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Review by ckm14 
UPDATED: 9 days ago
member for 7.2 years, 9 visits, last login: 9 days ago
 San Francisco,San Francisco,CA
 $149 per month (12 month contract)
 AT&T
 "Seamless upgrade"
 "Unclear pricing, techs don't come at a specified time"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I'm currently upgrading from SDSL 1.1 to ADSL Plus 8/1. I've had Speakeasy for around 7 years (migrated from another provider) and I've been pretty happy (only 2 unattended downtimes).
I've read all the middle of the road to poor reports on Speakeasy, but other high-speed broadband would require me to either get a landline or cable and I have neither (not even a television). So I'm trying this out to see how it works. Also, I no longer need SDSL since don't have any servers at my house anymore, and ADSL is actually cheaper and faster ($220 vs $150).
The only real issue to date is that they scheduled the Covad install on a hectic day (one of us was leaving for a last minute Europe trip, the other had a bunch of business meetings). That would have been fine if, as requested, we had been the first appointment, but we were the third, so we told them to go away. The install was rescheduled for a week later (today), hopefully they won't show up at the last minute.
To be fair, this isn't really Speakeasy's fault so much as Covad's doing. We'll see how Speakeasy performs when it comes time to switch all my IPs from the current SDSL to the ADSL line. Hopefully there won't be much downtime, but who knows.
UPDATE: After Covad came this afternoon, I called Speakeasy to find out what I needed to do on my end. The tech transfered the existing IPs while I was on the phone and I re-route the ethernet cable. It took a little more time to deal with VoIP, but, overall, it was less that 20 minutes to switch from SDSL to ADSL2.
Speed is much improved and everything seems to be fine. I had to leave after all this for dinner, but the only remaining piece to sort out is the VoIP system. Seems that only outbound works, but perhaps rebooting the TA will fix it.
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 Review by borborpa
UPDATED: 16 days ago
member for 6.2 years, 1992 visits, last login: 2 days ago
New Cumberland,Cumberland,PA
$133 per month (12 month contract)
 about 42 days
Verizon
"Quick install, great pre-support, awesome speeds, runnign servers"
"Cost, if you can't justify the quality"
 "They say you pay for what you get, and this is definately worth the money"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
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After reviewing ISP's for a few months, I settled on Speakeasy due to all the great reviews on here. I've seen some horror stories, but definately more good ones about them. I was previously with Earthlink, and though I didn't have too many problems with them, I needed more than one IP address, and also wanted a bridged connection instead of PPPoE. I was moving down the street at the end of June, so I figured I'd just do my switchover then.
After numerous e-mails to Kat and a few phone calls with Speakeasy to verify a few things, I finally placed the line order on Monday, June 24. It took me probably 10 minutes to do the whole thing! They had me set up on the TAC so I could follow my install progress as well. That night I noticed they had an addres mistake, and was able to correct it online before they even had to contact me. On Tuesday they received confirmation the line would be live on Friday (4 days...quite impressed).
Friday rolled around and the line would train...but no connection. I called Speakeasy and the support guy said that Covad hadn't sent the confirmation over yet, and that they send it every 6 hours and it should be up soon. Well I spent Saturday moving, so the DSL wasn't a priority. Sunday I still wasn't up, so I again called Speakeasy (since there's no local dial-up for me) and was informed that Covad doesn't send the confirmation to them for 3 days, so as to test the line. The tech said he could try and bring it up...and with one click I was up and running.
The speeds are great, I'm getting 1300/202 with no tweaking yet...so I'm sure maybe I can push that up a little. Minus the high cost (which is very quickly being justified) everything is great!
============
Update 5/9/03
Everything is still awesome with the SE line. I upraded to 1.5/768 last month for an extra $10, and I've very happy with the new, faster upload speeds. So far, since July of last year my line has only gone down once, which was when the POP was down for 2 hours. Otherwise it's been rock solid!!
