Octopus Overlords

Daehawk wrote: ↑Tue Sep 01, 2020 4:41 pm Yup just miffed. But I wont be paying it. Ill let them cancel my net too if so and sit here and die of boredom first.

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:25 pm Does anyone remember if getting out of contracts with current suppliers is in this thread somewhere?

I'm finally taking action on dropping DirecTV, and I really have no idea if I even have a contract, and what the implications are if I cancel. Their website, even when logged in to view your account and all the details, is ATROCIOUS. And just really lacking in the information I need (like - how long is my contract? Where am I in that time period right now?)

Although with my recent streaming experiences, I was leaning toward the Hulu + ESPN option, Spectrum has been bombarding me with offers.

The current one seems very decent:

$96 (that's including all the bs fees and taxes, etc) monthly gets you 400Mbps internet and a bazillion channels, plus Showtime for 12 months. No box required (Cloud DVR), but also no mention of 4K.

Alternatively (FINALLY) you can get an a la carte package that let's you choose 10 channels, and everything else the same as above, for $74 after fees, tax, etc.

DirecTV is apparently feeding me 50 Mbps, and it is horrible with all three kids and my wife on Zoom all morning (virtual school and conference calls). But I don't know if 400 is a little overkill. They have a couple of cheaper packages with 100, which may be the way to go. Can anyone comment on the difference in internet speeds (and claims vs reality)?

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:25 pm Does anyone remember if getting out of contracts with current suppliers is in this thread somewhere?

I'm finally taking action on dropping DirecTV, and I really have no idea if I even have a contract, and what the implications are if I cancel. Their website, even when logged in to view your account and all the details, is ATROCIOUS. And just really lacking in the information I need (like - how long is my contract? Where am I in that time period right now?)

Although with my recent streaming experiences, I was leaning toward the Hulu + ESPN option, Spectrum has been bombarding me with offers.

The current one seems very decent:

$96 (that's including all the bs fees and taxes, etc) monthly gets you 400Mbps internet and a bazillion channels, plus Showtime for 12 months. No box required (Cloud DVR), but also no mention of 4K.

Alternatively (FINALLY) you can get an a la carte package that let's you choose 10 channels, and everything else the same as above, for $74 after fees, tax, etc.

DirecTV is apparently feeding me 50 Mbps, and it is horrible with all three kids and my wife on Zoom all morning (virtual school and conference calls). But I don't know if 400 is a little overkill. They have a couple of cheaper packages with 100, which may be the way to go. Can anyone comment on the difference in internet speeds (and claims vs reality)?

stessier wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2020 8:10 am

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:25 pm Does anyone remember if getting out of contracts with current suppliers is in this thread somewhere?

I'm finally taking action on dropping DirecTV, and I really have no idea if I even have a contract, and what the implications are if I cancel. Their website, even when logged in to view your account and all the details, is ATROCIOUS. And just really lacking in the information I need (like - how long is my contract? Where am I in that time period right now?)

Although with my recent streaming experiences, I was leaning toward the Hulu + ESPN option, Spectrum has been bombarding me with offers.

The current one seems very decent:

$96 (that's including all the bs fees and taxes, etc) monthly gets you 400Mbps internet and a bazillion channels, plus Showtime for 12 months. No box required (Cloud DVR), but also no mention of 4K.

Alternatively (FINALLY) you can get an a la carte package that let's you choose 10 channels, and everything else the same as above, for $74 after fees, tax, etc.

DirecTV is apparently feeding me 50 Mbps, and it is horrible with all three kids and my wife on Zoom all morning (virtual school and conference calls). But I don't know if 400 is a little overkill. They have a couple of cheaper packages with 100, which may be the way to go. Can anyone comment on the difference in internet speeds (and claims vs reality)?

I don't think 400 is overkill... Especially if you have to do school from home.

Tangentially related, out of curiosity, I went and checked how much data we used last month. I have kids 11 & 14. One started school at home on 8/10, the other on 8/24. When they are not in school, they are almost always streaming something. We used 1.28 TB last month. I checked maybe 18 months ago and we were averaging 250 GB. I would strongly suggest you find someone without a data cap if at all possible.

Daehawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:04 pm I feel a bit 'off' in the world since cutting cable. I cant describe it..just dont feel right. I didn't watch anything but the news. And I DVRd it to skip ads. Id off and on during the day take a PC break and lay on the bed to rest my bones and flip around. That was totally it with my tv habits. But now its not there for even that. I now can only sit at the pc even when Im doing nothing and resting looking at a off tv and the ceiling is not relaxing. My feet, neck, back, and stuff hurts. Im still doing everything else like pc games and animal care. But Im a tad bored, sore, and in a meeeeh daze. Must be a form of tv withdrawl.

On the plus side my bill is $70 this month. Which is still too high.

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:02 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:04 pm I feel a bit 'off' in the world since cutting cable. I cant describe it..just dont feel right. I didn't watch anything but the news. And I DVRd it to skip ads. Id off and on during the day take a PC break and lay on the bed to rest my bones and flip around. That was totally it with my tv habits. But now its not there for even that. I now can only sit at the pc even when Im doing nothing and resting looking at a off tv and the ceiling is not relaxing. My feet, neck, back, and stuff hurts. Im still doing everything else like pc games and animal care. But Im a tad bored, sore, and in a meeeeh daze. Must be a form of tv withdrawl.

