said by Davesnothere:Just to be clear, are you saying :
Rogers > START = Overlap IS possible if have 2nd modem (Incumbent to TPIA)
Cogeco > START = Overlap IS possible if have 2nd modem (Incumbent to TPIA)
TSI > START = Overlap NOT possible (TPIA to TPIA)
Acanac > START = Overlap NOT possible (TPIA to TPIA)
Would the same rules hold true if someone (God forbid) was LEAVING Start ?
And in all cases, a transfer IS possible, to avoid the install fee ? (EVEN if an overlap is arranged wherever possible as above)
Almost, assuming we're just talking about transfers here:
Rogers/Cogeco > Start = Overlap is possible with same/different modem.
TPIA > Start = Overlap may be possible, only with different modem. And I say 'may' because it all depends on how the 'losing TPIA' co-operates with sending in the disconnect to the cable company.
The most difficult transfer is TPIA to TPIA with the same modem with an ISP that won't "push" the disconnect request in advance to the cable co (ie have a disconnect for end of month but customer wants to transfer mid-month but ISP won't send the disconnection until the end). Some ISP's have done this on request, some are less easy to work with. If they do push the disconnect then sometimes we can avoid an outage with a couple day overlap, however if they won't push the disconnect then it's generally 1 full day after when the ISP finally sends the disconnect, which seems to be the day after service is cancelled.
Would be same Start > TPIA, but we'd push the disconnect on request no problem.
All this will be moot as soon as the 'disconnect on customer behalf' legislation is actually implemented where the gaining ISP can act on the customers behalf, both for Incumbent > TPIA and TPIA > TPIA. No ETA on this yet though sadly.
For people uber-concerned about smoothness until the above is implemented, the easiest type of transition is a new install with a new modem and you can overlap as little/much as you want -- however it's also the most expensive of course.