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Review by the_dukester 
Posted: 61 days ago
member for 6.7 years, 17 visits, last login: 56 days ago
 Tisdale,SK
 $59 per month (month by month)
 about 3 days
 Primary Network
 "Friendly local workers"
 "erractic speeds, speed limits for small communities"
 "not bad when it is all you have"
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none
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Review by Tikker_LoS
UPDATED: 210 days ago
member for 4.4 years, 1398 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Regina,SK
$45 per month
about 5 days
"Reliable, decent download speeds, good package of services"
"Faster upload would be nicer, more than 2 TV's would be good"
"Good value for $$, less companies to deal with"
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DSL is 5000/640 profile. Get consistently good speeds for download, with very rare (unexpected) outages.
Install was very professional, and neat. The time from order to working installation was about a week or 10 days. Service worked the 1st time
The TV portion (MAX) is great. Basically get the same channels as Cable, but service is more like a Satellite (much better channel guide)
bundling the TV with the highspeed access was cheaper than the cable offering, or buying each seperately
Really satisfied to date, and just recently SaskTel has changed the DSL profile to 5000/640 (I'm getting it July 8/2004)
EDIT:
it's been a year since I upgraded to the 5000/640 profile
DSL hasn't been down once yet (that I've noticed anyways, and that's about all that counts)
the TV looks good, new features added all the time
EDIT: Mar 20/06
Received a flyer with the latest bill stating that HDTV, and up to 4 set top boxes, so really good news~
Still haven't had an internet outtage yet. TV has had some minor glitches, but nothing major to note.
EDIT: Sept20/06
New 2wire gateways are now being installed to replace the old generic westell modems. The first 1 I got was very flaky (the internal webpage kept dying, but it kept passing traffic, so mostly just inconvenient) but the 2nd seems fine. They have built in 4 port switch, and Wireless access point so kind of a nice option. Let me remove 1 switch, and 1 old router
EDIT: Mar16/07
The 2wires just suck, otherwise things are good. There's a known bug in the wireless chipset with these boxes which causes inconveniences, but no outages
I'm mostly satisfied with MAX, but I'd like to go to HD eventually. not quite enough HD channels out there to really warrant the change yet (and lack of a big screen HDTV  )
EDIT: Mar11/08
Newer firmware on the 2Wires has solved all complaints. No noticed outtages to date in the last year, and service just works.
Still contemplating HDTV
Followup comments:  
SaskSticks
@165.154.x.x
| Broadband in Rural Areas I am not sure if this is an appropriate place to ask this question, if not then I apologize in advance.
I am retiring in 2 months and moving to Saskatchewan, where I was born. We are looking around the Prince Albert area, specifically Spruce Home, Holbein, and Weirdale. For various reasons, we are looking to purchase a home with acreage, and thus will not be living directly in a town or city. What internet options will be available to us? We are hoping for broadband internet, cable would be ideal but we doubt it will be available in our area. We have also considered Wireless in the past, but my son objected because he says it is no good for online gaming, which he enjoys a bit too much. So what are our options?
Thank you for any help. | |
| | Tikker_LoS
join:2004-04-29
Regina, SK
 ·SaskTel Saskatchewan
| Re: Broadband in Rural Areas There's not much in those places at all
Spruce Home is the only 1 that might have DSL access (i know the IR near there has it)
I'm not really sure on the wireless internet coverage in the north, so you'd be best to phone SaskTel and ask | |
| GoGraphical
join:2007-03-04
Prince Albert, SK
| Service is mediocre, support is so-so I've had both Sasktel and Shaw Cable (Rogers) in the same location for a year straight. Shaw is faster 90% of the time, but unreliable 50% of the time. Sasktel is reliable (i.e. you have a live internet connection) almost always but the speeds are not acceptable for "high speed" and they are unwilling to offer custom speed plans (I *WANT* to pay more for more upspeed but they don't want to hear it). I work from home and this has always been a bone of contention. I've since dropped Shaw because they have a habit of throttling your connection if you use any amount of measurable bandwidth in a short time period and their connection was sketchy. Overall Sasktel is the better provider of the two.
The real problem with Sasktel is they have a marketing department that doesn't know their ass from their elbow and doesn't understand how DSL works. They offer up silly specs in their advertising and then *never* are able to deliver on them in real-world service. Their support people are friendly but minimally trained, their customer service people are also friendly but are almost internet illiterate, their billing department is unable to comprehend logic and instead seems to go by some set of predefined pages of canned nonsense.
