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Review by oliphant  UPDATED: 3.5 years ago member for 5 years, 826 visits, last login: 3.3 years ago
Corona,Riverside,CA
$30 per month (12 month contract)
about 7 days
Verizon (ex GTE)
"Very stable, true UNLIMITED use, low latency"
"Junk fees, $20 activation fee, 1 year contract to get the smokin' price"
"Cheap and reliable"
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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Our local DSL has been absolutely trouble free...the only time talking to tech support was to get switched from interleave to fast path which tool about 5 minutes in online chat and the change was made at the CO within a few hours.
Services are good but choices are limited. We get DHCP, very low latency (10ms) and a few perks like free MSN Premium which includes McAfee AV and Personal Firewall. A big plus is that the service is unlimited use, unlike our local cable competitor, Comcast. With Comcast I would get excessive use letters where they threaten to cut off my service for using it too much although you would never tell me what "too much" was. Verizon's usenet servers are also unlimited use, again, unlike our local cable competitor Comcast. While short on retention, posts are typically very complete.
A modem is included with the promo although you have to pay a $20 activation/shipping fee for it...but no rental charges or anything and after a year you own the modem. I opted to not use their Westell 6100 for a 6000 I already had.
An annoyance is junkfees....itemizing overhead is lame and they should include the junk fees in their advertised price. That is pretty much the only bitch I have so far other than not having any reasonably priced speeds above 3Mb like AT&T does.
Even with the lame junk fees value is pretty good, especially for 768 up and considering it's true unlimited use the value is even better.
As DSL performance varies from area to area, check your local reviews to see if Verizon sucks in your area before going with a 1 year deal. If you're lucky like me and live in an area where Verizon performs very well you'll be very pleased I'm sure.
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Review by the cynic  Posted: 3.5 years ago member for 6.8 years, 425 visits, last login: 3.3 years ago
Lakewood,Los Angeles,CA
$29 per month (12 month contract)
Verizon (ex GTE) CLEC party: Verizon (ex GTE)
"Rock solid connection and speeds for three years"
"God help you if the line goes dead"
"really the only game in town"
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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I have had the 3.0/768 for over a year. Not willing to pay 150 mo for the 7.0 biz connection. The connection is very solid and speeds are very stable. I have the Westell versalink gateway model 327W. Hooked up to 3 computers all the time on cat 5. Wireless is disabled. Great modem/router/firewall per the port sniff tests I have run. Modem was free. Actual speed is 2800/700 and I am 9500 feet from the CO per all line tests. E mail works fine and I halso have 5 other domains that I have email on. I use Xp SP2 with Kerio firewall. I use Firefox 1.5. Never installed Verizon crapware that came with the modem/service. Dont need it. My IP seems to say the same for about 3-4 mo even though I dont have a fixed IP. I do not play any games and use the system for biz only 7 days a week 365 days a year.
Customer service has been a very bad thing for me with verizon. But in the last few months it seems like they have switched to India based reps and their attitude is better that the USA Union-gov'ment-like Aholes they used to use that had a bad 'tude. In the last 12 mo I have had to call cust service about 3 times for their problem. Never did figure it out but the problem was fixed usually in a few hrs.
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Review by Skipdawg  UPDATED: 3.7 years ago member for 8.6 years, 3085 visits, last login: 76 days ago
Mount Vernon,Skagit,WA
$39 per month (12 month contract)
about 96 days
Verizon CLEC party: Verizon
"3 years of service now and I'm still just content with Verizon."
"The hours of waiting on hold with Customer Service and Tech support"
"Poorly run operation in whole. Was not prepared to give service offered."
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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Verizon Online DSL was a total nightmare waiting for service. Took them nearly 13 1/2 weeks to get me online from initial order. Placed order 11/08/00 activated 02/14/01 after being give 6 new start dates over that time frame.
Their Customer service and Tech support was very poor. Out of 13 plus weeks I came across only 1 in each department that seemed to know what they were doing. One I've maintained contact with and he alone has been very helpful. The rest seemed to care less. Giving me information often incorrect and just wrong.
But now after several weeks on I'm at least getting in a good range of my advertised speeds. I have the bronze plus package 768/128 and am averaging about 690/119. I think it should be even better but Verizon says it's in a OK range.
Unless they make me very happy by time the 12 month contract is up I will leave them for another ISP.
