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Review by spanko4 See Profile

  • Location: South San Francisco, San Mateo, CA, USA
  • Cost: $80 per month
  • Install: about 7 days
Really really fast...wow really fast..
so far NONE!
comcrap better watch out!
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Services:
Value for money:

I ordered RCN cable about a week or so ago, forget actualy date, i put 7 days on order from live, im really not sure, could have been 6 or 8 about a week. Anyway I ordered the gamer cable package, which is 5000/800 for 80$ a month. My ex isp, craplink, i mean earthlink was 1000/100 for 66$ a month plus i had to have a basic phone which was another 15 so about same price. The earthlink was horrible, I did a review about it, just search. But anyway, the RCN guy came while i was at work, when i got home everything was hooked up, and running great! I did a speed test first thing here using the speakeasy ca test link. I got 3200/755, download was nowhere near 5000, but then i went and downloaded sven coop3.0 form fileshack.com and it never dipped below 480, fluctuated from that to 510. DAMN FAST! Anyway my craplink contract expried and i was looking for isps, i was gonna go comcrap then i read a review of rcn from someone in my area and hopped onboard. Lets see comcrap 3000(maybe)/384?or256? for 52.95 or RCN standard 3000/800 for 44.95, or comcrap ultra 5000/384?256? or rcn gamer 5000/800? and RCN doesnt disconnect people for going over non existant invisible limits! The choice was easy, and im glad i made it! Ive had comcrap before what a nightmare.. anyone else out there doing a isp switch and considering comcrap, see if u can get rcn!

ps. couldnt rate tech support, havent used it!

member for 22 years, 16 visits, last login: 12.7 years ago
lodged 20.2 years ago


peghede
join:2003-06-06
Arlington Heights, IL

2 edits

peghede

Member

Nice

cool dude be happy u get this speed..specialy your uplod is DA BEST!
and yea forget the COMCRAP with 3.0 down /256 upp ha ha.."comcast the new Monopoly " i say No to theam and Yes to the real world with faster speeds download and upload .
jstack
join:2001-12-09
San Francisco, CA

jstack

Member

Lucky

I also live in South City, but it's only serviced by Comcast. I've called RCN occasionally to check availabilty but it isn't available at my house. I live a couple of blocks away from Buri Buri Elementary.
spanko4
join:2002-03-10
South San Francisco, CA

spanko4

Member

Re: Lucky

from what i understand they are working on new areas, so keep checking with RCN, a friend said his neighborhood just became eligible to switch to rcn for cable tv and internet and hes dropping comcast like an ugly date D:
jxsi
join:2003-12-04
Tempe, AZ

jxsi

Member

Got my hopes up..

The RCN website got my hopes up.

I went and checked to see if their services are available in my residential area. The header on the results page said "Congratulations! RCN Services your area." I scrolled down to see that it was just their dialup services.

Oh well. *sigh*

Review by dfurbush0 See Profile

  • Location: San Mateo, San Mateo, CA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
Fast and reliable
Customer service can be rude
The best I ever had
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

Eight months ago I switched to RCN's bundled service for phone, cable TV and internet in San Mateo, California. The phone service is adequate (although the voicemail is substandard), the cable TV is really good, and the internet access is awesome. I consistently get over 5 MB/sec downloads and the upload is just fine. In the past I had high speed internet access through DSL through multiple providers and cable through AT&T, subsequently Comcast. Reliability problems with DSL drove me away (multiple-day outages with endless efforts to contact someone who could fix it). The AT&T/Comcast connection was a big improvement but still had regular outages (which fortunately were normally fixed within a half day or so). RCN has been rock steady and the download speed is amazing. The only thing I don't like is calling their customer service people on the phone -- they are difficult and sometimes rude. But the service guys who have come to my house (once for the initial installation and once to upgrade me to an HDTV set top box) have been great.

member for 24.3 years, 33 visits, last login: 20.1 years ago
lodged 20.2 years ago

ice
Sleep Less, Game More
join:2002-07-01
Wind Gap, PA

ice

Member

Not

Change the MB/s to mb/s, you don't get 5MB/s.

