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Review by foolishone 
UPDATED: 2 days ago
member for 1.1 years, 18 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 Santa Rosa,Sonoma,CA
 $45 per month
 about 10 days
 "Fast, Reliable, no phone line needed"
 "Placing order was difficult, only presales info was ceo blog"
 "Good company you can stand behind"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Matt & Josh were great during the install, even squeezed me in at the last moment on a friday afternoon after a bit of a wait. Thanks to Tiffany for pushing my order onto the NOC when the website wouldn't take my info! Marked down the presales info because I sent in an email with questions that directed me back to the CEO blog I got the info from in the first place, no further answers, most likely because it's such a new product to the company.
Below are speed tests from Sonic and DSLReports. New Fusion product is awesome and worth the cost! I havn't looked into squeezing those last few kb's out of the up/down yet.
Speed test from »www.sonic.net/stats/speedtest/ (provided by DSLR)
Speed Test #61548772 by dslreports.com
Run: 2008-11-22 00:26:37 EST
Download: 5109 (Kbps)
Upload: 775 (Kbps)
In kilobytes per second: 623.6 down 94.6 up
Tested by server: 38 java
User: 1583731 @ dslreports.com
Speed test from speedtest.sonic.net
Last Result:
Download Speed: 5151 kbps (643.9 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 844 kbps (105.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 35 ms
Friday, November 21, 2008 9:09:08 PM
6-26-09 Update
Still kicking butt! 4.9down .7up. Haven't had to call Sonic.net since the original install and have made no changes to the services. The price appears to be steady at $45 since my original order too. Thanks guys!
11-19-09 Update
Yesterday, about 24 hours ago, I called up spoke with Matt in sales and requested the upgrade to 18/1 for $55. I just received an email saying that had completed. Great turn around you guys!
Speed test from speedtest.sonic.net
Last Result:
Download Speed: 13984 kbps (1748 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 853 kbps (106.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 28 ms
Thu Nov 19 11:47:22 2009
Followup comments:  
rossmky
| Wish I could say the same about my fusion service... Speed Test #62051345 by dslreports.com
Run: 2008-11-30 13:46:29 EST
Download: 4620 (Kbps)
Upload: 203 (Kbps)
In kilobytes per second: 564 down 24.7 up
Tested by server: 38 java
User: 2 @ dslreports.com | |
| | 
Snypes
join:2003-12-29
Santa Rosa, CA | Re: Wish I could say the same about my fusion service... If you would like to PM me your login name for your Sonic.net account I can review your line stats and get our fusion guys involved if there are problems.
Thanks! | |
| rossmky
join:2008-12-14
Santa Rosa, CA
| Re: Wish I could say the same about my fusion service... Called sonic and they were able to make some changes on my account, check out my stats now!!! Best customer service ever, Thanks guys!
Speed Test #62912012 by dslreports.com
Run: 2008-12-14 15:10:51 EST
Download: 4892 (Kbps)
Upload: 797 (Kbps)
In kilobytes per second: 597.1 down 97.2 up
Boost: 6090
Latency: 25 ms
Tested by server: 2 flash
User: 1603759 @ dslreports.com | |
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Review by ozamor
UPDATED: 8 days ago
Fair warning: reviewer joined this month
San Francisco,San Francisco,CA
$60 per month
"Better than AT&T"
"Customer/tech support not very helpfull"
"About the same to other DSL providers"
| |
I singed up for the fusion broadband 6\2 on Oct 20. After having AT&T out 2 different times to run new wiring to my house Sonic.net tech came out on Nov 9. He ran a new telephone line to where the modem was to be setup. The Sonic tech could not get the dmark to work and had to splice the wire coming in to the house to the new run in the house. He said he would call AT&T to fix the dmark and showed me that to DSL was working at 5mb down and 1.5mb up. After about 3 hours the Internet slowed way down to 2.5mb down. After 3 days of calls to Sonic tech support still having problems and I am only getting 3.4mb down 50% of what i am paying for. Tech support is now saying it's a AT&T problem and there working on it. As of 2:30 on Nov 9 they haven't even called att about any of the problems. Bottom line if any thing is wrong tech support will say it AT&T fault.
Followup comments: adame
join:2005-08-10
Santa Rosa, CA
| Re: bonded fusion speeds Hello,
We were able to take a second look at your line at adjusting your line, and I believe you should be getting your full download speeds now, and your line should be stable.
