dslreports logo

Review by SharkyCA See Profile

  • Location: Carleton Place, ON, Canada
  • Cost: $55 per month
  • No Cap
  • Telco party Bell Canada
Speed is OK
Cost is too high
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Modem Home Hub 3000

member for 3.5 years, driveby review (so far)
lodged 3.5 years ago







Review by purplesplat See Profile

  • Location: Braeside, ON, Canada
  • Cost: $90 per month
  • Install: about 14 days
It's Internet.
Over priced, unreliable, low speeds.
It's fine if it's your only option other than LTE.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

We weren't offered a lot of options, despite Bell's Fiber being on the pole in front of our house. We're currently limited to 10Mbps/0.93Mbps through their DSL/Fibe connection for $99.99/mth, but after discounts we pay about $90 after taxes.

The modem seems to get congested, which requires a reboot to fix. It takes 10 to 15 minutes for it to come back up again, compared to the two to three minutes it took for our LTE modem to reconnect. It can take longer for the Bell Pods to connect at times.

Bell frontline don't seem to have enough information to give accurate responses. I've been told varying stories about what I can receive, but no definitive answer, no reasons as to why I can't connect to the Fiber line 40 feet away, and a lot of time wasted for techs to never show up.

If there were another option in my area that offered even the same speed, I'd switch, but Bell even limits their subsidiary Virgin to 6 Mbps max as an alternative.

member for 3.5 years, 16 visits, last login: 3.4 years ago
updated 3.5 years ago


Anonbf1b9
@74.12.66.x

Anonbf1b9

Anon

Response

Hi there, I have been a Bell technician for 10 years. I would like to respond.

"We weren't offered a lot of options, despite Bell's Fiber being on the pole in front of our house. We're currently limited to 10Mbps/0.93Mbps through their DSL/Fibe connection for $99.99/mth, but after discounts we pay about $90 after taxes."

Assuming that because you see a fiber line we can show up and tap into it redneck style is frankly ignorant. There are very many different types of fiberoptic cables, what we really need is fully "lit up" (ready to use) fiberoptic terminal (designed for a drop wire to be connected to.) It must also be provisioned for your neighborhood, networks are planned such that a given terminal can only accommodate so many houses. Just because a terminal is nearby it may not be appropriate to connect a given subscriber to it.

"The modem seems to get congested, which requires a reboot to fix. It takes 10 to 15 minutes for it to come back up again, compared to the two to three minutes it took for our LTE modem to reconnect. It can take longer for the Bell Pods to connect at times."

Up to 5 minutes is completely normal for DSL sync, long than that is a problem. Requiring frequent reboots is more likely to be a an issue with your DSL line or modem.

Both the home hub 2000 and 3000 modems should provide good WIFI in most homes if placed well. (Ideally in the center of the house.) Pods are unfortunately a common upsell. Realistically pods should only be required in situations of extreme square footage, abnormal home geometry, or concrete walls/brick (or other WIFI blockers) in the middle of the house (which might be the case if an addition was built). You could always try unplugging them and comparing your WIFI coverage.

"Bell frontline don't seem to have enough information to give accurate responses. I've been told varying stories about what I can receive, but no definitive answer, no reasons as to why I can't connect to the Fiber line 40 feet away, and a lot of time wasted for techs to never show up."

Unfortunately many of the staff in stores have little or no experience in the field. They use a qualification system to know which addresses can get what services. Many technicians are also inexperienced as this is not a high paying job that attracts highly qualified candidates.

"If there were another option in my area that offered even the same speed, I'd switch, but Bell even limits their subsidiary Virgin to 6 Mbps max as an alternative."

The CRTC forces bell to offer all the same speeds on the DSL (copper network) through wholesale providers. You should be able to get the same services through virgin, teksavvy or others. They are definitely more reasonably priced.
purplesplat
join:2020-09-18
Braeside, ON

purplesplat

Member

Re: Response

I've been working in IT for 20+ years, including infrastructure design. If you'd like to opine on reasons, that's fine, however I suggest you get all the facts before doing so.
said by Anonbf1b9 :

Assuming that because you see a fiber line we can show up and tap into it redneck style is frankly ignorant.

