Internet Service Backstory -
The apartment building I live in is exclusively wired for Comcast. And since I loathe Comcast because of their INSANE prices and the way they think they RULE the world, I refused to use their service. Therefore, the only other option I had was Verizon. However, since Fios was unavailable in my building, I succumbed to Verizon DSL.
That's right, you heard me correctly.
For the past 23 years, I've been using DSL, which is only half a step up from Dial-up service. I felt like Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail. It was so bad that many times while watching a movie, it would buffer. Not only that, the service would knock me offline constantly, so I had to reboot the modem which was a royal pain in my arse.
But I put up with it because I didn't think I had any other options.
Also, guess what I was paying for DSL service each month. Are you ready for this?
$100.98!
And that was because I was paying for not only internet service but a landline phone as well. And for a phone that I NEVER used. DSL requires that you be connected to a phone line.
My New Internet Service Search -
For the past several months, I've been searching for a different option and decided to look into the possibility of going with Wi-Fi internet. And I wanted one that was reliable, fast, and available in my area. But most importantly, much less expensive.
I looked into Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
After watching a bazillion YouTube videos on each one, I chose T-Mobile 5G Home Internet.
I purchased the service (which included a gateway) online rather than in-store because if I did so, they would waive the $25.00 activation fee. In addition, it qualified me for a $150 Virtual Prepaid Mastercard promotion.
Signing up online went smoothly. The gentleman who helped me (Jonathan) could not have been more patient, kind, and efficient. He informed me that I would receive the gateway in 3-5 business days. It only took TWO days!
Setting It Up -
I had heard over and over again how easy and quick it was to set up service. They all said, "It will only take 15 minutes to set it up." One YouTuber even claimed,"It was so easy to set up that my 98-year-old grandmother completed it in less than 5 minutes!"
Yeah....RIGHT.
After trying to connect my desktop computer to the Wi-Fi for over 45 minutes, I decided to call customer service. But before doing that, I did everything I was instructed to do, via the app.
I got a technical support guy who kept saying to me, "Oh it's so easy to set it up. You simply plug it in and it will AUTOMATICALLY connect your devices."
Oh, really?!?!
By the way, don't you love how IT people talk to you like you're an IT person as well? They seem to have little patience for anyone who doesn't understand IT. And I'm thinking, "Why would I call you if I understood IT?!?!"
Anyway, after trying everything on his end to correct the issue, he came up with another way to go at it. Now mind you, my cellphone device had no problem connecting to the Wi-Fi, it was my desktop that had the issue.
Come to find out that my desktop Wi-Fi would not accept the name and password that was printed on the back of the gateway. Therefore, I had to go in and create a new name and password. Oy vey!
But that seemed to do the trick. It connected!
My Feedback On The 5G Home Internet -
I have to say, besides the issue in getting my computer to connect to the gateway, the process was not bad. As soon as I got online and started visiting various websites, I could immediately tell how much FASTER the service was compaired to my DSL. It felt like I was flying over the internet. And no buffering while watching a movie.
And guess what? It's only $55.00 per month. It would have only been $50.00 had I signed up for auto-pay, which I never do. The gateway was included. Unlimited data. No contract. And no price increase.
Here are a few photos.
The box...
I placed the gateway right next to a window. I'm on a very high floor, so I get a strong signal...
So far, so good! I'm VERY happy!😁
Goodbye DSL! Hello 5G Home Internet!
Have a faaaaaaabulous rest of your week, everyone! 💕
Oh dearest, Ronnie, I wish I had read this post prior to getting service with Comcast. Like you, I LOATHE that company. Talking with their customer service reps is like talking to a slimy car saleman/salewoman. The service is not bad, but the price is outrageous. And they keep raising it.
ReplyDeleteI laughed when you made reference to Dial-up and Meg Ryan in the film, You've Got Mail. I love that movie. And I could hear the dial-up noise as you said it. LOL!
I didn't even think they had DSL anymore. For 23 years you've had it? Wow!
