Bill Morand of Charter dropped me a note to say that “the Torch Lake upgrade process is on schedule for [the] end of October. We will be offering upgraded services the start of November.” Well, I thought, that is good news. I’ve seen the trucks out and about. I have waved at The Installer Guys and offered to bring them coffee and promised them a parade when they’re done.
I had two questions (bold) and Bill had answers (italics).
How much is it going to cost?
I don’t think that we’ve completely settled the issue of rates for video services yet. Eventually, they will be the same as in other areas like Traverse City.
As for services that will be new to the area (phone, Internet),the pricing structure will mirror that of the rest of our upgraded areas. For instance, HSD (high speed data) rates will begin at our everyday low rate of $19.99 for 1Meg (Lite) service, and $29.99 for our 12Meg (Express) service – on up to $99.99 for our Ultra60 (60Meg)service.
I’m not a Charter cable TV subscriber. Do I have to do anything special to prepare for a connection between my house and the service?
If you don’t have an existing (functioning) cable-drop (connecting your home to our plant), a standard installation will be required. There is generally a nominal fee that accompanies this drop – to cover material & labor. By “standard” I mean a single drop (above ground or buried) that doesn’t require re-amplification of signal due to excessive length.
In some cases, we may need to actually replace existing drops, due to erosion of quality. These will obviously be addressed on a “per-case” basis.
Now you know everything I know—about that, anyway. No telling what I’ll come up with tomorrow. Meanwhile, You Go, Guys!
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Torch Lake Views 
La Mirada Bob
September 23, 2011
Hoorah! Look out World, Here comes Torch Lake!!
Gerry
September 23, 2011
There you go. Imagine–no more getting a busy signal when you call.
P.j. grath
September 23, 2011
The friend with whom I walked a Lake Michigan beach this evening showed me a message she’d received from another friend. It read (something like), “Thanks in advance for blessings already on the way.” I hope you will photograph and otherwise document the parade for the rest of us. 🙂
Gerry
September 23, 2011
It won’t be up to the standards of Northport’s Dog Parade, of course, but Miss Sadie, the Cowboy and I promise to do our very best. 🙂
Gail McPherson
September 23, 2011
Gerry, don’t offer them too much. They may take you up on it. But I know you will be happy. Maybe you can provide a Band for the parade. I don’t think I could ever go back to dial up.
I hope all the people realize what a gem they have there in Easport and Torch Lake by the name of Gerry Sell.
Gerry
September 24, 2011
A brass band will be none too good for the Installer Guys. I appreciate the compliment, but I assure you that there is a considerable range of opinion here in the Township as for my essential gemitude. Yes indeed.
Dawn
September 24, 2011
This is good news! Seems like it’s taken a long time, you will so enjoy it once it arrives!
Gerry
September 24, 2011
I will. Everyone will. I will stop whining about it and have no more excuses about slow progress on important projects.
Bruce Laidlaw
September 24, 2011
Yeah! Thanks for staying on top of this. I just did a test of the reception I am getting from COLI via the Northport Tower. 1.16Meg. Even that slow speed wouldn’t be bad if it weren’t for the many daily outages. But Charter won’t be getting my money for television service for quite a while. its lousy television service and its billing practices forced me to switch to satellite television.
Gerry
September 24, 2011
For the record, that’s a pretty good speed for wireless and I would have been THRILLED to have it. I’m sorry you’ve been having outages. Dunno what’s going on with that.
I understand the upgrade program that will bring me broadband will also provide a better signal and more channels for TV subscribers, so people have that to look forward to. In my obsession with internet access I keep forgetting that for many people television service is just as, or even more, important.
Overall, the more real choices we have the better.
Fee
September 24, 2011
I remember how astounded I was at the speed of our first broadband connection, compared to its dial-up predecessor. It was amazing – for the first wee while, then I got used to it, and now if a page takes more than the blink of an eye to load I’m tutting and clicking like a wee mad thing! Familiarity surely breeds contempt.
As for the TV, I’d have a riot on my hands if I suggested cutting back on the channels we have. Between himself and the sports channels, and the girls with the music channels, I suppose we get our money’s worth out of it (although I try not to notice just how much the blinking thing costs each month!).
Gerry
September 24, 2011
One thing that’s nice about keeping a blog is that I can go back and remind myself of what I thought Before Now. I’m hoping that the many reminders of my grousing about sloooow dialup will help to keep me content with the Next New Thing.
I like television, but until someone offers me PBS, CBC and the Red Wings in one tidy package I’d just as soon listen to the radio. (I, um, have been known to go to disreputable places for bad food and good beer during hockey season. I haven’t found anyplace, though, that will let me tune the TV to the CBC. And whenever I visit Rob the Firefighter and the Lady Alicia I watch self-improvement shows about re-doing the house, the wardrobe and the personality. So far to no effect.)
Pat
September 24, 2011
I have to laugh everytime they have a commercial that states “You can now get 2.0 for broadband and it’s 50% FASTER than 1.0!” 50% faster than 10 SECONDS is 5 seconds, right?? Come on people, remember “snail mail”?? And computers BEFORE the internet?? Dial-up was wonderful, it got me ON the net! Sometimes it took 15 minutes, but I was on. And today I got to see and talk to my son in Afganistan on my computer.
Gerry, you so will love WHATEVER you get!! 🙂
Gerry
September 24, 2011
Heck, I remember having to set up a protocol in advance in order to communicate via modem to the other personal computer-obsessed eccentrics in my circle of friends. All that said, I know I can walk to get places, too, but it would take me an awfully long time to get up to Charlevoix, so I’m glad the car’s running.
I am very, very glad that you got to talk to your son in Afghanistan today. I hope you get to talk to him in person real soon–while you give him an enormous hug.
uphilldowndale
September 24, 2011
Woooohoooooo Go Gerry.
I’ve written two thank you letters today, best paper and envelope and I’ve stuck stamps on them. The ranting moans about poor service I did by email
Gerry
September 24, 2011
How wonderful that some of the people in your life can inspire Real Mail thank you letters, best paper and envelope–stamped! The Eastport Post Office is still an important community center hereabouts. Of course, that’s mainly because we like to run into each other over there and stand around yattety-yatting, and we like to say hello to Katherine or Rick or whoever else might be working. It’s all good.
Scott Thomas Photography
September 27, 2011
You can see the light at the end of the tunnel now, Gerry! BTW, I have never paid for installation of any kind. I am willing to bet that will be waved for new services. Soon you’ll be streaming video and doing your own Hangouts on Google+ from the Writing Studio and Bait Shop.
Gerry
September 27, 2011
I am cautiously optimistic. It will be nice to sit at the big table with the grownups instead of out in the kitchen. Not that we haven’t been having fun–and excellent treats–out in the kitchen . . .
As for no-charge installation–I don’t think that’s going to happen. We are considerably more thinly-populated Around Here than you are Back There. (See that? I am clearly a Midwesterner. People come from Back East and move Out West–never the other way around.)