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Review by Iceylinux 
UPDATED: 1.3 years ago
member for 6.4 years, 58 visits, last login: 143 days ago
 Wilkes Barre,Luzerne,PA
 $29 per month
 about 5 days
 "Fastest Bandwidth in Wilkes-Barre, PA ... For now."
 "Hangs, Ping spikes (Brand new cable from the box to the modem btw)"
 "Moving to upstate NY and FIOS IS THERE!!!"
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i figured id rewrite my review from years ago, i didnt keep prolog long since dsl was faster and cheaper. now SECTV is 10/1 so im kinda stuck, it hangs really bad ill do one speed test it will say 300kbps down and 952kbps up, ill redo the same test instantly ill get 9542/952 just stupid company without any real plans, SECTV will go out of business when wilkes barre gets Fios in 2089  no actually wilkes-barre will have fios around 2010-2011. Nothing has changed about prolog in the past 5 years, same retarted bandwidth caps, same retarted problems, just faster speeds. i cant wait to see what Verizon does to prolog and SECTV Op Online in NJ gives people 30mb/5mb up or something like that RCN in SEPA gives 20/4 i believe what is SECTV/Prolog going to do? Chapter 11? HA
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Review by brienb
Posted: 1.5 years ago
member for 5.1 years, 87 visits, last login: 1.3 years ago
Milford,Pike,PA
$51 per month
"Decent speed, reliable"
"Can't use bandwidth."
"Would only recommend for light/casual users."
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I have the highest priced package available (actually through Blue Ridge Communications), G15. Had used it lightly for several months and the first time I actually used a little bit of bandwidth (to download music, WHICH THEY ADVERTISE) I got a letter from PTD saying I needed to upgrade the service (there is nothing higher), switch to a commercial account, or they'd cancel the service outright. I never had such a problem with Optimum Online, which I can only wish were available here. Rather disappointed. Now I only use it to game and surf the web mostly, as it seems that's basically all you can do without them complaining.
Followup comments:  
dodgetech2
join:2002-01-01
Gouldsboro, PA | usage? What was your bandwidth use for that month?
I use an average of 100Gb down and 15 Gb up and never have received a letter in the 3 years I have been using the service.
I'm also using the G-15 tier. | |
| dyczko
join:2000-11-07
Milford, PA | got a similar letter I got a similar letter a few days ago. Dozens of calls to both BlueRidge and PenTellData have gotten little response.
See my post/thread for more details | |
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Review by bunky013
Posted: 1.8 years ago
member for 1.8 years, 1 visits, last login: 1.6 years ago
Allentown,Lehigh,PA
$92 per month
"Only provider available in my area"
"Very slow connection, Tech support through SECTV is horrible"
"Stay away from ProLog, especially if hosted by Service Electric Cable TV"
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I live in an area served by "the first cable TV system on earth", Service Electric Cable TV, which, after 50 years, is also one of the worst. Unfortunately, ProLog is the only internet service available through SEC-TV. I get an astounding 384 Kbit down, and 104 Kbit up. That's after paying for the "high speed" package for 3 years now, which promises at least 1.5 Mbit downstream.
The problem may very well be with the wiring in my neighborhood, but after repeated attempts to have someone look at the poor performance, my neighbors and I have given up. Tech support is no help at all; they consistently insist that there are "no problems reported" and their solution every time is to send a technician out to your house (and at your cost, BTW, and usually three days later). You would think that after multiple people on the same street complain about a problem, they would get the picture and check the equipment in the area.
Bottom Line: If terrible service and poor tech support are what you're after, this is the ISP for you.
Followup comments: vapochilled
Premium
join:2004-11-23
Macungie, PA
 ·ProLog
| SETV I feel your pain, I'm in Macungie and recorded the speed test below at 11pm. Seven years ago, I was living and working in Saudi Arabia,jeddah, A desert city, occupied by people who can barely read and write, I was getting a steady and stable 3meg service.
21st centuray lehigh valley and I get this shit!
Last Result:
Download Speed: 389 kbps (48.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 392 kbps (49 KB/sec transfer rate) | |
| oilman614
join:2001-01-07
Whitehall, PA
| SECTV I commented on your situation yesterday..but of course because of Service Electric it never went thru. I was curious where about you are. I am in Whitehall in Helfrich Springs Apts. and they gave me the same runaround. They are trying to make it my problem. They want to send a tech out here Monday again. I keep telling them it's not just me. other tenants are complaining too. What can be done about this?
Its only been in the last 6 months. I lived here going on 3 years.
I asked to speak to a manager twice..no callback.
