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Review by Madness See Profile

  • Location: Lynn, Essex, MA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
  • Telco party Verizon

No longer valid!

member for 24.2 years, 7115 visits, last login: a few hours ago
updated 1.2 years ago







Review by jwebb See Profile

  • Location: Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
Charged early termination fee but it is because DSL Ex choices not mine that I am cancelling
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

So much for good customer service and caring for customers that have been with you for 15 years! I called yesterday to dispute the early termination fee that was being billed to my account since I am terminating my service only because I found out that DSL Extreme does not allow and has even disabled the parental controls and the ability to disable the WiFi on the AT&T Gateway to allow the use of my own WiFi router. I have to be able to control what comes into my home and you do not allow that so this is a deal breaker for me and I am terminating my service. I called to dispute the early termination fee and asked to be connected to a supervisor. I was told that one would call me back later. I never got that call and my bank card was charged the early termination fee this morning without continuing the discussion. I have cancelled the payment with my bank. I will not be paying this early termination fee as it is DSL Extreme's choices that have caused my choice to leave your service.

member for 3.6 years, driveby review (so far)
lodged 3.6 years ago


dslx_nick
ISP Employee
join:2011-12-24
Chatsworth, CA

9 recommendations

dslx_nick

ISP Employee

DSL Extreme

I'm sorry, but you were advised when you signed up for the trueSTREAM service back in 2017 that it does not include parental controls. A direct quote from your own cancel order: "I was told when I signed up for the TrueStream service that the gateway did not have parental controls". It's not like this is a sudden change we're implementing three years later, it's always been that way.

Review by G Toody See Profile

  • Location: Glendale, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
  • Telco party AT&T
Bait and Switch to an Extreme Level
Connection reliability:
Value for money:

After 5 years of mostly good and trouble free service, decided to upgrade the speed.

Called the sales department on June 18 and signed up for a higher speed on a 12 month contract.

On July 13, received an e-mail essentially stating that they would not honor the contract at the June 18 price. They offered an alternative contract for an additional $6.50 per month, which I declined.

It appears that DSL Extreme is pretty adamant about holding their customers to contracts but has no qualms about unilaterally abrogating an executed contract!

member for 3.7 years, driveby review (so far)
lodged 3.7 years ago


dslx_nick
ISP Employee
join:2011-12-24
Chatsworth, CA

1 edit

5 recommendations

dslx_nick

ISP Employee

DSL Extreme $6.50 charge

You mention $6.50/mo - that would be the modem lease fee, which is separate from the monthly price for the internet connection itself (after all, we have some grandfathered customers from years back with purchased modems who do not have a modem lease fee). I'm sorry if there was some confusion on the point.

Update: Yep, looks like that's exactly what's going on here. From the email: "A new modem lease will be required with the new install, you are currently on a modem purchase. Would you like to move forward with the order? Monthly payments will come to $XX, Supplier surcharge fee $3.87 and modem lease $6.50 total of monthly payments of $XX.37. Would you like to proceed?"

If someone is one of those grandfathered users (which you are), then you don't have to pay a modem lease fee each month, but most of our users do. If you do anything that breaks that grandfathering (such as an upgrade that requires a new install, or moving to a different address), then we have to switch you over to a modem lease plan. When we tried processing your upgrade order, it turned out it would need a new install (probably because we were trying to 8x your speed) hence why proceeding would break the grandfathering. I assure you, we weren't trying to bait-and-switch you - we just wanted to try to preserve the grandfathering for you if possible. I'm sorry it didn't work out that way.

Review by jw6 See Profile

  • Location: New Palestine, Hancock, IN, USA
  • Cost: $70 per month (12 month contract)
Good pricing, no data caps
Limited customer service availability
Not recommended

I was a customer with DSL Extreme for four years. Then AT&T disconnected my line. Not once but twice over three months. DSL Extreme got me reconnected (after two weeks of downtime) the first time around but when it happened a second time, I decided I would find another ISP. DSL Extreme then charged me a $250 early termination fee because I wouldn't continue service with them. Other issues: customer service hours are only 9am-5pm CST Mon-Fri. Bottom line: I would not recommend them.

member for 7.5 years, 15 visits, last login: 3.7 years ago
updated 3.7 years ago


Review by monte6 See Profile

  • Location: Fremont, Alameda, CA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
  • Telco party AT&T

AT&T discontinued it.

member for 23.5 years, 1892 visits, last login: 4.4 years ago
updated 4.6 years ago







Review by Hermana See Profile

  • Location: La Crescenta, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • Cost: $38 per month (month by month)
  • Install: about 7 days
Price
Incumbent hassles of required coordination between DSL Extreme and ATT Teams
Good Value
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I ported over my UVerse service to DSL Extreme. Although I had requested a "self-installation $0" for this connection, it resulted in ATT installing a modem with a somewhat rocky start (2 return visits with modem replacements). But I don't consider this to be the fault of of DSL Extreme efforts.

