out of curiosity... I'm looking at prices, and it doesnt seem like a great deal

$102 + $10 a month for 3 Mbps internet and HDTV... I know I'm getting 5.5 Mbps speeds and I seem to remember only paying like $105 for HD television and faster internet... how would the rebate fit in? Do you have to sign a year long contract?

I suppose these are questions I can ask them. It just seems like the only time you'd really be better off is if you're the kind of person who already spent 200 a month on services and could maybe drop it down to $170 or something.

[Edited on March 8, 2009 at 1:11 PM. Reason : ]

3/8/2009 12:57:28 PM

we spent about $180/mo with TWC, and that was cable in one room of the house with HD, DVR, and HBO/Showtime - as well as Roadrunner internet.

we're now going to be spending about $150/mo with AT&T, which includes cable in two rooms, along with HD and DVR and all the movie channels. not to mention we can record 4 shows at once on DVR (instead of 2 like with TWC) and i can watch the DVR shows on either TV with no problems. and our internet through AT&T is just as fast as our Roadrunner was.

it was a win-win situation for us, but we had a pretty high cable bill already. i imagine if you don't have HD and DVR and movie channels with TWC, it's not as good of a deal for you to switch to AT&T.

[Edited on March 8, 2009 at 1:49 PM. Reason : /]

3/8/2009 1:48:57 PM

yeah, but i remember i had hd-dvr, digital cable (no premium channels), and internet for like 110, 105, something like that... granted, that was promo... when it ended, it was still only like 125...

but the same thing with lowered internet would be like 120 or so after taxes, right?

i'm not trying to discredit AT&T, i bet it would still be nice and as evan said, the quality is much better. I'm just commenting that it seems more expensive for lower end stuff, and a better deal if you're a cable-heavy person who gets a lot of premium stuff

note: I've also had really good service from TWC. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but internet is always fast and I've never had problems, so I imagine if I did, I'd feel much better....

plus, I bet that $250 discount would help make it cheaper.. do you have to sign a contract or pay for the whole year up front?

[Edited on March 8, 2009 at 3:10 PM. Reason : add]

3/8/2009 3:08:50 PM

Just want to say again I've been extremely happy with my switch to dsl and dishnetwork.

If I consider the rebates from dish and at&t + the 6 month promotional pricing I am paying about 10 bucks a month for the first 6 months and around 40 month thereafter for the first year.

I have bronze TurboHD and 6/512 dsl. The dvr is ligthning fast and I can watch shows in the bedroom recorded downstairs. The DSL doesn't seem to be perceptibly different from cable.

Look into it.

3/8/2009 3:43:34 PM

^^what are you rambling about? reprice the AT&T with a 6/1 connection, HD-DVR, and no premium channels to match your old TWC connection and you will see that the AT&T is cheaper than the $125 a month you were probably paying TWC. That cost might have gone up another $10 a month with TWC as of the new year.

3/8/2009 4:08:29 PM

Quote :

"yeah, but i remember i had hd-dvr, digital cable (no premium channels), and internet for like 110, 105, something like that... granted, that was promo... when it ended, it was still only like 125... note: I've also had really good service from TWC. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but internet is always fast and I've never had problems, so I imagine if I did, I'd feel much better...."

first, i wanna know how you were paying TWC only $125 for all that you mentioned per month. was that like 3 years ago? we had all of that plus 2 premium channels and it went from $170 to $180 after the new year. perhaps you had cable, internet and phone, which gave you more discounts? we never had the phone.

second, even if AT&T would have cost us the same, we'd have switched anyways because our TWC box had gotten into the habit of rebooting itself damn near once a day, and it was always at the most inopportune times...like right in the middle of my Beverly Hills 90210!



[Edited on March 8, 2009 at 4:17 PM. Reason : .]

3/8/2009 4:16:25 PM

Checked tonight and I'm eligible!

Just a couple questions...
1) Does each TV have to have its own set-top box or is it like cable where non-STB TV's will get "standard cable" or whatever?
2) Can you record 2 HD and 2 standard programs at the same time or is 2 HD programs the max bandwidth?
3) On TWC I can be recoding two HD programs and watch a 3rd pre-recorded HD program from the DVR, is this doable on U-Verse?
4) Did TWC offer a price-cut instead of switching?

3/9/2009 2:58:36 AM

Quote :

"I'm just commenting that it seems more expensive for lower end stuff, and a better deal if you're a cable-heavy person who gets a lot of premium stuff"

que? From all I've read, Uverse is higher quality and has a ton more channels



Question about AT&T's service - TWC gives you standard cable for free with the digital service (we have standard cable in bedrooms). Does AT&T do that?

[Edited on March 9, 2009 at 8:00 AM. Reason : .]

3/9/2009 7:58:44 AM

Quote :

"Does each TV have to have its own set-top box or is it like cable where non-STB TV's will get "standard cable" or whatever?"

I too am curious about this.

3/9/2009 8:52:59 AM

hey - I asked the same question! reading fail on my part

3/9/2009 9:02:10 AM

^ Oh I'm not trying to be an ass, I seriously do what to know what the answer to this is. Debating U-Verse, but would like that info before going about switching.

