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Review by o7levi 
UPDATED: 5.3 years ago
member for 7.2 years, 63 visits, last login: 4.7 years ago
 East Waterboro,York,ME
 $35 per month (month by month)
 about 2 days
CLEC party: Sprint
 "Line is reasonably stable, aside from the intentional disconnect every 12 hrs."
 "Too many ups and downs, too pricey for the bandwidth offered."
 "Overall, somewhat satisfied. I'll outline the trouble areas in my review."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
|
My original review can be found below. As of June 28th, '04 I am already one foot in front of me eager to jump over to Adelphia or any other comparable alternative.
Things have really soured in the past few months. There have been several outages here and there, and I've had an awful time with the support staff and people not getting back to me or making me run in circles in the midst of not having proper internet connectivity. In the past two months, I've (totaled) - not had my dsl service working for 6 days out of those two months, and I've lost my land-line phone service through Sacoriver for 2 days out of those same two months.
Not cool. If there is a family emergency and nobody can reach my home phone because Sacoriver can't get their act together and provide proper service, then that says enough in and of itself. The cause of the phone outages are unknown, but they weren't caused by either a) car accidents or b) thunderstorms.
I've adjusted my ratings and header descriptions accordingly in my past review. I am currently browsing with the speed and latency of a 28.8k dialup modem, on a connection which is rated at 1024kb down/ 256kb up. This started at 6 p.m. tonight out of nowhere, and this is certainly not the first time I've experienced it. I'm hoping by the time I wake up tomorrow, the speed will be back to what it's rated at.
I work over the internet, so this is completely inexcusable. If you want a solid, reliable connection - look elsewhere.
Tonight is certainly an exception, but look at these ping figures below. My first hop to Sacoriver, as I stated in my former review - used to be 10-12 milliseconds in the middle to later half of 2003. Now it is normally 50 milliseconds.
People who pay good money for their broadband should not have to experience this. It seems now, that every 3 weeks - there is some sort of problem with the connection. Sometimes it just blanks out for a few hours, other times it gets unbearably slow, or - at worst.. the dsl and phone telephone connection die. This isn't Iraq here, folks.. but it sure feels like it quite often.
C:\>ping -n 40 www.sacoriver.net
Pinging dilbert.sacoriver.net [65.162.192.4] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=200ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=331ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=290ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=190ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=241ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=250ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=481ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=480ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=681ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=540ms TTL=253
Request timed out.
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=120ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=110ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=60ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=271ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=220ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=90ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=301ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=140ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=371ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=480ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=110ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=170ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=331ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=290ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=150ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=71ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=150ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=641ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=361ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=390ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=250ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=253
Request timed out.
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=281ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=210ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=150ms TTL=253
Reply from 65.162.192.4: bytes=32 time=60ms TTL=253
Ping statistics for 65.162.192.4:
Packets: Sent = 40, Received = 38, Lost = 2 (5% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 50ms, Maximum = 681ms, Average = 241ms
============================================================
Original Review of Sacoriver
I originally signed up in October of 2002, and have to say that from the time of my order to the actual installation, Sacoriver couldn't have done any better. A technician was out the day after my phone call and completely set everything up, including a rewiring job in the basement. Considering there was no setup fee, this was great service.
The first three to four months were also absolutely free if I remember correctly, instead of the "first three months are 19.95" clause in the brochure.
The first few days of October '02 were great. My pings were excellent and my bandwidth was just slightly over 512/128 on both the downstream and upstream ends of the spectrum. I'd ping nyc.speakeasy.net and have a solid 30 ping. To Sacoriver's HQ, latency was about 10-20 milliseconds.
In a few short weeks however, my connection's rated speed dropped considerably, and my latency went up as well. Packet loss grew so bad that I literally could only play online first person games after 1 a.m., the daylight hours were off limits.
I had signed on for a 1 year contract, so I figured I was pretty much stuck.
In preceeding months into the first quarter of '03, things improved slightly here and there. Gradually, I was finally able to get my low pings back as well as a considerable improvement in the packet loss problem I was experiencing.
Over the summer, my connection improved so much, that it was right back to where it was the first days of installation. I was enthralled to feel like I was getting my dsl back the way it'd been previously.
Can it get better than this? Yes. In fall of '03 Sacoriver's system administrator, Chris informed me that Sacoriver had upgraded to a DS3. My latency to Sacoriver now pegged in at 10 milliseconds, sometimes going up to 15. Latency was around 5 milliseconds lower to my favorite gaming servers as well. I could play at any time of the day with a perfect connection, and also be guaranteed my downloads would be in the 68.8 kilobyte a second range. This wasn't true even in the summer months, latency would be slightly higher, and during the peak hours my downloads would sometimes go down to around 30-40kilobytes/second.
Keep in mind, that with all of this said, there were problems. At times, generally around the early a.m. hours, my connection would sometimes lose sync for up to an hour at a time. I figured this was maintenance.
Over the past couple of months, this has continued.. but seemingly only after daybreak. Considering I'm usually only on the computer in the evening into early a.m., this isn't too much of a problem. But the fact of the matter is, the connection should be accessible 24 hours a day for the $45 a month I'm paying, so I knock off a point for this.
I do feel that $45 per month is too much for this service. I would be happy to pay $35 for it, as I feel that is what it's worth. Most other dsl providers allow 1.5 mbit downstream with 256 upstream for $50 per month. This would be worth it to me.