I wish RCN had cables in the building I would switch in a heartbeat | |
| | Mizfit
join:2002-06-05
Whitehall, PA
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·ProLog
1 edit | Re: SECTV I'm right up the road from oilman, your not alone, as are any of you guys. I've been moaning to SECTV since Sept of 06. Seen two good months of service in a year and a half. Now = crap. Got Verizon DSL for gaming, much more stable service if you can get it. Use SECTV for browsing 2kb batch files only. I feel your pain. Welcome to the monopoly. I just don't think SECTV is in a position to keep up with the internet age. They need to be taken over. Days are numbered in my opinion, or at least I hope. | |
| Thermo1223
join:2001-12-20
Allentown, PA
1 edit | Well... I guess I am not alone in my feelings about SECTV as well.
I get an astounding 128-170kbps up and if I'm lucky around 3 megs down but it constantly fluctuates.
I cancelled my TV service long ago and went Directv who is better but not 100%. Our cable used to get snowy and go in & out on a whim.
I used to also live at Helfrich Springs and figured it must have been the old building but when we moved to west end of Allentown it didn't really get any better plus being charged money for installation again as well.
I complained & complained and finally just gave up and said here take all your TV crap back. Prolog really is a treat as well, I had to call 3 times to get them to believe that we had internet through them when we first moved in at Helfrich. SECTV never told them I guess.
Randomly now at our new apt. we have outages and that means now VoIP as well. Informed them that every time this happens I lose my phone and they said maybe I should switch to a cooper line then.
I am very close to switching to DSL since I can't get FIOS yet, that might also mean I would need to cancel my Vonage as well so it is still up in the air.
Ughh...  | |
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Review by vapochilled
Posted: 1.9 years ago
member for 5 years, 1656 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Macungie,Lehigh,PA
$49 per month (12 month contract)
"It rarely goes down completely"
"god awful speed"
"I wish you could have a choice of providers in this country"
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I'm stuck with a choice of PTD(setv) or DSl, DSL is looking like a viable option right now. SETV has been getting slower and slower for the last 6 months, I've had them out to check this end, and the guy said "nothing he can do" paying for 7meg, which at 2am it will do, but durring the evening it varies between 300K and 3 meg!
I used to be an avid online gamer, does not need bandwidth, just a good ping, well SETV sucks there as well, most evenings I give up after a few minutes as the ping is beyond a joke.
I'll be dead in the hole before Fios arrives at this back water, so DSL or stick with SETV, hell of a choice!
Order and install went ok, except it took 5 calls for them to understand my name ! and so get my email account right.
Followup comments: oilman614
join:2001-01-07
Whitehall, PA | SECTV Same thing here in Whitehall..just did a speedtest 334K
freakin ridiculous | |
| Mizfit
join:2002-06-05
Whitehall, PA | Me Too!!! The whole network is unreliable till late hours in the morning all over the Lehigh Valley. Your not alone. | |
| | vapochilled
Premium
join:2004-11-23
Macungie, PA | Re: Me Too!!! It's just painful, it's now taking almost a minute at time to open a web page!
Does anyone from SETV frequent these forums? | |
| AndrettiFan
Premium
join:2007-10-18
Alburtis, PA
| I don't know but these speeds are atrocious. Should give us 6 free months of service for this garbage. Just tested and got 480k down and 100k up although I'm paying for 7MB down and 384k up. When you complain all of a sudden your speed jumps, then slowly degrades back down until you complain again a few weeks later. Time to call to get prorated! | |
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Review by Mizfit
UPDATED: 1.9 years ago
member for 7.4 years, 1277 visits, last login: 151 days ago
Whitehall,Lehigh,PA
$39 per month (12 month contract)
about 14 days
"They installed it on the day that was scheduled."
"Ha!!!"
"Was crap...now average..."
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Update 11-28-07
About two months ago. Service Electric must of hit their magic switch, after approx a year of the most horrible service I've ever seen. After telling me everything is fine and it was a problem on my end. I now get advertised speed of 7000/400, no packet loss, any time of the day with the same equipment I was using. The connection is now solid for gaming, not as solid of latency as my Verizon dsl line though. Only wish SECTV was more competitive with there bandwidth options, 400k up don't cut it in 2007. But that's what you get with SECTV monopoly in the Lehigh Valley. Would cut them all together if it wasn't that I lived so far from the CO to get any DSL higher than 1500/384... 8(
________________________________________________________________________
1) Have yet to see it even come close to reaching advertised speed of 7000/400. Hovers around 500 down with 350 up till around 4 in the morning, then I get about a 1000 down.
2) Latency to first hop averages from 6 to 250, with average of about a 100.
3) Packet loss is around 5%.
Worthless hunk of poo for anything other than browsing 2kb .bat files. Stick with DSL in the Lehigh Valley, and stay away from the overloaded nodes of Service Electric and Prolog.
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 Review by Zverina
Posted: 1.9 years ago
member for 5.3 years, 502 visits, last login: 306 days ago
Allentown,Lehigh,PA
$49 per month
about 7 days
"On-time service instillation."
"Disconnects, time-outs, connection lag, modem resets, abysmal uplink."
