Which ISP do you feel is the most trustworthy ?

[Skip Cole]

I'd like to change to a different ISP for personal reasons. This is the only site I know that has some people that can help me , since we all see things differently. Which are ISP's you like or don't like for whatever reason? Appreciate your comments.

Skip Cole

[b0b]

I use Comcast and I'm happy with it.

[Wiz Feinberg]

It depends on what method you want to use to connect to the Interwebs. Dialup? Satellite? DSL? Cable? Cellular Internet?

Each one of the above will depend on what services are available to your location.

For instance, I am on cable internet with Comcast. There are no other broadband alternatives at my location. Cellular Internet is way too expensive for folks like me who consume a GB per day. Dial=up is waaaaaaay to slooooooow. The phone company has no plans to expand DSL service into my neighborhood and satellite would be blocked by trees in the summer and be too expensive for the baudrates available here.

I can tell you that when I was a DSL customer - I was happy with the 1.26 mbps downstream rate and 256 kbps up. Now, I am on the low rate economy plan from Comcast, giving me about 175,000 bits a second down and about 256 k up, for about $32 a month (includes modem rental). I recently clocked some downloads at over 380 kbps, so maybe they silently upped my cap...

[Jack Stoner]

I'm on Brighthouse cable/Roadrunner.
I have a bundled package, internet/telephone/cable.

Brighthouse includes a "free" modem (actually a combo data and voice telephone interface).

I've had this since I moved to this location in Aug 01 and have had very few problems.

There is also a Comcast presence but they only offer cable in this area (they bought another cable company but have never upgraded it after 5 years for internet and phone service).

I'm too far from the local telco central office for DSL, but I had DSL at the previous location and it was down more than it was up.

[Ray Anderson]

I use Windstream DSL,fast and 99% hassle free.

[Skip Cole]

I appreciate all of your info. My daughter uses Comcast for internet and cable tv , and is pleased with both. She works for a doc at her home and he pays all fees. If he didn't pay the fees , she couldn't afford either service.
My preference is some form of DSL(Lite or just a bit faster). I don't need warp speed for following the Forum or viewing all the centerfold Steel Guitars pics , or email. I just want to leave ATT.
For now i will graze the suggested ISP's you've reccommended. Thank you all for taking your time to help a fellow steeler-geezer learn something.

Skip in Missisip

[Wiz Feinberg]

Ask Comcast for their low speed cable Internet, which is what I use. It is plenty fast enough for most things we do and not too expensive. I believe they advertise it as 1.5 megs download rate.

[Skip Cole]

Thanks for the info Wiz and everybody. I'll check Comcast shortly ; Windstream sounds interesting too, i like the 99% part.

Skip

[Ray Anderson]

Hey Skip, With windstream you get a security package that covers E-mail and Internet browsing and a host of other options. My security will not me open things that are threats and give sufficient warnings on these items. Since I've had this I have not been infected and I could not say this about past providers. Very satisfied.

[Wiz Feinberg]

All Comcast cable Internet customers are entitled to a free subscription to Norton Internet Security. I don't use Norton, but is is available to me if I want it.

[Jack Stoner]

Roadrunner also offers a free security package, but I don't use it. I use Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes.

[Skip Cole]

Jack , speaking of Microsoft , my desktop came with Guardian firewall and an assortment of other protective functions , bearing the Microsoft name. Question is, since i have Trend virus and malware protection , should Guardian be disabled to avoid conflicts in downloading periodic updates ? Or just turn them off using their menu ? Microsoft has been attempting to download updates for an Office 2007 SP3 , since 02/12 with no success. This is way outside my area of knowledge. Any help appreciated. Thanks ,
Skip

[Ray Minich]

The feds are watching no matter what ISP or communication package you employ. Cheers....

[Wiz Feinberg]

Jack , speaking of Microsoft , my desktop came with Guardian firewall and an assortment of other protective functions , bearing the Microsoft name. Question is, since i have Trend virus and malware protection , should Guardian be disabled to avoid conflicts in downloading periodic updates ? Or just turn them off using their menu ? Microsoft has been attempting to download updates for an Office 2007 SP3 , since 02/12 with no success. This is way outside my area of knowledge. Any help appreciated. Thanks ,
Skip

Check the logs from your firewall to see if it is blocking the Microsoft Updater that is trying to fetch updates for you. Your Office installation is in serious danger without these updates.

If you can't download updates via Microsoft Update (just Windows Update for those without any MS Office related programs), you can download them manually, via the Microsoft Office Download Center.

[Skip Cole]

Ray , I been trying to tell folks that, but they say i'm paranoid. Our tax dollar$ at work , eh?

Wiz , I appreciate your help, seems i learn something everytime i ask you questions. Most of the time it's "how ignant i am". Thanks to all who help.

Skip