There have been times when the service drops out on unexpectedly for a half hour or so for a few times a week for a couple of months, and a service call doesn't seem to make a difference; then finally ATT does a truck roll for the replacement of a modem. This has happened three times over the past 3 years. An inconvenience, but again I don't fault DSL Extreme.

My needs are very simple, I stream about 3-5 Gb per day on a single device. I don't really have any complaints and feel I'm getting good value for my money.

No complaints here: $38/mo (includes $6/m PACE 5031NV modem rental) 3000/512Kbps Connection

member for 22.2 years, 296 visits, last login: 2.3 years ago
updated 5 years ago

glockster
join:2019-06-07
North Hills, CA

glockster

Member

DSLExtreme

OK, from a former user for almost 9 years. While the service is pretty reliable their speed offering is terrible. They were charging me more then $40 per month and delivering 6mbs down of which i usually experienced 4.7mbs or less. I wanted to increase my speed buy they would not let me use my own router, I had to use their equipment. Typically, when speaking with their high minded technical people UI was rarely treated with respect, it was more like "Hey we know this stuff, you don't". I do not recommend this company.

Review by mt999999 See Profile

  • Location: East Liverpool, Columbiana, OH, USA
  • Cost: $35 per month
  • Telco party AT&T
Cheap, easy to self install, fairly reliable, no contract
No longer sold in AT&T areas
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Ordered 3 Mb tier around November 2016. Month-to-month, to test out the service. Easy $35/mo - only 15/mo for new subscribers on a term!

Mostly all up-time, no technical issues, cheap e-bay modem connected quickly and easily with a fast call to tech support after the line was activated.

Unfortunately, I cancelled in Jan 2017 with intentions of reconnecting when I moved, but the service was grandfathered by AT&T to resellers in June of 2017. If you have it, keep it!

member for 7.7 years, 1637 visits, last login: 74 days ago
updated 6.1 years ago

brad152
join:2006-07-27
Chicago, IL

1 recommendation

brad152

Member

ADSL1 was grandfathered.. not ADSL2 or VDSL2

The old school ATM DSL was grandfathered, and that's because at&t wants to get rid of that equipment.

They want you to use the IPDSL equivalent "TrueStream".. and generally since it's VDSL2 it'll give you much better speed for the price anyway

Review by Economist See Profile

  • Location: Laguna Hills, Orange, CA, USA
  • Cost: $108 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 5 days
  • No Cap
  • Telco party AT&T
Speedy, unlimited, great CS, great price for 18, 24 and 45Mb tiers
75Mb top end tier is pricy, need more upload
A good, unlimited use alternative to cable
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

AT&T Orange County - Nellie Gail Ranch - 75/8 Static IP plan

Presales information: This really is not DSL Extreme's fault, but AT&T does not have accurate information as to what tiers are actually available. Despite my very short 1200 ft loop, I only qualified for 24Mb. So this means when I upgraded, it was processed not as a change order but a brand new order, new gateway purchase, etc. This makes upgrades costly unless you are leasing the gateway. While qualifying for 24Mb, my bonded pair supports 200Mb down and 55Mb up. It required 2 upgrade cycles to get to 75Mb, $200 in equipment purchases that should not have been needed in a perfect world. At a minimum, DSLx and AT&T should have been able to transfer the gateway cert from the old accounts to the new ones, allowing me to reuse my purchased gateway with the built-in cert.

Install coordination: The AT&T installer showed up right on time and did a great, clean job. He ran CAT6 from the J-Box to my home office and set the modem up. The entire install including pulling the cable was only 3 hours.

Connection reliability: So far after 2 months of service, it has been pretty good. The only problem I have been having is with my gateway failing authentication sometime each night so in the morning the box has lost IP connectivity. Power cycling it brings it back up. Pretty annoying. My guess is a faulty Pace gateway or something setup up correctly between the gateway's certificate and my account setup.