============
Update 8/27/03
Everything is still awesome with SE. I received an E-Mail yesterday letting me know they were reducing my DSL bill by $10/month, which is a welcome surprise. Not that it wasn't worth it at $99, but $89 is still nice... 
============
Update 10/23/03
Still going great. There have been some problems with latency and packet loss in some of the other SE POP's, but everything's going great here! Still extremely happy with the level of service I am getting
============
Update 1/15/04
SE has eliminated the PHL POP, and converted it into a NAP. This has added a couple ms on my pings, but nothing bad at all. I'm still getting great speeds (1307/647). I'll be upgrading to 3000/768 here soon when I move at the end of Febuary, so we'll see how all that goes.
=============
Update 7/30/04
I have moved, and the service in my new place is great. I had the 6.0/768 package installed, but after a few weeks I started to lose sync horribly. SE ran an MLT, and we found out I was 15,500' away....not 7,500' as originally thought!! That makes quite a difference. Fortunately my noise margins are clean enough that I can maintain 3.0/768 quite well.
I'm still 100% satisfied with their service. I understand DSL enough to not bitch that I'm paying for 6.0/768 while only getting 3.0. I only wish some other people did...
=============
Update 11/9/04
Well, I finally switched to OneLink, and I must say I love it!! Due to my distance I'm in safe mode, but my speed tests for 4000/768 are 3236/635. Not too shabby!!
The install took over a month, but OneLink normally takes longer, plus there was a busy pair with Verizon that took weeks to sort out. The biggest problem I had was when SE told me I had to be home for the Verizon install, because Verizon East is my telco. I argued this with them twice, but they insisted, so I took a vacation day and of course Verizon never showed up, because they didn't even need to come to my house. SE was very apologetic for the mis-communication to their people, and credited the $99 install fee to help compensate for that. They even tried to get Covad here on a Saturday, but they don't work on Saturdays here in PA.
Covad showed up yesterday, and the tech was great. Since I had a NID splitter installed, and CAT-5 running straight up to the third floor, he swapped it onto the dry pair, and we were up and running. It took about 20 minutes on the phone with SE to get all the IP information switched over, but they did a great job. I think all in all I was down for an hour.
I'm still very satisfied with SE, and very happy to pay the premium price for a premium service.
=======================
Update April, 2008
Well, it was a wonderful time with Speakeasy, but when Verizon finally came out with a reasonable FIOS Business plan, I had to switch. 15/2 with 5 static IPs for $119.99 a month - I just couldn't pass that up!
SE was great while I was with them. I had rock-solid speeds and uptime, and the tech support was amazingly helpful whenever I called. In the end, it came down to the money and speed...and with ADSL+ not an option at 15,500'.
Thanks for the great ride SE!
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Review by kulick
UPDATED: 17 days ago
member for 6.8 years, 3 visits, last login: 17 days ago
Mountain View,Santa Clara,CA
$90 per month (12 month contract)
SBC
"Amazing uptime, great latency, flexible services (static IP, etc.)"
"Not cheap"
"Want great service and willing to pay for a company that does it right?"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I've been a Speakeasy customer for a long time (maybe 10ish years). I've had both SDSL, naked ADSL and line-shared ADSL with them. Every service was exactly what they advertised. In all cases, the service had phenomenal uptimes and great latencies to my nearby NAPs. The service isn't the cheapest, but, in my opinion, if you want static IPs, no port filtering and high quality, it's absolutely the best.
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Review by dlauber
Posted: 17 days ago
member for 4.4 years, 3 visits, last login: 17 days ago
River Forest,Cook,IL
 Business customer
$67 per month (12 month contract)
about 14 days
"Excellent tech support, good web mail"
"Expensive for the speed"
"I'm changing to another DSL"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
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Tech Support:
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(ratings match consensus)
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I started with Speakeasy several years ago and have generally been pleased with it as service has improved immeasurably and tech support has remained strong.