Basically, the best review I could give Sasktel is "They are better than nothing." If you want a truly good internet connection, move out of Saskatchewan. | |
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Review by jkshow
Posted: 352 days ago
member for 352 days, 0 visits, last login: 352 days ago
Regina,SK
$40 per month (12 month contract)
"None"
"Bit Torrent greatly impaired, resets all services incl. TV periodically"
"Not for serious internet users"
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My package combined with Max TV service is supposed to give me 1.5 DL and 386 UL. However, when I have my second Max TV box turned on, it eats up my internet bandwidth without exception. Cuts it by 40 per cent consistently.
Wireless router included with service is susceptible to 2.4 Ghz phone use from you or your neighbours. Not only does it cut internet service, but also TV service because the central modem is disabled.
Bit Torrent use: Running a Bit Torrent program on SaskTel internet causes major problems. It will turn off the high speed modem and have it reset itself over and over, usually every ten minutes or so. This also disrupts your TV service! I have to use Bit Torrent only over night while my family is sleeping or they get very upset.
Skype and Joost are also not reliable because of the Bit Torrent issues.
Needless to say, I'm very unhappy with this service.
(It's the 2Wire modem/wi-fi module that gets confused during phone calls or Bit Torrent operation.)
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Review by olson71
Posted: 1 year ago
member for 1 year, 0 visits, last login: 1 year ago
undisclosed location
Contract price not specified.
"speed is OK when it runs"
"the connection cuts out randomly when i use utorrent. which is kind of a make or brake point."
"i think i might switch to shaw and see if i can get a reliable connection."
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I would understand if they decided to limit the download and upload when people use file sharing programs but to cut the connection completely is just disgraceful. Absolute rubish.
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Review by SniperSlap
Posted: 1.6 years ago
member for 1.6 years, 4 visits, last login: 1.6 years ago
Saskatoon,SK
Contract price not specified.
"Very nice employees for the most part."
"Recent 2Wire equipmet is too bloated"
"You may have to fight for quality, but it IS there."
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I signed up for SaskTel's MAX service. The television service is awesome (as an aside), easily beats Shaw's and is 50% of why I stuck on for so long.
The other half of the service which is Internet was a bit more complicated.
Scheduling the installation was no hassle and everyone was very friendly. I've had other interactions with SaskTel and they are a very friendly company with good response to important customer concerns.
For installation, I asked that I have the modem in a computer room (second bedroom), and the television and analog phone in the living room. This is so that I can have a computer room and a living room setup...Fairly obvious.
The installer went on to set it up so that my modem/gateway/whatever-beast would be beside my bed in my bedroom, with one CAT-5/RJ45 running to the computer room and another running to the television (max connects usig CAT-5/RJ-45).
He was a bit annoyed that I didn't want my 2Wire modem in my bedroom on the floor beside my bed and I told him to do the extra work because that was how I wanted it. It seemed stupid to just have a modem sitting in the middle of a room where it had nothing to do with what it accomplished.
I somewhat understood his confusion later on as I began to learn how useless and overbearing the 2Wire equipment is.
This was my first REAL problem. The 2Wire equipment....
This device tries to be everything to everyone. Both customer and support staff. But limits you by taking over your network and also offering faulty wireless (known issue).
You cannot disable the firewall. You cannot disable the DHCP server. The device has a strange way of representing connections and offers a confusing glut of options to configure devices that are or HAVE connected to your network. Again, anyone technical will realize that 2Wire has simply designed to the requirements on this one and has put little into assuring a job well done.
Another unmentioned quirk is that the 2Wire modem almost DEPENDS on it's internal DHCP server to give you addresses. It consumes one from SaskTel, but doesn't offer you any others you might have. So again, this 2Wire equipment is not your regular "modem" in the classic sense.
This perculiar architecting just goes along the lines of what I've already said. 2Wire and SaskTel are clearly trying to cooperate, it just isn't working out well for them.
Either way, it took me quite some while to figure out why everything was being so boned. I could not use my Linksys 802.11n router/AP with this monster.
Consequently, wireless access caused it to put sqwaking and chirping noises (as well as video corruption) on my television signal (known issue) - similar to when Bell ExpressVU cuts out during a storm.
