Can't get online...what's the best way?

Long story and possibly dumb question, but I basically need to figure out the best overall way to get internet access. I'm way behind the times, and everyone here just piggybacked off unprotected networks. I'm not doing that anymore, lol.

I also need a new phone. Right now I have ATT. I've never had an actual problem with the company, but it just seems like they're overpriced for what you're getting. I'm paying 60 bucks a month for a completely terrible phone that doesn't even have speaker. I've been hearing about "tethering" to get online. After looking into that, it appears that ATT got wise to people doing it and came out with some plan specifically for tethering, but it sucks. Supposedly, T-mobile has no official rules for this, and is considered the best, just get a phone with a data plan?
I have people telling me to go with Sprint, T-Mobile, etc. People said Verizon too, but I don't know who to believe. Either way, I don't even have a phone to "tether" with right now, so that'd have to be out of the way first. And, it doesn't seem as reliable!

Anyway, At the same time, I'm thinking about just getting internet access from home either via cable or DSL. I hear DSL is cheapest, but kind of...sucks and FIOS is the way to go. Cable is faster yea, but might have it's own issues. At the same time, I don't want other people using my Internet access if I'm paying for it and my name's on the bill.

Is there any "easy" way out of this? I just don't know where to start, I've been out of the loop for so damn long. I might as well be using a Zack Morris phone and using AOL to get online 1997 style. That's how behind I am!

Phone:

I use Sprint. $69.99/mo. I get unlimited calls, text and web. Got the Blackberry phone for free. Can't beat that deal.

Internet: DSL sucks. Get Comcast. I pay just over $40 a month. It's always on and fast.

Get yourself a wireless router for like $30. Just set a password and nobody can steal your internet.

Do you need a new computer with Wifi? They are very reasonable these days. I got you if you do...

Just get seperate internet. I use verizon dsl and have no issues with it. My mother has the basic "fast" plan which feels slow, especially when streaming video. I have the second level "faster" plan which is perfect for what I need. Some videos take a while to load, but most of the time it's because of the site I'm streaming from.

I got an introductory rate of $29.99 which after taxes comes out to about $34 a month. And the customer service has been really good too. My only gripe is that they set everything up so you can access your account online and I never remember any of the login stuff. Then when I call they ask for a customer number which I don't have because I don't recieve a paper bill and forgot my login info

Here's the info if you need it
http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/HighSpeedInternet/Plans/Plans.htm

Just never use comcast. They are complete a-holes and their service is as confidence inspiring as an 80 year old nun pushing a VW bus up a hill.

And for cell phones we use sprint because Laura had a horrible time with AT&T/cingular. Now Sprint is starting to add all kinds of stupid fees and it's getting really old really quick. Once the contract is up we may end up changing to someone else.

Wow those are two pretty conflicting responses....

My father had Sprint, and ditched it because like you said, they started adding all sorts of crap to his plan and it was pissing him off. I'm thinking of going to T-Mobile.

Looking at FIOS, it kind of seems like it's just more money for something I don't "need", I dunno.
I also don't want anyone fiddling around with my computer if anything gets installed here, someone told me Verizon put crap all over their computer? haha

Bill right now I'm running a desktop (3.4GHz) with a wireless adapter out my window

Needless to say, it's not reliable internet. I plan on getting a new laptop eventually as well to bring around with me. My desktop, as far as I know, has no more internal wireless card, my friend helped me fix it and I think he took it out since I was running the USB adapter. Either way for the time being I think that USB adapter would pick up whatever I wind up going with.

T mobile is offering 3g wireless internet that you can use anywhere with your laptop for $40 a month.

GasTT wrote:

T mobile is offering 3g wireless internet that you can use anywhere with your laptop for $40 a month.

That's on top of the cost of a reg. phone plan right?
My friend has T-mobile and some kind of a phone like an iPhone but not (Motorola Click??) and has no bad things to say about it.

