1 edit | reply to Clever_Proxy
Re: Clear in Chicago I am on the border of Chicago and Evanston with usually 4/5 bars. the bandwidth speed tests for me really don't say much. We are on the cheep plan here at home, so obviously no roaming issues, still the fluctuation in the signal is noticeable.
I have had clear for 3 months after 10 yrs with RCN. It was a money choice to go with Clear for half the price. (and like 1/20 the bandwidth - yes, I mis that fat pipe) Aside from the overnight maintenance(?) downtimes that last about 10mins maybe, this service goes up and down in strength hourly, and I am near a tower.
The thing I watch is not the speed test, it is the status page on the modem/gateway/router settings. If you look at that page for provisioning settings - most of the time it will say zero (0) as though it has no idea the status of your provisioned rate. It is my suspicion they shape the service this way. Borrow from here or there to.. what do you do with spare capacity? Or has there been an over selling... Eh. My point is more that if you seem to get a slow speed it has as much to do with how you are provisioned. When there is no lock on this value all else will fluctuate. They can be overselling the capacity, shape the experience and no one is getting what they pay for because while slower than promised - you are still receiving service. Without fixed provisioning rates you you just have to accept their numbers as accurate. (Do we now?)
Of the 10 yrs with RCN I owned my own modem for the last 4yrs. In that time I had to make them re-provision my modem 3 times(I called and complained). The first time I called the tech had no idea what I could be talking about, and I had to push for a supervisor who could actually see the provisioning setting. (In the case of CLEAR that is a level 2 tech, not the first folks that answer the phone, they are just trouble shooters.) I was checking in on a configuration setting today and pointed out the provisioning to the the tech. In the process of them doing some signal checking with my modem, there was a provisioning rate, but it has since vanished from the status page, just like the 5th bar signal light on my modem.
I could be wrong about the association, but then why put the provision rate on a status page? Is It only an estimated value ? you get when you convert the signal wavelengths/rates, you get a number that is kinda like what they call bandwidth capacity, but it is just to technical for us to understand? (raspberries.) Or is it the foundation in the equation of delivering what they promised us?
I have very mixed feelings about this service. |
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WX MAN
join:2009-12-13
Evanston, IL | I was told that the Evanston and Rogers Park towers were in the process of being upgraded with additional back-haul etc. According to their website the basic home plan is capped at 1.5 and the "get one" home plan is capped at 6.0. Only the more expensive "get two" plan is listed as not capped. |
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| reply to Clever_Proxy
In general the 4G+ is the best way to go. The price dropped again and you should always lease your equipment.
There were growing pains and some area's arn't completly built out on 4G,yet. I have seen first hand huge improvments in coverage in just the last 6 months.
I think people need to be reminded that this is a mobile internet solution. I deal with cable service all day long and it's unfair to compare clear to any land line service provider.
If you compare Clear's 4G+ to any other cellular broadband. Clear wins hands down.
In 2009 Sprint was voted #1 for best network. Remember Clear is running on the Spints 3G side for it's nationwide coverage when not in 4G area's. I'm very happy for this new network and can see the prices start to increase soon.
If anyone needs testing in Chicagoland or wants to try out Clear, just contact me. »www.gsmchicago.com |
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Reviews:
 ·Clear Wireless
1 edit | said by mattharley: If you compare Clear's 4G+ to any other cellular broadband. Clear wins hands down. This I will agree with when comparing with other mobile providers when using 4G+ service. |
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| reply to Clever_Proxy
How much downloading can I do on Clear's network? Is 50-100GB a month acceptable or not? I need more than the crap that 3G offers and not quite another ISP. Was wondering if this would fit my needs. |
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Reviews:
·Clear Wireless
1 edit | As far as I know, there's no cap. I've blown way past 100GB myself. I would say that you're okay.
No way does this mean Clear won't change their rules down the road. A cap wouldn't surprise me, but I can't imagine it being under 100GB. They are trying to compete with wireline connections. That would kill their business strategy. |
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| reply to Clever_Proxy
From their own website, customers in Chicago Area are complaining about the terrible internet speeds even though they have 4 or 5 bars and had excellent speeds a couple of weeks ago.
»forums.clear.com/clearcom/topics···_3_weeks
The Youtube video near the end matches the problem I've had for over a week now. Tech support says they will look into it but told me no one else had reported any problems. |
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dellis
join:2002-09-22
Des Plaines, IL | I just put in my own ticket yesterday. Thought they might have fixed my issue but it lasted for about 5 minutes. The proof that they are deliberately capping the home users came to me about two days ago. Friday night I took my home modem to my job where I DJ. I did this once before and got great speeds even with two bars. This last time however, I was getting the exact same max speeds as I was when I was at home, and my job is about 25 miles away from my house! My mother is also on my account, but lives about 15 miles from me. I have the USB modem for her and she also complained of slow speeds. I keep a bandwidth monitor running always, and told the tech that it looked like I was being hard limited. He kinda tried to brush that off. Whatever they are doing, they better undo it, or they are going to have a mass exodus on their hands. |
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| The Chicago market doesn't have enough Wireless Backhaul capacity. As well as land line copper and or fiber in place, that's why all of your speed's are so terribly bad. |
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| reply to Clever_Proxy
I think some upgrades happened by my home. My connection has been fabulous for the past 3 days.
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