Can I Cancel My Overpriced Internet Service?

[joer1212]

My internet bill has gradually ballooned from $39.95 to almost $100/month over the past few years. This is due to my internet service provider (Optimum) having a monopoly in my area in Brooklyn. Being a dedicated mustacian, I very much resent this, so I'm looking for a way out.

Would it be possible for me to hook up to my parents' WiFi and cancel my wired internet service?

Here's the situation: I live on the 2nd floor apartment of my parents' 2-family house. They are also Optimum customers and have a 'double play' subscription of WiFi internet and cable, which they pay over $170/month for. My mother frequently uses the WiFi to browse the internet on her tablet. I get my internet on a desktop.
A friend told me that all I have to do to use my parents' WiFi is to purchase a router and connect a long Ethernet cable from my router to their WiFi box downstairs. I can drill a hole through their ceiling to run the wire up into my apartment.

My question is, would it be this simple to set up, or do I have to perform other steps (passwords, configuring my desktop, etc.)?

Also, if my mother happens to be browsing the internet on her tablet while I'm doing the same thing on my desktop using her WiFi, will it slow down our service?

Thanks

[PDXTabs]

Also, if my mother happens to be browsing the internet on her tablet while I'm doing the same thing on my desktop using her WiFi, will it slow down our service?

Technically yes. Will it be noticeable? Probably not.

Do you want WiFi or just to hook up Ethernet to your desktop? If all you want/need is Ethernet then all you need is a cable.

[Sibley]

Are you going to pay part of your parent's internet costs?

[joer1212]

Are you going to pay part of your parent's internet costs?

Frankly, that's not at all germane to this discussion, but yes.

[joer1212]

Do you want WiFi or just to hook up Ethernet to your desktop? If all you want/need is Ethernet then all you need is a cable.

I didn't even consider this, as my friend said I would need a router. But, if an Ethernet output is available on my parents' modem/box (it looks different from mine), and all I have to do it connect a cable to the back of my desktop, then I'll definitely go with that.
If I do this, will my internet service be disrupted or slowed down whenever they watch tv (cable)?

[PDXTabs]

I didn't even consider this, as my friend said I would need a router. But, if an Ethernet output is available on my parents' modem/box (it looks different from mine), and all I have to do it connect a cable to the back of my desktop, then I'll definitely go with that.

Just a cable will work just fine, assuming that their router has a spare Ethernet jack (most come with four).

Ethernet is how you would connect another router too, but you don't want another router. This is going to get a little technical but a router would add another layer of NAT (Network Address Translation) on top of the NAT that your parents already have, and you don't want that. If you want WiFi you would want a "router" that will also act as "just" a WiFi Access Point. My ASUS AC1750 is willing to do this, I bet that other ASUS models do too. A WiFi AP (access point) is the wireless equivalent of a switch. A switch is also how you would hook up more computers with Ethernet.

If I do this, will my internet service be disrupted or slowed down whenever they watch tv (cable)?

No, they are totally separate.

[joer1212]

Just a cable will work just fine, assuming that their router has a spare Ethernet jack (most come with four).

OK, so no need to enter passwords or anything once I connect an Ethernet cable from their modem or router to the back of my desktop. It's just plug and play. Hopefully, that's the case, as Optimum is notorious for making it difficult to connect multiple devices in one's home; they'd prefer people pay a separate bill.

[ctuser1]

Last time I had the Optimum One box (or whatever else they call it) - it only had a single Ethernet port.

If so - here is a not-too-expensive solution:
https://www.newegg.com/netgear-gs308t-100nas-8-x-rj45/p/0XP-001M-003U1?Description=managed%20switch&cm_re=managed_switch-_-0XP-001M-003U1-_-Product&quicklink=true

(you may be able to snag them for < $20 on deals that come by from time to time).

Now, your connection needs to be:
optimum modem -> (any one of the ports on the switch)
                              switch (any open port) -> parents internet.
                              switch (any open port) -> your internet connection.

i.e. the switch gives you 7 open ports to play with - so your can split the internet connection to 7 other downstream connections.

Fun fact: My home router has 40+ client devices of various types (wired/wireless) connected to it at this point of time, using the single internet connection. You probably need a setup that is far less complicated.

And no - splitting the connections among two client devices won't perceptibly slow it down. Maybe after 50 clients all simultaneously doing stuff.

If you are daunted by technical projects like these - talk to any technically minded friends and they should be happy to do it for you in return for a home-cooked meal and a bottle of beer. I've done it in my younger days.

[bigblock440]

Do you want WiFi or just to hook up Ethernet to your desktop? If all you want/need is Ethernet then all you need is a cable.

