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Review by XPAMD See Profile

  • Location: Rawson, Hancock, OH, USA
  • Cost: $61 per month
  • Install: about 2 days
Works
Speed and Value.
It Works, but Compared to TWC not a great Value.
Connection Reliability:
Value for money:

Update 9/9/2015

This is likely to be my last review of Earthlink High Speed Internet over Time Warner Cable.

I've made the decsion to end my relationship with EL and switch back to TWC in the next month. It simply has come down
to the price of the service and what they're offering. With Earthlink MAX they top out at 15Mbps and 1 Mbps Up. I'm paying a total of just under $61 dollars a month. I can get 30 Mbps for less, even with modem rental.

I've very rarely ever had to call for service and the Time Warner techs who typically work in my small town to a great job to addressing concerns and getting it fixed. With that said I'm not dinging them for reliablity, but I've dropped their score for Value for money. It's just not there anymore.

If you've got Time Warner in your area and it simply works. Keep it, Earthlink won't save you any money.

Update 7/22/2011

Once again Earthlink can't get it's act together. They seem to believe I should be paying for an email account, after I've told them, TWC has confirmed with them that I have a Earthlink Account via TWC, billed by TWC.

This situtation was supposed to have been resolved by someone with Earthlink Corporate, I supplied by TWC account number which was requested.

Today I got a call saying that I owed a little over 6 bucks, obviously I was furious, and requested a supervisor. Ultimately he decided to Txfer me to Customer Services. I have e-mail the corporate contact as I refused to get passed around.
==================
For some reason Earthlink decided to deactivate my email account. I have tried 3 different numbers and all come up busy, I tried the chat feature, ends up being a big waste of time!

If it weren't for the price I would switch to TimeWarner, at least then I know I would get some sense of service.

Rated down the Services category.

=========================
Ordered on 3/27.2011 via sales chat.

Install Setup 3/28/2011 via Time Warner Cable

Installed 3/29/2011
Tech was very good and knew his stuff. Appt window was 4 to 7. He called @ 5 he arrived about 20 minutes after 5.

Subscribed to 15Mbps/768K Getting close to advertised speeds.

I previously had Service a few years ago at my previous residence.


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member for 21.8 years, 4744 visits, last login: 169 days ago
updated 8.5 years ago

ncmikey
join:2003-05-27
Greensboro, NC

ncmikey

Member

News server question ...

Good to know the install went well. One question ... Do you use the binary news groups much? If so, what kind of performance have you experienced? I have heard not good things re: EL's news servers.

XPAMD
Premium Member
join:2002-06-08
united state

XPAMD

Premium Member

Re: News server question ...

Well, right now I'm not using any newsgroups. I don't care much for them. According to the EL Cable Forum, their not great.

Review by Earthlinky See Profile

  • Location: Forest Hills, Queens, NY, USA
  • Cost: $41 per month
  • Install: about 14 days
Full Internet speeds as advertised
Connection issues, horrible support
If you have FIOS use them
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Horrible support and the network is not run well. I should not be timing out at the first hop and routers should not be experiencing high packet loss.

Would switch to FIOS but it is not offered here yet.

Initial installation took awhile and EarthLink kept referring me back to Time Warner but I eventually got service installed.


member for 11.1 years, 17 visits, last login: 8.7 years ago
lodged 11.1 years ago







Review by dellfromhell See Profile

  • Location: Eads, Shelby, TN, USA
  • Cost: $42 per month (12 month contract)
Earthlink sub-contracted to Comcase cable locally.
Confusion with Comcast support as to who our ISP really is when we need support
Fairly reasonable cost for generally reliable service. Lately, (late 2012 to present) large fluctuations in up/download speeds
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Contracted with Earthlink, locally provided by Comcast cable. Overall acceptable, but large swings in upload/download speeds lately. For recent hardware exchange, local (in-store) personnel were rude, unprofessional and generally ignorant. Bottom line: product is marginally acceptable, customer support (face-to-face) terrible.

member for 21 years, 57 visits, last login: 5.6 years ago
lodged 11.1 years ago







Review by ellisgeek See Profile

  • Location: Cascade, Sheboygan, WI, USA
  • Cost: $45 per month
Unstable Connection, Issues with FTP Server, Slower than advertised Connection
Good for the casual user, not so much for the Hart core Downloader or Gamer
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

We have been with earthlink (via time warriner) for approximately 4 years had in the beginning we were very satisfied. we managed to get a low rate locked in at $28 (or so we thought) and the speed was good. But then about 2 tears ago they jacked the price up to $45 and that was ok because the speed was good still. Then last year our Download speed seemed to hit the can ( like less than half of advertised). Web Game ping, torrent all became painful slow, but all the speed tests that i ran came in around 6 Mbps ( what we are paying for).

member for 14.7 years, 2 visits, last login: 13.3 years ago
lodged 13.3 years ago


Butters21
@rr.com

Butters21

Anon

WTF????

