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Now I'm looking into services to set up my apartment.
Here's what I know so far.
Phone
The most common phone service is Verizon. There is no discount
for mobile users but, upon your request, they can put all of your
Verizon services on the same bill. See chart below for costs.
Time-Warner can offer phone service, but ONLY if you subscribe
to cable AND internet cable. It's $40 per month. The plus side is
that U.S. long distance is free. The down side is that their internet
and cable options are somewhat expensive.
I'm considering using $20 to up my mobile minutes per month and
not having a phone in the apartment. For Verizon Mobile customers
in those apartments, let me know what you think.
Vonage and Lingo are real options for telephone service, and may
be the best option for those who want to frequently call internationally.
You must have cable/broadband to use them, and the box sits between
your broadband modem and your computer. It can then "liven"
your house phone circuit (assuming that it's not connected to the
phone company too - I've done this before to use ISDN in the same
way.) See "Vonage" and "Lingo" in the below
table.
High Speed Internet
Verizon's web site reports that DSL service is available at Alexan
Farms and is about 10 lower per month.
Time-Warner offers cable but is $10 more per month than Verizon
DSL.
TV
Cable
Time-Warner is the only cable option and unfortunately, it's rather
expensive (but there is satellite available - you simply must follow
their rules for installation on your deck - see below).
Satellite
Satellite TV is available. You must follow the rules of the apartment
complex, but it's available. The dish must face a certain way (see
note below), but if it doesn't work for your apartment, they will
refund all money.
Note on Required Angle: If I understand things correctly,
the dish must face 245° - almost exactly South West. This is
based on Azimuth 237, Elevation 34, and Skew 128. I think this means
237° (from true North) and 34° elevation. I don't know what
Skew is. Declination (offset between magnetic and true North) is
about 8° degrees in Durham. So about 245° is what we need.
DSL
If DSL is available, it could be a great option because it's cheaper
than cable. However, with at least Verizon, you are required to
have phone service (we my try using only our mobile phones to save
money).
Options That I've Found
I'm only interested in a basic level of service (no
HBO, etc.) so you can check out other options using their links.
But can be a springboard from which you can learn what services
are right for you.
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Name
|
Contact Information
|
Notes
|
|
DISH
Direct TV
|
www.directtv.com
888-238-7177
Tech: 888-355-7530
Satellite direction: SW
Many apartments (including Alexan Farms) allow the installation
of a dish as long as their rules are followed.
|
TV via satellite (takes the place of cable TV)
| Package |
Approx' Price per month |
|
Dish TV reception
- Free installation for up to 3 rooms (with 3 receivers)
for 1 year contract
- $30 per month for 6 months
- Includes local channels
|
40 |
| TiVo DVR - $99 for unit (see note below) |
5 |
| TV: Extra room monthly cost |
5 |
NOTE: Concerning the DVR, the 6 month special (worth
$60) will pay for most of the DVR purchase price, and over
2 years, the $2 per month extra (compared to Time-Warner's
DVR) will pay for the rest. They're essentially the same deal.
|
|
DISH
Echo Star -
Dish Network
|
www.echostar.com
Link
Straight to Programming
800-333-3474
Many apartments (including Alexan Farms) allow the installation
of a dish as long as their rules are followed.
Some may want to purchase equipment. I only included prices
for rental for price comparison.
|
TV via satellite (takes the place of cable TV)
| Package |
Approx' Price per month |
| Simple setup built from below. Get DHA for
$50 which will be credited to your first bill, then get
a dual tuner DVR for two TV sets (even if you use 1 -
the price is the same, so be equipped for two) |
35 |
|
More Detail
|
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Dish TV reception
- The service is called Digital Home Advantage (DHA).
The $50 activation fee will be credited to your first
bill. You need a credit or debit card (Visa or MC)
and Social Security Number.
- Price for two TV sets is the same and for that service,
a different tuner will be used which must be connected
to an existing phone line (it will call a toll-free
number late at night and will not interrupt your calls)
- Must order by June 30 for this special. (It
may be extended, but there's no guarantee for orders
placed after June 30)
- Includes local channels
- No contract or commitment
- Free installation
- For this price, I chose their programming called
America's Top 60
|
30 |
| Capability to add up to a 4th TV |
5 |
|
A dual tuner DVR (model 522) (100 hours) can be used
in place of the dual tuner above. There is no up-front
charge, but rather only this monthly charge.
