Take that, Cox!!

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kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by kevm14 »

Adam wrote:Here is some data from my fancy router:
Netflix low-res show "upscaled" to 1080p (older TV, etc...) = 300KB/s - 700KB/s down
Netflix high-res show (native 1080p) = 1MB/s - 3MB/s down

So high res stuff might be taxing that 15Mbps down line.
That's not a good way to determine whether a bandwidth limit will impose an issue for a streaming service. The reason is because streaming works in bursts, as I'm sure you know. So it will burst at whatever rate it feels like it, up to your bandwidth limit. It's not 3MB/sec continuous, because that would be 24Mbit, which is for streaming 4K. Regular HD is less than 1/3rd of that, according to what I found.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by kevm14 »

Uploading pictures to Onedrive seems to prevent Youtube from playing in 1080p at the same time. 720p works fine.

I don't upload very often.

I will check it out again after the upload completes.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by kevm14 »

After the uploads finished, 1080p video works fine on Youtube.

Early conclusions are it would be NICE to have more bandwidth but I don't really NEED more. Now again if this was a huge problem, I could either pay the extra $15 again for 50/5 that I had before, or just switch to FIOS for 2 years for $50-$60/mo and have 50/50. Not sure it is worth the hassle. Yet.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by kevm14 »

8 months later and I have grown tired of this speed tier.

Here's what FIOS can do for me:
100/100
$65/mo for year 1
$80/mo for year 2
Undefined cost after that, depending on whatever. I mean Cox has gone up over time so meh.

Here's what Cox can do for me, at least via chat:
50 down (not sure about up, maybe 10...or 5? It was 5 before when I had 50 down so yeah)
$65/mo for 6 months
$75/mo after that

Cox also offers 100/10 for $80/mo

So depending on how much I value the uplink (somewhat, but not as important as the downlink) you could say FIOS is a way better deal, or very similar. Apparently FIOS no longer offers contracts on their internet-only stuff. That means I missed the boat on cheaper plans from the last time I did this comparison. Oh well.

Next step: call Cox customer loyalty (aka customer retention) and see what they can do.

Why the sudden spark of interest here? Well I had been getting annoyed with the slow down AND uplink over a period of months and I don't think my $60/mo cost is so cheap that it's worth living with. Also, funny story about my tenants: they transferred their FIOS service from their previous residence. The FIOS installer guy said he'd need to run fiber from like Rt 1 or something all the way to my house. Why? No one in that neighborhood has FIOS. Which is pretty incredible because it has been offered (and actively solicited) since like late 2007 or something. You'd think people would jump at the opportunity to have a competitive ISP but I guess not. Anyway, they offered my tenants (with their bundle) a 1Gbit internet plan which left me O_O

I don't need that but I need more than 15/2 right now...
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by kevm14 »

I guess you have to keep checking. Every time I get a flyer in the mail I look at it. Of course they never really work at selling me internet only. And the bundles aren't quite as good as they seem due to extra charges (tax on phone service, set top box rentals, etc.). But I decided to check and they have the best deal going I have ever seen:

50/50
$40/mo for year 1
$55/mo for year 2

After that, I don't really know - could be $85. Doesn't really matter. I am paying $60/mo for 15/2 so this gives me a total no brainer for 2 years.

I placed the order. This is exciting.

I ordered their G1100 router online ($150). I could have gotten it via Amazon for $125 or so but it was not Prime and would have been a week out so meh.

Other internet specials they are offering right now:
100/100
$65/mo for year 1
$80/mo for year 2
$105 after that

150/150
$75/mo for year 1
$90/mo for year 2
$115 after that

300/300
$95/mo for year 1
$110/mo for year 2
$205/mo after that

500/500
$195/mo for year 1
$210/mo for year 2
$305 after that
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by kevm14 »

I forgot to mention - I think all of these are without contract, which is why it is the best deal ever. Back in the fall, I quoted an offer for 50/50 at $50/mo for the first year, but that was with 2 year contract. This is $40 for the first year without contract. Quite significantly the best offer I've seen. Which is why I made the jump.
Adam
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:50 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by Adam »

Fortunately for me, FIOS will never come to Aquidneck Island, so I don't have to worry about this at all.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by kevm14 »

So what's your Cox service these days?
Adam
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Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by Adam »

I have the same "preferred" tier as before. Overall it is slightly slower here than I saw in Warwick. I just ran a test and saw 64 Mbps down and 5.5 Mbps up. The up was more consistently around 8 Mbps in Warwick.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Take that, Cox!!

Post by kevm14 »

So that must be 50/5. What does that cost? $75?
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