I didn't even consider this, as my friend said I would need a router. But, if an Ethernet output is available on my parents' modem/box (it looks different from mine), and all I have to do it connect a cable to the back of my desktop, then I'll definitely go with that.
If I do this, will my internet service be disrupted or slowed down whenever they watch tv (cable)?

You could always just plug it in and see for a day or two before you cancel your service

[dodojojo]

Have you talked to customer service for a lower rate?  But I agree that you should just use your parents' internet.  Why can't you just use their wifi though and skip the cable?  Does the signal reach your unit?

I've already asked once this year for my bill to be lowered to last year's rate of 49.99.  It's now 69.99.  Xfinity declined.  I am going to ask again and if they decline again, I will follow through with cutting my cable.  I'm going to be unemployed soon.   I'm going to ask my neighbor if we can go halfsies on his internet.

[bacchi]

Yes. ^^^

Get a wifi extender/repeater, plug it in upstairs, and see if it works. If it doesn't, return it and start drilling.

[joer1212]

You could always just plug it in and see for a day or two before you cancel your service

That's what I was planning on doing, but for a couple of weeks, not days.

[joer1212]

Yes. ^^^

Get a wifi extender/repeater, plug it in upstairs, and see if it works. If it doesn't, return it and start drilling.

Will look into it. Hopefully, it'll provide a steady WiFi signal, not a hotel WiFi signal.

[joer1212]

Have you talked to customer service for a lower rate?  But I agree that you should just use your parents' internet.  Why can't you just use their wifi though and skip the cable?  Does the signal reach your unit?

I've already asked once this year for my bill to be lowered to last year's rate of 49.99.  It's now 69.99.  Xfinity declined.  I am going to ask again and if they decline again, I will follow through with cutting my cable.  I'm going to be unemployed soon.   I'm going to ask my neighbor if we can go halfsies on his internet.

Yes, I have, and they not only declined to budge, but a year later, my bill shot up another $20.

I guess my parents' signal reaches my unit, since it shows up on my smartphone whenever I switch to WiFi, but I've never been able to actually use it, even when my phone claims it's "connected". If I remember right you have to enter an Optimum password. I think I did this once, but nothing happened, So, it might be locked to additional devices altogether. This is why I'm skeptical that I can use my parents' internet service on my desktop. Seems like a pipe dream to me.

[joer1212]

Last time I had the Optimum One box (or whatever else they call it) - it only had a single Ethernet port.

If so - here is a not-too-expensive solution:
https://www.newegg.com/netgear-gs308t-100nas-8-x-rj45/p/0XP-001M-003U1?Description=managed%20switch&cm_re=managed_switch-_-0XP-001M-003U1-_-Product&quicklink=true

(you may be able to snag them for < $20 on deals that come by from time to time).

Now, your connection needs to be:
optimum modem -> (any one of the ports on the switch)
                              switch (any open port) -> parents internet.
                              switch (any open port) -> your internet connection.

i.e. the switch gives you 7 open ports to play with - so your can split the internet connection to 7 other downstream connections.

Fun fact: My home router has 40+ client devices of various types (wired/wireless) connected to it at this point of time, using the single internet connection. You probably need a setup that is far less complicated.

And no - splitting the connections among two client devices won't perceptibly slow it down. Maybe after 50 clients all simultaneously doing stuff.

If you are daunted by technical projects like these - talk to any technically minded friends and they should be happy to do it for you in return for a home-cooked meal and a bottle of beer. I've done it in my younger days.

Thanks for the link.

Because of Covid, I haven't been in my parents' apartment for months, so I haven't seen what their set up is like. But, from what I remember, they have a large box that may have more than 1 Ethernet output. Let's hope so.

[Sibley]

Are you going to pay part of your parent's internet costs?

Frankly, that's not at all germane to this discussion, but yes.

It absolutely is germane to the conversation. Just because you want to skip the ethical/moral part of the conversation doesn't mean it doesn't apply. If you were planning on freeloading, then that would be a problem. Since you are going to cover part of the cost, then go ahead and figure out the technical aspects to make it work.

Be aware that wifi extenders can be defeated by building materials, hopefully not a factor.

I don't use Optimum. Have Comcast cable, and I bought my own internet box rather than renting one of theirs. A quick google search indicates that this may be an option for your parents. If the Optimum boxes are so restrictive, then removing it from the equation may be helpful. IE, that complicated workaround stuff may not be necessary, or may be easier. I do not know - honestly, what ctuser1 is talking about is going over my head and I'm too lazy to research it to understand. But, if their box is the fundamental problem, try to solve THAT rather than work around it.

[dodojojo]

I guess my parents' signal reaches my unit, since it shows up on my smartphone whenever I switch to WiFi, but I've never been able to actually use it, even when my phone claims it's "connected". If I remember right you have to enter an Optimum password. I think I did this once, but nothing happened, So, it might be locked to additional devices altogether. This is why I'm skeptical that I can use my parents' internet service on my desktop. Seems like a pipe dream to me.

