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When I lived in Elmhurst, right next to Jackson Heights, I used Earthlink by Time Warner and it was pretty fast. No complaints and always consistent speeds.
Had Time Warner in Brooklyn and Astoria(and Texas), now have FIOS in Hells Kitchen. It's superior for sure. I pay 120 total including tax for every single channel including all premiums(got a deal), 35mbs internet, and phone.
I had to settle on Time Warner as I didn't qualify for FIOS and it turns out RCN doesn't cover my area, even though they do cover my brother's home in Elmhurst, 1 neighborhood over.
In the Lehigh Valley in PA I have discovered that you can plug in the cable to a television with a QAM tuner (most TV's made since 2006 have one) and you can receive the local unscrambled stations without a setup box. In the Lehigh Valley that is 21 stations in HD including 4 from NYC, and an additional 17 channels in standard definition. You can also purchase a QAM tuner that plugs into the USB port in your computer for less than $40.
RCN is required by the Fcc to leave certain channels unscrambled, but they are not required to tell you about it (on their website or from customer phone support). RCN's official policy is "We don't support that capability". I suspect this same situation may be common with other cable operators.
From what I can gather there is some interpretation of the rules. Some of the cable providers are leaving their standard definition local channels unscrambled, but scrambling their high definition signals.
I mention it on this forum because 25 Mbs internet in NYC is only $35 and TV/internet bundles start at $80. Some people may be satisfied with just getting local channels for no extra money above the internet cost, and supplementing their viewing with Netflix, Hulu+, DVD rental, etc. But the lack of any notice on the website may give one the mistaken impression that users need a more expensive service and setup boxes.
Remember you have to scan for the channels with your QAM tuner (see your TV instructions).
If someone has some luck doing this in NYC, please post.
Paco,
I used a QAM tuner connected to Comcast in Jersey City...maybe 5 years ago? I got near 100 channels including all the common cable offerings like TNT, TBS, CNN, AMC, SUNDANCE, TCM plus I got the weirdest thing...there were about 10 channels that would come and go but what they came and went WITH were any of the PAY-PER-VIEW that any of my 325 neighbors were buying at the moment. Plus HBO, Showtime, Playboy, and another porn channel that escapes me.
But little by little they all disappeared except the local New York channels. I guess too many were catching on to all the freebies.
Honestly it's a bit vague, but I think the reason I was using the QAM was that Comcast sent a "limited basic signal" that came through without a cable box...maybe $14.95 but they forgot about QAM capability.
When I moved to NYC I had to wait 5 weeks for a FIOS installation and I used rabbit ears for OTA. It was incredible...perhaps 25 channels crystalline, and I even face Queens.
Sister is in Lehigh Valley and has RCN, so I'll mention QAM to her...although they find it is fun to spend MORE than they have to so it will mean nothing to them. They wouldn't know a QAM from a QUARK anyway.
(I used to LOVE my older TV do the QAM search...so diligent! )
No, I've never tried bypassing my box to see what FIOS distributes via QAM...maybe someday. I hate fiddling with the ONT and its glass connection...and internet...and phone.
P.S. Are you ready to start stoking the boiler?
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Clear QAM channels on cable TV
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