So you're noticing a slow down but speed tests are around 6mbs??? Earthlink is the same speed as Standard Road Runner and that is 7/512. I fail to see a problem.

Review by meanderer8 See Profile

  • Location: Brooklyn, Kings, NY, USA
  • Cost: $42 per month
  • Install: about 5 days
Fast downloads when it works
Drops and lags my games all the time
for download leechers is fine, for anything real time stay away!!
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I have been using Earthlink Cable in Bay Ridge Brooklyn NYC area for about 5 years. In the beginning it was great. Speed is fast and games are lag free.

I have seen the fast growth of this area in terms of households and population. And now the cable connection seems to suffer because of that. Every night when I get home from work and started to play a few online games (9pm-11pm), I would get very bad ping and dropped connections. Other times performance is acceptable. This has persisted for about 6 monthes, and appears to be a consistent pattern. Games starts to lag and drop whenever people come home from work. It is obviously a capacity issue. I called Earthlink about it. They transfered me to Time warner cable. I scheduled meetings with their techs to come check the line. They found nothing wrong with it, and replaced my modem. However, the problem persists.

One thing to note is that download speed over bittorrent never suffered and was able to keep the 6Mbps download speed as advertised. However, due to lag and packet loss, watching youtube in HD is impossible.

I would get better performance by tethering my 3G cellphone (t-mobile) to play onlinne games. Very sad...

I believe Time Warner has not been able to keep up with the subscribers in this neighborhood and is unable to provide adaquate service in this area. Therefore I am taking my money to DSL.

Earthlink Cable uses the same system here as Time Warner, as one can tell from their bill headings and who to call when you need support. I don't imagine switching to RoadRunner would improve the issue.

member for 14 years, 4 visits, last login: 13.7 years ago
updated 13.7 years ago


Review by lochtefeldm6 See Profile

  • Location: Englewood, Montgomery, OH, USA
  • Cost: $45 per month
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

ISP choice is extremely limited in my area. I get 6Mbps downstream and .4Mbps up. Cincinnati bell is working on fiber optic and will offer and will offer 30Mbps downstream and 10Mbps up for $49.99 and i will gladly switch once available in my area. Earthlinks speeds and technical support are pitiful.

member for 14.2 years, 6 visits, last login: 12.1 years ago
lodged 14.2 years ago







Review by kmcheng See Profile

  • Location: Elmhurst, Queens, NY, USA
  • Cost: $42 per month
fast and stable connection (not anymore), good modem
super speed drop at night, worst in peak hour (the worst is 1mb or less dl left)
it has gotten worse
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Not much needed to be said, used from 2001 to now, 7 years
I am using Time Warner cable line with Earthlink cable service, cheaper than road runner. Besides a few drops of connection in summer due to cable line instability in earlier year (fixed later on), the connection is generally fast and stable, 90% of the time can reach 1MB (1.1x MB max) download speed. For this good performance, I don't really need to call the customer service, which is a good news.
Though the upload can be a bit faster, just about 60KB max, usually around 50KB. I hope it can go to 100, at least 80.
Changed the modem from the bigger Toshiba one to the smaller RCA one 1 to 2 years ago, I think it helps the connection stability a bit.

UPDATE (09/15/08)
now it is very slow at night in peak hour, this situation has been going on for a month already.
Before, I can still get 6 or 7mb download in peak hour (max is 10mb) , which is still good. Now, it can drop a half, or as slow as 1mb or less, which is totally unacceptable.
I may as well as which to Fios when it is available since the price is about the same, and the upload is faster.

I hope fios come soon so that TW would get some pressure

UPDATE (01/08/09)
ordered the verizon 7.1mb dsl on 1/6 (since I am really fed up with the cable's super speed drop in peak hour), dsl kit shipping in 7, got it today. The system will be ready on 12. Let's see what will happen.

member for 22.1 years, 879 visits, last login: 331 days ago
updated 15.2 years ago

Shehzada
join:2008-06-21
Teaneck, NJ

Shehzada

Member

Thanks for the info

I'm still using the old Toshiba modem. Do you believe you are getting a better connection with the RCA? Did you have to pay for it or did Time Warner swap it for free?

anon81
@mindspring.com

anon81

Anon

Re: Thanks for the info

Don't switch the modem. There is no improvement whatsoever.
Shehzada
join:2008-06-21
Teaneck, NJ

Shehzada

Member

Re: Thanks for the info

Thanks for the heads up. I have the PCX2500 and for the past 6 years, I don't really have any major complaints.
kmcheng
join:2002-02-12
Elmhurst, NY

kmcheng to Shehzada

Member

to Shehzada
better to a degree I think? At least it won't mess up the internet connection, and the modem is smaller.
You can to a TWC service center near your area to change to RCA modem, they won't charge anything.

