Need help with internet

[Bodger]

I'm fed up with AT&T. They have been overcharging me for five years. My internet has been painfully slow, had a repair tech come out and he told me that I have been paying for a service, the speed of which cannot be fed on the type of wiring I have in my area.

I have been paying $34.99 for five years, for an internet speed that I could get for $19.95 per month. AT&T customer service tells me something different every time I call, and that a manager will call me back but they never do. I'm dumping AT&T.


I'm a doofus with this stuff. What should I do? This is a big deal to change e-mail addresses, no? Bookmarks, passwords, all that stuff?

Hep me.

[kornerking]

Your in LA and don't have high speed?

I notice up in my backwater that the speed is quicker than in the Twin Cities.

For 34.99 a month you might want to get one of those wireless things that go into a USB port.

[Eieio]

What companies are available in your area?

What services do you want, just internet or tv as well? Alot of them have bundled services..

[Bodger]

Your in LA and don't have high speed?

I notice up in my backwater that the speed is quicker than in the Twin Cities.

For 34.99 a month you might want to get one of those wireless things that go into a USB port.


Yeah, the damn fiber optic lines are across the street. The last speed test I did was utter crap. Not much better than dial up.

[afkama]

I'm fed up with AT&T. They have been overcharging me for five years. My internet has been painfully slow, had a repair tech come out and he told me that I have been paying for a service, the speed of which cannot be fed on the type of wiring I have in my area.

I have been paying $34.99 for five years, for an internet speed that I could get for $19.95 per month. AT&T customer service tells me something different every time I call, and that a manager will call me back but they never do. I'm dumping AT&T.


I'm a doofus with this stuff. What should I do? This is a big deal to change e-mail addresses, no? Bookmarks, passwords, all that stuff?

Hep me.

Bookmarks, passwords shouldn't need to be changed.

It's always a good idea to not use your inet providers server for your email, just in case you do want to change.

Use a gmail acct. or set up your own domain.

[afkama]

Yeah, the damn fiber optic lines are across the street. The last speed test I did was utter crap. Not much better than dial up.

If you have cable, check their rates. I've found that cable is generally faster than DSL.

[Bodger]

Bookmarks, passwords shouldn't need to be changed.

It's always a good idea to not use your inet providers server for your email, just in case you do want to change.

Use a gmail acct. or set up your own domain.


Ah, see, I'm screwed already. I think I might know what yer talking about. :laugh3:

Right now I have Dish Network, my land line and my internet service on with AT&T.
Guess I should look for another bundler. So e-mail change is really the only issue it sounds like, and I can send out a mass e-mail alerting my contacts, and also change my e-mail with all my other accounts like credit cards and banks and e-bay.

This will keep me busy, I have no interest in technology. I'd rather detail strip a complicated firearm any day.

[Bodger]

If you have cable, check their rates. I've found that cable is generally faster than DSL.


I think cable is available around here. I also have a guy that fixes my computer when I bone it up, he lives nearby and maybe he can help. Bastid charges $200 bucks walking in the door though. But plays a mean blues guitar.

[Eieio]

Do you have Comcast in your area?

[Bodger]

Do you have Comcast in your area?

I think so.

[Blue]

I think so.

For God's sake you are in the center of the biggest city in North America.

[Len]

Cable (as in cable TV provider in your area) is almost always much faster than phone line DSL for the same $.

If you can get FIOS (fiber optic) I would check into that too.

Wireless data from a cellular company is also an option. 4G speeds are pretty good but will be less consistent and more expensive than your other options. (and not nearly as fast as cable or FIOS)

When you cancel ask about email forwarding. Most companies will forward your current address to a new one for a short period giving you time to notify contacts of you new email address.

Get a free address, don't use the one from your internet provider, and you won't have that issue again. There are several. Gmail (http://mail.google.com/mail/), Yahoo (http://mail.yahoo.com/), Microsoft Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com/)(live mail)

[tinner666]

When you cancel ask about email forwarding. Most companies will forward your current address to a new one for a short period giving you time to notify contacts of you new email address.

Get a free address, don't use the one from your internet provider, and you won't have that issue again. There are several. Gmail (http://mail.google.com/mail/), Yahoo (http://mail.yahoo.com/), Microsoft Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com/)(live mail)

Better yet, get your own domain so it's in YOUR hands next time. Bodgerconstruction, or whatever. Outlook, OL Express and I think all the other ones let you have multiple accounts to send e-mail. Just select the correct account beofre sending. I use about 8.

[tinner666]

BTW, I've changed ISP's several times and never had to change e-mail, bookmarks, or anything else. Changing computers is another matter!