Reliable Internet Service? Currently using Earthlink and very unhappy.

• Reliable Internet Service? Currently using Earthlink and very unhappy. - Trixie
  • Cox offers a "basic" cable internet; it's the same and half the price as the other one they - sm
    • I started with the higher priced one... sm - Becky
  • Reliable Internet Service - sienna
  • I've used Cox (now Suddenlink)... sm - Becky
    • new Cox user need help sm - speedqueen
      • Please see message... - Becky
      • PS on Cox service - Speedqueen

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I am feeling totally frustrated. 

I was using Vonage with little problems, but switched back to AT&T Call Vantage 'cause is was $20 less and I was supposed to get a second phone line. Well, never got the second line and I've had problem after problem. The main problem is with the Express Enterprise system that I call into "communicating" with my C-phone. Sometimes the call is disconnected. Sometimes it doesn't "hear" the key pad when I press the numbers (i.e. to sign off on a report). Sometimes it will suddenly rewind to the beginning of a report.

I thought the problem was on my end, so I shelled out $$$ to replace the foot pedal, headset, and C-phone ... nope, that didn't solve the problem. Called AT&T and they said the problem was with the DSL line. Had that tested and was told it was working correctly. Purchased another DSL modem (another $100) and that didn't solve the problem.

Called AT&T for tech support and they said "The C-phone is not supported." Well, gee, it was before!!!

Anyway, you can see why I'm grumping.

Is there *ANY* service out there which won't kill my wallet but won't give me the problems I'm having. Again, Vonage was pretty good, but it still was quirkly, and it cost $65/month. A dial-up service (www.onesuite.com) is terrific (no problems), but it's 2.9 cents per minute, which will be $200-300 per month. Don't want to spend that. And AT&T .... yuk!!!

I'm open to any and all suggestions. What's reliable without breaking the budget?

If I can remember correctly, I was once told that you needed their internet service - which I do not need nor want - just want to get rid of my expensive land line.

Thanks!

I am looking into this and didn't realize how many different companies are out there.  Who do you use, and are you happy with the service? Thanks!  LLHS

I am going to be moving to an area where high speed broadband and DSL are not available - and the company I work for, as well as most other companies that I have seen on the jobseekers forum require one of these types of internet service - does anyone have any idea of how I can either get around this or of any companies that do not require these - and perhaps can use satellite or some other type where a "receiver" is placed on your roof that picks up a radio transmission.  That is the only type service available there.  I have heard from one Transcriptionist that said AT&T could perhaps install a "pole" in my yard for around $400 in order to get their DSL and I am going to check on that - but otherwise - I need help with this - and my options are running out.  I have been an MT for 15 years and worked at home for most of those years - I cannot imagine doing anything else - but this move is for my husband's business - so I'm stuck as far as where I can move.  Any information would be appreciated - either emailed or on this board.  thanks

kat

I recently looked into this subject myself.  If you have Verizon available in your area, you can purchase a plan at about $55.00 per month with a two-year contract.  You will receive a card that you can insert into your laptop, which will provide you with unlimited Internet access at the speed of DSL.  As far as I know, there are no other cell service providers that have come up with this type of card yet, but I'm sure it's bound to happen in the future.  Another option is to purchase a satellite telephone and phone cards as you go along, but the cards are really outrageous in price.  One last thing that I would suggest is that you phone cell providers in your area to see if they have any technical gadgets you could attach to the cell phone for Internet access.  Many of the satellite phone companies have separate packages you can buy, which can be attached to laptops or PDAs.  I also have a TracPhone, so I know it does not come with hardware that will do the trick.

Good luck to you in setting everything up.  With the way that technology is moving, I'm sure there must be a way to accomplish what you want. 

access numbers.   I use Earthlink DSL and I get 20 hours of dial-up every month included.  I travel a lot and it comes in handy.   I was once in an area that didn't have a local number and used AOL and I had so many problems with it I had to swipe my hard drive.  PeoplePC and Netzero I think are just dial-up, though they are supposed to have lots of local numbers. 

