thoughts on new house hook-ups incl TV, internet, etc.

[Cofga]

Well, we've had Charter since Dec 1 and it has been a bit of a hit and miss due to one underlying issue--signal strength. Our experience with their maintenance crews has been very good. Yes they usually run late but have always shown up and seemed to know what they were doing. Note that these guys are contractors for Charter not their own employees.

We had a couple weeks of intermittent problems with both internet and TV. They tired to boost the signal by replacing connectors and removing old wires to no real avail. Finally a really good guy showed up and decided to replace the line from the pole to the house and that worked. After looking over the wires he found a section where a squirrel had chewed through the insulator all the way into the main wire. Since that fix we've had excellent speed and a really great picture.

On the down side, the overall TV channel selection is not quite as good as with say DirectTV and most of their OnDemand free stuff is trailers and other junk--we rarely use it. I haven't checked with DirectTV yet but do plan to see if we have clearance--you need 45 degree clear line of sight to the S in this area so there is a pretty good chance it will work. I think that this month is the last one for our intro rate with Charter so I will either have to jump ship or sign on for a longer term to keep the bill affordable--Larry

[GuyFriendly]

Followup.

Charter failed to show when scheduled. I called them and they said they had no record of the appointment. When I explained how they had failed to show for a survey either time it was scheduled and offered to go satellite instead, they got active very fast.

Installation was scheduled for the next day and the man arrived early. He installed an exterior box, ran wires from the box outside to the central box in the garage (and made them inconspicuous), hooked up all 8 cable links, and checked signals.

The phone was supposed to be a separate install, but the man here for TV and internet said he could do it and he did.

So everything is up and running.

Charter offers 8, 16, and 25 meg service for internet. I ordered the 16 so we can stream Netflix to our BluRay box and TV. When I tested the speed last night, it was coming in at 25.96 meg! Yes, we are only paying for the 16 - the technician said to expect speeds "considerably faster" than what we ordered.

So everything is up and running very well and I am happy.

[motordavid]

GF, Good to read your cable, phone & 'net are humming!

Wish we had cable up here; it will not get up this far, in my lifetime.
Thus, we are at the current whim of DISH, and thinking of going to
Direct. Our wireless net provider, (a local privateer and friend), does
work well. I think I would give up TV, before I would give up the Net.
GL, mD