need help choosing internet package for home in austin, TX

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#1 Post by **gator** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:09 pm

OK, I need some help on choosing a cheap and good (temporary) internet package for home use in austin. I am going to be here for about 6 months and time warner seems to be expensive for such short term use with a million fees. I admit that I did not investigate all road runner packages, but from what I saw, turbo is too expensive and standard seemed OK till I saw that the $30 package was a one year deal.

Can anyone suggest a good package for me?

#2 Post by **rkawakami** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:15 pm

I'd say that any "cheap" package is going to have a fixed contract length (one year, not 6 months). DSL, at least, seems to be that way from the offerings I've seen (not recently but about two years ago).

#3 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:51 pm

Check DigitalLanding
http://direct.digitallanding.com/HighSp ... FQodfEOjVA

Brad · #4 Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:36 pm

In SW Florida where Time Warner and Comcast were both available they had a special this winter. The first 6 months at $19.95 with no contract.

Brad

ajkula66 · #5 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:50 pm

Do they offer FiOS down there? If they do, it's worth every cent.

NorrisCell · #6 Post by **NorrisCell** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:15 am

If it's only temporary, consider tethering your cell phone. Depending on your provider, you may be able to sneak by with a standard internet plan. If you wanted some info on it, don't hesitate to PM me.

#7 Post by **gator** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:42 am

Sadl no verizon FIOS ... and my cellphone is a very basic prepaid one, no bluetooth so tethering is out. I might have to get time warner after all

NorrisCell · #8 Post by **NorrisCell** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:15 pm

Don't need Bluetooth to tether, but prepaid service generally doesn't offer a data option, so that's no good.

#9 Post by **GomJabbar** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 11:29 pm

You might consider T-Mobile Hotspots. They are located at Starbucks coffeehouses, Borders Books and Music stores, FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers. Use your existing laptop and WiFi adapter.

http://hotspot.t-mobile.com/services_plans.htm

#10 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:22 am

Austin City Hotspots

#11 Post by **gator** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:56 pm

Harryc wrote:Austin City Hotspots

Thanks Harry, that is a great resource.

#12 Post by **gator** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:41 am

I finally decided to take a DSL service from AT & T. They were the only people willing me to give a connection without a contract. $40 p.m for 6 Mbps up and 1 Mbps down (as advertised, not sure if I can really get that on a DSL line). Free modem too. Now I gotta buy myself a cheap wired router for firewalling and I'll be all set.

I have been craving internet at home so much, this is the longest I have gone without having a connection at home since 1999. I can't beleive how addicted I am ... it's scary at times.

ajkula66 · #13 Post by **ajkula66** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:47 am

Doesn't AT&T provide you with the router?

BTW, the speed you should be getting is quite attainable if:

a) You're close enough to the central office

b) The copper wiring in your area is not zillion years old...

Not a bad deal whatsoever, by the way. Enjoy!

#14 Post by **gator** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:52 am

AT&T gives a free ADSL modem, no router ... COX did the same in gnv (cable modem but no router). I've posted an ad in the marketplace ... if I can't get one here, I am buying this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833130014

I am pretty away from the central office, no way I am going to get 6 Mbps

But I am glad that I got a service at all w/o a contract!

#15 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 1:57 am

That appears to be a wired router. You don't want to go wireless? Why would you even need a wired router unless you have someone else that will be online at your AP the same time as you?

EDIT: Interestingly, I was having trouble getting the manufacturer's product page link (found on Newegg) for this router to come up. Eventually it came up and Kaspersky AV said the file contained a trojan, so I blocked the file. Part of the page loaded. When I refreshed the page, I got the same warning message again from Kaspersky.

6/29/2008 1:13:11 AM Malicious HTTP object <http://www.adwste.mobi/b.js>: detected Trojan program 'Trojan-Downloader.JS.Agent.ccv'.

6/29/2008 1:13:11 AM Malicious HTTP object <http://www.adwste.mobi/b.js>: access denied.

Website · #16 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:42 am

Gomjabber wrote:That appears to be a wired router. You don't want to go wireless? Why would you even need a wired router unless you have someone else that will be online at your AP the same time as you?

Gom,

Sri stated earlier that he specifically wanted wired:

gator wrote:Now I gotta buy myself a cheap wired router for firewalling and I'll be all set.

#17 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:15 am

tfflivemb2 wrote:Sri stated earlier that he specifically wanted wired:

gator wrote:Now I gotta buy myself a cheap wired router for firewalling and I'll be all set.

So he did. Sorry I missed that.

Maybe I am wrong, but I believe most ADSL modems include a sort of single port router with NAT. I am not sure what would be gained by adding an inexpensive wired router. However a more expensive wired router with "stateful packet inspection" would provide additional security. I never read the manufacturer's product description to see what features this particular router has.

It might be worth it to see exactly which configuration choices and features are included in AT&T's modem.

EDIT: The following post supports my statement above regarding NAT.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,17807511

Purcy · #18 Post by **Purcy** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:02 am

When we originally signed up for Verizon's DSL where we live, the little one port modem they gave us was just that; no router. I later called their tech support and found this out, so I upgraded to their larger 4 port wireless modem/router, which is nice since we soon will be a two wireless Thinkpad family.

need help choosing internet package for home in austin, TX

need help choosing internet package for home in austin, TX

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