moving offcampus (FTW!!one ) next year, and we are looking at the different highspeed internet packages.

Fidelity seems to be a ripoff at 75 bucks for 5mbps down and 256kbps up.

Embarq seems to be a much better deal at 45 bucks for 5mbps down and 640kbps up. The only problem is that the Embarq lady (who was overseas, and hence not making any sense) said that it was 55 for their highspeed internet and local phone package and refused to quote me for anything else - even when i said i didn't want a phone plan.

So - any thoughts/stories/advice? The embarq seems to be a better deal, but is there any way around a stupid phone plan from them?

If you plan on getting cable TV, Fidelity may have some sort of tv/internet/phone package for cheaper (not 100% positive) but it may bring the price down quite a bit.

But the 256k up does indeed suck, no getting away from that.

we're going to pass on getting cable. none of us watch television that much.

edit: basically, if we can just get highspeed 5mbit internet and not some crappy upload speed, phone plan, or cable deal - we'd be happy.

and also - if anyone knows of any other highspeed (none EV-DO or EDGE) ISPs, i'd appreciate hearing about them.

If you're not getting a combination package, I can't help you. I can tell you that my fiance and I pay $140 for 5Mbit internet, cable w/ HBO and digital package, and landline phone. We tried to cancel the phone and HBO, but buying the rest seperately would have cost $130 a month anyway, so for $10 bucks we get the rest. Just letting you know.

If you're not getting cable, then definitely go for Embarq.

And I believe Fidelity and Embarq are the only 2 broadband ISPs in Rolla, unless you're close enough to campus to use UMR's WiFi network.

*sigh* so much for ATT then

edit: Kevin - i assume that you have fidelity?

Yeah he uses Fidnet.

This is a little old but this thread probably has some information that your looking for. http://r01ajrhc8.desktop.umr.edu:8080/p ... ght=embarq

This is when Sprint became Embarq around here and I just found out that they had something comparable to Fidnet.


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actually i was using embarq... was paying around $75-80 a month for the 3mb + BASIC PHONE they were stacking on a ton of taxes for the phone service so it was like an additional $25 a month... yea the actual internet service is cheap.. but you have to pay for their line.. plus you have to buy the fucking modem.. which i did and am still waiting for their instant rebate to come in the fucking mail... god damn morons... plus with embarq you sign a 1 year contract that costs $100 to get out of early...

I switched to fidelity.. played the termination fee and am saving money... grantid its fideltiy.. who sucks.. but i can deal with a lil dt now and then.. itll be healty for me... plus embarqs speeds depends on how close you are to them..

if you do go with embarq.. ive got a modem that id be willing to sell

Ya, with fidelity you can cancel anytime. I cancel for a month over winter break and then again over summer.

Does anyone know if Charter Communications extends to St. James? I've heard that somewhere.

Not sure, but even if they did, you wouldn't want it. We have Charter back home, and while it's significantly cheaper, the service is horrible and unreliable. In the half a year or so that I've had Fidelity, we've never had an outage lasting more than 5 minutes or so. Charter's been out days at a time, and the customer service is just horrible.

I wish FiOS would make its way out to Missouri.

Yeah, the thing with Embarq (or any DSL carrier) is that you HAVE to carry their phone service as well. Has to do with having the line turned on and active, if they enable it for DSL then they have to enable your phone (and you know they're gonna charge you for that.) That's where they make their money off the service.

any way to just do an oldschool "pay by the minute" for phone service?

As for FiOS - ain't that the truth. I really wish ATT would start turning on all the dark fiber they have everywhere.

Anyone who has this:

http://www.fidelitycommunications.com/f ... ackage.php

What is the REAL cost per month after taxes??

The base price is: $79.95 per month...

Actually, there is something called naked DSL which is DSL without the phone service. I think most DSL carriers are reluctant to advertise this, and may not even offer it, since they know they can get people to sign up for phone service as well.

yea... when we got fidelity internet... we also got their hd tv package... had it for a week and cancelled... we had it for superbowl weekend and then got rid of it.. i felt kinda bad.. but they are pro rating us.. so were not getting charged for the month.. but for just the week... woot