But $67 a month for 768 mb download and 128 mb upload is simply too much. In a two days my small business will start a 60-day trial of AT&T DSL, which combined with our phone service, will reduce our phone and DSL costs by $55 a month -- more than 20%.
If AT&T stinks, I'm going back to Speakeasy. My whole motivation for switching is to save $700+ a year. I'll miss it; it's been good. And if money is no object to you, go with it.
Again, the tech support is excellent.
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 Review by freerock
Posted: 23 days ago
member for 7 years, 2330 visits, last login: 23 days ago
Jersey City,Hudson,NJ
$90 per month (12 month contract)
about 15 days
"always up, static ip, customer service is great"
"upload speed is minimal"
"If upload speed was better it would be a great service"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
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(ratings above consensus)
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As soon as FIOS is available in my building I'll be jumping to Verizon unless Speakeasy can offer something comparable.
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Review by ClintJCL
UPDATED: 25 days ago
member for 6.6 years, 40 visits, last login: 25 days ago
Alexandria,Fairfax,VA
$85 per month (month by month)
about 15 days
Verizon
"Everything works!, true static IPs, no PPPOE"
"extra IPs too expensive"
"I will stay for years to come."
| |
After a VERY bad experience with Lightning Bolt DSL, I switched to SpeakEasy.
ALL problems were INSTANTLY resolved.
I negotiated for 5 IPs, as I am absolutely unwilling to pay $6/month for an IP. I know what an IP is worth, and it is jack squat.
I am a bit upset that I forgot to negotiate for 7 IPs instead of 5, which would have allowed a router and a PS2 to be added to the fray (currently: 5 machines direct-connected, just how I like it, don't want to sacrifice any of their IPs).
So... No wifi-PDA, and no online-PS2 without cable-pulling, as I am unwilling to pay $12/month for thse 2 things. THAT crippling kind of sucks and is caused by their prohibitively high IP pricing.
However, all ISPs seem to overcharge IP addresses. It's how they make the big bucks.
Overall, THE SERVICE IS EXCELLENT!! The speed and realiability are great. http responses are fast compared to Lightning Bolt.
NO PPPOE.
Decent support.
UPDATE:
I have been harassed multiple times over the last few months for "using too much bandwidth". But of course, since they don't have limits, they wont tell me how much I am allowed to use. Just that it is "too much".
Against my best instincts, I complied with another request to install a scheduler, so that my bandwdith is limited to 25% levels during business hours. I even made business hours 10 hours long to deal with other time zones.
Again, I am called out and harassed today, despite the fact that I believe my usage has actually gone down a bit, and is certainly mostly during the evenings and night and weekends. Here is the email I got:
Hi Clint,
I know you can be rather difficult via email, but this cannot wait.
Are things still secure on your LAN? Have you added new wireless gear to your network that's not been locked down, maybe? You are severely over-utilizing your residential-class circuit, and are outside of compliance with our Terms of Service.
I know you are quite savvy, and since we have already discussed this matter, I must be firm. This download pattern must change, or your services will be terminated for abuse of our network.
Excerpted from »www.speakeasy.net/tos/#moderation
"Customers will not be charged for the bandwidth consumed, nor do we have specific limits or caps on that bandwidth. If you utilize any of your Speakeasy services in a manner which consumes excessive bandwidth or affects Speakeasy's core equipment, overall network performance, or other users' services, Speakeasy may require that you cease or alter these activities."
If something else has happened, then I humbly apologize for my tone, but you are still responsible for what happens at your end of the network.
Lawrence McBride
Executive Escalation Manager
Toll Free > 800-556-5829 ext. 5103
Direct > 206.971-5103 Fax > 206.728-1500
Email > lawrence@hq.speakeasy.net
www.speakeasy.net
At this point, I feel very lied to. Who else thinks I should take them to small claims court for my setup fees (both for them, and for my next ISP)?
