how-to block ads
|
Review by jay_rm 
UPDATED: 109 days ago
member for 7.6 years, 1806 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Hampshire,Kane,IL
 $65 per month
 about 3 days
 "It just flat works - 24/7 !"
 "None as of Aug 2009"
 "It's all good - all the time !"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
|
AUGUST 2009 Update - Simply outstanding for a small ISP. No problems, no outages that have been an issue. FVI has modified it's downlink policy and removed the "burst" mode (so many MB at max speed, followed by throttling to your subscribed speed). Now, it's full bore DL for longer then I've ever transferred data (>200MB at a time for software upgrades).. I'm still running the ORIGINAL Canopy module first installed many years ago 
FVI gets max stars from this user !
*******************************************
October 2008 update - Wow ! The service has been simply outstanding for the last 12 months. I can hardly remember any glitches or service issues that lasted more then a few minutes (and they've never been totally down except for a few summertime electrical outages that were area-wide). They evidently have the subscriber load under control. FOUR STARS + and I'm still cruising along on my ORIGINAL Motorola Canopy module that's over 5 years old !! I'm now using a Buffalo router running Tomato firmware, which has been 100% transparent and very effective for QoS control of the VoIP lines - *M*U*C*H* better then previous firmware loads.
*************************
August 2007 update - All has been well with FVI since late Spring 2007. They seem to have their connectivity issues worked out and apart from a few weather related outages, they've been running along fine at their advertised speed. I had to go with a DDNS supplier since one of the summers hardware retrofit's bounced me off the IP I had since day one (2.5 years !!) and I found out that they never really set me up for a static IP even though they SAID THEY DID. Oh well - DDNS solved the problem because they now want $$/mo for static IP service. Guess margins are going down
***********
Jan 2007 update - well, it's been a tough couple of months for good 'ol FVI. Seems their success is finally caused them the trouble I was concerned about way back when I first signed up. They've had frequent slowdowns and outages caused by lack of bandwidth. Although they've been upfront about the issue and supposedly have a plan to grow their access to backbone fiber, they've taken a beating from some of the less informed customers. They currently are renting bandwidth from one of the competition, which has helped, but it has not solved the underlying problem.
I still recommend FVI (not a whole lot of other broadband choices here anyway) but you need to understand what you're getting and HOW you're getting it.
*************
24 month update - service availability has been outstanding since the last Motorola Canopy module firmware update in Oct 2005 - I suspect I'm close to telco FiveNine quality (99.999% up-time). Speed test still 3000 x 512 after accounting for router overhead. The FVI equipment is basically transparent.
Still highly recommended and now the CPE is free !
*************
OK, after 18 months, I think I'm seeing the results of a little over-subscribing. But, in general, service is still a B+. Since I'm 3 wireless hops away from fiber, I've got multiple chances of dropping service due to equipment or power failures. I'm running un-NAT'ed with a Sveasoft-powered, QoS enabled Linksys router and see typical speeds of 2800/475. I figure I'm down about 10% in speed due to my VoIP QoS parameters.
*************
I'm running a multi-user LAN behind a router, with 2 lines of VoIP. I'm getting advertised speeds on a 3500/512 5.7 GHz wireless link. After 12+ months of service, I'm generally pleased with the performance.
Customer service has always been fair to good.
Bottom line is that FVI wireless is the ONLY earth-based broadband service available at my location and they've down a much better then average job.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Fox Valley Internet |
|
|
Fox Valley Internet
·