[Hidden-tech] Re: Comcast Phone Services

[Baer Tierkel]

During a switch from a corporate setup to my personal connectivity, I had
both Comcast Cable and Verizon DSL going.  It was a nice opportunity that
you just don't come across so often, so being the geek I am, I tested.  I
found DSL to be significantly faster (concurrent tests of two machines
sitting next to each other hitting the same independent performance
measurement website).  As was previously said, cable performance will depend
greatly upon your neighborhood's usage, and my guess is that there is a lot
of cable users around us here in downtown Amherst (ever see the commercial.

 

Then during a move I ran into serious customer service problems with
Verizon.  I told them to forget it and switched to Crocker.  I must say that
in my 25 years as a software developer I've never come across better
customer service than I've received from Crocker Communications.  It's just
that you know that if you run into problems, you'll have a sincere,
knowledgeable customer service rep on the other end of the phone who can fix
the problem.  I get their level of service and performance for about $5 more
than Verizon.

 

If you do decide to stay with Verizon, one caveat: do not use their email
system.  As was posted here previously, Verizon tends to block email sources
on a whim and gives the customer few options to stop this - and does not
even notify the customers!  I just received a  check for $19.51 from a class
action settlement from a few years ago when Verizon decided arbitrarily to
block all incoming emails from Europe because *they* thought Europe was the
source of too much spam!  I still am amazed just thinking about it.

 

Buy Local, superior service, high performance.  Buy Crocker.

 

Regards,

Baer

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of B. Kimo
Lee
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 8:38 AM
To: Hidden Tech Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Re: Comcast Phone Services

 

Hi All,

 

I've been using Verizon DSL for a number of years now (3 mbs) and have
basically been happy with the service. I did have Comcast Internet at home,
when I moved my office out of my house for couple of years. At that time I
had problems with Comcast and an Airport base station that I used as a
bridge from my Linksys (wired-only) router. As mentioned in previous posts
to this topic, Comcast's DHCP server wouldn't send an IP to the Powerbook,
so my ex-wife lost wireless access. But with Verizon I have only had one or
two problems that required a tech support call, and they were able to
re-configure remotely and get me back online quick.

 

Recently, I helped a neighbor switch from Verizon to Comcast. She didn't
want anything to do with Verizon re: their willingness to allow the
government access to their lines (USA today). So off to Comcast for Internet
and SunRocket for VoIP. So far, Comcast has been problematic. She keeps
losing Internet service, which requires the standard reboot process of
modem, gizmo (SunRocket) and router. Quite a pain, and they haven't been
much help in solving whatever is causing it. One good thing is she gets a
5.2 mbs download speed. SunRocket quality is good, though when I call her,
she says there is a slight echo. None when she calls out. She was able to
keep her existing phone number and she got a great deal $99 for the first
year, prepaid, unlimited service with full features and Canada, too. Regular
price is $199/year. And you can take the gizmo and a phone and plug in
anywhere there is Internet service and take calls from your phone number.

 

One last note... I think that a big part of people's technical problems with
Comcast may be due to poor quality coax cable in the home/office network.
The coax cable that Comcast provides for their digital television is super
heavy duty and my hunch is that if some of  you are like my friend and are
using leftover coax found in the garage from a previous installation, that
may be causing the loss of service problems.

 

We are going to get Comcast to come out with new cable so we can replace the
old stuff.

 

Best,

 

Kimo

 

On Oct 10, 2006, at 7:22 PM, Will Loving wrote:





   ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group, you must be counted to post .

   ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.

 

 

I live in South Amherst and have been very pleased with my switch from

Sprint long distance to Comcast Digital Voice for both our house line and my

business phone. The signal is much stronger and clearer than what I had with

Sprint or ChoiceOne before that, and I once again have a stutter tone when

there is waiting voicemail, something Sprint did not offer. We have a few

occasions when the line appears to 'reset', meaning it drops the call and

goes immediately to a dialtone. It's happened maybe a half dozen times in

the last 18 months.

 

The cost is between $40 and $55/month depending on whatever other services

you purchase and includes unlimited calling in US and territories plus all

features such as caller ID, three way calling, forwarding, multiple

mailboxes, 911, etc. Long distance to Canada is 0.05/minute, UK =

0.08/minute, etc and you can get a second line with unlimited calling for

$10 without features or $20 with all features. Installation includes a

backup battery unit which keeps a current on the line for power outages -

approx 9 hours of talk time, much more on standby.

 

In doing my research on phone options before trying Comcast's service, I

talked with a couple of technicians about how Comcast does this service.

Unlike a 'normal' VOIP service like Vonage or AllTel, Comcast does NOT

convert the signal to IP packets directly from your phone and send them over

you internet connection. Instead, the phone signal runs over the Coax cable

upstream a ways where it is THEN converted to packets. I assume this

explains the difference in sound quality between my phone service - which is

excellent - and friends who have Vonage or other VOIP services. Vonage

requires that you have internet service of some sort and it sends out over

that connection. Comcast Digital Voice does not require that you also have

internet service, though they do discount each service the more you get.

 

By the way, for those of you who have non-home-based offices, be aware that

if you purchase Comcast Business Internet for your office (home offices and

bars excluded) they throw in Standard cable TV as well. It's not cheap and

you might get a better deal with DSL for static IP internet, but it's

something to be aware of.

 

Will Loving

 

 

on 10/10/06 4:12 PM, Chris Duncan, GISmatters at duncan at GISmatters.com

wrote:

 

   ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group, you must be counted to post .

   ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.

 

 

This discussion is of particular interest to me at this time.  I have been

using Verizon DSL for 2+ years in Amherst and have essentially no

complaints.  I have found the service to be reliable and "as advertised" in

all respects, and customer service to be adequate and available.

 

We are about to move (home office included) up the road a mile or so, and

there is no DSL available at the new address, so it seems our only option

is going to be Comcast.  I'm wondering if responders to this thread could

further indicate whether there's anything they recommend during the order

and setup of Comcast service to minimize problems.  For example, maybe the

last chance I'll have to get any customer service is when they come to set

it up (as I'm told they will)... anything I can do to maximize use of that

opportunity and make sure things are going to run smoothly?  Any special

configurations or service plans from them that will give me less grief than

some of what's being reported here?

 

Also, I'm considering a bundle from Comcast that includes phone service...

pros/cons on that service?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

 

 

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