Minneapolis Wireless and other ISPs

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by moving123456

I think somebody lied to you. You need to be in their cable service area, but you don't need to have a cable television plan.

What they gave me is the "basic" channels. The guy said it's cheaper than having "just" the internet. Oh well, I'm moving out of my apartment at the end of the month anyway.

I'm just trying to decide which ISP I wanted in my new place. Would be nice to learn about USI from an actual customer (or former customer).

[sloper]

The question is, " How can I get USI service and still watch the major network channels 2-13 without spending money on cable TV once the analog signal is cut in Minneapolis in 1-09?

[NumberPlate]

I was with comcast. They asked me to take cable + Internet and it would be cheap. Cable was almost useless as most of the movie channels were "On Demand". And internet connection would drop now and then. My VOIP phone wont work. The phone company blames it on comcast and comcast blames it on phone. I felt I was wasting lot of my time on phone with customer service of these companies. I called QWest DSL and changed. I am not saying QWest if sooper dooper service etc., But atleast I dont have to spend a lot of time on my router, customer service etc., Once its up and running i did not have any troubles.

I know only three options to have internet in MN, Comcast, Qwest, and NetZero.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by sloper

The question is, " How can I get USI service and still watch the major network channels 2-13 without spending money on cable TV once the analog signal is cut in Minneapolis in 1-09?

1. Go to dtv2009.gov for a $40 off coupon on a digital converter box.

2. Buy a digital converter box.

3. Watch television.

[Veridian]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

How is USI? That's the city's wireless internet, right?

Which is the best internet provider for speed, customer service and price?

I currently have ComCast but they make me pay for basic cable along with the internet and I don't even own a TV!

USI service varies depending on how near a wireless transmitter you are (and that is not the only variable). Do you know what the transmitters look like, and how close one is to where you live? That's the first thing I would find out if I were to seriously consider the city-wide wireless. The transmitters are generally fairly easy to spot and are usually on telephone or street light poles. They look like high-tech antenna jobbies mounted on the poles.

Another variable, and the one that decides me against city wireless, is how many things are between you and the transmitter, and what are those things made of? I for one live in a stucco house. The problem is that stucco requires a layer of metal mesh that often blocks or weakens wireless signals. So if your house is made of stucco, and/or there are stucco houses blocking line-of-sight (which is the same as line-of-transmission) between you and the nearest transmitter, you *may* have a problem.

Lastly, I don't think a solid answer to your question can ultimately be given, because until network connectivity is tested from your location the transmission quality cannot be ascertained. My paragraph above is just "rules of thumb".

[Slig]

I just bought service with USI. After doing so, I cannot understand why any Minneapolis resident would throw down $30+/month for Qwest or $42+/month for Comcast. I signed up for a year of USI for $14.95/month and I get free roaming service anywhere in the city, plus can log in to my internet service at various public locations. I understand there were some hiccups in the early stages but this is the real deal now.

[bloomingtonsteve]

I will never, ever do business with Qwest again.
After a horrible experience involving a new cell phone we bought from Qwest I dropped them like a rock. I'd been looking through the phone book and discovered Popp Comm.

Long story short...
I now have Popp for my LOCAL phone service and DSL. They're a local company based in Golden Valley. When you call them for anything a real person answers!!!! No menus. The DSL cloud is pretty fast too.

The only stipulation is that you must live in the Qwest service area since Qwest owns the lines. You also need to be within X number of feet from a switching station.

So numberplate...you might want to check into Popp for your DSL too. Because sooner or later...Qwest will "F" you over as well!!!