[DM-MUG] Reevaluating Qwest DSL vs. Mediacom cable after 2 yrs.

[Chris Tyrrell]

Hi all.

My sincere apologies to those inconvenienced by off-topic posts.

I'm approaching the two year anniversary of my switch from Mediacom to Qwest
DSL/DirecTV, so my bundle contract is nearing expiration. I was never
displeased with Mediacom, but thought I'd be saving money, but I don't think
I probably am.

I'm going to call Mediacom to explore my options, but I'm sure I'll get
better information here (I could write a dissertation about how Mac users
are Mac users because they are better informed). I'd be grateful to hear
your experiences in comparing the two, assuming others have been where I am
now.

So, I'm paying for Qwest 8Mb DSL service, though <3 Mb is the best they can
deliver in my 'hood (SE Waukee). It's reliable and generally fast enough. My
DSL feeds my flying saucer Airport, which is used by one G4 desktop, two G4
iBooks, an iPod Touch, and the ThinkPad I carry home from work.

Cable was faster of course, but not as fast as it could have been, again a
limitation of my location. One Mediacom tech explained how overcrowed their
infrastructure is for serving my area. It was as if all of the western
'burbs went through a single bottleneck in a little building over in the
vicinity of Jordan Creek & Ashworth. Cable was slightly less reliable in my
experience, but hardly problematic.

I also have DirecTV HD DVR service, which allows me to record two shows
while watching a third. No premium channels. There are only a few shows
worthy of recording, and they are generally on at about the same time, and
always before the kids are in bed which means I won't be seeing them as
they're broadcast. Two other TVs in the house (one is HD, other is SD) each
have a plain DirecTV SD box, no DVR.

Cable TV was OK. I understand they have added HD channels in the last two
years. DirecTV boasts about their number of HD channels, but aside from the
few that I actually watch, the number doesn't matter to me. Both offer music
channels (yawn).

DirecTV now offers VOD, but it requires an ethernet feed so I haven't tried
it - I'd need a router between my modem and my Airport and really long
RJ-45. Mediacom on demand was cool, but often timed out.

I never did have Mediacom phone service and won't consider it, so I'll be
sticking with my Qwest land line. Neighbors had horrible trouble and
eventually abandoned Mediacom phone service.

I can't tell you what I'm paying, but my wife/budget keeper tells me it's
about the same.

What say you? Is there a reason to return to cable? Is there a market for
used DirecTV equipment?


Cheers,
Chris
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