I've been using Comcast cable at my house for a while, primarily because it's the only "reliable" network provider that supports my area (I live sort of in the boonies). The performance is ok downstream, but of course completely pathetic upstream.

A while back ago, we upgraded to the "professional" service, which although expensive, did give us a bit better bandwith both up- and downstream. This was a simple switch of a button somewhere in their system, no upgrades or changes on my side. Recently they introduced what they call the "Home Network", which cost less than the "professional" service, but the same bandwith.

Now, all I really care for is the bandwith, but "Home Network" in this case apparently implies that you want their firewall and wireless router. For me, this would create some headaches and lost hardware/software investments, since I've already built my house network around a Linux firewall and two existing wireless hubs (supporting 802.11g). And to make things worse, I'd have to pay a $199 "service and installation" fee, plus new hardware cost (or rental fees). All this, to get something I already have. Nice thinking, Comcast ...

I spent well over 3 hours total on the phone trying to convince them I really only wanted the higher bandwith service, and that I was willing to pay the extra monthly charge without taking any of their router/hub hardware and installation. But they completely refused, and being a stubborn ass myself, I then simply downgraded my service again to "basic" internet services.

So, instead of taking my $10 / month with no extra work on their side, they forced me to downgrade the service, and save me some more money (maybe I can get that Traxxas Revo now). I guess I could have sucked it up and take the loss on my cable modem, the $199 installation fee, and rent (or buy) the new wireless router (that I don't need), and get the extra bandwith. But it just seemed so wrong on so many levels, I just couldn't take it.

So, for now, until SBC or someone else can provide me with reasonable bandwith to my house, I'm stuck running at the lowest possible bandwith from Comcast... Kill me billy.