Spectrum Internet
- Andrew
- Jul 31, 2023
- 9 min read
So you moved to a Spectrum area and are shopping what's available...
Spectrum has multiple offers, speeds, and promotions available to new customers. I don't normally pick favorites when it comes to the Providers we sell, but if I had to choose one based off of reliability, price, and speed options, I would choose Spectrum for these three specifically. Since the merge of Charter, Brighthouse, and Time Warner to create Spectrum significant changes have been made.
Now, a brief history about me. I worked directly with Spectrum for a number of years. I was NOT employed by them, but I did work as a Master Agent for them and we sold their products and I managed other Partners who did the same. I can give you all the ins-&-outs of Spectrum service, billing, and what to expect when setting up a new account. All of the agents at Cable Concierge have extensive product knowledge to help you make the right decision.
Spectrum has speeds from 30 Mbps (Spectrum Internet Assist - only in certain areas) all the way up to 940mbps (Spectrum Gig). Spectrum's most common speeds can be defined as 300 (Spectrum Internet), 500 (Internet Ultra) , 940 Mbps (Gig Internet).
Common uses:
Browsing the Web
Checking emails
Watching SD Videos
Common uses:
For 2-4 internet users
Streaming on 3 to 5 devices
Netflix / Hulu / Prime
Common uses:
For four or more internet users
Streaming on 5 or more devices
Regular video calls / Zoom - Best WFH Option
Best for Gaming and Streaming
Depending on your area there may even be some Competitive Offers available.
What are Competitive Offers? These are going to be offers available to customers who reside in an AT&T, Google Fiber, or major competitors footprint, as well as Spectrum's. This is a HUGE PLUS if you happen to fall into this category. You will see offers for 24 month price locks (but no contract), major discounts on internet speeds, and also bundle deals. The only way of finding out these promotions is to call and see what is offered at your exact address. These are not going to be broadcast online. We can tell you within a couple of minutes if you are in one of these areas (737) 787-1933.
Let's go back to the internet speeds. How do you know what speed to order? Am I getting enough bandwidth? Not enough? How can I be sure?
First, we are going to be asking you some questions to determine what we think is best for you and your household, but we need some information from you. How many people are in the house at any given time? How many devices do you have hooked up wirelessly? Directly to the router? Are there any gamers in the house? Work from homers? Often times customer's forget about devices like Smart Doorbells, Wi-Fi Connected Thermostats, Cameras, Home Security Systems. These are very easily overlooked, but they are always connected to your internet, therefore, they are always using up some sort of bandwidth.
These are all factors we need to consider when selecting your internet package/download speed.
If you have 3 or 4 people in the house all using the internet/streaming at the same time we are going to recommend staying above the 500 Mbps tier. Anything below there you are going to run into buffering issues or even packet loss when gaming.
On top of the Competitive Offers, Spectrum offers tons of Back-to-School offers as well. These offers normally start just before school gets back in session and is also address specific. Just something to note if you are shopping internet around that time.
Billing
When you sign up for Spectrum you will need to understand how their billing works. Spectrum is a Pay In Advance (PIA) service. Now, you may qualify to have your first bill pushed out and delivered to you in the mail, but once you receive that first bill you are going to get another one in 14 days (for the next month's service). This may look like they are double billing you, but I can assure you they are not. What happens when you sign up for service is you are normally expected to pay for that first month up front since Spectrum (and a lot of companies) have moved to a PIA service. Think of it like a prepaid cell phone plan without the minutes and free nights/weekends. When you sign up for a prepaid plan you have to prepay for the service to get it started. The only way you will not have to pay anything up front is if you run a soft credit check (this does not show up on your credit). The reason they do this is because they are making sure the account holder matches the name at the address, and also because they are giving you equipment to use at your home. Now, you can bypass the soft credit check by simply paying the first bill and activation up front - no harm no foul. It is just preference and what you would like to do.
