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Review by jaums See Profile

  • Location: Silver Spring, Montgomery, MD, USA
  • Cost: $39 per month
  • Install: about 10 days
15/2 !
FiOS TV not available yet
Set it and forget it.
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(ratings match consensus)

It's almost like you are actually there. I Click on what I want and boom, it's on my screen. MUCH less aware that I have a link to the Interenet - I feel like I'm part of whatever I'm clicking on.

Waiting for FiOS TV - the most infamous franchising delay = Montgomery County MD.

member for 18.4 years, 285 visits, last login: 10.2 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago







Review by phustvedt See Profile

  • Location: Centreville, Fairfax, VA, USA
  • Cost: $99 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 8 days
It's Fiber! 5 Static IPs (Biz). Free Install. 30 day MBG.
None so far... May be *too much* for some!
It's Fiber... It's fast! Costs more, but worth it!
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Ordered 15000/2000 Business with 5 Static IPs. Very smooth order, schedule & install. Tech worked with me to place the ONT, BBU and Data Jack just where I wanted them. Up and screaming two minutes after final activation call. Tested at 15000+/1.8K

member for 21.9 years, 109 visits, last login: 15 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago

xspeed4
join:2006-10-06
Clifton, VA

xspeed4

Member

No FiOS yet in the Ponds of Clifton community VA

We are just on the other side of the New Bradocks Road, on the Bradock and Union Mill Rd, but no FiOS here yet. So I am going to signup with the COX Cable broadband service.






Review by bobbfromirvi See Profile

  • Location: Irving, Dallas, TX, USA
  • Cost: $29 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 8 days
Fast Install, Discount for current Verizon services, Super fast.
Loss of ease of use of my Tivo. No warning about locking dogs up.
Well worth it in speed and money saving. As I am disAbled, This is the bottom line!
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While I had left my number with four different Verizon rep's to tell me when FIOS would be available in my area for eight weeks. I took my using the online survey to find out it was ready. I called and found I qualified for abour $15.00 a month of discounts due to my being a Verizon DSL user for 5 years, and due to my Phone packages from Verizon as well.

The install went pretty quick even though the Fiber Optic was NOT pre-installed in my yard at the right place. They asked is I minded that they just ran a further line along the outsideof my house, put the Battery backup in my laundry room instead of my computer room. It took about 3 hours and at one point I had Seven techs, as 2 were allergic to my cats. And would not even come in unless I locked my dogs up. (Wish they would have warned me about that little fact!) I'm running fine, and except I found out the Cable box is not compatable with the serial connection from my TIVO, (and I had to order a IR cable from Tivo for 6 bucks.) The picture is better than my Comcast/Time-Warner cable ever was, and with all my discounts I am paying about $60.00 less for a combine Phone/Internet/Cable bill than I was for a Phone/Internet and seperate cable bill. I went from a speed of 768K up to 5 meg Up. And with the fact I have less than a mile of cable from my switching station to my house, as with DSL I am getting better than advertised with FIOS! Oh and the cable has more channels offered in digital mode!

Well worth it in my opinion!

Ordered the 5 meg up/2 meg down for $34.95 but as I was an already a DSL member I got $5.00 off the top for 12 months. And is FIOS mimics DSL, they may review the discount every year!

member for 17.6 years, 2 visits, last login: 11 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago

srobmw
join:2005-10-01
New Windsor, NY

srobmw

Member

Distance from CO

It no longer matters how far away you are from the central office as it did with DSL. Whether you are 10ft or 10 miles is no matter with fiberoptics. Enjoy your service.

ztmike
Mark for moderation
Premium Member
join:2001-08-02
La Porte, IN

ztmike

Premium Member

Re: Distance from CO

I dont want to sound like a jackass but jez do spell check i could barely understand what you wrote, and its 5meg down 2meg up...

HenryFarpolo
Premium Member
join:2003-08-31
Andover, MA

HenryFarpolo

Premium Member

Re: Distance from CO

Mike, you do sound like a jackass!! What didn't you understand? How many spelling errors did you find?
bobbfromirvi
join:2006-08-18
Irving, TX

bobbfromirvi

Member

Re: Distance from CO

Well other than the fact that I have Multiple Sclerosis and am Dyslexic I guess I will shut up and not try to express myself.

After all this is where spelling counts, not trying to express my experience.

