So long Xfinity and hello AT&T Fiber!

[Draco1962]

Recently, my contract ended with Xfinity Gigabit Extra resulting in a price jump from $95 to 115.00 per month - a $20 p/mo increase. 

Xfinity Gigabit Extra purported capability is "up to 1,200Mbps download, 200Mbps upload."  I have noticed a degradation in speeds and increased lag and buffering for streaming, especially over the last 3-4 months. Below are my latest Ookla Speedtest results:

AT&T just recently tore up the ground through our neighborhood and laid their fiber network. I received a hangtag noting that it was available. I logged into their site and verified that this was a fact and initiated a quote - $85 per month for their Gigabit plan with speeds "up to 1000 mbps" which I figured would be a great place to start.

Since I was the first on my street, that came with problems with the setup at the pedestal down the block. A new entry was added to the side of the house to get the fiber to my office. The 2-4 hour installation lasted all day but it was all sorted. I was impressed by the ease of setting up the Arris BGW320-500 modem.  Below are my initial Ookla Speedtest results:

As is typical, the advertised speed is higher than actual, but AT&T is SO MUCH CLOSER to the advertised speed of the Xfinity plan that it is shameful. Now it is entirely possible there could be issues with the coax coming into my house, or at the pedestal, or this and that, but Comcast has not expressed any interest in trying to resolve any latency, lag, or the like.

Download Speeds: 56x faster 

Upload Speeds: 23x faster 

Cost: $30 less

CONCLUSION: AT&T Fiber for the win!

 

[hansolo77]

I put in for a down payment/application fee for my first ever apartment (finally moving out.. can't deal with my Dad's memory regression and my unhelpful stepmom anymore).  I asked what internet options are available.  She said she personally uses a 5g hotspot and doesn't need anything else.  I'm like .  But she said Breezeline (wide open west), spectrum (what I currently have) and AT&T are all available.  I'm hoping it's AT&T Fiber.  I won't know for sure until I get the keys.  So I don't even know what address to plug into the various website to see what's truly offered.  Kinda sucks.  Also kinda sucks it's now (as of today) been 1 month and I've not heard anything.  I'm going to follow up on my first day off after the weekend.  She said people come and go all the time, and she's got some people on their eviction list (waiting for a late payment/etc) so it could be any time.  Here's my current connection.  Not sure what it's advertised as though, I don't have access to find out.

[Draco1962]

Keep at it and best of luck! Having your own place is great and you'll enjoy the freedom it brings!

Sorry to hear of your dad's issues. Despite your step-mom, please for your dad and your own sake, try to remain a part of his life as much as you can. I lost my mom to dementia July 13, 2020. We were separated by the pandemic due to the lockdowns at hospitals and nursing homes. I regret every time that I put off visiting her before then.

[Draco1962]

UPDATE: So far so good. I have noticed more neighbors getting the fiber treatment and no degradation in speeds. I am thinking about pulling the Xfinity plug before the next bill hits to save a few bucks.

Next trick is to repurpose a TRENDNet TEW-818DRU v2 router as an AP in my garage so that my Rainbird irrigation system is accessible again. This will also allow me to deploy an old PC, laptop, or tablet for use at my workbench for looking up stuff. While my smartphone works in a pinch, my over 60 eyes benefit from a much larger display.

I know that I can order and pay an additional $10 for an AT&T branded mesh or go with a third-party solution, but if I can get by with some kit that I have already purchased I think the approach is solid. I am prepared to not have "gig speeds" in the garage and that the TRENDNet router range is subpar for a home of moderate size, but for the garage I think the connectivity will be fast enough for their function (accessing & programming the Rainbird system and surfing for stuff).

[tthurman]

We've had AT&T Fiber for two years now, it has been very solid to date.

I had bought a new Motorola modem a couple years prior to changing from Comcast that worked very well, but it has been collecting dust for a while now. I figured AT&T would play the pricing game, so I hung onto the cable mode.   

So far it's stayed at $65 per month for 500 up/down, which is usually 600+ up/down in reality.

 

 

[Draco1962]

I may scale down to 500 but for now enjoying the extra "umph" especially connecting to our work VPN.

Pretty much anything from AT&T as a new installation will be fiber before long and where available as they are slowly sunsetting POTS (RJ11) maintenance due to the expansion of fiber in most major metro areas.