Matt,

T-mobile sucks out loud. Their coverage sucks, and their customer service, well, I hope you like KY....

Sprint isnt bad. Verizon is where its at thou.

FIOS is the way to go for fast internet. For sure. DSL is ok for basic surfin, too. So long as you don't mind waiting for your streaming porn to buffer for a bit first.

I HATE commiecast. Not only does their service suck, is ancient technology, and is more often than not unreliable, but they are my sworn enemy, being a phone guy. I work for Fairpoint, but used to be Verizon before they sold off the northern states.

Or.... Just scan your area for wireless networks and hop on an unsecured one. (BTW, FIOS comes with a wireless router with its own security built in)

Matt Trakker wrote:

GasTT wrote:

T mobile is offering 3g wireless internet that you can use anywhere with your laptop for $40 a month.

That's on top of the cost of a reg. phone plan right?
My friend has T-mobile and some kind of a phone like an iPhone but not (Motorola Click??) and has no bad things to say about it.

You don't have to get a phone plan. You can just get the internet it's $40 a month and it's wireless so you can use it anywhere. The unit looks like a USB flash drive. I don't have it so I cant speak for reliability.

toomanytoyz wrote:

FIOS is the way to go for fast internet. ...................
Or.... Just scan your area for wireless networks and hop on an unsecured one. (BTW, FIOS comes with a wireless router with its own security built in)

Thats correct. Comcast is cable & loads down with areas of high usage
FIOS gives you the router & you password encrypt it for security
Whatever PC or laptop you use requires a wireless card (Fios may give them to you if you dont have it???)
Fios stuff on the computer is like idiot light programs so you can find stuff if your an idiot (& cant remember your login password etc ) You print it out & delete all that garbage like any other unwanted program.
As far as cells go, I've stuck with my old verizon issued motorola nothing phone.
When the kids went in for an upgrade, EVERY phone required an internet plan (guessing like $7/month) plus all the normal plan $, minutes, texting, etc
I didnt let them do it (my friend in the business talked them out of it FOR NOW)
I'm a hold out for the internet on phones mainly because I've got to the point where I cant see the small text & detail.
Ya, thats MY problem.
Good luck making a decision.

I am stuck with comcastic. I hate comcast. I would have had verizon years ago, as it is way cheaper and as fast if not faster than comcast, but was told the lines on my street would not support internet and they would install them soon. That was five years ago.
I would have gone with Fairpoint last year as it is way cheaper and as fast if not faster than comcast, but was told the lines on my street would not support internet and they would install them soon.
So I am stuck with commiecast unless someone on the inside of fairpoint can grease the right wheels.

IMPALADAKID wrote:

So I am stuck with commiecast unless someone on the inside of fairpoint can grease the right wheels.

Ell Oh Ell!!!!!

I'll see what I can do.

toomanytoyz wrote:

IMPALADAKID wrote:

So I am stuck with commiecast unless someone on the inside of fairpoint can grease the right wheels.

Ell Oh Ell!!!!!

I'll see what I can do.

That's
Polly Ann Park (Cushing rd)
Dover, NH

Fios is expensive and only available in select areas. I like it in theory, but it's fiber optic and I like to make my own lines and route things where I want them. I learned the hard way that fiber optic can't be cut and spliced to fit

Otherwise I'd be on it like glitter on a stripper

Yes it can. Just a different procedure
I dont recommend it only because I've never done it (cut & polish) but fiber isnt new
The box they put in brings fiber to the house & cable stays where it is (splices & all)
More splices = less clarity for tv signals tho. It can get pricey for all the services HD tuner, DVR etc., but you get what you pay for.

Brad, you're an idiot.

The fiber stops at the dmark (telco box) on the side of the house. From there on, it's plain old copper or co-ax inside your house. Same as it's ever been. For you to do with, and run where you please.

Moron.

toomanytoyz wrote:

Brad, you're an idiot.