So far the Free Orkit/Fujitsu Speedport Modem they sent me has worked fine. Have had to only power cycle it once it the 10 weeks I've been up now. Happy with it.
Many have told me I lucked up getting a Static IP. some neighbors have DSL and have the Dynamic IP have having to use PPPoE.
I hope for future prospective customers Verizon gets their act together. Right now I would not recommend them to anyone.
Update/ June 9th, 2001
Last week I looked into upgrading to a 1500/128 or 1500/256 service from my 768/128 service. Since I'm under the 1 year contract it appears I can not get any better deal right now.
I was told I'd likely have to wait late 3ed quarter or even the 4th quarter of the year to get a good deal on one of the faster service deals.
I also noticed the raise for my plan from the $39.95 up to $49.95 I was told it was basic done to slow sales. For Verizon had over sold in many areas and were having a hard time meeting the connections of new customers.
This shows me they did not look at all possibilities when the set up that deal that had going on the Fall/Winter of 2000 very well at all.
If there is no significant improvement with Verizon DSL service by Feb/2002 the expiration of my contract I will look for a better ISP and service plan for sure.
So far I've been fortunate. Email is working well. Only been down 2 times since 02/14/01 and I've only had a disruption of my internet connection 1 time during this period. Also My connection and download speeds are fairly consistent. I average now about 92% of my advertised speeds. That is one plus so far with Verizon DSL.
Edited with corrections: 07/01/01
Update #2 07/12/01
I have now had my Verizon ADSL for 6 months. Have had only a few issues so now more happy with their service. Just wish they offered faster service for a more reasonable price. My 768/128 service is holding steady. I average within about 90% at least of my advertised/rated speed. With frequent results of 705/118 and have reached 731/124 once.
Hopefully by time my contract if over Feb/2002 Verizon will have better speed and price deals available.
Update #3 08/08/01
I've now had Verizon online ADSL for almost 6 months. Service is still going well. I did have two Sunday mornings in a row in July were my service was not available and tech support could not seem to tell me why. No maintenance was going on at the time. And after a few hours it came back on.
I'm still hopeful that Verizon will have some upcoming deals during their 4th quarter so I can go from 768/128 service to 1500/128 service. I have heard hear say rumurmill gossip on this but nothing legit as of yet. I think I'd stay with Verizon if I could get a good deal for 1500/128 or even 1500/384 service by the end of my contract in Feb/2002 Time will tell.
Update... 03/27/02
I have now had my service with Verizon for 13 months and 2 weeks. Still going fairly good. I've only had 7 down days the whole time I have had service. 3 of those I discovered were Gateway Maintenance on hardware updating.
Speeds still holding out good so I'm happy with what I'm getting for a 768/128 service. Just may go to the 1500/384 service in July. Talking to folks who have if South of here and they seem happy for the speed and price.
I do still wish the DSL prices were more competitive to the Cable prices for their offered speeds though. That would make it that much better.
Update...02-12-03 Have had the service for 2 years now and continue to be happy/content with it. Have stayed with the 768/128 plan for no decent deals given for me to upgrade.
Update...05-08-03
On 04-24-03 had my Dslam go bad. Called Verizon and they had someone out the check it out and had it fixed the next day. Was happy with that. Tech said I has the old Fujutsu RA14 type one. Ordered me a Newer better Type 2 said it would be here in 2-4 days. After 2 weeks I called in for Modem was acting up and the new one had not shown. No order for modem found for my account. One was then Ordered 05-06-03 and came in today. Now connection back up to par.
Still after 2.5 years Verizon showing signs of little or no internal department communications on a clients account.
Did how ever manage to get a lower monthly rate I am happier with. Now at $34.95 a month for the 768/128 service. I just hope by 2004 they have better customer service and support and better offers of service. I no longer see 1500/128 service for residential. Bad news!
Update... 01-28-04 Well I have had the service for near 3 years now. I've had to call tech support a total of 5 times now and am now on my 2ed modem. The 1500/128 option is gone here for me unless I go to a reseller. They did do me justice by dropping the price for my 768/128 service down to $29.95 Monthly. I am still content with the service. It is a decent ADSL service. They could do better!