Aside from the fact that we've had a Bell tech confirm the existence of the line, and it's purpose, it's also the same line being used to provide FTTH to other homes. Absolutely no one said anything about running Fiber from the pole "redneck style".
said by Anonbf1b9 :

Up to 5 minutes is completely normal for DSL sync, long than that is a problem. Requiring frequent reboots is more likely to be a an issue with your DSL line or modem...Both the home hub 2000 and 3000 modems should provide good WIFI in most homes if placed well. (Ideally in the center of the house.)

As stated in my original post, it takes 10 to 15 minutes, not five. The copper line from the pole is also newly installed. Others in the area on Bell's Fibe have experienced similar issues.

Location of a WAP is not ideally placed in the middle of a home, the position of a WAP must take into account the physical structure of the walls within the home in order to maximize range.
said by Anonbf1b9 :

The CRTC forces bell to offer all the same speeds on the DSL (copper network) through wholesale providers.

3rd Party resellers are offering lower speeds than Bell, all of whom are offering 6 Mbps DSL, including Bell's subsidiary Virgin. The CRTC madates Bell to allow 3rd party use of their infrasctructure. Both Teksavvy and Virgin have confirmed that this is the maximum they've been allowed to provide from Bell.

At best, Bell's reasoning could be that they don't have the backend infrasctructure available to continue providing FTTH to the remainining 30+ homes. However, given that they installed the line eight years ago, and they are mandated by the CRTC to provide a minimum of 50 Mbps by end of 2021, their reasoning for why, and when they'll provide the service begins to fall short.

Review by wowproducts See Profile

  • Location: Kingston, ON, Canada
  • Cost: $100 per month
  • Install: about 2 days
  • No Cap
  • Telco party Bell Canada
fast constant speed
bit pricey
great service

Was with third party that ran off Cogeco and had enough of the constant speed fluctuations and or not internet at all, switched to Bell Fiber and couldn't be happier yes very high price but its worth it

member for 16.6 years, 296 visits, last login: 2.2 years ago
lodged 3.5 years ago







Review by pandaruu See Profile

  • Location: Corbyville, ON, Canada
  • Cost: $75 per month (12 month contract)
  • Telco party Bell Canada
Uh I guess you can load web pages
Terrible speed. Terrible connection. Atrocious quality of service
Not worth it if you live even 10 seconds out of a city
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

We NEVER see our measly 1mbps upload speeds or 5mbps download. For years and years, we get max 100-250kbps upload which is very very rare and usually only a quick spike to that speed. Our usual upload speed sits around 50-100kbps. That alone makes it absolutely impossible to use the internet. My phone on cellular gets a faster connection just not consistent enough to be worth it over bell.

Download speed normally sits around 2-3mbps when running through speed tests(maxes out at 410kbps typically stays in the 300's). That, of course, meaning that peak usage hours are all the time? Even at 3 am the speeds can go so low its unusable.

Bell is the only company that services our area. PLEASE WE WANT MORE THAN 5Mbps down and 1 upload. "Sorry customer that's all we can give, we are not giving you any better".

Proceed to look elsewhere at other companies, satellite internet included. "oh sorry we advertised in your mailbox we don't actually cover that area of Ontario" WUT THE...

When bell contacted us about our crtc complaint we were promised a new router that would improve our connection and speed. Literally the exact same connection, I also find out looking online they sent us the h2000 which the manager claimed was the best of the best. I look up our router online to troubleshoot the piece of crap only to find out they have even newer models of the router(h3000). That means the manager lied to us, not a first from bell of course.

Our 2nd crtc complaint 6 months later after no improvement in speeds was a call from the ccts saying they will mention my complaint to the crtc but nothing was going to change.

So you are telling me that even though nothing was fixed or helped bell can just walk away from it? That right there is why I wish I was dead a lot of time. The fact that we literally can do absolutely nothing to change our situation in any way.