The fiber stops at the dmark (telco box) on the side of the house. From there on, it's plain old copper or co-ax inside your house. Same as it's ever been. For you to do with, and run where you please.

Moron.

So what's the point then if you use the same old wire inside as cable does?

And if you've never cut fiber optic cable you should give it a try. It makes a nice little frilly fan like a fancy paint brush

bammax wrote:

toomanytoyz wrote:

Brad, you're an idiot.

The fiber stops at the dmark (telco box) on the side of the house. From there on, it's plain old copper or co-ax inside your house. Same as it's ever been. For you to do with, and run where you please.

Moron.

So what's the point then if you use the same old wire inside as cable does?

Its like connecting your common garden hose to a hand operated pump versus an motor driven one. Same garden hose, different output. (I SO held back with attempts at humor here )

bammax wrote:

And if you've never cut fiber optic cable you should give it a try. It makes a nice little frilly fan like a fancy paint brush

Stay out of Spencers gifts will you. That fancy paint brush was left over from the 70's when fiber optics was first hitting the general public
Cable they use for internet is like the TOSLINK on the optical input/output of your DVD /Receiver/ HD cable box, it's a jacketed cable that when cut needs its optical properties refreshed(polished).
The cable guy can do it on site, he's got the tool.
Thats the limit of my knowledge

Haha, uh yeah Bill I need to download some new pr0n!

Now I just don't know what to think. All I need is to get online, I was picking up wireless for over 7 years, maybe longer, from different networks because they were unprotected, there was even a municipal one floating around. But, they're all running passwords now, and it just doesn't seem safe anyway. What I'm not sure of is what kind of internet I was actually "stealing" for ages. It was a pretty decent speed. My desktop, in spite of it's issues, is pretty fast at over 3 GHZ so I don't know if that helped make up a little for the weak signals or what. I think it might have been cable internet.

So Tim that T-mobile wireless thing is like an air card, sans-phone?

I don't really want a Verizon cell because they're kinda like the Bank of America of cell phones to me (just my opinion though). If T-mobile gave me a good deal on some kind of internet access in addition to a smart phone, I'd be into it. I'll prob. just check them out first.

My brother and at least one of my friends have them, and have nothing bad to say, a few of my friends have Sprint and said they like them, but they've been adding all these new charges and jerking them around.

This sucks! I'm at the library with a bunch of creepers grunting and looking at questionable websites! They smell bad too!

Dude, I cut and splice fiber optic cable on a daily basis. It doesn't fan out like the circus toys But it IS dangerous and you need to keep tract of the stuff you chop off. Fiber splinters are a bit dangerous, too.

Matt Trakker wrote:

Haha, uh yeah Bill I need to download some new pr0n!

Now I just don't know what to think. All I need is to get online, I was picking up wireless for over 7 years, maybe longer, from different networks because they were unprotected, there was even a municipal one floating around. But, they're all running passwords now, and it just doesn't seem safe anyway. What I'm not sure of is what kind of internet I was actually "stealing" for ages. It was a pretty decent speed. My desktop, in spite of it's issues, is pretty fast at over 3 GHZ so I don't know if that helped make up a little for the weak signals or what. I think it might have been cable internet.

So Tim that T-mobile wireless thing is like an air card, sans-phone?

I don't really want a Verizon cell because they're kinda like the Bank of America of cell phones to me (just my opinion though). If T-mobile gave me a good deal on some kind of internet access in addition to a smart phone, I'd be into it. I'll prob. just check them out first.

My brother and at least one of my friends have them, and have nothing bad to say, a few of my friends have Sprint and said they like them, but they've been adding all these new charges and jerking them around.

This sucks! I'm at the library with a bunch of creepers grunting and looking at questionable websites! They smell bad too!

It is just a USB flash drive looking thing. You plug into into your computers USB port and BAM, internet anywhere.



I was at tmobile yesterday and they were explaining it. $40 a month no phone required. 3G broadband speed anywhere you are.

