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Review by SDunused See Profile

  • Location: East Elmhurst, Queens, NY, USA
  • Cost: $180 per month (24 month contract)
  • Install: about 12 days
Great pings when there's no peering/congestion issues (rarely nowadays)
Slow DL speed from 6pm-12am EST (constant congestion/peering issues)
Decent service when it's working but has turned horrible lately (avoid for now)
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)

Order/install took about a week and a half, bumpy sign up with savings and deals the representative promised to be giving me, claimed I was voiding install fee's and a bunch of other things which I ultimately had to call in to clarify a bunch of times till they credited the money back. (charged me an extra 150$ just to hook up a cat5e cable from ONT to the router which were 2 feet away from each other, tech had done it on his own without informing me of any additional charges but was billed later that month for it)

75/75 internet, phone and preferred HD services. (all routers supplied are horrible for wifi, use your own)

Only issue is with the actual internet service itself, upon signing up with verizon fios they claimed I wouldn't have to deal with congestion like issues anymore because they're a dedicated fiber infrastructure. My 75/75 turns to 5/75 after 6pm, so that was a lie.

For months now 1000's of people on dsl reports and the verizon forums along with myself are reporting the same issue of their download speed dropping significantly around 6pm-12am, along with having huge ping spikes and numerous hops with packet loss. I've opened over 17 tickets that have been labelled "resolved" and 4 techs show up and swap my gear, they keep closing tickets when the issue still persists every night like clockwork.

Verizon has done nothing but give people the runaround and refuses to acknowledge tracert's, speed tests and every little piece of info pointing to their poorly maintained CO's not properly configured to support the mass amount of people connecting to them, they're also inevitably bad at providing good peering and purposely put people through horrible/congested nodes.

Again not everyone is having these issues but a large amount are and who knows how many average users don't even see what's going on. All I see on twitter are 100's and thousands of people complaining about the services after 6pm as opposed to before that time frame, could they be having the same issue? my guess is probably.

Overall I would advise staying away from FiOS for the meantime, unless you wanna try your luck and hope you're one of the lucky ones that won't experience these issues.

(3/11/2015) UPDATE: Verizon is having huge peak hour slowdowns through routing that's going through Virginia and Washington.

(3/16/2015) UPDATE: Peering/throttling issues all around going through alter.net (Verizon), cogent and level3, incompetent network infrastructure and backbones falling apart during peak hours and when handing off to any type of 3rd party services. Verizon lies and says it only guarantee's their service through hops 1-4, from a network stand point that means they don't care about anything past their local CO's which is in fact 99.99% of the rest of the internet. have fun using 500/500 to get that rate ONLY to Verizon services and that is also hit or miss nowadays.



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member for 9.1 years, 113 visits, last login: 8.9 years ago
updated 8.9 years ago

tyrant_
Wannabe Billionaire
join:2013-07-07

tyrant_

Member

Wait? Verizon is selling off alot of it's customers to frontier..

Where are you? This could explain it. By the way when did this start happening? Because I heard Frontier (and frontier fiOS) performance was terrible.
SDunused
join:2015-01-13
belgium

1 recommendation

SDunused

Member

Re: Wait? Verizon is selling off alot of it's customers to frontier..

said by tyrant_:

Where are you? This could explain it. By the way when did this start happening? Because I heard Frontier (and frontier fiOS) performance was terrible.

New York, which isn't part of the areas VZ sold to Frontier.

VashTS
@bhn.net

VashTS

Anon

Speed?

I always wounder what it is people are doing that they say is so slow. Its something you can actually see your download speed on? I've not had 1 issue at any time of day. Im sure you talked to tech support and they had you do the speed test and that came back fine right? Your eithernet so you might even have your own router to they would have had to bypass the router and go right to 1 PC and test to the server. If they sent techs out, they have computers they test with. Im sure that test must have been fine for them not to call it into tier 2. But what ever your doing between 6-12 is slow? Any other time of day its fine? So during the high use time you expect what ever your doing to be as fast as non peek times, even though its outside of any ISPs control? Please post screen shots of your traceroutes and lets see where that speed issue is.
JohnDoe2323
join:2014-03-26
Staten Island, NY

1 recommendation

JohnDoe2323

Member

I agree

Can confirm, FiOS service does have random slow-downs during evening hours. Doesn't happen as often as it did before but still exists. Most noticeable when watching streaming video content from providers like Twitch.tv. Twitch's tech support staff also confirmed the fact that they received a lot of complaints about "buffering" on stream specifically from FiOS users in an NYC area.

