| reply to Thumpernator
Re: [General] Home Fusion install scheduled Wanted to update my post. The "Data" people will not come out to check the signal. Said their computer program is accurate and to just keep checking. All this while my neighbor is currently using the Verizon JetPack (MIFI) on the 4G network. I borrowed their system and it works perfectly, even with the device in my basement.
I'd go with that system if it wasn't a LOT more expensive to get any decent download limit. Plus, I'd have to change my phone plan over to the Shared Plan and I currently still have the Unlimited Plan on my phones. Don't really want to give up my Unlimited Plan.
Well, I'm stuck with HughesNet until December anyway, unless I pay an early termination fee. I've had HN for 6 years but had to upgrade the modem 20 months ago when the old one failed. They really have you by the nads with their "you need a new modem and that requires a new two year contract" program.
BTW, I'm not out in the middle of nowhere and the local Verizon Store has sold a few systems and their installers are NOT overwhelmed with installation orders. I told the salesman that I thought they were in the business to sell service, so why not sell it to me? I'd take the risk of not getting the 4G signal, knowing that I have a solid 4 Bars with 4G on my phone upstairs and 3 Bars in my basement.
Anyway, in December I will either have HF or the JetPack and will send HughesNet and their support staff Ali Baba to the septic system. |
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jac74
join:2004-11-14
Rochester, NY | reply to verizonlteda
Thanks for the update. The location I need this doesnt have LTE yet, so I can't get it, but I know it is coming and want to make sure I can use VOIP on it. Do you notice any major fluctuations or is it pretty flawless? |
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| Its flawless. |
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| Could someone run a Pingtest.net with HF and post the results (packet loss/ping/jitter)?
Much appreciated |
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That's in bad weather... will run one again later |
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| reply to Blood Washed
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| reply to Blood Washed
Weather is a little better
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| reply to Blood Washed
this is the speedtest still with thunderstorms to the east and west of me.
Am I happy, yes I am! |
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| Yup HF is great no problem with voip .
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| reply to Blood Washed
Heres one more jitter/ ping test from 150 miles from me just show you voip is fine.
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| reply to jac74
My HomeFusion install is scheduled for today. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that it will work for us--we've been using a MiFi 2200 on 3g for 2 years connected to a cradlepoint mbr1000 router to deal with the connectivity issues. Satellite or wireless are our only options here, so it this works, I'll be very happy. My husband and I both work from home, and a faster connection would make both our jobs easier.
Ours is the first in our area--the local Verizon store had never sold one, and it took 3 hours in the store with an ever-escalating level of software help, ending with the lifeline team to get the application software to work and accept the order. Apparently there were issues within the software, and it took a high-level software guru to override the issues so that it would actually work. Excellent customer service--I kept expecting them to give up and tell me that we weren't eligible.
Among the issues encountered, the process made it through the EROS and e911 coverage evaluations fine, but ran into a snag because one of the system maps was outdated, and didn't show LTE service where we live. The lifeline guru overrode that. If someone didn't have a persistent local rep like I did, I can see where the software issues might make them give up and just tell you no.
They started implementing fixes right away, so hopefully this issue will be fixed and others won't have the problems we did.
I do have a question for those that have it already--what kind of wireless range do you see from the router? Our house is spread out, and I want to maximize the access to the WAN from as many places as possible.
Thanks,
Leigh |
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| @Aberwacky
If you look at the coverage map on the Verizon website, are you in an extended 4g area?
You are right, a dedicated local rep will help you. When I was trying to get HomeFusion, the rep said she would contact the higher ups, and get back to me, but never did.
However, I am in extended 4g, so it might be different if you are in solid 4g, and the outdated maps were the problem. |
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1 edit | I can't get the Verizon site to come up at the moment, but I'll check later to see what it says. Apparently, though, from what they were saying during the calls, they have a number of different coverage maps that are internal only, and they don't always match.
Until very recently, we didn't have lte coverage, (extended or otherwise), and I'd been checking regularly. When I checked into the HomeFusion service, the maps on the main Verizon coverage maps page showed we were in an extended area, but when I ran my address through on the HomeFusion page, it showed that service was available. Then, at the store, the "stricter" criteria in their system (EROS and E911) showed I was in LTE area.
So, who knows how accurate the maps on the website really are.
