Hi speed internet? (Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol: best towns, to live in, move)

[Jim37680]

Here between Gray and Kingsport we have had CenturyLink DSL (formerly Sprint, then Embarq) ever since available and it has been quite satisfactory. I have the 1.5/380K service but I know from some speed testing during a service call that 17 MB download is possible at this location (no doubt $$$$).

East of Gray on the eastern side of the Holston River and up through the Bristol area the electric utility (BTES) has been building out FTTH (fiber to the home) for the triple play service for phone, TV, and HS internet. Really great according to those who have gone with that service.

[jabogitlu]

I have Century Link and it's really frustrating. I seem to be the only person with this complaint but it's fine at times, slow at times, and at times completely non-serviceable. It likes to jump between one of those extremes and another, as well.

Charter is a pain, and is down - a LOT. I'm moving soon, back into Comcast territory, and I will be sooo glad to be rid of both Charter and Century Link.

[hcyndij]

Thanks for all the feedback - I really appreciate it!

[hcyndij]

Does AT&T get good coverage there? (and are there bandwidth limits? - we want to be able to stream videos & movies & get VOIP)

[rccrain]

ATT 3G coverage map - Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans - Wireless from AT&T

As you can see, most of the TRI is 3G. In my experience, 3G is faster here than larger cities because our systems are not as overloaded. How fast is 3G? I don't know. How fast is 2G? I don't know. ATT doesn't really say. ATT 3G info: UMTS/HSPA (3G) Mobile Broadband - Wireless from AT&T. ATT 2G info: EDGE (2G) - Wireless from AT&T.

4G will be the new thing in 2011 - up to 6 Mbps claimed, but no coverage map is available yet. 4G info:Answer Center | AT&T

Maybe someone else can say if it's fast enough for streaming. I do know it works very well on my kindle, but kindles can't physically stream anything.

[ComicalMoodyDan]

A 3G Data card is not a good idea for home internet. For the speeds you get and the price you pay the service is slow and pricey. AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint all charge for over usages for going over 5 GB a month. Which is a pretty small amount and easy to exceed. For home internet service you are far better off sticking to DSL or Cable internet.

[njkee]

I recently moved to TN from Michigan where I had Comcast. I now have DSL and am very happy with service. I don't notice a difference in speed.

[NJJo]

Thanks everyone, I had been wondering about internet service in the area as well.

[Dallas131]

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[Tennesseestorm]

Originally Posted by rccrain

Charter/Comcast are the best conventional options. Little to no downtime, but bad customer relations, and too expensive. If you live in Bristol/Blountville, the wonderful BTES becomes available for electric, phone, cable, and ISP.

3G is only available in the larger cities - JC, Kpt, Bristol, and parts of Elizabethton.

Since you mentioned Gray, Gray is going to have the same services the Kpt and JC have. About the only difference is the school district.

Yeah, I am in Bristol and we have BTES and we love it... I dont think my internet has ever been down since we have had it and we have had this for about 3 years now. We were not happy about our $760 electric bill thowever, but that includes everything (internet, phones, cable), including our financed heat pump, but still that would have made our light bill around $500 alone. Oh well, what can you do? lol.