The Observation Deck

We've had great experience so far with U-verse. Saving significant $ over separate DSL and DirectTV. Now paying about $118/month with all taxes and gov't fees for a decent number of regular and HD channels, 2 TVs, 1 DVR, 6 Mbps Internet (no VOIP phone). No phone because we only use landline for local and use cell phones/Skype for national and international long distance. Will probably upgrade Internet to 18 Mbps soon and drop landline altogether.

Considered Cox but heard too many horror stories about service, fees and contracts. AT&T has been great and customer service has always answered in less than a minute (called with some questions and to drop HBO, which took 5 seconds and no hassle). Straightforward billing and no contract is VERY refreshing. I think they're pushing hard to make this a success.

DVR programming isn't quite as simple as old Tivo/DirectTV but old box/DVR wasn't HD and this one is. DirectTV wanted $200 and a 2 yr contract to upgrade. Also, the wi-fi built into the U-verse box (no separate router needed) is 802.11g and not 802.11n, which seems shortsighted, but is still plenty fast enough for most home networking needs.

Long term, as Internet video traffic increases, I understand that U-verse faces some speed challenges where cable has a technology advantage (wider pipe) that will more easily allow 50-100 Mbps.

Saw this article and it reflects what I posted earlier in this thread. COX and others are ready to wheel and deal to keep you as a customer. I personally got a reduction in my cable bill that would equal about $600 a year and was told when the offers run out in 5 months to call them back and get the new deal.

READ THIS
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/ar ... l-Services

Interesting as they mention ATT&T and others willing to cut prices.


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We've been considering alternatives to Direct TV for a while now. We are leaning toward COX cable, mostly due to the local access channel. We'd really like to see the School Board meetings, Council meetings, etc. Are all these events really televised (each and every Council meeting for example) or only a few here and there televised? I'd appreciate any input from current and former COX customers as this is the SOLE reason for looking at alternatives.

Charlie Page wrote:We've been considering alternatives to Direct TV for a while now. We are leaning toward COX cable, mostly due to the local access channel. We'd really like to see the School Board meetings, Council meetings, etc. Are all these events really televised (each and every Council meeting for example) or only a few here and there televised? I'd appreciate any input from current and former COX customers as this is the SOLE reason for looking at alternatives.

Charlie

Can't speak of Uverse, cannot forgive them for what they and council did to our city with those boxes.

As for Dish, Direct TV and COX, have had them all, even at the same time. Direct TV beats Dish. Had Dish at the office Direct TV at home. Direct has better programming. At home I had Direct and COX, finally after a year I canceled Direct TV. Yhe only real fall off I noticed was LINK TV, my favorite channel, is not on COX though I keep lobbying for it. And one of the music channel on Direct that had live concerts that is not on COX. Everything else including price and service seem better with COX.

FWIW

Also COX puts more back into the community than any other provider.

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Pretty sure I have said this before... Cox has been grate. I can not speak of their customer service as I have not had to call them in the better part of 6 years!! I wish they would stop raising their rates. I love the internet service. I do not have cable or home phone so I can't speak for those services. I would no think about switching to the Great Satan that is AT$T.

I don't think I can anyway switch as I use several VPN connections for work and last time I checked (about a year ago) I heard complaints that VPN connections were not being established due to some crazy AT$T traffic shaping/filtering/fiddleing... policy. Is that the case? Does anyone in Lakewood have problems with IPSec VPN's?

Jim DeVito wrote:Cox has been grate. I can not speak of their customer service as I have not had to call them in the better part of 6 years!! I wish they would stop raising their rates. I love the internet service.

Jim

You should call them, and ask for customer service, or disconnection service. They can take any and all rates back to original offers. I wish it was not this way but the article I posted is correct.

When I called Dish and Direct TV they both offered to beat COX's prices. When I signed up for COX as they support the Observer Project and give nearly $1/4 million+ a year back to Lakewood. When my first bill came for everything, I mean everything I mentioned the price was higher than I thought it would be. The agent went and found every deal possible, applied them to my bill it was a very good deal. The agent told me they would run out in 5 months but he was sure they would have different deals at that time that could be applied. Asked if I wanted to be reminded of the 5 months too.

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