We see a cable problem on your second line, which is keeping you from attaining your maximum upload speeds. We have asked AT&T to replace the faulty cable, and we will keep you up to date regarding the status of the repair.
You are absolutely correct that this should have been handled much more quickly by our Support department. We are bringing this up as a specific example to our department as a whole, so we will be able to handle similar issues on the first call, and with expertise in the future. | |
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Review by tbessie
Posted: 9 days ago
member for 8.5 years, 54 visits, last login: 10 days ago
San Francisco,San Francisco,CA
$65 per month
 AT&T
"Knowledgeable staff, execs take a personal interest in customers"
"None that I can think of"
"My favorite ISP of all time"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I searched for a long time for an ISP that had good service, knowledgeable tech support staff who could talk to tech-savvy customers like me, and provided a lot of options for account self-management, including an ssh to a shell account. Sonic was the best of all of these.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of SONIC.NET |
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Review by JimiHendrix
Posted: 10 days ago
Fair warning: reviewer joined this month
Los Angeles,Los Angeles,CA
$30 per month
"Good customer service."
"Pricing system."
"I'm shopping around."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I'm really ticked off at Sonic, for the same reason that others have mentioned. I'm a long time customer, and every renewal year I have a heart attack when I notice the bill, because the one year contract ends and they bump the service cost to around double what it was originally. In my case, from 24.95 to 49.95.
So I complained and they lowered it to 30 per month no contract, which is still a 20% increase for a relatively slow speed of 1.5.
DSL Extreme offers 6.0 speed for the same price point.
I hate to leave Sonic and have to go through the hassle of the changeover, but the price increases do not seem justified. I think that they should do more to keep long time customers happy. I asked if they'd hook me up with the faster speed for the price increase and the answer was no.
Followup comments: hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | ADSL+ Someone has to pay for them to deploy their "new" outdated DSL system. You didn't think they wouldn't raise rates do you? | |
| 
DaneJasper
Sonic.Net
Premium,VIP
join:2001-08-20
Santa Rosa, CA
clubs:
| Intro rates Looks like the $30 rate you cite is short term too; appears it goes up to $65 after 12 months. FYI!
Our products and services are built on a reliable network backed by friendly and available customer care. We're not always the cheapest, but I feel like the value equation does balance out.
-Dane | |
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Review by tomdude
Posted: 16 days ago
member for 5.2 years, 17 visits, last login: 5 days ago
Sebastopol,Sonoma,CA
Contract price not specified.
"Used to be a really great service. Espcially since there's no DSL or Cable internet wired here yet."
"Since Sonic.net bought Pogowave, it's gone downhill in every area except billing."
"Not worth it until Sonic.net figures out how to fix things on Pogowave."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
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First of all let me clarify that this is not the normal DSL service that I'm reviewing, it's the wireless DSL service that was formerly known as Pogowave.
Originally the wireless service was a seperate company called Pogowave. This service shoots a beam across town and into the Sonic.net backbone. I was immediately shocked at the bitrates I was getting considering the service, it was definately worth the price. Not only that but I had a direct contact with the technician who actually serviced the equipment (either on my side of the connection or theirs).
Since Sonic.net took over the service there was an immediate drop on the quality. They say that it has nothing to do with them now owning it, but it seems far too coincidental for me to beleive that. Also I have to contact a tech support department now that has no idea how to troubleshoot anything on the wireless network (which they weren't ashamed to tell me).
Each time I contact them it's the same thing, though I keep trying:
1. Put me on hold to look at my previous calls.
2. Tell me that the wireless team is working on it.
3. Tell me that they're going to put a note for the wireless department to contact me (which has not happened in the month and a half since I first complained).
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of SONIC.NET |
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Review by elray
UPDATED: 20 days ago
member for 8.9 years, 396 visits, last login: 3 days ago
Los Angeles,Los Angeles,CA
$27 per month (12 month contract)
about 4 days
AT&T
"Old Fashioned Customer Service Oriented"
"Not the cheapest"
"You get what you pay for"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I switched the folks' house from DSL Extreme to Sonic.Net in September 2008.
We had a host of issues with AT&T repair, and while DSLX was not to blame, they were not very helpful over the last year either. Sonic's reputation (and our previous experiences in the Bay Area) made switching an easy decision.