In the end, the terminated me, and even threatened me with a $300 early termination fee, despite the fact that THEY WERE TERMINATING ME.
EarthLink may be the worst ISP ever, but SpeakEasy is the biggest hypocrite of an ISP.
Followup comments:  
soundtank
Holy Cow
Premium
join:2006-02-07
Harwood Heights, IL | What are you running? What are you running on your connection? Server, torrents? | |
| | 
look in the mirror
@wideopenwest.com
| Re: What are you running? Looking at this review and the users past ISP reviews, it appears to be a theme, over use the connection, and blame the ISP.
4-5 ISP's, all similar issues, maybe it is time to stop blaming the ISP, and realize you need more then an ADSL connection for your higher the normal use. | |
| | | ClintJCL
join:2001-09-19
Alexandria, VA
 ·Speakeasy
| Re: What are you running? Looking at your review of my past reviews, there appears to be a common theme that you aren't actually reading them.
I gave glorious priase to my first DSL ISP, capu.net. They let me use 100% of my bandwidth 100% of the time for years. Then stopped doing residential DSL.
I was transferred to EarthLink against my will. At the time, I was downloading files at least 150 megs in size every day. Some by FTP, some by HTTP, some by DCC (IRC file transfer protocol), and some via instant messenger software transfers. NO RESUMES WOULD WORK. Now I know the network transport layer and the application layer are separate, but ALL RESUMING for ALL PROTOCOLS on ALL COMPUTERS stopped working. I used no router, I had static IPs. When I left earthlink, the exact minute I was cut over to my new ISP, ALL RESUMING for ALL PROTOCOLS on ALL COMPUTERS *started* working again.
I think that's a pretty good reason for complaining about EarthLink. The better business beaureu agreed, and eventually Earthlink accidentally refunded me even more money than I gave them. 6 months later, they inexplicably sent me a DSL modem even though I am not their customer. They are incompetent.
I then switched to Patriot.Net, who I used for years. Again, I used 100%/100% of my bandwidth, 100% of the time. We're talking 150G/month downloads. I was never hassled. EVER.
I ONLY left Patriot.Net because I could get double the download speed for $10 LESS a month with Lightning Bolt. That was a big mistake. They were rude. On the first day Brent, who runs LB, had the audacity to tell me "not to have your wife call us, she called us more in one day than most people do in a year". Despite having a static IP setup, NOT A SINGLE INBOUND CONNECTION EVER FUNCTIONED. They told me how to turn their router into a bridge via it's web interface, and doing so completely made all connections stop working whatsoever. I gave up and invoked my moneyback guarantee and they tried to charge me $200 for "breaking" the modem. Of course, they would not return the modem for me, and I stopped my check: If I broke it and am buying it, then you must give it to me.
It had nothing to do with my configuration. When I switched to SpeakEasy, EVERYTHING WAS WORKING RIGHT AGAIN WITHIN 30 MINUTES.
So no -- don't try to blame me on this.
I've only left ISPs for:
1) going out of business
2) no file resumes working
3) no inbound connections
If I leave SpeakEasy, it will be because they terminated my service because their "unlimited" pre-sales promise is a lie. They are getting on my case for "downloading too much". They have said to try to keep it to 100G.
Of course, I don't know if that means I have to restrict my upload either. I intend to use 100% of my upload 100% of my time. For one thing or another. When I have nothing to do with my upstream, I donate my bandwidth to the TOR network to help promote anonymity and free speech on the internet. If I can't use my upstream as I see fit, the access is not worth having.
If you don't believe me about pre-sales, I have screenshots of the entire pre-sales exchange, which I did under a pseudonym:
»www.flickr.com/photos/clintjcl/t···eakeasy/
--
-Clint
clint@acm.vt.edu | |
| | | | robscullion
Premium
join:2001-12-07
Philadelphia, PA
·Speakeasy
| Re: What are you running? I was a little skeptical of Clint's story myself, but I strongly suggest checking out the flickr link provided before passing judgement. You have to read the pics in reverse order to make sense of it, but the SE rep clearly says that 100% usage of the bandwidth 24/7 is acceptable.
