-=PCTechTalk=- Re: high speed internet
- From: David Chun <dtwchun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:29:48 -0400
Hank,
Just checked some notes and found that I probably began Verizon
Broadband service in late October 2006 (darn it this means I haven't met
my 2 year obligation yet for a few more months). Anyway at that time,
there had been a big push by Verizon to shore up their coverage area and
Broadband had just become available to me. I had checked all the other
phone companies and by sheer luck Verizon was the only one that I was in
the coverage area (although I found out at the Verizon store that I was
in the borderline of being in the coverage area; so I later added an
external antenna so I would improve my reception, just in case), since I
had cell phone service with Verizon. But at that time, Verizon changed
it's terms of service from $79.95 to $59.95 (reduced since 2005). A
customer service representative I talked with earlier that year simply
said that if I exceeded the 5 gigabytes that my broadband services would
be 'terminated'! But the sales person at the Verizon store reassured me
that yes it would be terminated, but it would simply be picked up again
at the start of the next billing cycle -- 5 gigabytes a month until all
used up then you have to wait for next allotment and start over again.
The salesman at the store said the reason for this is that Verizon was
trying to inhibit people from doing streaming videos and the like --
instead of using a cable service, watching television programs using
Verizon broadband -- that 5 gigabytes was a lot of broadband and that I
probably wouldn't use it up in a month. That last part was wrong
because I kept downloading more and more stuff from iTunes each month to
the point I'm pretty sure that I exceed 5 gigabytes each month (how else
can I account for fillling a 250 gigabyte external hard drive?). But I
do make up for it by not using my 400 minutes with my cell phone -- I
barely come close to using even 100 minutes each month). And again,
when I take the time to actually look at my Verizon invoice, the
broadband plan only says 'unlimited megabytes' and nothing about
limitation to 5 gigabytes.
Regardless, will switch to AT&T DSL (will keep cell phone service with
Verizon since I'm happy with them) just because of the lower
subscription and faster speed. Come to think of it, knowing how slow
AT&T has been about getting service to our area (there I go again,
counting my chickens before they've hatched), even if I have to wait for
late October to fullfill my 2-year obligation for my Broadband
subscription, AT&T might actually by that time have finished getting DSL
to my area.
David
Hank Smith wrote:
>you must be on the older plan the verizon broadband internet cell phone 5
>gig limit per meg charge after that was in efect when I started working for
>the call center in march
>either you signed up before this change in terms took place or something is
>screwy either way watch your bill.
>thanks
>Hank
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Chun" <dtwchun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 8:04 AM
>Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: high speed internet
>
>
>
>
>>Don,
>>Don't usually have much to contribute; but since I use Verizon broadband
>>I thought I would present my experience. When I signed up, I noticed
>>the 5 GB restriction also. I was told by the store representative that
>>what would happen after the 5 GB was used that I would simply be cut off
>>until the next month, when the next months subscription would pick up
>>again. However, I noticed that I was never cut off. Also, speed is
>>variable! When you get the Verizon broadband you really get broadband
>>and Verizon's National Access (good for trips since Verizon broadband is
>>not available throughout the US; National Access is like using your cell
>>phone as a modem, but the speed is much better than that or dial-up).
>>The National Access comes on when broadband is not available or for some
>>reason slow (from heavy usage). Prior to subscribing, I checked the web
>>information and while in the Verizon store, the sales representative did
>>a more detailed check, checked that broadband was now available where I
>>lived -- actually while broadband was suppose to be in my area, I just
>>happened to be on the boarder where it was and wasn't availalbe (though
>>National Access was). Obviously I went this route because DSL was not
>>available to me by Bell South (now AT&T), since Verizon's broadband
>>subscription was $59/month and added to my celllular phone subscription,
>>bringing the total just over about $120/month! I rarely get Natinal
>>Access; but even the National Access speed was better than dial-up.
>>Last year or earlier this year, the broadband PC card died (overheated I
>>think because it was operating at speeds that it wasn't designed for)
>>and I paid full price for the newer one (rather than commit to another 2
>>year contract ) -- I think it was over $300. I've had burst download
>>speeds as high as 2500+ kps. However, more usually less than 1,000
>>during good down load times oof the day. I noticed a long time ago my
>>bill said unlimited megabyte downloads (no mention of a 5 gigabyte
>>limit) and since I got the Verizon braodband service, I've spent a huge
>>fortune downloading iTune songs/tv shows/movies/audio/etc! So looking at
>>the Verizon Manager (comes with the broadband card), that I've exceeded
>>5 gigabytes frequently. But I did notice that recently for about a
>>couple of months or so that the broadband speed had rarely exceeded 500
>>kps no matter what time of day it was (I suspect some problem on
>>Verizon's side). But just a week ago, my broadband high speed has
>>returned and instead of spending days downloading a season's worth of a
>>TV show, that I can now download it within a day or two!
>>
>>But while I'm happy again with the Verizon broadband, I am even happier
>>to notice a lot of work being done by AT&T in my neighborhood around the
>>telephone posts (what ever that thing sticking out of the groun is). I
>>even asked a person in one of the trucks and he said that DSL will be
>>coming soon -- so maybe the promises of the AT&T customer support are
>>finallly coming true. Will switch to AT&T DSL because the most costly
>>DSL subscription for the fastest download speed is lower than the
>>Verizon Broadband -- I think the best Verizon broadband speed is
>>equivalent to the lowest AT&T DSL subscription. While we haven't had
>>any actual announcement that DSL is coming (except for when I call
>>customer support and get a vague 'DSL by the end of the year/beginning
>>of the year') my neighbor and I are really getting excited that it may
>>actuallly be coming -- maybe even AT&T cable service!
>>
>>David
>>
>>
>>Don101 wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>If you live in an area with cellular phone service consider using your
>>>laptop for internet access through Verizon, AT&T or other cellular
>>>service. Last I heard Verizon about $50/mo. for the first 5GB. I
>>>hope that 5GB number is wrong as that is less than a weeks worth of
>>>usage for me. Sure glad I have cable.
>>>
>>>Don
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Gman" <gman.pctt@xxxxxxxxx>
>>>To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 9:21 PM
>>>Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: high speed internet
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Sandi,
>>>> Of all the satellite high speed internet services available,
>>>>DishNetwork's WildBlue is the best there is. After doing a TON of
>>>>research
>>>>on all of the possible satellite providers, we had it for a little
>>>>over a
>>>>year (~$80 US/month) and absolutely HATED it! However, I believe
>>>>our
>>>>experience would have been even worse had we gone with a different
>>>>satellite
>>>>provider. Translation: Hold onto your dial-up until you can get a
>>>>better
>>>>hard-wired connection to the super highway of data. You'll be much
>>>>happier
>>>>in the long run.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
--
David T.W. Chun, Ph.D.
Microbiologist
USDA, ARS 864 656-2488 ext. 227
Cotton Quality Research Station FAX 864 656-1311
P.O. Box 792
Clemson, SC 29633 dtwchun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
mailto: David.Chun@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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