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Review by mrsbones See Profile

  • Location: Erath, Vermilion, LA, USA
  • Cost: $49 per month (24 month contract)
  • Install: about 1 days
Strong signal, easy install, it's not satellite, LOCAL company, our unlimited bandwidth plan was grandfathered.
Connection occasionally drops, new customers have to choose a tier of service, with a maximum of 10 GB per month.
It's the next best thing to DSL or cable in my area.
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Hurricane Ike forced me to move out of the service area for my beloved KaplanTel DSL. I'm currently living in AT&T land where they won't roll out DSL, and the cable companies don't find it cost-effective to run their lines another 1/2 mile down the road. My internet options are dialup and satellite.

My cellular provider recently upgraded their data network to 3G (HSPA) from EDGE, and they offer an unlimited mobile broadband data plan. For customers with a certain level of voice service, the PACE PC plan is $49 per month plus tax for unlimited data transfer. Otherwise, the unlimited PACE PC plan is $69 per month plus tax. There are no caps or overages with either unlimited plan.

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UPDATE: KTC Pace no longer offers an unlimited mobile broadband data plan. Customers, such as myself, who signed up before the plan change were grandfathered with at our original contract terms. New customers have a choice of a 5 GB/mo. plan at $49 + tax or a 10 GB/mo. plan at $79 + tax. Overages with either plan are charged at $10/GB.

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The only issue I had when ordering is convincing them that I could do the install and setup myself, because I only have a desktop computer. Once they understood that I would be able to self-install, the sign-up process was fast and easy. They gave me 15 days to try the service before the contract would be enforced, which was nice, because I didn't know how strong the signal would be in my location. Obviously, it's working.

I got an Option iCon 452 USB modem free with the 2-year contract. Setup was a no-brainer, as all the necessary software is preloaded into the modem. I was up and running within 10 minutes.

Speed tests have shown download speeds as high as 3.84 mbps and upload speeds as high as 400 kbps. During peak hours download speeds are still an acceptable 700 kbps. Occasionally, our connection will drop, but I attribute that to the nature of wireless. I am well-satisfied with the service we receive.

I've been a KTC/PACE customer for almost 15 years, and even though they're a year or two behind the major carriers as far as data technology goes, I can still go into the office and talk to someone who can make things happen. I will continue to support my local economy and my local businesses whenever possible. KTC/PACE values their customers, and that means a lot.

member for 20.6 years, 1161 visits, last login: 1 year ago
updated 11.8 years ago