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 Review by keithps 
member for 10.9 years, 5060 visits, last login: 2 days ago
updated 83 days ago
 Soddy Daisy,Hamilton,TN
 $75 per month about 10 days "Fast speed" "Nothing now" "Considering the options are AT&T or Comcast, you can't go wrong"
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I moved into a house with a friend that had EPB fiber already installed, however he told me his experience with the install was great. The only downside to the install is you have to wait a few days as they are booked constantly with people switching from Comcast and AT&T. We have the 50/50 package and usually always get a pretty solid 50-52Mbps transfer.
Update 3-8-2011
I haven't had any problems with disconnects in the last month or so. Everything seems to be rather peachy now.
Update 6-16-11
So, I've discovered that EPB will change your IP address on a daily basis if you do massive uploading (such as 50GB or more a day). I can only presume this is to prevent you from running a server.
Update 4-4-2012
Still doing well. In the time since the last update (6-16-2011) I think the internet service has gone down a total of about 3 times, never for more than an hour or so. Have uploaded and downloaded a ton, between myself and my roommate, well over 2TB a month at times and no word from EPB.
Update 2-25-2013
In July of 2012 I moved into another residence still with EPB. I have phone and internet service (no video) with them. I have the 100/100 package which is $70/month. Phone costs basically $10 if it included with the internet package. So far, in 8 months, my service has not been down for a single minute. Did find out my poor Linksys router couldn't handle the speed though, so I had to change that. My average speed is around 115/100. Here is a link from speedtest: »speedtest.net/result/2534674092.png
Comments:
 | | .. The occasional disconnects were probably from them doing network expansion. That's all finished (as far as I know) so it should be smooth sailing from here on out. | |
| | | The Washington D C beta server on speedtest.net is the best I've found for testing upload. | |
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Review by Malor
member for 1.6 years, 12 visits, last login: 10 days ago
updated 230 days ago
- Chattanooga,Hamilton,TN
- $140 per month
- about 7 days
- "Incredible service"
- "Some issues with the box, now resolved"
- "The best service in the United States."
| Pre Sales Information:
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Third edit, still 10/1/2012: It occurs to me that I should also link the Speedtest result, because folks might think the shot I uploaded is faked. It's on their servers here:
»www.speedtest.net/result/2188551934.png
Second update, shortly after the one just below: Hey, I can attach pictures now! Here's a shot of the Speedtest results. Note that Speedtest doesn't seem to measure upload properly; a closer server gave me about the same result for download, but only 75Mbit upload. I'm nearly certain that the low upload number in that shot is because of Speedtest, not EPB.
Update, 10/1/2012:
The service was upgraded in the last couple of weeks. The old 30/30, 50/50, and 100/100 tiers are now 50/50, 100/100, and 250/250, so I now have 250 megabits. Into my house.
As I mention below, once they switched the port to gigabit, that fixed an ongoing problem I had for ages. But now that the the midgrade plan is 100/100, this may be more of an issue for more people. I'd suggest making sure you use a Gigabit Ethernet device to plug into the wall port. If you plug in with regular Fast Ethernet, 100/100 speed, you might potentially have the same problem I did, with daily disconnects and, about every 2-3 months, a near-total crash of the connection, requiring a call into the service center for them to reboot the box. They may have fixed this already, but if you use a gigabit Ethernet device, you shouldn't run into it at all.
Note that 250 megabits is scary, scary fast, and there are very few consumer routers that can handle it. Check smallnetbuilder for reviews. What I did, for myself, was to use a rackmount 1.6Ghz Atom box, with a 4-port Intel NIC, running Linux. This works fabulously well, but it was really expensive, several hundred dollars, and I have to be my own sysadmin, keeping up on my Linux patches, and I had to build my own rule set, which is not for the faint of heart. If you aren't already expert with Linux networking, this is probably not a good solution. But, if you are, I can report that a 1.6GHz Atom has no problem pushing 250 megabits with a few dozen connections, using a fairly complex rules set, including two separate internal networks. (DMZ and trusted).
