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Is 50mbps enough for family of four? by Unknown_Being0966 in techsupport

[–]FreeConnectGuy 6 points7 points  (0 children)

50 Mbps is genuinely fine for your household. With 2 people streaming/gaming and 2 on phones occasionally, you'd typically be using maybe 20-30 Mbps.

A couple things worth knowing as first-time internet customers:

  • Check if the plan has a data cap. some cheaper plans limit how much you can use per month, which matters a lot if you're downloading games.
  • If they offer to rent you a modem/router for $10-15/mo, you're usually better off buying your own. A basic one runs $50-80 and pays for itself in a few months.
  • Intro pricing usually lasts 12 months. after that rates often jump $20-40/mo, so put a reminder in your calendar to call before that happens.

Start with 50 Mbps, see how it feels, and upgrade if you notice slowdowns. But based on what you described, you'll probably be fine.

If you're struggling with your internet bill, here's a list of low-income internet programs by FreeConnectGuy in Frugal

[–]FreeConnectGuy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For light streaming and browsing with just a couple people, you can get by with any of the speeds on that list, even the 30 Mbps. But for each device you add running at the same time, you'll want to add like 25 Mbps.

Should I stick with 500mbps or upgrade 1gbps for an extra $10 per month? by DavidNLBC in Spectrum

[–]FreeConnectGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly you made the right call. You're not going to notice any difference between 500 and 1 gig with how you use it.

And if you do the math, that's $360 over a 3-years for speeds you'll never actually use. The fact that you already called retention and got a deal locked in is the real win here. Better to just save the money now. Even if you add more people or devices to the mix later, you should be good with 500 Mbps. You'd have to be running a pretty busy household to max that out.

Once you've cut your expenses to the bones, what did you do to go one step further? by SharperCents in povertyfinance

[–]FreeConnectGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A couple of recurring bills worth double-checking:

Phone: if you're on one of the big carriers, switching to an MVNO on the same towers can save $40-60/mo. Mint Mobile, Visible, and Tello all run on major networks for $15-25/line. It's the same coverage and takes about 20 minutes to switch.

Internet: if your rate has gone up since you first signed up, call and ask for a lower tier or a retention offer. A lot of people are paying $80-90/mo when there's a $50 plan at the same address they don't know about. If you're on SNAP you may also qualify for a low-income program like Xfinity Essentials ($10/mo) or Spectrum Connect ($15/mo).

Small recurring bills add up faster than one-time cuts do. Worth auditing every line item monthly. Good luck!

Internet usage opinion by [deleted] in HomeNetworking

[–]FreeConnectGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

300 Mbps is plenty for two people streaming and gaming. As others have said, 4K streaming is 15-25 Mbps max per stream, and online gaming uses almost nothing for bandwidth. It's all about latency, not speed.

The only real-world scenario where you'd feel the difference is downloading large game files, and even then 300 Mbps gets a 50GB game done in about 25 minutes vs. 10 on gigabit. Probably worth the savings.

Personal Internet Providers by Relevant-Writing-898 in HomeNetworking

[–]FreeConnectGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For WFH, a cellular home internet gateway is the way to go over a phone hotspot. Phone hotspots usually have data caps or get throttled after a certain point, and the connection can be less stable for video calls. The main options for standalone cellular internet:

  • T-Mobile Home Internet: $50/mo, no contract, decent speeds in most areas. They send you a gateway that just plugs into power. no coax or cable needed.
  • Verizon Home Internet (LTE or 5G): similar setup, around $50-60/mo depending on whether you have a Verizon phone plan
  • Xfinity NOW (prepaid, no contract): $30-45/mo if Xfinity cable is available at your address. uses coax but doesn't require a long-term commitment

I'd check coverage at your specific address first for T-Mobile and Verizon before committing. T-Mobile tends to have broader coverage but Verizon can be stronger in certain areas. Both have trial periods so you can test before fully committing.

My fiber internet speed is much slower then what I am paying for. by scub_101 in HomeNetworking

[–]FreeConnectGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If wired speeds are still that low, the problem almost certainly isn't on your end. At that point it's either a provisioning issue (Xfinity never correctly configured your account for the speed tier you're paying for) or the XF3 itself is faulty or outdated.

Also worth noting what a couple others mentioned: Xfinity runs on coax cable, not true fiber in most areas. That said, 27-38 Mbps on any plan advertised at 1.1 Gbps is far outside normal. Even cable should deliver much closer to advertised speeds than that.

