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Review by (hidden by request)
Posted: 7.4 years ago
(review was emailed from domain apexworld.net)
 Millbrae,San Mateo,CA
 $75 per month (12 month contract)
 Focal
CLEC party: Focal
 "Excellent service provider."
 "None."
 "Don't give up on broadband. Call Apex Telecom."
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Apex Telecom really solved a monumental problem for me. Living in the
Millbrae hills, I thought that I would never get broadband. Too far for
cable internet (and slow upgrade cycle). Latency issues with satellite.
Too far from the central office for DSL. After all is said and done for
the total wire distance, I was about 19,000 feet(!) from the central
office (about 15,000 feet plus all the wiring to the residence). For
those not familiar with DSL distances, this is very, very, very far.
Apex did a really, fantastic job in getting DSL provisioned and
installed. They installed a new line from the house switch to the wall
(and fortunately did not use the existing home wiring which was frayed
and would have definitely slowed down the connection speed). And they
answered a lot of technical questions.
Given the distance from the central office, I have a very fast
connection, which seems to be faster than cable modem (which I had
before DSL) and my office connection. I thought that it would
technically impossible to get DSL, and I wasn't sure in the beginning if
Apex could deliver, but they did!
Therefore, for those people that have given up or will give up on
broadband because of distance, service provider issues, etc., then Apex
Telecom is your answer for high-quality broadband!
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Review by (hidden by request)
Posted: 7.5 years ago
(review was emailed from domain wsgr.com)
San Mateo,San Mateo,CA
$44 per month (12 month contract)
Focal
CLEC party: Focal
"STELLAR service; low monthly price"
"Can't complain about anything (and that's really saying something)"
"I highly recommend APEX"
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After comparing prices and reviews on DSLReports.com, I ordered DSL service
from APEXDSL in March 2002. I have been very happy with the service I have
received. The DSL is very fast and using DSL Reports test function, I have
confirmed that I am getting the speeds advertised.
I have also been extremely happy with the service we have received. During
the first install, the gentleman who installed our service tested numerous
lines and really went out of his way to do the installation. Then, after we
moved to a new apartment and needed to transfer our service, we again
received stellar service for the install in our new apartment.
Here's an example: After arriving at our place, the technician learned that
he did not have access to the telephone room in the basement. He then
contacted our housing association and drove to their offices to get the
keys. After returning to our complex, it became apparent that he had been
given the wrong keys. He contacted the housing association again and then
drove down again to get the right set. He tested a number of lines and
found one that worked and completed the install that morning. All of this
with a great and friendly attitude.
The price of the DSL is comparable to what I would pay for a second phone line and 56K dialup service. Additionally, the speed has been great. Seems faster than our T1 line at work sometimes.
I would strongly recommend APEX, and have done so to many of our friends.
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Review by rgjr 
UPDATED: 7.5 years ago
member for 7.6 years, 94 visits, last login: 4 years ago
Petaluma,Sonoma,CA
$75 per month (month by month)
 about 30 days
SBC
CLEC party: Focal
"Great up and down bandwidth, small company, great price. Tech support puts forth a genuine effort."
"No online support or info, no 24hr tech support, long hold times for tech support"
"Unless you know your way around a computer, APEX is not the answer for you. However, they do provide service at a great price"
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I became very un-happy with AT&T when they transitioned from Excite. My cable service and thier supprt dwindled from that point on. I still have AT&T because I do love my cable connection, but what I really wanted was more bandwidth to host the occasional game server. APEX looked like it had the affordable answer for me. I was interested in the 1500down/512up connection.
I called APEX and right away recognized that they were a small company. It didn't really seam like they had thier stuff together either. However, the small feeling and one on one interaction was refreshing, so I decided to give them a shot. I explained, on several occasions, my needs with the connection. I specifically told the APEX person I was dealing with( the same rep on several occasions) that the connection was for online gaming. He stated that APEX has no problem with the use of the connection to host a game server. I ordered my service.
Shortly after I was contacted by Megapath. I assume it was due to my inquiries here. The gentleman from Megapath told me that APEX was able to sell thier service so inexpensively because they have over-sold thier servers. I was told that I will experience high latency due to the overcorwded machines on the APEX side. I wasn't convinced. I, for some reson, trusted the genleman I spoke with at APEX.
Just to be sure I called him back and told him exactly what Megapath had told me. The APEX rep. told me that "APEX is NOT going to sell you service that they cannot provide". I was happy with that.
After a missed appointment and a few phone calls my installation was scheduled. I was told that a tech from Focal would be out. Actually, it was a tech from Techsolutions that installed the line. Unfortunately I had not had the time to run a permanent phone line to the location i desired. So, we temporarily hooked up my laptop on the end of a 75' extension. The tech was unfamiliar with APEX's settings and had to make a few phone calls to ge the correct account settings.
