utilities and other services for Lavon

[kcraft]

Could someone tell me who provides electricity for Lavon?

What about TV and high-speed internet? Are there any cable providers or is satellite the only option?

Thanks.

[Curt]

Electricity is through TXU, which is now Oncor.  There may be some people in the Farmers Coop., but if you are in a subdivision probably Oncor.

There used to be a company called Cebridge that provided cable, but they were the worst.  I just checked their website and they no longer provide service to Lavon, so yes the two choices are DishNetwork or DirectTV.  I have Dish, and my neighbor just got DirectTV so I will be comparing soon.  Seems a rip to pay $50 for channels and another $50 to rent all their crap.

Internet is the same.  There are a few local "wireless internet" providers.  I have LavonWeb (Lavonweb.net)and they are pretty good.  And again you will need an antenna...welcome to the sticks!!!

[kcraft]

Thanks for the info.

What about DSL? Doesn't Verizon provide the land lines? Do they not offer DSL?

I do a lot of work with computers, so high-speed internet is a must for me. I also play a decent amount of multiplayer video games. I may have to give those up. 

[The Admin]

There isn't any DSL or Cable out here, so your only choice is Wireless Internet. There are two providers that I'm aware of, click on the link below for links to both providers:

http://www.lavontexas.org/index.php?option=com_sobi2&catid=9&Itemid=42

[kcraft]

I think those download/upload speeds should be sufficient. Thanks a lot for your help.

[The Admin]

I've used both and they are good. Maybe somewhere in the future we'll get FIOS, but don't get your hopes up. I've talked to someone with Verizon in the past and they mentioned something to the extent that they needed to run the Fibre across the lake which stumped me just a bit as to where it was going to come from.

[Curt]

BTW...with LavonWeb there is a download limit per month.  I dont remember what it is, but it might be affected by online gaming.  I havent had time to do any gaming online since we moved here, so I couldnt say how the latency is.

[LavonVoice]

Use First Texas Broadband (used to be Digital Path) out of Rockwall.  Their prices are much better than LavonWeb.  It is another wireless provider.

www.digitalpathtexas.net

[The Admin]

Cool, I'll get this added to the list of providers, thanks!

[kcraft]

Dish network told me they will have DSL in Lavon in about 3-4 weeks. It is 10 Mbps up/down plus a phone line for about $35/mo.

Sounds like a good deal to me. I hope they follow through.

[Curt]

Wow, if that is true that is a good deal.  I wonder if you need another dish though?  Or can you get it through the one you already have?  Im sure they will find some way of slapping you with a $150 "installation fee" for plugging in your router for you.

[The Admin]

Last time I spoke to the phone company, they stated that they did not have the infrastructure in place to support DSL. Regardless as to who provides the DSL service, it would think it still flows through Verizon. According to DSL Reports, the Nevado CO is not capable of DSL. I'm not getting my hopes up. However, maybe they have something else up their sleeve. Definitely keep us posted on what you find out as I'd love to have DSL or FIOS. I would honestly think though that if Verizon is going to spend any money on broadband, they would implement FIOS instead as that seems to be their standard now. Regardless, I'm keep my fingers crossed.

Dish network told me they will have DSL in Lavon in about 3-4 weeks. It is 10 Mbps up/down plus a phone line for about $35/mo.

Sounds like a good deal to me. I hope they follow through.

[Curt]

As I suspected it is a Satellite based system, so you wouldn't need to use the Verison infrastructure.  According to their website the cheapest package starts at $49 a month...and of course the $199 "equipment lease fee".

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/our_products/internet_access/high_speed/satellite_internet/index.shtml

[kcraft]

I think that is a different service. There is a link below it on the menu that says "Ask us about DSL". The guy on the phone told me the download/upload speed was 10 Mbps and it is ~$35/mo and comes with a phone line. This satellite-based service is 1.5 Mbps max, which isn't even close, and probably doesn't come with a phone line. There is no way he could have gotten those confused unless he flat out lied to me...which wouldn't really surprise me.

Either situation doesn't really bother me because my wife's company pays for our internet service.   If I can get it without having to install an antenna then that is what I will get. The $200 equipment lease fee is bull, though. I think it is ridiculous that you have to pay so much money up front and still have to pay a monthly lease fee. That is about 90% of the reason I went with DISH for TV...because I would have shelled out $300-$400 for DirecTV, plus a monthly lease fee. Stupid. DISH just charges me a monthly lease fee of $5...no up front cost.

[The Admin]

I think DirecTV also has an Internet package that they offer however it is still standard DSL as well, they just offer a bundled and reduced price. Satellite definitely is not 10 Mbps. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that some day they'll have FIOS out here since they have it in Wylie already. However, our phone infrastructure does not come out of Wylie, rather it comes out of either Caddo Mills or Nevada I believe which is a bit dated from what I've heard.