What I have now:
Internet -- Time Warner cable -- speed runs around 20 to 25mbps download and 2.5mbps upload
TV -- Directv
Home phone -- AT&T
Mobile -- Verizon (contract expires in about 3 days)
I have a "turbo" modem owned by TW and a Netgear Wireless-G Router (WGR614v10) that I own
The modem & router are located upstairs, in my office and close to my main desktop computer
The above services are costing me a little over $300 a month combined.
Ethernet connections are to:
My main desktop computer
A second desktop computer in another room and connected by a powerline adapter (no wifi in that room for some unknown reason)
A WD My Cloud
An 8 port ethernet switch located downstairs in my family room. This switch supplies signal to an Onkyo A/V receiver, a Roku, a Logitech Revue (which shares ethernet with one of the Directv receivers), a WD TV Live Plus, and two Directv receivers.
Wireless:
A Dell laptop
A Macbook 7.1
A Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet
A Samsung Galaxy S4 mobile phone
I am just starting to shop around for a bundle and my first choice right now is U-verse, but I still have a lot of questions about what's the best combination. I have Directv, and It looks like the best choice is to keep it for TV especially if I can get some free equipment upgrades. I still have the same two HR20's that I got in 2007, and my dish is a solid cake of rust -- I don't know how it works at all. If I keep Directv, I need to know what the options are for second TV in a separate room. If I could figure out how to get FoxNews, Fox Business News and a couple of local channels, I wouldn't need Directv at all since I watch all of my entertainment TV on Netflix. And that brings up another question: Is there any talk of U-verse throttling back download speeds for Newflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime viewers? Will U-verse play nicely with sevices such as GigaNews? From what I've read so far, I will have to use U-verse as a RG (modem?) but can I still keep my own wireless router and, therefore, my LAN as I have it set up now?. Also, I'm hoping that Directv can be part of the U-verse bundle even though I am already a Directv subscriber.
Now to the phone questions: Since I am already an ATT home phone service subscriber, will I be able to keep the same service and have it bundled with U-verse or will I have to switch to a VoIP type home phone service? If I have to go to VoIP, will I still be able to use my current Panasonic phone system? In my phone line, I have a call filtering device known as an "Interceptor ID". It, of course, requires caller ID but is more effective if the owner also has Privacy Manager. I would like to keep this device operating if possible.
As far as mobile goes, I understand that I will have to set this up through an ATT mobile store or website, but I believe it can then be bundled with U-verse. I've read that ATT has mobile plans with unlimited data and full speed up to 20gbs, but they do not allow tethering at all. I don't quite understand the logic there, but, for all I know, that may not even be true. Most phones today can serve as mobile hot spots, but I don't know how that jibes with the no tethering thing.
i apologize for this lengthy list of questions, but if I can get one answer or many answers I will be grateful.
↧