As one other reviewer stated, APEX had failed to set up the account prior to the installation appointment. The tech hooked connection up to a temporary APEX test account. Bandwidth tests looked great right off the bat. Average around 1200down/430up. I was very happy with that. Ran a few line quality tests and they came out just fine too.
After a few phone calls to APEX to get my account set up and a few more to get the IP and DNS settings corrected that were emailed to me incorrectly I was all set up and ready to run DSL through it's paces. I had trouble running my game server though. I could not publically advertise the server. I could only see it on the LAN. It was reacting as thought there was a firewall somewhere.
I disabled DHCP int he modem/router and obtained the IP automatically from the computer and everything was fine. APEX had emailed me a PPPoE client to correct the problem, but I used WinXP PPoE instead. Works just fine. I was also never given the email settings or told where I can access the web space that comes with the account. I got the email settings on DSL reports in the review section and had to call them to get the access page for the web space.
After a few days of occasionally running a game server and playing on other servers myself I began to experience and receive complaints of packet loss. I ran several tests here on the line quality. Sure enough ... 5% to 10% packet loss at the APEX San Franicso host (50 miles from my house). The packet loss has been consistent for the last 4 or 5 days.
If you're not familiar with online gaming, 5% to 10% packet loss will cause the game to "skip" every now and then. A player will be in a specific location and then freeze or dissappear for a moment and reappear elsewhere. 5% to 10% loss is almost useless for quality online gaming.
Where I am very happy with the bandwidth I'm getting and the quaint "one on one" human interaction with APEX, the sole purpose for me getting this connection was gaming. Unfortunately for me ... this connection isn't going to work for gaming unless APEX can do something about the packet loss.
If you're not into online gaming and need high up and down numbers ... APEX may be the way for you to go. The only other problem I've had is a dropped connection 2 or 3 times a day. I can live with that easily. If gaming were not the sole purpose of this connection I would probably recommend APEX to those users who do not require tech support.
The account I signed up for is 1500down/512up + $5 for the static IP. The account is PPPoE and you must commit to a one year contract. My home is located about 2000 feet from the switch ... so, not everyone should expect the great up/down bandwidth that I'm getting.
At the time I am writing this review I have not been able to contact APEX to submit this issue to them. I seriously doubt they can or will do anything about the packet loss, but if they do ... I'll be sure to edit my review to one that depicts APEX as the greates show on earth.
»/quality/nil/744046
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2002-04-28 20:25:15 Speed test (wc) 1267/434 kbps
2002-04-25 22:43:21 Speed test (wc) 1266/433 kbps
EDIT (as of 5/7/2002): Well, I said I would update as soon as I had contacted APEX. I did just that ... called and explained the problem to a ... receptionist (I guess). He then transferred me to a tech. The tech briefly listened to the problem of the packet loss. When I asked him what APEX felt was an acceptable amount of packet loss (I've been with AT&T so long that I asks these types of questions just to amaze myself at the stupidity of the answers). To my disbelief the tech answered "0%". He continued with "You shouldn't be losing any packets much less 5 to 10%". I was kinda blown away. I was expecting an AT&T type answer. He then said he would open up a trouble ticket, took my number and said someone would be calling me. I hung up the phone thinking "well, I guess I'll just call again tommorrow and see if I get someone else". I wasn't expecting a return call. I was right, I didn't get 1 ... I got 4. 2 different techs and the last was a three way conversation with an APEX tech and a Focal tech.
Is the problem fixed? No .... sadly. However, APEX and Focal get a big thumbs up from me for the response and the effort. It's sad but amazing to me that I'm so shocked to get one on one support and a real effort from a tech. The bad part is ... the Focal tech would not accept the "line quality" test results done here at DSLR. They don't trust the third party tests and asked that I ping various sites on the net and send them screens of the results. To reduce the risk of losing packets on the backbone I decided to keep my command prompt tests within the APEX/Focal network. Pings to my first hop and DNS servers showed anywhere from 3% and 5% loss. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I know this ... if they can't fix the problem ... they will have at least given it a good effort. I won't be blown off like with AT&T. More updates to follow.
EDIT (as of 5/17/2002): Well, no results so far. In fact, a bunch of un-returned ohone calls and inactivity on thier end. One incorrect dignosis as well. I was told by an APEX tech that the problem was being caused by WinXP PPPoE. This only proves that they didn't read the text file I sent along with the screen shots of the ping tests I ran. The text file contained a comprehensive list of things I had done on my end to eleviate the problem. One of those things was to delete the XP PPPoE account and use the modems client. I had already eliminated the possibility prior to contacting them about the problem. The reason I did this was to avoid delays and mis-diagosis, just like the one that occurred. Just to be certain, I wasted my time and tried again to no avail. Becoming a little dissappointed.
