Review by obeythelaw - Location: Bayonne, Hudson, NJ, USA
- Cost: $134 per month
- Install: about 5 days
Relatively fast and pretty reliable Not much. Speed is good and relatively reliable. Optimum offered a great triple play deal
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OOL is simply one of the best ISP's around. Many people complain out the news server or port blocking and capping. I guess I'm an average user but I've never experienced any of that. All I experience is pretty fast speed!
Update 10/15/2004: Well, I've been with OOL for close to three years. I've never really had any problems with OOL. Speed is fast and I rarely see any downtime. Notwithstanding this, I decided to give Verizon DSL a try for 30 days. All I have to say is that after 2 days I am definitely sticking with OOL. First of all, I could "feel" slower on DSL. I guess I am spoiled by OOL's speeds but its just too slow. Second, my line was provisioned at 1.5/364. I confirmed this with two people. However, I noticed that as soon as I got DSL my download speed was half that. After two days of speaking with tech support, who I might add are courteous but somewhat clueless, they could not figure out why I wasn't getting the full speed I was provisioned at. Their final suggestion was that either 1) I should move my modem away from any magnetic interference or 2) that in the evenings, the network servers can slow down. My second gripe is that I tried networking my DSL connection. That was relatively easy. However, because I wasn't getting full speed, and even if I were, if my entire family was wirelessly connecting to the Internet at the same time, my speed took a major hit. Not so with OOL. Because OOL offers more bandwidth more people can be networked without feeling bandwidth slowdown. All, in all, I am not happy with Verizon DSL. Don't get me wrong. It's good for those that can't get anything else. But when OOL is an option, OOL beats DSL hands down.
Update 3-8-05--Well, this may be the straw that breaks the camel's back. OOL has begun throttling its connections for its members. Plan on downloading that 100 MB piece of software? The connection is now throttled instead of the normal speed you used to get. It's been throttled so much that it now matches Verizon's highest speed at around 3MB down. Also, many people, including myself, have begun experiencing annoying DNS issues. With all of this stuff, I'm afraid I may have to reconsider my shortlived Verizon experience and give Verizon a call.
Update 8-16-05: After being with OOL for more than 3 years, I think I've seen anything and everything that can be good and bad about OOL. I have to say that the good has outweighed any bad during the time I have had OOL. OOL is still reliable and rarely goes out. Email is now more stable than it probably has ever been. I no longer achieve the "max" speeds of 9000/1000 but its still faster than what I would get with DSL. The only thing that would make me switch now is if FIOS became available to me. Overall, I would still say that OOL is a good broadband provider with good speeds and reliability and low pings overall. Still a bit pricey but all of the cable providers are. Like I said, if FIOS became available, maybe then would I consider a switch. For now, I'm sticking with OOL.
5-16-06: I've been with OOL now for almost 5 years. Its been above average throughout the time. However, I can now feel my node completely saturated. So much so that in the evenings my speeds almost come to a crawl. But surfing the internet at 3:00 a.m. seems to be okay. When FIOS becomes available I will likely consider switching. Also, OOL has yet to provide BOOST or even the 15/2 speeds in my area yet. It seems like so many other areas have had it for a while.
6-3-06: Well, finally got upgraded to the 15/2 speeds. Its nice, but I notice a drop at peak times. Overall, pretty good. Haven't had mail problems in over a year. All in all, Optimum Online has proven that it can offer reliable, albeit, sometimes oversaturated speeds, for an okay price. If FIOS comes along I think I would try it out, but for now, OOL beats the competition.
12-10-16: I've had the 15/2 upgrade for some time. It comes close to about 11/1.5. OOL has now become consistent in terms of speed and overall reliability. Can't complain.
12-5-2014: I've now had the triple play for more than a month. TV quality is great. For me it is just as good as I had with Fios. The phone service is fine. I've got the 50/25 plan right now and am getting speeds as advertised. Best of all, I've got a 2 year rate guarantee except for the 50/25 as that expires after 1 year. The only thing that I'm not a huge fan of is the cloud based DVR. The DVR box is a bit slow when fast forwarding or rewinding and I suspect it is because of the cloud based functionality and no real hard drive spinning in the box. The user interface also is a bit ugly. However, in the end, Optimum offered an attractive triple play price that saves me about $100.00 per month compared to what I had with Fios.