All the support staff but one acted surprised by my troubles. This one individual finally made the suggestion of switching to a Westell modem. Which is what I have now.
Now that I have a Westell? My 802.11n serves up some awesome-fast internet to a huge area with a good signal. My television can run at the same time as games and other streaming media...Much better throughput and latency. I get all my IP addresses and I get to use my nice expensive toys the way I want. No more troubles and an internet connection I have control over!
So. SaskTel isn't bad, they are an overall nice company, their technical expertise is limited however. A summary of what to do if you're a new SaskTel customer:
o INSIST that they Swap 2Wire for Westell equipment. Bear in mind that you can only do this if you plan on having just ONE television box. If you want more, you might be able to convince them to just give you additional modems - but I'm not sure.
o Don't pay attention to their phone support staff, they're largely incompetant.
o Reccomend as a customer that SaskTel switch away from 2Wire hardware and seek out a vendor who can provide QUALITY firmware solutions to both the support staff and the customers they stick with this stuff. Overarchitecting the home network is a bloated and scary idea and I refuse to allow any service provider to give me anything more than IP addresses!
Followup comments: SniperSlap
join:2007-01-28
Saskatoon, SK
·SaskTel Saskatchewan
| Followup a few weeks later. It has been a few weeks since I had my SaskTel connection installed. I figured I would take the time to relay some of my more longer term experiences.
Now that the 2Wire modem is gone, my television doesn't have any problems. The Westell is been more than capable of fulfilling all my needs.
Sadly, I must make one very negative and annoyed note. The speed. Or lack there of. SaskTel's speed for lack of better terms leaves MUCH to be desired. Especially in the upstream department. I have been unable to use webcams and interact with my machines at home from the office (who obviously have a huge connection). The lack of throughput and extremely high latency just doesn't cut it.
Where I used to be able to SSH tunnel from my college's bogged down connection to home on Shaw in the past, with a more open setup, I can do nothing.
If SaskTel does not respond favourably to my requests to increase my upstream bandwidth, I will be switching to Shaw as I do not respect their artificial explanations and dismissive excuses. The limitations of DSL as far as I'm concerned in this scenario are imposed only by them. It's pretty pathetic when you have a connection that undershoots their advertised specs most of the time and doesn't mention upload speed anywhere in an attempt to get away with offering next to nothing. Especially when your main competition often overshoots their promises by leaps and bounds and offers VIABLE upload speeds.
I already own a Shaw cablemodem and I'm sure they'd love to sign me on for a great promotion...SaskTel...Anyone listening? Wake up and smell the lack of customer satisfaction. | |
| wilburyan
join:2002-08-01
| crappy 2wire A problem I'v noticed with my 2wire...
When I am connected through wireless (set to WPA2-PSK... havn't tested with the other security options) I get an interesting problem when I use Check Point VPN to connect to work.
The modem completely power cycles and has to sync back up, tv and internet are down while that happens. If I try again... same thing. However, if I plug the laptop into the router directly... it connects fine. | |
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Review by tmason63
Posted: 1.9 years ago
member for 3.8 years, 11 visits, last login: 1.6 years ago
Cudworth,SK
Contract price not specified.
"Download speeds are decent generally 180 in the rural"
"Becoming useless for online gaming"
"They're the only game in town and they know it."
| Pre Sales information:
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I have used Sasktel for my ISP since they came into my town with dialup 4yrs ago. Since then I upgraded to highspeed the minute it was available.
The gaming servers I use are in Chicago and I found that my ping route was taking me first to Vancouver and then back to Toronto before heading south. The extra 2000 kms of travel was explained "as the way it had to go". Then last year it all changed and was heading straight to T.O., which was great. For the past 3 months now it has gone back the other way for most of the servers but not all and due to some high latency issues in San Jose (which last all evening everyday until 1-2 am) it is unusable. The frontline tech I talked to said there is nothing that can be done and suggested I try switching to Access which is a cruel joke as they are the only provider here.
