Pulling the Plug on Comcast, Adding Verizon Wireless
The guest wireless access provided at work is nice, it's fast, but to use it I can't use Adium to get access to my instant message systems. They need to log all chat/IM on their networks - guest or no, and because of that, they aren't currently allowing IM on the 'guest' part of the network. Seems very reasonable - it's regulations, after all. So I was thinking more about the V740 EVDO card from Verizon. It's up to 1.4Mb down, and 800kb up... not fantastic speed, but it's completely wireless, and that's interesting for a lot of reasons.
If we went on a trip to Dad's house, then we'd have the internet. Not bad. If we went on vacation in the US, I'd be online. Not bad. The Metra - nice. I'd really be able to do some work just about anywhere.
But it's $60/mo, and with the new job and going from hourly to 'base + bonus' it's not something I was sure we wanted to add to the monthly load. When I asked Liza about it she said I should do it to be able to talk to Jeremy and Troy, but she was very unhappy with Comcast's Extreme 50 service. She's been saying since we upgraded that it was, in fact, slower than the older service which I think was 12MB down, 2MB up. In theory, that should be impossible. But Liza uses her box a lot and from her point of view, the extra $80/month was making things worse, not better.
So it was clear what we needed to do: Move back to the Comcast Ultra - 30MB down, 5 MB up, and save the $80 a month (they had upgraded the speeds on every price point) and then take some of that and get the Verizon service. That way, I can use the Shop's guest wireless if I need to download some massive file - like an update to Xcode, or something, but for the most part, use that and not the guest wireless and get back to Adium.
So I told Liza to do the Comcast move - as she also wanted to remove some sports package we have that we don't need, and when she tells me that it's done, I'll order the Verizon card from Amazon where it's only a penny ($0.01) with the required 2 year service contract. That's about $129 cheaper than going to the Verizon store. Why? No idea, but it is.
In the end, I'll be able to use Adium as I want without any problems, and still have the speed when I need it, and be mobile if I really want it. Not bad.
[3/14] UPDATE: I'm pretty miffed at Amazon and Verizon. Here's what happened: I ordered the V740 card from Amazon for $0.01. They said that Verizon rejected my credit application and that I needed to call Verizon and clear it up. So I did. They explained that they don't allow a second account on the same SSN as an existing account - I said that's OK, I want it on my primary account anyway. They said I'd have to have Amazon re-send it and they'd take care of it. So I called Amazon, and after four people, I got to someone that finally said I'd hear from someone in 24 hrs. What?! This is Amazon - I could have ordered a book and had it in hand in that time. What's up with that?
So I waited, and a little later today I heard from them that the reason I can't have the V740 card is because I'm not a new customer. The discounts are only for new customers. Fine. So I can't get it from Amazon. Pitty, they didn't say anything about that in the order form, but that's life. So I decided that I'd just go to the Verizon store in Bolingbrook today and get the card there.
Not so fast, me bucko! The Verizon store doesn't carry them! There's one in the case, but none to be sold. I can't believe that they can't carry at least one! But they didn't. So now I'm waiting for this Tuesday when one will arrive in the mail and I'll be able to activate it and then I'll be able to get access from work without using the guest wireless account. What an endeavor.