member for 20.9 years, 8225 visits, last login: 8 days ago
updated 9.2 years ago
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optimum onlineOptimum online has the best service in the internet service industry | |
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| deerejon Premium Member join:2001-01-30 Pompton Lakes, NJ |
deerejon
Premium Member
2004-May-11 4:15 pm
Re: optimum onlinesaid by joandnas: Optimum online has the best service in the internet service industry
Just switched from Verizon and so far so good... Had alot of install problems because of their "contractors" also the usenet news server really stinks bad.... they dont keep messages for it seems like 2 hours... | |
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| badtz join:2002-10-22 Spring Valley, NY |
to joandnas
best speeds maybe, no way is it the best service. Its far from the worst mind you, but I miss my rhythms DSL support guys whenever I have to call OOL. About anything. be it billing or support. | |
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infoperson
Anon
2004-Jul-16 3:33 am
My review of OOL-Dynamic Users BewareHere is my review of OOL. let me test before I go on. When someone from the Hicksville Marketing department (according to the caller ID in which they phoned which is also on the Federal do not call list might I add). I always wanted to be able to use a connection faster than a T1 and be able to take the modem with me to other locals to show how good the connection was. Its common knowledge browsers and sites you visit collect and personal data on its subscribers which is nothing new. I gather Proxy's are not welcomed by any ISP. I have had several telephone conversations with tech support at associates or family resisents in regards to seveal issues in regards to the service. I will have to agree, the service in terms of speed is remarkable. It makes you never want to go back to dial up or even DSL despite the ads Mr. James Earl Jones might state but I also offer the following criticism of OOL. How many times do they need to call to see how you like the service and how many mistakes on a bill can be made in the various prootional offers. You gave to be superman to be able to read the fine print and not all the adds are clear and conise. When I happened to be at my current location, I took it upon myself to order the service and it is not even in my name but was able to do it anyhow. I have been told at least twenty different times the depending how you like to cofigure your fire wall, all IO address begin with 24........ but this has not been the case. I know how to configure a fire wall but I like to do it my way and the best results I got were from trouble shooting and by and large no major help from tech support and all them were very nice. Does anyone think it strange that cablevision would call a person's residence OVER FIFTY TIMES IN LESS THAN A MONTH TO "SEE HOW YOU LIKE THE SEVICE"? NOT TO MENTION THE MARKETING PROMISE WAS NOT HONORED. WHEN THE SELF INSTALL PACKAGE WAS MAILED OUT VIA THE TELE SOLICITATION, IT WAS CLEARLY STATED THE ENTIRE SIX MONTH TRIAL PERIOD WOULD AMOUNT TO TWENTY NINE DOLLARS AND NINTY FIVE CENTS! THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND THREE BILLING ERRORS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE MARCH WHICH TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO SRAIGHTEN OUT. PARDON ME FOR YELLING. Well today a customer service rep in Manhattan told me to take the tape of the initial offer down to any local office to let the manager listen and did as he did not care to listen to it himself. Don't get me wrong, as opposed to AOL and a lot of other dial up ISP's this is not a bad deal but I have gotten up to a year and a half of dial up with new equipment so its not like it was totally out of the ball park. The E MAIL SUCKS TO PUT IT PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!! ITS BEST TO STICK WITH A WEB BASED E MAIL AS OPPOSSED TO THIS CRAPPY E MAIL SYSTEM. YES IT DOES ALLOW YOU TO SURF VERY FAST BUT CABLEVISION'S BEHAVIOR AND CUSTOMER SERVICE I FIND TO BE LACKING. Now I can truely understand why so many people have gone to direct tv and other dish devices. The public needs to go to these Franchice Renewal Hearings when they are up in your municipality and let your voice be heard if you are not happy!!! I have been knocked off the internet more times than Mike Tyson has KO'ed his oppenents back in his good years and I know the signal srenth is not the issue. I know cablevision is the inovators or at least the first to start the reasonable priced broadband service but in order for them to honor a marketing solicitation, an actual adio tape has to be listened to! I find this to be quite silly. Well pardon my rantin and rave but at least I was smart enough to video how many times someone attemped to interfere with the signal and I'm sorry I registered the Mac ID!!!! I would rather go back to dail up because I don't download that much with them anyhow. Good luck and it always helps to know some of these things as it does to real the fine print if you have superman vision! Dynamic Users Beware of OOL | |
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one more thing
Anon
2004-Jul-16 3:53 am
Re: My review of OOL-Dynamic Users BewarePrivacy Alert....LMAO.... Read the fine print and check your bill. Depending on what fire wall you use, check on the expert rules and try to do it manually (configuring your fire wall). Don't let Yampa and all there programs attach to other programs let crackers breach your operating system. A smart chimp could probably do the self install but there is a lot more to internet security that just a hard or soft fire wall as I'm sure a lot of folks know. check out of few sites that check out your IP addy to see how often it changes and see how much of your personal info is being shared with the world at large. Best, Dynamic frustrated user fed up with ool and its custemer service!!! If they can't provide you with some sort of security in terms of changing the IP addy's pretty often thats not too good. Good luch and safe surfing folks. | |
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info person
Anon
2004-Jul-16 11:08 am
Glad you like itProblems with OOL set aside, I will have to admit less the custer service dept, the tech folks will try to help with a smile. No one is worse than AOL in terms of privacy and even if a promo was their marketing mistake the price is good for what you pay for. Dial up is just too slow period and Cablevision has set the standard in Broadband in the US. I just with they would set the standard in customer service. You can spend days trying to clear issues that should take moments and but it depends how much time you spend on the internet I suppose. DSL sucks and I"m not too fond of the OOL e mail system as should be more easy. It would also be nice for clear and understandable advertising like it is now which it was not always in regards to service not only on Broadband but in other areas. It helps to let folks know what you are getting without a surpise but if the service works, the Fourty Five Bucks is worth it without a doubt but next time marketing would call telling fibs I will politly give em the click and go on about my business | |
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hihihihihihihihihihihhpretty satisfied eh? well in thatcase stick with it indefinitely. you don't have toswitch if you don't want even if their is better alternative... happy. joy. not that you would want to I just thought I contribute something for youto read. lol. | |
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