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Review by eLPiMPeMiKe
Posted: 7.6 years ago
member for 8.2 years, 118 visits, last login: 6.3 years ago
San Francisco,San Francisco,CA
$80 per month
about 20 days
SBC
CLEC party: Focal
"Customer service before hand was great! Answered all my questions and kept me informed on installment dates"
"Slow slow slow slow slow speeds, getting less then 768/128 and paying for their 1.5/512 speeds"
"They promised me faster speeds then PacBell and got the slowest speeds ever!"
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Update: It's been a good 3 day's w/ good speeds, FASTER then PacBell. Patience is a virtue and it was well worth it. With pacbell I was getting about 150-155KB/s (forget bits, let's talk bytes here) and about 12.8KB/s upload. Well with Apex I'm getting a good 165-170KB/s download and listen here, a good 40-45KB/s upload. Also I think that this is a very good deal, the closest deal is w/ covad or any other ISP who uses covad's lines. Covad's deal is 1.5/384 for $90 while i'm getting 1.5/512 (well upload couldnt reach 512 so 416) for only $80 w/ static. Good deal and good speeds, very sweeet. One thing though, I still haven't figured out the POP3 address so I haven't been able to use the email yet.
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Update: Its Tuesday April 23 and my speeds are now upto speed. Well I was on the phone w/ Apex and they helped me out. My problem was that the loop wouldn't go as fast as they thought so they tweaked it for me and was able to give me a 1536/416 line. Fast fast fast, getting about 1300 download and 360 upload. I guess patience is a virtue, two thumbs up Apex. If your a first time buyer or looking to switch, this isp is a good one. Like i said in my first review their customer support before hand was great, and now the customer support after has put a smile on my face.
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March 26, 2002 is when I placed my order. I saw an Apex ad on DSLR the day before and read some reviews, two gave them the best reviews ever, the other two said they started off bad but at the end it was great. So I called them the next day and spoke to a rep and told him that I was interested in their 1.5/512 package for $75 a month. He then asked me what speeds I was getting w/ my current ISP (pacbell) and I told him around 1100/1200 down and about 108 up. He tells me I should get 1200-1300 down and about 400-500 upload w/ them as my ISP. I agreed and placed my order and asked for a static IP. About 5 days later a Pacbell tech came and checked the line for DSL capability and he installed a whole new box because I had 3 phone lines and 1 was already using DSL (it was on Pacbell dsl until the end of the month, well it's still activated) so the install was over and I emailed Apex asking when the quickest install date would be, and I was responded to the next day telling me that there was an open day. I took it because it was only a few days later, but the next day I received another email saying that it wasn't available anymore because the person who canceled wanted it back. So I had to wait a weekend and then the tech came about 10 minutes early. I was ok with it since I was hyped about getting this much faster line. The install went okay but when the tech tried testing my account it wasn't even activated! He told me to call Apex and ask them to turn on the account and he left, friendly guy he was. So I called Apex and they tell me that it will be up in half a hour. So I call them back and they give me the account info and bam! I was on the net, but only to be hugely dissappointed. I was getting around 650/109 speeds and was going balistic! I called Apex and the support tech tells me that's the fastest I should be getting! Oh no no no I said, I was getting twice the download speeds (almost) and the same upload speed w/ pacbell, for a cheaper price. He tells me that something is wrong then and he will have to contact their main office in the east coast so he will get back to me the next day. I waited a day, and he never called, so I called him back and had to re-explain what was going on! I told him that they probably capped me at the wrong speeds (768/128) and I re-explain that that I was receiving and still am recieving faster speeds through my PacBell account, so again he tells me he will call the company on the east coast and get back to me the next day. I waited another day and he never calls! I call again and he isn't picking up, so I talk to someone else and they tell me that he should be in the next day. I was sick and tired of this so I asked my mom to call, since it is her phone line and the owner of the house. My mom calls the next day, and she tell's them EVERYTHING that I have told them already and they tell her that they have sent in some sort of form to their east coast branch. My mom calls later and talks to the person who said he would do this the day I had my DSL installed, the one I couldn't get a hold of for a couple of days, and he says my speeds should gradually increase and be up as fast as it can be by Monday. Well its saturday and so far I'm getting the same [-peep-] speeds, sorry but I am furious! On monday if these speeds do not change:
»/speedtests/64···orts.com
I am gonna cancel since they never mentioned a contract, and look into another ISP. Apex seemed great, but then again, somethings are too good to be true..