"Hell for VOIP! Worst provider to date!"
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I never write reviews, but I thought this might warrant one. I have had experience with several providers before including cablevision, time warner, RCN, Verizon DSL, and even Verizon EVDO. I've had RCN before in the lehigh valley area, before moving to the service electric area earlier this week. Well, let me tell you. My Verizon EVDO connection is much more reliable than prolog cable internet! At first I thought they just had issues on their end, but not so, it's pretty much an ongoing problem. My modem resets every half hour or so, the connection can't sustain a constant down stream, which renders my VOIP service useless, the speeds vary from 200k to 4mbps; the connection is also plagued with time-outs, lags, and routing issues. I've had a more reliable modem connection back in '93! How can they offer such poor quality of service? Also, I was promised 7mbps connection, the best I've ever done was 4! Upload cap is ridiculous at 384k, and I live in an area with a so-called 2-way service! There's just not way to justify this type of service. I'm amazed this company is still in business! Upload speeds and bandwidth caps are not even mentioned anywhere! Sad to say that I'm forced to switch to Verizon DSL; it's not the best out there, but at least I never had service issues with them (besides screwed up billing system they use). I do feel sorry for anyone who live in an area monopolized by this rotten company with no other choice for a broadband provider...
Followup comments: CBits
join:2008-02-21 | Dynamic IP Have you had any issues with your ip being blacklisted? | |
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Review by Josh7289
UPDATED: 2 years ago
member for 4.6 years, 134 visits, last login: 74 days ago
Milford,Hunterdon,NJ
$30 per month
about 7 days
"Only broadband service in my area"
"It's not broadband."
"It sucks."
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---UPDATE (11/16/07)---
It's been a while, hasn't it? About the middle of last year, I finally got a working one-way cable connection, but only with an even older modem, a Motorola SB2100D. Also, earlier this year, we also got HDTV service from SECTV, which is nice, although it was glitchy and intermittent for quite a while after we received it. It's not perfect yet, but it's much better. In fact, we're the last ones on our road that can get HD service...
Two-way cable is still unavailable here, though. We even had a service technician come out again today to check, but it's still "no." We might get it in the spring next year, but I'm not holding my breath. I'll update if anything significant happens.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention this. The price of our connection (which is the "economy" package) has slowly been increasing every year, too, from $25 to $27 to $30 per month, so thanks for that, SECTV. On the other hand, our download speed has been upgraded from 1000 kbps to 3000 kbps, but that didn't happen until a while after the price increases occurred. Go figure.
---UPDATE (5/25/06)---
STILL, I am having troubles with disconnections with my one-way cable modem, because SECTV has STILL not upgraded my area to two-way cable Internet service, and Verizon has not upgraded my area to DSL, either. Now the cable TV quality is getting worse. If Verizon were in my area, I would dump SECTV for TV and Internet so fast...
Now, no matter how much I email them or try to get in contact with their field supervisor for my area, my emails are ignored and my phone calls, which all ended up being to and answering machine, are not returned. What kind of a sick monopoly is this, and how can this possibly be legal?
---UPDATE (9/18/05)---
Sorry for the really late update, but I'm going to make this short. I'm tired of this company. They say I can't get two-way. That's it. Ratings lowered. I've sent them an email. We'll see what they say.
---UPDATE (9/7/05)---
I had much work today, so this will be fast. The technician came to my house today to tell me that I cannot get HD until their networks are reworked. This raises my doubts about whether I can get Two-Way Cable Internet. We'll see tomorrow...
---UPDATE (9/6/05)---
First of all, I forgot to mention this quite a while ago, but I received a replacement Motorola SurfBoard SB3100D from my old one of the same model. This one works in the way that it should for One-Way Cable. It connects on upload at 24 kbps or 26.4 kbps. Sometimes it stops working and it must be disconnected and reconnected and sometimes it detects a busy signal for no reason, but it is not as troublesome as the first defective modem.
Anyway, and on to the real update...
Today I emailed SECTV about numerous things, including Two-Way Cable Internet. They replied saying they recently upgraded my area to Two-Way Cable Internet. I quickly called their Tech Support number. I spoke to a man who told me some instructions to reset the settings on my Motorola SurfBoard SB3100D for Two-Way Cable. Alright! After doing what he said, I plugged the modem back in and waited for it to pick up the Two-Way signal that he had switched me to. 45 minutes later, nothing. I called them back, after some confusion, I did the same thing as last time still to no avail. I realized that the modem had still been trying to aquire an upstream path through the phone line because I heard occasional clicks of its analog modem trying to connect over a phone line, even though the phone line was unplugged, so I called SECTV a third time. This time, they finally realized the problem was with my old outdated modem. They said I could either drive ALL the way to their offices (it really is WAY out of my way) and swap my old modem for a replacement or they could have a technician come to my house and swap my old modem for a replacement. I opted for the latter. He will be coming Thursday (9/8/05) afternoon between 1 PM to 5 PM. The old modem will be replaced with a rather newer model Two-Way only Motorola SB5100 Cable Modem, though I don't know if my actual unit will be old or new. I will update this review on or around that day and possibly change the ratings I gave ProLog and SECTV, but who knows...?
