Cable - Cord Cutting

[gmen6981]

I love the whole we’re bundling phone in whether you want it or not. I haven’t had a land line in years, but thanks to the Spectrum bundle I have a unhooked up line.

Yep. That's one of the things that always irked me. They were charging me $20 a month for a phone that I didn't even have hooked up, yet if I wanted to drop it, it would screw up my bundle price and cause a big increase.
Actually had one of their customer support people tell me I should keep a landline in case of a power outage. I actually had to explain to the dumbass that the phone is tied into the modem which dies in the event of an outage. He then proceeded to try to sell me a battery backup plan for the low.low price of only $40 a month!

 

[buckeyebri]

Yep. That's one of the things that always irked me. They were charging me $20 a month for a phone that I didn't even have hooked up, yet if I wanted to drop it, it would screw up my bundle price and cause a big increase.
Actually had one of their customer support people tell me I should keep a landline in case of a power outage. I actually had to explain to the dumbass that the phone is tied into the modem which dies in the event of an outage. He then proceeded to try to sell me a battery backup plan for the low.low price of only $40 a month!

I’m surprised they didn’t give you the 911 spiel....

 

[LostLassie]

WOW service just went out for the 3rd time this month.

The only good thing about them is that I call every time it happens and get $$ deducted from my bill.

Pretty sure that's a cut happening next month when my contract expires.

They are grotesquely unreliable.

 

[Abenaki]

WOW service just went out for the 3rd time this month.

The only good thing about them is that I call every time it happens and get $$ deducted from my bill.

Pretty sure that's a cut happening next month when my contract expires.

They are grotesquely unreliable.

Really? Cable/internet/both? We've had WOW internet for 3+ years and I don't think it's ever been down.

 

[jwinslow]

Really? Cable/internet/both? We've had WOW internet for 3+ years and I don't think it's ever been down.

I'd be curious about that question as well, as I'm eager for Wow to reach me in the sticks outside of Columbus. They sell current era internet speeds, unlike Spectrum (which markets against 1999 tech).

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

I'd be curious about that question as well, as I'm eager for Wow to reach me in the sticks outside of Columbus. They sell current era internet speeds, unlike Spectrum (which markets against 1999 tech).

Spectrum is my only option here outside Austin but... luckily ATT and Google offer gigabit so Spectrum has to up their game too... unfortunately they still bend you over the barrel on the UL

 

[Abenaki]

I'd be curious about that question as well, as I'm eager for Wow to reach me in the sticks outside of Columbus. They sell current era internet speeds, unlike Spectrum (which markets against 1999 tech).

FWIW, I have zero complaints, though I do need to call and see if they'll deal. My buddy just got 100mbps and even after his 2 year commitment is up, it'll be cheaper than what I'm paying for 60mbps. Still better than the 40 or 24 I could have gotten from Spectrum and ATT respectively.

 

[exhawg]

FWIW, I have zero complaints, though I do need to call and see if they'll deal. My buddy just got 100mbps and even after his 2 year commitment is up, it'll be cheaper than what I'm paying for 60mbps. Still better than the 40 or 24 I could have gotten from Spectrum and ATT respectively.

I just got Wow to upgrade me to 100 Mbps for $40 a month from 30 for $30. That and they don't filter TV so I get my HD local channels for free without the trouble of an antenna. SD basic cable works as well.

 

[LostLassie]

Really? Cable/internet/both? We've had WOW internet for 3+ years and I don't think it's ever been down.

Seriously. I'm not exactly out in the sticks somewhere. I'm in a densely populated area of Hilliard. I lose my internet, landline, & wifi all the freaking time. It's not unheard of for it to be out three times in one month. Sometimes the cable stays on when the 'net is out, that varies. Given that I do all my banking/bill pay, credit management, much of my shopping, and communication with family online, losing my means of communication could possibly cost me at some point. At least it's usually only out for a few hours at most. Again, I make sure I get credit for the outages. Still, it's an irritant.

 

[Abenaki]

Seriously. I'm not exactly out in the sticks somewhere. I'm in a densely populated area of Hilliard. I lose my internet, landline, & wifi all the freaking time. It's not unheard of for it to be out three times in one month. Sometimes the cable stays on when the 'net is out, that varies. Given that I do all my banking/bill pay, credit management, much of my shopping, and communication with family online, losing my means of communication could possibly cost me at some point. At least it's usually only out for a few hours at most. Again, I make sure I get credit for the outages. Still, it's an irritant.

We're in Hilliard as well. That's really weird. We only have internet from them, and I bought my own modem and router, but I'm struggling to think of one time since we switched to WOW where we've lost service...

 

[LostLassie]

We're in Hilliard as well. That's really weird. We only have internet from them, and I bought my own modem and router, but I'm struggling to think of one time since we switched to WOW where we've lost service...

We're in a back corner where the electric also goes out several times a year. We're near the old downtown area, so I'm guessing the infrastructure for assorted wiring is a bit frayed. Seems like I've lived other places where we went for years without the power going out, but it's common enough here that I have the AEP outage report phone # taped inside a mail tin by my computer desk for quick access.

 

[gmen6981]

FWIW, I have zero complaints, though I do need to call and see if they'll deal. My buddy just got 100mbps and even after his 2 year commitment is up, it'll be cheaper than what I'm paying for 60mbps. Still better than the 40 or 24 I could have gotten from Spectrum and ATT respectively.

Really surprising to see how much Spectrum varies in speeds from area to area. I live in Wauseon, which is a small town in rural Fulton County about 30 miles west of Toledo. Spectrum doesn't serve Toledo, but they do serve alot of the outlying areas. The minimum speed package they have here is 100mbps, and as much as I detest the company, I can't complain about their internet. Every time I run a speed test, I've never come back lower than 140 mbps. I have two desktop computers and one TV hard-wired to my modem, and at any given time, two laptops, two phones and two other TVs are connected to WiFi. I've never had any buffering or lag issues.

 

[jwinslow]

Pretty interesting read:

 

[Oh8ch]

In Florida for the winter and decided to do a dry run on cutting the cord.

Tried PS Vue but had a problem logging on from my phone and with the quality of customer support I got I shit-canned it.

Running HULU with Chromecast now and like it. I actually prefer it as a way to manage the content I am interested in.

However, I need a FF function for sports. I can get that for another $15. Anybody had any luck with that?

We are paying Amazon Prime just for the shipping, so we have streaming there as well and I don't count that as a TV cost.

In addition my wife needs Outlander and I like Counterpart so we are paying $5 per month for Starz which we will cancel when those seasons end. Then will pick up HBO when GOT comes back and during that time catch up on their other series that I enjoy. Then cancel.

There is so much content with what I have now that I cancelled Netflix and may pick it up again when I dump Starz and HBO. If things work out I will stick with HULU and rotate the other services as described.

And when I get back home I will hook up an antennae for local stuff which will require I find some way to record.

But my days of either paying $200 plus to Spectrum or throwing a hissy fit to get it lower are done. And I can dump my land line that Spectrum insists I keep to get the exorbitant rate I am already paying.

 

[buckeyebri]

Yeah Spectrum is in a pissing match with Fox right now. I had to find another way to watch one of the playoff games this weekend which is probably the only thing we watch on Fox. Might be time to dump it again.