How to choose an ISP when you move

Moving is complicated, and comparing internet plans can be complicated too. Combine the two and it can be even more complicated.

But if you want internet and don’t want to rely solely on your phone’s data plan in your new home, it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a professional couple working from home and spending all day on Zoom calls while raising three teenagers who enjoy YouTube and Spotify or a thrifty singleton who spends little to no time streaming or browsing online in favor of reading books and raising chickens, you probably need internet at home — at least for the chicken camera.

You probably have a rough idea of ​​what kind of internet plan you'll need in your new home based on what you had at your old place and how you felt about it. The first step is to see what internet service providers (ISPs) are available in your new area and what plans they offer.

Unfortunately, depending on where you're moving, you may not have many options, and you'll need to know what they are before you sign a contract. Websites like High speed internet.com, Allconnect.com, InMyArea.comand Whistle It allows you to find providers by zip code, although you may want to try more than one as each gives slightly different results and is not always up to date.

Just because ISPs supposedly serve your zip code doesn't mean they… all from it: they may serve all the homes in an area, some, or just one. Check with each ISP you're interested in (either on their website or through direct contact) to make sure the company can connect to your new home's address, not just the neighborhood. Even in relatively built-up areas, you can find tech-policy/2022/06/couple-bought-home-in-seattle-then-learned-comcast-internet-would-cost-27000/”>Homes where cable or fiber terminates just a couple hundred feet away. If you live in a large “luxury” apartment building, condominium, homeowners association, or similar, you may only have to contract with one or two Internet service providers. Check with your property manager or board of directors.

Keep in mind that the more people and internet-connected devices in your home, the more bandwidth you'll need, as it needs to be shared. Most people should opt for fiber or cable if they're available, especially if you stream a lot, work from home all or part of the time, play online games, make regular video calls, or have streaming cameras. Wi-Fi devices will be further limited by their radios, and anything on a mesh network will hit more slowdowns the further away it is from the main node. Broadband Now and Consumer Reports Both offer calculators to help you estimate your bandwidth needs.

Your options will generally fall between the following types of Internet service, in approximate order of speed and preference:

Fiber: Fiber is the best speed by far, if you can get it. In neighborhoods where fiber is available, it's not uncommon to find gigabit (1,000 Mbps) plans for $100 a month or less. And unlike cable Internet, it's usually symmetrical, with upload speeds nearly as fast as download speeds (cable's upload speeds are often limited to a fraction of their capabilities). But it's not as common as cable, it's more complicated to set up service, and it's not compatible with equipment like cable modems, if you already have one and were hoping to save some money.

Cable Internet: Cable is widely available, has low latency, and can usually be bundled with other services (such as phone, cable, streaming packages, and security or smart home options). In areas where cable ISPs have to compete with fiber, they tend to offer competitive gigabit-plus plans, at least for the first few years.

Fixed wireless connection: Since fixed wireless uses 4G and 5G cellular networks, it's good for areas that don't have fiber or cable infrastructure, and it's typically much faster than satellite or DSL. But inclement weather and line-of-sight obstructions can hamper connectivity, data can be limited, and signal quality depends on cellular reception. It can be as fast as 1 Gbps or as low as 25 Mbps.

Satelite: Satellites are good for rural and off-grid areas. While they are slower and more expensive than cable, fiber or fixed wireless networks, they are more resilient to natural disasters since they don't rely on ground-based infrastructure, which can be damaged or lose power.

DSL: DSL is widely available and affordable; if you have landline service, you can probably get it. It's usually the slowest option: 50Mbps if you're lucky, and even slower the further you get from the service provider's premises.

Speed: This is an obvious question. The advertised number represents download speed. The second number, representing upload speed, has become more important in the era of cloud storage, always-on cloud cameras, and creating video content for social media.

Data Limits: Not all plans are unlimited. Some plans may be “unlimited” in name only. Compare the applicable data limits to your intended usage and understand the consequences of exceeding them. (Will your service be limited? Will you be subject to additional charges? If so, how much?)

Equipment prices: Does the ISP allow you to purchase your own equipment instead of using their own (e.g. modem, routers, wireless mesh signal extenders)? If so, will they waive the monthly rental fee for equipment they would otherwise rent to you? What is the cost of that when you compare the initial capital expense of buying versus renting?

It can also be helpful to compare reviews of ISP equipment with other manufacturers' to see if it's worth purchasing your own. Sometimes ISP equipment is functionally competitive, and it's now common for companies to include whole-home Wi-Fi rather than a single access point.

Contracts and introductory prices: The best deal you can get is a low price with no contract. But that's not always possible. Some Internet plans offer introductory prices that expire after a certain number of months. Others require you to sign a contract for a year or two to get an attractive price. Always ask how long the price is guaranteed, how much the price will increase after that period, and how long (if at all) you'll be contractually obligated to stick with it to avoid a penalty. (Also, find out what that penalty is.)

Installation fees: In the ISP world, there's not much you can do yourself; you'll almost certainly have to call a technician to install the system for you. If installation isn't free, you can sometimes convince the sales rep to waive part or all of the cost. Just ask. (This is how I always get my installation fees waived.)

Things have gotten a little easier since the Federal Communications Commission mandated that fixed and mobile ISPs post user-friendly broadband advertisements.nutritional labels.” Labels describe many of the items discussed in this article, including information about pricing, data limits, and speeds, as well as a lot of other important information such as taxes, early termination fees, links to privacy policies, customer service information, and more.

To better understand the packages you are considering, look for the nutritional label on an ISP's website or at any of its retail outlets, i.e. any of its points of sale.

The real experts on your local internet service providers are current and former customers. Look for online reviews on sites like High speed internet.com either Trusted PilotLook on forums and social media sites like Reddit for common complaints. If possible, talk directly to people in the neighborhood about their own internet service provider and their experiences.

And my favorite trick: Join popular community facebook groups for people in the neighborhood and just ask around. (Some of these groups require actual residency and will verify your identity, but many others won’t care if you haven’t moved into the area yet.) This works especially well in the suburbs and residential areas; Gen Xers love to talk about what the best and worst companies are to do business with in the area, including internet service providers.

Yes, you can often get an internet plan without having to talk to a human being, but unless you have enough money to swim in, Uncle Scrooge-style, I don't recommend it. No offense to introverts, but deals are made with empathy, and empathy happens in conversation. If you want the best deal, you'll have to dial in and talk.

Once you and the sales rep have identified the package you want and the price, your two goals are (1) to convince the rep to offer you a better deal and (2) to uncover the “fine print” and any details you don’t like. For the former, use your charm and your best negotiating tactics (mentioning any other ISPs you’re considering never hurts, for example). For the latter, quiz the rep on all the “must-haves” mentioned above.

Repeat the process with any other ISPs you're considering (be sure to get the sales rep's name, their direct line/extension, and a reference number each time). And don't forget your current ISP if you haven't ruled them out — if they offer service in your area, they may be willing to sweeten your deal with them in exchange for you continuing to do business with them, especially if there are promotions you qualify for (which an ISP's phone rep can find more easily than you can on your own).

When all is said and done, you'll be ready to choose the offer that best suits your needs. Enjoy the Internet!

PS: If you're going to change, don't forget to break ties with your current ISP (and return any equipment you have to them).