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This is a two-part question, because my Internet is in two parts.
A. I've had ADSL from CenturyLink (originally Qwest) since the mid-1990s, pretty much as soon as it came available. The speed gradually increased, but at this point it's throttled to 1.5 Mbps, because they don't allow outside vendors to provide Internet via fiber optic, only via copper. Which brings me to part B.
B. I've been with the same ISP and its successors since I started using the Internet. Wavefront was acquired by Visi, Visi was acquired by T-something-don't-remember, and the T-Company was acquired by OneNeck. Mostly the service has been good, with occasional glitches. Lately, the glitches have been considerably more annoying. The site (or portions of it) keeps getting blackballed, and mail is blocked without notice by intermediaries.
As a result, I'm looking for a change. I want the following:
I've heard good things about IPHouse, but my understand is that it mostly does web hosting, which is not what I need.
What about old-style providers like EarthLink or Panix?
Am I better off with something seriously mainstream like using CenturyLink as my direct provider, or Comcast? What's fast, good, and not hideously expensive? Note that I don't live in Minneapolis, so the city Internet isn't an option for me.
A. I've had ADSL from CenturyLink (originally Qwest) since the mid-1990s, pretty much as soon as it came available. The speed gradually increased, but at this point it's throttled to 1.5 Mbps, because they don't allow outside vendors to provide Internet via fiber optic, only via copper. Which brings me to part B.
B. I've been with the same ISP and its successors since I started using the Internet. Wavefront was acquired by Visi, Visi was acquired by T-something-don't-remember, and the T-Company was acquired by OneNeck. Mostly the service has been good, with occasional glitches. Lately, the glitches have been considerably more annoying. The site (or portions of it) keeps getting blackballed, and mail is blocked without notice by intermediaries.
As a result, I'm looking for a change. I want the following:
- A provider that will support fast speeds (at least 5 Mbps speed, ideally more).
- A provider that will support the weird retro needs I have -- specifically, POPmail and the ability to do vacation forwarding to another address essentially invisibly.
- A provider that gives decent customer service.
- A provider that isn't going to be hypervigilant about my torrenting habit. The stuff I download is mostly in the gray area (like already-aired TV shows) rather than pirating of commercial material, and I don't want to get little nastygrams every week or oftener.
I've heard good things about IPHouse, but my understand is that it mostly does web hosting, which is not what I need.
What about old-style providers like EarthLink or Panix?
Am I better off with something seriously mainstream like using CenturyLink as my direct provider, or Comcast? What's fast, good, and not hideously expensive? Note that I don't live in Minneapolis, so the city Internet isn't an option for me.
