internet access in chicago (bucktown)?

[unformed 0]

i just moved out here, and i'm trying to get cheap, highspeed access. anyone have any recs on a place to go through?

i'd rather use cable as i don't need or want a phone line, but comcast normal rate is 43/month, which, imo, is fucking ridiculous...

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[Buried 0]

comcast or rcn are the only cable providers in the area. comcast does run promotions all the time for like 20 or 30$ for 6mths.

otherwise there are tons of dsl options.

best thing to do is to check out the area for wireless access and steal a neighbors

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[unformed 0]

that's what i'd prefer to do, but i'm only get a really weak signal from the only unsecured network in my area. i might look into getting signal boosters or a better card.

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[Buried 0]

you should look into creating a nice antenna using a strainer and some eletronic parts. a friend of mine swears by them.

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

Sorry to say that Comcast is the only real option as RCN has never been all that reliable.....not that Comcast is that great. Cost is high for both, customer service is among some of the worst I have ever seen from a company.

I'm using DSL and I am currently stuck with 1.5 speed because I refuse to go to Comcast and they won't upgrade the CO in my area.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

Quote

you should look into creating a nice antenna using a strainer and some eletronic parts. a friend of mine swears by them.

That works until they change the SSID and add a PSK along with MAC filtering. Not impossible to get past, but also not worth the trouble.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[unformed 0]

who's your dsl provider?

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[ChasingBlueSky 0]

SBC (Now AT&T), decent tech support and about $50/month for phone/internet. I get the lowest end phone with nothing on it but caller ID since I only use my cell phone. Most DSLs in the area are all run on the SBC network under a lease. I would say uptime is around 98%.

What recently surprised me is after the recent damage from the storm that flooded us is how quick they came out and fixed my problems. I had my phone back up within 4 hours after I submitted my ticket and had my DSL working within 12 hours after that. Just to compare it took me two weeks to get my furnace and water heaters working again.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[Buried 0]

Quote

Quote

you should look into creating a nice antenna using a strainer and some eletronic parts. a friend of mine swears by them.

That works until they change the SSID and add a PSK along with MAC filtering. Not impossible to get past, but also not worth the trouble.

that's assuming they know what they are doing. a fair amount of people have no clue. they just plug it in and it works.


I use DSL from 'a guy' in the building nextdoor who provides DSL and wireless, VOIP to about a city block. no land line needed.

If i didn't have that, i'd probably get comcast or become a leech

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[Cudlo 0]

personally I love comcast except for the cap on the up pipe.

Down: 1MB/s or 8Mbps depending on how you like to measure

Up: 40KB/s cap

_________________________________________
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." - Kierkegaard

[warpedskydiver 0]

Quote

you should look into creating a nice antenna using a strainer and some eletronic parts. a friend of mine swears by them.

A stainless steel salad bowl will work nicely.