Oh, and some other small things. I was put on hold for about 10 minutes on my cell phone. Not nice. And I had to wait awhile after initially calling them a few times until they were no longer processing too many calls for me to get a tech support representative. Also, I had them switch me back to One-Way Cable Internet until I get my new modem, when hopefully the technician that comes to my house will set it up for Two-Way Cable Internet since it is quite possible that no one will be home at the time, or at least no one that uses a computer. And why didn't they tell me earlier if my area REALLY was upgraded to Two-Way? Hmmm...I don't really notice anything different around here, like any amplifiers or anything, so I'm still not sure if I REALLY can get Two-Way service or not. Finally, it's partly unrelated, but supposedly a field check is going to be done in my neighborhood tomorrow (9/7/05) to see if the equipment here can support Cable HDTV. I sure hope so and I may update on that tomorrow. The same email that told me I can get Two-Way Cable Internet told me this and that he (the technician) will leave a tag with the results for me. Well, maybe this last paragraph wasn't so small, but that's okay!
---ORIGINAL REVIEW---
You see, I live in not-so-rural rural NJ. I mean, there are many people here, and huge new houses are being built and moved into everywhere around here almost non-stop. However, there is no broadband service here! The only thing I can get here is one-way cable from Service Electric Cable TV & Communications and ProLog. It uses cable to download, but dial-up to upload. So:
1. I'm still tying up the phone line.
2. I had a GREAT deal of problems with these ancient used modems they give you from 1999 since one-way is nonexistent anymore. Wouldn't dial, connects at random (still does with new one IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT with no way of turning down or off the LOUD MODEM SPEAKER). The browser-based configuration doesn't work. And my connection is dropped constantly, just like dial-up or worse.
3. It's still dial-up...Important one there...Oh yeah, and the install was sort of fast, but that's probably because I split my own cable line to where the modem would be...
Sure, I may download at 600~700 kbps for the 1000 kbps down package for $25, month, but uploading sucks. I really don't know why SECTV doesn't just upgrade my cable lines to receive two-way cable and digital cable. They've been saying "next year" for the past six or seven years! They're too concerned with making an immediate profit with what is right in front of them and they will dare not invest in deploying any "new" technologies like simple cable Internet! I hear people saying every day how they will not get rid of their dial-up until they can get real cable or DSL. If it's what they need to drive them to do anything, then they should realize there is REAL MONEY in their MANY MANY MANY (can't stress this enough) and HIGHLY (again with the stressing) underserved areas! They do not operate with logic and I highly recommend staying as far away from them as possible, unless you are stuck in their sick monopoly like me. I live in Milford, NJ.
To any SECTV or ProLog personnel, UPGRADE YOUR ENTIRE NETWORK/MONOPOLY TO GIVE US WHAT WE WANT!
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Review by dmorganapril
UPDATED: 2 years ago
member for 2 years, 13 visits, last login: 1.2 years ago
Kutztown,Berks,PA
$40 per month
about 7 days
"Nothing, except somewhat of the high speed"
"Frequent disconnects, downloads were slow, very slow progress with two-way high speed"
"If you live in an area with only one-way, do not get it."
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When we first moved in the area (Highland Estates, in Kutztown), we started with dial-up from America Online. To be honest, it was not that bad and it kept us online. However, we began to purchase more and more computers and switching the connection from one computer to the next was not very comfortable, at all. In addition, most of the members of the household love gaming, while others frequently surf the internet. At the end, we ended up buying five computers. Dial-up wasn't going to help anymore.
So, a friend suggest we upgraded to high speed internet. However, since we moved in a new area of the mobile home, there was no broadband high speed internet available. The only broadband high speed available was from Service Electric Cable Co., in which they provided one-way and two-way internet from PenTeleData. Since broadband wasn't available in the area, we were only offered one-way internet. The difference between them: One-way consisted of the downstream from the cable cord, and the upsteam from the phone line. Two-way consisted of the downstream from the cable cord and upstream from a data cord.
We decided to call Service Electric Cable Cable Co. and order the high speed internet service. The technician came on-time, on the scheduled day of the installation. We were issued a Motorola SB3100D Modem with an Ethernet jack, phone line jack, cable data cord, and the adapter plug. The installation went successfully, and the high speed internet was in-place, along with our Belkin router. However, this is where the problem began.
