 Review by OSIU 
UPDATED: 3.4 years ago
member for 6 years, 422 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 State College,Centre,PA
 $35 per month (12 month contract)
 about 18 days
 Verizon
CLEC party: Verizon
 "Once setup, Verizon Online DSL is great (fast and reliable)!"
 "Scheduling techs to visit home and phone support!"
 "Great, assuming it gets installed properly!"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Background: I ordered Verizon Online DSL because Adelphia has had too many people sign up for PowerLink in my area and now the service is terrible (slow and interrupted, must resync modem several times a day) and they don’t know when they are going to have it fixed.
I Ordered Verizon Online DSL on 10/27/03 and service ready date was after 6 pm on 11/7/03.
Received equipment (modem, filters, etc.) on 10/29/03.
Received email on 11/5/03 saying service active. Started installing things on 11/5/03 and modem wouldn’t sync. Called Verzion and tech had me do a bunch of stuff (unplug halogen lamps, unplug 900 MHz cordless phones, try other phone jacks, check filters, repower modem) but still the modem wouldn’t sync. They tried line tests and couldn’t find my DSL line on their system. So as we were finishing up and scheduling a technician to come out, I get disconnected. I called back and another tech says that I can’t get a tech out to my home until after my scheduled service activation date (after 6 pm on 11/7/03) because the email indicating my service is on is sometimes sent out prematurely.
So on 11/7/03 at 6:05 pm, Verizon calls me and says that they need to schedule a technician to come out because they don’t detect any DSL service on my line.
So I schedule one for 11/10/03, in the morning.
So on 11/10/03 my wife waits all day for Verizon to show up. No one comes and at 5:15 pm I call and ask what happened. They tell me another job took too long and didn’t have time for mine. So I scheduled them to come first thing (~ 8 am) on 11/12/03 because they don’t work on 11/11/03 (Veteran’s Day). Must be nice to get all federal holidays off.
On 11/12/03 at 9:45 am my wife calls Verizon, since no one showed up. Apparently, they scheduled my service for 11/13/03, which is ridiculous because I specifically told them that we weren’t available Thursday (11/13) and Friday (11/14.) So they came out on Thursday 11/13/03 while we were gone. When I came home on Friday (11/14) evening, I plugged in the modem and powered it up, and wouldn’t you know it, it sync’d! In addition, Verizon left me a voice mail Friday requesting that I call them back so I could confirm that they had solved the problem. I called them back while I was hooking everything up, and it works great. I am using a Netgear WGT624 wireless router/firewall. They had me do a speed test and I am running 1533.2kbps download and 191.6kbps upload. Considering I am paying for the 1500/128 package, I can’t complain, except for the issues with their techs and scheduling.
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Update: 2/17/2004
My DSL has been rock solid. Every speed test is around 1533 down and 180-190 up. I haven't had to resync my modem or router once. Good job Verizon!
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Update: 5/20/2004
Unfortunately I am moving where Verizon DSL isn't available. Bummer! Other than the few setup problems I had, Verizon Online DSL was great! Perhaps when and if I move again I will be able to get it.
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Update: 6/09/2006
I just bought a house in Verizon's area. FIOS isn't here so back to Verizon DSL. Once I get it set up and tested I will write a new review.
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