School me on ISPs...

BGCarrera32 · 12-31-2013, 12:06 PM

I'm paying around $74 a month for "performance" internet with Comcast (cable). My upload speed is around 5 mbps, download around 20 mpbs (confirmed with both Comcast and SpeedTest). My issue is that as a Netflix streaming user, they're restricting Netflix speed and I am unable to get >1.5 mbps which yields terrible video quality. An online chat with the ever so helpful Comcast customer service basically confirmed that they are throttling Netflix, as she is telling me that "Netflix is not compatible with Comcast." I never had this problem until about 3 or 4 months ago. Time of day seems to make no difference.

I want the speed that I am paying for. I checked into high speed internet bundled with my home phone service via CenturyLink, and they offer phone plus 40 mpbs service for about the same money a month before taxes. So 2 questions:

1) It doesn't look like CenturyLink throttles Netflix, but they do claim that they can restrict bandwidth in high use periods from 7 to 11 PM and impose a 250 GB cap. I have no idea how big an HD episode of Top Gear or something is, is 250 GB enough?

2) Can you actually do 40 mpbs over a phone line, or will they drop a new cable to the house? I have the old analog phone lines in the ground out in the yard.

Thoughts? Seems like there are some unhappy campers with both companies after some Google searching, but a lot less with CenturyLink. Interested to hear opinions or experiences either way.

JMatta · 12-31-2013, 12:13 PM

I am not an expert by any means, but an HD episode of anything will be greater than 250GB. I've also never heard of getting that sort of bandwidth (40mbps) over copper...you'd need cable or fiber to do that.

Good Luck...I typically get 28mbps with Comcast cable, but can't answer the Netflix, as my kids are gone and use it at school...I don't.

stomachmonkey · 12-31-2013, 12:28 PM

Hi Speed internet over you phone line will be DSL.

You would likely suscribe to ADSL which has an average rate of 1.1 - 1.5 Mbits.

There are a few variants, ADSL2+ can get you up to 20 down but only 1 - 1.5 up.

It's also kinda flaky depending on the condition of your existing wiring.

I doubt it will solve your issue nor will you be happy with it.

What are you using to watch Netflix? Which specific device?

If a PC you can adjust the buffer yourself to account for the throttling.

I find my Apple TV streams flawlessly where my Netflix enabled Blu-ray player has buffering issues.

I'm on a 25/25 connection.

Nostril Cheese · 12-31-2013, 12:37 PM

I dont have enough foul words for Comcast.. Only company Ive ever dealt with that altered the terms of the service contract right after I signed it. Charged me $100 more per month (even though my copy of the contract says otherwise).

id10t · 12-31-2013, 12:37 PM

Elect a congresscritter that will pass a true Net Neutrality bill

Your service provider is a TV service, so to keep you from watching Netflix and just passing the bits along they change the network based on what content, etc.

Quote:

I am not an expert by any means, but an HD episode of anything will be greater than 250GB. I've also never heard of getting that sort of bandwidth (40mbps) over copper...you'd need cable or fiber to do that.

A regular DVD that is as full as the spec says it can be is 8.4gb. Blu Ray is 4x that or so, so 250gb will let you do a few movies per month... and not much else.

stomachmonkey · 12-31-2013, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMatta

I am not an expert by any means, but an HD episode of anything will be greater than 250GB. I've also never heard of getting that sort of bandwidth (40mbps) over copper...you'd need cable or fiber to do that.

Good Luck...I typically get 28mbps with Comcast cable, but can't answer the Netflix, as my kids are gone and use it at school...I don't.

Netflix and pretty much anyone else that streams uses H264 encoding so figure on average 20GB per hour.

gtc · gtc's Garage

1) you are getting hosed by Comcast, unless your $74 includes TV. Mine is ~$43 for internet plus modem rental, after taxes. Ask them for a student discount if you have kids, and they can bump up your speed and cut the price.

2) Netflix doesn't require anywhere near the bandwidth numbers you guys are talking about. 20GB/hr = 44.4 megabits/s, which is just ridiculous. From netflix' website:

Internet Connection Speed Recommendations

Below are the internet speed requirements and recommendations for playing movies and TV shows on the Netflix website.
*Note: Internet speeds listed represent Download speeds.
0.5 Megabits per second - Required broadband connection speed
1.5 Megabits per second - Recommended broadband connection speed
3.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for DVD quality
5.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for HD quality
7.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for Super HD quality
12 Megabits per second - Recommended for 3D quality
HD Video Quality
Movies and TV shows we have available in high definition will play in 720p or better with a fast enough internet connection. If you would like to view high definition titles whenever they are available, be sure to change your video quality setting to High on the Video Quality page.
Netflix Bandwidth Usage
Higher quality video uses more bandwidth than lower-quality video. If your service provider applies a bandwidth or data cap to your Internet service, you can Manage Bandwith Usage by changing the video quality settings to Low or Medium to consume less data.

gearya · 12-31-2013, 02:04 PM

I thought everyone was getting hosed by Comcast, or some other cable co. We are all getting screwed by the monopolist cable companies.

But you will be screwed a LOT worse by CenturyLink. So don't switch unless you want slower speeds and more service interruptions.

