 Review by Jerm 
UPDATED: 1.7 years ago
member for 8.1 years, 1757 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 Richland,Benton,WA
 $69 per month
 about 25 days
 "10 Mbit - can't beat that! 1150K/sec downloads = sweetah!"
 "$59/month + 10 no CATV fee (boo)"
 "If you want the fastest Internet in Tri-Cities, this is it!"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
UPDATE 8/15/06: 10MBIT INTERNET HAS ARRIVED! w00t!
The past year I've been using Verizon 3mbit DSL, but I just purchased a new house and decided to shop around for options. I had Verizon on order again, but then I read in the Charter forums that new 5 & 10mbit speeds were being offered. One quick phone call later and my installation date was set for 2 weeks out... and that turned into three weeks before they actually could get everything up and running. Meanwhile in the Charter forum people in my area (WA state) had been reporting routing problems and other various connectivity problems. I almost considered cancelling my order, glad I didn't! So far I've had service for about a week, speeds are consistently around 8.5mbit down/0.95mbit up on speed tests. Total speed reports at around 1150K/sec download! Now thats pretty sweet considering 3mbit was the fastest speed around previously!
Moral of the story: 10mbit ROCKS! Hopefully everything stays in working order 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE 5/18/05:
Charter re-instated $10 no CATV charge, which up'ed the bill to around $54 with tax. Package was 3mbit/256. Pings were unstable and bandwidth was spotty - assumed to be a local node problem as others were not seeing the same problems (but my signal levels were fine).
Switched to 3mbit/768 Verizon DSL ($29.95/month) and couldn't be happier! The upload is amazing for file transfers, and the pings are a solid 12ms to Seattle now that interleaving was removed from the line! Performance is what I remember Charter USED to be like! Access to Verizon newsgroups is superb, now I don't know how I could live without it! I used VZ DSL back in the Frame Relay days and eventually it went to crap, but now that everything is ATM bandwidth is at the full cap 24/7, I guess its cable's turn to suck it up for a while.
***Note I have no loyalties when it comes to ISPs/Cable vs DSL/etc. I just require that my broadband be reasonably priced, provide consistent LOW latency, and full bandwidth at all times. Is that too much to ask? Over the years for some of my providers, I guess it has!
----------
UPDATE 1/6/04: Price changed to $40/month (no CATV charge removed!), free upgrade to 2mbit, 256kbps upload reportedly comming soon! Latency and stability are still 100%! Speed tests out at 2030/116 last I checked, and that is typical!
----------
Package: 768/128 ($35.95 + $10 for no CATV, $19 more to upgrade to 1.5/128)
Right now Charter has the best internet service in the Tri-Cities. I've been through a few different DSL providers and switched to Cable when it first became available (about 8 months ago, was rocky at first with @home). Despite reviews in other states, Charter Pipeline here in Washington is great. Backbone bandwidth is provided by AT&T and is ample. Pings to Seattle are under 15ms, with all my DSL providers it was an unstable 45ms+!
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Charter Pipeline |
|
Charter Pipeline
(118)
(69)
(65)