After a decade away, I’m finally moving back to Asheville. Since I make my living online, I need a reliable and fast ISP. Cheap is always good too, but the other criteria are more important. Any suggestions?
We dumped Charter and started using a small local business: Skyrunner. No installation, no bullshit- 50 bucks a month and we’ve had flawless, uninterrupted service.
Skyrunner is wonderful! They hooked us up for a demo and I consistently got 6 megabits UP and DOWN… as soon as my T1 contract runs out, I’m switching. ... talk to Don Davis at Skyrunner, he’s got a very good service going.
It’s a wireless service. They have repeaters on Spivey Mountain, for example. My office is out in the West Buncombe area, about 7 or 8 miles from downtown Asheville. Get us at that fast a speed is darned impressive. Downtown he has pretty much saturated.
Looks like we’re going with AT&T;DSL. Would choose Skyrunner but we’re only going to be in this house for a few months before we (hopefully) buy. They’d have to install an antenna, we’d have to get the landlord’s permission—just not worth the hassle. Would love to have Verizon FIOS but it’s not available at the Kenilworth house where we’ll land. They got killer ratings in a recent Consumer Reports.
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. We return to Asheville in another 10 days. Whoopee!
I have charter and to be honest they add all types of hidden charges. anyways I have the 5 meg package. Actual speed tested at DSLreports.com
Download: 1136 (Kbps)
Upload: 479 (Kbps)
Out where I live, I can’t get cable, DSL is not available, and regular wireless Internet services can’t even get close. Satellite reception is possible, but it’s pretty costly to get set up. I thought my only option was dial-up, but I recently found a great alternative available. Both Verizon and AT&T;(and possibly other companies) have Internet cards and/or devices that you either put into your card slot or plug into a USB connection that uses their cellphone wireless system to give you Internet access. I first tried a device from AT&T;(since I have an AT&T;cellphone) and had some problems with it, so returned it. Then I tried a PC card from Verizon and it works great! Both AT&T;and Verizon have rebates that basically give you the card or device free - then it’s 59.95 a month for unlimited Internet access. I know that’s a little steep, but if, like me, your only other choice is dial-up - and I don’t even currently have a land line phone - it’s worth it. You get service anywhere a cell phone works. So that means you could be even riding in your car and on the Internet (not while driving of course). It’s as fast as any DSL service I’ve ever had, and well worth the price as far as I’m concerned. The strange thing is, this type of service doesn’t seem to be advertised or very well-known about by most people.
I’ve heard that Charter is sloooow and tends to black out. I’m with Bellsouth, which seems pretty consistent. But I’d prefer local.
Then likely you heard wrong, perhaps you were listening to the hype from a DSL provider. It is fast and reliable, and it has been a long time since I’ve had an outage.
I know people who have had some problems, but i’m on the trifecta of Charter (Cable, Internet, Phone) and haven’t had a lick of problems and have even re-upped for the cheaper bundle… Most of the problems i’ve heard about is spotty installation, but mine was a dream. After that i haven’t had slowness and i’m a many-hours-a-day’er on the internet and cableTV (at the same time with Helen doing the same on her Computer and TV). I live in West Asheville, so maybe there’s other “cool zones” for Charter.
I have charter and to be honest they add all types of hidden charges. anyways I have the 5 meg package. Actual speed tested at DSLreports.com
Download: 1136 (Kbps)
Upload: 479 (Kbps)
lol
I have AT&T;DSL, I tested my speed as:
Download: 3704 kbps
upload: 415 kbps
With no issues to date with the service or billing. Surprise, surprise.