Another important thing to note when you initially set up service is your billing date and cycle. Many companies have gone away from prorating your service when you choose to disconnect. What you want to do is find out when you will be moving or changing service over and call in to set up a disconnect date before that next billing date, otherwise, you are going to get charged for a whole month of service that you will not use and not get any money back for.
Along with the internet you did get some features such as antivirus and email addresses should you need them.. .
Spectrum antivirus software included Safety should be a top priority for all internet users, so who wouldn’t want extra protection, especially if it’s free? Luckily, Spectrum offers free antivirus software for up to 10 devices with all Spectrum Internet packages. Spectrum’s Security Suite protects against all types of malicious software, including viruses, spyware, and bots. The software updates automatically, so you’ll always know that your devices are safe so long as you remain an active Spectrum user. For Windows users, Security Suite also includes an AntiBot Scanner that you can run on your devices to remove malicious software. And for the parents, the software allows you to enable Parental Controls to help manage your child’s online surfing.
Perks of getting Spectrum Internet:
Spectrum will cover up to $500 in early termination fees as part of its Contract Buyout Program.
Get a free year of Peacock Premium with a Spectrum TV subscription. Internet subscribers can get a free 90-day Peacock Premium trial.
Bundle Spectrum Mobile with your Spectrum internet plan for affordable cell phone rates.
Get a free internet modem with any internet plan. Routers are extra unless you provide your own.
When you sign up for Spectrum internet, you’ll get much more than an internet connection at your home. Let’s break down everything that comes with your Spectrum internet plan.
Spectrum WiFi Let Spectrum handle the internet setup by getting a Spectrum WiFi router with your internet plan. Spectrum’s WiFi router costs $5 per month to rent.
Spectrum hotspots Spectrum Internet customers get access to Spectrum’s Out-of-Home WiFi network. When you’re out and traveling, you can connect to a Spectrum access point and get free internet service on any device. Spectrum has more than 530,000 access points across the US.
No data caps Make data overage fees a problem of the past with Spectrum’s unlimited data policy. With no data caps, your family can stream 4K videos and download as many games as they’d like.
Parental controls Spectrum Internet customers can use Spectrum’s free Security Suite to make sure their kids are safely browsing the internet. Security Suite has features including adult site filtering, site blocking, browsing time limits, and browsing activity logs.
Free modem Every Spectrum Internet customer gets a free modem with their internet plan. You’ll use a modem to connect your home to Spectrum’s internet network.
Give us a call today to find out what we can offer you!
(737)787-1933
Disclaimer
*Spectrum Internet: Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet ® promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2022 Charter Communications. Spectrum Internet Ultra: Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® Ultra promotion price is $69.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2022 Charter Communications. Spectrum Internet Gig: Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® Gig promotion price is $89.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2022 Charter Communications. †Spectrum Internet + TV Select: Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum TV® Select promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Spectrum Internet® promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $21.00/mo) extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. TV: TV equipment required; charges may apply. Channel and HD programming availability based on level of service. Account credentials may be required to stream some TV content online. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2022 Charter Communications. Spectrum Internet + Voice: Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Spectrum Voice®: Price is $14.99/mo when bundled. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. HOME PHONE: Unlimited calling includes calls within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and more. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2022 Charter Communications. ‡Spectrum Internet + TV Select + Voice: Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum TV® Select promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Spectrum Internet® promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Spectrum Voice®: Price is $14.99/mo when bundled. Taxes, fees and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $21.00/mo) extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. TV: TV equipment required; charges may apply. Channel and HD programming availability based on level of service. Account credentials may be required to stream some TV content online. HOME PHONE: Unlimited calling includes calls within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and more. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2022 Charter Communications. ◊To qualify for the Contract Buyout Program, a customer must order and install a qualifying Triple Play or limited Double Play promotion; offers not available in all areas. Offer available to qualifying customers only who have no outstanding obligations to Charter. Payment amount will be determined by the Early Termination Fee on the final bill from the previous provider, not to exceed $500. For Contract Buyout qualifications, go to Spectrum.com/buyout. **Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.
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