 Review by FutureX2001 
member for 11.3 years, 359 visits, last login: 62 days ago
updated 110 days ago
 Perris,Riverside,CA
 $50 per month about 14 days "Great Speed, Low Latency" "Phone Support / Billing" "Great technology...bad customer support"
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Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Recently my family relocated to another city and moved into a newer home/neighborhood. Having long been a AT&T (SBC) DSL user, I was actually disappointed to discover they did not cover our new neighborhood. I used to pay $24 for 2.2mbps down / 512k up on AT&T. I was notified Verizon covers this area but no DSL was available- just FIOS and Time Warner Cable.
(2008) I opted for the FIOS package of 10Mbps down / 2Mbps up. Ordered online and received a phone call to confirm an installation date, the wait time was approximately 2 weeks until the installer could come. At no point however was I notified Coaxial cable would be used from the ONT installed in the garage. I would have preferred a CAT5 cable installation so I could retain use of my WRT54GL easily. The installer did not seem to know much about network configurations. He did however do a great job at installing the ONT in the garage. He was not from Verizon directly, rather some form of contractor hired by Verizon to do the install. When the install did not function correctly, he had a program (automated script) which ran off of a USB drive to automate installation.
He told me my router's default password and forgot to mention my Wireless WEP key- not a problem as I figured this out myself and setup all QoS, Security, Networking Preferences...
The router supplied is a Westell UltraLine Series3 Model 9100EM. It is fairly easy to configure, has an unknown USB port in the back (I assume for firmware or service purposes). Coaxial and RJ45 WAN port. 4-port switch with built in Wireless-G. Overall seems like a decent little device- though I still miss my WRT54GL running custom (Tomato) firmware... maybe in the future I'll run some CAT5 cable myself, and call Verizon to do service changes on their end.
Speed Test results show 10236 down and 1860 up.
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Update:
During the '09 year I upgraded to the 25/15 package (actual speeds seem to be closer to 25/25) for $64.95. I have also replaced the coaxial connection with a CAT5 connection. I had to call Verizon to tell them I had CAT5 in place and needed them to turn it "on" remotely to switch from Coaxial to CAT5. After the initial IP address lease expired all was well on the CAT5. I have also stopped using the Westell9100EM and have gone back to my WRT54GL with custom firmware. Should I opt for FiOS TV in the future I will connect the 9100EM downstream from the WRT54GL for program guide purposes
Overall a great service.
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Update:
During 2010 I upgraded my router to a Netgear WNDR3700 (Wireless N). It replaced my WRT54GL and I still have the Westell downstream from it).
During 2011 I upgraded the package to 35/35, actual speeds are closer to 43/33. I also bundled services and now have their UltimateHD TV service. This cut the "internet" portion to $50.00. The service (technical) has been great, their billing has been a huge problem when switching packages... beware of that. Their phone support is terrible.
I heard they started giving out "N" routers to new subscribers this year, I think my Netgear is superior.
Great quality service, bad customer support for any issues.
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