Review by mwarren42 See Profile

  • Location: Wakefield, Middlesex, MA, USA
  • Cost: $175 per month (month by month)
  • Install: about 7 days
No packet loss, no excessive latency, good peer connectivity, good achievment of advertised bandwidth (5Mb), good tech support
Some minor cable box problems, but quickly resolved
Excellent uptime, extremely happy with the service esp. the Internet connectivity
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

DHCP dynamic address assignment, but changes very infrequently. Any computer can connect to the cable modem and get an IP address from the DHCP server. The DHCP server does not require a particular MAC address (no swapping NICs when if your PC dies, etc). Lots of bandwidth, 5Mb both ways. Great tech support in-so-far as I've had to call them. Only had some minor setup problems with the cable box, quicly and easily resolved. I'm exteremely happy with the Internet connectivity. No packet loss, no excessive latency, good peer connectivity. No complaints. Would recommend. Cable TV/Digital Cable, Cable Internet and local/long distance phone service can be bundled.

member for 20.3 years, 7 visits, last login: 20 years ago
lodged 20.3 years ago


Review by (hidden by request)

  • Location: San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
  • Cost: $35 per month
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I just had RCN installed today, part of the cable/internet/phone package. Not only am I saving about $50 a month using RCN for all their services with no contract, the promised 5 Mbps down/8kbps up is indeed a reality. Way faster that any DSL I've ever had. I had a static IP address added to the account. Which didn't work at first, a call to tech support (about a 2 minute wait on the phone) and the modem was re-provisioned in flash. The tech actually knew what he was talking about and was not reading from a script. Dealing with the tech support on the cable TV side (bunk remote) was a pleasant experience too. Quick response, again a knowledgeable tech. Pre-sales the guy was ultra friendly, did not try and sell me a bunch of stuff I didn't need. So far so good...I'd give RCN my highest recommendation and a breathe of fresh air from Earthlink and Comcast.

(review was emailed from domain mac.com)
lodged 20.3 years ago


Jim1133
join:2000-02-27

Jim1133

Member

A nice review

Don't recall seeing a review as positive as yours. I would be looking for the name of the main dude of RCN and send a copy to him. I sure all they get are the rants.
Maggs
Premium Member
join:2002-11-29
Jackson Heights, NY

Maggs

Premium Member

Re: A nice review

David McCourt CEO of RCN. I have RCN in NYC and they are really good. I like their bundled packages and its saves me $60 a month over TW, Verizon. Also, no need for a converter for basic cable which saves $4 a month. It was a great deal for 2 TVs with basic, cable internet, and unlimited local phone service for $85 a month. I would be paying $150 for the same amount of services from all three companies mentioned and Verizon is a ripoff anyway. Verizon always had crossed lines, we don't get that anymore since we went with RCN. I love their Download speeds always over their advertised speeds. I have to give credit to Stephen, an RCN tech in NYC he was a really nice guy and very helpful too. He reran new lines when the subcontractor messed up the first install. I think his tech # was 32226. If RCN had more techs like that they would be doing great. Customer service isn't too bad either. With Time Warner you got put on hold for 45 mins, with RCN its usually a 5 min wait.

Review by FLea973 See Profile

  • Location: Morristown, Morris, NJ, USA
  • Cost: $39 per month
  • Install: about 7 days
Smooth Installation; Good downloads [update] not as good now[/update]
Tech Support; Uploads [update]since Patriot Comm - speed cap[/update][update] Tech Support(Patriot)[/update]
1-Way service is a Catch-22 but 2Way is SWEET
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

[updates below]

Well its been 3months since I got service figured I had enough to review.....

Ordering the service was quite smooth with one exception, when talking speeds I was talking and thinking Kbits and sales was talking and thinking Kbytes so there was a little confusion. The installation occurred when they said it would... but they they gave me a 6 hour window (am of the day).

My initial problems were related to forgotten tweaking I had done for my 56K conn long ago, however, trouble shooting with tech support did not help -- I eventually realized what was happenning and remembered the tweaks. At the time, all tech support did was point me to »speedguide.net -ironically DNS crashed everytime I tried to go there.. some tech support people had the same problem. (however, now that that issue is resolved, I, like them, refer people there as a great site for learning/adjusting/tweaking/testing broadband - if I could have gotten there earlier my problems would have been realized and fixed immediately (I also refer people here to DSLR))

Since that time I have had/still have certain issues like when my dialup dials the call doesn't go through. The problem is (I can't complain about a busy signal like AOL users) the call just doesn't go through. I have two local numbers; unlike my previous ISP (Superlink), when one won't go through, the other won't either. When I do get a connection, speed can be a crap shoot at any time of day -- peak or off-peak) I get not-infrequent "pauses" in my throughput but when it works ....those downloads fly - uploads are still at least 2x faster in pure 56K dialup to the same dialup number.

