I have Google Fiber internet + TV service - got a question?

[Crashdamage]

I'll try to answer any questions as best I can.

 

[codesplice]

What sort of speeds are you seeing in real-world usage? Have you run into any surprises in the fine-print or terms of service? How was the install? Have you had any need for customer support, and if so how was it?

I haven't looked too closely into it (you know, since I don't live in Magical Google Internet Land), but what sort of TV programming do you get? Any premium channels (HBO, etc)?

 

[Crashdamage]

What sort of speeds are you seeing in real-world usage? Have you run into any surprises in the fine-print or terms of service? How was the install? Have you had any need for customer support, and if so how was it?

I haven't looked too closely into it (you know, since I don't live in Magical Google Internet Land), but what sort of TV programming do you get? Any premium channels (HBO, etc)?

1. Very close to a gigabit in speed tests - 930-970Mbps both up and down is typical. Google is telling the truth about speed.

2. No. There has been some concern about a clause regarding running servers, but actually Google's position is reasonable and nothing to worry about.

3. The install went very well. On time, professional and neatly done.

4. Called a couple of times for minor issues about TV service. We are, after all, basically beta testers for a new system, so I expected some bugs, but so far service has been pretty trouble-free. Anyway, they easily resolved one problem and they're working on a fix for the other. I would say customer support so far is excellent.

5. We get more channels and better sound and picture than we did with Time-Warner Cable. We have HBO, and Showtime, Cinemax, etc. are all available.

We get blistering fast internet, better TV service, DVR that can record 8 shows at once, 2Tb storage box, 1Tb on Google Drive, a Nexus 7 tablet and more and still pay considerably less than TWC charged for 50Mbps internet, fewer channels, no DVR, no storage, no tablet. In short, GF destroys TWC. I'm one happy camper.

 

[codesplice]

Thanks for the info, Crashdamage. I'm insanely jealous. I'm so sick of dealing with Comcast. Maybe Huntsville will win the Google Fiber lottery before too much longer.

 

[saptech]

I remember reading about this and would be tested in KC area. I wonder if it will be coming to St. Louis area? I would love to be a tester, I'm sick of the Charter cable company.

 

[Crashdamage]

Google will not say when or where they plan to expand beyond Kansas City, Austin Tx and Provo Ut. No doubt they will but your guess is good as mine. I just feel very lucky.

The first residence or business in the country to get GF was a neighborhood bar & grill called Fric & Frac's a couple of miles from my house. They got it about a month before anyplace else. I don't know how they managed that, but that they're only 2 blocks from the GF store must have helped, and maybe the owner knew someone at GF too. We got GF at the house in mid October.

 

[dibblebill]

I want my city to get it! How much/month is it?

 

[Crashdamage]

I want my city to get it! How much/month is it?

Gigabit internet is $70/mo. No data cap.

5Mbps internet service for 7 years is a $300 one-time charge or $25/mo for 1 year, then no charge for the next 6. Terrific deal for low-income families.

TV is $50/mo for over 150 HD channels + DVR + 2Tb storage box + 1Tb Google Drive + network box (router w/WiFi) + Nexus 7 tablet (yours to keep). You must have Gigabit internet to get TV service.

Overall much cheaper than TWC.

 

[dibblebill]

Gigabit internet is $70/mo. No data cap.

5Mbps internet service for 7 years is a $300 one-time charge or $25/mo for 1 year, then no charge for the next 6. Terrific deal for low-income families.

TV is $50/mo for over 150 HD channels + DVR + 2Tb storage box + 1Tb Google Drive + network box (router w/WiFi) + Nexus 7 tablet (yours to keep). You must have Gigabit internet to get TV service.

Overall much cheaper than TWC.

No kidding. We get a better deal on the low end, though. $34.95 for 15mbps.I want their gigabit service

 

[Crashdamage]

No kidding. We get a better deal on the low end, though. $34.95 for 15mbps.I want their gigabit service

Even TWC has a much better deal than that. 15Mbps for $14.99/mo.

7 years of 5Mbps GF internet $300.
7 years of TWC 15Mbps internet $1260.
7 years of your 15Mbps internet $2900.
If you are on a really tight budget, which would you get?

 

[dibblebill]

TWC quoted us a monthly price of $39.95 in this area for 15mbps.

I didn't run the full math on it- the Google Fiber is infinitely cheaper :-/ I hadn't run the full mathematics yet.

I also misread the Google Fiber deal. I thought it was always $25/month, I see I misread it now.

 

[Crashdamage]

TWC quoted us a monthly price of $39.95 in this area for 15mbps.

I think TWC may be running some special offers in our area to better compete with GF. TWC is bleeding customers by the thousands.

 

[dibblebill]

Aren't ALL of the US ISP's?

 

[mplevy]

Even TWC has a much better deal than that. 15Mbps for $14.99/mo.

7 years of 5Mbps GF internet $300.
7 years of TWC 15Mbps internet $1260.
7 years of your 15Mbps internet $2900.
If you are on a really tight budget, which would you get?

The $14.99 deal on TWC's page is for 2 Mbps. 15 Mbps starts at $34.99. That may be location-based though.

 

[Crashdamage]

7 years of 5Mbps internet service for $300 is just an unbelievable deal for low-income families, nonprofit and charitable organizations, schools or anyone who wants cheap internet service and isn't concerned with blazing speed. What Google is actually saying is, just cover our installation cost and we'll give you 7 years of internet service with very usable speed for free!

Google deserves a big thanks for offering this option. Oddly, it has gotten very little attention. Few people even know it's available.

 

[credemann]

I just saw this last night Google adding 34 new cities

I live in Charlotte so I hope this arrives soon. For those who have this service are the speeds just for your service area? In other words if fiber is only in Kansas City would the internet speed slow down if you were streaming a file from a server in a non fiber area?

 

[Crashdamage]

If the server and infrastructure between you and the server can deliver gigabit speeds, then you can get gigabit speed no matter where in the world the server may be located. It is not limited to only the local area with gigabit service.

However...much of the internet still needs to be upgraded to deliver gigabit speed. Many sites still don't have the capacity to take advantage of gigabit technology. For example, speed test sites such as speedtest.net cannot give gigabit results. To test Google Fiber speed you must use a special test site Google has setup.

But...when you find fast sites Google Fiber is pretty friggin awesome!

 

[dibblebill]

I just saw this last night Google adding 34 new cities

I live in Charlotte so I hope this arrives soon. For those who have this service are the speeds just for your service area? In other words if fiber is only in Kansas City would the internet speed slow down if you were streaming a file from a server in a non fiber area?

I live in Raleigh

 

[credemann]

I live in Raleigh

yeah I noticed that! Hopefully this will become a reality this year.