I wasted about $3G's, on cable internet, over the past five years.

treeguy64

treeguy64

Hari Om, y'all!
Location
Austin, TX.
I have never tried hooking my computer up to my Android phone, until today. Wow! I disconnected my cable, shut down Bluetooth, and---Voila! My computer still does everything it did, with cable.

The impetus to get into this tech exploration was that my Roku box wasn't loading Jimmy Kimmel, and I wanted to see Springsteen on the show. I mirrored my phone on my TV, and it ran perfectly. I watched the episode, complete with closed captioning.

Then, I thought, if I don't need cable for my Roku box, and I don't even need my Roku box, what about my cable for internet access? I read up on tethering, got it going and I couldn't believe I was on my computer, on the internet, with my internet cable on the floor and my WiFi and Bluetooth turned off.

I have been paying about $50/mo. for cable internet, for the last five years. At $600/yr. X 5 yrs. thats $3,000 that I've wasted! In truth, I'm not sure that smart phones were capable of doing everything I've done today, five years ago, and I just got my Note9, and one for Janet, last year, so maybe I didn't waste quite as much money.

If you have a smart phone, and smart TV, and can tether and mirror connections, you might want to give some serious thought to totally getting rid of cable.
 

I have a dumb phone with unreliable rural cell service, no tv and my phone has a dumb owner. Guess I'm stuck with my current wifi provider for the time being. They did send me a new router a few weeks ago in anticipation of higher speed (read more expensive) service. Ooooh and the new router has shiny lights with purty colors:D
 

We've used cellphone hotspots for internet while traveling in our motorhome for years. The only time I use it at home is if the power is out. We have a minimal data plan on our phones and I have no problem paying Comcast as opposed to Verizon.
 
The saga continues: I called Spectrum, to cancel. Their rep, Heather, stole my heart. She was in the Retention Department, the employees who are told to keep you at (almost) any cost. She said, "Wow! You've been with us since before I was born!" I said, "Heather, my dear, you really know just what to say to keep a customer!" We both cracked up, long and loud.

Then she said, "How does $19.99/mo. sound to you?" I thought she had said: $90.99!!! I asked her to repeat. She told me, and I was amazed. "How long does this 'promotional rate' last, may I ask?" "Would you believe, three years, no contract, cancel anytime, even tomorrow!"

So, I had been paying about $60/mo. for years. Now, suddenly, when I was bound and determined to cancel, my rate got cut by two-thirds! This is just like Sirius XM. Every six months they jerk my rate up by a factor of X6!!! Every six months I call to cancel. Miraculously, my rate goes right back to where it was, around $5/mo.

The lesson to be learned, here: NEVER accept a high rate increase from a tech provider, especially if you have been a long-term, great paying customer.

To my fellow Texan, Ken, and the truly lovely lass, from across the pond: No, I have unlimited data, with Verizon. Otherwise, there would've been no way I would have considered pumping mega data streams to my computer and TV. For now, I'll keep Spectrum on-board.
 
TG..we never ever accept any raises in our rates for any technical items, we always threaten to leave, ( because for one they always give new customers the best deals).. but aside from that we always get that same spiel.. oooh you're our longest most treasured customers and we'd hate to lose you, so we'll give you X, Y , Z... and a lower rate.. if you stay!! ( in fact we did this just this past Monday) ...truth is we should have been getting all those things as standard but the longer you are a customer the more they treat you as a doormat if you're not wise to their sheninigans , so it's very wise always to challenge rises in technical rentals everytime they threaten to increase.. . ..
 

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