And yes, the recent mass "outage" in whole NorthEast (NYC, Boston, etc.) region 4 days ago was also extremely annoying, with sites like Twitter, Reddit and (surprise, surprise!) whole Twitch.tv being completely inaccessible for several hours (while other sites continued to work well and file download speeds not being affected by that "outage").
lijacobs
join:2010-07-30
Woodmere, NY

lijacobs

Member

all lines are in fact copper on the poles ???

"a little side note on Verizon claiming its fully fiber optic, that is also a huge lie 9/10 times. specifically speaking from New York all lines are in fact copper on the poles so even though you're getting a fiber optic cable to the ONT, that actual fiber is converting to copper lines on the pole thus not legitimate fiber. only actual service to offer fiber from their CO to the home is Google Fiber, so don't get fooled."

Mr. SimplyDimi, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!
SDunused
join:2015-01-13
belgium

1 recommendation

SDunused

Member

Re: all lines are in fact copper on the poles ???

said by lijacobs:

"a little side note on Verizon claiming its fully fiber optic, that is also a huge lie 9/10 times. specifically speaking from New York all lines are in fact copper on the poles so even though you're getting a fiber optic cable to the ONT, that actual fiber is converting to copper lines on the pole thus not legitimate fiber. only actual service to offer fiber from their CO to the home is Google Fiber, so don't get fooled."

Mr. SimplyDimi, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!

the fiber optic cable runs right into the pole and stops there, the lines running to the CO are based off copper that's been laying there for 10's of years. I have TWC 300/100 in my area and i get literally 0ms jitter at peak times vs my FiOS "fiber" which is getting packet loss and fluctuating jitter up to 60-70ms spikes through multiple hand off's to alter.net, cogent and level3. if it's such good "fiber" why is cable getting better results and performance overall, i'm just going by what i physically see at the pole in the neighborhood, even if im wrong about this info it doesn't justify verizon's horrible peering, throttling and congestion issues through all types of services.

VZKid
@verizon.net

VZKid

Anon

Re: all lines are in fact copper on the poles ???

LOL FiOS is 100% fiber! They only share the same poles. Do some research before you post outrageous false facts.
SDunused
join:2015-01-13
belgium

1 recommendation

SDunused

Member

Re: all lines are in fact copper on the poles ???

100% congested fiber with peering/routing issues along with an extra pinch of throttling

OpTiC
Premium Member
join:2014-03-08
West Covina, CA

OpTiC to SDunused

Premium Member

to SDunused
said by SDunused:

said by lijacobs:

"a little side note on Verizon claiming its fully fiber optic, that is also a huge lie 9/10 times. specifically speaking from New York all lines are in fact copper on the poles so even though you're getting a fiber optic cable to the ONT, that actual fiber is converting to copper lines on the pole thus not legitimate fiber. only actual service to offer fiber from their CO to the home is Google Fiber, so don't get fooled."

Mr. SimplyDimi, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!

the fiber optic cable runs right into the pole and stops there, the lines running to the CO are based off copper that's been laying there for 10's of years. I have TWC 300/100 in my area and i get literally 0ms jitter at peak times vs my FiOS "fiber" which is getting packet loss and fluctuating jitter up to 60-70ms spikes through multiple hand off's to alter.net, cogent and level3. if it's such good "fiber" why is cable getting better results and performance overall, i'm just going by what i physically see at the pole in the neighborhood, even if im wrong about this info it doesn't justify verizon's horrible peering, throttling and congestion issues through all types of services.

300/100??????? TWC doesn't fooer 300/100 because of the Docsis upload standard
OpTiC

OpTiC to SDunused

Premium Member

to SDunused
said by SDunused:

said by lijacobs:

"a little side note on Verizon claiming its fully fiber optic, that is also a huge lie 9/10 times. specifically speaking from New York all lines are in fact copper on the poles so even though you're getting a fiber optic cable to the ONT, that actual fiber is converting to copper lines on the pole thus not legitimate fiber. only actual service to offer fiber from their CO to the home is Google Fiber, so don't get fooled."

Mr. SimplyDimi, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!

the fiber optic cable runs right into the pole and stops there, the lines running to the CO are based off copper that's been laying there for 10's of years. I have TWC 300/100 in my area and i get literally 0ms jitter at peak times vs my FiOS "fiber" which is getting packet loss and fluctuating jitter up to 60-70ms spikes through multiple hand off's to alter.net, cogent and level3. if it's such good "fiber" why is cable getting better results and performance overall, i'm just going by what i physically see at the pole in the neighborhood, even if im wrong about this info it doesn't justify verizon's horrible peering, throttling and congestion issues through all types of services.