Thanks,
off I go.
johnt_83
join:2006-08-20
Bothell, WA

johnt_83 to srobmw

Member

to srobmw


Awesome! I am new to this fiber optic stuff and this is my first fast internet connection...I have been a 56k person for the past who knows how many years but gotten tired of it...

question for you...since this is fiber optics, that means all the bandwidth will be mine correct? i won't be sharing the internet with anyone else except my home???

one more thing... how do you create a new post? i just became a member 10 mins ago... i am getting FiOS installed on Thursday! look forward to hear from you soon. thanks.
Shuttle83
join:2005-10-23
Capitol Heights, MD

Shuttle83

Member

Re: Distance from CO

Well it all depends on what you are referring to as shared. Since you are using ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) over DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing)over a B-PON network your signal is not shared until it gets to the Verizon IP Routed network. Some may say that the PON is the point where sharing takes place, but that is not true because even though the path is shared, the medium "fiber" is logically divided into virtual paths and channels which form what is called a permanent virtual circuit or PVC. So all of the bandwidth is yours until it hits the IP routed Network, and that's a whole other story (Net Neutrality). In any even enjoy your service.
Shuttle83

Shuttle83

Member

Re: Distance from CO

even = event excuse the typo.

Review by mes5048 See Profile

  • Location: West Chester, Chester, PA, USA
  • Cost: $39 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 4 days
Speed actually faster than advertised
Nothing
Hands down the best broadband solution
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Having been a trouble-free FiOS subscriber for 8 months now (no outages whatsoever), I recommended that my parents look into getting the service. My parents live 3/4 of a mile down a private dirt road and my dad was doubtful that Verizon would run fibre for one subscriber that far; especially because Comcast wanted almost 15,000.00 to run cable out to them. My dad placed the order on a Thursday and the very next Tuesday, we had FiOS service.

The install was done with professional, courteous technicians who took time to explain some of the things happening. It took a full day, and nearly 2000 feet of fibre was layed, but my parents now have service and it is faster than advertised. I don't put much faith in online speed tests because of all of the variables involved but Speakeasy's speed test revealed 15.2/1.8. My parents were provisioned for 15/2. This is excellent speed.

Overall, this is the cable internet killer. Looks like Comcast is getting desperate . . . . "slowskies"

member for 17.6 years, 1 visits, last login: 17.5 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago


Review by kjpus See Profile

  • Location: Bound Brook, Somerset, NJ, USA
  • Cost: $34 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 7 days
Very fast and reliable connection, as advertised.
Actiontec router support cost $$ from vendor
Best value I can find on residential broadband.
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I ordered Verizon FIOS service to replace Verizon DSL on 8/2 and the tech came on 8/9. The installation took about 5 hours and was very smooth. The phone service was moved to fiber at the end. I tested both the phone and my security system and everything seems to work fine.

I am very happy with the connection. The tech did a speed test on the spot (to SpeedEasy server in NY) and got 9.7Mbps/1.9Mbps throughput. I also did some test my self through a few other sites and got anywhere between 2Mbps to 10Mbps download speed. My guess is that the lower thoughput was limited by the other end. I also tried to download a couple of Linux distributions through BitTorrent. The peak throughput I saw is about 1.22MB/s (about 10Mbps) downstream.

The Actiontec router (MI424WR) is quite reliable - I have yet to restart it due to connection problem. However, the router only comes with a manual on a CD and the vendors website doesn't offer much help, unless you want to cough up $30 for a support ticket.

member for 17.6 years, 6 visits, last login: 17.5 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago


Linkedit5
join:2004-10-10
Brooklyn, NY

Linkedit5

Member

HUH??????

5 hours to do what is basically a 1 outlet install??? these guys better pick up the pace if they want to sell tv as well. how long will an HSD and 4 tv install take? 2 days?
fiber4ever
join:2001-07-26
Beaverton, OR

fiber4ever

Member

Re: HUH??????

I'm a fiber tech in the Pacific Northwest. Keep in mind, these installs are very involved and an extremely easy one takes about 1.5 hours. If you hit a snag anywhere, whether it be having to splice the fiber drop or problems routing the ethernet jack, it can add significant time to the install.

Linkedit5
join:2004-10-10
Brooklyn, NY

Linkedit5

Member

Re: HUH??????

good point. except virutally every post here about fios installs states that they take that long.

"very involved"? they use preterminated drop fiber.

Review by dallasdawg See Profile

  • Location: Plano, Collin, TX, USA
  • Cost: $35 per month
  • Install: about 14 days
Fast, fast, fast...very low ping
Router is very large and has some weirdness I need to work out
Great package overall
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I signed up for the 5 MB down /2 MB up package. Wasn't sure I really need 15MB down right now....not a heavy downloader. Mostly a gamer, so ping is a high priority. The ping with FIOS so far is stellar, about half the time as my former DSL ISP. That will probably change as more people subscribe and are moved to the network.

