Travel Technology - can you have internet cable w/out having cable tv

Yup.

We're losers.

We are thinking of going with a cable modem to replace our fine dial up. However, we really don't need cable tv. We don't watch TV and I'm afraid that if we get it, I will. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Is it possible to get comcast service without getting cable tv?

thanks a gagillion,

lala

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lalala:
Yup.

We're losers.

We are thinking of going with a cable modem to replace our fine dial up. However, we really don't need cable tv. We don't watch TV and I'm afraid that if we get it, I will. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Is it possible to get comcast service without getting cable tv?

thanks a gagillion,

lala</font>


Depending on where you live you could get DSL or ADSL instead. Basically, broadband over your phone line. it's an 'always on' connection just like cable modems are and it would save you from the temptation to watch all that evil cable stuff... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

btw, my building is the only one in my area that doesn't have cable. I see enough of it anyway in hotels.

Yes you can, however you may get charged a slightly higher fee. How some operators bill this as is a "preferred customer price" for internet if you have cable, everyone else pays the standard price (e.g. people who don't want cable tv)

I have AT&T for cable internet and dish network for tv. I pay a little each month for the cable internet, but was able to get it just fine.

My local able company charges about $18 more per month to get cable Internet if you're not a cable TV subscriber. Not coincidentally, that's the same price as "limited basic" which is roughly cable channels 2-18 only.

In my area, Comcast charges $59.95 for cable internet access alone and $45.95 if you have cable TV. Since the cheapest cable TV is 10.99/mo, it is actually cheaper to get both.

The cable companies charge a higher fee because if you get internet cable w/o cable TV, you will still be able to watch cable TV.

------------------
"If life doesn't offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one."
-Anthony J. D'Angelo

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
The cable companies charge a higher fee because if you get internet cable w/o cable TV, you will still be able to watch cable TV.</font>
This wasn't always or isn't true. The cable company can install a video trap on your line. Make sure they do, because if they don't you might end up in jail:
http://www.geocities.com/flutocracy/cablemodem.htm

It's a very funny story, but the geocities site is sometimes very slow, so be patient.

Yup - here in IND I have Time Warner Cable (Brighthouse) - just internet for $45.00.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mikel51:
In my area, Comcast charges $59.95 for cable internet access alone and $45.95 if you have cable TV. Since the cheapest cable TV is 10.99/mo, it is actually cheaper to get both.</font>

Yeah, same for me, although this change was just instituted in April. (I'm in former AT&T territory; AT&T did not have that policy.) Well, my basic costs $12.32 or something like that, but same premise I mean. It's still cheaper to go ahead and get the basic basic TV.

As for the "you'll still be able to get TV over the line", this would also vary from area to area. I know for a long time it was true in our area, but they did finally come up with a trap that works. I never had problems like the guy in the link did. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif In fact, at my reinstall after moving the installers didn't have the traps for basic, so I had extra channels. They didn't forget, though; someone installed the traps within a week or so.

Thanx for the info. Very entertaining...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lensman:
Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
The cable companies charge a higher fee because if you get internet cable w/o cable TV, you will still be able to watch cable TV.</font>
This wasn't always or isn't true. The cable company can install a video trap on your line. Make sure they do, because if they don't you might end up in jail:
http://www.geocities.com/flutocracy/cablemodem.htm

It's a very funny story, but the geocities site is sometimes very slow, so be patient.

I am fairly certain the greedy cable companies charge more for customers only subscribing to cable broadband, and NOT subscribing to the for their cable tv is because subscribing for the cable tv INCREASES their total customer base, thus they can charge more for their noisy nasty commericals etc.

For example in PA, Comcast charges about $11/mo for the lowest tier cable tv service, but by getting it, it knocks $15/mo off my cable internet monthly charge. In HI, RoadRunner doesnt seem to give a similar discount.

It is simplly a marketing decision (ie the coupling) to increase their total revenue.

MisterNice

When I ordered combination high-speed and cable TV from Comcast in August, I asked for bsaic TV only.

The weekend before the appointment I received a call suggesting I "upgrade" to digital now: "In a few months all Comcast television will be digital. If you get digital now, you'll save on paying a second installation fee at that time."

Getting back to la3's quandry - isn't cable faster than DSL? I admit I'm hooked on high-speed. It's one area that off-the-table in terms of budget reductions.

hmmm.
the idea of having basic cable would be nice for our guests, but lala wouldn't think it would be a good idea to get sucked into tv watching....

lala
casa lala 2** until upgrade to cable http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Nobody says you have to hook up a TV, although to avoid odd experiences with the installers you may need to let them hook it up then disconnect it afterwards. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif Besides, basic cable only gets you a few channels other than your over-the-air channels. Of course, if you're the type that gets sucked into C-SPAN.... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif

(My basic actually gets me Discovery Channel, but that's apparently rare. A friend in BOS area with Comcast also has basic, and it does not include Discovery. Otherwise I get C-SPAN, BET, WGN and Weather Channel in addition to my local over-the-air channels. That's it.)

EDIT: As for cable vs DSL, it all depends, but in general I would recommend the cable. At similar price points, cable will in all but a few rare cases be faster. Both products in their consumer form utilize bandwidth that is shared among other users. The speed quoted in the DSL or cable advertising is the maximum speed. The speed they guarantee is much lower in both cases. Comcast recently doubled the speed of their base product (in the process of rolling it out system-wide). This means the speed will be capped at 3Mbit (3000Kbit) per second downstream. That is twice the speed of a T-1 line. And while I typically can't max that out, I get speeds around 2.6Mbit/sec, which really isn't bad for $45/month or even $60/month considering the extra for basic TV or not having cable TV. Some DSL products do cost less, as little as half as much ($30/month) depending upon area, but DSL is also notably more distance-sensitive than cable. You have to be very close to your local phone switching office to get the best speeds.


[This message has been edited by CrazyOne (edited 10-06-2003).]

Across the border from la http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/thumbsup.gif3, we can get cable internet w/o a cable subscription. And no, we don't get anything free on the tv as a result (5 air channels work just fine). The telco's ADSL offering looks tempting (about $5/month cheaper, less on introductory rates) but we'd have to buy an ADSL modem.

[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 10-06-2003).]

Thanks everyone.

I think I am going with a DSL, the reason being that my dearest taller half is reluctant to begin with and having holes drilled into our house for tv.

I think I'll do the wireless lan thing too.

lala

Congratulations!

Once you go high speed, you NEVER go back!

I had cable internet only and comcast basically forced me into basic cable tv as well, they raised the price so that it was less expensive to have basic cable tv + internet vs internet only.

That doesn't mean that you have to have the tv hooked up, though!

------------------
AAdvantage Gold, Holiday Inn Platinum