TV and Internet Options

[pmsmith2032]

We currently have AT&T/DirecTV and our contract for the TV is up in a week. Ideally I would love to change to Xfinity as DirecTv's customer service is horrible (ever since they got bought out by AT&T), they constantly keep trying to raise our rates, the On Demand selection is terrible and the internet through AT&T is way to slow (they claim we live to far from the hub and the fastest speed we can get is 12 Mbps). We are currently paying about $135 for internet (12 Mbps) and the CHOICE package (this was negotiated when I canceled last year and they called back the next day and offered a great deal). Now that our set to expire our bill will raise to about $150 which still isn't to bad and I'm assuming I might be able to negotiate lower. However, I still have all the complaints I mentioned earlier.

When I contacted Xfinity, they want around $175 for the same package we have now (and I would have to buy my own modem). The only benefit is 75 Mbps. If I just want to get internet it would be $79 (ridiculous). They do have a package deal for $54.99 for the 75 Mbps and 10 channels of TV. This would be great but they were adamant that I would have to hook up the TV (I wanted to just not use the TV part and get Directv or Dish).

So does anyone have any advice? Ideally I want to keep my bill under $150. I'm okay with keeping DIRECTV if I have to (or going to DISH), but the 12 Mbps is way too slow and it seems that Xfinity is the only other option. Thanks in advance!

 

[dishrich]

They do have a package deal for $54.99 for the 75 Mbps and 10 channels of TV. This would be great but they were adamant that I would have to hook up the TV (I wanted to just not use the TV part and get Directv or Dish).

You do NOT actually have to "physically" connect their TV box; many Comcast subs take the box they were given & throw it into a closet. Just make damn sure you REMEMBER where that said box is, in case you would disconnect their service, lest you be charged an unreturned box fee. BUT, you DO realize that price for that internet pkg IS only a promo offer...so after it runs out in a year or two, you'll have to figure something else out then.
BUT, as long as you can get another coax cable to (one of your) TV's, why NOT go ahead & connect the box? It makes for a backup source f/when the satellite gets rained out, &/or if your system goes down for some reason. Plus most likely you'll get some secondary local (sub) channels that satellite doesn't carry.

So does anyone have any advice?

Frankly I'm seeing more & more clients ditching (BOTH) satellite carriers & going back to Comcast double-play. The X1 DVR works as well as (either) satellite, & because (higher) speed internet is the higher priority for most folks, it makes more sense to bundle w/Comcast...rather than paying the higher cost of getting these services a la carte. I'm seeing this as well with the FTTN U-verse subs as well, since most here can barely even get 18Mbps speeds.

 

[pmsmith2032]

Thanks dishrich. I didn't know I could connect both Xfinity and DIRECTV/DISH to the same TV.

The one other thing I failed to mention is they want $60 to install!?!?! Neither DISH nor DIRECTV charge anything to install and they have to install a dish!

 

[Ronnie-]

Thanks dishrich. I didn't know I could connect both Xfinity and DIRECTV/DISH to the same TV.

Sure, you can connect as many services to the same tv as you have inputs on it to connect to.

 

[ncted]

Thanks dishrich. I didn't know I could connect both Xfinity and DIRECTV/DISH to the same TV.

The one other thing I failed to mention is they want $60 to install!?!?! Neither DISH nor DIRECTV charge anything to install and they have to install a dish!

Cripes that is expensive! I get 100Mb internet from Spectrum for $45/month, and my new house will effectively cost me $50-60/month for 300Mb U-Verse. I would take the $55 Internet/TV bundle and then:

1. Cancel D* for a week, and see what kind of deal they offer you to come back, or
2. Order Dish, or
3. Try out Sling or PS Vue, or something similar

Assuming you are willing to deal with the changes that would entail of course, but I (personally) would not pay that much for internet and cable service. In two years, AT&T may have upped their speeds in your area, or there could be other options

 

[osu1991]

about the same as mine with Cox for 150M service. $83, that's what led me to bundle too.

take the bundle, hook the box up somewhere or keep track of it and then renegotiate again when the bundle price expires

 

[CSM]

AT&T has new Internet speed tiers in certain areas. I just got upgraded to 50 mbps and get $30 off for two years bundling it with DTV. You may want to see if your area got the new speed tiers and see if they will give you a bundling deal.

