Review by poolek 
UPDATED: 216 days ago
member for 6 years, 1375 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Austin,Travis,TX
 $109 per month
 about 7 days
 "Stable speeds, good channel line up."
 "lame drv features. Glitches."
 "Not perfect - but probably good enough"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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When TWC announced 'Metered Billing' tests in my home in Austin, I decided the best way I could vote against the idea was to cancel service with them. I was subscribed to the 'Turbo' package, which was a 20/2 package - primarily for the upload speed (lots of VPN, voip, online backup and photo/video uploads). I was using Dish Network for TV service, using their VIP 622 device.
I checked for options and saw I was in a Uverse area. I signed up online and scheduled an install a week later. The installer showed up on time, installed the system in about 3 hours (1 tv, had to re-run some cables) and everything was up and running. Installer was very professional and knowledgeable. I went with the U200 package and the 6/1 Internet package.
Internet speed is fine. I'm at about 1/2 the average throughput up and down that I had with the TWC Turbo service, but the 1mb/s upload is enough for me the balance the demands I have. The service has been stable, though I haven't used it long enough to really say. The 2Wire gateway works well - though not super configurable (ex: can't change DNS) - I can always switch back to my Linksys router if needed, though. I am seeing lots of 'corrected blocks' in the statistics, but nothing that seems to impact qualit of service.
The DRV is just ok. Compared to the Dish 622 it's lacking. Compared to Tivo it's really lacking. It's functional, but that's about about it. No ability to limit the number of episodes to keep. No ' Wishlist' to record by keyword. The 30 second skip is actually a 30 second 'slide' with no queuing.
Picture quality is pretty good. (I'm no videophile - just 1 32" HD LCD) SD channels are substantially better than Dish. HD is a toss up. Sometimes it looks better, sometimes Dish looks better, Compared to OTA (which the 622 integrates nicely), Uverse is noticeably softer - but it's still completely watchable.
End result, I'm definitely keeping it for Internet - screw TWC and their desire to 'educate' me. 90% sure I'm keeping it for TV. I don't like the DVR as much, and it actually costs a bit more than Dish - but the channel line up is better and I think the platform has a ton of potential that will manifest itself in the next few years (though I'd like to see FTTP, compression technology and pair bonding will likely more than suffice for this single TV household).
I was happy to cancel TWC - even after they backed off the Metered Billing in Austin.
I hate to think TWC's arrogant approach to billing will end up costing Dish a customer, though. I have no reason to complain about their service or pricing, and their DVR is way ahead of anything else I've used save Tivo.
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