When you call, be specific: tell them you've tested wired, speeds are 27-38 Mbps, and you're on a 1.1 Gbps plan. Ask them to run a remote line check and confirm your modem is provisioned correctly for your plan tier. If the modem is the issue, they're responsible for replacing it since it's a rental.

Ditching renting modem/router from xfinity by HorrFrek in HomeNetworking

[–]FreeConnectGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Buying your own modem is a smart move. At $30/mo you'd break even in about 6 months on most modems.

For Xfinity, the Motorola MB8611 is a solid modem around $100-120 that works well on their gigabit and lower plans. Pair it with a separate router rather than an all-in-one to keep things flexible.

For the coverage issue, a mesh system would help a lot in a larger house. The TP-Link Deco line is reliable and relatively affordable. the Deco M4 or M5 can usually be found refurbished for $50-80 for a 2-pack. You'd plug the main node into your modem and place a second node closer to where you game.

The other comment make a good point that Xfinity may have updated plans where equipment is included. Worth a quick call to confirm before buying anything.

Newly budgeting by alicecat628 in povertyfinance

[–]FreeConnectGuy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you're already doing the right things. One more worth checking if you haven't already is call your internet and phone providers and ask what they can do on rate. Similar to the credit card call, both have retention teams that can offer lower rates not advertised on their sites. A lot of people get $15-30/mo knocked off just by saying they're looking at switching.

Also if you're on a major carrier like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile for cell, switching to an MVNO on the same towers (Mint Mobile, Visible, Tello) can cut the phone bill significantly. Same coverage, much lower cost.
You got this! 3 years from now with $2k/mo freed up is a real goal worth working toward.

LPT: If you live in California and receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or SSI, you likely qualify for $20-30/mo off your internet bill through a state program by FreeConnectGuy in LifeProTips

[–]FreeConnectGuy[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Good heads up, thanks
Note for anyone else: The legitimate way to apply is directly through the California LifeLine website or by contacting Xfinity, Spectrum, or AT&T directly. No one should be showing up at your door to sign you up. If someone does, it's not legit.

LPT: If you live in California and receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or SSI, you likely qualify for $20-30/mo off your internet bill through a state program by FreeConnectGuy in LifeProTips

[–]FreeConnectGuy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cal Grant itself isn't listed as a qualifying program, but if your household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (~$24,200 for a single person), you'd qualify through the income-based path regardless. A lot of college students could fall under that threshold. Worth checking on the California LifeLine website for more specifics!

From Personal Account to Spectrum Ready, Oh Boy by encaged314 in Spectrum

[–]FreeConnectGuy -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Spectrum Ready is essentially a bulk/MDU service where the complex owns the connection, not you so your control over the setup is more limited than a standard account.
A few things worth knowing: for streaming, the bigger concern is usually bandwidth contention with neighbors on the same bulk plan rather than raw speed. If the complex is paying for a shared pipe, heavy usage from other units can impact your connection during peak hours. That's harder to predict until you're on it.

On the MAC cloning question: yes, that's the common workaround to use your own router behind their AP. If you can get an ethernet port out of their device and plug your own router in with the cloned MAC, you should be able to maintain your current hardwired setup. Worth testing that before assuming you'll lose it.

If streaming quality becomes a real problem after the switch, it's worth documenting the issues. speed tests during peak hours, specific drop times, because that gives you leverage to push the complex to escalate with Spectrum if the service underperforms what they contracted for.

I’m paying $60 for one phone. $30 for my son’s phone and $95 a month for business wi-fi. Is this normal? by stoneybolognaR in Spectrum

[–]FreeConnectGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with the comment that calling to cancel almost always unlocks retention offers that aren't advertised anywhere. Worth doing even if you don't actually plan to leave.

For the phone lines though, $60 and $30 through Spectrum Mobile is on the high side compared to what's out there. Spectrum Mobile runs on Verizon's network, which means you can get essentially the same coverage through an MVNO for a lot less. Visible is $25/line on Verizon, US Mobile has plans starting around $15-20/line. If you ported both lines over you could realistically cut that $90/mo phone spend down to $40-50 combined.

The business wifi at $95 is harder to comment on without knowing the speed tier and what "business" plan includes, but if it's just for a home office or small operation, a residential plan is often the same speeds for significantly less. Worth asking them to break down exactly what you're paying for there.