It's been months with this high speed service, and we've been having problems. There were problems, such as frequent latency with PC/console games, slow downloads, frequent disconnects, modem refusing to connect, etc. We called the techs, and they gave us the obvious solutions. Those solutions were disconnecting the phone line, disconnecting the adapter, connecting the modem directly into a computer, ensuring it isn't the router, etc. All these solutions were tried, and there was still no solution. So, we've decided to ask the tech to come to the household and replacing the modem we had.
The tech came to the house, replaced the modem, AND!.... there was still no fix. As of right now, we're still with the same service, since this is the only service available in the area. We've tried calling about two-way internet, although they keep telling to check back in every three months, Well, it's been FOUR years, and there is still no two-way internet in our area. I wish I knew why PenTeleData is refusing to extend their network in our area. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't waste their precious time to finally extend the network out here, so that they're able to make more money with people who are dying to have reliable high speed internet.
We've been researching, and found out that it is possible for us to get residential T1 internet in our area. The only problem: the pricing quote. The cheapest T1 I can get in the area is 579.50 a month for a one year contract. Although the price is steep, it is something we're considering since a member of our household has a home business.
Concluding this, I told Service Electric I am not going to refer their service to anyone in my area, or an area that includes only one-way internet, until PenTeleData decides to extend two-way internet in the areas.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: October 29, 2007
A few days ago, I've spoken to PTD about this concern of not having two-way in the area. They have told me (obvious response) that they're not responsible for the expansion of Internet connections in the areas they serve. The expansion is left up to Service Electric Cable Company. I've written a complain e-mail to them, but no response.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: November 11, 2007
Well, a week or two ago, after much complaining and bickering about the Internet service, I received a call from the local office of SECTV and they said that supposedly (they used "most definately") Two-Way High Speed will be installed this coming spring, which is in 5 months or so. However, they also said that it'll also depend on other projects around the area. Hopefully, I should be able to update and let the public know whether or not Service Electric Cable is going to keep their word. If not, I'm going to complain to a higher position that will help me and also send a message to SECTV.
Followup comments: 
ATMW
@iland.net | Share Might ask a few close neighbors and you may be able to share the cost of the T-1. Just a thought.... | |
| dmorganapril
join:2007-10-21
Allentown, PA
| Speaking to someone The T-1 was ruled out, since no one in the area doesn't really give a crap about this problem with cheap and useless Internet in the area.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
I've written a complaint e-mail to Service Electric Cable Company, but I've received no response. I think I got their point. So, I'm going to plan B. Who should I speak to about this concern? No one else is going to do anything about it, so I will. | |
| 
pende_tim
Premium
join:2004-01-04
Andover, NJ | Have you tried DSL? Have you called the phone company and asked if DSL is a option? | |
| | dmorganapril
join:2007-10-21
Allentown, PA
| Re: Have you tried DSL? Yes, I have called them plenty of times. Our current phone service is AT&T, and they do not offer any DSL service in our area. Honestly, no phone or cable company offers DSL in our area. I've heard many reasons, such as the fiber wire isn't in our area, our area is only serviced by one company, etc. | |
| Josh7289
join:2005-04-06
Milford, NJ
| SECTV One-Way Cable I have had one-way cable from Service Electric Cable TV and Communications in Milford, NJ since 2005. I had a horrendous experience for the first year or so with the connection, similar to you. After way too much trouble, I've finally had a working (as far as one-way cable goes) connection for a year or so now, but I agree, it really does suck.
Whenever we ask about two-way they either tell us they have no plans, or if they give us a time frame, it always gets pushed back. I wouldn't count on getting it in the spring (either for you or me), but maybe they'll surprise me. =/ | |
| moresuo
join:2001-08-26
Stewartsville, NJ
| What to do... When I moved into the Phillipsburg area of NJ I too first had one way internet cable service from SECTV. For a company that proudly claims to have invented the concept of cable TV they are woefully behind the technology curve. I have suggested to them that they change the company slogan to. "Service Electric Cable TV. Experience Yesterday's Technology Today!"
Having come from dealing with Optimum Online to this was a very big let down. BTW, the problem isn't only with their internet service as contracted through Pen Tele Data, it is also with the cable TV service. You still have to call in to order pay-per-view on their system and there is no "cable on demand"... in this day and age who, other than SECTV, uses that antiquated set up?
Anyway, what to do. There are two answers:
1) If you are very technically savvy and have the pluck for it, as well as the operating capital, it isn't all that difficult to set up a small cottage industry supplying internet access to your local community. I and some other "Fidonet" techie associates did just that back in the very early 90's and in the 14 months we ran it before we sold it to Voice Stream took the company we had created solidly into the black.
2) If you don't want to take the "do it yourself" approach you can petition the Utilities Commission of your state. As with all things of this type the squeakier you make your wheel the more apt you are to get oiled. Make enough noise and you might very well see change in your area.