On the plus side my bill is $70 this month. Which is still too high.

see if this works in your location: https://www.locast.org/

stessier wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2020 8:10 am
I don't think 400 is overkill... Especially if you have to do school from home.

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:16 pm In terms of alternatives to cable, I had decided, and was pretty excited about, the Hulu + Disney + Live TV + ESPN deal. It's a fantastic price, and would be perfect for us. No one really watches cable channels much anymore (always streaming instead from a service). Not to mention it's around $60 less than we are paying now for DirecTV.
...

Now, I am pretty much forced to do the Spectrum option because I need internet access from someone. Ah well, it's not a HORRIBLE deal, but I don't like the idea of paying for streaming services on TOP of paying for cable. And we are a Mandalorian loving family if nothing else.

If I just bought internet access from Spectrum (at the 400 speed I mentioned above), that would cost $65 a month. For $15 more a month, I get 125 channels (almost all garbage IMO), Showtime (not nearly as "premium" as they used to be) for 12 months, and Cloud DVR for 12 months.

If I drop the internet speed down to 100, that's $45 a month, then tack on the Hulu package ($62/mo) and now we're at $107.

I would love to have a third internet provider option right about now, to add some competition. I really think the price both AT&T and Spectrum are asking is ridiculous.

coopasonic wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:27 pm If it makes you feel any better (I know it makes ILB feel better), I pay AT&T $256 month for cable, internet and phone (yes, landline, shut up my wife won't let it go)

Oh, I also sub to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and Disney+ (I get HBO Max free with my AT&T gigabit internet).

So yeah, you don't have it too bad.

stessier wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 4:02 pm

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 4:34 pm

coopasonic wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:27 pm If it makes you feel any better (I know it makes ILB feel better), I pay AT&T $256 month for cable, internet and phone (yes, landline, shut up my wife won't let it go)

Oh, I also sub to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and Disney+ (I get HBO Max free with my AT&T gigabit internet).

So yeah, you don't have it too bad.

Does that include mobile access as well?

Carpet_pissr wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:16 pm Welp, that did not go as planned at all.

Yesterday, our AT&T modem kept going down. This was a Bad Thing considering I have three kids streaming school video feeds, and an occasional video feed also streaming on my wife's computer for work. Got on a call w tech support and they sent me a new modem overnight (nice). Took the opportunity while I was calling to also check on my contract status, etc in order to cancel at some point in near future. I also was going to at least temporarily upgrade my internet speed from 50.

In terms of alternatives to cable, I had decided, and was pretty excited about, the Hulu + Disney + Live TV + ESPN deal. It's a fantastic price, and would be perfect for us. No one really watches cable channels much anymore (always streaming instead from a service). Not to mention it's around $60 less than we are paying now for DirecTV.

Results:
No contract.
can't cancel until the end of the current billing cycle, which is end of month

Now here is the kicker: they (AT&T) don't HAVE any internet option above the speed I have! WTF man, it's not like we're in the middle of the Ozarks. So when I heard that, I immediately said "OK, I need to cancel then". I was actually hoping to KEEP internet from DTV (upgraded speed), and then do the Hulu thing.

Now, I am pretty much forced to do the Spectrum option because I need internet access from someone. Ah well, it's not a HORRIBLE deal, but I don't like the idea of paying for streaming services on TOP of paying for cable. And we are a Mandalorian loving family if nothing else.

If I just bought internet access from Spectrum (at the 400 speed I mentioned above), that would cost $65 a month. For $15 more a month, I get 125 channels (almost all garbage IMO), Showtime (not nearly as "premium" as they used to be) for 12 months, and Cloud DVR for 12 months.

If I drop the internet speed down to 100, that's $45 a month, then tack on the Hulu package ($62/mo) and now we're at $107.

I would love to have a third internet provider option right about now, to add some competition. I really think the price both AT&T and Spectrum are asking is ridiculous.

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:46 am If you're getting AT&T internet, I'm guessing you can get HBO Max at no additional cost. (Or if AT&T is your mobile phone provider.)

JCC wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:47 pm I think you only get HBO Max for free if you have gigabit internet. (I do and get it free.) Given AT&T gigabit costs $30 more than the gigabit I had from a local company before I moved in 2019, while I am glad to get HBO Max free, I am still grumpy about the total cost. haha

Scuzz wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:56 pm We have looked at going to internet streaming and dumping cable but by the time you add the stuff we want it really isn't that much cheaper. Sure, maybe $30-40 a month, but then we get to buy equipment and figure out how to get local stuff. Plus my daughter may spend time working from home so we need decent service.

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 5:04 pm

- switching from Xfinity (80Mbps) to CenturyLink fiber (theoretically, 960Mbps)

Jaymon wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 11:10 am
I had to get new wireless cards for some of the PCs in order to get the good speeds, and a new home router as well. some older laptops and tablets are just out of luck though.

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:16 pm I was dreading some type of retention pitch, but there was actually zero attempt to try and keep me. I'm thinking AT&T isn't really interested in this whole satellite TV thing.