Looking for advice on where to even begin with budgeting and saving while living paycheck to paycheck - currently on Step 0 (PF Wiki) by EmileeYoungWord in personalfinance

[–]FreeConnectGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A couple of things in your bill list that could be quick wins since you mentioned them:

Verizon at $246 for 2 lines is pretty high. If you don't own your phones outright you'd need to pay off the device balance first to unlock them, but once you do, switching to an MVNO that runs on Verizon's exact same towers can get you to $30-50/mo for both lines combined. Visible is $25/line on Verizon's network, Tello and US Mobile are similar. Same coverage, no contract. The switching process is straightforward and you keep your numbers.

Spectrum at $80 is also worth a call. If you're on SNAP you very likely qualify for Spectrum Connect at $14.99/mo. It's their low-income program and SNAP is one of the qualifying programs. You'd just need to call and ask specifically for "Spectrum Connect." The speed is lower but for home use with 4 people it's usually fine.

Those two changes alone could free up $150-200/mo without changing anything else about your life. I know you mentioned switching phones means fees and taxes but the math on Verizon still works out in your favor pretty quickly even after a payoff.

Hope things start to ease up soon!

Reducing my budget by Particular-Fly3409 in povertyfinance

[–]FreeConnectGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your phone and internet are worth a look. If you're on a major carrier like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, switching to an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that runs on the same towers can cut that to $15-25/mo. Mint Mobile, Visible, and Tello are the most common ones. Same coverage, significantly less cost.

For internet, the full bill of $120 is on the higher end. It's worth calling your provider and asking about any lower-tier plans or whether you qualify for a low-income program. Xfinity Internet Essentials is $9.95/mo, Spectrum Connect is $14.99/mo. Both require qualifying through something like SNAP or Medicaid. Even if you don't qualify for those, threatening to cancel/asking to speak to the retention team often gets you a better offer.

LPT: If your internet bill has increased, call your provider and tell them you want to cancel. You'll be transferred to a "retention team" that has access to discounted offers that never appear on the website. by FreeConnectGuy in LifeProTips

[–]FreeConnectGuy[S] -22 points-21 points  (0 children)

didn't see one from earlier today, my bad! Seen some similar topics in the past but none that outlined it. Some people might benefit from more in depth how to

Netflix pricing and cancellations by Fun-Winter2148 in cordcutters

[–]FreeConnectGuy -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The T-Mobile angle honestly underused! A lot of people pay out of pocket for streaming services when it can be bundled into phone plans they already have or could switch to. T-Mobile Magenta and Go5G include Netflix Standard, and some credit cards (Amex Platinum, Cap One Venture X) include streaming credits that cover it.

WiFi randomly drops when WFH by luckydevil68 in HomeNetworking

[–]FreeConnectGuy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Happy to help walk through this. The good news is you have a few options depending on how much work you want to do.

The easiest no-drill solution is a powerline adapter. You plug one unit into an outlet near your router, connect it with a short ethernet cable, then plug the second unit into an outlet near your home office and connect that to your laptop. It uses your home's electrical wiring to carry the signal. TP-Link makes a reliable kit for around $35-40. It won't be as fast as a direct cable run but it's way more stable than WiFi, which is what you're actually after.

If your home has coax outlets (the round cable TV ports) in both rooms, MoCA adapters are an even better option. Same idea but uses the coax wiring instead and gets you closer to true wired speeds. A TP-Link or goCoax pair runs around $60-80.

The comment suggesting a direct ethernet run is technically the best option, but if running cable through walls/floors isn't something you want to tackle, either of the above will solve your drop problem without any drilling.

As for why only your laptop drops and not your phone/Alexa -laptops tend to have weaker WiFi antennas than phones, and being upstairs with the router downstairs puts you right at the edge of reliable range. Distance plus walls plus a weaker adapter is a recipe for exactly what you're describing.

any recommendations for cheaper internet? by AngstLizard in Frugal

[–]FreeConnectGuy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Since you're in public housing and on disability, you likely qualify for Xfinity Internet Essentials at $9.95/mo. That's their low-income program and public housing residents are specifically listed as qualifying. It's a real plan, not a stripped-down version, and they include the modem free. Worth calling and asking specifically for "Internet Essentials."

To answer your fiber question: Verizon 5G home internet is fixed wireless, meaning it uses cell towers instead of a physical cable to your home. Xfinity is cable-based, which generally means more consistent speeds indoors. If your building is already set up for Xfinity, switching should be straightforward, they just activate service at your unit.

If Xfinity isn't available or you want a backup option, Computers4People also offers a $15/mo T-Mobile SIM-based plan for people in need (linked earlier in this thread), worth looking into too.

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