Side note: BTW, if your area is covered by Verizon lines be aware that company was given the right to collect a "technology" tax to roll out ubiquitous Verizon digital service [now referred to as FiOS] across its coverage area. Something in the area of 2 BILLION dollars was collected that was supposed to be ear marked exclusively for that project. Verizon put it in its general fund, raised their stock prices, and forgot about serving the public. Meanwhile only a small section of Verizon's coverage area actually gets FiOS.
Sounds like theft by deception to me. No one is going to jail though. | |
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Review by Fardunwaith
Posted: 2.4 years ago
member for 2.4 years, 0 visits, last login: 2.4 years ago
Pen Argyl,Northampton,PA
$30 per month
about 3 days
"It can be fast, if it really wants to..."
"Terrible Connectivity, Horrible Speeds, Can't Service multiple computers"
"Horrible run from prolog like the plague"
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Value for money:
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The modem setup nice, works well with my router and three computers, but thats where the nice things stop. We have their one way cable service which is the only one in our area, and it is pitiful. They advertise speeds on the download of up to 3 mb/s, I have never seen over 1.3 mb/s. And if I have more than one computer on the internet forget it, both stall out and can't do a think. Also games give terrible pings, BF2142 = 220+, WoW = 300+. All in all it is rather disheartening, but there are no other cable providers in the area and ptd refuses to do anything for our troubles. So it seems we are stuck. Final verdict: Terrible.
Followup comments: xarmyguyx
join:2002-01-14
Enola, PA
1 edit | Same here Lived in Etters for 2 years and had no choice but Prolog... same problem traced it to ther back bone... sad to see they are still having the same problems... I am back in a comcast area now praying to the Verizon gods to come lay fiber | |
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dodgetech2
join:2002-01-01
Gouldsboro, PA
·ProLog
 ·Vonage
| One way cable You have bad pings because you are on one way cable......
if you cant send packets . you cant recieve them......the server is waiting on a reply so that it knows you got what it sent..so downloading at ~1.5Mb/s and uploading at 56k will never give you good pings...
I feel for you though, if its all thats available, you have no choice... | |
| dmorganapril
join:2007-10-21
Allentown, PA
| Same problem I live in Kutztown, and our area, which is Highland Estates (a fairly new area), is only offered one-way Internet. You're right, it is pitiful. Imagine four computers hooked up to this one piece-of-crap modem.
Is your area offering two-way yet? It has been four to five years, and YET, there is no expansion. | |
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| Forums » comments on review of ProLog |
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Review by prologsucks
Posted: 2.9 years ago
member for 2.9 years, 9 visits, last login: 2.7 years ago
Etters,York,PA
$40 per month (12 month contract)
"Okay speeds and service until receiving warning out of blue"
"Nondisclosed download and upload caps, too many companies to talk to"
"Monopoly that must be stopped!"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
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I am writing to tell you that PenTeleData/Prolog is a very bad choice, You should opt for other cable companies to move into your area and break the monopoly that PenTeleData holds on Pennsylvania, I urge you to write your congress representatives and senators. Something must be done to depose this company and put to rest their unscrupulous and dishonest business practices.
Here's a little background as to why:
I just received the attached letter from PenTeleData, the internet provider that is the sister company of Blue Ridge Cable.
Here's what it stated:
Dear Valued Customer,
Please read this important system message from PenTeleData/Blue Ridge Communications regarding the bandwidth usage statistics recorded for your ProLog Express cable modem Internet service last month. Committed to constantly improving the quality of our services and support, BRC and PenTeleData have started working together on a service enhancement project to identify which of our customers utilize the most bandwidth, and to work with those customers toward reducing that usage to improve the overall performance of our Internet services for all PenTeleData/BRC
customers.
After careful analysis of recent usage data, it has been determined that your cable Internet account consumes bandwidth in excess of what is considered normal for the modem package that you are paying for. The usage recorded for your account during the month of November indicates activity that is not in accordance with the guidelines of our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) located at »www.ptd.net. Please review your computer system(s) and your usage patterns immediately for any activity you think might cause your account to exceed the usage totals reported by 99% of our cable Internet customers.
Blue Ridge Communications and PenTeleData will compare utilization statistics for this month against past usage statistics for your account to reach a conclusion on a course of action to be taken. If you receive a second notice of excessive bandwidth usage, you will be asked to either upgrade to a higher speed residential package or a PenTeleData commercial service account. If you do not choose one of these options, your account may be suspended.
For information on upgrading your account to a higher speed residential package, please contact Blue Ridge Communications at 1-800-cable77. If you are interested in more information on a PenTeleData commercial cable modem account, please call 800-281-3564, ext. 7715. To view a few tips that could help decrease bandwidth usage for your ProLog Express cable Internet account, please click here: www.penteledata.net/bwdecrease:
If you have any questions related to this important system message, please contact PenTeleData at 800-804-5783, ext. 7710.
Thank you for your business and continued support.