[Draco1962]

Comcast is losing ground fast in my neighborhood. SInce my install, I know of about 5-6 new installations within just a few blocks since Friday. Oh, and trying to get my Xfinitiy service cancelled was a joke with about 7 calls to get passed the automation, 5 of which hung up because of "technical difficulties" and one disconnect from the poor girl that got me on the retention line... but finally got it done. Just need to drive to the nearest Xfinity store and drop off their equipment.

[hansolo77]

You guys are making me jealous.  I can't wait to move and get better internet.  The problem I have with where I live is the community.  I've talked about it before.  They have a contract with Spectrum in that they were able to get a discount when it was first installed to the community by agreeing to a monopoly and now allowing competitors in.  So we're locked to ONLY Spectrum and no way to change it.  I could, in theory, get something like StarLink, but their speeds aren't worth it (yet).  I hear they're getting better, and will be launching a huge upgrade in the near future.  But right now, our ISP sucks.  It likes to drop connections randomly (at the modem, not router/switch/etc).  And the speed is laughable at the cost.  We're paying almost $300 a month (bundled with tv and phone).  It's just crazy.  When I get my own place, I'm internet only.  And the prices and speeds available definitely make me more ready.

@Draco1962  I don't remember how to hide this nonsense, so if any of admins don't like my spam, please hide the following if you know how!

No offense taken.  I am definitely sticking by my dad.  I just have to be ready and its long over due.  The trigger pulling actually came as a result of my step-mom getting sick.  She started coughing one day while I was at work.  She started to panic, unable to breathe, and called a squad to take her to the ER.  They kept her in the hospital for 3 days for observation.  I came home from work that day and dad was hollering for help.  I came upstairs to see what was wrong.. I mean he was literally YELLING for help.  I get up there and he's like "I don't need YOUR help, I asked for Louise, get the F^CK out of here!"  I told him I just got home, haven't seen her, don't know where she is, and thanked him for the warm welcome home.  I then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening listening to help yelling for her for HOURS, at the top of the stairs, not getting any response.  I was off work the next day so I stayed up late.  Around midnight she calls me to see if I can feed the cats thinking dad would have forgot, and told me she was in the hospital.  He had know idea even though he was there when she left.  Then the next day, he's at it again, screaming for her to help, and getting pissed because she's "ignoring him".  I had to tell him shes in the hospital and he starts breaking down crying, not knowing, and getting really scared for her.  I told him she's and just being observed.  Later that morning she called me to let me know he had a doctor's appointment at 1 and I needed to take him since she's in the hospital.  I went to tell him, and it was repeats all over again.  He didn't know where she was, didn't know she was sick, and didn't know he had an appointment.  I told him he needed to get ready to leave by 12:30.  He said it's like 3 hours away, and shoved me off, and continued to watch tv and drink his southern comfort. 12:00 comes around and I check on him, he's still not ready, and forgot all about it.  Forgot she was in the hospital again, and fell to pieces.  I told him to turn the tv off and lets get ready.  He had to go to the bathroom, gets up, and pees himself (yeah this is a new problem, because they found he had prostate cancer, and hes been recovering but lost a lot of his urinary control (the unrinologist is actually who we're going to see)).  So now it's almost 12:30 and he's still in the bathroom.  I told him we had to get going, the appointment is in 30 minutes.  He procrastinates again, getting out around 12:45, but then goes and sits back down in the living room.  I'm like "Dad, where are you doing, we have to GO!" and he's like "oh yea", stands up, and pees himself again.  So I help him get a change of clothes out, and new underwear, all ready.  Takes him 5 minutes to get upstairs (now it's 12:50) he sits on the bed to start changing, and takes everything off then swings around and lays on his back.  I'm like "Dad what are you doing?  We have to go, your appointment is in like 10 minutes!"  He forgot he was going to the doctor, and thought he was going to bed.  I told him AGAIN, and then he started getting dressed.  I called Louise at the hospital and asked if we could maybe postpone his appointment, and she said he's good until 1:30 at the latest.  I go back and check on dad, and he can't get his belt on.  So I help him and say "lets go!"  Then he realizes he didn't put on the clean underwear.  I was like "Dad just leave it, we have to go!"  And he just flips a switch and says "i'm not going anywhere!" and rolls back onto the bed.  I'm starting to panic now, it's 1:15.  I'm like "fine dad, you don't have to do anything but just lay there and I'll call the doctor and have them cancel the appointment"... "what appointment?  what doctor?  what are you talking about?!"  I told him he had an appointment 15 minutes ago that we missed because he's spent the last hour getting ready and hes still not ready, even though I told him 3 hours ago to get ready.  He's then all "oh shit, we need to go!"  By now I've gone and cancelled the appointment.  He then comes downstairs, and is like "Do you know where Louise is?"  OMG!  Then I say "lets go see her, she's in the hospital" and he breaks down and cries again.  We get to the hospital, takes him 10 minutes to cross the parking log because he can barely walk (spends all day drinking and watching tv, not doing anything, and Louise supports this lifestyle and even buys his liquor for him.)  He refuses, but the nurse insisted he use a wheel chair.  After a verbal assault of swearing nonsense, he succumbs and takes the free ride, complaining the whole time about the chair being so uncomfortable.  Finally get him to her room (she's sharing) and all of a sudden everything is hunky dory.  Jokingly tells me to leave so he can "flirt" with her.  And the guy with the girl next door left with me. I spent an hour in the hall waiting, and then he calls "where are you?  I need a ride home from the hospital" and I'm like "you told me to leave" and he had completely forgotten.  Anyway, an hour after we get home, he's asking me again "Have you seen Louise?"  OMG.  That was ONE DAY.  The next day, she was still in the hospital, and I HAD to go to work.  Luckily this time, I made sure to plug his phone in next to his chair so if she called him he could talk to her.  And sure enough she did, and he was able to answer this time.  I came home from work to an empty house because he went to see her again.  He came home after his usual bedtime, then helped himself to some more liquor and drank himself stupid.  I got up the next morning to go to work and he was passed out on the floor.  I woke him up joking that he would more comfortable in bed.  Helped him upstairs and into bed.  I then went to work.  At some point he woke up and picked her up at the hospital and all was good.  I told myself THEN that I'm moving out, and not dealing with that anymore.  Louise helps him with everything, he's like a child now.  I can't stay here, with my own mental illness, and see him crumble away like this.  I plan on coming by to do laundry routinely though, so I'm not abandoning him.  But the way he his, his memory, and his attitude, his drinking, I just have to let Louise deal with it all.  And I have to be prepared anyway.  If he passes while I'm still here, she's already planning on Day #2 = eviction of me.  So I need to get it done sooner than later.

