[Chicago] Broadband in Chicago

[skip at pobox.com]

    Brantley> So I just moved into a new apartment in Andersonville and I am
    Brantley> trying to figure out what sort of broadband I want to get.  I
    Brantley> like the idea of bundling with cable because I want it anyway.
    Brantley> But, on the other hand both Comcast and RCN leave a lot to be
    Brantley> desired.

I live in Evanston, thus have no experience with RCN.  Comcast has been no
problem for us, technology-wise, for either CATV or Internet access.  I spew
the signal around the house with an old Apple Airport.  We recently
purchased a Sony HDTV.  Plugged it in and told it to auto-program and it
picked up a half-dozen HD channels, including the big three and a couple PBS
stations (both different than either of the other local PBS affiliates).  No
extra box.  No extra fee.

My mom-in-law switched from Comcast to DSL for Internet access a few months
ago.  She lives in a historic landmark building in Evanston and punching
holes in the exterior walls was going to be a problem.  I had split her
cable and used a Motorola cable modem/Wi-Fi box, but the distance from her
TV room and the room with her computer and corresponding masonry
obstructions made the Wi-Fi part quite unreliable.  The DSL solution has
worked fine for her.

-- 
Skip Montanaro - skip at pobox.com - http://www.mojam.com/
    Without Office, Microsoft is just a company with an archaic
    and insecure OS.  --Robert X. Cringely in "I Cringely"