Anyone using Comcast business class at home?

[jdoggg12]

How do you like it? I'm paying $65/mo for the Blast 50mb and basic cable package. Since the lifespan of the whole "bandwidth caps are suspended" issue is nebulous, I'd like to look into my options. I live in the East SF Bay Area if it matters/helps.

How much did it cost to get setup? What're you paying monthly, for what speed? Thoughts about the service in general?

Basically, I own my home and rent out a couple of the rooms. We all stream our movies and a couple of us are gamers. Also, I have a medium size home surveillance system (six 3MP IP cameras) that I stream via my home server.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Fardringle]

In many areas, Comcast will not even give you the option to use their Business Class service at an individual residence. Before you worry about whether or not you should change your service contract (and it honestly probably wouldn't make any difference if you already have a 50mbps connection), you might want to contact Comcast to find out if it's even possible at all.

 

[jdoggg12]

In many areas, Comcast will not even give you the option to use their Business Class service at an individual residence. Before you worry about whether or not you should change your service contract (and it honestly probably wouldn't make any difference if you already have a 50mbps connection), you might want to contact Comcast to find out if it's even possible at all.

My roommate owns an IT business and he's using our address as one of his "branch" locations. I believe their location stipulation says that there must be a business with some form of registration at the address of service.

My primary concerns with the service is up-time, guaranteed no caps, and priority bandwidth. AFAIK, these are exactly the perks of going with business class. I'm fine with 50mb, although I just came off a 3 month promotion of free 105mb service and it was awesome.

 

[imagoon]

I used business class at home for several years. Other than having the typical Comcast issues it worked exactly like home. They didn't ask about a business.

 

[Mushkins]

They do prioritize Business customers traffic over Home slightly, but you can only do so much QoS and traffic shaping while still inherently bound to the limits of the technology.

The speeds are a little more stable, especially during peak, and you have the bonus of the business SLA and the business support line if you have any issues, but for most home use the price premium just isn't worth it unless service is already particularly unstable where you are.

TBH my home Blast connection has been considerably more stable ever since they upped everyones speeds across the board recently, but thats a big YMMV.

 

[jdoggg12]

I used business class at home for several years. Other than having the typical Comcast issues it worked exactly like home. They didn't ask about a business.

What're you paying at the speed you're at? (thanks for the response!) How much was install?

They do prioritize Business customers traffic over Home slightly, but you can only do so much QoS and traffic shaping while still inherently bound to the limits of the technology.

The speeds are a little more stable, especially during peak, and you have the bonus of the business SLA and the business support line if you have any issues, but for most home use the price premium just isn't worth it unless service is already particularly unstable where you are.

TBH my home Blast connection has been considerably more stable ever since they upped everyones speeds across the board recently, but thats a big YMMV.

It's not that it's unstable - it's that with the volume of usage we're seeing, I can see us getting on a high-usage watch list. With the monitoring of the security cameras, netflix, online gaming, etc. we're hovering between 350-750GB/month... if/when the cap comes off, I don't see them raise it to (and especially beyond) 500GB.

I'll be honest, the service has been pretty reliable, as with you, since the upped caps. I guess you could say that I'm not making any moves for certain, but I'd like to know my options.

 

[imagoon]

At the time is was $149/month for 15/2. I have been off it for a few years because they couldn't keep the connection up and running.

 

[Mushkins]

What're you paying at the speed you're at? (thanks for the response!) How much was install?



It's not that it's unstable - it's that with the volume of usage we're seeing, I can see us getting on a high-usage watch list. With the monitoring of the security cameras, netflix, online gaming, etc. we're hovering between 350-750GB/month... if/when the cap comes off, I don't see them raise it to (and especially beyond) 500GB.

I'll be honest, the service has been pretty reliable, as with you, since the upped caps. I guess you could say that I'm not making any moves for certain, but I'd like to know my options.

Keep in mind the caps also go up with the tier of service, at least according to the old documentation from before they nixed the caps. It was the basic cable broadband package that had a 250GB cap. The premium service tiers had higher caps, but I dont remember what they were specifically. If they do bring the caps back, you can bet tiers like Blast and Blast Plus aren't going to have a 250GB cap unless they want a million phone calls a month complaining about overages.

 

[jdoggg12]

Keep in mind the caps also go up with the tier of service, at least according to the old documentation from before they nixed the caps. It was the basic cable broadband package that had a 250GB cap. The premium service tiers had higher caps, but I dont remember what they were specifically. If they do bring the caps back, you can bet tiers like Blast and Blast Plus aren't going to have a 250GB cap unless they want a million phone calls a month complaining about overages.

https://customer.comcast.com/help-a...usage-what-are-the-different-plans-launching/

I knew I wasn't that far on off the residential caps... I'm just waiting for the policy to drop to the non-test areas :-\

Introduction

Frequently asked questions about our data usage plans.