If Fios used copper then why the heck would Verizon need a ont. If Verion don't have fiber they wouldn't be selling Fios only dsl.

Spam13
@verizon.net

Spam13 to lijacobs

Anon

to lijacobs
They share poles with Copper and Fiber. FiOS is fiber from the C.O. to the ONT.

ex fios tech
@verizon.net

ex fios tech to lijacobs

Anon

to lijacobs
the only copper you have is from the ont to your phone or tv and router.. the copper still hangs outside but isnt used once you go to fios . know your facts

ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16

ITALIAN926

Member

Re: all lines are in fact copper on the poles ???

I cant believe he thinks FiOS uses copper between CO and ONT. LMFAO.
SDunused
join:2015-01-13
belgium

2 edits

SDunused

Member

Re: all lines are in fact copper on the poles ???

said by ITALIAN926:

I cant believe he thinks FiOS uses copper between CO and ONT. LMFAO.

oh well, took a verizon level 2 tech's info about the copper. goes to show you can't trust anything they say. regardless 700-1900ms latency is inexcusable on copper and or fiber.
sorry for the "misinformation" but still doesn't justify the horrid peering/throttling issues.

whatever the case, this surely doesn't feel like a "fiber optic" experience.

verizon doesn't wanna play nice with ANY CDN's like level3, akamai, amazon and so on, they're playing the money grab game they were playing with netflix last year with everyone before the FCC rules kick in (if they even do)
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT

1 recommendation

tired_runner

Premium Member

Same experience as yours

.... and I ditched them as well.

I ordered 25/25 Internet with Preferred HD and two CableCARD's.

I also went through the same slowdowns you describe. And the culprit also was alter.net.

Oh well... Cablevision does just fine.
SDunused
join:2015-01-13
belgium

1 recommendation

SDunused

Member

Re: Same experience as yours

said by tired_runner:

.... and I ditched them as well.

I ordered 25/25 Internet with Preferred HD and two CableCARD's.

I also went through the same slowdowns you describe. And the culprit also was alter.net.

Oh well... Cablevision does just fine.

haha alter.net is actually owned by Verizon Communications, they try to fool the average consumers by saying they don't control those peering points, which in fact they do.
nice try verizon, nice try.
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT

1 recommendation

tired_runner

Premium Member

Re: Same experience as yours

You compelled me to fact-check your statement, and you're right.

Go figure.. Not surprised at all..
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

30 days

I hardly noticed any slowdowns here.. maybe a few "down" website routing issues, but that's about it..

If you are in your first 30 days, you CAN cancel with no significant obligation (other than to pay the first pro-trated bill) to Verizon even if you signed a 2 year contract. if they get customers cancelling on them they WILL go and do something about it.

over the last year my svc went out a couple times.. the last time they put it back on I lost the "fluff" upstream they offered customers (70 megabit on the 50/50 plan). I requested a bill credit when it was out most of a weekend. Does ayone still have their upstream FLUFF? I'm still deciding whether to switch back to CV again when my deal is up...
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT

tired_runner

Premium Member

Re: 30 days

My 25/25 connection always fluffed to about 27 on average.
patt2k
join:2009-01-16

patt2k to tmc8080

Member

to tmc8080
said by tmc8080:

I hardly noticed any slowdowns here.. maybe a few "down" website routing issues, but that's about it..

If you are in your first 30 days, you CAN cancel with no significant obligation (other than to pay the first pro-trated bill) to Verizon even if you signed a 2 year contract. if they get customers cancelling on them they WILL go and do something about it.

over the last year my svc went out a couple times.. the last time they put it back on I lost the "fluff" upstream they offered customers (70 megabit on the 50/50 plan). I requested a bill credit when it was out most of a weekend. Does ayone still have their upstream FLUFF? I'm still deciding whether to switch back to CV again when my deal is up...

Me too I have 75/75 (82/92) and had only one slowdown and it was actiontec issue,factory reset solved it.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

various routing slowdowns

Some parts of the internet seem to slow down.. yeah, but one can't be sure whether it's Verizon that's doing the slowing down. We know they play the peering throttle game to strong arm companies into paying money.. so if that's still happening, they could face BIG fines for doing that if they get caught. It would be better to stick to the fantasy that they can gouge wireless customers instead.