Complain to Comcast even though that won't do much. Then start complaining to the PUC, city council and to God. Your complaints won't do anything but if enough people complain then maybe someday, we will have internet access as good as, and as cheap as, Europe and Asia. Don't hold your breath.

Or you could move to a city with Google fiber.

gtc · gtc's Garage

You are right... comcast and centurylink are both awful.
I just meant that he was paying more than he needed to. Any time the service discount on a comcast account expires, you should go in and get it reapplied.
The centurylink speeds in my neighborhood were downright comical... i'd be getting something like 1.5Mb/s with them... 1.5 megaBITS.

id10t · 12-31-2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtc

You are right... comcast and centurylink are both awful.
I just meant that he was paying more than he needed to. Any time the service discount on a comcast account expires, you should go in and get it reapplied.
The centurylink speeds in my neighborhood were downright comical... i'd be getting something like 1.5Mb/s with them... 1.5 megaBITS.

Same as my reliable DSL service ($35/mo) - you'll be able to download 150KB/sec (kilobytes), so 8 seconds per megabyte.

BGCarrera32 · 12-31-2013, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Hi Speed internet over you phone line will be DSL.

You would likely suscribe to ADSL which has an average rate of 1.1 - 1.5 Mbits.

There are a few variants, ADSL2+ can get you up to 20 down but only 1 - 1.5 up.

It's also kinda flaky depending on the condition of your existing wiring.

I believe you, I'm just curious how they can offer that speed unless they drop a new wire bundle to the house. Their website says 40 mpbs is available to me with a 5 mpbs upload speed in my area.

The amount of fine print that is disclaimed with all the selections they offer on their website is comical.

If nothing else I need to wrangle with Comcast to get the price down. They're raising my service charge $3 a month as of 1/1.

stomachmonkey · 12-31-2013, 10:03 PM

They drop double lines to the router which bonds the pairs.

The speed is calculated at the router. What you see on your existing wiring beyond the router is a whole other story.

Think crank HP vs at the wheels.

Gogar · 01-01-2014, 12:11 AM

I have Century Link and get 19-20 mbps Down, my Netflix is HD more often than not.

They're all scrambling right now, the landscape is changing every day. If you have something cheap you can put up with, that's probably the best you can do right now.

I'm Comcast-free for about 9 months though. Time will tell about CenturyLink.

futuresoptions · 01-01-2014, 12:46 AM

I live in the arm pit of Time Warner Cable service area, that being said everything is pretty quick for me downloads, movies etc... the only thing that loads slow for some reason is their own homepage and email. Everything else is as described as click and it is there...

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Netflix recommends turning off HD. I did and my stream is uninterrupted. Before the video and audio went out of sync. I had a prior thread on this.

Did the same checks as you did. Everything was as UVerse said it was....the feed from Netflix was slowed down.

pitargue · pitargue's Garage

You can get VDSL if available, which is faster. (e.g. ATT Uverse) Then, if your provider has it, bonded VDSL.

WolfeMacleod · 06-05-2014, 05:53 PM

Perhaps you should join this thread, and weigh in on your thoughts about Net neutrality.

Don't understand Net Neutrality? Details too boring for you? Watch this

slakjaw · 08:44 PM

Omfg more net neutrality BS.

1. Comcast is hosing you man. Go to cent link 40 Mbps works great. It's bonded adsl2+ And it works good.

2. Netflix streams in h.264 that means every TV Show you watch will be about 1.5 gigs so you could watch almost 200 shows a month. (EDIT) Movies are going to be about 3.5 gigs each which means 40 a month. (With settings set to best quality)

3. Don't get caught up in net neutrality. It is a stupid waste of your time.

4. Most of what you get on cable might be in a 1080p wrapper but has been compressed so many times it is actually somewhere between SD and 720. Which I thought was interesting.

WolfeMacleod · 06-05-2014, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slakjaw

Omfg more net neutrality BS.

1. Comcast is hosing you man. Go to cent link 40 Mbps works great. It's bonded adsl2+ And it works good.

EXACTLY the case for Net Neutrality, Jabberjaw. You sure you don't actually work for a major ISP? Got stock? I'm betting so.

Sorry man, but I can't think of ANYBODY who knows the deal who is opposed to it, UNLESS they have a stake it it's defeat.

Guess what? Without Net Neutrality, Centurylink could turn around and pull the same bullcrap, as could any ISP.

slakjaw · 06-05-2014, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

EXACTLY the case for Net Neutrality, Jabberjaw. You sure you don't actually work for a major ISP? Got stock? I'm betting so.

Sorry man, but I can't think of ANYBODY who knows the deal who is opposed to it, UNLESS they have a stake it it's defeat.

Guess what? Without Net Neutrality, Centurylink could turn around and pull the same bullcrap, as could any ISP.

I gave the OP my advice. Net Neutrality will not help with the problem the OP is experiencing. Net Neutrality is a bad idea. Just like the Telecommunications act of 1996 was a bad idea. Go talk your politics in PARF that's what it is there for.

As I told you in the last thread, I have no bias or stake in it. It is just a bad idea.

Please leave me alone. I no longer wish to argue with you.