GasTT wrote:

I was at tmobile yesterday and they were explaining it. $40 a month no phone required. 3G broadband speed anywhere you are.

Thats...anywhere THEY are. T-Mobile has no signal at my home.
Just make sure, your area is probably fine.
Sounds simple enough.
You can be like a computer geek now, whip the flash drive out of your pocket & BAM... surf city

Still researching online- I was gonna try getting an iPhone from ATT, but they got rid of unlimited data plans.

It's prob. gonna be Sprint or T-mobile. I'm hearing from more people that T-mobile isn't quite up to snuff compared to Sprint. Sprint has an unlimited data plan, supposedly I could get a smartphone from then, then download an app and secretly use it "phone-as-modem" style.

If I were going to T-mobile to get that card, wouldn't it make more sense to just get a phone from them and tether with that? I dunno. I should have taken care of all of this years ago, now I have no idea what I'm doing (other than what I've learned over the past couple days) becuase I was drunk on free intardnet. LOL

Matt Trakker wrote:

Still researching online- I was gonna try getting an iPhone from ATT, but they got rid of unlimited data plans.

It's prob. gonna be Sprint or T-mobile. I'm hearing from more people that T-mobile isn't quite up to snuff compared to Sprint. Sprint has an unlimited data plan, supposedly I could get a smartphone from then, then download an app and secretly use it "phone-as-modem" style.

If I were going to T-mobile to get that card, wouldn't it make more sense to just get a phone from them and tether with that? I dunno. I should have taken care of all of this years ago, now I have no idea what I'm doing (other than what I've learned over the past couple days) becuase I was drunk on free intardnet. LOL

If you buy a phone with a Data Plan, you can use your phone as a Wifi Hot-spot and pickup internet on your computer that way.

Don't buy a data plan phone, AND 3G internet for your computer. 3G internet is slow and not suitable as a full-time at home sulution.

That's what I want to do.

I'm assuming the 3G is just referring to the air card?

I hear Sprint offers 4g now in the Boston area, but T-mobile's 3g is better in some respects...I dunno...I'll probably just try to get the best deal I can and live with it. My friend has the one you mentioned there Fishah, the 70 dollar sprint one, he has to pay for calls made to land line phones, but how often do you do that I guess...

Then another friend has T-Mobile and pays 70/mo...has about all the same stuff...I'll just check out both I guess.

If you are interested in the iphone and or tmobile they have an iphone clone. It's a real good phone my girl just got one. Samsung Vibrant.

Matt,

I get 450 Anytime minute for land-line phones. Only after that do you have to pay.

Dude this isn't that complicated.

Get a cell phone. You don't need Data but it's a nice feature to have. Don't use a data plan as your primary internet at home though. It sucks.

Then get Comcast or Verizon internet at home. The difference in speed's is negligible for what you will be doing. Get whichever you can get for less money.

I agree. It's not as hard as you're making it out to be. You started off wanting internet and you only have so many options to choose from. Check into each of them and find out which one will work best for your needs and budget. It'll take a few days to get set up and then you can go through and tailer it to fit your needs.

Then check which phone has a plan and service area that works for you and make sure it's in the budget. If so then sign up and get a phone that you like.

Each person normally has one pair of sex chromosomes in each cell.
Females have two X chromosomes, and cant make prompt decisions.
whereas males have one X and one Y chromosome, and dont give a @%*$ about anything
Dont make us order a test

I'm just freaking out because I had no way to get online all of a sudden, and am forced to put up with people of ambiguous X or Y chromosome configuration that smell like BO grunting at the computer next to me at the library.

I know I'm overanalyzing the chit out of this, I'm just paranoid that I'll wind up with something I shouldn't have picked. I've got the info and I'm going to grab something around the end of the week.

I still haven't done anything. I'm at the library and someone is constantly farting (not me) in the computer lab.

