AT&T U-Verse or Comcast for Internet Service?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>I need to set up internet service at my South-side apartment, near Shattuck. I'd appreciate input on your experiences--good or bad--with AT&T DSL, AT&T U-verse, or Comcast Internet. I just need it for regular Internet, to watch lecture webcasts, and the occasional You Tube video, maybe a Netflix occasionally; don't do gaming or other high graphics use.</p>

<p>I already have a modem I can use for AT&T DSL, but I know DSL is much slower than U-Verse (fiber optic), not sure how it compares to Comcast. With the AT&T DSL High-Speed Internet Express, it's download up to 1.5 Mbps, upload 384 Kbps. </p>

<p>If I get AT&T U-Verse, AT&T said I'll need to buy a U-Verse Wireless Gateway Model# 2Wire Gateway 2701 HG-V for $100 plus there's a $49 one-time activation fee.</p>

<p>U-Verse High-Speed Internet (UVHSI) Max Plus
Download up to 18 Mbps, Upload up to 1.5 Mbps
$53/month regular; $34.95/month promo for 1st 12 months</p>

<p>UVHSI Max
DL 12 Mbps, UL 1.5 Mbps
$48/mo reg, $29.95/mo promo for 1st 12 months</p>

<p>UVHSI Elite
DL 6 Mbps, UL 768 Kbps
$43/mo reg, $24.95/mo promo for 1st 12 months</p>

<p>UVHSI Pro
DL 3 Mbps, UL 512 Kbps
$38/mo reg, $19.95/mo promo for 1st 12 months</p>

<p>If I get Comcast, I can rent a cable model from them for $7.50/moth or buy one for $100. If I want wireless, I'll also need a router for another $50. There's also a $50 one-time installation fee. Comcast is DL 15 Mbps, UL 3 Mbps. Comcast would be $29.99/mo for the 1st six months, then $59.95/month.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>If you want to watch Youtube and Netflix, you’ll want the 12mbps speed from at&t. You can do the math comparing it to Comcast.</p>

3

<p>uverse elite is what i had for the past two yearss…it was decent plus i kept calling them to keep the promo rate lol</p>

4

<p>I just ordered Comcast ( 20Mbs performance) for my daughter, I got the in store promo which is $33 for the first year. The staff told me I have to pay the full price for 2 months after the 1st year and then I can go back to the promo rate. I am going to buy a modem from Best Buy ($89.99). If you rent the modem from Comcast, your bill will be $33 +$7 plus tax. Hope this helps!</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the recommendation for the AT&T 12 Mbps, Liquidus. I realize AT&T U-Verse is less expensive compared to Comcast, but I wondered if people were actually satisfied with their service. I looked on Craigslist and found several “nearly new” U-Verse wireless gateways for sale, which made me wonder if AT&T was so bad that people switched to something else fairly quickly.</p>

6

<p>Hi Waiting4College, thanks for sharing your experience with U-Verse Elite and also for the tip to keep calling them to extend the promo rate! </p>

<p>I heard that the problem with AT&T Internet is that it backs up when a lot of people in the same area go online at the same time. Did you ever experience this? (Or, maybe that has to do with DSL and not fiber optic?)</p>

7

<p>Hi ShellJu, thanks for posting the Comcast deal you got for your daughter. 20 Mbps for $33/month for 12 months seems pretty good, but I think it’s more than I need. Does Comcast just need a regular modem?</p>

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<p>Any cable modem would work. I am going to get this:[Motorola</a> - SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 High-Speed Cable Modem - 575319-019](<a href=“http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Motorola+-+SURFboard+DOCSIS+3.0+High-Speed+Cable+Modem/2836657.p?id=1218357903729&skuId=2836657&st=modem&cp=1&lp=1]Motorola”>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Motorola+-+SURFboard+DOCSIS+3.0+High-Speed+Cable+Modem/2836657.p?id=1218357903729&skuId=2836657&st=modem&cp=1&lp=1)</p>