As to tech support, I have read some things positive, and some negative..... my personal experience is negative. Personally, I have had long wait times, 50% of my calls where I am put on hold after finally talking with someone has resulted in a disconnect. The best call I had was as the result of being tranferred to the wrong department.. Corporate Accounts -- that guy was knowledgable and helpful , even listened to my rant on Support employeee's knowledge on how to work a hold button, then stayed on the line while transfering me to the correct dept.... course it went downhill from there.

I have never had problems with RCN support for CATV - they are always knowledgable and helpful - not to mention the wait time is ALWAYS less than 5 (usually instantanious).

I have two options now that Northpoint is dead - RCN or 56K; at this time.. the download speed outweighs everything else.

[update] 1 year later: Tech support has improved immensly since my review. About 5mos ago I started have problems where I kept losing my downstream connection. The 3-Com CMX modem I was provided has been replaced twice and finally replaced with a SB3100. Since the SB3100, the problem has gone away. My upload speeds also went from 9K to 24K when the SB3100 was installed (may not seem like much but a VAST improvement - one-way cable still sucks).

I no longer have any illusions about receiving 2-way service from RCN - the people on the phone won't even quote the old and tired "6mo - 1yr" from the scripts and both an installer and an RF tech have told me that I will see 2-way "when I move to an area that has it" ::sigh:: [/update]

[update 2003-04-22] Well its been a while - If the website hadn't reminded me I'd of forgotten to update this. Anyway, after following advice here and a few places linked from here I managed to tweak my connection to achieve roughly 6mb down from decent ftp servers (also the OOL ftp speed test) needless to say - though my pings still sucked (24k up still sux) the speeds were very nice especially when getting patches. Now Patriot Communtications has bought my service area.... around that time there were some DNS issues but those are gone - but now I experience roughly 800-900 kbps downloads from the same tests -- no changes made to any of the settings - since there have been a few post regarding tis issue it appears that a cap has been introduced though there is no "official" word on this. According to the build out map at rcn (which as part of the terms of sale imposed by the state require to be met) I should be seeing 2-way before the end of 2004. Last month I got tempting news from Verizon - MY phone line was eligible for 1.5 DSL service now for roughly the same cost that my cable costs... but because its MY line and not the primary line to the house (which is still ineligible for any grade of DSL) the cost of maintaining the line + DSL service puts it beyond the price point. I could use the higher upload speed but its not worth that price..... and for those out there who wonder why I want the higher upload.. realize that a 1-way cable connection even with a 6mbit download still pings quake/hl/rtcw servers like a 56k (and in my case since I connect at 33.6k, somewhere between a 33.6k and 56k - but unlike a dial-up, its rock steady connection wise. [/Update 2003-04-22]

[update 2003-05-01][RANT]

Well its May 1,2003.... the conversion from RCN to Patriot has begun.... and not very successfully from my stand point. I got home from work and the modem was out - not a biggie because I lost downstream a lot under RCN.... I reset it and promptly got a receive signal - but wouldn't logon - so I called support (RCN... I forgot) was told by a nice newly added prompt that Patriot Media was my contact point now... called there and fortunately a recording said they knew that no one had modem service and that they were working on it -- fine, I've done enough conversions to know that there is a good reason you start it 5pm Friday night - because no one will be on it while you work out the kinks and hopefully have it working by 9am Monday (but sometimes even that doesn't happen) but these guys had to do it on a live network that is up 24/7 - so I can give them a little slack.

I hung out on hold for about 40min because I needed to know the ip range for their DNS servers so that I could preconfigure the ol'firewall, but then I had to go to dinner...Big Mistake... got back called again... busy signal from 8:30 to 11pm then surprise surprise it started ringing, here is why:

said by patmedia.net:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hours: M-F 7am-11pm, Sat. 8am-8pm, Sun. 8am-6pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I never thought I was spoiled with 24/7 support - heck even my old LOCAL DIAL-UP ISP had 24/7 support years ago (though they contracted it out)

Well starting at about 9pm I could connect to the net. I was still hardcoded into using RCN DNS servers but I could only access microsoft.com, msn.com and patmedia.net - everything else INCLUDING dslreports.com was a DNS error. So I followed the advice the have on their page and switched to automatic DNS so they could assign their own servers (turned off my firewall for testing) and also followed this advisory they posted on their front page:

said by »www.patmedia.net/patriot/index.html:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Attention Modem Customers

