Review by amgqmp1 
Posted: 1 year ago
member for 1 year, 52 visits, last login: 80 days ago
 West Des Moines,Polk,IA
 $60 per month
 about 7 days
 "Capable of being very fast"
 "Low quality of service due to poorly managed network"
 "If you're using Mediacom, you likely have no other choice. It's better than dial-up...sometimes."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I have the choice of Qwest DSL or Mediacom cable modem service. I went with the cable modem service as my home is not new construction, and will need some rewiring to get DSL service to function at advertised speeds.
I initially ordered Mediacom High Speed Internet service with basic cable. The monthly recurring cost was about $70. As I found myself rarely using the basic cable (the picture quality is pathetic), I dropped the basic cable and now pay $60.95/month. This provides me with the standard 8Mbps/896Kbps service.
The order process was simple and the install date was less than a week from the time of ordering. I dislike that the only option for ordering service is via telephone, but, it wasn't a practical concern.
The installer arrived on-time, however, he was less than professional. He was a contractor and was doing the best he knew, however, he didn't have the tools necessary (e.g. an 8ft. ladder...he only had a 40ft.) to do a basic install. What he lacked in tools, he made up for in determination. He was able to get the job done, even though it required standing on my gas meter outside, getting dirty fingerprints on my soffit, and an extra hour that I'm sure we both could have used better doing something else.
I was provided with an obviously used (the warranty seal was already torn) RCA modem. I later looked at the diagnostics web page for the modem, and it had already been operational for the previous four years. It was replaced recently by a Mediacom Tech. trying to solve a quality of service issue.
Speaking of quality of service issues...for a few months I have suffered from nearly unusable access. Ping times (to any destination) of 300-500ms, and throughput barely able to reach 2Mbps. An on-site tech. made a wiring change to correct a mistake of the original installer, and replaced my antique RCA modem.
After reading about many other Mediacom customers in my state experiencing the same issue, I took the initiative to request that my downstream card utilization be checked. Within 24 hours my quality of service problems disappeared. I'm mystified as to how such a network quality of service issue could go unnoticed, but, I have to believe proactive monitoring is simply not a priority to them.
I've also had a billing issue with Mediacom that was unacceptable. They cross-linked my account number to another customer in a city 150 miles away. When I would login to my online account, I would see all of his contact information. When I paid my bill, they would apply it to his account. To the credit of their customer service, they did resolve the issue in a reasonable amount of time. However, hold times to reach customer service is another problem. The average time I waited on hold was 30 minutes.
The bottom line is that Mediacom is a subpar ISP. Improvements that would benefit a majority of their customers include:
- Ability to order/change service through their web site
- Reduced hold times for reaching customer service and technical service
- Proactively monitored network
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Mediacom |
|
Mediacom
(28)
(39)
(15)