Review by tinhead See Profile

  • Location: New York, New York, NY, USA
  • Cost: $45 per month
Big company
they rely on Time Warner Road Runner's system
I switched providers 1-08-see new review of NY Connect
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Initially I had Earthlink because it was cheaper than Road Runner without a TV package (I used DirecTV). RR was $60/mo Elink was $42 a no brainer!

Install was no issue as I had Road Runner so I didn't have a thing to do except reboot my modem. I seem to have a static IP tho I didn't ask or pay for it.

I originally had the Toshiba modem but they changed it last year to an RCA.

After a few years of great service with Elink Time Warner service went nuts! Since Feb 06 I've had low speed issues, high latency and severe packet loss making my 2 years of Vonage VoIP almost useless!

RANT

After complaining and getting my own customer relations rep to call when I had problems I'm ready to give up! All I get is useless service calls and waiting for them to 'diagnose' my problems which BTW are in their, Time Warners,plant. They deny any logs or ping tests I give them showing all my issues so I am going to persue the complaint to the city authorities and see if I can get what I pay for and some well deserved credit!

Time Warner is oversold and has no idea what an internet connection means to a disabled person. I even order food over the net! They need to be exposed and fined for the way they treat me and others I'm sure. They severly lack people skills!

Like I said, I'm waiting for FIOS TV & net to get away from the cable companies who are just greedy company salespeople that don't deliver what they sell us and collect anyway!

FYI-I have few options here in Manhattan. DSL isn't as fast as cable IMO, I've had a 1.5 meg DSL line and switched to cable. I would love to stay with Elink but can't stand the hoops Time Warner makes me jump thru to fix their problems which are network maintenance issues in the plant. The lies and deceit are unbearable and frustrating too!

Help!.

END RANT

UPDATE-

I've been upgraded to higher speeds like 6500/470 from 5/384! No one told me. I still have high latency and dropped packets with a signal problem since Feb '06. I've had a dozen calls since May '06. They just keep sending techs to do the same thing over and over again to no avail so far. I've been on their case since May so I hope to have a clean signal by Labor Day!

Why am I charged for service I don't get? THIS HAS BEEN FIXED AS OF 9/06!

UPDATE-added 1/30/08 to fill in the gaps. I've adjusted my meds after the upsetting time TWC gave me in 06.

After filing a formal complaint with DOITT in NYC I got my own rep from TWC. I drove her nuts for a few weeks until she handed me over to a 'level 3' tech and I started keeping logs(they didn't like mine). I proved my connection suffered and after 6 months it was miraculously fixed and working like a it used to and better. It was a bad amp in my backyard and oh they were upgrading the plant! No one was 'allowed' to admit that they were upgrading. I didn't care I got a good, reliable connection now and a $250 credit.

So to be clear now, my internet connection is the fastest I've ever seen now and the reliability is back! 100% reachability consistently. So from Feb 06 to Aug/Sept 06 I've had horrible service and unusable VoIP. Jan 08 it's 10/512 and works just like it should, even in the evenings. That's all in the past now so I'll move on......

UPDATE-10/07

Just got the speed bumped up to 10/512! Now that Earthlink is laying off most Americans I am gonna switch to NYConnect thru TWC. Now that TWC has done the upgrades to their systems the signal is better except for the traffic shaping etc. I don't use BT but still notice slow download speeds when I do download a program or update. My service is monitored thru BBR and it comes in very handy when things go whacky here. At least I know why things don't work now. Yes it's TWC again!

I had a bad experience with Earthlink when I tried to use their VoIP service. It cost me $$ and I got NONE of what was promised to me to make up for it (reduced monthly fee for internet service-$35 instead of $45) when I used the service for 1 day and cancelled. Yes it IS that bad! Seems like the CSR can promise you heaven but it MUST be approved by a supervisor before being applied. This is why I'm leaving too.

Update 1/26/08

I'm on New York Connect and so far so good. My latency has been reduced a bit and my connection seems more stable. Same speeds as Road Runner but less hops to get to NYCT servers. Newsgroups-eh-missing some-still looking.

