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Review by PMajon 
Posted: 4.4 years ago
member for 5.6 years, 5 visits, last login: 3 years ago
 Round Lake,Lake,IL
 $49 per month (12 month contract)
 about 30 days
 "Fast, when it actually works"
 "Unreliable connection, incapable and unresponsive tech support"
 "Look somewhere else for wireless broadband"
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I ordered DB3 Broadband service at the end of 2003. The sales info on their site is fine and the installation went smoothly, but the service itself is terrible, and has been ever since I signed up.
During 2004 and 2005 the connection went out many many times. Whenever I called DB3 or emailed them regarding a problem, I rarely got a response. Usually the connection would come back after a few hours or so. A couple times it has been down for more than a day.
The connection problems frustrated me so much that I've even tried four different routers: A Linksys, NetGear, and two D-Links, just to eliminate the possibility that my hardware is at fault. With each router the same was true, the connection would go down for minutes at a time, sometimes several times a day. I have spoken to DB3 regarding this problem a number of times, and all they tell me is that my connection is up 99% of the time, which is "acceptable". The issue here is not the uptime percentage, but that the service "hiccups" throughout the day. This is a major issue if you are a remote worker, play online games, or stream online media.
I am savvy with network hardware and software, and at work I manage Cisco equipment, including wireless solutions, so I believe I have thoroughly eliminated any possible problems on my end.
DB3 has also failed to return my phone calls and email requests many times. I have always treated them with utmost respect and at times they have failed to extend to me the same courtesy.
In all, my experience with DB3 has been terrible. I am building a home and will be moving within the next few months and I have little time to change Internet providers at this time. But once I do, I am sure that my new ISP will NOT be DB3.
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Review by mdarrah
Posted: 4.6 years ago
member for 5.9 years, 38 visits, last login: 4 years ago
Palatine,Cook,IL
$49 per month
"We'll see"
"Poor support for Starnetwx customers, whom they bought out"
"Reserving further judgement for now"
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I am withdrawing my original review of DB3. I am currently a Starnetwx customer, which DB3 bought out over a year ago.
I've been having severe problems in the last few months. Slow speeds, frequent time-outs, etc. It all came to a head last night when I tried to call Starnetwx tech support, only to get a voicemail. I was angry beyond belief that DB3 would shut down Starnetwx tech support while so many customers were still on the old system.
This morning, I got a call from DB3 support, and they've practically bent over backwards to help me out. They offered to send someone out to upgrade me to the new system, at no charge, TOMORROW!
The support person I talked to was great, and assured me that I could keep my existing email account, which was a deal breaker for me if I had to lose it. He even gave me his cell phone number so I could call him in case I still had problems with my Starnetwx connection.
So I'm going to give them a shot.
At this point, I'm sorry for the initial lousy review. I'm giving them 3's on everything for now, with the exception of pre-sales info, and I'll update it again when I have a chance to use the new system.
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 Review by dssyenon
Posted: 4.7 years ago
member for 9.3 years, 793 visits, last login: 59 days ago
Elk Grove Village,Cook,IL
$44 per month (24 month contract)
about 4 days
"after installing a dish, latency and throughput much more acceptable"
"initial promises were missed, but later corrected"
"finally solved the connection problems and now i'm happy"
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I received an email on 2004 Jan 29 stating that db3 broadband had acquired my former ISP StarnetWX. db3 had offered to exchange the old Starnet Alvarion gear for their Motorola Canopy gear. After researching Canopy, I was looking forward to the upgrade. Looking at db3's website I saw that db3's service levels were a significant downgrade from what I had with Starnet, at my price point. An email discussion with customer service clarified some of the discrepancies.
So I wait. And wait. And wait some more. It wasn't until I attempted to update my billing info via Starnet's website (which I had been able to do even after db3's acquisition) that I discovered I was no longer able to. I emailed db3 customer service on 2005 Jan 12 and their reply was they would move me onto their system and upgrade my antenna. They scheduled me for 2005 Jan 15 but the installer called to cancel the day of the appointment and instead came on 2005 Jan 16. So, if I consider 2005 Jan 12 as the "order date", then the "order to live" time is 4 days. However, if I consider the initial email which stated they were upgrading me to Canopy, dated 2004 Jan 29, then the "order to live" time is 353 days. I've been waiting since 2004 Jan 29 for the upgrade to happen.
I already knew I was quite some distance from the tower from my Starnet days but reading the Canopy documentation sounded like it would work better. That was not the reality however. Very high latency, averaging 1 second during the day and peaking at 8 seconds! That's worse than satellite latency! The burst throughput was decent, reaching 1-2 Mb/s downstream and somewhat less than 256 kb/s upstream. Not quite their guaranteed 256 kb/s minimum.
At the time of install, the installer had discussed possibly adding a dish to help focus the signal better. I mentioned this to tech support a few days after the latency had not improved and they scheduled a dish install. Since this was all outside work, I needn't be present. No show. When I emailed tech support again, they scheduled me another date. Also a no show. Now I'm becoming unhappy with the poor customer service and continued poor technical performance.
Finally, on the 3rd attempt, they complete the dish install and now my latency is at a more acceptable 30-50 ms. It's been less than a day so I'm still watching it. Throughput is much better now, peaking at 3 Mb/s downstream and 1 Mb/s upstream. This is more in line with the service level I purchased.
I'm happy so far with the performance and hope it continues.
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Review by kbmmt1984
Posted: 6.2 years ago
member for 6.2 years, 0 visits, last login: 6.2 years ago
Lake Villa,Lake,IL
$49 per month
"great on communication, support and upfront information."
"only bad point is not even their problem - our village hall finally changed hands, and the new members got new players in"
"other companies are all foam and no beer - not db3, you know exactly where you stand"
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Just signed up for db3. I saw the reports here about comcast and as I have been in Lindenhurst for almost 7 years now, I can say that comcast (FKA ATT cable) is all foam and no beer. As is anyone trying to sell DSL in remote parts of our village, yea they will tell you DSL is available, but after they send you the equipment they say, well it's not, but we can get an 'extended' dsl, but it costs a bit more.
Anyways, I signed up for db3's 39.95 package (256 down /128Kbps up) with the $10 burstable option. The last two tests here on this site have yielded considerably faster rates, the most recent one being
611 down / 1305! up.
They have been professional from the start, provided information on exactly where everything stood, what their time frame was and once they got the tower working had installers out within 2-3 days.
Yes, there might be cheaper alternatives, but are they even up and running yet?
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