My local Mom & Pop ISP is getting more and more unreliable - home page outages, e-mail server outages (both Outlook and WebMail), nobody in the office.

I have 2 AT&T-billed phone lines; 1 for the normal telephones and 1 for my dedicated DSL which is Verizon through the local ISP (I used to have dial-up, so the second line made life easier). The DSL modem drives a Linksys router which is connected to the main PC with an Ethernet cable and to this around-the-house laptop by wireless.

What would be my best bet for getting away from the local, unreliable provider by shifting to one phone line/DSL from one provider. But who ??? And how do I inform the world that our e-mail address will change ??

I am in the same position and looking for an alternative. Would also appreciate any imput toward selecting a new internet provider.

Jim...

I've had zero complaints about our Verizon DSL service (we have our telephone with them as well).... We've had it for about three years now, ever since Comcast made us switch from cable internet due to the constant and exorbitant price hikes. I'm pretty sure they offer different packages... one around $20/mo and the faster 3.0Mbps which is somewhere between 30-40 bucks a month. We have the faster of the two and as I said... I've had zero complaints.... The price is right and there have been very, very few service outages - much less so that I remember having with cable.

Unless you spend an absurd amount of time downloading large files, you really don't need anything faster. Since you've had DSL already, I'm sure you're satisfied with the speed... you're just looking for more reliable service, correct?

Give Verizon a shot... or check and see if AT&T offers DSL You might get a little bit of a break if you bundle your home telephone service and DSL through the same provider... either way, it's usually best (and much easier) to go through the same provider for both phone and DSL.

What is your email address domain?? Is it through your local provider?

The local e-mail domain is the primary bugaboo. My current DSL is perfect, BUT it is Verizon third party through my local provider. That's the rub....when the local provider's e-mail server takes a dump, all e-mail ceases for maybe 2-3 days at a time, but I can still log onto Internet, just no local "home page"/e-mail domain.

......and the bundle packages are looking better and better, cost-wise, because it looks like I can dump one phone line, upgrade to a faster DSL, and get rid of the middleman ISP for a heck of a lot less $$$.

There is no chance of cable here........too far down in the woods, over a half mile from the nearest cable termination.

You have to do some research on the web for providers and ratings in your area.
Often times providers are limited by coverage areas. Some cannot step foot into another's territory.

I waited 45 days for Cox to put cable to my house during which time I had to get AOL and go through that nightmare again.... even though it took Verizon almost as long to connect my phone lines.
I had no phone, no TV, no phone book, nothing. I was pretty much lost.
I went looking for alternatives by calling other providers who informed me they couldn't step onto Cox's turf.
They had me over a barrel.

I have had good luck outside of the fact that they outmoded my cable modem and didn't bother to tell me, so I had to go buy my own... since then it has been working great.

I used to shop for service, try doing some google searches for ISP reviews, check with Cnet and ZDnet and see if they have some tools to help you find something better.
Stay away from AOL unless you just hate yourself and feel like smashing your own hand with a hammer.
I wrote a review of their services on epinions if you care to read my experience with them.
(same user name)

Good luck, I hate shopping for ISPs.

I guess I should be thankful I live in Alaska. My internet service is by cable modem, is fast and trouble free, and outages are almost unheard of. It comes at a fair price and installations are a simple do it yourself deal if you already have cable. The cable modem is free and all service and upgrade swaps are free. The local DSL provider sucks.

The local e-mail domain is the primary bugaboo. My current DSL is perfect, BUT it is Verizon third party through my local provider. That's the rub....when the local provider's e-mail server takes a dump, all e-mail ceases for maybe 2-3 days at a time, but I can still log onto Internet, just no local "home page"/e-mail domain.

......and the bundle packages are looking better and better, cost-wise, because it looks like I can dump one phone line, upgrade to a faster DSL, and get rid of the middleman ISP for a heck of a lot less $$$.

There is no chance of cable here........too far down in the woods, over a half mile from the nearest cable termination.

So I'm guessing you have a dish for your television?? I'm pretty sure Verizon has some sort of on-going deal with DirecTV where you can bundle you phone, dsl, and television all on the same bill. We thought about going that route, but we've never had any trouble with Dish Network, so we never made the switch.

Either way... I'd say dump the "mom & pop" ISP - especially if you're already getting your service from Verizon anyway... why pay extr just for your email? I would just send out a notification to all of your contacts that your email will be changing while you still have your old address and then let the chips fall where they may.

Besides it'll give you a chance to "forget" to pass the word to that crazy old aunt that keeps sending you all the lousy zucchini recipes, inspirational messages, and pictures of somebody else's ugly kids.

Besides it'll give you a chance to "forget" to pass the word to that crazy old aunt that keeps sending you all the lousy zucchini recipes, inspirational messages, and pictures of somebody else's ugly kids.

Another way to see it.:D

Adam.....No dish: I'm a throwback to the Dark Ages.....huge Channel Master VHF/UHF on a rotor and a separate FM Yagi/rotor for the sound system. I'm so far down in tall oak and pine that a dish (low satellite in the SW) is no-go and no cable in the future. Besides, we might watch TV 2 hours a week except for Spring and Winter PGA and NFL on a major network. We seldom watch TV for a total of 6 hours a month during June, July, or August. Yes, I would like the Discovery Channel, The Weather Channel, and one or two others, but TV is mostly a pathetic desert. (When you turn it off, it watches you.)

That is why I have like 500 DVDs.... sadly I am still paying for cable :lol:
I just need a few more DVDs and I'll be good.
It may sound strange but when I am flipping channels the only things I want to see I already have on DVD anyway.
I'd rather watch the disc than be hammered by constant commercials!

I might start the "wait one season and buy it on DVD" thing like some people I know do.
So much better and easier.

Good luck on the DSL hunt.
Try this website:
http://www.dslreports.com/search