If you are still experiencing a connection problem, please take the following steps:

1. Shut down your PC.

2. Unplug the modem’s power cord from the wall outlet.

3. Wait 30 seconds.

4. Plug the cable modem’s power cord back in the wall outlet.

5. Wait until you see 4 green lights appear on the modem.

6. Restart your computer.

If you're still having trouble after following these steps, please call 1-(866)-PAT-1776.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well a lot of good that phone number does... it was constantly busy and its now after 11. Anyway using the DNS servers they assigned me, I couldn't even access WWW.PATMEDIA.NET!!! So I switched back to my old DNS servers and voila there it is... with my limited browsing.

Now you might be saying that its fixed because I am posting here... but you'd be wrong.... I never got around to ditching the AOL account on my machine because I have family that only uses it and they call asking for help - so I need to see what they are talking about...anyway I had a thought and remembered the days about 10yrs ago that gave me the reason to get another ISP in the first place, frequently when I wanted to go to a web site, I couldn't and would get a message like: all connections were in use and I should try again later -- AOL (even the BYOconnection model) connects to the web using its own connections. Anyway, I thought "hmmm, connecting to AOL doesn't need DNS.... lemme give it a try" - and lo and behold - it worked! Then on to my next experiment: can I connect from there to dslreports for 1)my fix 2)to post this rant. AND I CAN!!!

Sadly I can... I am in an AOL window looking at Dslreports - but at least it works. As most of you here in the RCN Forum (er..now RCN/Patriot) know... RCN's DNS servers weren't the best at least as far as routing went... but unlike Patriot's, they WORKED!

[/RANT]

[PLEA for Help]

Does anyone have some good (heck, working) DNS server IPs they can post for me to try?

If there are any Patriot Media employees reading this willing to tell me - and the others - that there WILL be an automatic credit for the month of May for the loss of service - even if it is prorated?

[/PLEA for Help]

At the very least Patriot Media could have kept the call center up overnight for the first few days of the conversion and staffed it up - its not like RCN where they have to service NJ AND the rest of the eastern seaboard DC to Boston plus Chicago and San Fran.[/update 2003-05-01]

[update 2003-11-24] Well, things have smoothed out conciderably since before. Finally got upgraded to 2-way digital service about a month ago. My connections have stablilized and I have noticed no problems. One of my splitters wasn't replaced with a new "digital" splitter, but I don't have the modem or a converter box after that one so it fine for now (but it is the main splitter in the attic that all the rooms except the basement are split from). -- As far as customer service goes, NJ law now requires that I get to speak to someone within 30sec - but I haven't had to call yet so that remains untested, [/update 2003-11-24]

member for 23 years, 1129 visits, last login: 15.8 years ago
updated 20.3 years ago


St0ney
join:2001-02-25
uranus

St0ney

Member

RCN

Doesnt RCN provide cable Modem too?

xfth
@63.74.x.x

xfth

Anon

DNS servers to try

Cable & Wireless:
204.70.127.127
204.70.127.128

AT&T:
12.127.16.67
12.127.17.72

UU:
198.6.1.3

Review by thebombs12 See Profile

  • Location: San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
  • Cost: $19 per month (4 month contract)
  • Install: about 3 days
I received 3 Mbps down with RCN
No fancy smanshy interface in their portal. 1 email account, predefined with your first/last name.
RCN's promotion was better than Comcast's all for the same price.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Value for money:

Installation:
- Coordinated with 3 others who helped with the installation.
- Took less than 1 hour (new wiring b/c RCN uses different cables)
- Installer came early, which was a good thing.

Speed:
- 3 Mbps down
- 100 KB up

member for 22.4 years, 2143 visits, last login: 182 days ago
lodged 20.3 years ago

sf_geekboy
join:2003-10-15
San Francisco, CA

sf_geekboy

Member

What kind of terms?

I am curious about the terms of your contract. I have called them for pricing, and get a different price on each occasion. So, you get the first 4 months at $19.00... and then you are committed for how many months at what price? Early termination clause? This is just broadband, right? No telephone or television.

Upload seems a bit slow. What are your thoughts about this?

You get a dynamic IP address, with 4 email addresses, no webmail, and no remote acces (dialup as a backup), and they still prohibit you from running any kind of server (email, ftp, etc.) right?