Update... 12-30-04 Looks like a few things have gotten better for some in the area. Depending on your location and distance to the CO. Some have the opportunity now with Verizon DSL to have 1500/384 service and a few even have the option of 3000/768 service on the residential side of this. I appear to qualify but to do so would have to cancel my present service for at least several days down time which I just can not do right now. Hope some are able to take advantage of this and enjoy it. My monthly service even with these new offers is still at $29.95. Crazy for I know some with the 1500/384 who are paying the same that I pay for the 768/128 service. Maybe 2005 will be the year they give this customer some better and improved service.
~ Skipdawg
Update 03-28-06
Well my 768/128 service is now down to $14.95 a month. Love it. Also I hear the 3000/768 is now available in the neighborhood and I may look into that.
About time after 5 plus years. And I hope it is a easy transision. Not sure when I'll make the move though.
But still to date the service I have is doing well by me. I'd still say go for the 768/128 if that is all that is available for it is much better than dialup.
Update 04-04-06
Contacted Verizon and Verizon Online to see if either 1500/384 or 3000/768 was available for me to upgrade to now. I was told yes by billing at Verizon and yes by customer service at Verizon Online so a set it up. 2 days later I get a email saying it is not available and the order has been canceled! So I called in. Again both billing and customer service are telling me it is available and want to walk me through the account setup again. I tell them I'll call back. I call tech support and ask them. They tell me ya those speeds are available in the are but that right now there is no more accounts being set up due to the CO is full.
So folks when you order have them find out if the CO has any space left before bothering to order or upgrade an account. Can save you allot of time and grief!
Verizon departments so need to all get on the same page. This makes them look like some pathetic unprofessional street corner company that has no clue what it is doing.
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Review by mbloof  Posted: 3.7 years ago member for 3.7 years, 80 visits, last login: 13 days ago
Beaverton,Washington,OR
$32 per month
about 14 days
Verizon (ex GTE) CLEC party: Verizon (ex GTE)
"Cheap and reliable, billed with phone service. (1.5/384 service)"
"Their webmail and 'landing' pages leave alot to be desired"
"Medium tier service at a affordable price, just stay away from the extra$"
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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I live in the Beaverton Oregon area.
Presales and Install Coordination: DSL service in my area is via DHCP, no login no passwords. Just plug it in and go! I switched from overpriced cable to 784/128 and was upgraded for free to 1.5/384.
I marked them down because they did not tell me that all I had to do was unplug the CAT5 cable from the Cable modem and plug it into the DSL modem. Their installation package fails to mention this as well as not mentioning that the supplied Westell modem can be used as a NAT router in a pinch. They did not include a manual or any information on the modem.
It seems that their pre-shippment questions about your computer/LAN is what directs them to ship you a modem preconfigured in BRIDGE MODE or NAT/Router mode.
Connection Reliability: Above Average. During "prime time" I see slowdowns. Sometimes I see VERY LARGE slow downs which reseting the modem fixes. All in all over the 18 or so months I've had the service, it "just works" and I've only logged 1 trouble ticket on the service.
Tech Support: Above Average. Not only do their support folks speak ENGLISH, they are apt to run tests on your line to see whats amiss.
Services: Below Average. DSL Connection? What can I say, its a connection and it seems to work.
What I don't like here is the countless Advertising POPUPS that happen when on their home page. Their page(s) are riddled with co$tly extras or "tryware" which I'd rather only see what I PAID for.
10MB for "personal webspace" is a Joke (I can't even upload 1 'roll' of digital pictures on that). Sure, more usefull 1GB can be had at a price. (Can you say 'nickel dime')
Their webmail is pretty useless and riddled with SPAM. It took them 1 YEAR to enable users to forward your verizon.net email to a more usefull client/service.
Should I mention software? While others GIVE AWAY licenses to standard security applications, Verizon installs 'tryware' on your computer along with a DISK FULL of who knows what. To add to the insult, the software installation does not stop there, but a full 1.5-2 HOURS of downloading, installing and rebooting need to happen before its done.
(I should note here that I personally have NEVER installed ANY of their software and the experience above was while I was recently helping a friend do their Verizon DSL self install.)
What on earth all this software is for is beyond me.
Marketing wise they have pulled a class *1* "muddy the waters" of where their "service offering"(s) end and where Yahoo/MSN or Free to anyone with web access start.
As such, I'm really not quite sure what I'm paying for. I have the 'cobranding' with 'Verizon/Yahoo' which starts being silly at best and downright clumsy at worse.