Youtube must be run at 360p-480p it will spin every few seconds if you set it any higher.
Twitch is unusable as streams won't even load on low-quality options
Downloading files over 3-4 gigabytes? The computer must be left on 24/7 as that will take a full night. Don't bother trying while anyone else is on the internet.
Large games 50-100gb? Start the download and hope it finishes in a week or two. INSANE.

The bell DSL lines were installed almost 16 years ago(if not 16 now, our house was built 16 years ago) to our house. They have never been upgraded or changed. I wish for regular. usable. Internet. Is that so much to ask??

Also noticed. The unlimited cap costs us an additional 10$. not only is our internet plan not listed on their site but we also HAVE to pay an additional fee because our low plan doesn't include unlimited usage.

Attachments:
Click for full size


member for 3.6 years, 21 visits, last login: 3.4 years ago
updated 3.6 years ago

HCKev
join:2017-11-28

HCKev

Member

.

It's sad to say, but that's the downside of living in rural areas (which I assume you are since the only internet you can get is below-5Mbps dsl). Companies are there to make money, and there's very low return on investment running new cables or upgrading existing network in those low-density areas, so there's very little providers are willing to do (not just Bell, in fact they give you internet at least, yes a crappy one, but at least they give you something)

However, did you ask if you are eligible for wireless internet (WTTH) ? It's an antenna that they install on your home and it uses cellular network, typically you can get 25Mbps, which at least is useable speeds and certainly a thousands times better than what you're getting right now.

Oh and by the way, last time I checked, the HH2000 is still the modem they install on DSL, the HH3000 is for FTTH on residential accounts. But really, having the HH3000 instead of the HH2000 would do nothing to improve your situation, you're obviously way too far from the CO to get any decent speeds. I'd even argue the old 2Wire 2701 would probably work better (it's old but it's definitely one of the best modem Bell ever had)

Review by Wo1f See Profile

  • Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
  • Cost: $90 per month
  • Telco party Bell Canada
Very stable and very reliable. Set and forget.
None to speak of.
Not the most competitive rates BUT it's rock solid and very fast.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I have been a Sympatico subscriber since 1999. I have only good things to say about the quality, availability and performance of this service whether on FTTN, FTTN w/bonded pair or, currently on FTTH. Speeds (up/down) are at the top of the spectrum for my profile (...and then some). The up-time would put to shame even a well-configure linux machine. It's that good.

June 19th 2020

Bell Fibe 300/300 - unlimited bandwidth
(90.00$/month - HH3000)

Attachments:
Click for full size


member for 16.4 years, 482 visits, last login: 1.3 years ago
updated 3.7 years ago


travisc
join:2001-11-09
Uxbridge, ON

travisc

Member

Well

If the guys that do support on the forum are truly doing it on their own time, then that's not at all what support is about. It's a sad indictment of Bell. These guys should be authorized and given time during their days to do it.

Deadpool0
Go Sens Go
Premium Member
join:2001-03-29
Canada

Deadpool0

Premium Member

Re: Well

said by travisc:

If the guys that do support on the forum are truly doing it on their own time, then that's not at all what support is about. It's a sad indictment of Bell. These guys should be authorized and given time during their days to do it.
There are 9 people assigned to the forum. It's now their job.

Wo1f
join:2007-10-02
Montreal, QC

1 edit

Wo1f

Member

Re: Well... Provided by Sympatico...

I don' know, I did not ask. But this comment seems to confirm that it is "sanctioned" by Sympatico.
said by justin:

This isn't any substitute for calling Sympatico direct, it is a best-effort service kindly provided by Sympatico with no guarantees. You may find it more convenient, or you may not.
Original thread here: »Sympatico Direct forum

Review by sammygee434 See Profile

  • Location: Cote Saint-Luc, QC, Canada
  • Cost: $98 per month
  • Install: about 2 days
  • No Cap
Great Quality, Connection works well and the ping levels are amazing.
On the phone technical support is disappointing.
Once you are up and running, you can truly expect to have a great experience.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

So i currently have had my Bell Service for Over 3 Months now and here is my review.