Installation was smooth and the tech was on time and very professional on the install. Made sure I was satisfied with the location of things and if the installation "looked good".

member for 21.2 years, 3672 visits, last login: 2.4 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago


Review by xxrando See Profile

  • Location: Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • Cost: $44 per month
Faster than similarly priced DSL in my area. Painless install.
Annual contract, No servers. Dynamic IPs.
So far, so good.
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
(ratings match consensus)

8/1/2006 - Ordered 15/2 via on-line system ... just a few days after it became available in my area. I selected the first available installation date 8/14 8am-noon.

8/14/2006 8:30am - Received call from verizon fiber tech, Peter, saying he'd be at my house within 30 minutes.

8/14/2006 9am - Peter arrives. He and I walk through the installation details. He calls in the fiber contractor to run the fiber. Since I live in the rear house of a two-on-a-lot detached condo project, they have to run the fiber from the pole down to the existing NIB mounted on the front condo. From there, they pull a fiber back to my condo, through the existing conduit and using the existing copper to pull it though. While the contractors are working, Peter and his helper install the ONT and UPS in my garage and an ethernet run from there into my house. Peter then walks me through the service activiation on his lap-top (verizon wireless) while his helper plugs in the Actiontec router. By 11:30am everything is ready to go. They confirm my POTS over fiber is working, internet is live, email is working, and run a speed test. I get 15.2/1.8! They're gone by 11:45am. So far so good.

Since I'd read that the fiber drop usually happens in advance of the final installation, I worried that my isntall wasn't going to be smooth. It seems like lots of people have had that problem. If there had been any issues with running the fiber, there's a good chance the install could not have been completed in 1 day. I believe Verizon should have come out to inspect the job prior to the actual installation date. In this case though, they probably just got lucky.

I'll update the reliability, tech support, and value ratings after I've had the service for a few months.

member for 19 years, 40 visits, last login: 17.5 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago


Review by dalejr8 See Profile

  • Location: Plano, Collin, TX, USA
  • Cost: $34 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 32 days
Awesome speed and reliability
Ineffective online ordering, poor customer service (billing and tech), long duration to final complete install
Don't order online (read below) and pray they show up on time and get the install done on the first try
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7/12 I ordered the FIOS service within 2 days of it becoming available in my neighborhood. I ordered online, selected my install date (nearly 2 weeks out) and happily printed out my confirmation page.

On 7/24, I became slightly nervous when no one had come by to trench my yard (to get the fiber to the side of the house). I called Verizon and was told everything was OK and the contractor who would put the fiber in the ground would show up prior to the install tech, since I had a morning appointment, I was not particularly relieved but accepted the answer and hung up.

7/25 comes and about halfway through my install window, I call Verizon and find out that everything is not OK. The Fiber Solutions Center, sees my order and its OK to them, but their dispatch center shows my order as cancelled. The tech at FSC says he will investigate and will call me back in 1 hour. He calls back in 1 hour to tell me there is nothing he can do and he escalates to their dispatch group. He says I will get a call back in 4 hours. No call (surprised?). I call back and get an awesome tech, the guy ran this to the ground and eventually got a sales person on, took a new order, and got me a new install date of 8/1 (they had originally offered 8/16). The revelation I get from the salesperson is that their online systems have major problems, even for regular phone orders. Here's the scenario, you place your order, get a confirmation number, and think everything's hunky dory. The order gets midway through their provisioning systems and hangs. But there doesn't seem to be anyone working these hung orders, so your install date comes and goes without any install or acknowledgement from Verizon. So avoid the online ordering as much as possible, or you may have a story like mine.

7/31 rolls around and once again, no trench. I call Verizon, they say that the order has been issued to a contractor (god help me-I have had the worst luck with contractors) and he should show up sometime the following day to trench the yard for the permanent line. What can I do but accept it and I hang up.

8/1 My install window is an entire day but at 9am, guess who shows up? The contractor? NO. The inside wiring tech from Verizon is here to install the service. I just happen to be on the phone with the FSC when the tech shows up and after a short talk between the tech and the FSC, the tech says he will attempt a temp drop and then put in an order for the contractor to come out and get the final line in the ground. I get up and online in about 3 hours (just internet, no voip or TV) but with the temp drop running across a sidewalk and my neighbor's yard. Happy to be online again (I had just disco'd my cable internet), I send him on his way, hoping the line will be buried within a week or so.

8/2 Called Verizon and was informed no such order had been placed for a permanent drop and get a ticket created. Was told I would be contacted within 24-48 hours.

