Review by CapeFish 
UPDATED: 11 days ago
member for 1.8 years, 433 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 Tallahassee,Leon,FL
 $36 per month
 about 1 days
 "Fast and Faster Services Available, Doesn't Require Phone Line, $10 Discount if you have Cable TV, no contracts"
 "Setup can be difficult even with installer, expensive monthly cost, no free modem"
 "I'm giving it another try as part of an HD Triple Play bundle."
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Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I've never had a cable modem before. I have used EMBARQ's 1.5 MB DSL service at this same address which I have also reviewed here in the past.
Recently I saw a promotion from Comcast allowing me to add their High Speed Internet (6MB) for $19.95 a month for 6 months. I had previously tried to get this service installed to no avail. This time, the promotion sparked my interest to try again. The regular monthly price for this service is $42.95 if you have TV service. The modem rental fee is $3 a month. If I decide to switch to Comcast from EMBARQ, then I will purchase a modem of my own.
I did a self-install by picking up a modem (Scientific-Atlanta DPC2100) and self-install kit ($9.99 for this) from Comcast on the same day I felt the impulse to try the service. The folks at the office registered the modem, added the service to my account, and applied the promotional price to my service.
I got home, plugged in the modem, and it didn't work. I tried calling Comcast and was sent in a maze of 4 calls in which nothing was resolved. I called it a night and felt the impulse to pull the plug on all my Comcast services. I got up the following morning (this morning), called Comcast again and the tech had me disconnect my router, reset the modem, and she then sent it a configuration file which got the service running. So far today, it continues to run. I still retain my DSL as a backup as I do not trust Comcast enough yet.
My first impressions are of the following:
1. This is a powerful, but expensive service. I wish they had more affordable tiers like DSL from EMBARQ is offered in.
2. The installation can be the difference between retaining a customer or not, and so far, Comcast is 0/2 with me during installations. EMBARQ has .500 batting average with me, so this can be a mixed bag, but EMBARQ's Tech Support is definitely superior to Comcast's who suggested I defragment my hard drive to get my modem to connect to their network.
3. At least they got past the install and it now works as I type this review.
I hope to give it a good look over the coming days.
March 18, 2008 Update: After living with Comcast's Internet service, I'm not really impressed by it compared to EMBARQ's DSL service. It really is not worth the full price of $42.95 a month. Comcast's Technical Support is not as helpful as EMBARQ's and Comcast's online billing cannot provide detailed eBills straight into my banking system like EMBARQ can. The modem has behaved quite well, but Comcast lost service during a recent storm while my EMBARQ DSL was running strong. If Comcast is available, give them a look, but DSL is just more reliable IMHO. (If EMBARQ has a grade of B+, Comcast would be a C+ in my book.) I will likely return this modem to Comcast tomorrow and kill the Internet service. I may pickup an additional digital cable box for my bedroom television though.
November 14, 2008 Update: After almost 4 months of struggles with my Embarq DSL and Voice services, I decided to check Comcast out. They offered me their Triple Play of TV, Internet, and Phone service for $99+tax a month. They also waived all the installation fees. I brought home a cable modem today to start the Internet service again, with an EMTA coming to replace the modem next Wednesday. Embarq hasn't been bad, but since Tropical Storm Fay came around, they have had really serious issues that I just do not feel like dealing with anymore. I was able to self-install the modem pretty easily and am getting good speed on tests so far. I will keep updating my reviews as I progress with the service. The change Comcast has made in their service here in Tallahassee has been very positive and enough to bring me back to consider the product.
November 22, 2008 Update: So far, so good. I got the CDV phone service installed on Thursday afternoon. They replaced my RCA Cable Modem with an Arris eMTA which has an 8 hour backup battery. The internet connection is solid along with a dial tone when I pick up a phone. The internet connection is testing a bit faster with the eMTA than with the RCA. The dial tone and phone line volume are much louder with CDV than they were with my POTS from EMBARQ, so I had to lower the volumes of all my phones. I had an additional outlet installed in the spare bedroom, which may have led to some issues with my digital cable box in the bedroom. I'm going to take that box back to Comcast as I no longer need it and keep just the HD box in the living room. Even with that issue, the Arris eMTA has had no issues keeping signal.
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