Our switch to Sonic went without a hitch. Reboot and go. Their personnel, so far, have been both informed, competent, and pleasant to speak with. The 768K service runs about 640K/300K using a Siecor splitter, about 490/250 on a standard filter - slow by any measure, but good enough at 15-17K from the CO.
Update September 2009: Price skyrockets to $39/month. "We were warned" by one line in an email that didn't get read. Not Sonic's fault, but if were ordinary consumers, we'd probably just choose another ISP, with AT&T begging us to subscribe at $12.95. We know rates change every year, but Sonic needs to be more proactive and disclose massive rate increases better than one line in email receipt. For all I might rant that the consumer should be diligent, one of the reasons one converts to an ISP like Sonic, is to be insulated from the hassles and extortion that comes with the big players.
With two phone calls, we were re-rated to $25.00/month, retroactive to the anniversary date. Not a stellar deal, but Cliff Robertson would probably coin it "... not having to call AT&T Yahoo ... *priceless*".
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Review by smb2009
UPDATED: 44 days ago
member for 116 days, 2 visits, last login: 44 days ago
San Francisco,San Francisco,CA
$34 per month
about 4 days
AT&T
"5 Mbps for $35/mo"
"Price will go up to $65 eventually"
"Bang for your buck in dsl in 94107"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I was a loyal speakeasy.net customer for years, but ended up paying too much for too little. They were a great service. After moving a few times I ended up in the far edges of 94107 and 11,000 ft away from the nearest CO, where DSL is barely possible.
I was considering unwired ltd because i have line of sight, but you have to spend $100s on the gear. Sonic.net have provided 5Mbps for $35/month, though you do need a phone line and that cost may change the deal for a lot of cell only folks.
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Review by gg555
UPDATED: 51 days ago
member for 51 days, 0 visits, last login: 51 days ago
Los Angeles,Los Angeles,CA
$35 per month
AT&T
"Don't have to wait long on hold for customer service, not AT&T"
"Bait and switch pricing, customer service run around on pricing, weird delays"
"In the end they're giving you the run around on prices, even if they're the little guy"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
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Sadly after a year with Sonic they've completely disappointed me.
It turns out the prices on their web site are considered "promotional" and after a year they bump you up to outrageous prices that even AT&T is not shameless enough to try to charge. I went out of my way to get a land line I don't need so I could go with the little guy for DSL and in the end I feel betrayed.
I signed up for the $30 3Mbps service a year ago. Since that price is considered by Sonic to be "promotional," after a year they bumped me to $60 for the same 3Mbps (something they completely failed to disclose or clearly explain when I signed up). After I called to complain, they said they could give me a new $35 "promotional" rate (meaning they can again change the price whenever they want). So now I'm paying the same rate for 3Mbps that new customers get with 6Mbps ($35 is also what DSL Extreme and AT&T charge for 6Mbps without a contract, with no special punishment for being a long time, faithful customer).
When I told Sonic that $60 for 3Mbps is outrageous and no one charges anywhere close to this. They said, well everyone has initial promotional prices. Of course, what that statement leaves out is that AT&T has a 3-month $20 promotional price and then their *normal* price for 3Mbps is $30. Or DSL Extreme charges $25 with a 12-month contract and then their regular price is $28. No one has a "normal" price that's anywhere close to $60. I had cable for years, before going to Sonic, and the price was $42 for 6Mbps and the price never changed. To be clear: Sonic's "promotional" prices are the same as everyone elses normal prices (once the promotions are over). Sonic's regular prices are an astronomic rip-off that even a giant Telco wouldn't try to stick to you. I guess Sonic is just hoping after a year the price change will slip under your nose and you won't notice it on your credit card bill.
I found this slippery argument about promotional prices to be particularly disheartening, because its the kind of car salesmen double talk I expect from AT&T. When I pointed out how it was a completely misleading way for Sonic to compare itself to other providers, I got the usual bureaucratic "There's nothing I can do about it. I don't make the policies." Suddenly I felt like I was back in the AT&T customer service mumbo-jumbo black hole.
I did early on notice on my bills that I was being charged $60 with a $30 credit and called about it. The person I spoke with said that's just how the billing works and not to worry. They didn't say that's because I have a promotional price that will expire in a year. I also looked on Sonic's web site today and they really don't make it clear there either. It's actually easier to find good information on AT&T's pricing and how their promotions work on their website, which is not saying a lot. It's hard not to conclude that Sonic is being deliberately misleading.