Simply, the price I'm paying for 512/128 does not stack well, when compared against most providers in the U.S. For $56 a month, Adelphia's customers now receive around 2.7-3 mbits down with 256k up. You do the math.
Now, I am hesitant to make any statements regarding the latest debacle as of mid afternoon, the 6th of Nov. '03, but will for the sake of those interested.
I lost my phone and dsl for around a half hour to an hour. When I signed back in, my latency to Sacoriver was, and continues to be between 50 and 65 milliseconds. That's my first hop! I was told there will be debugging, but I will certainly not stick with Sacoriver unless my connection goes back to the way it was before the current equipment was switched out and replaced. 10-20 milliseconds for a first hop is what I've gotten used to, and expect. It's quite disconcerting to see your latency rise, and with that, the response time and fluidity of your favorite first person online games. Not to mention voice over ip/telephony, which also suffers from the extra latency.
Just to note, my favorite gaming server formerly was giving me a solid 28-32 ping. It's now hovering in the 74-76 range.
Not only a hit to my latency, but this new equipment on Sacoriver's end (I feel like I'm jumping the gun a bit) in its current state has caused my upload and download speeds to drop. My download from Sacoriver as of this moment is not the 530-540 typical, it's 450. My upload is not 165-170, it's 130 kilobits. So, from this standpoint, I'm in a more sour frame of mind currently than I normally am regarding the connection.
Just to tie this thing up, the modem I received was a Greatspeed dsl modem (blue/silver color scheme) which requires pppoe software installed on the host computer. I personally use raspppoe over what was supplied, Chris at Sacoriver also recommended it. I'm very pleased that the connection remained similar to how the dialup process works. i.e. my ip changes every time I connect (more secure), and I can connect or disconnect at will. 1-2 seconds after I click connect and I'm online - gotta love it.
There is one thing, aside from what I mentioned above that really bothers me about Sacoriver. They are a small operation, and you'd expect better communication from them.
I do not ever remember receiving a notice in my e-mail from Sacoriver regarding any possible upgrades or outages to the service. If they informed their customers of any upgrades or potential blackouts I would be a lot more forgiving than I was in this review. The fact is, you just find that you can't get online during some hour of the day, and have no idea why. I can't say the number of times I've rebooted my pc, checked network cables, plugged the modem in or out, etc. when I wouldn't have had to do it at all, as the problem isn't local to my computer.
So, anyone from Sacoriver - Please, e-mail us paying customers when you're going to change something around! I do give slight credit to the notices about the msblaster worm which were sent out to customers. I had already removed the worm and patched up, but it was a good general announcement to make to the internet community, so I appreciated that.
If I had to rate my experience with Sacoriver overall, I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Sacoriver |
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Review by Evals
UPDATED: 5.8 years ago
member for 9.4 years, 1386 visits, last login: 209 days ago
Hollis Center,York,ME
$44 per month
"Generally Solid speed and reliable"
"No support , 512/128 is way pricey @ $44.95. Latency"
"It connects."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
|
Update as of 1/12/04
Had Sacoriver turn off the dsl today as the Adelphia cable has been installed and so far it is running well. Sacoriver served me well for the most part for over three years discounting the summer of slow speeds and the persistent latency issues. Who knows, maybe in a year they will offer a better product at a more reasonable rate. I'll see when we get there. Till then............
12/11/03
Things have once again gotten worse connecting to SacoRiver. Where I was seeing 640/164 steadily I am now at 568/136 steadily. I have also been pinging my first hop at 61 ms. The claims I mentioned in my first review still have not been realized and support is non existent. I have sent no fewer than 4 e-mails to them and have recieved not one reply. Keep in mind that this is a small outfit and should easily be able to answer questions. Upon calling them in regards to the speed issue I did get a good laugh for what that's worth. When I asked how they could claim that their dsl was 20x to 40x faster than dial-up I was told, and I quote, "it's because you don't have to dial in all the time. It's always on." WHAT?!? I thought to myself as my brain struggled to comprehend this response.
It boils down to this, SRTT is way too pricey for what they offer. Slow speed, no support and a connection hindered by serious latency issues. Web pages load like it was dial-up. Gaming is impossible.
--------Original Review---------
Sacoriver.net has been my isp for years be it for dial-up or for DSL. DSL
has been in the house for about two years now and has had its ups and downs.
Most of the time speeds this past summer were pathetic and were often at the
point of "You connection hardly qualifies as BroadBand" more times than I
care to remember. The response to my query to them was that they were "short
on Bandwidth to NYC". They run over Sprint lines and that seems to be at
least part of the problem to me. I must say that as of late speed and
stability have been top notch. Service is sold as 512/128 and I regularly
see speed test results in the 535/135 range consistantly. Nice.
They are now advertising in their residential DSL brochure that their DSL
is "20 to 40 times faster than dial-up". They offer 56k dial-up so if I use
that as a benchmark my service should at very least be 1024 down not 512.
They also state in the same paragraph the state that it is also "as fast or
faster than those offered by other broadband providers". Well, Adelphia
offers service in some of the same areas (not my particular area but
close)they do and results from those areas show DL speeds of 2750 +/-. I've
asked about speeds lately via e-mail and have not received any response in
three days.
Overall I am happy with their service. Pings on Sprint lines are a bit high
for enjoyable online gaming but I make do. When support was truly needed
they were quick to act and with good answers and advice every time. Price is
a bit high for 512/128 but when you're the only game in town I guess you
have a little more control on that issue.
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