# ISP Recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 9, 2002, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136 "2002-08-09T12:28:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136/1 "2002-08-09T12:28:30Z")
I fear that circumstance will soon force me to cancel my beloved Roadrunner internet access. I would appreciate some opinions on a good ISP dial-up service to replace Roadrunner. I live in the St. Petersburg, FL general area. AOL is **NOT an option**. Thanks for any input. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136/2 "2002-08-09T12:34:27Z")
Dial up? My ass. I picked up broadband through the dish. I have both up and download speed that can exceed 1MB at times and generally sits around 750K or so. Blazing. The gear costs around $600 but you can also get DirecTV with the same equipment. 5 POP3 accounts and some minimal amount of web space (which I don’t use so I don’t know how much) for about $55/month. Go DirecWay! ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136/3 "2002-08-09T16:36:05Z")
> [@](#): > > AOL is NOT an option. I love you! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136/4 "2002-08-09T17:23:47Z")
I recommend [DirecTV DSL](http://www.directvdsl.com); I’ve been with them for 2.5 years, with only one significant outage. They have pretty liberal policies with respect to running multiple computers, and allow you to run non-commercial servers. If you insist on using dial-up, go with [EarthLink](http://www.earthlink.net). ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136/5 "2002-08-09T17:49:46Z")
I live in the same area and had been using Prodigy for dial-up before I switched to RoadRunner. No busy signals, no dropped connections. I would highly consider them. ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136/6 "2002-08-09T18:01:24Z")
Some of you seem to forget that in many areas, broadband isn’t a choice. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136/7 "2002-08-09T19:24:52Z")
What are you trying to say- _that we’re born that way_??? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isp-recommendations/123136/8 "2002-08-10T01:12:57Z")
I should have been more specific, I guess. I will be cancelling Roadrunner because of finances–having been unemployed for over a year and having reached the end of my unemployment benefits, it is time to economize. Believe me, I would keep Roadrunner til the end of time, otherwise. **Violet,** gosh, I’m all choked up and don’t know what to say except that I am deeply appreciative of your love and devotion. Thank you for the sentiment—I hate AOL with a deep and abiding passion.