Hooked up with DirecTV also to drop TWC TV too! Love all the HD. Now to switch my VoIP provider & I'll be a happier person. I'm trying out a new provider right now and boy does VT really stink! I'll be eating 2 months of my VT contract but at least I'll get phone calls and be able to hear people.

Update 2/17/08

Well after a month of the new VoIP provider and having 2 phone adapters, 1 from VT and the new one, to compare, I have a reliable phone again! It's awfully nice to have a good internet connection and reliable VoIP service again. I had Vonage for 4 years with trouble only from the ISP in '06. I can honestly say now without a doubt that VT doesn't work for me! Side by side with another provider makes this decision easy. VT doesn't work here. The features are useless if the phone service doesn't work. In fact I've recently had number forward and simul ring NOT work! I've had to give my friends a new temp number until I get ported out from VT.

I'm waiting for the port of VT to complete so I can have better service from my main number. I have 2 different phones. 1 on VT w/old number & 1 on the 'other' w/their number. Soon my old number will connect to the new provider and I can move on with my life. Yea!

member for 23.7 years, 4883 visits, last login: 84 days ago
updated 16.1 years ago

astiyosti8
join:2005-11-10
Asheville, NC

astiyosti8

Member

this might help

okay here is what you do go to »beta.speedtest.net/ and then select the closest city to you but before you do this please disconnect your voip now run this test 3-4 times to get an average reading also this will tell your ping rating to.then call twc tech support and ask for tier three support and give him the reading of this test.Also please keep in mind that the voip use your band width also so when on your phone you might be losing speed as per you would need 128up and 128 down minimum band width

tinhead
join:2000-07-12
New York, NY

tinhead

Member

Re: this might help

Gee, thanks to you I now know that I have been upgraded to a higher speed service measured both at your beta site and BBR at around 6500/470! WOW!
Unfortunately I still get drop outs and high latency as shown by repeated line quaility tests and smoke ping here »/quali ··· /2075482 and here »/r3/sm ··· 2e8b67b5
showing todays drop out around 11:08AM and the 6:30Am activity as well. I'm not always online when this happens but today I was. Very inconvenient and frustrating.
My numbers at testyourvoip.com and testyouripvideo.com are the same so far. They MUST clean up the signal! Period! What good is speed when you have intermittency and dropped packets? GIGO!
Sure it looks great but notice those red lines that screw up my 'great' signal? This has been a constant complaint since Feb '06 and now that I've had about a dozen techs checking my line in the last 30 days between my modem, without the router, to the 'plant'. Plus the wiring and the horoscope. I still have these little dirty drop outs and no one can clean it up?? I don't buy it! I'm paying for service I don't get! Watch the commercial that touts fast downloads and such. I listen to internet radio and watch vids. They break up since Feb '06 not before! My VoiP fone was great until Feb '06, perfect before Feb. for 2 years!
Tomorrow or Friday I am supposed to get a call from a Level 3 tech to check out my service from Middletown NY. He will tell me if my signal strength has subsided or is still out of range at 61 last reading.
Wish me luck?
astiyosti8
join:2005-11-10
Asheville, NC

astiyosti8

Member

Re: this might help

well do you live in an apt? I had a problem one time when at 11am-2pm i would get slow if not no speed at all after all the tech support call and people coming out they finally found the problem.It was the line coming to the house from the pole that was bad.Around noon the sun would stretch the line apart and i would get great connection after it cooled down.So if you could check your lines to see if they are frayed dry rotted.

Review by boober321 See Profile

  • Location: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
  • Cost: $39 per month
Cable speeds
Horrible email spam service, frequent jumps in ping. Customer Service is non-existant
I would not recommend anyone go with these guys if there is another choice available.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I Switched from Roadrunner to Earthlink a few months ago. Sppeds were identical, but I was to receive 12 months at $19.99, verified by their sales staff. The first thing I noticed was that I immediately started getting tons of spam. I opened 3 accounts and each receive no less than 20-40 spam a day- which started immediately. Then I got my first bill. Low and behold, I was being charged $29.95/month. I called to complain, but simply got the run around from Earthlink. Time Warner in SE WI finally offered to right the situation and go after Earthlink themselves, as they admitted it was their fault, but refused to do anything about it. Then I started experiencing bursts in ping while gaming in the 350-550 range. These bursts would last about 15 minutes and then go back to normal, I called Earthlink, who referred me to Time Warner, who connected me to Roadrunner who said it wasn't their issue (and it wasn't), but tried to assist anyway. So RR is was working to fix Earthlink's issue, because they were too lazy to do so. I was never really given an answer, but the issue resolved after a week or so. While I was on the phone with Earthlink, I asked about all the spam I was getting. I was told to simply increase the blocker software they offer to high, which means that no one outside my address book would get through. While there may be a few people this is ok for, 99.9% of people that has HSI, do see that as a viable option. As an occasional Ebayer and because of work, a filter that strong isn't possible. So basically, Earthlink passes off their technical issues to other ISPs, passes off their customer service to others and passes off their email filtering to their customers, so they don't have to. I highly recommend going with another service if it is available. This company sucks!

