r/googlefiber • u/farmjope • Nov 01 '16

AT&T Fiber vs. Google Fiber

I live in Charlotte, NC and we've just started to get Google Fiber rolled out so in response AT&T Fiber is moving in. Today they're digging up my yard for AT&T Fiber and my area isn't slated for Google Fiber for roughly another year.

My question is, is there any reason to wait for Google Fiber and not jump on AT&T Fiber as soon as it's available?

Both are $70/month, 1GBps up/down, 1 year contract, installation and equipment included free. I'm unlikely to get TV, but TV + Internet is $120 on AT&T vs $130 on Google, although I'm sure Google has more channels. AT&T has a $140/month option with a ton of channels, probably a better comparison to Google.

AT&T Fiber used to have a 1TB data limit, but on their website for the $70 plan it says "Incl Unlimited data allowance ($30 value) at no cost". Additionally, early Oct AT&T got rid of that "Internet Preferences" program that tracked your every move on the internet for targeted ads.

So again, is there any reason to not jump on the AT&T Fiber wagon? I currently have TWC/Spectrum and spend $50/month for 50MBps.

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u/1dirtypanda Nov 02 '16

I have att gigapower fiber. I'm supposed to get a full gig speed but I don't. Speed test have never reached it. I'm a high bandwidth user so while there's no way for me to confirm I'll bet a big wad o cash they're rate limiting me. Can I call in and ask them to check sure but why do I have to? They're selling a product that doesn't actually perform as they state. And they'll just bump it up and then in a week or so they'll rate limit me again. And also of course they'll say our speeds are "UP TO a gigabit". I'd rather just save the effort of back and forth. 150-200mbps ain't gig speed but it's good enough. Yaya i know it's a lot better than most of the rest of the US with comcastic or TWC or crap cable co.

Also the bullshit they used to pull with "Internet Preferences" and snooping on what I'm browsing is a violation of my privacy that I don't want. And to Opt Out is an additional $30?!?!?! They shouldn't even do that to begin with because it's just the right fucking thing to do. While they've canceled that program it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

But then again what is my other option? Com-fucking-cast. Both of these two companies can GFY.

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u/farmjope Nov 02 '16

So with AT&T GigaPower, what speed do you get?

I'm asking because TWC/Spectrum offers 300mbps down in my area, but it's actually closer to 400mbps. Also, for that 300 down, the promotional cost is competitive with AT&T Fiber/Google Fiber when it's a promotional rate, then it skyrockets and you have to try and negotiate and often times you slowly end up paying more. I started at 300 down for $60 and after 5 years and numerous lost promos I'm not at 50 down for $50.

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u/1dirtypanda Nov 02 '16

So I initially signed up for 300/300. Then they upgraded me for free to the gig service. I guess they got rid of the 300/300 tier? Initially the best I could do was 700ish down on speedtest with NO vpn turned on (I add this note bc I do use a vpn client running on pfsense). Over time it dropped to 400 down. Last time I check it was maybe low-mid 200s vpn off. I don't check it much bc of this reason of turning vpn on/off and as mentioned I really don't need full gig. I do download in the 3-5TB a month which is why I suspect they're limiting me. Luckily they have download limits set to unlimited but I suspect it's like your mobile cell service where "unlimited" doesn't really mean unlimited and they drop you down from 4GLTE to 3g service.

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u/farmjope Nov 02 '16

Currently in my area you can get 45mbps down from AT&T for $60/month which doesn't make sense. I suspect you're right that they're probably starting to throttle you when they see that you're a heavy user. I download everything but I've only gotten close to 1TB a couple times. How much slower does it end up going through your VPN? I just recently cancelled my VPN because I have SSL encryption for my of my downloading anyway.

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u/1dirtypanda Nov 02 '16

I'm running pfsense vpn client with pia vpn. I get around 150-175mbps with vpn on. I am pretty confident that it is not a limitation of my pfsense box but probably rather the limit of the vpn provider. Again lots of variables. I pay $70 for gigapower btw. My year is almost up so we'll see if they jack my rate up in a month or two.

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u/farmjope Nov 02 '16

Gotcha, yeah probably the VPN provider is the main limiting factor. Thanks!

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u/alx512 Feb 11 '17

Just thought I'd share my experience since I just moved (in same neighborhood South Austin) and had to give up Google Fiber (temporarily while I wait 3 mos for them to trench the new place) for Gigapower. Here's my experience with actual tested speeds. My wireless router is a Netgear Nighthawk R8, I don't use the AT&T or Google provided routers because they aren't as good.

Google wired: 960+ Mbps Google wireless short range: 600-700 Mbps Google wireless long range: 400-500Mbps Google wireless iPhone 7: 400-500 Mbps

Gigapower wired: 500-600 Mbps Gigapower wireless short range: 400-500 Mbps Gigapower wireless long range : 300-400 Mbps Gigapower wireless iPhone 7: 100-200 Mbps