 

[dishrich]

The one other thing I failed to mention is they want $60 to install!?!?! Neither DISH nor DIRECTV charge anything to install and they have to install a dish!

If your house previously had Comcast service within about the past 3-5 years, the coax drop might already be connected at the box/pole. If this is the case, then if you can go to the local office & pick the (TV) box up, & are able to get it & modem to connect, then they shouldn't be charging you ANY kind of install...since that was one of the reasons why they went to full encryption on their systems.
Even if this is NOT the case, you still might want to pay your local office a visit; they might be more inclined to waive any install charges...particularly if you tell them you ARE switching from another provider.

And as somebody else mentioned...if you DO decide to go w/Comcast for both services, what I would suggest is that when you DO get connected to Comcast, do NOT actually cancel your D* service yet. Instead, just disconnect the receivers & set aside for a few days, while you are starting out with the Comcast TV service. This way, if you simply do NOT like it, it's an easy matter to dump them & reconnect your D* service again w/out having to pay any kind of "reconnect fee".

 

[Jimbo]

We currently have AT&T/DirecTV and our contract for the TV is up in a week. Ideally I would love to change to Xfinity as DirecTv's customer service is horrible (ever since they got bought out by AT&T), they constantly keep trying to raise our rates, the On Demand selection is terrible and the internet through AT&T is way to slow (they claim we live to far from the hub and the fastest speed we can get is 12 Mbps). We are currently paying about $135 for internet (12 Mbps) and the CHOICE package (this was negotiated when I canceled last year and they called back the next day and offered a great deal). Now that our set to expire our bill will raise to about $150 which still isn't to bad and I'm assuming I might be able to negotiate lower. However, I still have all the complaints I mentioned earlier.

When I contacted Xfinity, they want around $175 for the same package we have now (and I would have to buy my own modem). The only benefit is 75 Mbps. If I just want to get internet it would be $79 (ridiculous). They do have a package deal for $54.99 for the 75 Mbps and 10 channels of TV. This would be great but they were adamant that I would have to hook up the TV (I wanted to just not use the TV part and get Directv or Dish).

So does anyone have any advice? Ideally I want to keep my bill under $150. I'm okay with keeping DIRECTV if I have to (or going to DISH), but the 12 Mbps is way too slow and it seems that Xfinity is the only other option. Thanks in advance!

First of all, (just looking at your 1st paragraph)
If you want to move to Xfinity, Go for it ...
Directv's Customer service is still being run by the same people that have always ran it. D*'s CS did not Get horrible when att took over, you didn't like it in the begining either, admit it.

As for the On Demnand, D* has NEVER had a good On Demand.

Who is that that continues to raise your rates ?
D* (att) raises rates ONCE a year ... EVERYONE KNOWS that ... Feb/March ... after that, your bill does NOT change unless YOU change it.

As for the Internet speed ... that is up for debate as the majority of the time it depends on WHERE you live ... you can get 12 mg ... just think, it use to be 6mg and much less before that.
I have been installing 50, 75 and 110 mg regularly.

I'm guessing your using alot of internet based devices in your home ?

I was thrilled with 12mg when I got it .... I now have much higher, but 12 would still do me fine if the price was adjusted correctly, but to drop to that type of speed they will only discount it like 5-10 dollars.

 

[Jimbo]

If your house previously had Comcast service within about the past 3-5 years, the coax drop might already be connected at the box/pole. If this is the case, then if you can go to the local office & pick the (TV) box up, & are able to get it & modem to connect, then they shouldn't be charging you ANY kind of install...since that was one of the reasons why they went to full encryption on their systems.
Even if this is NOT the case, you still might want to pay your local office a visit; they might be more inclined to waive any install charges...particularly if you tell them you ARE switching from another provider.

And as somebody else mentioned...if you DO decide to go w/Comcast for both services, what I would suggest is that when you DO get connected to Comcast, do NOT actually cancel your D* service yet. Instead, just disconnect the receivers & set aside for a few days, while you are starting out with the Comcast TV service. This way, if you simply do NOT like it, it's an easy matter to dump them & reconnect your D* service again w/out having to pay any kind of "reconnect fee".

Why disconnect the D* recvrs, just put the Comcast on one input and the D* on another, then when you decide what to keep, disconnect the other.

 

[paranoia]

Comcast,has been voted the worst CS in the country, plus lots of places in the country have data caps as low as 350 gigs.

