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In short, Clearwire sucks! member for 23.3 years, 8396 visits, last login: a few hours ago updated 8.6 years ago
when i purchased my wireless modem from clearwire it was a good deal for $14.99 a month with the promise of never going up for 4mbps. it worked great for about the first 6 months (a lot better than the comcast) we had befor. then it seemed to drop off in speed i've never had any issue with loss of service like my comcast with them i spent more time down without service than with and i was paying about $35 a month for the first 12 months then it was supposed to jump up to $50 a month, but it did have better speed when it actually worked. right now i've had my clear for just over 3 years and my monthly payments have jumped up to $34 and some change each month and at best i get around .99 mbps but on average i'm running around .49 mbps which is a joke for what i'm paying but at least im always able to connect. if there was another service in my area that i knew i would be able to connect to i would switch but comcast is it. dont ever bother with calling customer service for any issue you have with your service, if the language barrier isn't bad enough you probly have more of an idea of whats wrong than they do. i found them to be incompetent and frustrating to deal with for even the simplest things so i have just given up when dealing with them at all and have grown used to the crappy service all the way around. member for 8.8 years, driveby review (so far) lodged 8.8 years ago
I signed up for Clearwire 3G WiMAX 2Mbps/256Kbps home desktop modem service right after dumping Comcast. It was as fast as the Comcast service I had. Then Clearwire merged with Sprint and became Clear. The speed went from 2Mbps/256Kbps to 10Mbps/1Mbps. After the so called upgrade they over sold there service and it was slower than hell. They clamed the service was unlimited but if you used up 8Gbps before the end of the month they slowed your speeds down. Always downloading at 40Kbps to 60Kbps day or night. I would call up tech support and they would have me do a power cycle of the modem and then they would reset each time I called tech support. I owned the desktop modem and USB modem and got rid of both of them. It was long after Clearwire became Clear that i switched back to Comcast. Don't waist your money on Clear. Attachments: member for 19.6 years, 2836 visits, last login: 7.6 years ago updated 9.6 years ago
Call me crazy, but I thought part of paying for internet, was getting an internet address. Sure that address would change every so often, but at least it was real. You could game with your friends, host a web server, etc. Ask them if you could pay for a real address and they're response was "no, sorry, go somewhere else". So here I am warning others, DO NOT GET Clearwire! Clearwire is doing the kind of cheat like if you re-sold some of your internet to your neighbor. member for 10.5 years, driveby review (so far) lodged 10.5 years ago
I was never a fan of wireless broadband because of the rather unreliable nature of radio signals. Any fixed radio-based wireless networking setup will either work or it won't work. Even if it works, the signal typically depends on all sorts of factors, including weather. Still, back in November 2011, I decided to give Clear a try to see if their wireless offering was usable. First of all, I see a lot of complaints about Clear. Apparently, if you can get good signal, people are generally happy; if you don't have ideal signal, then people are unhappy, and the infamous Clear customer service doesn't help either. I actually suggested Clear to a friend, who signed up but couldn't get a signal. He had a hell of a time trying to cancel service. (He even tried to go to a Clear brick-and-mortar establishment in New York and they said they couldn't cancel him at the store.) In the end, it took months and a lot of arguing to cancel his service. I was one of the lucky ones; it worked for me right out of the box, so I didn't have to deal with support. I got a G-Series modem, and was able to position it in a good place near a window with a relatively open view towards the nearest tower to get 5 bars (~25dB CINR). Latency was better than what I was expecting, but still not on par with wired services. Basic network access worked well. However, weather events such as snow and rain definitely affect the connection. I agree with many other reviews that if you don't get 5 bars, then even basic network access becomes unpleasant. Based on the Clear coverage maps and my past year of use, my signal is apparently "borderline" good (which is why it's so jumpy). In my particular case, sustained download speeds can swing wildly across the range, so streaming media such as video and voice would often stutter. These days, sites that don't let the user set the video quality will automatically adjust the quality based on the current bandwidth. For a bursty connection, the result can be very frustrating, as the video tries to change to high definition, then pause before dropping to lower quality because the jumpy speeds can't maintain the video buffer. I was originally on their $50 uncapped service, but dropped to their $35 1.5Mbit offering because I figured that if they could only really sustain about 2Mbit consistently, then I'd rather pay for a lower tier of service. But apparently, the practical speeds dropped as well, with speeds often hovering between 100kbit and 700kbit. As some people have pointed out, hacking in an external antenna should greatly improve signal, and I'm definitely starting to consider that option. Hey, if your connection is lousy and the warranty expired, you've really got nothing to lose. In the end, Clear is pretty good - for wireless. Their service is bound to the same limitations as all radio-based technologies. While the price is decent (since it includes all fees and taxes here), the connection quality makes the service inferior to other ISP offerings in the equivalent pricing tier (typically the $29.99 DSL or cable plans, when you add in taxes and fees). A good signal makes all the difference. Sadly, their signal map is only a rough estimate; the only way to get a good idea of the practical connection quality is to try their service yourself. If you don't get ideal signal, I'd say Clear would be fine for occasional network use. If you often deal with streaming, gaming, video/voice conferencing, remote desktop, development/productivity, then you need a strong signal, or look for a wired solution. member for 12.4 years, 34 visits, last login: 2.9 years ago lodged 10.9 years ago
