Comcast Internet without Cable?

[Piratefan98]

I am going to switch my tv service from Comcast to DirecTV, due to the lack of HD offerings on my local Comcast system (I'm on one of Comcast's very old techology-challenged former Adelphia systems). I like the service I've gotten from Comcast and the picture quality too ... but it is an HD wasteland here in Gettysburg. I want more HD, and because of that, will be switching within a week.

That leaves my Comcast internet service, which I'm currently paying $42.95/month for. I like that service too, and would be willing to continue at that price, but I think it's going to go up to $59 without being a cable subscriber. So ... my question is .... does Comcast ever cut breaks on that, or is that policy hard and fast?

I can get DSL 5MB for $39/month, and will switch if I have to, but first wanted to see if there is any reason to think that Comcast would let me continue with internet service at my current rate.

Jeff

 

[Chris Freeland]

You can get that $42.95 rate if you keep the limited Basic tier, here in Chattanooga the limited Basic tier is less then $10 in all areas, when you add limited Basic + Internet the total comes out cheaper then Internet without cable.

 

[ahope577]

I just get internet for $42.95 from them 6 down 1 up

 

[RandallA]

$59.00 here for just Internet. You can get Basic cable for $17 and $42.95 for Internet but in the end it's the same amount, they just break it down differently and you get basic cable. Didn't really want the basic cable.

 

[dmendenjr]

Limited Basic varies by location. I am on HSI @ 42.95 and our limited basic runs us 14.75 (after taxes 58.50). In addition to saving a buck or two by keeping that package, you get the added benefit of the few out of market locals comcast seems to include in most areas. (Gettysburg, I believe, gets both Harrisburg DMA locals and a good number of Baltimore ones as well)

Edit.... Of course if I looked up Gettysburg comcast correctly, you are looking at $19.45 for your limited basic package!! if that is right, then it would be cheaper to just pay for the HSI and drop the cable outright. ((plus if their gatekeeping is as sloppy there as it is here, you'll probably still be getting a good number of channels bleeding through))

 

[stevenl]

You can get the price if you talk to the right person. Explain to them whats going on, that you either will get DSL or keep their service, put the ball in there court. Tell them they can lose you as tv but keep you as internet or lose both. They more then likely will work with you.

 

[DelilahsDaddy]

Both of my parents (in Central PA) pay $8.70 for the basic service, but in Carlisle, we would have to pay $19.99 for the basic package (locals + a few others). I think it totals about 20 channels.

You can get that $42.95 rate if you keep the limited Basic tier, here in Chattanooga the limited Basic tier is less then $10 in all areas, when you add limited Basic + Internet the total comes out cheaper then Internet without cable.

 

[The Fat Man]

Would you think of bundling with phone. In Boston, I pay $65 for phone and the net.

Also, I hate to say it but my sister is on one of the old Adelphia systems and her cable system (menu and all) has been updated within the last week to match the other Comcast systems. The only thing that was retained was the channel numbers, with the new HD channels being added to random numbers as of now.

 

[ramnet]

Here we have Comcast's "Everyday Double Play" - basic phone service (very clear but costs $$$ if you call long distance just like POTS does) and 1.5 mbps down / 0.3 mbps up (and it's very stable - almost no outages) for ~$55/mo

Not a bad deal

If you get the Internet without the phone you save mabe $5-10/mo so it's well worth it to just ditch your traditional landline too and do the double play bundle if you're like me and almost never use the phone unless somebody calls you.

 

[Memphus01]

how does the wiring work? I just signed up for Directv and I am trying to decide whether to keep comcast for internet/phone. currently i have a cable modem for phone/internet connected to wireless router.

will directv have to rerun cable to rooms so that I have both connections or will they simply reroute the one outlet?

 

[long_time_DNC]

I have Comcast only for internet...it's now up to $75/month. Started out, 8-9 years ago at $55/month. Two rate increases in 2010 took it up $10/month ($5 each increase last year). I get great stability and nice down/up speed (better be for that price!), but another rate increase this year and I'll be seriously looking at DSL...

 

[Claude Greiner]

I had dumped Comcast TV and kept the internet only. The actually made a billing mistake and was only charging me $42 for several years, until they decided to do an audit and put me on the correct pricing.

 

[jayn_j]

how does the wiring work? I just signed up for Directv and I am trying to decide whether to keep comcast for internet/phone. currently i have a cable modem for phone/internet connected to wireless router.

will directv have to rerun cable to rooms so that I have both connections or will they simply reroute the one outlet?

None of the cable/satellite companies are allowed to touch any other cable, even with your permission. They will not reuse it, nor will they remove it.

 

[jayn_j]

A tip for those looking to disconnect the cable while keeping internet.

First, as others have said, the limited basic tier is almost always a wash with the price increase for just internet. This is because they would need to add a filter to block the cable frequencies. Too much bother and adds cost, so they just leave it intact. I would tend to leave the limited basic because it adds another option during bad weather. Unfortunately, satellite tends to fail just when the tornado is bearing down on you

If you are removing cable entirely, go down and disconnect everything except the line to the cable modem before the installer gets there. Try to route the loose ends a few feet away. If it is connected, the installer will often clip the ends off the lines, making them unusable in the future. If you remove them, you can just ask to start cable again, and reconnect without incurring a service charge. That's future proofing in case the cable seems like a good idea again.