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iPhone 15 Pro Max Sick and Tired of my internet provider (Spectrum)

Who is your internet provider?

  • iPhone Personal Hotspot ONLY

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Dialup

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Spectrum

    Votes: 23 46.9%

  • Time Warner

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • ATT

    Votes: 3 6.1%

  • T-Mobile

    Votes: 3 6.1%

  • Verizon

    Votes: 4 8.2%

  • Satellite

    Votes: 1 2.0%

  • Someone Else

    Votes: 15 30.6%
  • Total voters
    49
fdw777

fdw777

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 7, 2012
238
179
Im really feud-up with the constant price increases that Spectrum seems to dish up every 6 months or so. I don't watch TV so all I care about is internet. Actually been without cable TV for over 15 years now and Im sure my family is much better off without that garbage (IMO).

But that's not why I here....

I contacted T-Mobile today about using my iPhone 15PM as a Personal Hotspot (PH) for all my internet needs. After reviewing my plan the representative said that I have unlimited data for PH at 3G speed, even though I have a 5G signal. So I checked on my computer internet speed and I got 80ish MBPS download and 3ish MBPS upload speed. What I use the internet for that speed appears to be plenty fast enough.

Here's a list of our Internet uses (wife and I only, no kids at home)
Roku - Youtube and other specialty apps such as Amazing Discoveries (ADTV), Amazing Facts (AFTV), 3ABN, Rumble to name a few.
MBP - Internet search, Quicken, and of course MacRumors.

My wife normally only uses her iPhone 15PM to search the internet (no computer), and I use my iPad Pro which is cellular with a FREE unlimited data (grandfathered with a bundle we did 5-6 years ago).

Is anyone else without a internet service provider and only using Personal Hotspot? I'd love to here about your experiences and recommendations. For those that can't hear.
 
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I'm like a complete opposite of you.

20+ computers and devices at home, wife, two kids (20 and 15).

I pay Cox Communications for Gigabit internet and Unlimited Data on top of that. I also work from home. We ditched the TV side of cable in March 2023 and have been using Amazon 4K Firesticks. We are also with T-Mobile (just cell service, not internet).

No way in heck I would use cellular service for my needs. Aside from the fact that I already need a 4G/LTE Cellspot in the house to get decent signal, I'm not depending on cellular for my livelihood.

We routinely pull down as a family about 1.6TB of data each month. But with T-Mobile, our combined 8 lines barely manage 10GB a month.

It sounds like T-Mobile Home Internet (TMHI) might be an option for you. Do you know if your area gets it?
 
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eyoungren said:
I'm like a complete opposite of you.

20+ computers and devices at home, wife, two kids (20 and 15).

I pay Cox Communications for Gigabit internet and Unlimited Data on top of that. I also work from home. We ditched the TV side of cable in March 2023 and have been using Amazon 4K Firesticks. We are also with T-Mobile (just cell service, not internet).

No way in heck I would use cellular service for my needs. Aside from the fact that I already need a 4G/LTE Cellspot in the house to get decent signal, I'm not depending on cellular for my livelihood.

We routinely pull down as a family about 1.6TB of data each month. But with T-Mobile, our combined 8 lines barely manage 10GB a month.

It sounds like T-Mobile Home Internet (TMHI) might be an option for you. Do you know if your area gets it?
Click to expand...
I live in the middle of Dallas and Fort Worth and T-Mobile internet is unfortunately not available, I live about 2 miles from DFW airport.
 
fdw777 said:
I live in the middle of Dallas and Fort Worth and T-Mobile internet is unfortunately not available, I live about 2 miles from DFW airport.
Click to expand...
That's too bad. You seem to have a minimal set of requirements and I think TMHI would probably work really well for you.
 
call spectrum customer support and ask for retention department and say you want to cancel service. they will offer you a discounted rate
 
fdw777 said:
I live in the middle of Dallas and Fort Worth and T-Mobile internet is unfortunately not available, I live about 2 miles from DFW airport.
Click to expand...
Which other internet service providers are available at your address?
 
Jackbequickly said:
All of the providers are raising rates. Just like everything else.
Click to expand...
I have had Cox internet and cabletv since 2004 and every time I have called them at the end of a promo they have put me on another promo for the same price or less.

You may be right, but not in my specific case.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I use to have Time Warner and that turned to Spectrum….when I had them we were on an a 2 year contract and locked me into a nice low rate. Don’t they offer annual or multi year contracts anymore?

My current provider I am on a two year $60/month for 800mb contract.
 
fdw777 said:
Im really feud-up with the constant price increases that Spectrum seems to dish up every 6 months or so. I don't watch TV so all I care about is internet. Actually been without cable TV for over 15 years now and Im sure my family is much better off without that garbage (IMO).

But that's not why I here....