Sonic billing also said they would refund me $25 for the month I was charged $60, but it just goes on my Sonic account, not back on my credit card. Sonic makes it difficult for people to pay other than by automatic credit card billing. So if you have a dispute, you'll likely be fighting to get your money back, rather than disputing a bill that you haven't paid yet. I didn't like this aspect of Sonic when I signed up and now I'm regretting that I let it slide. I'm going to be moving soon and not using Sonic anymore (after my experience with the pricing), so I likely won't see this money again. And I really don't have a lot of money.
Another downside to Sonic, at least in Los Angeles, is that there is often a one to two second delay before web sites load up. On speed test sites the bandwidth looks fine, but there's almost always this delay before connecting. I have a friend who got her DSL directly through AT&T and experiences the same thing, so I suspect it's just the underlying system, which after all is AT&T even if Sonic is reselling it.
Anyway, if you don't want the run around and bait and switch with pricing, I'd steer clear of Sonic. I never thought anyone could make AT&T look better, but Sonic manages to have accomplished that.
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Review by billern
UPDATED: 80 days ago
member for 6.8 years, 203 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Santa Rosa,Sonoma,CA
$50 per month (month by month)
SBC
"12Mbps down, 1Mbps up, great newsgroup access, great support"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
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I just upgraded to their 12Mbps Fusion residential product and I'm afraid I will need to buy some more hard drives.
The speed is crazy! The support is very good. And I'm very happy now that they can sell naked ADSL v2. Goodbye phone service.
They just lowered their prices on the higher speed tiers. It was an extra $5 a month to bump up my downstream from 6Mpbs to 12Mbps. I just couldn't say no...
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Review by SonicPengwyn
UPDATED: 92 days ago
member for 2.7 years, 9 visits, last login: 92 days ago
Sacramento,Sacramento,CA
$24 per month (12 month contract)
about 5 days
"It's an ISP that actually cares about folks."
"none."
"They rock!"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
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RANDOM UPDATE FOR 21 AUGUST 2009
I guess I should say going on 3rd year...
DSL Service is Perfection Paradise
I think it's still $24/Month so I am leaving that, and I did sign again for 12 months so I am leaving that. It's possible it could go up. But it hasn't as of this date.
RANDOM UPDATE FOR 20 JUNE 2008:
Going on second year. Signed for the same 1 year contract. Price increase due to leaving introductory rates. I think it's $24, I honestly can't remember now.
Service has kicked butt last year, very very pleased. No problems at all.
No further problems with IPCop (which was Hardware/on my side)
Service has kicked butt (so-far) this year as well.
This ISP kicks butt!
Sacramento, Cal.
Sonic.net
1 year contract. Dynamic/1.5/384
statistics...
Dialup to DSL in what...5 days.
(technically 3 days early)
network...
* ipcop 1.4x RED GREEN ORANGE BLUE
(funny - my ipcop box been running so long the vga card burned up)
added any old crap vga card laying around - lol
* replaced modem with nic
* standard zoom modem to red
Wiring...
Bypassed MTU (Maintenance Test Unit) at DMZ/DML/DMC whatever.
reversed twisted pair - malfunctioning dialers on phones
Western Digital TrimLine Wallmount needs to be hardwired to a filter
bla, simple wiring. Later that day...Checked the mailbox (snail mail) and boom there's a wall plate filter
snap-in, for the Western Digital TrimLine Wallmount plate,
Snapped filter in - Op's Check good!
Rockin on!
DSLREPORTS test "looking good"
ConnecT0r 208.xxx.xxx.xxx
I'll try to do a IPCop HOW-TO but I got *lots* of other crap to deal
with first. I am not un-greatful though!
Sonic Rocks!
Credit Check #XXXXX - $-243.48
DSL Equipment Rebate - $-49.95
Credit DSL Introductory Pricing 2007-02-12 to 2007-02-21 - $-9.60
Credit Supplemental Residential DSL credit: 2007-02-12 to 2007-02-21 - $-3.70
Sales Tax - $0.78
Sales Tax - $5.18
Shipping Fee - Reference __P1__ - $6.00
Handling Charge - $6.95
Charge DSL - Pro-rated Service: 2007-02-12 to 2007-02-21 - $9.30
DSL Equipment - Network Card - $9.95
DSL Equipment - Wall Mount Filter(s) - $10.00
DSL Equipment - Modem - $49.95
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of SONIC.NET |
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