However, in the end the Verizon DSL service I have for $33 is a MUCH BETTER value and reliable then the $55 Comcast Cable internet that I switched from.
With some of the newer offerings of $14.95-19.95 why would anyone have AOL if they qualify for DSL?
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Review by dedweed  Posted: 3.7 years ago member for 4.6 years, 9 visits, last login: 2.2 years ago
Lynnwood,Snohomish,WA
$39 per month
about 5 days
Verizon (ex GTE) CLEC party: Verizon (ex GTE)
"3m/768k, cheap, no blocked ports, very dynamic ip's,"
"have had outages, strange dynamic dhcp"
"best dsl for the $$, if you are lucky"
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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GET BUSINESS DSL. Any complaints about customer service can be solved by upgrading to business class dsl for about $5 more per month ($40, no contract). Any time my dsl is down, I call the #, the machine does a line test, it works. If it's a more serious problem, almost no wait to talk to a rep who KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I will probably kick myself for letting the secret out. You don't have to be a business to get business dsl. I got it because they offered the 3m/768k package a couple months before residential.
The new equipment gives only 1 ip addy per line (used to be able to get away with 2 - on usb and ethernet), and the dhcp is touchy. If you switch machines / routers (MAC addresses) it won't let you connect until the lease has expired sometimes. Sometimes it helps if you restart the modem, sometimes not. Lease times are only a few minutes it seems. Speed is good, pings are not (98ms), gamers may not like it. I am assuming it's because its a new network (spring 2005), because the ping to my gateway is 22ms. Anyone who comlpains about Verizon should be forced to deal with Qwest for a few months 
Instalation was long ago, really fast to get the equip, had problems with my line and took forever to get it turned on (5-6 days?). I assume business dsl would be much faster installation process, but may be more expensive. Switching to business dsl was instant and free. They now have other speed packages - 768k/128k for $15! Can't beat that if you are on a budget!
Still waiting for FIOS! FIOS tv phone and internet looks CHEAP for the service. VERY excited, hope they don't up the price or I will lose interest.
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Review by The Real Me  UPDATED: 3.8 years ago member for 5.1 years, 157 visits, last login: 1.2 years ago
Downey,Los Angeles,CA
$29 per month
about 7 days
Verizon (ex GTE) CLEC party: Verizon (ex GTE)
"Very reliable so far"
"none"
"seems like the real deal"
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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UPDATE for February 4, 2006
The problem appears to have corrected itself. Never heard a word back from Verizon nor Trellix.
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UPDATE for January 31, 2006
After over a year of relatively troublefree service it seems we have hit a roadblock. Specifically the Personal Web Space Verizon is selling with Trellix being the subcontractor.
I upgraded from the free 10mb PWS to 60mb PWS on 1/27/06. Today, 1/31/06, I am unable to upload/download files to it.
I called Verizon Tech Support and was transferred to the subcontractor who supposedly handles the Tech issues. The gentleman informed me that he gets these calls all the time and that he handles the Web Storage contract Tech issues, not the Personal Web Space Tech issues.
He suggested I call Verizon back and request a Supervisor.
I did. The Supervisor I spoke with did not have the Trellix contact phone number. I asked him if he could call me back after getting it and he said that he is unable to make outside calls. He suggested Googling for the number.
When I asked to speak to his Supervisor he said there was no one else above him I could speak with.
I told him this happened before and Verizon was always able to put me through to a Tech that could correct the problem. He could not help me.
I Googled Trellix and got a phone number that was no longer in service (978 -318-7200). I tried another Google and got a different website with another phone number (866-896-2964) which I called and got an answering service which took my name and phone number and advised me that someone would call me back.
I checked my Verizon account to see the status of the two trouble tickets (I had to call and then call back again) and they show them as being closed. They are not closed, I can assure you. I still have the same problem.
This is really unacceptable. I am paying Verizon for a service and they will not lift a finger to help a customer who is in need of assistance.
If a Verizon exec happens to see this please respond and we can perhaps communicate further.
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UPDATE for February 25, 2005
Email was fine by later that evening. DSL speeds have been what they should be. I am a Happy Camper again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
UPDATE for February 23, 2005 9:41PM
Well...the speed problem seems to be fixed. I'm back up to 1200/1300. Which is great.