Original review starts here:
This is, very simply, an incredible service. The bandwidth is first-rate, and it's symmetric, meaning you have as much upload speed as download. You can upload videos to Youtube as fast as you can receive them, and you can easily host local servers, assuming you can get along okay on a single DHCP address.
EPB mostly doesn't care what you do with their bandwidth, as long as it's not spam or illegal. The only blocked port is outbound 25. I have 100 megabit service, and I really do get 100 megabits, both ways, at the same time.
It is absolutely unreal, better than anything you can buy anywhere in the country that runs to your house. You can get better bandwidth at colocation facilities, but it's far more expensive there.
I had issues for the first few months where, about once a day, the fiber box would essentially freeze up and drop all my connections -- it would be frozen for about a minute, so everyone using any service I was running would be kicked off. And about once every three months, the whole connection would freeze up almost completely and require a reboot of the box, which took a phone call into the service center. I'm running a streaming audio server locally, and this was VERY frustrating.
But about six weeks ago, they finally seem to have fixed the problem; they changed the port from 100 megabit to gigabit, and set a speed throttle instead of a port throttle, and that cleared the problem right up. I assume the box has a bug where running 100Mb service on a 100Mb port causes some kind of buffer accumulation and eventual crash, as the data is showing up from the larger network much faster than a mere 100 megabits. Running the port in gigabit mode, I assume, lets the throttling engine do its thing, instead of the code that tries to queue packets onto the physical port. That code appears to have problems, where the throttling code works properly.
If you want 100Mb service from this company, make certain that you're using an external device that supports gigabit, and you should be deliriously happy. If your external device only supports 100, you may have the same issue I did, rendering the connection unsuitable for use to run servers. If you want to host services for others, and your firewall/router is only 100 megabit, you will probably be happier on 50 megabit service than 100.
The tech support department is very nice, very easy to deal with, and the installers were pretty good. The first installer I had didn't do a very good job, but when I complained, they sent someone out who really knew what he was doing, and he got the wall port installed flush.
If you live in Chattanooga and you don't have this service, consider yourself whacked with a rolled-up newspaper. If you're using Comcast, you are being very silly.
(and, yes, I am new to DSL reports, although I've been reading here off and on for many years, but this is not a shill review. My only association with EPB is that I pay them, and they give me bandwidth.)
Attachments:
Comments:
 RobinMPremium
join:2001-10-24
Lupton City, TN | Re: Upload speed I am also getting those results. My download speed is right, but the upload numbers are WAY off. I have no idea what the issue is, but I believe it is with the speed test, not my actual speed. If you ever figure this out, please let me know.
Thanks | |
| Reviews:
 ·EPB Fiber Optics
| ... Use this speed test, guys. »speedtest.epbfi.com/epbfiberoptics
This is hosted at EPB and will let you know for certain that you're getting what you pay for.
Speedtest.net is known to be bad at measuring upload for those with high upload speeds. | |
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 Review by MonkeyLick78
member for 11.3 years, 895 visits, last login: 3 days ago
updated 250 days ago
- Hixson,Hamilton,TN
- $58 per month
- "Fast, reliable connection."
- "Nothing so far."
- "Great service that delivers speeds faster than I'm paying for."
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*Update* 9-12-12
Service is still 100% rock solid. I did a speed test today and found out my 30/30 package has apparently been increased to the 50/50 package at no additional cost. It's odd to actually have an isp that surprises you with something you actually want rather than another price hike.They still offer the 30/30 package on their site but I'm unable to check their pricing since that part of their site is down at the moment. They might have lowered the price of their 30/30 package and just moved all of their current customers to the higher package. Either way, I'm more and more impressed with every passing year with what EPB offers.
*Update 9-30-11*
It's been almost a year and a half and the service is still rock-solid. It feels so nice to have a service that you can completely rely on with no worries of bandwidth caps. I do 0 torrenting but still use plenty of bandwidth with legal activities.
So far the service has been rock-solid and made me a firm believer that FTTH should be available to all asap.