See my newer CLEAR review; post moving. I admit I was skeptical going into this. Had been an SBC DSL customer for near on 10 years. The recent rate increase they were putting forward were the last straw. Information on installation is EXTREMELY spartan. Had to call tech support just to initialize the account. I understand green means saving paper there comes a point when taking it to such extreme is just ridiculous. No where was there any indication what to do setting up my third party router? is this a DHCP setup, or what? I was supposed to see 6m down and 1m up. I see anywhere from 1.2 - 4.5mb down very inconsistent and the best up I've seen is low 600kb (very briefly). Based on wireless I anticipated higher latency SBC/AT&T I saw 16-19, latency on Clear is 64-97. Pingtest.net scored it a D, before it got blocked! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Called to cancel, gawd I wanted this to work well. It does work the latency is really high though. The initial sales rep was attempting to use high pressure which I did resist. The second rep I talked to was better, yet it would seem still dishonest. This morning the best rates I could get where under 2.75M down and barely over 500K up. Customer service wanted to con me into waiting and trying other things with tech support so that my 7 day trial would evaporate. I'm hip to their high pressure BS. I'm sure that if they would invest in rural towers where DSL is not and cable maybe then this could potentially be a viable option. In the city though where ROCK solid performance by DSL VDSL and even cable exist this is NOT a credible, economical option. Want a laugh they actually expect you to believe they are gonna run a reliable VOIP service on this shaky connection, and sales was Oh yeah you can send/receive the occasional fax over VOIP. Sales said affirming oh yeah no problem, LOL! No, I didn't try the VOIP add on wanted to see a solid ISP first. There is no way a reliable VOIP is gonna run on the wild roller coaster connection, much less FAX over it. Not happening, don't believe it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8-17-2011 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ok, I moved a slight distance (3 blocks) had issues with AT&T no longer could get the elite tier. TWC had a wiring issue in the building which I wasn't going to pay for. Giving Clear a second chance a friend informed me since I first tried them they had improved. I did not want a 2 year contract but that what the jerk gave me, Tha'ts ok, that Ccard expires soon I'll use that and the issues I been having since to renegotiate. Oh second tier tech support determined the modem was bad (flaky) expecting a new one today. Still no way in hell they gonna run stable voice/phone on this and I'm only 5 minutes from downtown Dallas, Parkland Hospital and Love Field airport This is not a REMOTE area just blocks from I-35 the Dallas North Tollway and a mile from North Central expressway member for 19.9 years, 3042 visits, last login: 49 days ago updated 10.9 years ago
Got Clear for my home me and my son play games on pc and console and we also watch netflix as far as multi-tasking goes this isp blows we couldn't play a game on the pc and watch netflix on the ps3 at the same time and i starting getting dial up d/l speeds. When we cancelled our service they cut off our service a day before our billing cycle had ended even though it was paid for till the next day. Would never do buisness with them again. Switched to centurylink and never been happier 30 bucks cheaper a month and have not had any issues with it. we are loving the 12mbs with centurylink and would never go back to clear. member for 11.3 years, driveby review (so far) updated 11.3 years ago
I have used clear since they first rolled out as Clearwire. for 6 years now i have suffered there worst and there best. from grade a customer support to a support team i wouldn't pay pennies. from people who were courteous to the rudest people on earth that make people like Hitler look like a saint. I have always expected some bad service hear and there. After all no one is perfect and nothing infallible. However the last 7 days have been unbearable. I have dealt with over 10 reps and while only 4 of them were trying to help the rest could give a shit and care less. Speeds have been below Dial-up Speeds and sometimes non existent . We get no credit on our bills when we cant use the service. We get no information about why its going on they wont own up to anything just tell us its us and not them then it magically works for a few hours at blazing speeds then back to nothing for hours. Tech reps tell you to reboot your modem never do this this kicks you from there networks for hours. Also they throttle everyone the same. You say no big deal almost everyone throttles. This is true but I pay for the high end service as we watch Netflix and play games online. Other people may pay for the lower end service around 20$ a month I pay 50$ and I get throttled to the same below dial-up speed as the lower end service which in no