However, I can't access my email tonight. Which isn't so great. I can't retrieve it from any other sites either, including my Verizon Personal Account Page. It says I have unread mail...but I can't get it. Getting a server not responding error. Same with Newsgroups. The Resource Center Page is offline as well. Too late for me to call. Probably be fixed in the morning.... I hope. Goodnight for now. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
UPDATE for February 21, 2005 8:24 PM
I'm impressed. Afer getting the new modem and having the same problem (200/300 D/L speed when it should be around 1200/1300) I called back and worked through the usual steps with a Tech (power off modem/router/pc, removed router from loop, hooked up the USB connection, went into "ispconfig" and checked ping and packets). She was good. Quite knowledgeable. When we were all done she escalated the problem to the next tier. I had to wait on the phone a little bit (7 to 10 minutes) but another Tech came on and after checking a few things online he was able to solve the problem...at least for now. I believe he had to tweak the line at his end. I hope it will last.
All of Verizon's Customer Support people I spoke with tonight were very nice and above average in tech experience. I estimate I was on the phone for about 90 minutes total.
All in all, again, I am impressed. Thank You all for your help. I will post another UPDATE in a few days to see how things are running at that time. Thank You. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
UPDATE # 4 for February 19, 2005 8:21 PM
Got the same Tech! She and I concluded that the problem was not specifically the PWS but all Verizon services. The kicker was that I was able to log on to my PWS before installing the new modem. That is why I think it may be a modem configuration issue or some data points that need to be changed at Verizon. She is opening a new Work Order for this problem as I type this. She apologized profusely ( there is no doubt in my mind that she was trying her best to help me). I gave her the times I would be available to speak to the Tech (Mon - Fri 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Anytime Saturday and Sunday). To be continued. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
UPDATE # 3 for February 19. 2005 8:07 PM
45 minutes later I am still on hold. I have been on the phone now for over 2 hours. I will say the Tech I had was very nice and so was I. I understand the volume of calls they have to deal with is overwhelming and this could have been a case of her just simply pressing the wrong button on her phone set-up. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
UPDATE # 2 for February 19, 2005
Called Tech Support. Recording said 15 minute wait. I was on hold for 45 minutes. Got the Tech. She found the Work Order for my new modem. She suggested trying the old modem. We did, problem remained. She said there was a problem with the Personal Web Space service and located it and read the update to me. It stated that they are working on it but did not know when it would be resolved.
I explained again that it was not just a PWS problem. I could not log in to any of my personal Verizon services.
I replaced the old modem with the new one (disconnected it, the router and turned computer off). I asked to speak with a Tier 2 Tech and she said she would be right back.
I was put back into the rotation which is where I am at now: telling me I would be helped as soon as the next available Tech was available and that my call would be answered in the order in which it was received. I am in Customer Service hell. Will post next chapter soon. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
UPDATE: February 19, 2005
Getting bad DL (300/500/600) speeds (had been getting 1300/1200/1100. Claim was 1500 max). UL has been up and down as well. They sent a new modem. I installed it but problem remains. Also, I am not able to log in to any of my personal Verizon services (Personal Web Space, Resource Center, My Account) since installing the new modem. On hold for Tech Support. I will post results. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
UPDATE: January 18, 2005
Had a problem with a corrupted sound file at my 10MB Personal Web Space causing it to lock up (no uploads nor downloads). Took about 5 days to correct (the New Years holiday caused a delay). A few of the Tech Support people did not understand that it was a Personal Web Space issue and transferred me to the business Web site area. Other than that, no problems. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
UPDATE: December 12, 2004.
Well, two months later I can still report no problems. Very satisfied. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
I was on 56k dial up with Earthlink for 4 years. I finally decided to go broadband and shopped around quite a bit.
Here is what I found during the months of August/Septmber 2004.
Earthlink: Told I wasn't in a service area. Then, received a call a few weeks later that said I was. I was quoted $39.95/month with a 12 month contract. Early term fee of $149.95.
DSL Extreme: $29.95/month for the first year only. $49.95/month thereafter. No contract. 1500/384.
ComCast Cable: $45.95/month. No contract. Promise of 3000/?.
SBC Yahoo: My telco lprovider is Verizon so I would have to switch to SBC to get hooked up.
Verizon West (ex-GTE): $29.95/month. No contract. 1500/384.
I have a few friends that have had Verizon and they recommended them highly so I went with Verizon.
