Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:53:31 -0400, HK wrote:



Well, too many choices and selection processes are only a problem until
you figure it all out. I keep reading about satellite signal losses
during storms, cloudy weather, heavy snow, but I also read that these
outages are rare.

I'm thinking about going satellite TV, DSL internet instead of the
Comcast cable I now have. I have to look a bit harder at available
options. My son has DSL and says it's no different speedwise than
cable unless you're doing large downloads, which I seldom do.
Just got off a "live chat" with Comcast because MSNBC has no sound for
a couple hours now. No ETA for a fix. So basically I'm paying for
crippled service. This is *not* unusual for cable TV here, and I
doubt satellite is worse. Comcast broadband has been generally
reliable, but a few times the cable's been dead so I have no TV, no
Internet, and no phone. If you don't have a cell (I do) you couldn't
even make a complaint.
I'm thinking satellite TV, wired DSL, and cable phone might be the way
to go for communications redundancy.

--Vic


We live in a cell "fringe" area, and cell service in our house is
"maybe." Outside, in the front yard, it is a bit better. We're not that
far from a cell tower, maybe two miles, but the foliage coverage (trees
and such) is thick, and while I know zip about cell signals, I wonder if
the trees are interfering. Well, the trees are staying. So we're staying
with landline telephone service. Plus...we have NEVER lost landline
telco here, but we often have brief and sometimes lengthy power outages
and occasional cable outages unrelated to weather.

I had DSL at my office in Virginia. It was pretty reliable, except when
a water main broke between my office and the telco central office and
then we were s.o.l. for two weeks.

I think my best hope for service and price improvement is the telco's FiOS.

Deregulation of the cable industry has only helped the cable industry,
not the consumer. That's generally true of virtually everything that
might be considered a "utility."