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<title>Bell Canada forum - dslreports.com community</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/sympat</link>
<description>Bell Canada forum current topics</description>
<language>en</language>
<copyright>Copyright 2007, dslreports.com</copyright>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:46:16 EDT</pubDate>
<lastBuildDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:46:16 EDT</lastBuildDate>

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<item>
<title>[ TV] Bell TV raising rates on January 1st 2010</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23314368</link>
<description><![CDATA[Bell TV raising rates in New Year
Posted by digitalhome on November 9, 2009

Beginning this month, Bell TV began notifying customers on its website that it would be increasing the amount they pay for television programming beginning January 1, 2010.

The price increases appear to range from $2 to $4 per month for English language subscribers and are a flat $2 per month for French language customers.

The increases apply to all Bell customers, even those with 12 or 24 months contracts.

The following is a list of price increases per month announced by Bell TV by subscription package.

English
Digital Basic &#150; $2
Digital Essentials &#150; $2
Digital Extra &#150; $4
Digital Max &#150; $4
HD Essentials &#150; $2
HD Extra &#150; $4
HD Max &#150; $4

French
HD Personnalis&eacute; &#150; $2
HD Essentiel &#150; $2
HD Essentiel Plus &#150; $2
HD Extra &#150; $2
Base Num&eacute;rique &#150; $2
Num&eacute;rique Essentiel &#150; $2
Num&eacute;rique Essentiel Plus &#150; $2
Num&eacute;rique Extra &#150; $2.

Currently Bell has almost 1.9 million video customers who spend around $70 per month for television. A $2 to $4 increase could conceivably net the company an additional $50 to $75 million annually, however, that assumes that subscribers don&#146;t make changes to their programming packages in 2009.

Previously Bell TV raised package prices on January 1, 2009 by $2 to $5 per package and then introduced a 1.5% fee in September 2009 to offset new taxes introduced by the CRTC this past summer.

Source: http://www.digitalhome.ca/2009/11/bell-tv-raising-rates-in-new-year/
--
Tell your children over dinner, "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23314368</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-09 12:03:42</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>[ Mobile] Dropped calls, bad reception, etc</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23316701</link>
<description><![CDATA[I was wondering what my options are for leaving bell in terms of cancellation fees and whatnot.  No reception, dropped calls, etc.  I've had this problem with bell since I've gotten my phone, and I've tried to sort this out for a few months now (been on contract for over a year).

 Deadpool helped me out earlier with getting the tower number and all that, but bell has nothing to tell me about it.  Apparently, the tower nearby isn't working properly or something, and the jist is there isn't any plan of fixing it.

 My question is given that bell is obviously affecting more customers (my work is OPSEU and we're with bell), what reasoning or legal stuff can get me out of the contract (coworkers as well)?

Here is what Deadpool helped me with...

36w4d : 2009-02-26 13:23:24 : From Deadpool See Profile&#9;delete-this | mark-unread | keep-this
Someone's looking into it now, but I need the following info, please:

3. Location (street, street number, postal code, city or town or village or township):

4. Problem (dropped calls or no connection, does voice work):

5. Is the problem Inbuilding (provide the floor # and on which side of the building they are on (north-south-east-west) or outside:

6. Date and Time (and when did it start and was it ever working before) :

7. signal bars on phone (low or high coverage):

8. Frequency of the problem (always, everywhere or random or only happened once):

9. Can we reproduce the problem:

10. Are there other devices or Cell Phones that are experiencing the same problem? 

***

3. Ailsa Craig Ontario, N0M 1A0, the tower number is ON050913 003

4. The problem is dropped calls, no reception, terrible reception. This is for ALL of bell's customers at work it seems here, where we have to leave the buildings and walk outside to get even 1-2 bars.... a complete pain in the behind

5. in building, but outside it gets kinda better

6. I started working there May 08, and it's been like that since I've started, as I got on the bell opseu plan in June. so since I got it. Rogers works perfectly there, bell and telus do not.