[Draco1962]

I completely understand and you have to protect yourself and moving out takes one more arrow out of step-mom's quiver. From what you've described, If not for her, your dad would be a candidate for some sort of assisted living.

Whatever happens, I pray that you get what you need to help you stay healthy and that you are prepared for what does not look to be a good outcome.

[hansolo77]

I've thought about assisted living for him for years.  But the way he is, he'd be too stubborn to even consider it.  If he can't be in his own home, and be able to watch what he wants to watch, and not be told left and right what to do, he ain't gonna do it.

On the plus side of things though, as fate would have it.  I got a call from the rental office lady this morning checking to see if I'm still interested in an apartment.  She said somebody had just moved out, and a unit will be available some in mid May.  I told her I was, and she said she'd start the process of background checks, etc.  I'm excited now!  This also gives me a good idea of when I should be finished packing.  Even though we had the fire, and I lost everything, I've managed to recollect a bunch of stuff since.  I have 2 bookcases in my room full of books and movies.  One of them is packed, the other is kinda blocked and I'll have to work to get to, but I got a month.  Plus, if everything goes as planned, I might be completely moved by my next vacation, which is the last week of May.  I won't be moving in the winter, and the summer heat hopefully won't be full on yet.  Things are going!

[Draco1962]

Fingers crossed! Moving is always a good time to cull stuff that you haven't made use of in years. 

Ran another speed test today after noting another few AT&T vans nearby - at least 9 new AT&T neighbors since my install on 3/31. I believe that Xfinity is losing ground rapidly to AT&T Fiber.

No degradation of speeds. So far so good! Now if I could just get things sorted with the old WiFi Router to AP setup completed - not as straightforward as I thought it should be. Grr...

[SoniaDavenport]

It's interesting to see the neighborhood filling up with AT&T fans. Sounds like they're doing something right! And don't worry, the Wi-Fi setup can be a bit tricky sometimes, but you'll get the hang of it.  By the way, have you checked out multitechverse.com? They've got some cool tech insights and solutions that might help with your setup hiccups. Happy surfing with your new fiber connection!