The order process was excellent. Home equipment is a D-Link 10/100. They shipped me a Westell DSL modem. My connection is Dynamic IP.
Installation was fine except for the the fact that I had to call them to correct a problem with my user name. It was resolved painlessly and the Tech stayed on the line with me thoughout the whole installation of the Verizon software and also the MS Premium software which was more of a hassle and took longer than the Verizon software.
No problems at all at this time. I'm a happy camper for now.
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Review by Quiglag  Posted: 3.9 years ago member for 5.2 years, 1450 visits, last login: 3 days ago
Ontario,San Bernardino,CA
$29 per month (12 month contract)
Verizon (ex GTE) CLEC party: Verizon (ex GTE)
"Price, no blocked ports"
"Wish the speed was faster"
"Good product, wont switch to cable"
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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I first got the DSL when it was $50 a month for a slower speed. You cant really beat the speed to price they have now, but we can always hope for more.
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Review by MrWags  UPDATED: 3.9 years ago member for 5.7 years, 554 visits, last login: 63 days ago
Dekalb,Dekalb,IL
$29 per month (12 month contract)
about 8 days
Verizon
"Great and consistant speeds,"
"E-mail not delivered"
"Excellent support from order to live."
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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Ordered service on 10-21-04 with a 10-27 SRD. The only problem I had was my SRD was pushed back by 1 day. To this point, my connection has been very consistent, with very few if any noticeable slowdowns.
Oops, here are the particulars: Speed: 1.5/384 Cost: 29.95/Mo Equipment: Westell Versalink
Got Upgraded to 3.0/768 and so far so good.
12-15-05 I've had the service for a bit over a year now, and there have been some slowdowns every so often. The E-mail situation is starting to become aa problem, but I have a G-mail workaround so far. I have yet to call tech support on anything (knock on wood), and hope I don't.
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Review by bf2  UPDATED: 4 years ago member for 9.5 years, 2772 visits, last login: 9 days ago
Palmetto,Manatee,FL
$14 per month (12 month contract)
"Fast, Reliable, OK Tech support, I have had NO problems so far."
"Cost should be lower. I would hammer these guys if I had something Bad to say..I don't."
"I have to say that GTE has delivered as close to what they promise. Speed is very good. I am happy so far."
| Pre Sales information: Install Co-ordination: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money:
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Hello,
My name is Bill F and I live just North of the City of Palmetto in Manatee County Florida. I got sick and tired of my 2 56k modems averaging 26-31k, so I checked out this dslreports website and did my research on DSL. I was and am currently not able to receive Cable modem high speed Internet access from Time Warner's Road Runner. So I chose ADSL from GTE. I opted for the Bronze+ package at $32.50 for 1 year. GTE's promotion at the time (end of May 2000) also waived the cost of the DSL Modem, a Fujitsu Speedport Modem. GTE also waived the $80 set-up/activation charge. The order/install process with GTE went exactly as what was relayed to me on the phone. The one major problem that almost occurred, was with GTE's Modem shipping department. I am glad that I followed up on checking to see the when and how things were going to be set-up and arrive, because if i did not, the DSL Modem would have arrived several days after my service was turned on. I would have been one mad MF'er if that would have happened. So luckily the Modem arrived on time and it has been a happy marriage so far with GTE. Tech support..well initially I might have confused them because I hooked all 3 of my computers up to my Linksys DSL Router, and I was having some difficulty getting my IP from GTE. As you might know the Router can allow me to have up to 253 computers on the one purchased IP. Well I only have 3, and the DSL Router's IP address showing up kind of baffled them. I have not had to call tech support since the second day it was turned on. It has worked great so far, and am very satisfied with the speed. The Bronze+ DSL package from GTE is 768/128, and I average around 705-715 down and 120-122 up. Also the GTE field crews had to come out to my house and upgrade a few things, and they were on time, and helpful to my questions.
Well here it is 9/29/02 and I have stayed with them. The few biggest problems occur only when a big tropical storm or hurricane come close by here. But they do get he system back up in a fair amount of time. I have had a couple of minor speed issues with them, and they practically put me on a DSLAM by myself. I can't hammer Verizon (used to be GTE) about their quality of service, because they have exceeded my expectations.
UPDATE! 5/17/03 I switched from Verizon ADSL (Bronze-768/128) to Earthlink Cable.