8/7 No contact so far, so I call in. They had my home and cell numbers, so there was no attempt for contact. I was told that they had "manpower issues" and that's why the permanent drop didn't get put in on 7/31. I am given a date of 8/11 for them to come out and get the permanent line in. I am told it would be good for me to be home when the installer comes.

8/10 I come home and the cable is buried! Woohoo! I think I am one day away from the end of this saga.

8/11 Come home and the temp drop is still in place. Shocker, huh?

8/14 I call back in and am given no explaination why the tech did not come to do the swap. I am now told that I do not need to be at home for this service order to be completed. He submits another ticket and says they should be out today. About noon today, they show up and finally complete the installation with the permanent drop.

So basically 7/12 to 8/14 to get from soup to nuts on this.

And now for a brief lesson on their billing. I don't have a Verizon phone number, just the internet (so its always fun for them to locate my account). They bill in advance of the service, so on 8/10, I got a Verizon charge on my credit card. Since my original online order specified 1 mo free, I knew I was going to have to call back in and get the billing straightened out. I call on 8/11 and finally get to someone who should be able to help and am told that they can't see my bill yet to make any sort of adjustments. So....they get your money days before you can even talk to them about it. Nice how that works. The agent tells me to try again on Monday. I call on Monday and am told end of business Tuesday is when they should be able to see my bill. So maybe if I am lucky, I might be able to complain about this train wreck of an install on 8/16.

Total damage:

2.5 days of work missed, hours on the phone with Verizon, and now just praying that it doesn't stop working since I'd go insane to talk to their tech support after all of this....

member for 17.6 years, 2 visits, last login: 17.6 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago

new2fios
join:2006-07-20
Camillus, NY

new2fios

Member

Lesson learned

Lesson learned: Don't cancel your existing ISP before FIOS is up and running.
dalejr8
join:2006-08-14
Plano, TX

dalejr8

Member

Re: Lesson learned

I had nearly a week of overlap if they had made the first install date. And I was dumping Comcast for DirecTV the following Saturday, so I was SOL on the internet front with the missed date.

Review by pat2284 See Profile

  • Location: Germantown, Montgomery, MD, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
Excellent quality, professional install
Highly recommended when service is available to you.
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Scott and Miguel are 2 of the best at what they do. I am very happy with their professionalism, knowledge and ease of my install. Smooth is how I describe it. Install was done in under 3 hrs. Bypassed the CD portion of install and was online instantly. Speed better than 5.2Mbps/2.2 Mbps and QOS at 97%.(speed test by visualware) Also, installed an ActionTec M1424WR, which is a 10/100 wired-54Mbps wireless combo router. SWEET!

member for 22.1 years, 1325 visits, last login: 2 years ago
lodged 17.6 years ago


Review by no_coin See Profile

  • Location: Tyngsboro, Middlesex, MA, USA
  • Cost: $29 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 8 days
No hastle install, 5/2 service
Need to reconfigure existing router/wifi setup
Glad its finally here
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Our town has been wired for FIOS for over a year now, but service was not turned on because of equipment upgrade delays at the local CO. Here's the timeline for Tyngsboro:

»Tyngsboro, MA getting ready for FIOS?
»Tyngsboro, MA getting ready for FIOS
»Tyngsboro, MA - finally taking orders for FIOS

In the interim, I had left my name and address at the "got FIOS" website. To my surprise, on August 1, 2006, I get a phone call from Eric offering me the service. He noted that I've been a long time DSL and dialup customer and my name was at the top of his list. After dicsussing some local phone services, we arranged an installation.

August 10, the installers arrived and per my request, they gladly installed the FIOS equipment in the cellar instead of outside the house. I just didn't want all that equipment hanging off the side of the house - that space was tiny anyway. A plywood panel was prepared for them ahead of time.

It took a few hours to run the fiber into the house and install the ONT, backup battery a router. We discussed installtion options for the new Actiontec router and my existing routers/wifi and PCs. I settled on their recommendation to use just he single router and remove my existing ones. I'l play with those later.

After enabling the service, testing the speed and phone service, my wife got a general rundown of basic things they did. They left a Verizon FIOS guide and Actiontec starter kit and CD.

Gotta say that this new router has loads of features your average $50 router does not provide. It was unclear to me if it will actually be required for FIOS TV service.

It is difficult to judge the service after just one day of operation. The speed is pretty well "constant" at 5070/1800 plus/minus 50, and without any throttling that I've heard about comcast hsi.

member for 21.4 years, 898 visits, last login: 59 days ago
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