I contacted T-Mobile today about using my iPhone 15PM as a Personal Hotspot (PH) for all my internet needs. After reviewing my plan the representative said that I have unlimited data for PH at 3G speed, even though I have a 5G signal. So I checked on my computer internet speed and I got 80ish MBPS download and 3ish MBPS upload speed. What I use the internet for that speed appears to be plenty fast enough.

Here's a list of our Internet uses (wife and I only, no kids at home)
Roku - Youtube and other specialty apps such as Amazing Discoveries (ADTV), Amazing Facts (AFTV), 3ABN, Rumble to name a few.
MBP - Internet search, Quicken, and of course MacRumors.

My wife normally only uses her iPhone 15PM to search the internet (no computer), and I use my iPad Pro which is cellular with a FREE unlimited data (grandfathered with a bundle we did 5-6 years ago).

Is anyone else without a internet service provider and only using Personal Hotspot? I'd love to here about your experiences and recommendations.
Click to expand...
I know you said tMO isn't available but maybe Verizon is. Last time I looked, it was something like $50/m with a free gateway
 
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F23 said:
call spectrum customer support and ask for retention department and say you want to cancel service. they will offer you a discounted rate
Click to expand...
And if they don't keep you on current rate plan or offer some new promo rate, cancel service. Then have your wife (if account is currently under your name) sign up for new service under her name and take advantage of whatever their current promo rate is.

When the promo expires under her name, rinse and repeat.
 
eyoungren said:
I have had Cox internet and cabletv since 2004 and every time I have called them at the end of a promo they have put me on another promo for the same price or less.

You may be right, but not in my specific case.
Click to expand...
Xfinity does the same. They increase my speed and drop the price by $10 a month. I only use the Internet from Xfinity as I now stream. Their costs for TV were going up every 6 months so I dumped them. Saving over $130 a month by streaming. The Internet is now running at 10250 Mbps and is unlimited.

They are putting fiber in my neighborhood and I suspect they will be even cheaper and faster. As data moves faster and faster the users are taking less bandwidth due to the speed so it should get cheaper.

Giving my age away but I remember when making a long distance call on a land line meant a death in the family!
 
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Jackbequickly said:
Xfinity does the same. They increase my speed and drop the price by $10 a month. I only use the Internet from Xfinity as I now stream. Their costs for TV were going up every 6 months so I dumped them. Saving over $130 a month by streaming. The Internet is now running at 10250 Mbps and is unlimited.

They are putting fiber in my neighborhood and I suspect they will be even cheaper and faster. As data moves faster and faster the users are taking less bandwidth due to the speed so it should get cheaper.

Giving my age away but I remember when making a long distance call on a land line meant a death in the family!
Click to expand...
The only interaction I have ever had with Xfinity was to try and get them to stop emailing me. :)

My username is my first initial plus my last name. And my last name is not as uncommon as might be thought. There are others out there with my last name who have the same first initial but a different name. There are, in fact, a least three others that I know of with my exact name spelled the same way.

So, consequently I periodically get email meant for others. One of these was a guy on the east coast (I've gotten his email before). He'd signed up for Xfinity and they emailed ME all his updates about installing his internet AND his billing! I tried contacting Xfinity and I even called the guy's house and spoke to his wife (because his phone number was in the billing info). Still nothing. Finally some Xfinity manager on Reddit managed to fix it.

My memories of phones only goes back to the 70s (I was born in 1970). The landline phone was a central tool of my adolescent life. :D
 
There is a curious thing happening in Cleveland Ohio. The city is going to provide internet. It will be an municipal service just like gas and electric. I sounds like a great solution.
 
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Xfinity in Florida is around $110 for 400mbps and home phone line but whenever theres a problem with the service just live chat through the app and you will get a credit off your bill. Some people might even give you $30 off your bill
 
Ameer_1 said:
Xfinity in Florida is around $110 for 400mbps and home phone line but whenever theres a problem with the service just live chat through the app and you will get a credit off your bill. Some people might even give you $30 off your bill
Click to expand...
Wow. Cox is no outstanding company but they are only charging me around $84 for Gigabit.
 
eyoungren said:
Because OP is trying to decide if they are going to use the hotspot on their phone as their home internet option.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Phone. Not necessarily an iPhone - although the OP has one, why is this a specific iPhone problem? Or am I missing something?
 
Ameer_1 said:
Xfinity in Florida is around $110 for 400mbps and home phone line but whenever theres a problem with the service just live chat through the app and you will get a credit off your bill. Some people might even give you $30 off your bill
Click to expand...

$110 for 400 Mbps Internet and home phone sounds at or near "full price." You should call Xfinity customer service and see if you qualify for any current deals or discounts you aren't already getting e.g., term contract discount, multi-product discount, AutoPay discount, etc.
 
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F23 said:
call spectrum customer support and ask for retention department and say you want to cancel service. they will offer you a discounted rate
Click to expand...
Today I called Spectrum to cancel service.... You were right, they lowered my bill from $85/mo to $29/mo for 1 year.
Thanks for the heads-up.
 
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