»speedtest.net/result/1509226410.png
I've had the service for about a week and I'm very impressed so far. I ordered their 15/15 service with FiPhone basic for $68.83 a month. That price includes a free install and doesn't require a contract. They did say that if I cancel before 1 year I would have to pay $75.00 for the install fee. When I called to order it took literally about 5 minutes and that includes having my existing phone number transferred to my EPB account. I had to wait a week for the final step of the install (actually installing it inside your home) but I was fine with that since it was free.
The day after I ordered they ran the fiber from the pole and attached it to my house. About 2 days later, they came and installed the ONT and backup battery beside the power meter on my house. It was a nice and clean install with everything level and all wires neatly tucked away.
I was given an appointment between 8-9 AM on a Friday for the final step of the install. It was about 8:45 when he arrived, so they were right on the mark and respectful of others people's time. The installer was nice and answered every question I had for him. I'm a tech head and was glad he was willing and able to talk about the technology and products in such an informal way. I asked about replacing the backup battery if it were to go dead, and he told me that it has a sensor on it that alerts them in the event of a failure. They will come out to your house and replace it for free. I told him how I wanted my CAT5 cable ran to my router and he was happy to do it just how I wanted. As we were talking while he installed, he told me that EPB was the first company he had worked for that actually had briefings when he was hired detailing the level of workmanship they expect out of their installers. He said they're very strict and I would get a visit by an EPB representative in the coming days checking out the install and asking question about how satisfied I was and how courteous he was.
We did a speed test and got about 19.5 down and 14.5 up. That's pretty good for a 15/15 connection. 
He cleaned up his mess and had me sign off on the job.
*EDIT* I just wanted to add that even though it's called FiPhone Basic, it's not basic phone service at all. It has Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call Waiting Caller ID, 3-Way Calling, Call Blocking, Voice Mail....a lot more than you would expect for only $10.84 more a month bundled with internet access. I get more features with this phone service than I did paying almost $40.00 a month to AT&T.
*EDIT* (7-30-10) EPB just doubled my speed from 15/15 to 30/30 at no additional cost. EPB impresses me more and more as time goes by.
»www.speedtest.net/result/899700947.png
Comments:
| | speeds with the national attention EPB has been getting with the 1GBPS speeds, do you still honestly think comcast can bury them? hell comcast can hardly bury a ground rod for a simple cable TV install. | |
| | | | Re: speeds yea from what i've heard comcast has had a 1/3 abandon rate in chattanooga due to EPB.
EPB does need to offer a lower end package for the older folks that don't need 30meg, 1-5mbps for $20 or somethin | |
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| | .. I guess Comcast hasn't found that switch to flip yet to run EPB into the ground. 2 years later and it's doing better than ever.  | |
| | Malor
join:2011-09-26
Chattanooga, TN Reviews:
·EPB Fiber Optics
| Re: .. Yeah, I just remembered to come back and update my earlier review. I have two hundred and fifty megabits into my HOUSE. My house! And it's symmetric. Comcast just can't compete.
As far as I know, in the entire country, if you want speeds like this to your house, you have to either be in Chattanooga, or in an area of Sebastopol, CA that's a few blocks wide, served by Sonic.net. (which is an awesome service; I actually slightly know the owner. One of the best ISPs in the country, no joke.)
In the whole country, two spots, and Chattanooga is a lot cheaper and easier to get into than Sebastopol. 
Kansas City will eventually be hooked up by Google, but that's still a ways off yet. | |
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| | EPB how is the HDTV service? i still have that from comcast. i know when the tv part first went available, the channel selection sucked. | |
| | | Lets see some 50/50 Speedtests!! As it says, lets see some 50/50 speed tests!! | |
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Review by nrgeek
member for 1.8 years, 1 visits, last login: 1.7 years ago
updated 1.7 years ago
- Hixson,Hamilton,TN
- $100 per month
- (12 month contract)
- about 20 days
- "SPEED SPEED AND MORE SPEED, 30up and 30down"
- "Telephone support"
- "Worth Every Penny and then some!!"
