Review by aksilder 
Posted: 1.4 years ago
member for 1.4 years, 12 visits, last login: 1.3 years ago
 Anchorage,Anchorage,AK
 $54 per month (24 month contract)
 "Cheap internet for web browsing and email. A company that knows how to make money"
 "Company changes policies without informing public, usage traffic is shaped, poor tech support,"
 "It's a creation by Craig McCaw. The man knows how to setup things for maxium profit."
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Here's my views from inside the beast called Clearwire, LLC.
I at one time worked for clearwire as a CSR. I looked into the service and even used it myself. At first the company itself was great and the service we offered our customer good. Then I started to notice some thing. clearwire is sales based, make sales at all cost. It's reps commonly sell the service outside of the coverage areas. Though, you may get 4-5 lights, the towers do gauge the distance and kick you off. The are several people out there that should of never been sold this service. Then the policy changes clearwire does at it's whim. I personally sat through 4 move policies, 2 cancellation policies, and a policy which basically told our service folks that they were screwed. The whole time, the customer was basically screwed. clearwire also started shaping it traffic more aggressively, so basically unless you check your email or do minimal web surfing you risk getting shaped. This even affects legal programs such as Napster and Itunes. Though if asked clearwire won't acknowledge any shaping. They'll quote the response of, clearwire monitors it's traffic to insure best performance. All in all it's a money machine. The founders are great at making money. The service at first had possibilities, but after looking over older markets and seeing them past compacity, and still push sales, knowing that the service they were giving was far below any standards. Getting hold of anyone in the company with any knowledge is near impossible, the 888 line is a mix of out sourced notebook techs and a new call center by clearwire in Las Vegas. The service has many issues. Maybe with time, and a company redirection things will get better.
Followup comments:  WarmCoke
join:2007-01-31
Boise, ID | Well......... This sounds more like a rant of a former employee than a current user of the service, and if that is the case, I don't think that this review is fair to the company.
Many of us are having great success with Clearwire. | |
|  | aksilder
join:2007-03-05
 ·Clearwire Wireless
edit:
March 9th, @03:16PM
| Re: Well......... You may be very happy with your service. Can I ask what kind of usage you do? Are you a heavy internet user, a gamer, a downloader, or just one of those guys I mentioned this service would be perfect for, get on, surf a little, check email, and that's about it? Just nosey... | |
| | 
FlyBy
@clearwire-dns.net
| I think this review is legit. Look at what he/she is saying about the company. Being an employee I think they would PROBABLY know first hand how Clearwire runs their stuff. I HATE Clearwire. And Unfortunetly I am stuck in a contract with them for horrible internet service. I have advice for everyone... DO NOT GET CLEARWIRE. Stay with a more reputable company like Cableone etc. although it is more expensive you will be able to actually, yes, surf the internet with out big issues.
I personally know what this individual is talking about with their towers. I have a tower located RIGHT OUTSIDE OF MY WINDOW and I have 3 bars most of the time and I am constantly having to relocate my wireless box to get ANY sort of connection.
DONT GET CLEARWIRE. | |
| 
Surfinusa
Premium
join:2001-02-08
| Thanks Thanks for this very insightful review. I had my eyes on the service but I was skeptical, and asked myself why would a company push a product and say its so much better quality than cable or dsl and then try and get you to sign up for a 2 year contract. The contract stopped me. If the service is that good then why would I disconnect?
I believe what you are saying and you being a former employee or not I think gives us an edge because you had the insides on the company from the inside.
Also I agree with you that they are a smart company when it comes to contracts and how they traffic shape and how they may use the newly bought spectrum. This sounds possible I am still waiting for WIMAX via Clearwire have yet to see it.
Had a cold call at my door from a rep and started telling me how much better his Clearwire service is and that it was cheaper more reliable. I started to disagree with him that I was happy with my current service and he got angry with me. I almost told him to get off my property but thought I better be nice after all cold calls are hard to do. Instead I agreed yes you have a great product I will think about it and told him good bye. Why would I switch when I only pay 14.99 for Cable broadband now? lol he didnt know that though.
Again thanks for the input.
