 Review by somebodeez 
UPDATED: 1.9 years ago
member for 8.1 years, 4320 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Edgewater,Anne Arundel,MD
 $45 per month
 about 14 days
 "Faster then dial up, less expensive then DSL"
 "Limited Newsgroup service, un-informed support techs, un-responsive to customer emails and concerns..."
 "Go with Verizon Fios instead if it's available"
| Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
We first began receiving cable Internet service through Comcast back when they contracted out to @home.
We received a self install kit via UPS a few days after ordering the service.
The kit consisted of an RCA cable modem, some cords and an @home CD and some instructions and I can't remember what all else. The self installation went just fine without installing their bloatware contained on their CD.
We enjoyed download speeds well over 2000 kbps, 7 email addresses with 10 mb of webspace for each address totaling to 70 mb and unlimited newsgroup access and VPN was available for those who needed it at no extra charge. However, my speeds did decrease significantly during peak hours.
Since @home's demise, Comcast has switched us to their own infrastructure with promises that the service would be better. IMHO, Comcast has not kept those promises.
Now, our download speeds are capped at 1500 kbps down (I have yet to get over 1100 or so ), news group access is limited to 1 gig/month and we get 25 MB of webspace - period. (No dial up back-up is available either.) and now, VPN is not allowed unless you pay extra for it. So now we're getting less service for the same price. Some areas are even reporting that their rates have been raised in spite of this drop in service. However, my speeds remain pretty constant now during peak hours.
All in all, I still prefer Comcast internet cable service over dial up.
I feel though, that Comcast should listen and pay attention to their customers concerns and problems with their service in a timely manner and keep their techs updated on the current issues so that they may provide more knowledgeable service and better help to the customers.
Update:
I don't know why this got put in the "Horror Story" category.
I'm more in with the "Mixed Feelings" group.
When the service works, it works good for me.
'Nother Update:
Low channels and sometimes non-pay higher channels frequently get "snowy".
Some channels get "pixelized" a lot.
Internet connection likes to come and go quite a bit lately.
Something seems fishy to me. When I experience these problems, here's the routine:
I call
Ask if there are any outages or work being done in my area I am informed that there is not.
Go through the usual power cycle modem routine ect.
Get an appointment for a truck to come.
Right before the truck arrives, problems (both TV and Internet) magically clear up.
Truck arrives, (well, there was one occasion where no one ever showed up at all and I was home all day waiting) I get told since the services are working there is nothing they can do.
Truck leaves.
A few hours later the problem starts again.
I guess they boost my signal or something temporarily so the technician doesn't have to do anything when he gets here ???
Your guess is as good as mine, I suppose.
Oh - there was this time when my web pages disappeared from the free (less space then what we had with @Home) webspace Comcast gives. I saw on the DSL Reports Comcast forum that others were experiencing the same thing as I.
So I called.
Interestingly enough, I had no idea that power cycling my modem was the key to fixing Comcast's web server.
Their FTp server is still pretty flaky also.
We NEED competition!
Update:
Low tv channels back to being snowy again inspite of the whole new cable I got yesterday from the pole to my house.
Spoke with my neighbor who is also having the same problem as I and on the same days.
Yet another truck run scheduled.
Won't do any good though. See my diary for more details.
Update:
I received an automated phone call from Comcast informing me that the Movie Channel will no longer be part of the package deal and that if I still want it, it will cost $5.50/month more.
Since they already get close to $150/month from us now and I have no intention of giving them anymore, guess I have to make a phone call. 
Update
It has been awhile since I've updated my review so here goes -
On April 1, 2003 Comcast upgraded my area's upload speed from 128 to 256 
Very nice improvement!
Since then I've had 2 days when my connection was spotty (went up and down like "wack a mole") but seems to be ok now.
Comcast's DNS seems to be un-reliable so I'm using "Extra DNS".
(www.extratools.com)
My cable TV still gets snowy from time to time how ever it is better than what it was.
March 22, 2004
Mighty long time since I've updated!
Comcast has doubled our download speed
We now are suppose to get 3000/256 and I understand they've actually given us 3300 down to make up for over head
They ran ads on TV announcing how they just doubled our speed at no extra charge while they quietly raised our cable TV rates up by $4 a month.
The picture quality on my TV has improved
I haven't had any problems using FTP to update my web space in a long time
Comcast DNS servers still flaky
I've been having connection problems off and on for a few weeks now. My speeds will drop way down (sometimes disappears altogether) and then it will come back up, only to drop back down again.Power cycling the modem seems to help for a while.
Interesting reading:
»Comcast just lost a potential customer
»[Connectivity] Off and on in Anne Arundel co. MD
Update:
January 31, 2007
In October 2006, we canceled our Comcast services and are now on Verizon Fios and we're happy campers 
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Comcast |
|
Comcast
·
The problem was never inside my house