way do I feel is right or ethical to do to a customer paying your paycheck. At this point I wouldn't recommend Clear to my worst enemy as they wont even tell us why we don't have service and would like to keep us chasing our own tails and bullshitting us to believing our hardware is broken. Hell I had one tech rep tell me I wasn't covered in service area Last night! I have lived in the same house for entire time I have had Clear. My modem is fixed to the external wall of the house in a custom fabricated case which keeps it clean and safe from the elements and ensures no direct sunlight and maintains a beautiful 5 bars of signal worst ever being 4 bars. Now I assured the tech rep my house being 2500 sq-ft had not in fact moved out of the service area magically floating or otherwise. After this he decided to terminate our conversation. So for those of you thinking of investing in clear before you do check out »www.google.com/finance?c ··· DAQ:CLWR member for 11.3 years, driveby review (so far) lodged 11.3 years ago
So first off i would like to point out that unlike every other review i have read i get 5 bars...all the time...... anywhere i put my modem. Yet i can not get more then 1mps/1mps which is needless to say somethin else. the first 3 months i had it all they did was tell me that noone gets 5 bars and that my net should be the best they can give..... after 3 months of dealing with them i talked them in to lower my rates from 50$ a month to 32$ a month. i have made atleast 70 calls to tech support in the yr i have had the service and every time they say its the tower,can i move the modem, they are adjusting the tower for me, and then they never contact me back as they say they will. the best part is i can see the tower out of my window and get 5 bars 24/7. Also i found out that the 4-6mps they say they give is a max that is not garunteed. after i signed my contract and had all my issues with them i was told that they garuntee nothing as far as speeds....for those who like it i hope u never get throttled. member for 11.7 years, 1 visits, last login: 11.7 years ago updated 11.7 years ago
I've been with Clear for a few months and the service has been totally inferior to what was advertised... my entire neighborhood is in their "best coverage" on their coverage map, and in fact the map says there is a tower 250 feet away, and the website says I should have no problem receiving signal even indoors... yet I get little to no coverage, from anywhere in the entire neighborhood (I've walked around the surrounding blocks trying to get a better signal.) I pay for 6M/1.5M, but typical speeds are more like 1M/.05M... when I can get a connection at all, which is rare. If I stand out in the middle of the street with my Clear hotspot, on the same block where they claim there is an antenna, I *sometimes* can get 1-2 bars. I have stood outdoors on the third floor, line-of-sight from the rooftop where they claim there is an antenna 200 feet away, and the RSSI is about -90 or less. But the worst thing of all is their "customer service". This is the most unhelpful company I've ever dealt with, bar none. You've honestly got to experience it yourself to believe it, it's beyond the pale. They lie, they concoct different stories every time you call, they disconnect you without warning and then when you call back the next person sees no record of the half hour you just spent on the phone, they promise to get back to you and never do - they very obviously have no interest in actually helping the customer. My favorite one was being told a few weeks ago that my neighborhood was "too close to the tower" to get reception. They don't even seem to be familiar with Clear's products, and can't answer questions about it that don't appear in the script they read from, assuming they understand the questions, which they don't always. If you ask them to explain something they said - or, say, point out that a flat, square device doesn't have a "front" that you can "point" at a tower - they seem not to even comprehend the question. I've been on the phone with support about 25 times at this point (no, that's not an exaggeration) and I can say for sure that this is the norm. It's worse than a joke. If you complain on Twitter, you'll occasionally get someone who seems to speak better English, but is certainly even less helpful. Today, when I wrote to ask why I - AGAIN - haven't heard back in ten days on a promised reply, I received back, in their typical broken English, "Are you still having the same issues? If so, it may be a poor fit for our services. I can definitely understand if you would like to pursue other services." This, after months of trying to get the problems resolved. It's a "poor fit" to expect to receive the service they advertise as providing. Honestly, I have more than once felt like they were actually *trying* to make me angry. It's like they go out of their way to be enraging. "Poor fit", my foot. They're liars. Google for the class-action lawsuits, Better Business Bureau complaints, etc. The frustrating thing is, I can take my hotspot to other parts of the city, where there is taller buildings and more electronic interference, and be much further from any antennas, and I get 4-5 bars, even from deep inside a building full of other wireless networks. So I know the service *can* work, if you get lucky - some areas are fine. My area? It doesn't work, and they don't care. They'll tell you it does, and take your money for months and months, giving you a support runaround until you finally decide to cancel. Anything to get your couple of hundred bucks until you figure out you're being scammed. I don't understand how they stay in business. I guess that Sprint contract pays well, and Sprint doesn't care either. Dunno. member for 11.7 years, 2 visits, last login: 10.6 years ago updated 11.7 years ago |