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Im writing this review , mainly so other potential business clients or home users that want static IP and it doesn't work after EPB gives you your static IP settings and you cant connect, and you check everything 5 times, and then you call SUPPORT, and they say .. without doing any real testing that gee we can see your connected to your router ! .. try plugging in directly to a computer .. you have a bad router call router manufacturer !!
Didn't matter that the router was working just fine with my other provider and a T1, just minutes before I changed the router config and my dns server with the new forwarding dns ip's .. I still have a bad router WTF!!!
Ok so .. Im a lil pissed at this point .. but just to satisfy my self and prove them wrong .. which I already knew they where .. I used 3 different routers , and 2 different clean install computers.. after entering their Static IP info no surfing .. set to auto detect ip and dns and it works .. put in static and no worky worky
So after all this I call them back couple hours later .. and give them this info .. the tech on the phone has to hand it off to a on-call network tech .. this is at 11pm .. and SHE will call me back .. at 2am I get a call from the original tech "JOSH" nice guy by the way .. and he says that SHE said that the VLANS on their side where MIS-CONFIGURED and that it was their fault .. YA THINK!
So if you are a Business or Home user and need static IPs make sure you can connect with the static IPs before they leave.. in my case . I couldn't with existing equip , had to wait till after hours to configure.
But If I had thought there would have been a problem with the static ips I would have hooked up a desktop to the EBP provided ethernet .. the EPB installer did check the connection on his laptop .. but that was just auto detect settings .. did plug in any of the static IP info .. cause at that time he didn't have it and they still hadn't sent that info to me .. so he couldn't have tested the static IP part .. I got the static IPs and dns settings emailied to me about an hour after the Installer left.
But at my house I have it and love it .. they seem to be over whelmed .. and gee I wonder why .. cause your the fastest and rock solid connection .. comcast .. and guarantee you ATT dsl cant say that and not be lying ! Unless you get a T1 for 500 a month! oh then ATT is solid lol but thats a different review lol
UPDATE .. The whole issue, was a STATIC IP VLAN mis-configuration on EPB's side , once I convinced them it was not a router issue, they started check other things.. and they found the problem .. now is fine.. if you have a buisness and need remote access from the outside make sure you request a /28 routed subnet not just static IPs other wise you will be pulling your hair out .. most users he will see this review prob dont even know what a static IP is or a routed /28 subnet is ... and wont have these issues at all
Comments:
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Review by BLinc
member for 2.9 years, 15 visits, last login: 240 days ago
updated 2.7 years ago
- Hixson,Hamilton,TN
- $185 per month
- about 5 days
- "Speed is as advertised."
- "None"
- "Great service great price."
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I ordered the 20Mbps connection from EPB as well as basic home phone and the top tv package with HBO, Encore, and Showtime ( the quad dvr and 3 additional STB's )all for 185$ a month.
The fiber optics IPTV signal is amazing you even notice a difference on my 420p televisions it's much crisper and the signal doesn't have moments where you get that "digital noise"
From my home to the epb server i am getting the advertised 20 up 20 down. It is actually higher than that at different servers across the US and other countries.
The order process was simple fast and easy and so was the install. The technicians were very polite and answered all the questions i had. They ran the cat5 cables where i wanted/needed them with no hassle or complaint they cleaned up before leaving and left everything the way it was before they arrived they even left me a 100ft cable for later use free of charge.
The modem as well as all the receivers are energy star efficient which will be saving me money in the long run.
I play a lot of games on the PC and have noticed a significant difference in my ping all across the board since switching from comcast.