Peace  | |
| | 
SnowyOne
Premium
join:2003-04-05
Kailua, HI
·Clearwire Wireless
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Thanks said by Surfinusa :...then try and get you to sign up for a 2 year contract. The contract stopped me. If the service is that good then why would I disconnect? I'll guess the contract & it's length has more to do with the salesperson's commission than the quality of service.
said by Surfinusa :Why would I switch when I only pay 14.99 for Cable broadband now? Really, even without the contract, why would you pay twice as much to switch from broadband to wireless? | |
| WarmCoke
join:2007-01-31
Boise, ID
·Clearwire Wireless
| Happy.... Very happy Clearwire customer here.....getting great service with consistent speeds all the time. In this review we have a non-customer, potentially disgruntled employee authoring the review and then another non-customer that has never used the service thanking him.................. | |
|
hm1
@rr.com | price I don't see the price being affordable, I can get 3.0 with at&t for $24.95 or charter 3.0 meg for 29.95 | |
|
Too good from MN
@clearwire-dns.net
| Clearwire... BAH Yea... just wanted to say that I am severely disappointed with my families clearwire buy. I have tried looking at ways to optimize our signal but no matter what I do it remains crap. I also like to play counter-strike and games like that and my ping is OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH. It gets really old lagging across the screen. And everyone of my friends who have it have the exact same problem. If you are an elderly woman hoping to look up some knitting patterns and such off the internet maybe clearwire is a good buy for you. But for me the 2-year contract has really been hurting and I am not sure if it is worth getting out of. Good luck with the crappy service clearwire. Once everyones 2 year agreements are up I highly doubt that you will have anyone coming back... specifically me.
-Love Too Good From MN- | |
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JTS
@bellsouth.net | Re: Clearwire... BAH The problem isn't just in MN. Across the internet you can find reviews and BLOGS. Clearwire is becoming a flop. The hype sounded great, but word of mouth is going to be their downfall. | |
| |
Think twice
@ge.com
| Yes, there's all kinds of people writing in. How would you characterize me? We got Clearwire service when it first came to Jacksonville. At the time there were few alternatives to expensive cable. My service started out well. I was happy. I recommended it to friends, but won't do it again. For some it works, for others it doesn't. Many of the same problems with the signal strength, reliability, service, and contracts. My service has gone down hill. I haven't had a good signal for weeks, when I do the speeds are still slow, and the help desk is powerless to help. From reading reviews and first hand experience, Clearwire is a product that isn't developed enough to serve consistently. One common note I've seen - the product is getting worse. If reliability is needed look elsewhere. One last note: from what I've read Clearwire is not making money. Maybe that's a hint at why their product and service seems to be getting worse. | |
| |
IHATECLEARWIRE
| Clearwire is terrible, awful crap SUCKS !!! Can't even talk about it anymore .... so annoyed.... Don't DO IT !!! No really, Don't !!! Tie a piece of string to a cup each end and try that as this may yield better results !!! | |
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abilap
@nike.com
|  Clearwire! toooooooooo bad
For example at the time of sign up they have told me that they will cancel the termination fee if there is a good reason for a move and clearwire is not able to provide the signal at the new place.
Clearwire has confirmed me with an email saying that they will provide one free companion air ticket.
After the sign up, I have called and send emails to the customer care couple of times to provide me the information on how to obtain free companion air ticket. After 6 months of service they haven't provided till now.
I had recently moved to other city where clearwire hasn't started there services. When I called for the cancellation they had applied for termination fee.
And finally coming to the signal not more then 2 bars at any time. Sales person told that we can get 100% full signal with 1 bar also, which is not free.
Finally I would like to Say never ever go for Clearwire.
Especially there Customer care is too bad, never expect a relpy to your email. | |
|
Western Texas
@clearwire-dns.net
| Some One Dropped The Ball Ive used ClearWire now for 3 months and find it lags some what but since all the gamers have started back to school my speeds have gone up! I made an order for their VOIP phone service and received the adapator in two days. Trouble is someone shipped out the phone adapator without putting into my account the model and serial number, guess ata department dropped the ball. I was promised by ClearWire tech support manager that my service would be ready to activiate by sundown. Not so, so, beware of trying to enter the activation codes with error messages that you have to call them. Still waiting on the service to see how the phone works. Good luck peoples!!! | |
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Hawaii
@rr.com
| Clearwire poor customer service I emailed them to put my account on a month to month. I never got a response so I callled they said I was to late that my contract automatically renewed. I emailed them before the date that I was supposed to but they don't want to do nothing about it. I sent customer service another email and to date 4 days later no response. I guess thats how they get their business, I decided to cancel my service which is going to cost me $180.00, but at least I will have no part of this B.S. company I will never have anything good to say about Clearwire.............I will never use them again as long as I live................. | |
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| Forums » comments on review of Clearwire Wireless |
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(15)
I want out, the bar is continually searching. When I call the techs they ask how many bars do you have, my answer is always....3,2,1,2,1,2 its searching again. It's never above 3 bars. See my review posted on 4/9 it explains a lot more.