Internet Provider

[kahala 0]

I would like to get some feedback on Internet Providers that you use, with your likes and dislikes, time you stay logged on, cost, reliability as to them not being down because of some technical problem, etc..... I am currently using MSN and have finally decided to dump it. I am living in Arizona which may have some effect on whether or not I might be able to use your provider.

Thanks again,

kahala  :)

[LeoTex 29]

kahala,

 

I have been using ATT Worldnet as my ISP for the last 5 years. In the last 4 years I can only think of maybe 2 or 3 times I couldn't log on. I pay $21.95 each month and have no limit to the number of hours per month.  For your email address you use   ******@att.net. I have a local dial up phone number, so no long distance charges.

 

Hope this helps,

 

LeoTex

[Harvey 249]

I would like to get some feedback on Internet Providers that you use, with your likes and dislikes, time you stay logged on, cost, reliability as to them not being down because of some technical problem, etc..... I am currently using MSN and have finally decided to dump it. I am living in Arizona which may have some effect on whether or not I might be able to use your provider.

Thanks again,

kahala  :)

 

I used to have to do a national ISP because my old job required so much travel.  But I got promoted into less work and more money -- isn't that the way it always is?

 

Anyway, so I ditched my ISP.  I hated them all.  Qwest Internet, Prodigy, (I refuse AOL under general principle), etc. (A note about my experiences with Prodigy at the end of this posting).

 

Instead, I went to cable broadband.  It just FLIES (via comcast in the Maryland - Washington DC suburbs).  Very, very stable.  I don't require any bells or whistles just a stable connection.

 

I have an internal network card in my notebook (I ditched desktop computers years ago), so when I get home from work, I just plug in and I'm on.  

 

Then, what I did was cancel my land line telephone cuz I hate Verizon like the plague.  A pox on their house as far as I'm concerned.  For years, I've had my cell phone plan w/Sprint PCS - $50 for 500 national anytime minutes, free long distance, no contract I can cancel at no charge at any time.  So that's my only phone.  It's like when I lived in Asia for 4 years -- I got by with only a cell phone.

 

I love my set up now.  Broadband internet access that's stable and reliable.  None of my money going to Verizon or any of the unstable, slow, unreliable national ISPs.  Everything in my life portable.  

 

A note about Prodigy Internet

 

I had them once.  They were always down, prompting me to call "customer service" (I use that term loosely) to find out when I could expect them to be able to provide the basic service that I was paying for.  

 

Apparently, their high-school recruitment program for customer service agents is beginning to bear fruit. One phone call to Prodigy provides ample ammunition for those who seek to improve the America's elementary and secondary school system. The breaking Prodigy news is that their "one hundred monkeys randomly typing on keyboards" technical support program may also be a keeper.

 

I hate them.  

 

Harv

[Peejay 0]

Kahala, all of the above is sound advice.  I used to work for a "Carrier" who is also an ISP.    

 

Things you must look at is where the particular ISP stands in the food chain.  That is there are Levels of connectivity or we refer to them as Tier's in heirachcy. A Tier 1 ISP is more likely to be a carrier.  A Tier 5 ISP gets there connectivity from a Tier 4 ISP who gets his acces from a Tier 3 ISP who inturn buys time/mb etc from a Tier 2 carrier etc.  So each level has to make money.  ::)  And generally speaking the lower down the food chain the less suppport and less reliable the service to the customer.  This is referred to as churn.  Hey its easy to drop one provider and go to the next shop for a similar service.  And they all tell you how good they are.

 

In Australia there are only 4 Tier 1 ISPs, 3 are Telco Carriers also, one is dedicated to TCP/IP traffic.  Everything else connects to one of these 4.   What you should ask is: 1.  How long can I stay connected with the one "Local" call.  2.  What is the Idle time-out set to.  3.  Can I use find a local PoP if I move from State to State/Province to Province.  4.  Do you hve inter-connect agreements with O/Seas Carriers, if you need to get access O/Seas.  

 

All, I say again, all carriers have 2 levels of drop-out/kick off call it what ever.  And they all say you can have unlimited access, 24x7 etc.  But they will all drop your connection which means you them have to pay another call charge to you network provider, normally another company.   I don't care what anyone tells you every ISP will drop you aff after 4 hours of being on-line and  normally about 20-30 minutes of idle time.  :-[   Unlimited access comes at a cost and you will pay the ferryman.