Not sure what else I can do, I included a couple of tracerts as examples
Via San Jose
Target Name: N/A
IP: 8.9.11.7
Date/Time: 10/11/2006 7:30:14 PM
2 18 ms 207-195-69-254.sktn.hsdb.sasknet.sk.ca [207.195.69.254]
3 16 ms [142.165.70.129]
4 59 ms [142.165.1.113]
5 N/A [-]
6 21 ms [142.165.60.138]
7 19 ms [64.230.231.141]
8 20 ms core1-regina-pos9-1.in.bellnexxia.net [206.108.101.57]
9 43 ms core2-vancouver-pos9-0.in.bellnexxia.net [206.108.101.54]
10 49 ms bx2-vancouver_POS2-0.net.bell.ca [64.230.248.62]
11 42 ms if-3-0.core2.VCW-Vancouver.teleglobe.net [64.86.115.13]
12 50 ms if-7-0.core1.VCW-Vancouver.teleglobe.net [64.86.115.30]
13 45 ms if-10-0.core1.SEP-Seattle.Teleglobe.net [207.45.196.53]
14 84 ms if-12-0.core1.SQN-SanJose.teleglobe.net [66.198.97.21]
15 127 ms so-1-2-0.e1.SanJose1.Level3.net [65.59.88.201]
16 300 ms so-1-2-0.bbr2.SanJose1.Level3.net [209.244.3.141]
17 297 ms as-2-0.bbr1.Chicago1.Level3.net [64.159.4.225]
18 300 ms ge-7-2.ipcolo1.Chicago1.Level3.net [4.68.101.170]
19 297 ms [8.9.11.7]
Ping statistics for 8.9.11.7
Packets: Sent = 1, Received = 1, Lost = 0 (0.0%)
Round Trip Times: Minimum = 297ms, Maximum = 297ms, Average = 297ms
Via TO
Target Name: unknown.Chicago.velocity-servers.net
IP: 66.225.194.22
Date/Time: 10/11/2006 7:35:23 PM
2 34 ms 207-195-69-254.sktn.hsdb.sasknet.sk.ca [207.195.69.254]
3 17 ms [142.165.70.129]
4 19 ms [142.165.1.113]
5 17 ms [142.165.60.178]
6 30 ms ra1ar-pos5-1.ed.bigpipeinc.com [66.244.192.113]
7 24 ms rc1ar-ge9-2.ed.shawcable.net [66.163.70.5]
8 43 ms rc1sc-pos14-0.wp.shawcable.net [66.163.76.77]
9 40 ms rc2nr-ge12-0-0.wp.shawcable.net [66.163.73.169]
10 61 ms rc2ch-pos7-0.il.shawcable.net [66.163.76.174]
11 84 ms rd2ec-pos1-0.il.shawcable.net [66.163.65.14]
12 70 ms ge0-0-1.j2.ord.scnet.net [206.223.119.57]
13 61 ms so2-1-0.j1.ord.scnet.net [64.202.110.13]
14 74 ms ge0-1-1000M.ar1.ChicagoEquinix.velocity-servers.net [66.225.194.1]
15 63 ms unknown.Chicago.velocity-servers.net [66.225.194.22]
Ping statistics for unknown.Chicago.velocity-servers.net
Packets: Sent = 1, Received = 1, Lost = 0 (0.0%)
Round Trip Times: Minimum = 63ms, Maximum = 63ms, Average = 63ms
Any help would be appreciated
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Review by macdonaldp
Posted: 2.1 years ago
member for 3.4 years, 5 visits, last login: 2 years ago
Saskatoon,SK
Contract price not specified.
"Good customer service"
"Ok speed (not as good as Shaw currently)"
"Where is my free upgrade to 5 mbps?"
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I read below that someone was upgraded to 5 mbps for free. I'm in Saskatoon and I thought that for sure they would be offering 5 mbps with their max service. I guessed wrong.
I just hope that the speed does improve sometime soon. I was told they are doing network upgrades in my immediate area (to improve TV service so we can have 3 boxes.) Hopefully this improves the speed as well.
Followup comments: wilburyan
join:2002-08-01
| Upgrade your refering to The upgrade to 5mbits you speak of is for High Speed Basic customers in certain locals (high speed basic is rural high speed, in the major centres you have high speed clasic).
Customers in these community may receive up to 5 mbps download speeds.