Most broadband savy people know that's a flat out lie, but if an SE rep signed up to it, then they should at least let Clint get out of this with no monetary penalty beyond the monthly fees associated with usage of the service. As for being responsible for setup fees for his next ISP...I think that's going too far. They clearly mislead him as to the nature of the service though and that's a mistake to which they need to own up.
Clint, I'd suggest emailing that flickr link to Larry McBride and see if you can work out an amicable solution. There's no way they're going to let you use the service 100% 24/7, but with such clear evidence in your favor, I'd think he would have to be more accomodating about releasing you from any financial obligation re: disconnect fees, setup fees etc.
I'm very disappointed to find an SE rep apparently lying to a potential customer. In my experience they've always been pretty straight shooters. My first call to investigate service involved the same questions and I was clearly told that usage was not hard capped but that I couldn't use it 100% 24/7. | |
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Review by gariac
UPDATED: 41 days ago
member for 4.2 years, 11 visits, last login: 32 days ago
Fremont,Alameda,CA
$52 per month
AT&T
"no port blocking"
"flaky tech support; expensive"
"I'm looking for a new provider"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
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I've been a subscriber to Speakeasy DSL for more years than I can remember. Here is my history. I started with Telogy, which became DirectTV DSL. It was great. It went bust. I was on Covad for a while. Back then it was quite expensive. I changed to Speakeasy, but used my Covad hardware per Speakeasy's suggestion.
The change from Covad was pretty simple. They do their magic, I get a new set of "numbers", plug them into the router and it's done.
Now here is the trick with Speakeasy. They change plans to be competitive, but don't bother telling their subscribers of the change. For instance, I had upload speeds around 245kbps. Speakeasy updated this to 380kbps or so. The only way I found out was to see the new plan on their website. So I call tech support. They insist I am at the higher speed. I insist I'm not. After much arm twisting, Speakeasy calls Covad (who is the first provider in my DSL chain) and gets my speed up to the 380kbps (or whatever, since I don't recall the exact number.)
OK, time passes. I notice the plan I have with Speakeasy is now $10 cheaper a month. I call, I bitch, I get the new rate. I have no idea how long they were screwing me for the extra $10.
Now once in a while my DSL modem locked up. It was a Prestige from the old Covad days. Speakeasy agrees to send me a new modem if I stay with them another year. I should have dropped them then, but changing DSL providers is work, and Speakeasy kind of worked. The new modem arrives. Well, make that recycled modem. It is some sort of box from Creative. The new modem was dead on arrival. I send it back and get another one. This one worked and thus far doesn't lock up. However, it has a different problem. If there is an interruption in power, the modem locks up. This is actually worse than the prestige modem which would only lock up once a month. This new modem is total crap. The only way I can get the modem to work is to power it down for about 10 minutes, then plug it in again. Clearly I can't do any remote desktop with such a garbage modem.
Now Speakeasy doesn't totally suck. The download speed of 1.2Mbps is close to the 1.5mbps target. The upload speed reaches about 300kbps. However, the service is over-priced.
Regarding tech support, everyone speaks English. Beyond that, it is quite poor. Case in point, the DSL goes down. I do all sorts of reboots on my end. I give up and call tech support. They insist on me rebooting the modem, even though I already did ths. I had the fool on the line for the 10 minutes it takes that crappy Creative moden to reset. Of course, the reboot has no effect. I knew that would be the case since I did a reboot of everything prior to my call. They set up an appointment. What typically happens with these appointments is nobody shows up because the problem is not on my end. The usual outcome is the DSL mysteriously starts to work again. For this last so-called service call, I twist the arm of Speakeasy to find out what Covad actually did. All Covad did was pull and reseat a card in their rack. So the flaky hardware is still there.
