Best internet provider to switch to in Austin (and cable/etc. , as we're looking to dump Spectrum)

[Brisketexan 106951]

Spectrum shitting the bed and not carrying ESPN during the biggest week of CFB season has finally gotten us off our asses and ready to dump the shitshow that is Spectrum.  If we do so, we need to replace two things:

1) our internet service.  Obviously want something fast and reliable.  Google fiber isn't to our area yet (if it ever will be -- said it would be years ago, then fucking nada)

2) our cable.  I channel surf some, so I'll end up on history channel or some shit, but our big watches are a) sports (so, ESPN and FS1 etc.) and b) local network TV (we still watch the local news)

We have several streaming plans (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and AppleTV+), but have had several friends in the past week (fed up with Spectrum) praising YoutubeTV and Sling.  

So, striking a reasonable balance on price and what they offer, what are the recommendations for an ISP and a cable alternative?  We haven't shopped for this shit in....a LONG fucking time.

[tx 3 putt 78717]

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/11/disney-charter-near-carriage-deal-that-would-end-cable-blackout-sources-say.html
 

[Post Oak 20570]

Can't help you with Internet but depending on what they're offering for TV I'd look into YouTube TV.  I've been happy with it.  UI is janky imo but whatever. Got nearly all of the sports channels I need for CFB plus local stations.

[Brisketexan 106951]

9 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/11/disney-charter-near-carriage-deal-that-would-end-cable-blackout-sources-say.html
 

Yeah, that actually prompted my post.  Cool -- too fucking late, you fucking suck, you vampiric pieces of shit.

[Pato del Muerto 53544]

@Brisketexan

ive been a directtv stream user for all of its name iterations because it has LHN. When that goes away I’ll likely move to YouTube tv because it’s basically the same but a little cheaper.  (Directtvstream is currently in a contract dispute with the Austin nbc station so that still happens occasionally)
 

I recently switched to home internet from my cellular provider (tmobile) and it’s been performing well, and with autopay and the mobile plan I have it’s $30 a month. 
we rarely have more than two video streams going though and the max speed is notably less than a cable internet service so it may not be right for you.  But maybe look into it with your mobile company, assuming you have one, and see if it could work for you.  Strong 5g signal is also a requirement in case you are tucked into some pocket with weaker or blocked signal. 

[Jerry Callo 8965]

We upgraded to AT&T fiber a couple years ago from AT&T UVerse.  AT&T fiber has had very few issues. You might check to see if it is available where you are.  

Now we stream everything with YTTV as the main platform.  Plus Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney, Max . . . 

[HornOnTheBayou 9066]

YoutubeTV is fantastic, except for one major flaw. They don't have the local Fox Sports channels (or Balleys, or whatever the hell they're called now) so that means no Astros, Rangers, Spurs, etc.  If that's a big deal to you, stay away.

[Handcruser 2815]

T-Mobile internet
YouTube tv

Works great. 150-550 down depending on the time of day. Never a problem streaming.

T-Mobile internet
YouTube tv

Works great. 150-550 down depending on the time of day. Never a problem streaming.

[BearSchlong 8248]

My AT&T Gigabit fiber internet is the tits. Now if I could do something about the dozen streaming services I have on top of YTTV.

[blacklab 12066]

If you can get grande, get grande. 

They actually answer their support line and treat you well unlike att and spectrum.

[Gil Bang 26246]

I went from cable internet (Cox) to T-Mobile, and i didn't miss a beat. It streams great, it's always working, and it's cheap.

[DalTxHornFan 3130]

We are out in the sticks.  We suffered through HughesNet satellite and their horribad data limits, throttling, and Hindu-ish (No CR!) customer service for a number of years.

5-7 years ago or so we switched over to a Wireless Digital Subscriber Link ISP (Western Broadband)  and could not be happier.  We have a bunch of big trees, so we had to build a 60 ft. tower (less than $1k) so that our radio transmitter can do a line of sight off of their equipment located on a water tower about two miles away.  We get great data speeds (20 up, 10 down), have never encountered any data limits, and it is very reliable unless there is a torrential rain that interferes with the signal -- very rare (especially this year!).  Their customer support (rarely used) is local smart people.  Highly recommend.

[Pato del Muerto 53544]

On 9/12/2023 at 6:18 AM, HornOnTheBayou said:

YoutubeTV is fantastic, except for one major flaw. They don't have the local Fox Sports channels (or Balleys, or whatever the hell they're called now) so that means no Astros, Rangers, Spurs, etc.  If that's a big deal to you, stay away.

Directv stream has the regional sports channels. And lhn on its grim march to the grave, for like $15 more?  Dvr function sucks though. 

Edited September 15, 2023 by Pato del Muerto

[Brisketexan 106951]

Man....I wish HEB offered cable and internet service.

It remains the way that it was last time I looked at this -- choose from the best of mediocre options (as all of them have a major shortcoming or two, it seems).  HEB wouldn't let me down....I mean, presuming they were open.

[ztejas 44234]

Google fiber >>>>>>>>>

Not sure everywhere in Austin gets it though. 

[Deej 77853]

I have not has one single second of any down time since I got Google Fiber. Spectrum was the only high speed option before, and I swear the service at times was like getting a TV signal over rabbit ears during a thunderstorm. 

[Horn_Spanker 524]

Dropped those cocksuckers (Spectrum) two years ago and went Google Fiber with YoutubeTV.  No problems.  At the same time I dropped our 30 year old AT&T home phone account and ported to a $10 box Google offered.  No problems and sound quality is equal to the old land line.

Honestly for what I do, I don't see a big difference in 200mb down to 1,000mb down.

Still wondering who sucked more, Spectrum or AT&T?  I hope to never deal with either again!

[troph 25238]

Spectrum is our only data option if we don’t use a 5G service. So we spectrum. We do sling for TV. All the usuals and tennis channel and longhorn network. YouTubeTV was a close second, but no tennis channel. No complaints… with sling. 

[Updawg 2387]

Yttv has tennis channel now