In the future i will definitely be upgrading to the 50Mbps connection
here is my Trace Route to www.yahoo.com
1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 5 ms 3 ms 3 ms 12.91.215.185
6 32 ms 31 ms 31 ms cr82.atnga.ip.att.net [12.122.148.22]
7 33 ms 31 ms 32 ms cr1.nsvtn.ip.att.net [12.122.1.225]
8 31 ms 31 ms 31 ms cr2.nsvtn.ip.att.net [12.122.28.70]
9 33 ms 31 ms 31 ms cr1.dlstx.ip.att.net [12.122.1.241]
10 30 ms 31 ms 31 ms cr83.dlstx.ip.att.net [12.123.18.109]
11 31 ms 31 ms 31 ms gar8.dlstx.ip.att.net [12.122.139.9]
12 30 ms 31 ms 31 ms 12.86.20.18
13 37 ms 32 ms 31 ms ae2-p110.msr2.mud.yahoo.com [216.115.104.109]
14 30 ms 31 ms 31 ms te-9-1.fab2-a-gdc.mud.yahoo.com [209.191.78.143]
15 31 ms 31 ms 31 ms te-9-2.bas-c2.mud.yahoo.com [209.191.78.171]
16 32 ms 31 ms 31 ms ir1.fp.vip.mud.yahoo.com [209.191.122.70]
Trace complete.
Pinging any-fp.wa1.b.yahoo.com [209.191.122.70] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 209.191.122.70: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=49
Reply from 209.191.122.70: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=49
Reply from 209.191.122.70: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=49
Reply from 209.191.122.70: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=49
Ping statistics for 209.191.122.70:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 34ms, Maximum = 36ms, Average = 35ms
This is with the 20down 20up plan
Connected to server 4.71.251.149.
Estimating capacity:
Upstream: 52531 Kbps.
Downstream: 49388 Kbps.
The measurement will last for about 2.5 minutes. Please wait.
Checking for traffic shapers:
Upstream: No shaper detected.
Median received rate: 51557 Kbps.
Here is a wide server spectrum test
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Review by RobinM
member for 11.5 years, 3697 visits, last login: a few hours ago
updated 2.7 years ago
- Lupton City,Hamilton,TN
- $121 per month
- about 3 days
- "Fast and reliable"
- "Billing department"
- "Service is great but watch your bill"
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I have had EPB fiber for about 7 months. The speed is good and tech support is great and easy to get hold of. However, if you ever have a question about your bill, or you notice an error, be prepared for a months long journey into idiocy. I was being charged for service when I didn't even have it for 3 months. It took another 3 months to get it straightened out, and every bill since then has been a fiasco and my blood pressure rises every time I call billing because I know it will be crazy.
After all of that my service suddenly gets cut off at midnight one night...including phone. So I use my son's cell and call and find out THEY don't even know why. They said something about an order to disconnect??? Holy cow. I guess when you call to cancel internet they cut the whole thing off? So then they had to "rebuild" my account. How long I ask them. 2 days??!! They have to send it to the main office for some reason and I have to wait that long with no phone, tv, or internet.
Finally I went to a supervisor who said she would call me back when she got it straightened out. So I wait three days and call back. I have to leave a message. She never calls back. I called 4 times over two weeks and she NEVER returned my calls. Why do they tell you they will call back if they DON'T?
When it was time to get internet turned back on I call. I am told a supervisor has to call and schedule. Which btw I never understood from the beginning. Why do they have to call you back to schedule install? So I wait. No call. Big surprise. I call back and they tell me my internet has been on since I called. That all they had to do was flip a switch or something. What?? Wow...
It has taken that long for the "credit" for those months to show on my bill. Every time I call them they put me on hold forever, then come back and tell me they can't see where any of this shows up on the call records. I understand it is a "new" service and they have to get the kinks worked out. But why do they have to work them all out on MY account?
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 Review by rob_in_chatt
member for 8.6 years, 1830 visits, last login: 15 days ago
updated 2.7 years ago
- Chattanooga,Hamilton,TN
- $57 per month
- "amazing speed. incredible. wow."
- "none found yet."
- "if you live somewhere and you can get Fiber internet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR????"
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great speed. if anyone has the ability to get fiber but just doesnt want to switch, what are you waiting for? this stuff is amazing.
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Review by rob_in_chatt
member for 8.6 years, 1830 visits, last login: 15 days ago
lodged 2.7 years ago
- Chattanooga,Hamilton,TN
- $57 per month
- "fast. fast. fast."
