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 Review by BuckarooB 
UPDATED: 1 year ago
member for 8 years, 3439 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Cloverdale,Botetourt,VA
 $34 per month (24 month contract)
 about 12 days
 "Quick, simple, and reliable connection and equipment."
 "Sales force not very knowledgeable, could be frustrating for beginners."
 "Stable connection, I can do stuff that my comcast connection couldn't do and consistently."
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May 12th 2001, 2year contract waives the $100 installation fee. The CISCO DSL Modem is free also. I ordered 384kps up and down. Very dependable connection. *updated see below*
Once I had filled out the contract there was about a week wait in the queue for the hook up and installation. I took an the afternoon off to wait for them to come to the house. They said anytime between 3-5 and they made it over by 4:30 or so, although they did the phone work already by 3:30 or so. Two technicans came to the house. One had a handheld line tester, once he checked the line the other set up the modem and tested the connection to the internet. Dynamic IP into my Linksys BEFW11S4 to my two computers (Win2K and Win98SE).
Working great since the installation. Only one time since then there was something wrong with the connection. I called their hotline at 8PM Friday night and said they would send someone over the next morning. They came by 9AM, checked the line, and said there was a problem back at the SWITCH. He said he would report it and check back with us Monday. By that afternoon the connection problem was fixed, and we were back surfing as normal.
The sales people seemed to me unknowledgable about the service, they new prices, contracts, and such, but no real internet knowledge. I would think they would put together a packet of sorts for the beginners to help them get setup. But nothing is really given to assist those that not Net inclined. I guess without any competition in this area, they don't really care.
Overall, I'm very pleased with the service. Maybe once they get cable laid down here in our neighborhood and they have competitive prices I'll upgrade, but for what I do its GREAT. sure beats dial up!!
----update---
Had a some problems, like noise on my phone lines that would disappear sometimes... and also would lose connectivity.. and it seeme to coincide with the noisy phones - sounded as if I could hear the computer side of the phone even through the filters.
So I had Ntelos check the line.. there was no problem... so they switched out the CISCO modem for a Speedstream5667. Every since they I got the new modem (6 months now)... haven't had one second of a dropped connection (had it about once a week with the CISCO)... and the phone is crystal clear now.... A very happy customer... Now I'm thinking about upgrading to a faster U/D speed 
----updated 9/12/04 ----
Shortly after getting the new speadstream I upgraded to 768/768 speed ($49.99/month). Since getting the new modem, I've had absolutely ZERO downtime due to connectivity issues!! Very happy with the quality of their service... I consistently get 600/600 speeds using the tools here at BBR.
Now I'm playing more and more online games, so I want to get the fastest U/D speeds for the least amount of $. I had recently setup my sister's Verizon DSL across town and she's got 1500/384 and for $29.99 a month! I could very easily notice the speed of page downloads. So I made an inquiry to Ntelos about speed upgrades and price. They had no plans about upgrading their speed tiers, but they did offer me $19.99 a month for the next 3 months and then $29.99 a month for the remaining 9 months of a 1 year subscription to maintain my current 768/768 speed. I inquired about the 1500/384 tier, and they have it available but still for $59 a month.
Think I'll see if there are other companies out there that I can get DSL service with and update you here with what I find and what I finally decide to go with. Ntelos has been a great company and for the past 3 years has proven to be very dependable and provided consistent connectivity, however I've out grown their speed/price tiers and will be looking for bigger pipes to appease my bandwidth appetite and also stop getting ribbed by my online buddies for lagging all the time!
-----Update Nov 1st -----
I am about to disconnect my DSL service since I just got hooked up to Adelphia HSI. for $54 a month I'm getting 3000k down and 512k up, think I'll need to do some tweaking to get closer to my advertized 4000k down. Not bad for $5 more a month... 3 or 4 times the download speed!! So unless I reconnect with Ntelos in the future, this will be my last update.
Ntelos has been great... Zero down time... very consistent u/d speeds, just not fast enough for my online gaming appetite. If you have no other alternative, Ntelos isn't so bad... sure as heck beats dial up!!!
----Final Udate Nov 15th----
Ntelos DSL will be disconnected at my house tomorrow.
