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Review by mdkathon See Profile

  • Location: Seattle, King, WA, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month
Friendly customer service.
Poor internet service, bad download speeds, laggy gaming.
If you want to go back to the days of early DSL, Broadstripe can deliver!
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Due to my location in Seattle (20th and Charles - Central District) the choices of broadband are three: Cellular via AT&T(UMTS/HSDPA), Clearwire(WiMAX), or Broadstripe(Cable). At this point I can't believe that I am even considering a wireless option as it is so damn laggy, but at this point it does not matter.

My time with Broadstripe has been just depressing. I make use of BitTorrent for downloading large files (Linux distros, 3+ GB of data), and also try (and fail) to stream IPTV type content like Netflix WatchNow and the Microsoft IPTV Beta. Though customer service swears up and down that they do not shape traffic I cannot get above 150K/sec down with BitTorrent no matter how many connections are available. I've read endlessly about making sure my port triggering is setup, I've replaced modems, routers, RG-6 cable, splitters, had multiple visits from Broadstripe technicians saying everything is A-OK... Well.. It's not okay. Most of my web traffic is laggy, and when I can find a FTP server with a good connection I top out at 250-300K/sec if I am LUCKY.

Additionally, it is nearly impossible for me to game now. For the last two months my Half-Life (TF2, CS: Source) and other FPS game servers have magically developed HUGE latency issues.... Though again with a call to Broadstripe they cannot seem to find a problem and offer to send out another technician, which leaves me waiting, from 8AM-5PM, losing my hourly wage, to be told that nothing is wrong.

Here is what to take from this:

IF you're considering moving in the Seattle area make sure it is served by someone other that Broadstripe for cable service. We know who the other guy is and as much as we hat him at least it works the way it should for normal HTTP and UDP traffic, BitTorrent may be another concern....

And why must I pay an arm+leg for digital cable service. I have a HTPC with a digital tuner, but I am not going to pay for additional package prices for it...

---

Update:

I have been in touch with Broadstripe via email discussing these issues. They do seem very interested in finding a root cause and resolving this. This is the type of service you do not expect from larger companies and I appreciate it. With hope we will be able to find out what is going on and improve things!

member for 15.9 years, driveby review (so far)
updated 15.9 years ago


Review by rsharr See Profile

  • Location: Seattle, King, WA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
NONE
expensive, horrible service, horrible PERIOD
HORRIBLE COMPANY

Someone please sue this company already and put them out of business.

If you have a problem on the weekend, too bad, they arent open sunday even for technical support. They will write your name and number down and call you back later.

I am supposed to be paying for a 5mb connection, but i dont download faster then 300kb anywhere, and lately they have put a secret cap on my connection and i cant get passed 90kb...

They like to cancel your connection without warning you and they always seem to be having problems.

FUCK this company I am so sick of this bullshit.

member for 15.9 years, driveby review (so far)
lodged 15.9 years ago

hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Up To

All connections in the United States are always "up to" so you can't sue them for your speed issues. Also smaller ISPs are not open on the weekends for service. Especially if its a small family operation.

Review by bopgun23 See Profile

  • Location: Seattle, King, WA, USA
  • Cost: $35 per month
Friendly service
Speeds at less than 1/3 of advertised
Shoddy internet for those who have no other choice
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

This review is for Broadstripe cable internet (previously know as Millennium).

Location: Seattle Central District (MLK/Yesler)

Package: 6mb @ $30/month (6-month promo), $50 or $55 after promo ends

Order Process: Sales rep was pleasant, didn't pressure, offered promos without being asked. However, rep was asked to have the tech NOT install a cable modem, but the modem install was on the service order at day of install.

Install Process: I wasn't home to personally oversee process, so tech installed a new cable modem (despite seeing MY cable modem sitting right there). Had to call back support to switch MAC address, then return new modem personally.

Internet Quality: Iffy at best. Speedtest.net results for local servers can reach up to 5mb, but average out at 1.5mb, and are often as low as 800kb.