First, the Sales Department was direct and told me exactly what was offered, at first i had ordered Fibe TV, Home Phone and Fibe internet but this review is about the internet.
Offer was:
$170 Per month for:
DSL FTTN Fibe 30
1 Fibe TV Receiver and PVR HD.
1 Home Modem 3000 (I told them that i was not switching unless i got this modem.)
Home Phone.

But then in my neighborhood, i kept seeing the Bell Trucks do node installations near my house and decided to give them a ring.
The next week after activating, i was told i can get fiber for the same exact cost. I asked them and they said they would upgrade me without issue.
Technician came, did a fantastic job and i was up and running after 3 hours.

Now with the package i was upgraded to Fibe 50
50 Mbps down and 40 Up.

Earlier this month i had asked to remove home phone as we did not use it and we never really watched tv, Spoke with a fantastic Salesman and this is what i was given.
$85 Per month Plus Tax for:
Fiber FTTH Fibe 300 - 300 Mbps Up and Down.
ALT Fibe TV Basic Package

And we returned/Removed the following:
-1 PVR and DVR
-1 Home Phone Service.

The reason now where i actually had issues with bell is when my package was changed, the gist of the email said:
Your service will be disconnected on: May 9th
Your New ALT TV and Internet will begin on: May 9Th.

I said well that is ok and let's go with it...

And this is where my nightmare with technical support begins:

I wake up on May 9th, no internet at all in the house, chat with a bell representative and do the usual, Reboot, restart, line test... nada. The representative tells me there's a connection issue and a technician has to be sent.
I then explain to the technician that i don't understand why a technician has to be sent knowing that:
1. My fiber line is BRAND NEW.
2. We did not have any rough weather between last night and the next day
3. I've visually done a super quick check of the line (as its visible from my window) and everything looks intact.

The rep then reset my B1 code, still nothing. a tech needed to be sent but for that i need to call in.

As per my confusion i decided to call in. First rep, same thing, books me a tech repair. I explain to him the same thing i explained but the tech said he really did not know why but he has to sent a tech. As someone who works in the IT field, i kindly asked to speak to a Level 2 to see if there's anything else i can do on my end. The rep hung up.

I called back a second time, same story, and again the rep hangs up on me...Uh hello?. This time i called back in french and spoke with a super rude tech who basically treated me like i had no clue what i was talking about. I then explain to the tech that i dont understand what would've happened overnight and mid sentence, cuts me off and hangs up the call.

Finally called back a 4th time in English, this time the rep tells me sadly due to COVID, we do not have any Level 2s or Supervisors available currently, i give up and wait for the tech to come the next day.

The next day i wake up, hey look my internet works. I call bell to cancel the technician, but the guy tells me not to and still send someone....ok then.

The tech calls me before coming and does a line test remotely, sure enough, everything is working perfectly fine. I explained to the tech the entire situation and he told me he apologies for the situation and tells me that Over the phone techs have very limited training? Well then that's a shock.

Finally i contacted Customer service and was refunded partially for the problems and that's about it.

SO TO SUM THIS ALL UP.
Once it works, it's fantastic. The connection works well and things are stable.
But when issues arise, techs don't break their heads at all to get things to work.

member for 3.8 years, 19 visits, last login: 2.9 years ago
updated 3.8 years ago


Review by Hoodlum416 See Profile

  • Location: North York, ON, Canada
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
pure fibre, low latency, low jitter
peering and routing could be better.
advertised speeds and connection quality is excellent.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Recently got FTTH in my older building, North York area.
(took about 12 months from when trjtelecom laid the fiber till service was ON)

Ordered online the day it was shown as available at my address.

500/500 FTTH + alt tv + crave at 69$ for 1 year.
(I was offered 1000/750 for same deal but passed on that)

Install took around an hour for an internet only service.

being a heavy internet user. its been smooth sailing the last week... no slowdowns even during peak hours.


member for 7.9 years, 94 visits, last login: 2.4 years ago
updated 3.8 years ago


Review by Altheran5 See Profile

  • Location: J3M0C7
  • Cost: $110 per month
  • Install: about 5 days
  • No Cap
  • Telco party Bell Canada
Speed better than advertised, reasonable price, no latency or bufferbloat
pppoe /vlan was a bit of a hassle to figure out bypassing the HH3000
Satisfied
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Advertized 94.95 for 12 months (104.95 after)
Chat lady appeared and insisted of doing my order instead of letting me do it alone on the web page,
offered me 69.95 for 12 months (79.95 after) not mad she got to me XD

Was reminded of tech the day prior and that he was on his way 45min he got to my place by sms (yay no talking to people !)
Guy was super chill, great install, lost only 1.5 db between the pole and my ont.