Tech support: Fast to respond and always helpful.

Services: I have the 75/8 static package which is $105 plus the junk fee, about the same price as AT&T if I include the $30 unlimited add on, but my plan includes 5 static IP addresses. From the service I am seeing about 80Mb down and 7.5-8Mb up, and 20ms latency. Sync is about 190Mb down from the bonded pair and 55Mb up so there is a bright future possible with AT&T VDSL. This compares to $99 for 300/30 from Cox which is capped at 1TB. So the trade off is slower speed for unlimited use.

Value for the lower tiers like 45Mb is really good and significantly cheaper than cable. If I did not need the 8Mb upload I would have loved to stay on the 45Mb plan. 75Mb I think is overpriced even with the benefit of unlimited use, but that is set by AT&T and not DSL Extreme.

My hardware is a Pace 5268AC on a bonded pair

Sync 200Mb down 55Mb up

Provisioned 91Mb down 8.1Mb up

5 Static IP addresses

member for 8.7 years, 1007 visits, last login: 4.9 years ago
updated 6.1 years ago


Review by kyleZ2516 See Profile

  • Location: Canal Fulton, Stark, OH, USA
  • Cost: $67 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 15 days
I have nothing good to say about Dsl Extreme. Absolutely the worst company I have ever dealt with
Slow speeds, connection interruptions, terrible customer service and support.
Do not sign a contract with this company unless you have 250.00 laying around to cancel when your speeds drop to 0 mbps.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Took over two weeks to get service connected and I was never made aware of the actual speed I was getting until my second month of service. It turns out that I was set up for 18 Mbps (their highest speed), and I was told that the speed would be comparable to the 50 Mbps cable connection I had previous to this service. My all time best speed was measured at 15.45 Mbps with my Wi-Fi disabled running the speed test through an Ethernet connection with my Windows 10 laptop. They lock you in a 12 month contract to hold you hostage to their intolerable connection problems and slow speeds. My devices would randomly drop off the connection. Dsl extreme says it's my fault for having too many devices on my network because the router showed 14 connections, however only 9 devices were actually connected to the network. If their network can't handle 9 devices I don't think they should be offering service. The field technician that came for the second service call said that he could not figure out the issue and that he would put in a recommendation that my contract be terminated and the early termination fee be waived because the service wasn't functioning as it should. When I called in to cancel I was transferred back and forth from customer service to customer support. At one point I was on hold for over 18 minutes. Finally technical support tells me that there is nothing wrong with my service and that they will not he dispatching technicians to my home to fix the issue and claimed the issue was mine to deal with. The only way out is for me to pay DSL Extreme the 250.00 early termination fee. I even tried to lower my speed so I could afford to set up a cable connection, but I was told that it would cost 50.00 and extend my contract by 12 months. I was told when I signed up for service that I could change my speed at any time for a 50.00 fee, nothing was ever said about extending the contract a full 1 year term for speed changes. Please don't make the same mistake that I did by signing up for service with DSL Extreme, you will surely regret it. I have already filed claims with the Better Business Bureau, and the California State Attorney General. I don't want anyone else to go through this misery.

member for 6.2 years, 3 visits, last login: 6.1 years ago
updated 6.1 years ago


Review by Schmackdown See Profile

  • Location: Mchenry, Mchenry, IL, USA
  • Cost: $21 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 17 days
Pre-sales support, no equipment lease that can bridge, price
ambiguous install date selection process, SSR fee
Great rudimentary connection option
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I purchased an out-of-the-way piece of property to use as a getaway and DSLX had tiers up to 6M available. I have used a 768K line as a primary connection for a year without significant issues, so I opted for that tier, 768/384 dryline for $17.95/month plus the $2.88 service tax. I bought the equipment for $100, as I expect to be using it for longer than a year and a half. The option to buy the equipment was a real positive; I find forced lease fees odious, and I do not believe this was always available from DSLX. This suggests that they listened to their user base and negotiated something with AT&T to allow for a purchase option. As it was explained to me, though, part of the covenant between DSLX and AT&T is that the equipment must be provided from AT&T, either as a lease or purchase. I also appreciate this sort of disclosure from a vendor, as they didn't have to reveal any of it.

The $2.88 surcharge is unavoidable, I believe, as it is levied by the government. It's unfortunate that it makes a far bigger impact on the total bill for lower tiers than greater ones, though- it's 16% of what I pay for 768K, but would be only 8% of a 6M connection and 6% of an 18M connection. Still a far cry better than the slew of taxes and fees involved with traditional dialtone.