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Review by greentm
Posted: 7.6 years ago
member for 7.6 years, 8 visits, last login: 5 years ago
Palo Alto,Santa Clara,CA
$39 per month (24 month contract)
about 18 days
SBC
CLEC party: Focal
"Everything went perfectly!"
"Hold times were a little long!"
"Can't beat the speed, and price"
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I called on 3/17 to order and salesman was friendly and knowledgeable.
He called me back a week later to let me know Pac Smell will be out on 3/28 to install. On 3/29 he called to let me know they were ready to finish the install and what date and time will work for me. I selected 4/3 at 8am. The tech showed up on 4/3 at 7:55am. He had me set up and installed by 9:15am. I coulnd't of been happier. I was with Telocity / DTV getting 350 down and 80 up for $49.99 a month. I am now with Apex getting 678 down and 110 up for $39.99 a month. Saving 10 bucks a month and getting better downloads. I could of received a static ip for another 5 bucks a month, but I never needed it with my dsl now, so I just went dynamic.
What more could you want! Great job Apex!!!!!
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Review by shatty
Posted: 8 years ago
member for 8 years, 69 visits, last login: 18 days ago
San Francisco,San Francisco,CA
$64 per month (24 month contract)
about 23 days
SBC
CLEC party: Focal
"fast upload for good price, superior service, outstanding time to success"
"no web page tech support, general lack of documentation, no 24h support"
"strong recommendation for tech-savvy who wants to upgrade their upload"
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I decided to change apartments earlier this month and since I had to uninstall my old DSL company (earthlink) to move my phone number, I thought I would see what the competition was doing. I called Apex DSL on Oct. 3 and spoke with a service representative who answered all of the questions that I had, and gave me a phone number at which I could call them directly. The representative faxed me an order form. On Oct. 6, the same representative called me back to ask me if I was interested in getting service. I decided that I was and so I filled out the fax. I ordered the ADSL 1.5M down, 512K up, at $64/month. Since I ordered for a 24 month term, I had a free install. I got a dynamic IP, they use PPPoE.
I waited to place my order until the 8th, since I did not want there to be any confusion when I changed my old number to the new apartment. I faxed it in that evening and the same representative confirmed reception of the fax. On the 9th my number was switched over to the new location and my old DSL was cut off.
When I returned from my vacation on the 15th I received a letter Apex informing me that a PacBall person would come out to commission the line on the 16th. I did not have to be home during that procedure. At the same time they also installed an additional line to my CO since Apex uses different lines for voice and data outside of your residence. After Apex confirmed the commissioning of my line and the installation of the second line, they called me and we set up an appointment for an installation of my modem and checking my line by the Apex tech. (actually a Focal tech?) I set up the appointment for the afternoon on the 23rd.
The tech was a little early but called my cell phone and waited for me. The tech was very helpful. The tech checked the line and installed another termination box in my apartment for my convenience. Since I am technically minded he allowed me to install the ethernet card, drivers, and modem. (he brought a USB modem) He just guided me through the process. When we tried to get the modem to work we had a problem where the modem would not sync. He spoke several times with various people trying to resolve the problem. They eventually narrowed it down to a problem at the CO. (central office) So the tech left. He also asked them to ship me an ethernet modem since I need it for BeOS, my main operating system. There was no additional cost.
I was concerned at this point since PacBell is notoriously slow about DSL installs and especially when they are not for PacBell DSL. I spoke with an Apex technician over the phone and he said that they could determine what the problem was within 48 hours. I called back on the 25th. At this point he told me that the lines were set up for SDSL, not ADSL, and that he couldn't make an estimate on when the problem would be fixed. The tech was very thorough in explaining what they had been doing and who they had been working with and the results so far.
On the 26th I came home and noticed a UPS tag for my ethernet modem. I called UPS and had them hold my modem, which I picked up on the 29th. On the 31st, I received a call from the Apex tech (same tech this whole time!) and he said that they needed me to turn on my modem to check the line. I wasn't at home and so I said I would call when I got there. When I got home I booted into BeOS and called Apex. I spoke to the same tech again and he gave me the login information. I tried it out and it worked!
Over the past few days my download has been excellent and my upload speed has been very pleasing. My friends who download from me are also very happy. 
Overall the customer service was above excellent. I dealt with the same technician and same service representative through the whole experience. I was able to reach them either instantly or got a call back within 15 minutes on every call. The upload speed is as expected, about four times faster than my old DSL. I was very pleasantly surprised that despite the problems that occurred (not due to Apex in any way) I was still able to get up and running in four weeks from my first ever speaking to the company. (!) The install technician was also very helpful and understanding of my desire to do most of the fiddling myself. The install tech also exhibited a friendly curiousity about my alternative OS. Some larger ISPs are rather negative about anything other than windows/mac os, but that was not the case here.
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