We'll be launching multiple trial approaches, and here is an overview:

In the Nashville, Tennessee, market, we will increase our data usage allowance for all tiers to 300 GB per month and also offer additional gigabytes in increments/blocks (e.g., $10 per 50 GB).

In the Tucson, Arizona, market, we will increase our data usage allowance for XFINITY Internet customers subscribing to the Economy tier through the Performance tier from 250 GB to 300 GB. In addition, those customers subscribed to the Blast! tier will receive an increase to 350 GB, those subscribed to Extreme 50 will be increased to 450 GB, and those subscribed to Extreme 105 will be increased to 600 GB (see table below).
XFINITY Internet Package New Data Usage Allowance
Economy 300 GB
Economy Plus 300 GB
Internet Essentials 300 GB
Performance Starter 300 GB
Performance 300 GB
Blast! 350 GB
Extreme 50 450 GB
Extreme 105 600 GB

In the Fresno, California, market, we will begin trialing a Flexible-Data Option specifically designed for casual or light Internet users who typically use 5 GB of data or less a month. This option will be available only to Economy Plus customers and will provide a $5 credit if a customer’s total monthly data usage is less than or equal to 5 GB per month. However, if a customer that chooses this option uses more than 5 GB of data in any given month, then she will not receive the $5 credit, and will be charged an additional $1 for each gigabyte of data used over the 5 GB included in the Flexible-Data Option.

In Central Kentucky, Savannah, GA and Jackson, MS, we will begin a trial which will increase our data usage allowance for all XFINITY Internet tiers to 300 GB per month and also offer additional gigabytes in increments/blocks (e.g., $10 per 50 GB). During this trial, XFINITY Internet Economy Plus customers in these markets can choose to enroll in the Flexible-Data Option which will modify their data usage allowance from 300 GB to 5 GB, and provide a $5 credit if their total monthly data usage is less than or equal to 5 GB per month. If customers choose this option and uses more than 5 GB of data in any given month, then they will not receive the $5 credit and will be charged an additional $1 for each gigabyte of data used over the 5 GB included in the Flexible-Data Option.

We believe that the approach we are taking with our data trials is fair because it means those who use more pay more and those who use less can now pay less.

 

[Mushkins]

https://customer.comcast.com/help-a...usage-what-are-the-different-plans-launching/

I knew I wasn't that far on off the residential caps... I'm just waiting for the policy to drop to the non-test areas :-\

Good ol' Comcast, that's just confusing. Updated 8/8/13 too. I dont even think Extreme 50 is available anymore since Blast! is now 50Mbps.

I'm sure thats all going to change a dozen times before they actually roll out nationwide caps again anyway. The real question I guess is what costs more: Extreme 105 or an uncapped Business plan + the what, $18 to legally start up a shell business using your home address?

 

[jdoggg12]

Good ol' Comcast, that's just confusing. Updated 8/8/13 too. I dont even think Extreme 50 is available anymore since Blast! is now 50Mbps.

That's what I'm saying! I can just see them quietly rolling out caps and me finding a $300 premium tacked on my bill suddenly.

I'm sure thats all going to change a dozen times before they actually roll out nationwide caps again anyway. The real question I guess is what costs more: Extreme 105 or an uncapped Business plan + the what, $18 to legally start up a shell business using your home address?

Agreed as well, which is why I'm doing the homework on business class. Given the 24/7 priority service, priority bandwidth, and guarenteed no caps... if the service for 50/10mb business service is under $100/month, that's they way to go. (I was quoted $140/mo for Extreme 105+basic digital cable, or 119 for just the 105mb internet alone)

 

[Mushkins]

Agreed as well, which is why I'm doing the homework on business class. Given the 24/7 priority service, priority bandwidth, and guarenteed no caps... if the service for 50/10mb business service is under $100/month, that's they way to go. (I was quoted $140/mo for Extreme 105+basic digital cable, or 119 for just the 105mb internet alone)

I'm paying $140 for Blast and Digital Starter cable :/

Really tempting to dump the cable entirely since I barely watch it. So not worth the money.

 

[drebo]

Priority bandwidth to business users? I think you're all being had...or, I have some ocean-front property in Kansas to sell you.

Also, their "24/7 customer service" for businesses is just as useless as it is for residential.

 

[jdoggg12]

Priority bandwidth to business users? I think you're all being had...or, I have some ocean-front property in Kansas to sell you.

Also, their "24/7 customer service" for businesses is just as useless as it is for residential.

Support of your claims? I'd be interested to read up on it (no sarcasm, just trying to get educated)

Other perks worth noting are static IP addres and unlocked ports... no?

 

[gsaldivar]

I have clients on Time Warner business-class cable, and it is rock solid for the rated speed. The only limitation was that TV service at the same address loses the ability to order PPV (a non-issue so far).