 

[dishrich]

Why disconnect the D* recvrs, just put the Comcast on one input and the D* on another, then when you decide what to keep, disconnect the other.

And what if he CANNOT have another coax run up to where the TV is...which IS actually a fairly common situation???

 

[pmsmith2032]

Thanks all for the feedback and advice. To answer a few of the questions:

1. We have had DIRECTV for close to 15 years now. In the beginning the customer service was excellent. I would call in with a question and be connected to a knowledgeable employee in the United States. Now every time I call in or contact via chat I get someone in another country (usually India) that doesn't have a clue. For example, when I was having issues with HBO on Demand two weeks (I was trying to watch "The Wire". It appears in the menu but every time I tried to pick an episode is said I needed a subscription) I contacted them. After talking to a customer service rep and a technician I was told the issue would have to be escalated to an expert technician and they would contact me back. That was on a Monday and after not hearing from anyone by Friday I called them back. The rep I then talked to told me that they were experiencing issues with their HBO on Demand and that it would be 24 hours until it was resolved and they could help me (I think he had no clue what I was even asking). At this point I lost it and demanded to talk to someone in the U.S. After being connected to someone in Las Vegas, I was told that not all shows on HBO on Demand are made available by HBO at all times. He said this was an HBO issue, not DIRECTV (why they appear on their menu I have no idea! I still don't know if what he told me is true). He apologized for the run around I received and gave me a sizable credit. Besides the last gentlemen I spoke to (assuming he knew what he was talking about was telling me the truth) I would consider the customer service I received absolutely awful!
2. When I sign a contract, I assume that the price I am signing the contract for is for the duration of the contract. To me, that's the whole idea of signing such a contract. Now this is probably partially my fault (you know what they say about assuming things) but it's ashame that I have to be worried about such things. There was an instance however when I had negotiated a new rate with AT&T through their chat system. I had specifically asked if the rate was for a year and they assured me it was (in writing). Imagine my surprise when I received my bill two months later and it was $20 more. When I contacted them they told me the original rate was a promotion and had expired. When I told them I had it in writing (I saved the chat text) that it was for a year, threatened to cancel my service and threatened to contact the BBB they finally relented and gave me the original rate. So word of caution.......ALWAYS review your bill every month with these companies!
3. We have never had Comcast before (if I remember correctly). I think we may have had AT&T landline briefly when we moved in. Otherwise, it's always been AT&T internet and DIRECTV (we did have DISH for two years 4 or 5 years ago when they offered us a better deal)
4. AT&T offers 18 Mbps in our area. However, we had a ton of issues when we had this speed. So I called AT&T and they sent out a technician and after running some tests he told us we are too far from the hub for the 18 Mbps to work properly and that the 12 Mbps would actually work better. However, we have two kids.. It's not uncommon for one kid to be streaming on Netflix on his Ipad, the other to be facetiming, and for my wife and I to be streaming Netflix on TV (all at the same time). Is 12 Mbps sufficient for this? Could we need a different router? Maybe some sort of WiFi extender (we live in a 2,800 sqft, 2-story house)?

Thanks again!

 

[ncted]

Thanks all for the feedback and advice. To answer a few of the questions:

1. We have had DIRECTV for close to 15 years now. In the beginning the customer service was excellent. I would call in with a question and be connected to a knowledgeable employee in the United States. Now every time I call in or contact via chat I get someone in another country (usually India) that doesn't have a clue. For example, when I was having issues with HBO on Demand two weeks (I was trying to watch "The Wire". It appears in the menu but every time I tried to pick an episode is said I needed a subscription) I contacted them. After talking to a customer service rep and a technician I was told the issue would have to be escalated to an expert technician and they would contact me back. That was on a Monday and after not hearing from anyone by Friday I called them back. The rep I then talked to told me that they were experiencing issues with their HBO on Demand and that it would be 24 hours until it was resolved and they could help me (I think he had no clue what I was even asking). At this point I lost it and demanded to talk to someone in the U.S. After being connected to someone in Las Vegas, I was told that not all shows on HBO on Demand are made available by HBO at all times. He said this was an HBO issue, not DIRECTV (why they appear on their menu I have no idea! I still don't know if what he told me is true). He apologized for the run around I received and gave me a sizable credit. Besides the last gentlemen I spoke to (assuming he knew what he was talking about was telling me the truth) I would consider the customer service I received absolutely awful!