PenTeleData/Blue Ridge Communications
540 Delaware Avenue PO Box 197 Patmerton, PA 18071
1.800.281.3564 www.penteledata.net 1.800.804.5783 www.ptd.net
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
Nowhere on their website or their service agreements did it state anywhere that they have a download/upload cap of 50gigs down/25 gigs up a month and if one runs over that cap, then customers get sent a letter. I called ProLog about this issue who all of sudden had knowledge of this policy, yet nowhere on our agreement does it even mention this cap. Oh and here's another interesting thing, the cap changes! Yes, you heard me, what is 50 gigs today can change to 40, 30, 20 gigs without them telling us! The lady I spoke with last night informed me that she doesn't even know what the cap is unless Blue Ridge tells them just that it has to do with the population increases in certain areas. I questioned her further and she informed me that this means as more people signup, the quota goes down! She then told me that I would have to talk with someone at Blue Ridge in reference to my particular cap. Yet when talking with Blue Ridge Cable the next day about this policy, they pushed the decision off onto PenTeleData. Ridiculous! In speaking with more representatives at PenTeleData, they denied this claim and said that they would be "checking into this" claim, yet they still parroted the policy of the 50/25 gig cap.
She then calmly told me that I could sign up for more quota if I buy one of their other services, which are of course was more money, yet when I went to both PenTeleData's and Blue Ridge cable's site to see the difference in the quotas, you guessed it! It said absolutely nothing about the quota, only that their accounts allowed unlimited access. What they don't tell you is that the "unlimited access" does not mean unlimited downloading and uploading access, it means unlimited access to the internet.
In referring to the letters, they work on a four strike system as follows:
1st letter - Initial warning.
2nd letter - Second warning.
3rd letter - Temporary suspension of service. You must speak with a rep in order for the suspension to be removed.
4th letter - Permanent disconnection. Will not allow service to customer again, period.
And on top of this they start charging $1 per gig over the imaginary quota on some people's accounts! This is sheer madness!
But wait, there's more, if you go to www.ptd.net and sign in with your account, you are supposed to be able to view online time here:
( hxxps://portal-web.ptd.net/AccountManagement/login.jsp ) Account Management -> Online Time
to see how much bandwidth and amount of download and upload you have done so far according to a report, yet everytime I click to view the report to even see how much has been used I cannot, it simply states "information is not available"!
Try it, I guarantee you won't be able to! So, how can one see how much usage that they have and watch their bandwidth if they cannot see this information?
Now I know that some of you out there will challenge me with the TOS agreement, so I took the opportunity of pasting it below:
Broadband Bandwidth: PenTeleData and your broadband service provider offer multiple tiers of high speed Internet access with different speeds and bandwidth usage limitations (not all packages are available in all areas). Customer acknowledges that any quoted bandwidth rating/transfer rate for broadband Internet Service is a maximum rate and are not guaranteed. PenTeleData and your broadband Internet provider reserve the right to manage its networks to provide for maximum efficiency. As a user, you must ensure that your activities do not improperly restrict, inhibit, or degrade any other user’s use of the service or PenTeleData’s ability to deliver and monitor the service, or our network resources and do not represent (in the sole judgment of PenTeleData) an unusually large burden on the network itself. Users found to be (in PenTeleData’s sole judgment) in violation of this policy may have their accounts terminated, suspended, or upgraded to a higher level of service, subject to the appropriate fees. PenTeleData will use reasonable efforts to notify a customer prior to service termination for excessive bandwidth use.
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I have a few qualms with this legalise:
1. Nowhere does it state above that the "excessive bandwidth" is capped at 50gigs download/25 gigs upload for the G-3 account (the account most end users have), for more money you can get "more" G-7 plan: 65gb/35up, and even more money gets you the G-10 plan: 80gb/45gb, but yet the only way you will get this information is by speaking directly with a PenTeleData representative.
2. Instead of hiding this information and only communicating this information verbally after one has exceeded the limit and then trying to sell customers a higher priced account or a much higher priced commercial account, they should be upfront with all customers BEFORE making the decision to purchase their service.
In this day and age, this cap is ridiculous and they are going to have more and more unhappy customers, I for one am moving away from my area just because they are the only provider in my area! Talk about a monopoly, the rural areas of Pennsylvania are getting the royal shaft with these guys, so I urge everyone to take to the streets and fight the power!
The relationship between the cable provider and PenTeleData is mindlessly confusing for customers, god forbid that you have a problem with your service, you will bounce back and forth with each entity placing blame on each other. And who loses in the end, you guessed it! The end user!