3/9/2009 9:48:02 AM

^yeh, I didn't think you were being an ass - I just realize that three of us had the same question, yet I failed to realize it was asked right above me

3/9/2009 12:21:43 PM

Quote :

"Does each TV have to have its own set-top box or is it like cable where non-STB TV's will get "standard cable" or whatever?"

yes, every tv has to have a STB. this is IPTV, nothing like cable whatsoever. no HFC tuners, etc.

all the data comes from teh intarwebs (well, technically, from a private subnet that heavily utilizes multicast) so without a set top box, you can't see shit

Quote :

"Can you record 2 HD and 2 standard programs at the same time or is 2 HD programs the max bandwidth?"

we've had 2 hd and 2 standard programs recording before.
to put it another way, i've NEVER seen the message that says "you have two many streams open, you can't watch anything." and we have 3 receivers, and the dvr is constantly recording something

Quote :

"On TWC I can be recoding two HD programs and watch a 3rd pre-recorded HD program from the DVR, is this doable on U-Verse?"

oh god yes

you can be recording 4 SD programs or 2HD/2SD programs (i.e. max out your stream limit) and watch all you want from the DVR from any box in the house.

Quote :

"Did TWC offer a price-cut instead of switching?"

yes, but they couldn't even come close to what we were going to get with at&t... the retention person even sounded a bit worried when we told he we were switching to u-verse... i think TWC is really starting to see they have some major competition here.

Quote :

"Question about AT&T's service - TWC gives you standard cable for free with the digital service (we have standard cable in bedrooms). Does AT&T do that?"

no, it would be pretty impossible for them to do this

3/9/2009 12:55:57 PM

To evan's point about retention-

I canceled my Cable/Internets with TWC at the end of January. I'm moving and will not have a house to move into until April but decided to just say it was because I was going to U-verse just to see what they would offer. This guy went on a 10 minute rant about what I would not be getting if I switched - what I was missing out on. He was well informed and had a response for every plus that AT&T had to offer. So I would say they are well aware now and he knew his script to keep a customer. I still told him no because I had no intention of renewing. But I did say I was leaving for U-verse just to help the cause.

3/9/2009 1:39:04 PM

Thanks evan, most helpful with the technologies as usual.

3/9/2009 7:07:10 PM

Dear AT&T,

Please give me my fucking reasonable alternative to time warner right fucking now.

God damn it.

Regards,

Dakota

3/9/2009 7:42:56 PM

send that to them in a letter

3/9/2009 7:50:15 PM

I already signed up to be notified by any means necessary when it's available

WHAT DO THEY WANT FROM ME

I read that they DO plan to bring it to Garner (where I live!) but I bet that shit is last on their list :'(

3/9/2009 7:56:36 PM

EXPECTED AVAILABILITY DATE - GARNER, NC

FEB2013

3/9/2009 8:03:33 PM

yeah, it appears that they're rolling it out in areas they think will make them the most money

i.e. cary, then north raleigh, etc.

i don't think garner is going to be very high on that list

3/9/2009 8:08:18 PM

haha, i love how as soon as i make that comment above, i get this:



granted, we are recording an HD show and someone is watching HD downstairs, but still

3/9/2009 8:27:16 PM

Yeah, I'm sure it'll be last, but at least it's on the explicit list of triangle cities that's supposed to be getting it. Maybe I could get everybody on my street to sign a petition.

3/9/2009 9:21:14 PM

Does the U-Verse DVR remote have the commercial skip-ahead button?

3/9/2009 10:33:42 PM

Quote :

"yeah, it appears that they're rolling it out in areas they think will make them the most money"

PEOPLE IN LAKE PARK ARE RICH?

Quote :

"I already signed up to be notified by any means necessary when it's available"

I, too, signed up to be notified, but alas, they never notified me - I just checked every week and this week when I checked....BONKERS! I CAN GET UVERSE!

3/9/2009 10:44:19 PM

They're probably just rolling it out to places where they don't have to do too much infrastructure work, if I had to guess, regardless of demographics.

3/9/2009 10:49:47 PM

in the process of ordering!

3/9/2009 11:11:18 PM

Quote :

"Does the U-Verse DVR remote have the commercial skip-ahead button?"

yep

3/9/2009 11:15:38 PM

Did they make you sign a contract? Some of the AT&T websites mention a two year contract required at the bottom of the page but I see nothing of it when I am ordering.

Also, do they do anything with the wiring that is going to make it a pain to go back to TWC?

Also #2, is the RG compatible with Vonage? I don't get voice options so I would need to stick with it.

3/9/2009 11:19:19 PM

msb2ncsu, what's your zip code?

[Edited on March 9, 2009 at 11:34 PM. Reason : a]

3/9/2009 11:23:39 PM

order submitted! Scheduled for this Thursday!

how long after you submitted your orders online did you get your confirmation email?

[Edited on March 9, 2009 at 11:45 PM. Reason : .]

