How Do I Get Broadband?

Al from King Of Prussia, PA writes:

In your article “Get Cable Channels Without Cable“,  you say “You will need to a have a stable broadband connection {????} to use Sling.” Do you have an article on doing this, without cable TV ? I have tried repeatedly but I always fail. I live in an apartment which probably rules out dish satellite.  

As I explained in a previous article , Sling TV is a subscription service that allows you to view some popular cable channels without a cable or satellite connection. It starts at $20 a month and can be viewed with a streaming box like Roku or Amazon Fire TV or on your PC, tablet or phone.

A stable broadband connection means that you have an Internet connection (not a dial-up one).  For streaming services a minimum of .5 megabits per seconds is required, though a 1.5 megabits per second is suggested and you’ll want at least 5.0 megabits for HD video quality.

You don’t need to have a subscription to cable channels in order to get Internet service, even from a cable TV provider.  Most offer stand-alone Internet only service.

Companies formerly known for phone service, such as AT & T also offer DSL connections for the home. If you have a cable or a phone provider, I’d check with them to see what type of service they can offer.

Sites like White Fence.com offer comparisons of Internet services with prices, though they won’t necessarily have every available option.

The government provides a pretty complete listing of broadband services at broadbandmap.gov. Just enter your ZIP code.

This site will return results featuring companies and their advertised speeds, but no price comparisons.

It’s a good starting point to start making some calls to ask about rates.

~ Cynthia