7. Low = 0 bars and CONSTANTLY searching for signal
High - 2, MAYBE the occasional 3, both when outside

8. Always, on all bell phones

9. Yes

10. No

***

36w3d : 2009-02-27 15:00:03 : From Deadpool See Profile&#9;delete-this | mark-unread | keep-this
I just received the following response:
"We received confirmation from our RF group that there is a network issue at the address provided. Our engineering department also mentioned that there is a new site that should resolve the network issue in that area. The site has been approved but is missing resources right now. Unfortunately, no change is planned for the year 2009 for the built of that site."
--
I hate rogers and their CRAP tech. support...  But, MAJOR kudos to the TekSavvy team!

Al Bundy - "Six bucks is too much money to spend on any woman."   it's too true sometimes :D]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23316701</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-09 19:19:06</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>[Internet] DSL service status page</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23316876</link>
<description><![CDATA[This page has been showing problems with DSL High Speed for about a week now in many regions of southern Ontario.

http://internet.bell.ca/index.cfm?method=home.serviceStatus

I'm in Scarborough (GTA) and for about a week I have had disconnection problems. Sometimes very severe with a frequency of only 1-2 minutes. It says to check this page before even bothering to call Bell and that's what I keep doing because I assume that's what the phone support people will tell me as well.

Does anyone at all know what is going on? Why these problems for so long? I mean what the hell could it be? Fire? Flood? Earthquakes? Storms? Locusts? I haven't noticed any of these in Toronto recently... ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23316876</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-09 19:51:07</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>[Internet] Speed Test Results</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23302100</link>
<description><![CDATA[I'm on a 10 Mbps package, my connection seems slow today though the test results say otherwise - anyone else ? 

Edit to add:
Disregard post, was an AV issue, now tweaked out.
 Mod lock is OK by me.
  
  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23302100</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-06 13:13:20</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>bell hspa coverage</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23292764</link>
<description><![CDATA[they have thie ridiculous coverage thing on their site where you enter a city and it says YES or NO for coverage.. is there a map, or something that makes more sense?? give you more - better idea??

i am having a very hard time believing bell , from day one,  has enough hspa coverage.. 

thank you]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23292764</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-04 19:33:14</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>[Internet] Should i get bell internet max 12? is it really fibre</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23309797</link>
<description><![CDATA[i m REALLY skeptical about getting internet because right now im with primus i should be getting up to 7Mbps and im getting only about 1Mbps! so i need to not get ripped off this time about how much should i expect with this bundle? heres the info http://www.bell.ca/shopping/PrsShpInt_Max10.page BTW is it really fiber optic or is it DSL.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23309797</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-08 11:41:34</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>[ Aliant] Intermittent Ping Spikes?</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23251706</link>
<description><![CDATA[  So basically here's the dilemma, I'm on bell aliant and from 8pm-3am(Atlantic) I will constantly have ridiculous ping spikes which vary from atleast 800-2000ms and last for a couple minutes before returning to a normal level for a few seconds then spiking again.
   I've run diagnostics on my modem while this was occuring and here are the results(Note: I was still able to access the internet when this was taken):

  

  Also I've run a traceroute to www.DSlreports.com a few minutes later:

  

  So basically I'm assuming there is an issue with the remote terminal i'm on? I've tried all of the usual (power cycling, reseting modem etc, changed phone ports, changed wires, even tried using OpenDNS) not to mention I've called my ISP and the tech support I got didn't even know what an OAM segment was.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23251706</guid>
<pubDate>2009-10-27 21:51:51</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>[Internet] So, how is Bell managing traffic on its network?</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23298284</link>
<description><![CDATA[Have you guys read this?
http://internet.bell.ca/index.cfm?method=content.view&content_id=12119

There continues to be phenomenal growth of consumer Internet traffic throughout the world. Bell, similar to other providers here in Canada, may be required to manage its network in such a way that no customer, service or application consumes excessive bandwidth which may impede the use and enjoyment of other customers. Bell is using Internet Traffic Management to ensure we deliver bandwidth fairly to our customers during peak periods of Internet usage. In order to continue to ensure a consistently high level of service for all of our customers, traffic management allows Bell to deliver a consistent and reliable experience to all its customers who use real-time sensitive applications like browsing, video streaming and instant messaging during peak periods of Internet usage.
So, how is Bell managing traffic on its network?