|
5 |
Option for "Home Protection Program"
that will cover most any problem you have, including:
- Technical support
- Replacement equipment
- Video Cabling & power surge repairs
- In-home service
- Free mover's program
|
6 |
|
|
DISH
VMC Satellite
|
www.vmcsatellite.com
877-998-3474 ext 1
More
Contact Info
|
| Package |
Approx' Price per month |
|
Dish TV reception
- 60 channel service
- This is a two TV setup
- Free Installation
- 1 year contract
- local channels are included
|
30 |
|
DVR
|
5 |
| For a 3rd and/or 4th TV |
5 |
|
| Time-Warner |
www.twc-nc.com/
Levels of
Cable Service
919-595-4892
More
Contact Info
|
- Cable (analog or digital)
- Cable Internet (High Speed)
- Telephone (IF you subscribe to their cable and cable internet
| Package |
Approx' Price per month |
| Digital cable (DigiPic 1000) |
56 |
|
Analog cable (Standard)
(Installation costs)
|
44 |
| Basic cable (analog with about 12 channels) |
15 |
| Internet - Road Runner |
45 |
| Internet - Earthlink (free install plus
6 months at 30/month) |
45 |
| DigiPic1000+RoadRunner internet (there is
a 3 month special at 70/month) |
91 |
| Telephone (free U.S. long distance - ONLY
packaged with cable and internet) |
40 |
| DVR unit (ONLY with digital cable service) |
7 |
| TV: Extra room monthly cost |
9 |
Note: Digital Installation is free - Analog costs.
|
| Verizon |
Verizon Avenue is the name of the department that, in general,
deals with apartment tenants
www.verizon.com/
Verizon Avenue:
866-892-8368
General Verizon:
800-483-4000
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- DSL (High Speed Internet)
- Telephone
| Package |
Approx' Price per month |
|
DSL High Speed Internet
- 30 day money back guarantee
- no charge for equipment
- no contract
- no installation charge - $13 shipping for modem
|
35 |
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Telephone
The monthly charge can be less if you cut some services.
Costs break down this way:
- 20 basic line
- 9-16 service
Roughly $40 installation
|
36
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Note: Verizon Wireless customers can request all charges
to be listed on one bill.
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| Lingo |
www.lingo.com |
(Thanks for the info Sven)
I know little about their plans, but they sounded great.
For instance, the $15 plan includes 500 minutes to the US,
Canada, and Western Europe (Western Europe includes 17 countries
I think)! For $20 you get unlimited dialing to US, Canada,
and Western Europe. (Thanks for this paragraph Sven.)
Check out their web site.
You need to have a Cable/Broadband connection for this service.
They provide you with an adapter to attach between your modem
and telephone and you can dial and receive calls from your
existing phone. You likely have the choice of keeping your
existing number. You likely have other options, like having
other numbers that use area codes from anywhere in the country
(so friends in your home state can call without long distance
charges).
One advantage is that international calls tend to be far
less expensive. See their web page for rates to specific countries.
|
| Vonage |
www.vonage.com |
(Thanks for the info Chinmay)
Vonage is a web based fixed telephone type service. Presently
they have three plans (monthly):
- USD 15 for a total talk time of 500 mins
- USD 25 Unlimited local and domestic long distance, Canada and much of Europe.
I'm using this service now (June of 2006) and am very happy with it.
You need to have a Cable/Broadband connection for this service.
They provide you with an adapter to attach between your modem
and telephone and you can dial and receive calls from your
existing phone. You often have the choice of keeping your existing
number. You have other
options (with a charge) like having other numbers that use area codes from
anywhere in the country (so friends in your home state can
call without long distance charges).
One advantage is that international calls tend to be far
less expensive. See their web page for rates to specific countries.
|
| Calling Plans (cards) |
See text |
Here's an informative paragraph from Sven - Thanks Sven!
There are some really great post-paid and pre-paid calling
plans available. For instance, I am using Acculinq
at home (www.acculing.com).
It is a post-paid service and has saved me a lot of money
so far (compared to other international plans through AT&T,
etc). And I am currently trying out Onesuite (www.onesuite.com).
It is a pre-paid service - though very easy to setup and add
funds to your account - and has even better rates. You can
even use it to make international calls with your cell phone
(you do use plan minutes though, but only pay the low per
minute rates through Onesuite). So you can make a call
to Germany on your cell for 3 cents/min or to Canada for 1.9
cents/min. And since I usually call on the weekends, I don't
even lose my anytime minutes.
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Let's network.
© copyright 1999 - 2006 Mark W. Rice