Okay, here’s the deal. Accepted a position that starts immediately, have a house rented, moving in next weekend. We have AT&T UVerse Internet at home, which needs to continue, as my family will not follow until the summer. What are my best options for uninterrupted service? Kind of key that I not have any dead time without internet.
Before you ask, let’s say my discussion with the AT&T customer service rep was less than fruitful. Will try again Monday when their live chat is back up, but hoped someone else had been through this.
I had considered getting a Wireless hotspot, but worry that the bandwidth I need exceeds what is practical. My perfect world solution is being able to pick up or have shipped to me at home a modem which I can then just plug into the cable at the house, and go.
If you watch cable TV, it’s probably worthwhile to get a combo tv/internet package from the local cable company, which is probably Comcast. Otherwise, check to see what the straight internet package costs, compare to DSL & other options. If you check on the USPS website for moving prep, they may have links to price comparison sites. Also, when you move, you’ll be getting coupons from the USPS for a bunch of stuff–don’t just charge out to the hardware store or Target to buy everything you need; wait to get the coupons if you can.
It all depends on what the options are at your new house. Most places have cable, DSL from the phone company (usually low speed), and two or more cell phone services (and most of these cell phone services are going to be bandwidth limited). Cable is the usual choice, maybe using a cell phone service until it is connected. Since it is just you, you might just get internet only–cutting the cord–and add TV services when your family arrives.
What are your bandwidth needs? Most of the wireless hotspot products run at LTE speeds and that’s already faster than most Internet servers will provide content to you.
Anyway, since it sounds like you’ll be living at this location for a while, your best bet is probably just to get whatever you need long-term hooked up now. It’s hard to find temporary solutions in the world of internet service because everyone wants to lock you into one and two year contracts.
Whoever you go with, the customer service reps will be less than helpful. That’s their job. The last time I was Internet shopping, the ISP was convinced that my address had no service, even though the office right next to mine was using the same company. So they transferred me to my “state specialist,” only instead of WA, I got PA. I explained the problem and they transferred me to NY, who recommended that I just call the national number… the one I had started at. If you’re patient, you can wear them down and insist that they take your money.