FYI: I live in Noe Valley. What neighborhood are you in?

thebombs12
Mr. Bombs
join:2001-10-23
San Francisco, CA

thebombs12

Member

Re: What kind of terms?

I live in the Portola District and ordered just HSI.

I guess I'll have to look into the email part.

There's no commitment required. It's like Comcast's 6 months deal. It's on their website: »www.rcn.com
4 months @ 19.95/month.
sf_geekboy
join:2003-10-15
San Francisco, CA

sf_geekboy

Member

Re: What kind of terms?

The upload speeds are very attractive if there was some way to setup a vpn connection so that I could access files on my home computer from my laptop on remote... but they are pretty loudly opposed to running any kind of server and vpn is a server function, and I can't figure out how to do it with a dynamic address at home.

So is your price expected to stay at 19.95 after the first 4 months?

thebombs12
Mr. Bombs
join:2001-10-23
San Francisco, CA

thebombs12

Member

Re: What kind of terms?

uh oh, after 4 months it's a whole new different story.
i believe it's $39.99, still cheaper than comcast.






Review by floyd pink2 See Profile

  • Location: Easton, Northampton, PA, USA
  • Cost: $31 per month
  • Install: about 14 days
fast and cheap, works well
modem ownership, anti-wifi and no binarie newsgroups
best value for the money
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I first had a one way modem, the telephone part would disconnect after being connected for a while (running Napster) I would modem support, they would have me change things pull up my MAC address delete temp files reboot the computer. I was calling about 4 or 5 times a week, for 2 months. Later I found out searching Google that this is normal for that brand of modem, gee I wished tech support would have told me this in the first place. After 3 months having a one way now the system is up graded and I can get a 2 way. 2 way was installed in 2 days! Now a year later I wan to own my own modem, I check RCN's webpage to see which one is compatable. Bought a Motorola on Ebay about $40.00. Connected it called tech support, 40 minute hold time ( I'm using a speaker phone thankfully) To my suprise no go only in Chicago and Mass. What had happened when I checked RCN's site there site search took me to the modem page bypassing the can or cannot own one page. I told tech support that I need to take out the nic card in my computer I need a USB modem. He told me that RCN will swap out the modem for on thats USB $50.00 service fee would be charged. I was able to get that changed to zero. OK Saturday I have a service call to swap the modem all day. By 7PM no one, called told told the time frame is 7AM to 9PM OK 10PM no show no call. I called Sunday morning and was told that I was wrong and my service call was set up for Monday all day. I told them that I was told Saturday. Tech support checked the CSR's notes and yes it was listed as Saturday. Sorry here's a $20.00 credit. OK Monday all day no show no call. Tuesday I went to the Ave. "A" office and spoke to the head of the office. He hads no idea why both no shows. This gentleman was very unhappy with his "people" over this. My account was credited another $20.00 and my new USB modem was installed 40 minutes later. I now lost no money over the Motorola modem

Power outages: had a few while file sharing using winmx. Everything is backed up with UPS computer moniter modem router coffee maker. My connecton continued to run untill the power returns.

Higher speeds: I'm now 3 Megs at extra cost. I just had the fastest download sofar. A driver file for my ATI card 25.3 Megs took 1minute 33 seconds.

All in all RCN's 2-way cable modem is the best for me and should be for you.

member for 20.4 years, driveby review (so far)
lodged 20.4 years ago

floyd pink2
join:2003-11-05
Easton, PA

floyd pink2

Member

forgot

I meant NO extra cost from 1.5 to 3 Megs.