As most people know, Speakeasy was bought out by Best Buy. The company was going down hill before the buy out, but Best Buy did nothing to improve the service.
I encourage you to log into the Speakeasy.net website and try to find the pricing plans. All you get is "starts from." This may be to prevent customers like me from finding out the prices have dropped and insisting on getting the new rate. Thus far the only other provider I looked at was DSLextreme. I can't vouch for them, but I can tell what their service costs from their website.
As soon as this modem contract is up, I'm dropping Speakeasy. I may just dropped them sooner since the competition is about $20 less a month for the same service.
-------
4/5/2008 follow-up
In the middle of a "session", the internet connection quits. The modem is happy (DSL light on), but websites are not found. I unplugged the modem for two minutes, but that wasn't enough due to the crappy power on reset Creative Broadxent DSL modem uses. So I leave it alone for about 10, then boot. It still doesn't work so I boot the linksys router. This is nuts. I can tolerate the booting, but the 10 minute wait for the Broadxent DSL modem is intolerable. If I could find decent test data and reviews, I'd go buy a modem.
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Review by jaw1701
UPDATED: 45 days ago
member for 45 days, 1 visits, last login: 42 days ago
Atlanta,Fulton,GA
$55 per month (12 month contract)
BellSouth
"None"
"NO COMMUNICATION"
"Don't bother!"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
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(ratings well below consensus)
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Well let's see, considering that the largest phone company in AT&T doesn't have dryline dsl, I ordered from Speakeasy. The only thing that was pleasant was the order process. From that point onward there was zero coordination and communication. The crux of the problem in the installation was allegedly Bellsouth couldn't access the premises. What premises they need to access was never told to me, and they certainly had no problem accessing anything when installing their sub par service. The taps? Downstairs in the laundry room. My apt? ZERO phone calls, knocks at the door, nothing. I never heard a peep. To add insult to injury, Speakeasy sent me a modem I told the sales guy to NOT send, and are now billing me for it. I am SUPPOSED to be getting an RMA to send it back, but that is like all other elements of Speakeasy I have seen. Inefficient and incompetent.
I ultimately cancelled the order and then was told it was cancelled and there would be someone contacting me....yeah RIGHT!
Horrible experience and ultimately no dryline service and LOUSY LOUSY REPEAT LOUSY customer service.......
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Review by Mino Taoyama
Posted: 46 days ago
member for 5 years, 1972 visits, last login: a few hours ago
San Jose,Santa Clara,CA
Contract price not specified.
"Great TOS and Support."
"Cost a bit more."
"If you run your own domain they are the best."
| Pre Sales information:
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Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
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(ratings above consensus)
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6/768 with 8 static IPs. Very reliable. Might get a retrain every 4-5 MONTHS! Record was 210 days between retrains.
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Review by jbebop
UPDATED: 47 days ago
member for 6.2 years, 31 visits, last login: 47 days ago
San Jose,Santa Clara,CA
$49 per month (12 month contract)
about 14 days
SBC
"Connection is good most of the time"
"Network maintenance events disruptive"
"Pricey and tech support is SLOW"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
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(ratings below consensus)
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1st, the 3rd party rebate company took 4 months to refund my $200 for the modem.
Speakeasy has been doing a lot of network maintenence lately. Since they started their network maintenance, my speed has dropped from around 1.3Mbps to below 500kbps. 48 hours after logging a trouble ticket, I still have no word from Speakeasy.
The connection rocks when it's working well. The install is slow and support seems to be slow.
Update 3/30/08
Given the cost of this service, I'd like a faster connection. I've been paying the same amount for the same speed for 8 years. Isn't this supposed to get faster or cheaper?
I can't seem to find anything else that's comparable despite living in Silicon Valley. I've moved since my last review and have had problems with line quality and some latency issues. You call tech support, they speak English and are easy to talk to but make you reboot everything (which you already did before you called).
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