Followup comments: prologsucks
join:2006-12-14
Etters, PA
1 edit | Boycott or Class Action suit anyone? Well, I just got my second letter and I am now really pissed off. I think it's still ridiculous to a) enforce a quota when they don't even tell any customers about a quota until it's too late, b) I've talked to them several times (both Prolog and Blue Ridge communications) and none of them take responsibility for the quota, you try calling and see what a ridiculous blame game is going on here, c) didn't anyone notice how they enforced the "quota" in the winter when most people are inside their homes? Do the terms "greedy bastards" and "monopoly" mean nothing to those of you who will inevitably criticize this posting? d)Every time I've called I've asked them if there is anyway that I can see visually how much I'm downloading and uploading and they told me no. The only way I can track this is by the url that Dodgetech2 left for me in this thread, talk about obstruction of information. If they were so damned concerned about keeping within our "quotas" wouldn't they freely give out the url so I can keep track of my bs "quotas"
Doesn't anyone else see this horrible situation that we who are Prolog/Blue Ridge customers are subjected to? This calls for a class action suit to if anything make them post their "quotas" before one signs their contracts and let it be known to the rest of the world how much of a monopoly and strangle hold they have on folks in rural areas.
Class action suit now! Boycott Prolog and Blue Ridge cable now! Until their unscrupulous practices are answered for, we should not allow them to just take our money under these false accusations and pretenses. This is utter madness!
And of course, some idiot from Prolog will post something flaming me, so flame away jerk, someday the people will speak and if not, FIOS will soon take your evil empire down! | |
| dmorganapril
join:2007-10-21
Allentown, PA
| All Against Prolog To be honest, we should protest against Prolog/PTD for many reasons. They've become a horrible problem in many areas, which doesn't make sense. However, the only reason that this is still continuing, is because everyone is refusing to do anything about it. These are the problems
1.) As 'prologsucks' stated before, people have been receiving letters about this quota that was never in the TOS agreement.
2.) New areas with bad services. I live in an area where only One-Way is available. If anyone has ever had One-Way, they would feel my pain. If there are new areas, expand the better services.
3.) Education of the cable companies with PTD. They seem to bounce you from one company to the next, ending up with no solution at all, or a solution that was repeated before.
I'm pretty sure the list of problems goes on. I think that people that would classify themselves with one or more of these list of issues, should speak to their government official about these matters. | |
| | 
Donkaroo
join:2000-07-02
Hawley, PA
| Re: All Against Prolog I'm with you %100 OP. I too just received my 2nd notice, and if it is indeed a 45GB U/L cap I will be getting my 3rd this month. I'm about to call them now to see what the cap is. I moved from Jersey where I had OOL's Boost package that has no caps. It was great.
I too use Vonage,Netflix, and download games. I use my computer in my bedroom as a TV so I download movies regularly. Now for people that assume people that pass the cap are bandwidth hogs are just blowing smoke. If you download 10 4GB movies a month your at 40GB just from that, not counting any streaming data from Utube,Slingbox, or any other sites that offer streaming content. Now go download or play an online game and your over the limit. Some programs are GB/s themselves. Vista has had me downloading Gigs of updates, service packs, and addons. All these things are within reason and cant see how they are considered "commercial". I know that cable internet service is shared and I respect that. I go as far as limiting my downloads to 7Gb/s even though I pay for 15Gbs. I do this as to not saturate the line and be able to still surf while downloading. I also do the majority of my downloading overnight so my movie is ready for the next evening.
I now this sounds like whining or justification of doing something wrong, but its clearly not. I was never given a number to stay under. Its impossible to stay under a cap that is simply not given. If I didn't use the net to download movies, music, play games, and use VOIP, I wouldn't pay for their top package.
And thats my biggest complaint, not knowing what this cap is. After I got my first warning I went to that site and checked my usage. My largest amount of D/L'ed material in 6 months was 120GB. That sounds like alot but I just moved here from Jersey. I had alot to transfer from my old computer. So I figure OK, that WAS alot but it wont happen again, I wont go over 100Gigs. Well my 2nd warning was for 82Gigs. Now I'm out of warnings without ever even knowing what number to stay under. I get numbers ranging from 20-150Gigs/month depending who I talk to.
Concerning their commercial packages, they're a joke. It's about $150/month for a 10/1Mb package, AND you have to sign a 3 year contract. If it weren't for the contract I MAY have been strong armed into it and gave it a chance. Not having even normal DSL here leaves me with no options, I'm not even thinking of FIOS as thats a pipe dream for this area.
Sorry to make this so long, I could go on forever. I'm just really aggravated at the situation. I get even more aggravated when people make snippy comments about being a bandwidth hog. I pay a premium for their top service, do what I can ie. DL at night and limit my speed, as to not saturate the line, all to no avail.
If I were running a server or saturating my line 24/7 I would have no argument, but I'm not doing that. I'm only using my line for what they advertise in their commercials. I'm all for companies making a profit, and even protecting their network. But why not just lay out the rules in the contract? Why hide the facts/numbers and make things so muddy? Why the tricks in wording by saying unlimited access, but then say it means something else? My biggest gripe is being stuck with them. I was never a fan of DSL and always had cable, but now I pray for DSL to come here. Bleh. | |
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