Also watch out for line noise (cable line) I was having a problem where it would take so long for a page to load. I'd call tech support, tell them that some webpages are taking like 3 minutes to load. Pages with pictures on it. Tech support = Sir pages with pictures will take longer. Me = Yea but the same page with my webtv box take 20 seconds. Tech Support = Are you running a server? Me = No I'm swapping files with Audiogalaxy Tech Support = What's that. Me = remember Napster. Tech support = Well there's your problem its sucking up bandwidth. I'm setting up a service call for tomorrow 12 to 5 Me = OK. The tech that came swapped out the modem and left. Next day no file sharing but still slow Tech Support - Sir are you running Zone Alarm? Me = Yes and its set up correctly. Tech Support = Well sir there's your problem ZA kills your connection turn it off!! I'm setting up a service call for you we want to check you signal. Another tech comes out swaps the modem again, checks the line AOK signal.
Still no go. I call Tech Support next day, Sir there's nothing wrong with your service Me = I want to try my computer on dial up. Tech Support = Nope I'm not setting up a dial up account. Do you have a friend that also has are cable modem service? take your computer there. Me = Nope no one. Tech Support = Sorry sir I can't help you is there anything else I can do for you? Me = Nope thank you
Next week I called Tech Support about this problem and this person set me up with another service call #7. Some kid from a computer store with a very nice laptop came out and connected it to my modem, surfed around for about 30 minutes. Sir I have no problem. It's file sharing, kills the bandwidth. Also don't run Zone Alarm too. OK he leaves I hook up my computer sill no good. Next day called Tech Support, This person had me check some things put me on hold. Then Sir try this, try that Me = still no good. Tech Support try a new computer on your line, is there anything else I can help you with? Thank you for calling.
Next day I reformatted and reinstalled ME. Still no good, I called tech support. Explained everything, plus I asked now that I reformatted is my computer now its a new computer, right? Sir put ya on hold one minute be right back. Sir give me your MAC address. Gee.. you have 20% packet loss your modem is flapping (or was it slapping?) Its disconnecting. Its caused by line noise. After about 5 minutes on hold. Sir I'm sending a chief tech out to check everything. When he came out he connected a piece of equipment at the ground block, you have line noise coming from inside your home. How many TV's (just one) He went to the 2 way splitter and added a small filter going to the TV in the living room. That fixed my problem. He was very unhappy with his "people" saying that checking for a line filter should of been the first thing looked for.

When cable modem installed ask about filters for line noise. I know that now!
~free of ME and XP happy~

Review by Betak01 See Profile

  • Location: Kew Gardens, Queens, NY, USA
  • Cost: $49 per month
  • Install: about 3 days
Very Fast, realiable, very affordable $49 a month, no hassle!
Service for 9-months now 3 downtimes, fixed over the phone.
Best in my area DSL can go #&!* it self, especially speakeasy.net!
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Got service within 3 days of order, two techs came in one for drilling and running new line, the other for cable modem setup. Bought my own modem, they let people do that in my area, so no more rental fees. Had RoadRunner for almost two years before that, all sorts of problems including dropped connection and very slow speed after 8pm. RCN has new Fibre in my neighborhood, low user count per router, so my speed maybe drops 10k during evening time. Very low ping, online games and streaming video are never a problem. Speed 3mbps/800kbps, recently upgraded to 5Mbps FREE!!!

Excellent service, low maintenance, Extremely Fast!

--- Don't wait switch to RCN if you can!

member for 20.4 years, 15 visits, last login: 14.9 years ago
lodged 20.4 years ago


Review by reptex See Profile

  • Location: Silver Spring, Montgomery, MD, USA
  • Cost: $88 per month
  • Install: about 3 days
It's really fast, but the upload hasnt been what is advertised.
Not stable, my cable is usually down about twice a day, with a 2hr~ish duration
It's good when it works....but these frequent downtimes are annoying the hell out of me.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

75$/mon for the first year, then $88 after that. The pre-sales service was good, installation took only 30min, everything went good, TV has lot of channels, more than comcast(previous ISP), speed was really fast. 48xx/6xx, with free upgrade to the MEGAMODEM, but after a little while, service stability is horrible. It would drop off line for a while, sometimes 1hr-2hr is the usual duration. But once was as long as 13hrs. Since I am getting pretty clear picture, I am not sure what the problem is...today a tech was supposed to come out and check, but never showed up, never gave me a call either. Sometimes the service is up, but it would have 80~ish% packet loss. It's really weird, these downtimes and huge packet loss pretty much kills my gaming. I am thinking I need to go back to comcast or go DSL or something, because comcast was not as fast, but it IS however, better in the stablity department. Help I like starpower, I dont wanna go back to comcast, I wish they can fix this little issue and I'll be RCN customer forever.

member for 21.2 years, 111 visits, last login: 13.7 years ago
lodged 20.4 years ago


html_freak
join:2002-08-04
Ada, OK

html_freak

Member

asdf

asdf
reptex
join:2002-12-24
Clarksburg, MD

reptex

Member

Re: asdf

thats a nice reply

Review by dtmoore See Profile

  • Location: Silver Spring, Montgomery, MD, USA
  • Cost: $43 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 5 days
They are fine when everything works! Watch out otherwise.
Customer service is terribly slow (30-90 minutes per call). They are horrible to deal with when things are not fine.
They are better than he cometition (COMCAST) but only barely!
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I was originally very happy with RCN/STARPOWER. They offered better quality service than the competition (COMCAST). With their modem I got a DHCP connection with good downlad speeds and the $40/month was not to unreasonable. Service was largely consistent and even in or after storms (not electrical storms) I could stay connected. Each time I called custoemrservice was prompt and answered questions intelligently.