Got a HH3000, could not figure out the pppoe passtrough with the port fowarding working (double Nat...)
so got the GBIC module out and used my SG-300-20 switch to tag vlan 35 between the GBIC and my ER-Lite, works great !

member for 12.9 years, 1413 visits, last login: 37 days ago
updated 3.9 years ago


Anondd051
@bell.ca

Anondd051

Anon

bell fibe ftth auto dhcp and vlan 35

I use auto dhcp , with assigning everything to VLAN35 , using a WRT-1900AC linksys router. Will this method give equal speed to ppoe passthrough?
Altheran5
join:2011-04-08
J3M0C7

Altheran5

Member

Re: bell fibe ftth auto dhcp and vlan 35

No gain on speed, but latency/bufferbloat is better and port forwarding was a pain to try having it work in passtrough.

Review by Wesley See Profile

  • Location: Acton, ON, Canada
  • Cost: $90 per month
  • No Cap
  • Telco party Bell Canada
No down time
Slow speeds for 4+ people
its alright just for 1 person in 2020
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

- I ordered 10mbps download and 1mbps upload for $90 a month unlimited data usage since its the only package available in my area besides wireless connections.

- It was quick since it was DSL.

- Home Hub 2000

- the speed is bad for 4+ people in 2020

member for 4.1 years, 2 visits, last login: 4 years ago
lodged 4.1 years ago







Review by potvinp See Profile

  • Location: Pembroke, ON, Canada
  • Cost: $65 per month
  • Install: about 7 days
  • No Cap
  • Telco party Bell Canada
Quick install. Promised and consistent speeds. No outages or issues as of yet.
None at this time.
Very impressed with Bell, after having switched away from them after only having DSL service available.

I ordered the 500/500 FTTH package for $64.95/month with a 1-year promotional offer, and got a $50 gift card to The Source after 60-days after the install. The original price for the package I ordered is $99.95/month. The order process was simple, as I work for a Bell dealer store so I had ordered my service through them. The install went smoothly, only taking 2 hours from start to finish compared to the 5 hours my appointment confirmation estimated. The technician arrived shortly after 8am, which was the around start of the arrival period (8am to 5pm). My only full day off within the 30-day install period required to get the gift card was a full week after the order was placed, so that is when I had the service installed.

The modem that the technician installed was a refurbished second-generation Home Hub 3000 with an Alcatel-Lucent GPON module. It looked brand-new when he took it out of the box, as the box and modem were shrinkwrapped when it was brought into my house. I had also ordered the internal battery, which will help when our frequently-occurring power outages happen from time-to-time.

The technician who installed my FTTH service was very friendly. He was showing me what he was doing at each step of the install so that I was aware of what he would be doing next, in case I needed to assist him with anything.

In the end, I've had a 10/10 experience with this Bell service and the install. I would definitely recommend to friends and family who I know are in the FTTH service area.

member for 4.5 years, 31 visits, last login: 1.3 years ago
lodged 4.3 years ago

Manitobarev
join:2019-11-20

Manitobarev

Member

bell uses huawei

Bell uses Huawei infrastructure. Best of luck to your privacy!
zadigre
Premium Member
join:2006-10-02
Montreal, QC

3 recommendations

zadigre

Premium Member

Re: bell uses huawei

you are on the internet... and I guess you have a Facebook/instagram/gmail/hotmail accounts... best of luck to your privacy.

For the public, the beef against Huawei is mostly just a trade ward between China and the USA.
That said, I understand governmental entities should rely on technologies based/manufactured in their own countries... this help both the economy and also it's easier to control the security. but that said, the public shouldn't worry that much.