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<p>I’d also recommend getting the modem mentioned above.</p>

10

<p>Thanks to ShellJu and aeboi for recommending the Motorola - SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 High-Speed Cable Modem - 575319-019.</p>

11

<p>Just had live chat with Comcast online rep. Internet only plans offered (no term commitment):</p>

<p>Performance Internet
Download up to 20 Mbps, Upload up to 4 Mbps
Promo pricing: $29.99/month for 1st six months, $44.99/mo for months 7-12, $59.95 to $62.95/mo for months 13 and beyond.</p>

<p>Performance Starter Internet
DL 6 Mbps, UL 1 Mbps
Regular pricing: $49.95/mo</p>

<p>Economy Plus Internet
DL 3 Mbps, 768 Kbps
Regular pricing: $39.95/mo
“Includes Constant Guard security software with Norton Security Suite for free ($360 value)”</p>

<p>Equipment: XFINITY Wireless Gateway (router, cable modem & voice adapter in one device) $7/mo to lease
Or, you can purchase your own modem, see list of compatible devices [DOCSIS</a> Devices](<a href=“http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net//]DOCSIS”>http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net//)</p>

<p>Installation
Self-installation $10 one-time fee
Professional installation $35 one-time fee</p>

12

<p>you don’t need DOCSIS 3.0, just get 2.0. Speeds beyond 20Mb will take advantage of it. </p>

<p>I say you just get the
UVHSI Elite</p>

<p>The other ones are over-kill unless you’re going to be downloading a lot of stuff.</p>

13

<p>Just looked up Yelp reviews for Internet Service in Berkeley.
<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/searchfind_desc=comcast&find_loc=berkeley%2C+ca&ns=1#find_desc=internet+service[/url]”>http://www.yelp.com/searchfind_desc=comcast&find_loc=berkeley%2C+ca&ns=1#find_desc=internet+service&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>AT&T has 1.5 star rating. Comcast has 2 star rating. YIKES!</p>

14

<p>Thanks for recommendation, Ankur1521. What are you using?</p>

15

<p>If you “need it for regular Internet, to watch lecture webcasts, and the occasional You Tube video, maybe a Netflix occasionally,” this is sufficient:</p>

<pre><code> UVHSI Pro
DL 3 Mbps, UL 512 Kbps
$38/mo reg, $19.95/mo promo for 1st 12 months
</code></pre>

<p>speedtest.net reports slightly better numbers than specs (about 10% better). My son’s usage is similar to yours, and he’s happy with AT&T.</p>

<p>The $100 gateway from AT&T is a modem + wireless N router combo. So the price is not excessive. I haven’t had a chance to test its wireless performance, but it works well in the apartment.</p>

<p>My son didn’t have to pay the “$49 one-time activation fee.”</p>

16

<p>Hi BigSpecBear,</p>

<p>Glad to hear your son’s experience with AT&T is positive so far; does he have the UVHSI Pro plan? How did he get them to waive the $49 activation fee?</p>

<p>I found out today that AT&T requires a 2-year contract. The $19.95/mo promo price for the Pro Plan is good for 12 months, then increases to $38.00/mo. (But might be able to get them to extend promo price per Waiting4College.) $180 termination fee.</p>

<p>Comcast doesn’t require a contract; there’s no termination fee. Since I expect (hope) to be done in a few semesters, I won’t need service for 2 years so I’m leaning toward Comcast since there’s no required term.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for the responses that have been posted!</p>

17

<p>I used comcast, I hated it. The speeds they promised were a lie, and it disconnected a lot.</p>

18

<p>Hi Ankur1521, thanks for letting me know that your Comcast experience was not good. The studio I rented last semester had Comcast for the whole building that was included in our rent so I’m not sure which plan it was. It actually worked great for my purposes except one 24-hour period when it was super s-l-o-w. </p>

<p>What ISP did you switch to? Are you happy with that one now?</p>