Well, I did enjoy my service with GTE, then it changed to Verizon for almost 3 years. I really did not have any major problems, except when a hurricane would come around, and then I would be down for a few days. I did complain on the speed a few times, and they basically put me on a DSLAM with like 1 other person, since that I did not have any speed or any other problems.
So I switched to Cable from Earthlink, because of the offerings and the speed and the price per month. I only needed 6,500 Northwest airlines word perk miles and they (earthlink) offered me 7,000 wold perk miles to try their service , so that now gives me over 25,000 miles and a free trip anywhere in the states, but the price also was an incentive. The first 6 months are $29.50, then $41+ per month, with no contract, no early withdrawal penalties, and a much faster connection to the internet. Also no charge for the install, or equpment either. Once I used the tools here at DSLR, ( DrTCP) and changed my RWIN setting from 15000 to 42000, my speeds have been excellent. I am averaging now 2010/364, instead of the ADSL from Veizon of 690/120. Now that is a huge difference in speed, and it is sweet. Also Earthlink allows you 8 email names and has some nice other software too, like the block-up popper, and the anti-spam tools. The cable modem supplied to me is a Toshiba pcx2500 cable modem. If I have any issues or problems with Earthlink, well then I will be dead on their ass like a pitbull.
Also, to those verizon customers that might like to know of something that I did, here is some great info....Well, about 4 months ago I told Verizon on the phone that I was going to cancel. Guess what they did? They said that since I was a loyal, long time customer, they would send me 2 $50 checks in the mail to keep me as a customer. They did, I cashed them, and now I am letting others know of this, maybe they will do this for you, who knows, I sure as hell did not expect it, but that $100 was nice, too bad they can't lower the prices, make the speeds comparable to cable for less than what cable is charging, and the airline miles, I was waiting for a deal like that, so verizon should follow the ways of the cable internet industry, or they will lose a lot of money and customers......just like me.
UPDATE: 4/21/04:
I have Roadrunner now and they have been real good about speed and price...so far. If they jack the prices up like earthlink, then I will switch to another.
Update: 3/8/05:
I switched back to Verizon DSL several weeks ago when I found out the price was the same, speeds were faster and there was no contract. So far...they are OK. The trick with this is to use the tweaks forum, download Drtcp and set your settings for what works best for you. My speeds down tripled after doing just that.
NEWSFLASH!!! UPDATE!!!!
Update: 11/29/05 Verizon has DSl for $14.95 w/ speeds on the money at 768 down / 128 up. Out&$(#^*standing deal. Down time is nil to zero. Customer support has some techs w/ brains. Also hurricane loss is not hit like cable here in the Tampa Bay area.
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Review by CCNnorthcali  UPDATED: 4 years ago member for 5.7 years, 2317 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Indian Wells,Riverside,CA
$29 per month
about 20 days
Verizon (ex GTE) CLEC party: Verizon (ex GTE)
"Reliable speeds, great price, newsgroups"
"Has slowed down, but only briefly"
"Very happy with Verizon so far"
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When I moved, I wanted to stay with DSL. Coming from SBC, I was interested in seeing how Verizon would compare. I ordered by phone early, before we moved, and the setup went flawless. I ordered in July 2004, so I ordered the 1500/384 package, being told I could get the 3000/786 package when it came out. Although I later found out I'm 1,000ft over the limit for the 3000/786 package, I'm still happy with the 1200/370 speeds I'm getting.
I would switch to RoadRunner here for the better speed, but they don't have good free newsgroups, and it cost a lot more. Verizon speeds have been constant, except for right after a storm when it slowed down for a couple of days, but that's very rare. I would recommend Verizon to anyone who wants the good value broadband service.
11/26/05 Update: I am still happy with my service, although the new MAC address binding caused some headaches for me at first, as they only let one MAC get an IP. Now I just use one MAC and clone it over everything to keep it easy. The newsgroups have been a bit slower, but they're still about as good as you can get for free, along with free MSN, McAfee Virus Scan and McAfee Firewall. We run Vonage off the line and it works fairly well although it's a tight amount of bandwidth to share. I really wish I could get the 3000/786, but my line stats just are not that promising and Verizon says I'm too far away. Even after saying all this, the service is SOLID, so much better than Road Runner in this area, and it is much less expensive, especially for those of us on DirecTV!
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