However, something changed during the summer of 2003 something changed. RCN went BAD!

In late August the nightmare began when the modem went out. After a three hour telephone call (most of it on hold) I was told that customer service would come out and replace my defective modem for free IN A MONTH! Or, I could buy my own modem, pay $50 and they'd be out in THREE DAYS. Oh, and if I waited the month I might have to pay for service even though I could not cnnect--what a deal. Since I cannot be without Internet I accepted their not so subtle coercion to pay them. When the tech came out, he made one telephone call -- read the modem's serial number and MAC address, and left. Total time in house about 5 minutes (or $10 per minute -- but hey, who's counting?!). This was customer service? At this time I'd already been on the telephone with them for about 3 hours (and 8 hours of hold time -- I logged every call).

As of the present time, RCN has clearly grown beyond its capability to support its customers. Wait times are at least 30 minutes except at 3 AM. Wait times of 90 minutes have not, in my experience, been uncommon. The only reason I remain with them is that the competition, according to neighbors who have it, is even worse.

This is a case of the lesser of two evils. I for one am waiting for decent wirelessinto the neighborhood -- then we'll switch to satellite for the TV's and go wireless in the house.



member for 20.4 years, driveby review (so far)
lodged 20.4 years ago


oldrcn
@cttel.net

oldrcn

Anon

RCN is dying

I used to work for RCN and know individuals who do currently.

They have consolodated their customer call center into one facility in WIlkes Barre, PA and closed their alternate facility in Springfield,MA, since the cost of living in PA is cheaper, thus they can pay the employees less.

This means increased hold times due to less agents to handle all the inbound calls, poorer tech support since you can't higher quality support agents for 20-25K.

RCN does not care about customer service or quality of service. They are losing money and are in a total reduction of operating cost mode, which means the end user suffers.

If you don't like the service --- complain.

It's going to take a LOT of people complaining for them to make any changes though.

GORCN
@c3-0.rdwd-ubr2.sfrn-

GORCN

Anon

Re: RCN is dying

Ok... Albeit RCN has grown exponentially in the past year, possibly larger than they should be. BUT--- I currently have RCN in the Bay Area, CA and cannot give them enough kudo's! Super Cheap. Super Fast (4105/775) and the the phone line is reliable. Compared to the competition in my area, Comcast, SBC, Covad... and the rest of Silicon Valley's best, RCN has beat all hands down. In all area's I might add. Customer Service, I was NEVER able to speak to a rep from SBC. RCN, not a problem. ComCast, the only good service I got from them was when I went to disconnect, they went out of the way to get the damn cable box and modem back. Not even going to say anything about Covad...

GO RCN!!!! Got some room to improve, but still the best out there!

SpeeedDeamon
@c3-0.nat-ubr1.sbo-na

SpeeedDeamon

Anon

Re: RCN is dying

haha....so because a company closes a call center means they are going out of business?

If you're on this website, you must be a computer geek. What do you need to call tech support for anyways?

I have RCN, and their speeds are awesome. So what if it takes me 5 or 10 minutes to get a live person if I call tech support during peak times? I call like twice a year.

And their about $10 less than Comcast charges, and have 3x the upload speed, and about 33% faster download. For $10/less! So why who cares if *YOU* don't like RCN. Waste an extra $10/month and get slower speeds with Comcast if you want.
SpeeedDeamon

SpeeedDeamon

Anon

Re: RCN is dying

Another thing....hahaha....

You USED to work for RCN? What happened? You got fired? Is that why you're complaining about RCN? HAHAHAH
StillRCN
join:2003-11-02
Sunnyside, NY

StillRCN to oldrcn

Member

to oldrcn
It looks like you are still hurt for the fact that they kick your ass out of the company. They are still alive and kicking buts, you can ask Verizon, Time Warner, and Cablevision. We are learning from our mistakes and growing up from them. Too bad you won't be around to enjoy it, ups! wait a minute, you were part of our mistakes, that is why you not longer are part of the team. Too bad!