The great service I received may have been helped by the fact that I insisted on waiting, at the rep's desk, the whole time.  . The rep was a good one, though, and did a great job for me. |
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| I had similarly great service from my local sales rep (Siloam Springs, AR), but have had very little but woe since the install. My speeds have varied from 300kbs to 2200kbs, but for the most part seem to be on par with my Centurytel DSL. I have had a trouble ticket with Verizon open almost since the install, and they have elevated it twice. However, they have also closed it at least once, when the network folks said that the path to the tower was ok. Have been told that the unit is switching towers often. Today I was told it might take another 10 days before they got to it, and that I had 4 days left before I could send it back without getting locked into the the contract.
I told them I didn't have any problem waiting 10 days to try to fix it, but if the 4 days was in fact a hard number, to come rip it out. I am not going to pay 350 bucks for sub-DSL speeds. |
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| reply to Aberwacky
sorry Leigh, but I doubt that I can help. the wifi signal is excellent 30 foot away, but quickly goes to poor after that, but my walls are triple brick thick and that along with wood lathe and horse hair plaster is not a good test for you. |
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| Thanks--it's installed now, and the Wifi range is pretty good up to 100 feet away , and passing through the walls just fine. The wired connection from the router is faster, of course, and I'm using that on my laptop, and wireless on everything else (printers, iphone, ipad, etc.)
So far, I'm very pleased--considering my options are this or Satellite or MIFI, I'm happy. I'm seeing Pings at around 90 ms (could be better) and Download speeds ranging from 13-20 Mbps and Upload Speeds ranging from 1.5-5.6 Mbps since install. I'm using TestMy.net as well as Speedtest.net to check it. These results are from my iPad on the wireless network and my laptop on the wired network.
Considering I was getting 1.5 down before and .2 up with my 3G mifi, I'm thrilled!
We were going to go with the 4G mifi, but when I considered the additional cost of a needed external antenna, amplifier and WiFi as WAN router, this was cheaper, plus the data is cheaper, too. I couldn't have bought the antenna, amp and router for the $99 install and equipment cost, plus I didn't have to get on the roof to install the antenna.
It was also very easy to connect all my devices to the wireless router--easier than with my old Cradlepoint one.
Would I prefer to have DSL or cable with unlimited data? Of course, but this is what I CAN get, and it's so much better than what we had, so I'm happy.
Plus, I can now reasonably connect my house wired LAN to the router, and finally use all these ethernet ports in my walls!
According to this map, we're in LTE Extended: »www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/Cove···state=AR.
The tech was seeing 46% on his app, and 2 bars on his phone in my driveway, fwiw. When he plugged in the cantenna to check it, the tower-connection LED was staying mostly green, and it's been the same since he installed it, although it's lost connection a few times. It was always restored quickly, though. I plan on keeping an eye on it for the next few weeks, to see how it works.
It will be interesting to see what effect Isaac has on it all as he works his way north--supposed to be a tropical depression when he hits us.
Leigh |
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1 edit | reply to Cattlelady
deleting double post |
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| Any more updates? Considering having this installed at our home as well. We currently have the mifi that works great, but we consistently go over the 10GB by about .4 or so every month, two laptops and a desktop, a kid in college, one in high school and one in middle school... so it sounds more financially beneficial to just pay the upfront installing cost for the cantenna as we are paying $10 extra every month by baaaaaarely going over 10GB. |
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| Have had HF about 2 weeks now and except for a 1 hour period where it was down, it has been working great. I got the install deal they have running now for $100. I signed up for the 20gb plan and so far we have used 8.5gb for the first two weeks. I game some, mostly thru Steam playing Left 4 Dead 2 and the Call of Duty games. Pings in game average around 90-110 which is acceptable and there is no lag. My speeds average 15 down and 2-3 up. As far as usage, our family (me, wife, teenager, and occasional college daughter on weekends) mostly surfs the web, the occasional games, and some downloading. There is no streaming of movies or music. I did try Netflix using a friends account just to see how it ran and it was great but we do redbox for movies. Hope this helps some people. I had satelite (8 years) previously as my only option and this is way beyond that. Is it expensive..yes but so far it is worth having. |
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| reply to Uxbfool_t
So, its $100 for an install now? Is that on the Verizon site? |
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