a router, you may need to upgrade that too. Very few routers (more than about 6 months old) can actually support a WAN throughput of 10mbps.
In my case, Xtreme was so hard on my router that after about 2 weeks I could barely get 2mbps on a download. I had to downgrade to 5mbps and give my router a vacation (because it actually stopped working for a while).
#35. "RE: insert red arow" In response to Jack (Reply # 34) Sat Jun-30-07 05:08 PM by Jane
It's SnagIT http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp?CMP=KgoogleStmhome But there is also last free version of FastStone Capture , in case you don't want to pay for SnagIt . It's also very good . This is also the last free version , as it became a shareware with version 5.4
I just checked the site and a free giveaway version 7.2.5 of SnagIt is still available , it seems . So try to download and get the code as you install . Good luck and enjoy !
Yes it is , and you can also download additional stamps , such as numbers etc. I just gave you a link to free version that was available few weeks back . It seems to be still on , so try to download. You will love SnagIt !
#3. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to ablib (Reply # 0)
Upload bandwidth is more significant than you think... saturate your upload pipe and your downloads stop too. You need to be able to send data to receive it. Especially if you expect to multitask.
I have DSL... 3 Mbit service, with 768 kbit upload. Uploads are pathetic. I can get maybe 80 kilobytes per second upload speed, and then that somewhat cripples everything else too if I'm uploading files. I pay about $60 (+ taxes) a month, but that's a business account. Residential service is $39.95 for the full 3 Mbit DSL, and $24.95 a month for pathetic "DSL Lite" which is only 256 kbit service.
To get faster service I'd have to go with a more evil, monopolistic ISP and be subject to their whims. It's kind of like making a deal with the devil... the temptation. My current ISP, while not perfect, gives me a pretty straight forward connection to the Internet, without much interference. Nothing silly like bandwidth limits, and only a few ports blocked (that don't affect me). Also, when there's a problem you just call, and maybe wait one minute and the person you get to talk to has the knowledge, access and authority to very quickly get what you need done. (unless it involves Bell, and then I'm subject to those whims I spoke of). Much more customer friendly. It would be a one year contract with the other ISP too, so it's not like I can just try it and see.
#4. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to ablib (Reply # 0)
In Aussie, I have a choice of one cable provider, who has a monopoly on the infrastructure.
My plan is $A59.95 per month. For that I get 8 down and 128 up, although the actual down is usually closer to 15. The catch is after 10gb of traffic per month I'm slowed to 64 both ways for the rest of the month.
#6. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to Paul D (Reply # 4) Sat Jun-30-07 06:29 AM by Benewah
Our telephone company has a monopoly on DSL, no cable internet available here in the backwaters of Western Oregon. 256/256 - $39.95 512/1536 - $49.95 (this is what I have) 1mb/6mb - $59.95
Outrageous!!!! But what else can you do? Dial-up is $22.95.
However, they do have good service people and it is a local call.
#39. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to Paul D (Reply # 4)
Ouch! I'm a decimal place out. My 8 up is actually closer to 2.5, not 15. This is the first reading from an Aussie server - the 1.5s were from a UK one.
http://www.speedtest.net>
Broadband speed is looming as a MAJOR issue in our upcoming Federal elections. I knew our speeds were bad, but I didn't realise just how bad.
#7. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to ablib (Reply # 0) Sat Jun-30-07 08:44 AM by npmcl
I pay £14.99 (approx $30) per month for a capped service which doesn't bother me as I don't download films or music or play online games. It's an ADSL service, haven't had a disconnection for months and the speed is fairly constant at any hour.
My service is actually what is called LLU (Local Loop Unbundling) which means that a commercial company fits their own equipment for the link to the customer, into a BT telephone exchange. BT sell the initial part of the link to the commercial LLU company. The signal still uses the BT phone wires to the customer.
#8. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to npmcl (Reply # 7)
Like Noreen my UK ADSL is shown here:- http://www.speedtest.net> I have to pay £27.99....$56 approx, but I have no limits on download traffic. I still think it's too much, but I stay with British Telecom, because they still own the wires, and I cannot remember the last time that I couldn't connect.Also being a small town we cannot have cable, friends 20 miles away get all this and TV and free phone for less than I pay! Cheers, Richard. Computer Specs here:- http://www.yachtcha.com/Specs.html Website http://www.yachtcha.com Its nice to be important, but its important to be nice
I get 1.5 down and 128 up with my cable service for $49. I'm mad as h#$%$ about it but I don't have an option currently. I'm in an apartment (locked in to only 1 cable option)and don't have a LAN line (just cell).
The crappy company is called Media Works (out of Atlanta,Ga) and just changed name to DirectPath. I mention my dissatisfaction with them whenever I can. Stay away!
#22. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to ablib (Reply # 0)
I can't believe how some here are whining about their speeds and/or cost of their service. You should be ashamed of yourselves and be happy with what you have. Why? Well, here's my "broadband" specs:
1000 kbps/512 kbps @ $99.99/mo. with a FAP set at 100 megs/hr.
The only other "alternative" is dialup, which is hardly usable because the line quality is so poor, which results in frequent disconnects and corrupt file transfers.
#27. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to jbmcmillan (Reply # 23) Sat Jun-30-07 02:48 PM by Pilgrim
Quote:
QUOTE: You live in Northern B.C. Pilgrim?
No, I live in southern B.C.; Seton Portage, a secluded village nested between two sets of mountains (north & south) and two lakes (east & west). It is located between Lillooet and Pemberton. In fact, fyi, I moved here from Langley where I had Shaw cable.
The only "broadband" available is Xplornet (Telesat) satellite.
#47. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to ablib (Reply # 0) Wed Jul-04-07 06:08 AM by Pauliez
5777kbps download 2030kbps upload which is five and a half times faster than what it was three months ago. It used to be 360kbps
Comcast $42.95 plus $3.00 for modem rental.
Tried posting a picture of the speedtest but forgot how to do that. Please advise and will repost the actual speed test results. I have used two different test sites and both give aprox same speeds. I havent called comcast to ask how come. Afraid they might realize their mistake and bring me back to the old upload speed.
#48. "RE: What a ripoff! Broadband internet." In response to Pauliez (Reply # 47)
Quote:
QUOTE: 5777kbps download 2030kbps upload which is five and a half times faster than what it was three months ago. It used to be 360kbps
Comcast $42.95 plus $3.00 for modem rental.
Tried posting a picture of the speedtest but forgot how to do that. Please advise and will repost the actual speed test results. I have used two different test sites and both give aprox same speeds. I havent called comcast to ask how come. Afraid they might realize their mistake and bring me back to the old upload speed.
use speeedtest.net follow the instructions to load the pic here Ant
Jane
I guess I'll leave things as they are . Thanks again 
, ouch,help. stomach hurts. laughing. 
