Charter Internet

Charter internet service is certainly something to consider if you are looking for a high speed connection to the world wide web. The company competes mainly with telcos like AT&T, Verizon, and Centurylink for your dollar, meaning there is competition in most Charter service areas.

But it can be difficult at times to really understand the speeds and offers from the company, compared with what other providers offer. Lets consider a few of the details.

Charter is one of the larger cable television companies in America today, serving 6.8 million customers across 40 different states. While you probably already know if Charter internet service is available in your area, if your not sure you can visit their website and plug in your zip code. Then you will find out quickly as to whether they offer internet service in your community.

Lets look at a few of the basics on this particular Charter service.

Service is delivered by the same coaxial cable line that carries your Charter cable TV service, if that is something you already have. So no dedicated phone line is needed. Charter internet offers you 10 e-mail addresses with the service, so everyone in the family will be able to have their own account. Free web mail is also included, so you can check in from any computer around the world if need be.

Charter also provides a few security features with the service. Security Suite software is included which provides anti-virus protection, spam filters, and network protection from viruses. Charter also provides each high speed internet customer with 20MB of webspace so you can share pictures, or build your own website.

Wifi options are also standard, so you can connect with mobile devices like your iPhone or tablet without fuss!

What about Speed?

Of course the whole reason you probably want high speed internet is so you can jump from page to page and download files at lightning fast rates. So what kind of speeds can you expect? Currently, Charter internet offers three different levels, so lets review exactly what you will get.

High Speed Internet- This is the entry level of service, and promises speeds up to 5 Mbps. While speeds may vary a little from time to time based on the network, this is usually sufficient for most folks. Currently, Charter offers this at around $25 a month for the first six months.

Charter High Speed Internet Plus-This mid-level service offers speeds up to 10 Mbps. If you have multiple users in the home or download a lot of music, this is the right choice. Pricing on this runs about $40 per month for the introductory period.

Charter High Speed Max- This top-level service offers download speeds up to 20 Mbps. Priced at around $55 a month for the first six months, you’re looking as some serious speed here, good for downloading movies or even video conferencing.

With Charter broadband internet, you also have the capability to set up wireless home networking. Connect up to five computers in your home through the wireless gateway provided by the cable company. The nice thing about this device is that you don’t have to buy it, and professional installation is provided by Charter wireless internet technicians.

In general, the speeds available through cable exceed those available through your local phone company - that is if they are offering traditional DSL service. You will want to get the exact specifications, especially if you have AT&T U-verse or Verizon FiOS available in your area, as both of these services have boosted their internet speeds recently.

FiOS now offers speeds exceeding 100 Mbps and U-verse tops 75 Mbps in some areas. The only laggard when comparing speeds is probably going to be CenturyLink.

Another final consideration is the availability of a Charter triple play bundle. You might want to check to see how much it costs for cable TV, voice service, and Charter internet as a bundled package. Often you can get a great promotional rate for the first year of service.

In addition, you will have all of your services with one provider, eliminating the need to have Dish Network or DirecTV service.