I love the photos of the gateway and your desktop. Is it HP? Very nice!
I'm happy to hear that you like your new service and it's working well. GREAT price too!
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I plan on forwarding this post to my bestie because she's on the lookout for a different internet provider. She's with Verizon Fios. xox
Forgot to say in my previous comment, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHola Denise!
ReplyDelete"Talking with their customer service reps is like talking to a slimy car saleman/salewoman. The service is not bad, but the price is outrageous. And they keep raising it."
Isn't Comcast the worst? And they have one of their MAIN offices here in Philadelphia. Practically everyone I know here uses Comcast. NOT me!
Don't you love "You've Got Mail"? I have in on DVD, so I'll watch it several times in a year. I love any Nora Ephron movie.
Yup, 23 years, can you believe that? And before that, I had AOL dial-up when I first got online
Yes, my computer is HP. That's all I've ever owned. I find them well-made and they last for a long time. I had one for NINE years!
I know, you can't beat the price!
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fabulous rest of your week!
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Aw....thank you, Denise! Yes, I did. I had a very quiet and cozy day. It was cold, gray and rainy. So I was in HEAVEN!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great Thanksgiving too!
"By the way, don't you love how IT people talk to you like you're an IT person as well? They seem to have little patience for anyone who doesn't understand IT. And I'm thinking, "Why would I call you if I understood IT?!?!"
ReplyDeleteRon, you are so right about that! One of my friends works in IT and he has no comprehension for anyone who doesn't understand what HE understands. Mind you, he's help me many times. However, it's so impatient while telling me what to do.
I use Verizon 5G Home Internet and have no complaints about the service. But I'm getting sick and tired of how they keep increasing the price. Practically ever month I notice on my bill, more and more EXTRA charges. They keep telling me to switch my cellphone serice to Verizon, so that it will make my internet service cheaper. But I'm with AT&T and the price is so good. Not changing.
Thank you for sharing this Ron. I may look into T-Mobile after the holidays. You really can't beat that price!
Ron, I purchased T-Mobile 5G Home Internet last year and I love it! I also use them for my cellphone carrier, so I get it even cheaper. Before signing up for their internet service, I kept hearing that some people found the connection slow and inconsistent, so I was a little hesitant. But I have to say that for me, the service has been fast and reliable. I think it all depends how close your are to a tower. Being that you live in a city (and on a high floor), I'm sure your service is really good!
ReplyDeleteBefore choosing T-Mobile, I considered AT&T Air, but didn't find that many positive reviews online.
Happy for you, Ron! Good choice!
Hey there, Daniel!
ReplyDelete"One of my friends works in IT and he has no comprehension of anyone who doesn't understand what HE understands. Mind you, he's help me many times. However, he is so impatient while telling me what to do."
I know what you mean. I used to work for a retailer who's POS machines would malfunction quite often. I DREADED having to call IT and ask them for help because they would talk to me like I was an idiot.
I ALMOST went with Verizon 5G Home Internet, but was pissed at them for hard-selling me in one of their retail stores. The guy I spoke to continually tried to UPSELL me. So, I walked out of the store.
I'm with AT&T cellphone service too. And I love them. I only pay $30.00 a month. I've been with them since 2015.
If you're looking to change, do give T-Mobile a look. The price (and service) are very, very good.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Daniel! Have a terrific rest of your week!
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Ron, your post could not have come to me at a better time because I've been searching for a different internet provider, and T-Mobile was one that I was seriously considering. One of my friends uses them, and also their cellphone service, and has no complaints.
ReplyDeleteYou experience with the gentleman who signed you up sounded awesome. I always dread talking with sales reps because I don't always trust them. And it seems that even your technical issue was resolved in a timely manner as well. Don't you hate techincal glitches? They drive me crazy.
And I can't believe you received the gateway in only two days!!!
Thank you, Ron! You made up my mind!