Assiniboia Kindersley Pilot Butte
Balgonie Langham Rosetown
Biggar Lumsden Rosthern
Canora Maple Creek Shaunavon
Davidson Martensville Tisdale
Esterhazy Meadow Lake Unity
Fort Quappelle Melfort Warman
Hudson Bay Melville Waterous
Humboldt Moosomin Wilke
Indian Head Nipawin Wynyard
Kamsack Outlook
Kerrobert Oxbow | |
| | macdonaldp
join:2005-04-21
Saskatoon, SK | Re: Upgrade your refering to But why is it limited to those communities? Shouldn't Sasktel be focusing on their city customers, especially where I am in Sasktoon, because in Saskatoon I could switch to Shaw and receive better service?? | |
| | | Tikker_LoS
join:2004-04-29
Regina, SK | Re: Upgrade your refering to you can get the 5mbps highspeed with MAX, it's just not free
it's $10/mo I believe which isn't that bad | |
| | | JimmySask
join:2004-06-24
Regina, SK
| Customers in the rural areas are paying more for their internet service, due to the higher cost of providing services. $10/month more to be exact, for a comparable 1.5 mbps downstream service. As a result, in some areas, SaskTel does provide extra bandwidth , if the customer is within range (2.5 km loop length to actually be able to get the 5 mpbs speeds). Not all customers in the smaller centers can get it, so it is not advertised as a 5 mbps service, only the 1.5 mbps they know they CAN provide. In the city, you can pay the extra $10 (with or without Max) to get the 5 mbps service (both speed and price similar to Shaw). Overall, you would pay the same as those customers for the 5mpbs service, the only difference is you known to be able to get the service, whereas they may only be able to get 1.5 mbps, with a possibility of more.
--
I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me too.... | |
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Review by boyio2006
Posted: 2.3 years ago
member for 2.4 years, 78 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Prince Albert,SK
$70 per month (23 month contract)
"Fast and bundled on one bill"
"no PVR and High Def Yet (offering this summer or fall)"
"if u want to be billed on one bill, get the service"
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I have Sasktel for over a year and a half now and still no problem to report since I had from day one.
I get everything on one bill and get the equipment for free (equipment covers by one monthly fee) No need to purchase them.
If u want to be billed for everything, this is the service for everybody.
No PVR or High Def yet, they said they will be available this year. I want to try them out once they get them going.
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Review by boyio2006
Posted: 2.4 years ago
member for 2.4 years, 78 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Prince Albert,SK
$70 per month
"Fast and never need to buy equipment"
"no PVR and High Def Yet (offering this summer or fall)"
"if u want to be billed on one bill, get the service"
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I have Sasktel for over a year and a half now and still no problem to report since I had from day one.
I get everything on one bill and get the equipment for free (equipment covers by one monthly fee) No need to purchase them.
If u want to be billed for everything, this is the service for everybody.
No PVR or High Def yet, they said they will be available this year. I want to try them out once they get them going.
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Review by woynarski
Posted: 3.6 years ago
member for 3.6 years, 1 visits, last login: 3.5 years ago
Regina,SK
$45 per month
"High download speeds at all times, even during peak hours"
"Online gaming ping is extremely poor, sasktel tech support aren't educated."
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Finally somewhere I can say something about SaskTel where people can understand me.
When we got highspeed I was thrilled, but as the months had gone by, it was getting worse and worse. I play some games online and have noticed very many things that happen. First of all, pings drastically change from the winter season to the summer season. If I'm playing in a "server" located in Chicago in the winter, my ping would vary from 100-105 (1 ping being the lowest possible), but when the time changes and summer or spring comes upon us, the pings change and my ping would be 70-80. Same thing happens in any "server" located in New York or New Jersey. I noticed that the download speeds have been very steady, and they seem to be very high at all times.
However, after upgrading to SaskTel Max, our services have gotten worse, download speeds have dropped, and pings have almost doubled. Our ping has increased from an average of 80-90 to 120-130. Me being very ignorant and all, I decided to phone SaskTel customer service, and asked them what the problem of connection speeds were. I noticed when I was doing a traceroute that after the first hop (to sasktels building IN OUR city) the ping jumped from 1ms to 40ms. So I talked to customer service and asked them about the traceroute. The technician ridiculled me telling me she knew what a traceroute was. Again, me being ignorant and all, tested her and realized that she had no clue what this was. After spending about 10-15 minutes trying to explain to this lady that our connection speed was terrible, she told me to clean my computer of all viruses and spyware. I knew right away after she told me to do this, that she had no clue what she was speaking of, and hung up in disgust. I don't know what to do, because I am stuck with this SaskTel service, and I'm quite fed-up.
Like I said, downloading speeds are pretty high, and I'm pleased with this, although I'm very mad that our connection speeds to other IP adresses are extremely high. Any suggestions?
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