The primary problem, however, is service stutters. Not total service drops, mind you, but the REGULAR experience of having any loading pages suddenly hang for up to 15 seconds. Often, I have to reload the pages to get anything to happen.

So, the indication is that the quality CAN be good... it just whips up and down constantly, thusly classifying it as BAD.

member for 17.4 years, 11 visits, last login: 13 years ago
lodged 15.9 years ago

tsmartinson
join:2008-02-10
Chesterfield, MO

tsmartinson

Member

Broadstripe Internet Service

My name is Tom Martinson and I am the VP of IT/ISP services for Broadstripe. I have read your posting and would like to offer my assistance in solving your issue. Please feel free to contact me at tsmartinson@broadstripe.com.

Review by BB at last See Profile

  • Location: Duvall, King, WA, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month
Only BB option
Service is Horrible, Customer Service is Equally bad. Connections is incredibly unstable and SLOW.
If you have any other choice, it is probably better then what this company can do.
Connection Reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

MilleniumDigital sold the local network to BS. Service was bad under MDM but has only gotten wrse under BS.

member for 17.6 years, 10 visits, last login: 15.5 years ago
lodged 16 years ago







Review by dcantrell0 See Profile

  • Location: Seattle, King, WA, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month
Late fees after 13 days, fastest speed is not fast anymore, customer service on hold time is insane.
I'm searching for a new cable internet provider
Services:
Value for money:

Broadstripe took over Millenium about 4 months ago. I had heard that Millenium sucked, but I never had problems with them. But now, with Broadstripe, I know what it's like to have an internet service provider that sucks. Their invoices are due upon receipt and even though I have paid each one within 13 days from the invoice date, they have charged me a $5 late fee each time. I just got off the phone with customer service (I waited exactly 51 minutes on hold before customer service finally answered) and they are not going to waive the late fees. I think Broadstripes connection speeds are not what they are supposed to be either. I upgraded to the fastest speed with Millenium over a year ago when I signed up with Vonage because my Vonage service needed the faster speed. Now I'm having trouble with my Vonage service again because my internet speed is not fast enough. Yet I am paying for the fastest speed still. I pay 59.72 for this crappy service plus a $5 late fee for paying within 13 days. I'm looking for a new provider.

member for 16.1 years, driveby review (so far)
updated 16.1 years ago


SteveBroadstripe
@cablespeed.com

SteveBroadstripe

Anon

Broadstripe

I have their 6mbit service, but I only get around 1mbit during the evenings, and I'm paying $59 for it. Their tech support is also pretty horrible. Before I moved out of their area, I had Comcast, which I only moderately disliked. I never would have thought I'd be saying this, but Comcast would be a relief.

DC Madman
@cablespeed.com

DC Madman

Anon

Re: Broadstripe

I was somewhat pleased when I only had Broadstripe's high-speed internet. They went around the neighborhood pushing phone and cable for only $40 dollars more. If you opt in for this service make sure you get a cell phone with the money you save. You'll need it to call customer service. My phone has been out 4 days in one month. You'll need an extra 60 minutes of time on your cell phone to use waiting for customer service. Also get used to having conversations th t sou d lik th s on occas on when using the phone. The cable programming doesn't carry MSNBC or FSTV so no Countdown with Keith Olberman or Democracy Now for any of you lefties. Their business plan is to quickly hook up a neighborhood working weekends and into the night so nobody can compare notes. I asked a neighbor if their service was working (mine wasn't). It was but they had the same crappy intermittent service and got a $300 bill in error for the first month. It's not worth the $150 savings unless you enjoy frustration and have unlimited patience. The outages seem to resolve themselves if you wait long enough (up to 10 hours). I've had to cancel two appointments for service/repair because things fixed themselves.
DC Madman

DC Madman

Anon

Re: Broadstripe

Perhaps I was too harsh. Finally got a service person to my house after a two week wait. Cable modem and splitter were replaced and everything seems to be working as advertised for now.