4. AT&T offers 18 Mbps in our area. However, we had a ton of issues when we had this speed. So I called AT&T and they sent out a technician and after running some tests he told us we are too far from the hub for the 18 Mbps to work properly and that the 12 Mbps would actually work better. However, we have two kids.. It's not uncommon for one kid to be streaming on Netflix on his Ipad, the other to be facetiming, and for my wife and I to be streaming Netflix on TV (all at the same time). Is 12 Mbps sufficient for this? Could we need a different router? Maybe some sort of WiFi extender (we live in a 2,800 sqft, 2-story house)?

Thanks again!

1. Customer Service certainly isn't what it used to be, no matter which company you deal with, but Comcast is generally considered worse than AT&T and DirecTV. YMMV of course.

4. 12Mb is a little slow for what you describe. It is probably worth trying Comcast to get the speed you need. Just be wary before signing a contract with them.

 

[pmsmith2032]

Thanks. I checked and the $54.99 is for a one year contract. I'm assuming like AT&T I'd have to re-negotiate after that?

Is there a certain modem/router that is recommended with the 75 Mbps from Xfinity? They have a list of approved ones on their page:


Netgear C7800
ARRIS SBG7580-AC
ASUS CM-32_AC2600
ARRIS SVG2482AC
Linksys CG7500
Netgear C7000-100NAS
Netgear C7100V
Netgear C6900
Netgear C7000v2
ARRIS SBG6900-AC
Motorola MG7550
Motorola MG7540
Netgear C6300
Netgear C6250-100NAS
TP-LINK ARCHER CR700
TP-LINK Archer CR500
ARRIS SBG6580
ARRIS SBG6782-AC
ARRIS SBG6700-AC
ARRIS TG862G
ARRIS SBG6400
ARRIS SBG6580-2
ARRIS TG862R
Motorola MG7310
Motorola MG7315
Netgear CG3000DV2 N450
Netgear C3000-100NAS
Netgear C3700-100NAS
Netgear C6220
Netgear C3000v2
Netgear C3700v2
TP-LINK TC-W7960
ZoomTelephonics 5350
ZoomTelephonics 5352
ZoomTelephonics 5363
ZoomTelephonics 5354
ZoomTelephonics 5360

 

[dishrich]

If you want a combo modem/router, I've used the Moto MG7550 for several (non-techie) clients with good results & in large homes like yours.
However, many folks prefer a separate modem/router, which I have as well, as you then have more choices with router performance.

 

[ncted]

One year isn't terrible I suppose. I am not a cable modem expert. The one I have from Spectrum is not on the list, and I wouldn't recommend it anyway. I used to have a Motorola (Now ARRIS) SB6121 which was great. If you don't need it to have wi-fi, it looks like the Motorola MG7540 is a good choice, based on reviews.

 

[Jimbo]

Thanks. I checked and the $54.99 is for a one year contract. I'm assuming like AT&T I'd have to re-negotiate after that?

Is there a certain modem/router that is recommended with the 75 Mbps from Xfinity? They have a list of approved ones on their page:


Netgear C7800
ARRIS SBG7580-AC
ASUS CM-32_AC2600
ARRIS SVG2482AC
Linksys CG7500
Netgear C7000-100NAS
Netgear C7100V
Netgear C6900
Netgear C7000v2
ARRIS SBG6900-AC
Motorola MG7550
Motorola MG7540
Netgear C6300
Netgear C6250-100NAS
TP-LINK ARCHER CR700
TP-LINK Archer CR500
ARRIS SBG6580
ARRIS SBG6782-AC
ARRIS SBG6700-AC
ARRIS TG862G
ARRIS SBG6400
ARRIS SBG6580-2
ARRIS TG862R
Motorola MG7310
Motorola MG7315
Netgear CG3000DV2 N450
Netgear C3000-100NAS
Netgear C3700-100NAS
Netgear C6220
Netgear C3000v2
Netgear C3700v2
TP-LINK TC-W7960
ZoomTelephonics 5350
ZoomTelephonics 5352
ZoomTelephonics 5363
ZoomTelephonics 5354
ZoomTelephonics 5360

Don't they supply the modem/router ?

 

[raoul5788]

Don't they supply the modem/router ?

Perhaps, but you might have a monthly rental that way.

 

[pmsmith2032]

Thanks! Monthly rental fee for the modem they supply is $10 a month.