Some transcription companies will not allow you to have AOL for work purposes, so you might want to check with your company before changing. 

You can still use Outlook with other ISPs. 

About 180 EarthLink employees in Atlanta will lose their jobs as the Internet provider completes a move to outsource customer service and technical support telephone lines.

EarthLink cut 1,300 call center employees in 2003 and another 1,300 in 2004 as it began farming out the work to call centers in India and the Philippines.

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The latest cuts eliminate the use of EarthLink employees to handle customer calls, said spokesman Dan Greenfield.

The job cuts will take place between August and September. Greenfield said EarthLink would provide severance pay based on seniority as well as assistance in finding new jobs.

EarthLink will be left with 1,020 employees in Atlanta and 1,800 nationally.

Using overseas call centers instead of American employees saves money, the company said.

When the plan to use outside vendors was first announced, Garry Betty, EarthLink's chief executive, said the company was "making hard decisions that are necessary to ensure the ongoing viability of our company."

On Monday, Greenfield said that the latest cuts were needed "to allow us to compete in a very dynamic marketplace."

The overseas call centers handle both customer service and technical support questions.

and they have files for know spam and suspected spam.  You can fix it where you don't get ANY e-mails except for people in your address book and then if someone not in your book wants to e-mail you they get an e-mail asking to submit a request.  You can approve/disapprove any request.   I don't use this option because lots of times worms/viruses will attach themselves to  your addy book.  I've never had it happen but know lots who have.

I do use suspected spam and so far the past 2 weeks it has caught 1569 spam e-mails, but it has left through probably 150 week.   I used to have an unmoderated yahoo group and it would get spam posts so it got blocked, but most of it wasn't spam. 

"air" cards that allow you to go wireless provided you are in their service area.   The service is about $50/mo I think and then you have to buy the card.  I think the card is about $200, but they have deals sometimes where if you commit to 1 or 2 years that you get the card for free.   You can probably go to the websites of both companies to check to see if you have service in your area.  

We also have a service in my area called Clearwire.  They have a modem that you plug into an outlet and you can take it and plug it in and get service anywhere within range.  They have different levels of service, similar to DSL, where the faster the download the more the $$.  I think the cheapest package is $25/mo.   They may have the same service under a different name in other areas. 

keep track of and will just be a different department. 

It looks like we will work out details over the next 6 months, talking with community college program directors as well as a few of the distance-learning course leaders to work on the recruiting end.

We will train current staff to mentor if they would like to do so and want to work in the office.

We are still working on production requirements, goals to set, pay, benefits and other fine details but we have 6 months to get it all in place with three months to pull it together after that with a tentative start date of 09/01/06.  We need to build the building as well, although that is already at the blueprint stage in a spot next to our current office. 

We did not want to cause flames and bashing by listing the company name as there are always so many negative people on this site, but we are national with over 200 transcriptionists, located outside of Chicago (40 miles west) and have the best team of transcriptionists around!

We will have an "official" announcement after the first of the new year. 

Thank you for all of your feedback and suggestions!

where the MTSO promises work anywhere from p.r.n. to asking how much can you take on?  I understand this business waxes and wanes, but sometimes it is just easier to give one IC one particular dictator to be responsible for and then if more help is needed ask if that IC has the time to help.

Another option is to make sure the IC is aware of how many minutes she/he will be receiving.  I have had that happen as well where I thought I was getting say 15 minutes, and then was given 60 minutes.  By the way, your higher pay rate is great because most small MTSOs only are willing to pay 7 cpl. 

I like to learn accounts sometimes just to offer vacation, illnesses, etc.  Please feel free to e-mail me if you are in a bind, and I can provide you with my resume.  I have many, many years of experience in a lot of different specialties and am also flexible in regard to volume.  I also tend to offer Sundays as an option since my work week runs Sunday to Thursday.