---- Update 10/22/2008
Having been very happy with my Adelphia service then transferred to Comcast after the buyout, I was never able to connect to play online with Socom or Halo, but I didn't mind as I sort of retired from playing those games.
recently I purchased a PS3 and had intermittent problems connecting to the Playstation network and as Never able to get online to play Socom confrontation. I had ruled out my hardware as the issue. My wife also complained about the slow page times for things like Gap.com ebay.com, etc. I didn't mind a few quick clicks of page reload and the page would eventually load.
Well not being able to connect to play on my PS3 was the last straw. I called up Ntelos and was quite surprised to see that they have upgraded their network for 6mb/1mb speeds I happily said I'd like to reconnect and she said sure no problem. I spoke with a very pleasant sales person that said a representative would call me back to finalize the connection date.
I get home and the message on my machine my connection date would be the 22nd after just calling them on the 20th. And my modem would arrive via UPS. UPS delivers my modem on the 21st. So I get home this evening connect up my new modem run a quick speed test here and I am getting 5845kb Down / 850kb up... I'm very happy.
I have my wife test her SLOW webpages... she's very happy they load almost instantly. so my final test is SOCOM confrontation on my PS3.... I get to the screen I always errored out on with Comcast... and poof I'm instantly into a gaming and shooting my opponents brains out!! I couldnt be happier.
I also find out that my neighborhood is being considered for fiber upgrades in the near future through Ntelos! I can't wait!!
Comcast HSI 8mb/2mb + speedboost $69.30/month
Ntelos 6mb/1mb $34.99 + phone bundle. Same price I used to pay for their 768kbup.down I save $35 a month!! I'm glad I'm back!
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 Review by Robert121571
Posted: 2.5 years ago
member for 7.8 years, 78 visits, last login: 2.5 years ago
Waynesboro,Waynesboro City,VA
$32 per month (12 month contract)
about 5 days
"fast and faster"
"just works"
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I have had my connection for at lest two years now when I ordered the DSL I paid for I be leave 352 down but that plan is no longer offered and as far as I can tell they up my speed to another plan but not been charged any more. My price is based on discount form my bundle plan. Only had one problem and that was just last week my modem got flaky and wouldn't stay connected they had new modem at my door in two days and now I'm back on a rocking connection. My down speed is almost if not a meg a second
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Review by t33r0y
Posted: 4.1 years ago
member for 7.4 years, 22 visits, last login: 4.1 years ago
Roanoke,Roanoke,VA
$34 per month (12 month contract)
about 3 days
"Great reliablility and service"
"None that I can think of."
"Get it!"
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I was one of the first customers in my area to get DSL from Ntelos. They mis-configured my DSL router during the first install and I was getting T1 speed downloads but was only paying for 384k. A mistake they fixed after the first year of the contract was up. I have had nothing but good experiences with Ntelos.
I recently had a problem with my connection dropping out and after I called them they came out the next day and replaced the DSL modem. I tested it for a few days and the problem re-appeared. I called them and the next day they moved my connection in the local PoP and not everything works great.
I am very pleased wit the support experience I have had and reliability of the connection. The problem I mention above is the only problem I have had since having DSL with Ntelos. I would highly recommend Ntelos for DSL if you live in my area.
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Review by Relaxed3
Posted: 5.6 years ago
member for 6.5 years, 88 visits, last login: 4.9 years ago
Winchester,Winchester City,VA
$39 per month (12 month contract)
 Verizon
CLEC party: Verizon
"Solid connection, consistent speed, great local tech"
"None, other than an occasional sub-par help desk tech"
"Good value, solid service."
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I've been an nTelos subscriber for almost 3 years now, and have been very happy. Their connections have become much more stable over the past 18 monts or so, and I've seldom had any problems with their connection that was caused by them. (Verizon, on the other hand, has caused a couple of outages for me.) On the few times that I've had to actually get a tech support rep on the phone, I've almost always gotten very good service. Once in a while I'll get a help desk tech who's a bit subpar, but overall, I can't say enough about their service that's good. If given a choice between Verizon (GASP!) and nTelos for DSL in Winchester, it's no contest. nTelos, all the way. Of course, Verizon will do everything in their power to drag their feet and make the installation much more painless (they even lost my order once). If you can get around that, you're home free.
I'm currently using 768K static at my work, and 386K DHCP at my home. Using their provided modem, and using a Linksys BEFSR41 at home, and a BEFW11S4 at work.