That's so great to hear, Robert! Glad to find someone who uses the same service and has positive feedback. Yes, I did see that if you use T-Mobile cellphone service, you can get the 5G even cheaper. Verizon does the same thing.
ReplyDeleteMe too, I read the same thing about how some people found the connection slow, and that it was inconsistent. But so far, I've not experienced that. Having had DSL for so long, this 5G Wi-Fi is SO MUCH FASTER.
"I think it all depends how close your are to a tower. Being that you live in a city (and on a high floor), I'm sure your service is really good!"
I think you're right about that. It all depends on how close one is to a tower as to the speed of the connection.
I also heard that about the app. Someone left a review online that they liked the previous T-Mobile app more than the current one. To be honest, I don't think I'll be using the app all that much, so it may not bother me.
Yeah, I looked into AT&T Air, but there were to many negative reviews. Plus, the gateway is HUGE.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your experience, Robert! You gave me confidence that I made the correct choice.
Have a fabulous rest of your week!
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Ron, I am in shock by what you paid monthly for Verizon DSL. Yikes! I pay only a bit more than that for Verizon internet, which includes cable TV. Isn't it some thing how all the internet providers have jacked their pricing up and up and up and up? I'm also not a fan of Comcast, but Verizon is not much better.
ReplyDeleteI don't do auto-pay either. And do you know what I hate about it even more than tacking on charges without asking you? They now don't accept credit cards for auto-pay. You have to use a debt card because apparently they get charged for processing payments on a credit card.
Glad you found an internet plan that works for you AND at a very good price. Well done!
Good morning, Abby!
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear that this post helped you in choosing a different internet provider. Isn't it painful to go through that process? There are so many choices, all of which have positives and negatives. My main thing was COST and RELIABILITY. And so far, it seems to be working very well. And consistantly.
" I always dread talking with sales reps because I don't always trust them. And it seems that even your technical issue was resolved in a timely manner as well. Don't you hate techincal glitches? They drive me crazy."
Yes to all of that! I actually experienced that when talking with a sales rep for Verizon two weeks ago. I went into a Verizon store here in Philly and the guy was just so pushy. I'm normally a patient person, but when it comes to technical glitches, I get VERY frustrated and annoyed.
Yup, only TWO days!
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a great day and rest of your week!
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Morning, Clair!
ReplyDeleteI know, can you BELIEVE that price? And for DSL? I noticed that over six months, every time I received my bill, there were more and more price increases. Little by little my bill went to over $100.00. That's when I decided to switch. Glad I did.
What you said about Verizon is true. I used to really like them as a company. But they are slowly becoming more like Comcast. I quess eventually the ALL do.
" They now don't accept credit cards for auto-pay. You have to use a debt card because apparently they get charged for processing payments on a credit card."
Yes, you're absolutely right about that. Companies are no longer accepting credit cards for auto-pay because they are being charged a fee to do so. But there is no way in hell I'm giving them my debt card to do whatever they want with it. That's MY money they're messing with.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Clair! Have a fantabulous rest of your week!
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I'm so with you about Comcast, Ron! In fact, I was getting so close to ditching them because of the constant up-ticks in pricing. I was paying a small fortune. And that's even after getting rid of all the extra cable stuff I had on my account. Last spring, I looked into Xfinity's Now internet service because it was only $30.00 per month (I chose the $45.00 plan because of faster speeds), unlimited data, no contract, gateway included. It's been pretty good when it comes to reliability. The only thing I can't stand is trying to get customer service/technical support.
ReplyDeleteI looked into T-Moble as well, but unfortunately it wasn't available at my location. Glad you like it. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I love any Nora Ephron film too, Ron! When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail are my top two. I love Julie and Julia as well. I miss Nora!
ReplyDeleteI love Nora Ephron films too, Ron! When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail are my top two. I also love Julie and Julia. I miss Nora!
ReplyDeleteDenise, no lie, you mentioned three of my Nora Ephron films 🎥 I miss her too! 😥
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Barbara!
