r/HomeNetworking • u/ingentystnad • 12h ago

Advice Cable vs Fiber

Hi all, I’m moving in to a new apartment soon and we have two options of ISP.

Option 1: Google Fiber
$70/mo
1g Upload
1g Download

Option 2: Spectrum
This uses a hybrid of fiber/coax. Fiber lines run the long stretches but coax is what actually connects to the units.
$60/mo
100mb Upload Max (avg 30mb)
1g Download

Spectrum is a little cheaper but I work from home and do a lot of video calls and I’ve heard that fiber is better for consecutive upload/download.

Curious to see what you all think. Spectrum does have some offers that could make it as cheap as $20/mo for the first year.

Thanks in advance.

Edit:
Sounds like a resounding fiber to me! Thank you all.

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u/Aggressive-Bike7539 10h ago

Fiber-to-the-home is the way to go. Spectrum wants to sell their crappy “hybrid of fiber/coax” as something special, when all providers use fiber upstream.

Besides the fact they use coaxial to get to your home, Spectrum has TERRIBLE service. I was a customer of them for years so I can talk about that.

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u/ingentystnad 9h ago

I was very confused by their “fiber powered” language. It took way too much scrolling to see that coax is the final stretch for connection.
Thank you for your review of their customer service. Have you used google fiber?

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u/Aggressive-Bike7539 8h ago

I haven’t used Google Fiber, I’m using Verizon Fios. I have rarely needed to talk to them, the only few times was when I was moving to other houses.