- "none discovered yet."
- "speed is amazing. blows DSL and cable away by a mile."
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if you can get fiber in your area, do it. it is well worth the tremendous speed gain.
Comments:
| | router i have a WRT54G version 8 router and it appears that is handling the speeds just fine. i just ran another speed test last night on the EPBs site, and it pulled 32 down and 31.5 up.
i was thinking about that very fact the other day. im sure i will have to upgrade soon. | |
| | | | Re: router My WRT54GS vers 7.2 tops out at about 36 in real-world throughput. I would guess yours is probably around the same. Looks like we're both gonna need new routers soon. | |
| | | rothman
join:2001-04-01
Signal Mountain, TN | Re: router I just got my fiber..my befsr41 v 2 cannot handle the speed..looks like at the maximum firmware release..so i guess i got to get a new router. any suggestions? I havent looked at them in a while. Thanks | |
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| | we are all going to have to get gigabit routers it would seem. with the deployment of the 1GBPS, everyone is going to need a new router.
i really have no idea on what router to suggest, mine is still trucking right along with the advertised speeds that the service has.
i will have to searhc long and hard before i spend money on another router. im sure the 1GBPS speed routers are around the 300 mark. | |
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Review by jarrodholder
member for 10.8 years, 812 visits, last login: 175 days ago
updated 2.8 years ago
- Rossville,Walker,GA
- $132 per month
- about 13 days
- "Great speed and connection realibility"
- "TV service needs work"
- "Finally, an ISP with great upstream speeds!"
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This is a review of EPB Chattanooga's Fiber Optic Internet and TV service. Internet comparison is with AT&T while TV comparison is with DirecTV. Fi Phone will not be reviewed as I did not purchase this option.
The review will be separated into 4 parts: Order/Pre-Install process, Internet service (Fi-Speed Internet), TV service (Fi TV), and conclusion.
Order/Pre-install Process
The order for service was placed online at their website epbfi.com. Package chosen was Fi-Speed 20 + Fi TV Essential with HD. A DVR and 1 set top box was requested. A CSR (customer service representative) called within a couple of hours to confirm the order and options. Install date was set for 2 weeks later.
Installer arrived within time window and completed work within allotted time. Work was very neat and clean. Installer noted that HD service was not yet active and said that sometimes it can take awhile to become active. After several hours, I contacted EPB to inquire about HD service only to be told that the HD package was not shown on my account. CSR corrected this and I had HD service in roughly 2 hours. This, at least to me, is an exceptionally long time to add a service.
Fi-Speed Internet
Fi-Speed Internet has several different tiers to choose from. I chose the 20Mb (Megabits) plan which offers 20Mb down and 20Mb up. This is a major speed upgrade over AT&T's 3Mb plan which was the fastest tier available at my home. Speed tests have shown speeds at my location to be well within range (and sometimes above) the plan speeds I am paying for. Download speeds tend to be higher (25-40Mb) than those being paid for while upload speeds tend to be slightly less (16-18Mb). Currently, the only con to the Fi-Speed Internet service is the lack of a Static IP option. The current DHCP lease is said to be 24 hours which is pretty good. As long as your device renews within that time frame, you should keep the IP assigned to you. However, the option for a Static IP should definitely be available.
Fi TV Service
The Fi TV service is EPB's weak spot. There is much room for improvement with this service.
Their are several packages and add-ons to choose from. I chose the Fi TV Essential package with HD and DVR service. While HD is included, their HD lineup lacks some very popular HD channels such as Comedy Central HD and and Nick HD. SD channels also need some work. When comparing to DirecTV, SD channels appear very pixelated on the Fi TV service. Images are very blocky and only get worse as more movement is introduced. Channel lineup can be confusing to some. While channels are arranged based on their package (Basic, Expanded, Essential, etc). Some channels are often split from their counterparts. An example is the popular channel Nickelodeon. The main Nick channel is currently located at 59 while Nick two (often called Nick West) is located at 127. Most users would find it more helpful if these channels were closer together.
