[Tfug] Providers?

[steve peterson]

actual provider is called transworld.
On Nov 18, 2012 2:24 PM, "steve peterson" <azteech at gmail.com> wrote:

> I would look into wipower. offered through trico elect which is offered in
> our area. they offer a wireless option at 7mb down/1.5 mb up speeds. cost
> is about 85 month. you can also get voip with them if you want but not a
> requirement. have heard they also do some residential in city limits. if
> you can see the antennas atop tucson mountains you should be just fine with
> the connection. basically consider it as a line of sight microwave shot.
> On Nov 17, 2012 11:51 PM, "Bexley Hall" <bexley401 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Keith,
>>
>> On 11/17/2012 10:20 AM, keith smith wrote:
>>
>>> I've used both consumer Cox and business Cox.  I have had no problem
>>> with either.  I've used them in Metro Phoenix (6 years) and Tucson
>>> (4 years).
>>>
>>
>> OK.  I think I can safely say I've *never* had (paid for) CATV
>> (the caveat being one apartment building in which I lived that provided
>> free cable to all apartments)
>>
>>  Currently I have a business account that allows me to run a server.
>>> It cost about $25 more than the consumer product.
>>>
>>
>> I won't run any services out of the house.  I'll colo that
>> when the time comes (I don't want to deal with the maintenance
>> issues, etc.)
>>
>>  I have my phone with them also.  Phone cost is low.  It is the taxes
>>> that make the phone so expensive.
>>>
>>
>> Ah!  That answers one question!  (i.e., were the outrageous
>> PSTN charges also present on "internet phone" accounts!  :-/ )
>>
>>  I get unlimited national calling and voice mail... etc.
>>>
>>
>> In the past, we've purchased $20 phone cards from costco
>> (700 minutes/$19.99).  They expire before we use them up.
>> I think they are good for 6 mos once activated?  So, we
>> spend < 2 hrs a month on long distance... I'll bet the
>> actual number is more like 20 minutes!!  :-/  I.e., we
>> probably won't be buying the cards any more (we previously
>> had out-of-town family but no longer)
>>
>> Voice mail is handled by an answering machine (which also
>> allows us to screen calls).  I'll migrate that to an all
>> software implementation so I can have it do the screening
>> *for* us -- so the phone doesn't even ring unless it is
>> someone we want to talk to (or *NOT*!  :> )
>>
>>  Distinct ringing is $2/mo, which allows me to have a fax
>>> number for $2/mo. If a fax comes through while on the phone,
>>> it goes to voice mail.  I can then have it sent to my fax number.
>>>
>>
>> Ah, OK.  We have only used FAX twice in the past 20 years
>> (for legal documents).  Most everything else gets shipped
>> around as an email attachment.
>>
>>  All together I think I pay $118 a month for Internet and Phone.
>>>
>>
>> Yikes!  I think our bill is $45.
>>
>>  Seems kind of pricy, however I am on a business plan that allows
>>> me to run one or more servers with NO blocked ports AND I went
>>> with a higher up and down transfer rate AND I have unlimited
>>> domestic long distance.
>>>
>>
>> Our "problem" is that we aren't "consumers" (in the literal sense
>> of the word) so there's very little incentive for vendors to
>> provide plans that target us.  They're more interested in the
>> $100+ market (the idea of spending $1200 after tax dollars for
>> a phone and internet connection is anathema to us... we'd rather
>> have an equivalent amount of unpaid vacation and live without it!
>> <grin>  Different strokes, of course...)
>>
>>  Looks like they are running a special right now.  If you have a
>>> cellular and you do not talk much then that is the way I would go.
>>>
>>
>> My other half carries a prepaid cell phone as an "emergency phone"
>> ("Don, I'm at the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK and I've got a flat
>> tire...").  She spends less than $100/year for that (and has to
>> *remember* to "use it or lose it").
>>
>>  I know several people who have vonage, however I see their pricing
>>> has increased and they require a contract.   The nice thing about
>>> vonage, from my understanding is you can take it with you.  You
>>> phone number is the same no mater where you go, as long as you can
>>> plug it into an internet connection.
>>>
>>
>> Google voice has a similar feature (free).  In either case, you
>> need the internet connection before the phone makes sense...
>>
>>  I should also say I has Quest Dial up and DSL about 10 years ago and
>>> had no problem with them.
>>>
>>
>> We've seen a few outages (wee hours of the morning when I suspect
>> they don't think anyone notices  :> ).  The service has been
>> "acceptable" -- at $20/month.  It isn't worth the non-discounted
>> rate they would like us to swallow.  :-/  I.e., the difference
>> between how quickly my email is served up is largely independent
>> of the alleged connection speed.  As I said previously, I could
>> probably live with a dialup (non-DSL) line and just let the
>> mail queue locally while being sent (we don't download music,
>> video, etc.)
>>
>>  My main problem was with their router that would over heat.
>>>
>>
>> Yes, the wireless adapter is the problem.  I noticed early on
>> that the modem was hanging and reseting periodically.  Turned
>> off the wireless adapter (we don't use it, anyway) and that
>> problem went away.
>>
>> Thanks for your comments.  I'll look at their web site and get
>> The Straight Dope.
>>
>> --don
>>
>> ______________________________**_________________
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>
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