Review by Raydr 
UPDATED: 108 days ago
member for 8.9 years, 1263 visits, last login: 30 days ago
 Carrollton,Dallas,TX
 $73 per month (12 month contract)
 about 5 days
 "Great speeds at all times of the day, very reliable."
 "A little trouble if you're a FiOS only subscriber."
 "Great service, decent price."
| Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Originally I ordered a 10/2 package. I attempted to order online but got errors, so I called up Verizon to place the order. Apparently the process for people who want internet ONLY is a little bit cumbersome. The rep did try to upsell phone and TV service, but I explained that I worked in the industry and therefore got both my cell phone service and my TV service for free. There's no arguing with that point, so the rep didn't try to keep selling.
My apartment complex is prewired for FiOS service, so most installations should be very quick and simple.
A few days after ordering, the tech shows up and attempts to activate my service, and finds that my ONT (the box in my closet) does not have a signal. He goes to the box outside and finds that a few of the fiber connections are disconnected and unlabeled. I watch with amusement as he disconnects one by one and traces the line to my apartment, probably disconnecting my neighbors momentarily.
After resolving that, the tech installs an Westell 9100EM router/cable modem/etc, configuring me with MOCA. This configuration effectively turns the ONT in to a CMTS and the Westell device in to a cable modem, so that my router can get internet over my existing cable lines.
This is the preferred configuration for most installations that will have FiOS TV, as the router and set top boxes also communicate with each other to deliver PPV/VOD and other related services.
The tech spent some time on the phone getting my services provisioned (he had a little difficulty as well, since I was a FiOS only subscriber). Eventually I got 10/2 speeds and the technician left.
I was not crazy about the Westell and needed more configuration options, so a few days later I called up Verizon and had them switch the ONT to deliver internet to the Ethernet port, and connected that directly to my own router. (Westell is no longer used.)
My roommate wanted faster speeds, so a few weeks later he asked me to upgrade to 20/20. I was informed that it would take up to 24 hours for this to happen.
I tried the next day and found that my speeds were 10/20 - I was downloading still at 10Mbps but my upload increased to 20Mbps. I thought it might be my computer or my router, so I did some troubleshooting and wasn't able to get anything faster than 10 down. At this time I had a lot of travel for work so I didn't think about it again.
In mid June I bought a newer router and remembered that I never resolved the 10/20 issue. After contacting Verizon tech support, I had this conversation with a tech:
»[ fiber tech] A little bit of tech info / What if not getting fu
After this, I found my speed at 20/20 and I'm a happy camper.
Update 7/23:
I called Verizon to discuss the possibility of being credited back a little bit for the several months that I was not getting my purchased speed. The representative on the phone refused to help, stating that because I did not call in until June that they would not credit me for previous time. I am appealing to a higher level to see if I can get some sort of credit.
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