[Draco1962]

I got it working. Just had to wrangle a different interface after being used to the Xfinity modem for many years.

[hansolo77]

So seeing how this thread has reopened.. I never updated.  I'm moved in to my own place, fully unpacked and live the bachelor's life.  Of course, the first thing I did when I got the keys was go out and find the best internet I could get in my price range.  As a new subscriber, I was offered all the perks from everybody.  But, as it turned out, AT&T was NOT fiber, but DSL.  We had DSL before and it's crap.  It's only slightly better than dialup.  So they're out.  Breezeline was next up.  They topped out at 500mb standard coax.  Better than dialup, and better than I was getting at the time living with the old folks.  They killed me there... we paid extra for more speed but only got like an extra 2% because "the distance to the hub is too far". Going with Breezeline I would have gotten an extra 150mb speed, but for about $75 a month.  Then I plugged in my address to Spectrum.  Yeah, that's what we had before, and my address was more "outskirts" than the previous one... but who knows where their hub is?  Gave it a shot and BAM!  They offered 1gb coax for $69/month.  I bought my modem so I would be hit with the extra rental fee.  They told me the modem is free, but one of my coworkers lives in the same apartment complex and said he has to rent his for like $10 a month.  Spectrum tried to throw in all these extra perks like 30-days free phone service and 30-days free HBO.  I'm like "nah I just need internet" so they chopped off $25 for the first month.  It was fun watching the guy try to install it.  Since I had my own modem, the instructions were simply to plug it in and connect to their website to begin the registration (mac address, etc).  Didn't work.  Turns out, even after the guy came out, I have 5 cable outlets in the apartment but only ONE (the master bedroom) was connected to anything.  I tried all of them too before I called.  What he discovered, besides the single outlet, was that the cable coming into the building was disconnected outside (probably to get a competitor connected.  He plugged in THEIR line, used his cool magic wand tool to trace the signal through the apartment, and found where it was coming out.  We got set up in about 30 minutes after that.  Unfortunately, my server and router and stuff was going in the side bedroom.  There were no outlets in that room at all.  Spectrum said they would install outlets in any room I wanted service for no charge.  However, this guy said "no way" because it would require "construction" and I'd have to have the apartment complex's facilities come in to demo a wall so he could run the line from the master room to the spare.  Ok, fine.. can you at least run a cable through the walls and just hide the cable up over a door or something?  Sure!  He took out a 12-inch drill bit and ran a cable from the side wall of the master bedroom and drilled it into back closet wall of the spare.  Done and done.  He stayed long enough to check signal strength and clarity and was on his way.  I now have 1gb internet, and it only costs me $69 a month.  Dad's is running about $350 with all his "discounted bundle" of digital cable and digital phone.  Hehe, don't feel sorry.

And to share my results, remember my 366mb from April:

 

This is my new speed (it's not doing it's greatest right now, weather has been kinda cranky):

 

Oh yeah and I built my own router back before I moved out.  It runs pfSense.  I set it up to have an "always on" VPN connection to IPVanish ($5/month), so that causes a little bit of a speed drop and latency.  But I'm happy with it!

[Draco1962]

Nice increase up and down! Glad you were able to have him drill through the wall to the other room to run your split.

I don't understand why the coax jockeys can't get closer to synchronous speeds. 

[hansolo77]

22 hours ago, Draco1962 said:

Nice increase up and down! Glad you were able to have him drill through the wall to the other room to run your split.

I don't understand why the coax jockeys can't get closer to synchronous speeds. 

$ $ $ $ $ $

[Draco1962]

That will only last until fiber makes inroads to those areas.

I've seen the marketing already with Xfinity.

https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/xfinity-10g-internet#:~:text=The 10G internet initiative is,(6%2C000Mbps) upload speeds.

[tthurman]

Enough people seem to have finally jumped to AT&T now to start negatively impacting our service. It was great for the first couple of years, but now, just a couple months before year five it's starting to show how many have made the switch. Hopefully they will take steps to stay ahead of it.

[Draco1962]

I noticed a while ago that we have an OTA aerial antenna in the attic. It was likely installed there in '87 when the house was built. The flat cable connector is dry rotted and brittle. 

If I can get to it easily now that the temperatures are dropping, I will inspect it closer to see if I can adapt it to connect to the coax splitter to get better OTA signals to our living room and master bedroom using the existing coax outlets. Thanks Xfinity!