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Review by alancats See Profile

  • Location: New York, New York, NY, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month
  • Install: about 1 days
Reliable Connection
Download Speeds Far Below Those Advertised; Lousy Customer Service
As Soon As FIOS ARRIVES, I'm OUTTA HERE
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Like most Manhattan residents, I don't have a lot of options when it comes to my ISP. I've lived with RCN for eight years, strictly out of circumstance. I pay $60 a month for a supposed 10 MB/s download speed; that's what RCN states is the rate contracted for. In reality, the speeds are less than half of that, an average of 4.5 MB/s, occasionally rising to 5 MB/s. When I called RCN customer service to complain about this, I got routed halfway around the world to a Philippine call center with barely intelligible customer service reps. It didn't seem that long ago that RCN had a call center in Pennsylvania. No more, I guess. Anyway, the rep stated that as long as download speeds are "60% of the advertised rate," this is considered "acceptable." Problem is, I don't even get 6 MB/s download speeds.

In my mind, this is a completely dishonest business practice. I understand the download speeds are going to be somewhat less than advertised, but 50% less? RCN is clearly holding back the modem speeds so as to stretch the network without upgrading it. If you visit its website, you'll notice RCN offers a lot of promotions for new customers, with discounted contracts. Current customers, they don't care so much about. If I had any confidence that Time-Warner would be better, I would switch, but I figure they're just as lousy.

My building is currently being wired for FIOS; as soon as this is complete, I will be switching at light speed.

member for 23.5 years, 76 visits, last login: 5.2 years ago
updated 13.5 years ago


CanOpener4
join:2003-06-23
Brooklyn, NY

CanOpener4

Member

What is the throughput?

What is your down/up load speed?
alancats
join:2000-09-20
New York, NY

alancats

Member

Re: What is the throughput?

Download speed varies of course, but generally ranges from 560-1082 kbps. Upload is about 312-544kbps. This is all without a router, which I know would probably speed things up a bit. I haven't bought one yet and probably will soon.

CanOpener4
join:2003-06-23
Brooklyn, NY

CanOpener4

Member

You should find out what your "advertised speed" is. 560-1082kbps dn/312-544kbps up is ok depending on what you paid for. Regardless, you should tweak your settings to receive the maximum performance.

Click this for DrTCP (for tweaking your system) » ··· tcp.html
Click this for tools offered here for your connection »/tools

After you download DrTCP follow the directions to get faster connection speeds. Afterwards, do a speed test from the tools section to see if anything has improved. I'm guessing it will.
alancats
join:2000-09-20
New York, NY

alancats to CanOpener4

Member

to CanOpener4
Thanks for the info; I'll check it out. As far as I know, RCN doesn't really make claims as to the speeds of the service. THey have a comparison chart on their web site that shows 800/1500 upload/download, but of course, that's under ideal, perfect conditions, and I would never take it literally, knowing that so many factors affect your actual speed in the real world. As long as I can listen to streaming radio and download files quickly, I'm happy.
molina0331
join:2003-01-01
Emmaus, PA

molina0331 to CanOpener4

Member

to CanOpener4
All I know is Verizon sucks. They promise something and come up with something else on your bill. Email me at molina0331@rcn.com and let you know what it is about Verizon that bothers me.
As of now, I can get speed of 3000kbps and up 800 upload with RCN cable. and no problems so far If you qualify with RCN check their bundle prices. I'v e been with them since April this year. And before my area qualify for two way modem I had their telephone service for 5 years. Cancelled because did not have the two way cable modem and regreted I did go to Verizon.

CanOpener4
join:2003-06-23
Brooklyn, NY

CanOpener4

Member

Re: What is the throughput?

I would prefer RCN over Verizon too but, RCN is not offered to me at my present address in Brooklyn (11231).
molina0331
join:2003-01-01
Emmaus, PA

molina0331

Member

Re: What is the throughput?

Yes, I know, but check with www.optonline.com and check if you qualify with their cable modem which is 4 times faster than verizon dsl, then. It is more than 3000 kbps download. They offer service in Brooklyn, I know because my uncle got it and it's excellent. Same as mine.

CanOpener4
join:2003-06-23
Brooklyn, NY

CanOpener4

Member

Re: What is the throughput?

My address is currently served by TWC only. I live in Cobble Hill and Cablevision and RCN does not provide service for this area. The only cable provided through TWC is RR, EL, AOL, and NY One... I think. Regardless, they all provide 2000/384 and some have monthly caps, newsgroup caps, bad email, costly for service, etc, etc. I don't want OOL, but I will jump on the RCN offer!

That is why I have Verizon DSL and why I am interested in RCN reviews.
eugine
join:2003-03-07
Milwaukee, WI

eugine

Member

I have RCN cable they rock

rcn cable invternet is awsome 3450 down and 770 up now thats service for there mega modem which states 3mb/800 so thats now bad at all keep it up guys......
stonky
join:2003-08-25
Watertown, MA

stonky

Member

Speed is awesome

I can get sustained downloads at over 4.5Mb - even from servers in London.
Upstream can be shakey sometimes (which is wierd) - can fluctuate between 300 and 800Kbps
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

I had that problem too

sometimes their connection was unavailable and had to use att-wifi across the street or wimax on clearwire.

Their service was slow for few months and then later it improved. But they really lag behind other cable operators (Comcast, Time Warner, etc). They have been bought by a new new capital investment firm which will probably sell it to someone. We'll see in future to whom.
alancats
join:2000-09-20
New York, NY

alancats

Member

Re: I had that problem too

Yeah, Wikipedia reports RCN is in the process of being acquired by a Boston-based private equity firm. The problem is that private equity firms generally have zero interest in running a business for the long-term; after acquisition, they'll make a few token management changes and maybe dump some assets or restructure some debt and then sell the company as having been somehow "reorganized," and improved (for a tidy profit, of course), but the customer will still be stuck with the same sub-par service.

My parents have FIOS Internet -- it's far superior to Time-Warner, their previous ISP. There is no doubt in my mind that FIOS is the best Internet service out there. Verizon spent $23 billion building their fiber network and running it to the home. No other company had the deep pockets to make this investment (or the balls to take the risk). The cable companies are too cheap to make substantial investments in their network infrastructure, so the customer gets the shaft with superficial, cosmetic "upgrades."
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: I had that problem too

The cable companies are too cheap to make substantial investments in their network infrastructure, so the customer gets the shaft with superficial, cosmetic "upgrades."
that's vey true for time warner cable. but other providers like Comcast, Cablevision, Cox do upgrade to fast Docsis 3.0 in many areas

DanD7
Premium Member
join:2009-07-17
Needham, MA

DanD7 to alancats

Premium Member

to alancats
quote:
Verizon spent $23 billion building their fiber network and running it to the home.

Believe it or not, RCN actually pioneered this, back in the late'90s. But, the costs were way, way more substantial then than now to run the fiber, etc. So RCN never moved forward with the plans of having fiber run directly to the house.

However, in many neighborhoods (mine included), there is actually RCN fiber running through neighborhoods -- just not directly to the homes.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

1 edit

chgo_man99

Member

Re: I had that problem too

said by DanD7:

quote:
Verizon spent $23 billion building their fiber network and running it to the home.

Believe it or not, RCN actually pioneered this, back in the late'90s.

All cable providers use HFC (Hybrid Fiber Copper) in most areas, otherwise they would never be able to offer VOD and cable modem services would still use the telephone line (dial-up) or DSL for upstream data.