12 Mbps+ Broadband Internet Options in Fresno, CA (Fall 2009)
It’s Fall 2009 and time to upgrade my home internet service. For all those in Fresno, Clovis and the central valley area with similar needs to mine, hopefully this helps.
In Fresno the only real options I know of are AT&T (DSL or “U-verse”) and Comcast (cable). For the last few years we’ve had AT&T’s DSL Elite (6 Mbps @ $35/month), and that’s been fine, but a few things have changed…
We need more speed…12 Mbps+ speed!
Yes, 6 Mbps downstream is a lot already, but these days we’re watching HD-quality video from Netflix, Hulu and other sources (usually streamed or live). The kicker is my wife is now uploading 10+ gigs of pics after a weekend photo shoot and our 768 Kbps upstream just isn’t cutting it. Here are my “before” speed tests:
We don’t need a home phone line.
Actually we haven’t needed one for a while with two cell phones. But now there’s Google Voice for an extra phone number or Skype and other VOIP services. Cell service has gotten better at our house recently as well.
We don’t need cable or satellite TV.
Our current setup consists of a Tivo HD DVR with integrated Netflix streaming and Amazon VoD. I get excellent HD reception for over-the-air broadcast channels with an outdoor antenna. Plus there are plenty of Redbox kiosks and Blockbusters around the corner while the physical medium for movies still exists. This probably won’t work for hard core sports or movie enthusiasts, but it does for me, my wife and my kids.
Bottom line: We need faster internet and nothing else for our home. So what’s the best deal…
As usual, both AT&T and Comcast try to bundle packages together. They want you to buy it all: internet, phone and TV. For years it’s always been a hassle to subscribe to their services a la carte. For this reason I had to start on online chat with both companies to work out a deal. At least this removes the hassle of doing it over the phone. Usually someone responds via chat within minutes if not immediately.
Obviously internet coverage will vary by specific location, but here are the options I had at my address in 93720.
AT&T U-Verse
DSL only goes up to 6 Mbps downstream currently, but U-Verse has 12 Mbps and 18 Mpbs downstream options ($55 and $65/month respectively). I assume 1-2 Mbps upstream but I forgot to ask and it doesn’t say.
At first they said I needed to subscribe to at least their TV service in addition to internet to get the $55/month internet price. I said I wasn’t interested and they changed it to no TV service required but a $150 installation charge. Not great, but at least there’s no contract.
Comcast Cable
They have the same 12 Mbps and 18 Mbps downstream options for cheaper than DSL ($43 and $53 respectively). Like AT&T, there’s no contract, but they try and steer you away from a la carte. But in chat I got the “stand-alone” internet offer out of them and whittled it down from a $100 to a $50 installation charge. Tack on $3/month for the modem and I’m at $45/month. They also state a 2 Mbps upstream which if even close is awesome.
Winner: Comcast
Bottom line: $10/month cheaper and a $100 cheaper install than AT&T. $17/month cheaper and a $125 cheaper install than AT&T. Pretty easy decision.
Update 9/21/09
Comcast’s website and online chat say one thing (see below), but when I called 1-800-COMCAST, I found out the above applies to the bay area and not Fresno. What they offer here past their 6 Mbps package is a 16 Mbps package (not 12 or 18) with a 2 Mbps upstream.
The cost is cheaper $35/month + $3/month modem rental + $25 install, but it’s only good for a year. It’s not a contract though, so you can cancel anytime. I scheduled my install and plan on doing just that as after a year it doubles to $70/month. At that point I’ll shop around again for the best deal or attempt to negotiate the existing one.
Update 9/24/09
The Comcast guy just left my house. Initial speed tests rock!
The Comcast guy said I should see speeds “burst” when downloading larger files or streaming. And BTW, he also claimed that by the end of this year Comcast is rolling out 50 Mbps downstream / 12 Mbps upstream to all cable modem subscribers in Fresno with this same package. Their lower-cost 6 Mbps downstream package should also double in speed.
Update 10/28/09
The Business Journal reports Comcast’s “wideband” 50 mb/sec is also coming soon. I’ll post here with new speed tests when I’m upgraded.
Update 12/4/09
The cost of the modem rental went from $3/month to $5/month (making my cost now $40/month). Tweeted @comcastcares and they said the Motorola SB6120 (currently $93) is a good one. Considering buying it.
