York and Lancaster CountiesRock Hill - Fort Mill - York - Tega Cay - Lancaster
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You need a VPN and nothing but 200 DL internet speed. PERIOD.
Yu can choose VPNs that are free or close to free, but I spent a few bucks month for Nord VPN.
There is another step which you'll have to do your own homework, but a YouTube search of IPTV or the like will yield you WAY MORE choices and avoid paying for renting cable boxes and remotes from Spectrum (they are your new provider).
Easy steps:
1) Return the modem and/or router that your service provider was renting to you. They are garbage and have been around the customer base over and over again. Your performance will improve as will your phone and cable tv bill.
2) Get the best deal you can for 200 MBPS download (more is better if you can afford it. Personally I use 400 GBPS download, but the nature of my hobbies require a quick screen refresh.
3) I recommend Amazon but Best Buy, WalMart even Target sell modems and routers. Modem I recommend is the Arris Surfboard SB8200, but whatever you pick make CERTAIN it will work with your carrier. Routers are what push the W-Fi signal throughout your home. There are 2 "sides" to WiFi 2.4 and 5.0. 2.4 works great around doors and walls. 5.0 is best for line of sight, meaning no additional floors or you'll need a WiFi extender.
4) You will need a FireStick4K (my preferred) or a Roku device. These devices serve to capture the channel you selected and present it on your screen. Again, in a public forum, I will not mention HOW to get every broadcast channel LEGITIMATELY and free. My advice is visit YouTube. There is a fellow named Troy (no relation - financial or otherwise - which would be a good place to begin) - Search for Troypoint.
5) OK. now you be paying between $40 and $75 a month for the internet depending on what speed you've chosen. You've removed yourself from the "rental rolls" of cable TV boxes and remotes, and the modem and/or router they were likely also leasing to you. Out of pocket: Modem will cost about $150. Don't waste your money on refurbished items. A Good Cisco router will cost under $100 (although the MeshForce M3 which include 2 satellites if you have multiple floors) at $139 is a VERY good deal. An Amazon Firestick4K (you just missed Prime Day) is currently on sale for $10 off or $39.99. And you own all this equipment, you're not renting it and have no way of knowing where it was last. Now you plug in 4 Ethernet and power cables included in the box and which are clearly marked in the manual that came with each device.
I'll let you do the math. Some internet cable providers lend you their equipment for free, some charge a monthly rate. And after you've sent or returned all your equipment and tell them you now have you own modem and router, I promise they will send you one(or two) anyway. Spectrum is incredibly difficult to deal with and they have bumped me from $69 to $84 (for 400 service in less than a year. Complaining and escalating get you no where, but here's the secret that they do not want you to know, In a year or so, none of us will need them or any other cable/internet provider. Why you ask? The answer is 5G. Today, no matter who tells you otherwise, 5G is still in its infancy. But in a year (ok, maybe 2), everything will be over the air. No cables coming into your house - just a signal like you get on your cell phone BUT frankly because of worker shortages and chipset shortages, it's going to take a while, and 6G which is right behind it will go directly to a TV or other device. Some are worried about the new neighborhood concept linking different homes together thru Ring or Echo or whatever Amazon or Google device you have. It's a lot of noise. Right now our country is under attack by hackers. When you remove the IP address with a MAC address, it's a lot harder to break-in.
Well if you're not asleep now, you will be soon....
Have a wonderful day. I wish you peace.
Ed in SC
Last edited by edcolandra; 07-08-2021 at 01:27 AM..
All the above tips are good for internet service and streaming. But to simplify just get a good antenna for reliable reception of local and regional broadcast channels. Antop 800SBS is a good compact antenna with built in adjustable gain amplifier. But there are also larger antennas that may be needed based upon location or preferences. But that Antop is a strong performer and should be adequate unless in the deep fringes. Avoid most of the indoor Walmart antennas that have limited capability.
We are considering dropping "plus" and just go basic on TV. Someone said they cost for basic can be all over the place. If you are a new customer you might get quoted one price and if a current user a different price.
When we call or look online they insist on an address so they find out if you are moving in or moving out or neither. Someone elsewhere said that they were charged $55 for basic but that sounds high. Your knowledge on cost for basic? Thanks.
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