ReplyDeleteYou know something? Although I don't like Comcast, I did check out Now because of the very inexpensive prices ($35 - $40) which I thought were excellent. I went into an Xfinity store here in Philly and spoke to a guy who barely looked up from his cellphone the whole time he was talking to me. He just seemed too preoccuplied to actually look up and talk with me. I'm all about customer service, so I thanked him and walked out of the store. Overall, I don't like the customer service vibe of Comcast as a company. But I'm glad to know you're enjoying the service and its good reliable. That's AWESOME!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your feedback, my friend! Muchly appreciated!
Have a fantastic day and week!
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Omg Ron, I can’t believe you’ve been putting up with DSL all this time! My only positive thing I can say about our current provider is that the download speeds are very good. We have Spectrum bundle (landline/cable/internet) because it’s our only cable choice unless we want Dish. My husband refuses to cut the cable because of sports. So we’re stuck with a $266 bill every month. I swear, they raise the rates every 3 months. And our service frequently goes out for a few hours at a time. I get so mad that I call and demand money off each time and at least they give in.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never heard of ‘gateway’. Is that the same as a modem? I’m so glad you found a good alternative at such a better price! Enjoy your holiday movies! XO
"So we’re stuck with a $266 bill every month."
ReplyDeleteOH. MY. GOD!.....I am trying so hard to comprehend that price?!?! Yawza! Doesn't it make you crazy how these internet providers keep raising the rates? To think that I was only paying $50.00 when I first started with Verizon, compaired to what I'm paying now. And Like you, I called them many times to see why the increases and could they do something (since I was with them for so long) to cut me a break, but they said NO.
So, I said, "F you...I'm leaving!"
A gateway is a combination of router/modem. It's kind of like a tower that connects to an outside tower. And being that I live in a city and live on an upper floor, I get a very strong connection. And I'm blown away by the speed.
Thanks so much for stopping by, dear friend! Have a faaaaaaaaabulous holiday season! It's finally feeling like Christmas here. It's cold and gray. I'm in seasonal LOVE. LOL!
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I totally hear you on Comcast. We switched from ATT to Comcast to save money, and that was definitely a mistake. Ever since, we’ve had so many internet outages. I told Mike that we never had those problems with ATT. And you’re right—Comcast’s customer service is really frustrating. Gah.
ReplyDeleteI’m so relieved to hear you’re getting better service now! 💕😘
(And now I can't get the dial up sound out of my head ...🤣)
Ron, thank you for explaining all this in such a clear, concise way. Yes, I despise IT professionals who act like everything they do is child's play, and the person who doesn't "get" it right off the bat is an idiot! Can't they see you wouldn't be calling them for help if you understood it?!?
ReplyDeleteGood for you, finally getting rid of DSL. I agree with you about Comcast, not from personal experience but from Domer, who loathes them!! Those prices are absolutely ridiculous ... especially when there are less expensive options.
I'm fortunate in having high-speed internet now -- isn't it FAST?!! Such a time-saver in our busy lives. Congrats on getting it all done before Christmas, too -- what a great present for yourself! XX
Helloooooooo, Kari!
ReplyDelete"We switched from ATT to Comcast to save money, and that was definitely a mistake. Ever since, we’ve had so many internet outages. I told Mike that we never had those problems with ATT."
Yes, I hear that from so many people. Which is why I refused to go with Comcast. My apartment building has an exclusive contract with Comcast, which excludes any other cable internet provider from being used in the building. That's why I had to choose DSL. That is until 5G Wi-Fi came along. Thankfully, my address is within the location.
"(And now I can't get the dial up sound out of my head ...🤣)"
HA! I know, you can immediately HEAR that dial-up sound, right? And then AOL saying...."You've got mail!"
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Sending you LOTS of love and positive energy!
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Hey there, Debbie!
ReplyDelete" Yes, I despise IT professionals who act like everything they do is child's play, and the person who doesn't "get" it right off the bat is an idiot! Can't they see you wouldn't be calling them for help if you understood it?!?"