Update: After another botched offer that they refused to fulfill, I dropped them as fast as I could. I called to drop and they promised me a retention special for 6 months at $29.99. After never seeing the price, I called and went round and round with their inept customer service again. Again they acknowledged their mistake and again they did nothing to fix it.

Time Warner got involved and basically paid me what Earthlink owed me. I switched back to Road Runner and will NEVER deal with Earthlink again. They are a dishonest, disreputable company and I hope they and their offshore customer service sink linke a rock!

member for 20.7 years, 378 visits, last login: 14.8 years ago
updated 16.5 years ago

astiyosti8
join:2005-11-10
Asheville, NC

1 edit

astiyosti8

Member

wow cant please them all

First of all cable prices are never that low.Now comcast,earthlink and twc have a special prices in select areas.All their promotions last six months but not for one year.I think that you miss read or was not paying attention to the sale of the product.That's common now days with the customers of any company.Now when you saw the 29.95 that's the standard promotion now the 19.95 i think is only in new york but that's only for six months.So really do you think you can blame earthlink.Second the spam you might need to check your comp to see if you have adware or some form of cookie that is giving out your email addy.i have elk emial and my spam is next to none of course i get some but i don't complain about it.Ping levels that's a signal problem since elk uses the same line it might be a provisioning problem and just need the circut reset.But lets get back to the price topic i don't even think twc or comcast or any cable company offers a 19.95 price for one year to their customers and that's even combining all your services with them.So I think you really miss understood and, since you were caught with your pants down you want to get on this forum and complain and shift the blame on to earthlink.

Anon11
@nvidia.com

Anon11

Anon

Re: wow cant please them all

What if he has no adware?? There are people I know who has $19.95 for 1 year(internet only). You might as well get it if you are smart at convincing customer service.
Btw, use some decent language, have manners if you need to answer!
astiyosti8
join:2005-11-10
Asheville, NC

astiyosti8

Member

Re: wow cant please them all

i know thats not true cable is a high maintenance internet and the cost if the technology is expensive.So wrong try again Buddie.I think you are referring to maybe dsl now in sbc territories they have it for 12.99-19.95

Anon11
@comcast.net

Anon11

Anon

Re: wow cant please them all

Its not DSL, its cable for 19.95 check dealstobuy.com for comcastspecials(6 months special this one). Ofcourse after a year it gets 42, but then you can switch to other cable guy. If comcast is offering deals so does other services. You are right that comcast may be cheaper in SBC areas.
Cheers!
boober321
join:2003-07-15
Milwaukee, WI

1 edit

boober321 to astiyosti8

Member

to astiyosti8
Ok. THE DEAL WAS VERIFIED BY THEIR STAFF. The sales person may have confused deals, but that is not my fault. While ordering the package with their salesperson, I asked explicitly if the deal was for cable internet- the answer was yes. They later acknowledged THEIR mistake to me, yet refused to fulfill their obligation.
As for my email, I had zero issues before switching from road runner. Immediately after setting up the earthlink accounts, I began receiving spam. Of the three accounts I use, I still get10-20 per account/per day. I have no adware, spyware or viruses on my system.
The ping issue is still occuring intermitently, but speaking with their support people was useless. I was told to call Time Warner, who then switched my to roadrunner staff- who actually attempted to help- even though it is not their problem.
Earthlink blows. .

Review by johnwang1 See Profile

  • Location: Brooklyn, Kings, NY, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
Extremely slow speeds during peak hours, slow speeds during none peak hours.
maybe my area (11220) is bad for internet
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

this is my attempt for a better internet after tryin somethin else other than verizon, the tech support is useless like everywhere else. i have both verizon and earthlink and they are the slowest connections ever. and by slow i meant speedtest shows stuff like 100 to 200 kbps download for both services. man wtf. i dont want to pay for T1 yet.

member for 16.8 years, 19 visits, last login: 16.7 years ago
lodged 16.8 years ago