Computer guys...should I switch to Fios?

[Nathans_Dad]

My contract with Sprint is coming up in a month. Currently I have AT&T bundled for my cell, home phone, internet and Dish Network TV. The internet is DSL and I have been frustrated with some of the lag issues, especially when gaming online.

I have Fios installed in my neighborhood and am thinking of switching over and bundling all my services with Verizon.

I did a speedtest on my system and it came up with 2549 kb/s download and 432 kb/s upload. Verizon is advertising up to 20 mbps download and 10 mbps upload. They do have a 50 mbps plan but it is too expensive for me.

I tried to do a converter online to see what the comparison would be between what I have now and what I would have with fios and I can't make heads or tails of it. Anyone clue me in? Will my connection be 10x faster with fios?

[VINMAN]

Fios! Get Fios!

As a matter of fact, Everyone on here should switch to Fios! Tell all your friends and family to get Fios!!

[JasonDTM]

If the price is right if you bundle everything, get it. I have alot of friends who game online and couldnt say anything better for it.

[Aurel]

I have a plain jane fios and I just did a speed test: 3371 kb/s download, and 771 kb/s upload.
So, I don`t think your connection will be 10x faster with fios, unless you pay extra for the faster speeds. Of course, results may be different in your area.

Aurel

[mikester]

my understanding is that you unplug the RJ45 from the back of your computer and then plug the fiber directly where the RJ45 was.

[VincentVega]

Not quite, but it's a simple installation.

No complaints here, I've had FIOS for ~2 yrs now.

[slakjaw]

I never went for those bundles... I always thought I could save more by picking and choosing.

And for some reason, it seems writing one big check to one company hurts more than 3 or 4 small checks. Just me though.

[nightheart]

It's like a cars speed. right now your going 25mph and with FIOS you can go 200mph. That is the max connection you will get, and it will probably be slower at peak hours. That the advertised speed, for your area, and if you aren't getting close to 20mbs after going FIOS, you should definatley call the provider and get lines tested, etc. So if everything works right, you will definitely notice a difference.

Internet connection speed is also based on the upload speed of whatever site your visiting or the players your gaming with. Having a lightning connection and playing with people with slower connections can hurt your speed.

DSL is the new dialup. It's for people who want internet but don't want to pay much. The DSL lines are also almost maxed out for speed, which is why the phone companies are switching to FIOS, since its the only way they can keep up with cable's speeds.

My $0.02 , take it for what it's worth.

[1967 R50/2]

Why not just get cable? What is the advantage of FIOS over cable?

[EdT82SC]

A friend of mine, another computer geek like myself, recently switched to fios from cable, and he is very happy. If I remember correctly you can buy fios in three speeds. The basic is 2 mb/s. This is more then most people need, and more then a lot of web sites can feed deliver anyways. The next step up is 15 mb/s, the speed my friend went with, and he says if he were to do it again he would have gone with the 2 mb/s because after measuring he found that most web sites can't even deliver 1 mb/s. The next level up is nearly 200 mb/s, but this is limited by your own usage of other services like phone and TV watching. He says he is paying slightly more then he was with cable, but with much higher speed. If I recall the 2mb/s service was actually less then he was paying for cable.

If I were in an verizon serviced area then I would sign up for fios myself, but I am stuck with pac bell/at&t, and they don't have anything comparable.

[VINMAN]

For those that already have Fios, are you guys happy with it? Anyone have the Fios tv yet?

[VincentVega]

Anyone have the Fios tv yet?

~2 yrs

No real problems. The dvr has issues once in a while, but I nothing major. A reboot usually 'fixes' it.

[VINMAN]

Glad to hear!