My sentiments EXACTLY! I used to work for a retail company who's POS registers would constantly go down. Which meant that we would have to call IT so that they could tell us what to do. Honestly, they were the most obnoxious people, who talked to us like we were idiots. My manager used to get so mad at them.
"Good for you, finally getting rid of DSL."
OMG, I am sooooooooooooooooooo happy! And can't get over how FAST the service is. I never knew what I was missing for 23 years. LOL!
Yes, I wanted to make the change before the holidays. My only other thing I need to do is get a new cellphone because the one I have is starting to slow down and is doing weird things. I found one (a Moto) sale, so I may purchase it next week.
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaaaabulous rest of your week!
X
P.S. We finally got winter weather. It's been in the low 30s during the day, and low 20s at night. I am so loving it!
I have both T-Mobile 5G Home Internet AND their cellphone service. Over the years, I've been with a few other providers. Some I liked, some I did not. I've been extremely pleased with T-Mobile. I get great reception with my Wifi connection at home. And as you shared, their prices are very reasonable.
ReplyDeleteI too had to contact customer service while setting up my home service. But it was resolved quickly.
Congrats on your choice, Ron!
Morning, Clair!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your feedback about T-Mobile. I may, in the future, check out their cellphone service as well because I know you get a reduced price when you have both. However, I've very pleased with my cellphone provider (AT&T) and the price. I only pay $30.00 a month. It's a prepaid account.
"I too had to contact customer service while setting up my home service. But it was resolved quickly."
Glad to know I wasn't the only one. And I'm glad to hear that it was resolved quickly. I'm blown away by the speed of the 5G service. Much faster than DSL.
Have an awesome weekend, my friend. And much thanks for stopping by!
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Ron, we were with Comcast FOREVER. That is until the price got ridiculous, so we switched to Verizon. We got in at a great price, but of course, little by little it got higher. But it's still cheaper than what we paid at Comcast. I think all these companies are doing this because I hear the same thing from friends and family members.
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked that you've been using DSL for 23 years. God bless you! And I LOL at your reference to Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail. LOVE that film! My first internet service was AOL dial-up. I still have that email!
My daughter uses T-Mobile (internet and cellphone) and she has no complaints. Price is not bad either.
Got to ask. Are you enjoying this COLD weather? Hubby and I we thinking about you a few days ago when the temperature dropped. Needless to say, we are LOVING it! Finally feels like the holidays.
Happy you found a service that you like and enjoy. And a great price too!
Have a great weekend, Ron! xoxo
Hey there, Elaine!
ReplyDeleteIsn't Comcast insane with their pricing? I've heard horror stories from people how Comcast gave them a great deal when they first signed up. However, a year later....the price went SKY HIGH. You're right, I think all these companies are doing do it as well. I was with Verizon for over 23 years. I think I started at $50.00 with Verizon. But everly month, I noticed extra priced being added to my phone bill. When I called to disconnect my service after starting with T-Mobile, the customer rep on the phone kept trying to get me to try a different plan because they didn't want to lose me. I said thank you, but no.
I know, DSL...can you believe that?!?! This past year was the worst because I had to reboot my modem several times a week. And sometimes it just cut me off in the middle of watching a movie. So, it was time to move on.
"Are you enjoying this COLD weather? Hubby and I we thinking about you a few days ago when the temperature dropped. Needless to say, we are LOVING it! Finally feels like the holidays."
You better believe it! I am LOVING, LOVING, LOVING this cold weather. Today, I walked around the city for over an hour, enjoying the ice cold wind on my face! And yes, it makes it feel more like the holidays.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your internet experience, my friend. Have a faaaaaaaabulous weekend!
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Internet is a very important thing now a days. I like what you have described above regarding internet connection choices. It would be nice if you share more information on laptops.
ReplyDelete<a href=" https://www.laptopeveryone.com/best-laptops-for-content-creators-from-blogging-to-video-production/ ">Dell Laptop</a>