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Review by willgmcc
Posted: 6.2 years ago
member for 7.1 years, 56 visits, last login: 1 year ago
Charlottesville,Albemarle,VA
$60 per month (12 month contract)
about 16 days
Sprint
"Cheap residential SDSL, sharp tech support, nearly 100% reliability"
"Long wait for Sprint to get off its butt and hand over the line"
"Awesome ISP, a shining star!"
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I've run my server off of three different nTelos DSL connections over the past three or four years and have always been extremely pleased with them. Because servers need fast upstreams, getting that feature is important to me. Sprint doesn't even offer SDSL to residential customers, but nTelos offers 768kbps SDSL for a mere $60/mo ($50 if you do a two year contract). My last connection from them was up constantly for close to two years except for one three hour service failure, which I feel is quite reasonable. Additionally, they were willing to do free DNS hosting for me when I asked and were very knowledgeable when I pulled out the technical lingo. The only problem I ran into with that was that for some reason the DNS records were associated with my roommate's name (who was on the bill, but didn't set up the records), so they would only let him request changes to him. A bit annoying, but not show-stopping. Othere than those slight problems, though, I was extremely pleased with nTelos and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a good, reliable DSL provider in the area.
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Review by (hidden by request)
Posted: 6.3 years ago
(review was emailed from domain waldo.net)
Charlottesville,Charlottesville City,VA
$75 per month
"Damned near everything."
"There's cheaper connectivity out there. (You get what you pay for, though.)"
"Great service, reasonable price. It just works."
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I've been an Ntelos customer since 1999, when they first beta tested
DSL here in Charlottesville, VA. I've had as many as four DSLs at one
time at different offices, both 384k SDSL and 768k SDSL, all with
static IPs. At every location, I've run servers, in addition to using
the connection for basic end-user connectivity. I currently have two
DSLs, both symmetric 384kbps connections. My demands of them consist
solely of connectivity, and I have never used their SMTP, POP, IMAP, or
NNTP servers. Both locations right now include Windows, Macintosh, and
Linux machines, all run through fairly extensive internal networks. At
both locations the DSL is used as a phone line at times, one for a fax
and one for a telephone. At both locations the line is run purely by
Ntelos, with Sprint playing no part in the process.
Although I have had problems with in the past, including waits of many
weeks for installs and misleading sales staff, my overall experience
has been extremely positive. Their technical staff has proved quite
competent, though sometimes I've had to push to get to "level two"
support.
I've made a few special requests in the past, and they've gone just
fine. At one location, I am leasing an additional IP for $10/month.
It was set up promptly and in a straightforward fashion, without any
difficulty. They once provided secondary DNS for several dozen domains
for me, although I've felt guilty about having them provide that
service to me without charge, and I'm now down to just a dozen domains
with them.
I've never had any billing problems. Uptime was really rough when it
first started, but it was a beta test, after all. Now problems are
rare, and often seem to result from the spotty electrical problems that
we have here in the summer.
On the few occasions when I've needed technicians to come out, it's
almost always been the same tech, Matt. (Before him, Randy.) Both are
not only technically knowledgeable, but surprisingly great guys that
I'd be happy to sit down and have a beer with.
Not only is Ntelos a great company because they're small and local, but
the quality of their service is, almost without exception, excellent.
I recommend them highly.
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Review by ammedley
Posted: 6.8 years ago
member for 6.8 years, 9 visits, last login: 2.9 years ago
Harrisonburg,Harrisonburg City,VA
$34 per month (24 month contract)
about 14 days
Verizon
"Good speed for the price."
"I wish it were a bit faster."
"It sure beats at 56k modem."
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I have 384k up / 384k down DSL from ntelos (www.ntelos.net). They serve most of the major towns in Virgina as well as some in a couple surrounding states, I believe. Their service was the cheapest I could find. With a 2 year contract we get DSL for 35/month plus free setup and a free modem. I run the connection through a router/firewall to share it with the other computers--it works great. Very low latency for gaming and a decent speed for file downloads. We have only had one outage, that I know of, since getting the service about 6 months ago. The setup time was quick enough--I dont think it took them more then 2 weeks from the time I called them.
The three great benefits that I have found with DSL are: faster then dialup, always on and easy to share with multiple computers, and it doesnt tie up the phone line.