I'll try to get something going this week, but from what I've figured out -

-Can't get DSL at my house without having a land-line phone activated, that's not happening. Apparently there is a "dry-loop DSL" but it's hard to get, if not impossible. According to the site my address ain't eligible.

-I was going to try tethering a smart phone, but it really seems like a big purchase with a lot of risk and isn't going to be feasible as a main internet source.

I think right now I might just get comcast and a regular phone with a cheaper plan than what I'm paying now with ATT. I don't need internet all over the place.

Matt Trakker wrote:

I think right now I might just get comcast and a regular phone with a cheaper plan than what I'm paying now with ATT. I don't need internet all over the place.

DING DING DING! BINGO!

LOL

We also already have cable hookups to both upstairs and downstairs, so I guess I could just get it turned on pretty easily.

The fat lady w/the cane farted again in here...

Matt Trakker wrote:

The fat lady w/the cane farted again in here...

I'm sorry, that was me actually. We had meatloaf for dinner.

Cadet57 wrote:

Matt Trakker wrote:

The fat lady w/the cane farted again in here...

I'm sorry, that was me actually. We had meatloaf for dinner.

Lol,

Matt for a cell phone why not just get a pay as you go phone at any store (CVS, Walmart, Target) for like 15 bucks and just add minutes when you need them. If you're getting a landline just use that for all of your calls. The cell can be just for on the go use, just make the conversations short.

CLEAR IS THE WIRELESS INTERNET IN TOWN 4G UNLIMITED PLANS ... IF YOU JUST NEED WIRELESS INTERNET ITS $45 . YOU CAN EITHER GET THE USB ADAPTER OR A " HOTSPOT"( YOU CAN CARRY THE HOTSPOT WHEREVER YOU GO. WIFI ON THE GO..


CHECK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE COVERAGE IN YOUR AREA AND I CAN SET YOU UP ( MY FATHER IS A AUTHORIZED DEALER)

Ugh, I found that Comcast will charge you over 60/month if you don't want cable TV, etc. They can go to hell if that's the case!

I think I'm just going to abandon everything, live in a shack in the woods, poop in an outhouse, and never go online ever again, how does that sound.

Matt Trakker wrote:

Ugh, I found that Comcast will charge you over 60/month if you don't want cable TV, etc. They can go to hell if that's the case!

I think I'm just going to abandon everything, live in a shack in the woods, poop in an outhouse, and never go online ever again, how does that sound.

At first like a camping trip...then REALLY boring.

Here are my two measly cents. Before doing anything, I simply asked some friends who do all this stuff with computers & phones for a living. Verizon network is currently hard to beat they advised, and they were absolutely right in my case, because after using sprint, t-mobil & nextel, my VZ experience has clearly been the best. Also my Motorola Droid X is excellent, even on current CDMA "3G" network. ($99 with a two year agreement) And, as "4G" is just a marketing term at present, I'll stay with current phone technologies. With a car mount using the Google Nav-sys with the Droid X, there's no need for dedicated mobile navigation units, it also doubles as an excellent hands free device that keeps the phone charged as well as interfacing your music to your car audio. Don't forget, it's also an 8 mega-pixel camera and video recorder with 16 GBs removable micro-SD. (note of warning: expect navigational frustration if you get a Blackberry with VZ nav). For home computer they (my expert buddies) recommended optimum (cable-vision). With a new (included) modem, my upload & download speeds are extremely fast. With my iMac, internet connections & video processing is virtually instantaneous. I press a button down to get on any site and the screen responds before my finger has time to release! I gave up trying to score marginally cheaper rates, because the performance & frustration can be beyond my tolerance level and make me feel that what EVER I spend to save bucks, is a TOTAL waste. Go online and a little research will suggest that we are on the verge of a very exciting deluge of powerful, versatile & relatively inexpensive smart-phones, all with mostly two year commitments. Every month that I pay my bill on time gives me a pro-rated diminishing Opt-out penalty fee, in the event I decide to switch to another carrier in less than two years. Hope this helps a little bit.