I've never heard of wifi box restricting devices but I'm no tech expert.  Are you sure the password you input was correct?  If the wifi box is the problem, can you replace it with your own wifi box?  I'm with Xfinity, I have to use their internet router but I bought my own wifi device.  Xfinity doesn't control or provide support for it.

[ctuser1]

I guess my parents' signal reaches my unit, since it shows up on my smartphone whenever I switch to WiFi, but I've never been able to actually use it, even when my phone claims it's "connected". If I remember right you have to enter an Optimum password. I think I did this once, but nothing happened, So, it might be locked to additional devices altogether. This is why I'm skeptical that I can use my parents' internet service on my desktop. Seems like a pipe dream to me.

I've never heard of wifi box restricting devices but I'm no tech expert.  Are you sure the password you input was correct?  If the wifi box is the problem, can you replace it with your own wifi box?  I'm with Xfinity, I have to use their internet router but I bought my own wifi device.  Xfinity doesn't control or provide support for it.

There are two potential situations here:

Case 1:
You are trying to connect to the private wifi network that someone from optimum set up for your parents (I'm assuming they are not tech savvy) without the password.
If so - solution is easy. The wifi password (sometimes called "access code") will be written on the router itself. Use that, and you should be able to connect.

Case 2:
Optimum has a concept called "optimumwifi". They basically allow you to use publicly available wifi access points with your optimum username/password. It may be that the parent's router is advertising itself as a "optimumwifi" host, and that is what you may have been trying to access.

If I remember correctly, there are ways to tighten up your router to remove it from hosting an "optimumwifi" access point. AND obviously you should be able to connect to the private access point and not the public "optimumwifi" one.


How do I make all these guesses? Optimum and Frontier are the two internet providers in my area. I currently have Frontier, but I have also had optimum in the past.

Here is my topically relevant badassity thread I posted in the MMM forum itself:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/reduced-my-cable-internet-tv-bill-from-$165month-to-$51month/

[joer1212]

It absolutely is germane to the conversation. Just because you want to skip the ethical/moral part of the conversation doesn't mean it doesn't apply. If you were planning on freeloading, then that would be a problem.

No, it isn't. Who pays for the internet bills is entirely between me and my parents, and none of your business. Thank you.

[joer1212]

I've never heard of wifi box restricting devices but I'm no tech expert.  Are you sure the password you input was correct?  If the wifi box is the problem, can you replace it with your own wifi box?  I'm with Xfinity, I have to use their internet router but I bought my own wifi device.  Xfinity doesn't control or provide support for it.

There are two potential situations here:

Case 1:
You are trying to connect to the private wifi network that someone from optimum set up for your parents (I'm assuming they are not tech savvy) without the password.
If so - solution is easy. The wifi password (sometimes called "access code") will be written on the router itself. Use that, and you should be able to connect.

Case 2:
Optimum has a concept called "optimumwifi". They basically allow you to use publicly available wifi access points with your optimum username/password. It may be that the parent's router is advertising itself as a "optimumwifi" host, and that is what you may have been trying to access.

If I remember correctly, there are ways to tighten up your router to remove it from hosting an "optimumwifi" access point. AND obviously you should be able to connect to the private access point and not the public "optimumwifi" one.


How do I make all these guesses? Optimum and Frontier are the two internet providers in my area. I currently have Frontier, but I have also had optimum in the past.

Here is my topically relevant badassity thread I posted in the MMM forum itself:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/reduced-my-cable-internet-tv-bill-from-$165month-to-$51month/
[/quote]
I'm going to try to connect my desktop with an Ethernet cable first, and see what happens.

Just to reiterate: The Ethernet cable goes from my parents' router or modem directly into the back of my desktop tower. Nothing additional needed, right?

[ctuser1]

Just to reiterate: The Ethernet cable goes from my parents' router or modem directly into the back of my desktop tower. Nothing additional needed, right?

Yes. That should work.

[projekt]

If you are on shared power, you can connect via powerline networking and you won't need to make a hole.

https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/powerline/tl-pa4010/

It's not as cheap as an ethernet cable but maybe more attractive. You can also fish cable through existing passages if they exist, either by taping cable to other cable and pulling it through or using a fish tape.  (Aesthetics matter to me.)

[joer1212]

If you are on shared power, you can connect via powerline networking and you won't need to make a hole.

https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/powerline/tl-pa4010/

It's not as cheap as an ethernet cable but maybe more attractive. You can also fish cable through existing passages if they exist, either by taping cable to other cable and pulling it through or using a fish tape.  (Aesthetics matter to me.)

We're not on shared power. We each pay our own separate electric bill.