Utilities Setup (Canyon Lake, Canyon, Bowie: rent, house, neighborhood)

[scuba steve]

I'm closing on a house over there on Friday and need to get utilities set up. What I absolutely have to do are
- electricity (this is combined w/ trash pickup?) - CPS
- water - SAWS
- gas - Who?
I think I have water and electricity / trash pickup figured out. Who does gas?

And the optional stuff...
Over here I have Comcast for cable and internet. Basic cable is enough for me since I don't watch a lot of TV and just want it to come in clear. What are the options? I don't know who the companies are.
What are the options for internet? Verizon FiOS isn't available so is it pretty much cable or DSL? I didn't plan on getting a land line because I use my mobile for everything, so is Cable pretty much it?

[sapphire]

SAWS is also trash pickup.
CPS is electric and gas.

Time Warner Cable is awful! I am speaking from a customer service angle--we are fit to be tied with them. I much prefer grandecom.com, but they're not available in my neighborhood.

AT&T U-verse, DirecTV, and DishNetwork are 3 more options that I know of.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

What are the options for internet? Verizon FiOS isn't available so is it pretty much cable or DSL? I didn't plan on getting a land line because I use my mobile for everything, so is Cable pretty much it?

You can get dry-loop DSL (Internet-only) from AT&T. If you don't have many TVs in the house, you may find AT&T's U-Verse service meets your needs for cable. U-Verse can be bundled with AT&T's highest-speed DSL.

Although I think they're fine for cable, Time-Warner's Internet was too undependable for me. That's why I'm the board's resident advocate of AT&T for broadband.

[scuba steve]

Ok, I'll have to take a look at their sites during lunchtime. I thought dish options were expensive though (>$50/month)?

[scuba steve]

Originally Posted by Bowie

You can get dry-loop DSL (Internet-only) from AT&T. If you don't have many TVs in the house, you may find AT&T's U-Verse service meets your needs for cable. U-Verse can be bundled with AT&T's highest-speed DSL.

Although I think they're fine for cable, Time-Warner's Internet was too undependable for me. That's why I'm the board's resident advocate of AT&T for broadband.

Why does the number of TVs matter? There'll be at least a couple...

I noticed a number of splitters in the attic at the house. No idea who installed them but they don't look old. I never was sure if those would screw up a cable modem.

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

Ok, I'll have to take a look at their sites during lunchtime. I thought dish options were expensive though (>$50/month)?

Hahaha, you think that's expensive, don't even bother with Time Warner. They're sick.

[Texan in Virginia]

My husband purchased a great TV top antenna from Ace Hardware for about $50 that gives us incredible reception and around 10 channels (including all the networks and Fox) for our Canyon Lake home. Before he did that, all we received was snow so we just watched DVDs. There is no need for cable now as far as I'm concerned. I can get more info tonight if you want.

Lori

[Bo]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

Why does the number of TVs matter? There'll be at least a couple...

AT&T U-Verse service requires a box connected to each TV. Each box you rent increases the monthly cost a bit more. Plus there's a limitation, due to bandwidth, of how many sets can watch HD at one time. That's why there's a distinct disadvantage to having more TVs connected. OTOH, U-Verse is being heavily marketed right now. I don't think there's a week that goes by that I don't get a phone call or a piece of mail promoting the service.

[scuba steve]

Originally Posted by Texan in Virginia

My husband purchased a great TV top antenna from Ace Hardware for about $50 that gives us incredible reception and around 10 channels (including all the networks and Fox) for our Canyon Lake home. Before he did that, all we received was snow so we just watched DVDs. There is no need for cable now as far as I'm concerned. I can get more info tonight if you want.

Lori

I may try and pick up HD over the air, but will probably get some kind of package so I can get Discovery and some other stuff.

So far U-verse looks to be 60-ish with a couple of TVs factored in along with the HD fee. But that's assuming I wouldn't need any drops. How does it connect? Cable jack, hard-wired phone line? No telling if roomates would bring their own TVs so that'd be 5 more/month if they do but that's kind of trivial. Also, does U-Verse require or assume you have a land line?

[Bo]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

I may try and pick up HD over the air, but will probably get some kind of package so I can get Discovery and some other stuff.

So far U-verse looks to be 60-ish with a couple of TVs factored in along with the HD fee. But that's assuming I wouldn't need any drops. How does it connect? Cable jack, hard-wired phone line? No telling if roomates would bring their own TVs so that'd be 5 more/month if they do but that's kind of trivial. Also, does U-Verse require or assume you have a land line?

The per-set fee is a deal-killer for my 5-set household, so I don't have U-Verse. Hopefully another C-Der who does can supply those details