The pre-sales support here on DSLR was tremendous and covered any questions I had about the service before ordering. I ordered on 9/17 and opted for an available 9/25 install, but did not hear back from anyone in the following week about whether they would be able to make that date. I eventually received confirmation that my backup selection of 10/2 would be the install date. Still a reasonable turnaround in my opinion.

I was not at the location when the installer arrived, but they were from AT&T and on time. The previous owners had left the line from the house disconnected from the box and dangling from a tree, which triggered the installer to call for backup. I think that was likely an overreaction, as the line itself just needed to be reconnected and routed properly inside. They dropped the jack where I wanted it in the basement next to my equipment, got things online with DSLX and tested, and things were done by the end of the two-hour install window.

The equipment they left is a UVerse-branded Pace 5031NV, which I am using on an actual UVerse line in another location in "DMZPlus" mode, which even if it isn't true bridging is close enough that I don't mind. I had a harder time getting this unit to pass packets in this mode than I did with the first- it correctly handed off the public IP to the WAN port of my pfSense router, but would not pass packets from that router until did a factory restore and re-did all of my work. Thereafter everything worked as I wanted it to, which is a trickle of raw bandwidth to my router. I had IPSec tunnels up to my other locations in short order, but they would not pass traffic. I don't know if this was a function of the 5031NV not passing absolutely everything to my firewall or something I overlooked, but when I switched over to OpenVPN instead, traffic began routing immediately.

I ordered a dynamic connection(768K is the only tier without the option for 5 statics, but I wouldn't have opted for it anyway) with the expectation that the IP would not change that often, if at all. I've had the same dynamic address at my other UVerse connection for two years now. I have my own DNS server with 2136 updates if things change, but I don't expect they will.

The 5031 suggested that the line was provisioned for around 900K down and 400K up. I tested at 720K and 330K, which is about what I expected after overhead, but I might have had a bit of extra traffic on the line.

All in all this was exactly what I expected- no frills connectivity on the cheap. I don't need to stream anything, I just need to push updates slowly to a local media and backup server I have there, so that rate is adequate. I find it curious that DSLX basically uses UVerse's infrastructure but imposes no caps; if AT&T ever starts complaining about the data I'm moving every month I may just convert the other line to DSLX as well, as the prices seem to be the same. I've moved upwards of 230-240Gb in a month over a 768/384 link before, so caps may be relevant to me even on slower links.

By the by, the tip that finally got my 5031 functioning in DMZPlus mode is here, copied from the AT&T forums:

Steps:

1) This is only thing I did different this last attempt: Full Factory Reset via GUI

2) Disable Wireless

3) Settings -> System Info -> Event notifications -> Enable detection of router-behind-router conditions Checked -> Save

4) Settings -> Firewal -> Applications, Pinholes and DMZ -> DMZPlus -> Save

5) Refresh IP on my Asus Router RT-AC66R-Merlin, verify it obtained external IP- YES

6) Test Ping from LAN PC - SUCCESS

I did not disable wireless on my configuration, as I was using it as a conduit to the config. Being able to swap back and forth between the router wifi and the Pace wifi made things pretty easy to troubleshoot from a laptop. After things were in place I disabled the Pace wifi. I already had an open, throttled, fenced-off guest wireless VLAN set up on my Ubiquiti AP, but if I didn't I would likely leverage the guest wifi functionality of the 5031.

Update: in April 2016 I ordered another 768K line for use as a backup/dev connection to a Comcast link in Chicago. This took much longer to sort out than the install in the suburbs, as AT&T could not get their act together, but eventually resulted in the same solid connection.

Update: in September 2016 I ordered a 12M line for use as a backup to a Comcast link in Buffalo Grove. The 1M upload limit was extremely difficult to navigate for my uses- two HD Nest cams running 24/7 would pretty much saturate the pipe, and uploading media to Google Photos was tedious. At the end of my contract I asked DSLX if I could get a higher upstream rate without upgrading to a higher download tier, or have my account put on hold until they rolled out the new AT&T tiers, or re-up at the contract rate without a contract until they offered those tiers, at which time I would sign another contract. They could not offer any of those, so I canceled the service. This also means I will not likely re-up with any new tiers, as I'm not interested in buying another router.

member for 21.6 years, 2845 visits, last login: 9 days ago
updated 6.6 years ago