 

[drebo]

Support of your claims? I'd be interested to read up on it (no sarcasm, just trying to get educated)

Other perks worth noting are static IP addres and unlocked ports... no?

The Comcast network is identical for business and residential. The only differences are plans and prices. That is, of course, unless you're venturing into the Comcast Business Ethernet, which we are not.

Static IP addresses aren't included with business class, but you can purchase them.

No ports are "locked" on residential packages, but it is against TOS to host commercial servers on a residential package.

 

[imagoon]

Priority bandwidth to business users? I think you're all being had...or, I have some ocean-front property in Kansas to sell you.

Also, their "24/7 customer service" for businesses is just as useless as it is for residential.

Comcast business support was actually quite good. Sub 24 hour truck rolls and typically sub 3 minutes on hold. I even had opened tickets at 2AM and had a truck there at 8am. The plants are the same but they did QoS the business lines to a certain minimal level. When the service actually worked it was always at least a "stable" few megabits even when my neighbor was complaining about 7pm 50kbps download speeds.

 

[jdoggg12]

On a Comcast related note...

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2336658

 

[Lifted]

They do prioritize Business customers traffic over Home slightly

Do they state this in an SLA?

Time Warner does not provide an SLA for non-fiber circuits. Coax gets best effort for both consumer and business, and I KNOW there is no QoS on businesses lines beyond whatever they may or may not have for consumers.

With regards to outages... if it's down, it's down. They'll get to it when they feel like it.

 

[Mushkins]

Do they state this in an SLA?

Time Warner does not provide an SLA for non-fiber circuits. Coax gets best effort for both consumer and business, and I KNOW there is no QoS on businesses lines beyond whatever they may or may not have for consumers.

With regards to outages... if it's down, it's down. They'll get to it when they feel like it.

I'm not sure if you're talking about Comcast or Time Warner here, but no, it's not explicitly stated in the SLA that they use QoS and Traffic Shaping to give business class customers slight priority. You'd never want your customers to have that sort of thing in writing, it's a legal liability, makes people ask too many questions, and would have the local news at your doorstep in a heartbeat to show how big bad Comcast is taking advantage of its residential customers. Details on how the internal Comcast network works wouldn't be part of a standard SLA anyway. It's been a while since any of the offices i've worked in have had Comcast as their ISP, so I don't have their most recent business class agreements infront of me unfortunately.

Do I have any proof that they do it that I can openly share on this forum outside of my personal knowledge? I don't. I can say that i've had Comcast engineers and salesman both state that they do some QoS and Traffic Shaping for business class internet just like they do for Blast and Extreme 105 customers. They didn't get into the specific QoS settings as to whos traffic is prioritized in what order and by how much, but like you said: the node is the node. These technologies are a big part of how they offer those separate tiers of service without physical changes to the local node.

 

[sze5003]

I used to have Comcast business class internet at my apartment. My parents owned a pizza shop at one point long ago. They moved out of state and could not pay the etf to cancel the business internet so it got stuck in my name. So I had to install it at my apartment and what I hated was that each time I moved, I had to transfer it. Each time you transfer it, the business part of it renews the 1 or 2 year contract.

I finally cancelled it last week for residential internet bundled with my cable. I was paying $59 a month for their business starter package. I was also paying 70 for digital preferred cable.

Now I pay $89 a month for both internet and cable. The advertised residential speed is 15/5 but speed tests show I get 25/5. Fast enough for everything I do so far.

What I liked about business class was the support , you had an issue they were very adamant on helping and fixing it even if you have your own modem. What I hated was the required contract and etf if you must cancel.

It's a little more pricey than residential but it's rock solid. I'm not having any bandwidth issues with my residential now anyway.

 

[Kadarin]

I don't have it right now, but I had it at two previous residences. We got a deal on 22/5 through my work and always got at least that speed (usually considerably faster) with excellent uptime.

I was always very pleased with the service, and will get it again if possible when I move.

 

[kmmatney]

Damn - you guys are getting some great deals. I am (was) paying $85/mo for my Blast service (55/10) residential service. The service and uptime was great, but the price is just too high. I just completed my switch to CenturyLink 40/5 VDSL2 today, for $45/mo, and an additional $10 off my DirecTV bill.

Anyways $65/mo for Blast and cable is pretty good - I would stick with that until you absolutely need to change, and as long as the service is stable.

 

[Turtle.Man]

The Comcast business class accounts come with a static IP address, which you can't get with a residential account.

 

[sze5003]

They suspended residential caps in my area a few months ago. If they were to reinstate them, I would have no choice but to go back to business class internet again despite being on a contract and living in an apartment where I may need to move later. That's the only drawback, and paying more for cable too since you can't bundle a business account with residential.