 Review by Frostbite 
UPDATED: 1.2 years ago
member for 8.1 years, 2654 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Framingham,Middlesex,MA
 $116 per month (12 month contract)
 about 24 days
 Verizon
CLEC party: Covad
 "line-shared, self-installable, static IP addresses, servers permitted, unlimited dialup until the installation is complete"
 "no Boston PoP any more, acquired by Best Buy division, more expensive than direct competitors"
 "solid DSL performance, but Best Buy relationship concerns me"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Package ordered: Sysadmin/radsl/usr/pro (1.5/384, 2 IP addresses, 2 Email address, shell account, including 10MB web space, and 30hr/mo backup dialup account)
Distance from CO: approx 1 1/2 miles
Like most customers of Northpoint-based ISP's, I was quite in shock when I read the news on Thursday, 22 March that AT&T decided not to support the existing customer base and that a shutdown of Northpoint's network was "imminent". I was a PhoenixDSL customer, and I was scheduled to be transitioned to Telocity in the near future. Now that my Northpoint line is dead on Thursday, 29 March, Telocity can only "transition" me if I sign up for new service.
I have heard great reviews of SPEAKEASY.net from my friends (and from friends on behalf of their friends), and SE offers the type of installation I desired, both line-shared and self-installable. They also permit folks to run servers on their service, within reason, and they offer multiple IP addresses... bonus!
The monthly cost is a bit steep, compared to my previous provider, but after going through chaos with PhoenixDSL (an ISP) and Northpoint (the CLEC), I'm prepared to shell out a little extra per month to give the ISP and wholesaler (Covad) some breathing room.
STATUS: (This will be updated regularly as the installation progresses.)
- I ordered service through SPEAKEASY.net's web site on Friday, 23 March.
- I did not have immediate access to TAC, Email or Dialup, as their Welcome email had stated I would. I rectified the problem on Monday by calling SE pre-installation support, and the problem was resolved within ten minutes.
- Covad advises (via TAC) on Monday, 26 March, that there is a problem with the splitter in my CO, and that it could take no less than five days to resolve.
- Covad advises on Wednesday, 27 March, that they have an FOC (firm order commitment) date from Verizon of Thursday, 29 March. I assume the previously reported problem with the splitter in my CO has been resolved.
- Covad advises on Friday, 30 March that Verizon wanted additional information about the splitter and that Covad supplied it to them.
- Covad advises on Tuesday, 3 April that they have an FOC with Verizon for Monday, April 9th.
- Covad advises on Tuesday, 10 April that Verizon reported that it has completed the cross-connection.
- Covad advises on Friday, 13 April that it has shipped the self-install kit (and provided the UPS tracking number), and the planned installation time is Monday, 16 April between the hours of 8am and 12pm. According to UPS, the package was shipped on Wednesday, 11 April, and it's waiting to be delivered to my home, which will happen on Monday. How timely!
- Self-install kit arrived on Monday, 16 April. I installed the kit, got sync, and am online! I came online on the Atlanta PoP, despite living 25 miles from Boston. I sent an eMail to SE Customer Support the same evening I came online, and I was transitioned to Boston within 24 hours. Speed tests run on SE's Atlanta PoP were good, and Boston's even better.
-Frosty
Update 4/6/07 - This will be a large, cumulative update. Since I had the service installed, the Boston PoP no longer exists; it has been converted to a NAP, and all traffic is routed to the NYC PoP. I haven't needed a lot of support, and any line problems have been the result of deteriorating phone lines within the neighborhood. (Verizon gets called out to switch pairs, and we're fine again for a year or more.)
I am starting to worry about the price of the service. It is now $110+/month just for the 4000/768 service I'm getting with four IP addresses. Further worrisome is that SE was just acquired by Best Buy for Business. Sadly, this will probably break me, as I firmly dislike Best Buy, in any incarnation.
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