I would highly recommend ntelo's DSL service.
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Review by gibverse
Posted: 7.6 years ago
member for 7.7 years, 2698 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Blacksburg,Montgomery,VA
$34 per month (24 month contract)
about 42 days
Verizon
"Reliable connection at very reasonable pricing"
"Installation wait"
"Better than the alternatives in town"
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Although nTelos took 6 weeks for my install, I think it was worth the wait. I believe part of the problem is that in Blacksburg (a college town), they get swamped with orders at the start of fall semester. This isn’t helped by Verizon’s techs needing to install voice service for thousands of returning students at this time.
The only sore point I have was the installation. When I ordered, I was told about two weeks. The actual time was six weeks and I was without voice service for a day (Verizon messed up wires in central office). They do truck rolls for the install, and I was scheduled for 8 am but the installer didn’t show until 10:15.
Once you get past the installation headache, life is peachy. I can count all the outages on one hand, get the advertised speed at a great price, and the tech support and customer care folks are always courteous. Compare this to what others encounter for broadband, and the wait doesn’t seem as bad.
And unlike the Ethernet service offered by many apartment complexes here, you get a real routable IP address (no NAT) and no port blocking.
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Review by EricMendelsohn
Posted: 8.2 years ago
member for 8.9 years, 465 visits, last login: 12 days ago
Charlottesville,Charlottesville City,VA
$35 per month (24 month contract)
about 13 days
Sprint
CLEC party: Sprint
"Good Techs strove to get me connected on time, 3 computers per connection, speed roughly as promised"
"No functioning Usenet, some technical stumbles, salesforce seems poorly informed"
"A decent value"
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On August 23 at the Ntelos office near the Whole Foods on Rt. 29 , I ordered 384K symetric DSL service for $34.95/month by signing a two year contract. By my calcs, that is the lowest price per K of bandwidth that Ntelos offers and sufficient for our needs. Besides, they assured me I could upgrade the connection to 512K at $44.95/month (since I was already locked into a two year commitment) and/or could get a static IP for another $10/month at my discretion.
Anyway, the salesguy's promise of a four day installation of course proved false. After four days I had received no phone calls so I began to pester the company. They gave me 1) a couple of numbers to call (but the messages that I left didn't receive responses for a few more days) and 2) assurances that my DSLAM service wold be set up September 5, the following week. On Sep. 3, I picked up the modem from the Barracks Road Ntelos store (where the salesgirl seemed to be selling DSL service for the first time), set it up and by evening got a sychronization light (called "LINE" on the modem) but a bad dynamic IP address. I called Tech Support on Sept 5, they walked me through some tests, sent a very experienced Tech to my house and (after trying everything else) realized that the problem was either in the Sprint CO or in the Ntelos Waynesboro office. By evening they'd found the configuration problem and I was good to go. Not bad technical folks: professional, good communcations with their back office, skilled methodical techs, and a quick fix when they realized that the problem lay in their equipment, not mine.
One lingering problem: the Ntelos news/Usenet servier has been down for over a week. they claim they buy this service from another provider, but how does that explain why it doesn't work?! I have yet to exercise the included email accounts or the associated web-server space, so I'll have to report on them another day.
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Review by aklein
Posted: 8.3 years ago
member for 8.3 years, 3 visits, last login: 8 years ago
Staunton,Staunton City,VA
$34 per month (24 month contract)
about 21 days
Verizon
"Reliablity has been great. The cost is great given that there is only one other broadband provider in the area"
"The install took a little while becuase Verison messed up the order. Was without a phone for 2/3 of a day."
"Given that Ntelos is the only DSL provider in the area and their competion is via cable modems they are great."
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It took exactly 21 days from the date that I signed the service request till there was a technician at my door step. When he arrived I did not have dialtone due to an error with version. Instead of switching phone service they disconnected the service entierly. It took the tech a few hours and several phone calls to get the problem fixed. Once I had dialtone back I was up and running with DSL within 10 min.
So far I have had the service for just under 2 weeks and I have been enjoying the speed very much. When I asked the tech about sharing the connection between multiple computers he suggested I get an internet router. Not what I would have expected to hear from a "company" man.
Since they have no real competion I was very happy with the response time and the service. It defiantly could have been alot worse.
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Ntelos