3/9/2009 11:30:00 PM

evan, what button is the skip-ahead button? i can't find it. is it a special remote you have to pay for?

rsxtypes, you ordered tonight and they'll be there to install on thursday? wtf mate, we waited a month for our first appointment, then another 3 weeks on top of that for them to come back out and actually install it since they found a problem with the wiring their first time out.

3/9/2009 11:58:35 PM

27615 (Six Forks/Falls of the Neuse area)

Quote :

"yeah, but i remember i had hd-dvr, digital cable (no premium channels), and internet for like 110, 105, something like that... granted, that was promo... when it ended, it was still only like 125..."

I have my February TWC bill in front of me and for DigiPic1000 (digital cable with no premies, high speed internet), HD DVR (only box I have), and the $6.95 HD Suite cost me a total of $139.99.

The U-Verse U200 package has about 35 more standard channels, about 12 more HD channels, better internet (6Mb down/1Mb up), and more features (remote DVR programming, house-wide playback, more streams/tuners) for $117.

I'm probably going to go with U300 (adds Showtime, TMC, Encore, Starz, FLix, etc. and more standard channels), 3 boxes (buying a third TV this month), and Elite 6/1 internet for $136... still $4 less than what I currently pay TWC and I get much more.

3/10/2009 12:00:22 AM

Quote :

"rsxtypes, you ordered tonight and they'll be there to install on thursday? wtf mate, we waited a month for our first appointment, then another 3 weeks on top of that for them to come back out and actually install it since they found a problem with the wiring their first time out."

I wasn't expecting that either. Before I got to the page where you can schedule your install it said that they are experiencing long waits. But then the first available appointments were Thursday of this week. 2 openings in fact and an opening most days after that. So I picked the noon appointment

3/10/2009 12:03:13 AM

you do have to sign a contract. 2 yrs is right.

3/10/2009 12:03:46 AM

^only in some areas. I read the fine print. It said it was not a contract and you can cancel at anytime. But if you cancel within the 30 days you get your install money + first month's bill back. But install was free anyway.

It did mention that some areas would require a 2 year contract but it seems as though Raleigh is not one of those places.

3/10/2009 12:04:59 AM

thumper, it looks like the jump ahead button is just below "Pause" and to the right of "Replay" and is labeled either "Skip" or "Fwd" on different models



[Edited on March 10, 2009 at 12:09 AM. Reason : .]

3/10/2009 12:08:39 AM

Quote :

"27615 (Six Forks/Falls of the Neuse area)"

Gah! I'm still waiting in 27609

3/10/2009 12:23:08 AM

Our AT&T

Who art in Raleigh

...

Deliver us from cable...

[Edited on March 10, 2009 at 12:33 AM. Reason : extra elipses ]

3/10/2009 12:27:03 AM

Is it true that U-Verse does not carry the digital subchannels for the local stations?

Also, I just asked U-Verse online help about a contract and they said there is no contract and you can upgraded/downgrade/cancel at any time.

3/10/2009 12:50:24 AM

Quote :

"Is it true that U-Verse does not carry the digital subchannels for the local stations?"

i'm pretty sure i saw at least some of the subchannels

but most of them are utterly useless anyway

and if you REALLY want them, you can just use an antenna

Quote :

"Also, do they do anything with the wiring that is going to make it a pain to go back to TWC?"

they'll most likely disconnect your coax at the NID and put it in one big loop to run homePNA over. it shouldn't be very hard to switch it back over, just a few connections.

Quote :

"Also #2, is the RG compatible with Vonage? I don't get voice options so I would need to stick with it."

yes, but go with packet8 instead of vonage.

3/10/2009 12:58:56 AM

Quote :

"Is it true that U-Verse does not carry the digital subchannels for the local stations"

the channel lineup on their site has them....

3/10/2009 1:21:04 AM

finally got my confirmation email!

3/10/2009 12:16:23 PM

Quote :

"order submitted! Scheduled for this Thursday!"

Dammit! Tell them to head about two miles west so I can get in on this.

3/10/2009 12:40:26 PM

Quote :

"Gah! I'm still waiting in 27609 "

Me too! By the time they get it here I will probably be buying a house in a totally different area and still be SOL.

3/10/2009 12:50:20 PM

^^wait, its not even available in your neighborhood yet?

3/10/2009 1:01:04 PM

for those who have called to cancel TWC and told them you're going with U-Verse...what kind of crap did they say you would be missing with U-verse?

3/10/2009 1:06:53 PM

^random outages.

3/10/2009 1:08:31 PM

i already know one thing i'm missing as far as channels go.

found out on sunday that AMC is not one of the channels carried by AT&T U-Verse and that's the channel that Breaking Bad comes on and now we have no way to watch the new season (or any subsequent seasons). i'm actually pretty bummed about it. we're just gonna have to find a way to live stream it through the PS3 somehow.

3/10/2009 5:01:32 PM

^iTunes may carry the season if you really want to pay for it...if not...the PS3 is a step in the right direction

3/10/2009 5:29:50 PM

You can download an xvid copy of that shit about 15 minutes after each episode ends.

3/10/2009 7:32:13 PM