The included Scientific Atlanta (now Cisco) DVR only includes a 160GB hard drive. This is half of size that is included in an older DirecTV HR20-100 DVR (300-320G) from DirecTV. The Cisco DVR also does not allow for expanded storage via an eSATA (or other) port. USB ports are included, but documentation make no mention of using these ports for storage expansion. Recording options are also less granular. While DirecTV allows you to adjust the start and end times, the Cisco DVR only allows for end time adjustment (possible that this could be fixed via firmware update). Only one DVR is allowed per account. The DVR contains 4 tuners (two standard, two HD). Since the DVR can be accessed from other rooms, most people will be fine with this. However, multiple DVRs have their advantages. Multiple DVRs allow for extra recording storage and often allow for more than 2 HD tuners (often 2 per device). If users are willing to pay for multiple DVRs, then the provider should consider making them available. At the very least, provide a DVR with more than 2 HD tuners.
The program guide can be slow to load at times and contains less than 2 weeks of data. Programing is currently only offered in a max resolution of 1080i. While most programing from DirecTV is also 1080i, there are some shows (mainly PPV movies) that are being offered in full 1080p.
Video On Demand (VoD) options are very comparable to that of DirecTV. One major advantage that Fi TV has over DirecTV is that their VoD feature is truly "on demand". With DirecTV, VoD titles are downloaded via your Internet connection. If your connection is very slow (like 3Mb) it can take several minutes before your title is ready to watch. Also, if your Internet connection is being used by other resources (such as web browsing) your VoD title can be interrupted during viewing.
The 'record' feature should be looked at as well. When watching a show, if you press record, the recording begins at that moment and doesn't end till you hit stop (going across programs). If the DVR has data for the program prior to you hitting record (if you've been watching the program from the start) then that data should be included in the recording. (This would be similar to DirecTV in that it adds the previous data and also ends at the scheduled end time of the program.)
Conclusion
EPB Fiber Optics has the potential of becoming this country's leading carrier in terms of speed and options. Since EPB is government owned (City of Chattanooga) there are no investors or money hungry CEOs to please. As such, EPB is more free to innovate without having to worry too much about short-term ROI (Return on Investment). EPB offers some of the fastest speeds in the nation with their 100Mb plan and soon will offer the fastest with their 150Mb plan. Most of these higher tier plans are used by businesses or computer enthusiasts. With the lack of options such as static IPs, it could be hard, though doubtful, to attract these users. The lure of fiber speeds alone should be enough to hook these users.
FiTV needs a lot of work. While the product is main stream, I consider it 'Beta' at best. The service is still relatively new and, at least I hope, will continue to evolve. I would highly recommend that EPB look at options offered by DirecTV (and dare I say even Comcast) when considering additions/changes to this service.
Update: After posting the review, EPB posted on their Twitter (@epb_chattanooga) that Comedy Central HD is coming soon.
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Review by Bigun2
member for 3.1 years, 0 visits, last login: 3.1 years ago
updated 3.1 years ago
- Hixson,Hamilton,TN
- $69 per month
- about 10 days
- "Extremely Fast - Fairly Priced"
- "Blocks Port 25"
- "Will not sacrifice freedom for speed"
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Was extremely satisfied with the service until I had to send an e-mail to my own server that I co-locate.
Called tech support to get this resolved. I basically got sent an e-mail stating that Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Charter all do it, and so do they. Unless my memory is failing me, I remember sending e-mail using Comcast's service for the last year and a half.... not to mention using Verizon's aircard to send mail and a near daily basis. Blocking incoming port 25 makes perfect sense.... blocking outgoing port 25 is almost like blocking outgoing port 80, it just blocks a service. And I do not want to use their SMTP server. If anyone has gotten this resolved, please give me a name and a number to call to get this resolved.
If this is not resolved, I will be going back to Comcast in a couple of weeks.
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Isn't FTTH great!!?!! How I lived without it for so long I'll never know!