Bell is using the latest, state-of-the-art technology to improve the customer experience for a vast majority of our customers&#146; favourite applications (such as Internet Browsers, E-mail, Instant Messaging, Streaming Video, etc.) as required during peak periods on the Internet, while ensuring all customers receive fair use of the network when there is heavy Internet traffic. In addition, Bell continues to make significant investments in network capacity and speed to meet the growing Internet demand.
When was this launched?

These traffic management measures began in October 2007 for Bell Internet DSL and December 2008 for Bell Internet Portable and Rural.
Are other ISPs doing the same?

Yes. Other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Canada are implementing similar solutions to continue to maintain adequate service levels.
Why was this introduced? What are some of the applications that will benefit?

The phenomenal growth of Internet traffic seen by all the ISPs has been causing congestion on the Internet. Bell has chosen to reduce the impact of this congestion by using a combination of increased capacity and better Internet Traffic Management during periods of peak usage. This solution will also ensure that all our customers get fair use of the Internet during these periods. As a result, many types of online experiences will be improved, such as the following common applications:

&#147;Real-time&#148; applications like -

    * Browser Applications
          o Internet Explorer
          o Safari
          o Firefox
    * Email Applications
          o Outlook Express
          o Outlook
          o WebMail
    * Instant Messaging
    * Online Gaming
    * Internet Radio
    * Streaming video from YouTube, etc.

As well as &#147;client-server&#148; download services like -

    * iTunes
    * Sympatico/MSN Music Store
    * Microsoft Windows Update

How does this improve customers&#146; online experience?

By better balancing Internet traffic, this solution helps protect and improve the performance of these common applications for all customers. Bell&#146;s technology solution is only active during peak usage periods (currently 4:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. for Bell Internet DSL and 4:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. for Bell Internet Portable and Rural) when Internet traffic becomes congested in order to maximize the ability for customers to use and enjoy their Bell Internet service.
What is Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and what does it have to do with Internet traffic management?

Deep packet inspection or DPI is a technology used in the industry to examine the types of traffic going across a network, but not the content. During peak periods, Bell uses DPI to identify peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing traffic which is less time sensitive than other real-time sensitive applications, such as web browsing or video streaming. Because P2P file sharing applications are less time sensitive, they can be slowed when Internet traffic becomes congested during peak periods without interrupting use of the service.

When Bell uses DPI as part of its traffic management measures during peak periods of Internet usage, we do not examine the actual content of traffic and we only collect for a limited time your IP address. For example, we do not know the content of your communications nor your search activities. However, for traffic management to work properly, we use DPI technology to assess traffic data along with each IP address to determine what type of traffic it is so that we can treat it accordingly (e.g. if it is P2P file sharing traffic, we may slow it down during times of peak Internet usage to support other activities like web browsing and video streaming). Once the traffic has been sorted by type for traffic management purposes, it is not retained as part of the usage pattern of any IP address.
So, who does this affect and what traffic is subject to traffic management?

These traffic management measures impact only those Bell Internet High Speed service customers who are using common peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing applications during scheduled traffic management periods. Customers using P2P file sharing applications may experience an increase in duration time to download and upload (for Bell Internet DSL) and upload only (for Bell Internet Portable and Rural) files during peak usage periods. These customers may consider running their P2P file sharing application longer to complete their P2P uploading or downloading activities or consider using P2P file sharing applications during the off-peak periods when there is no scheduled traffic management.

Traffic management will not impact customers using other Internet applications or services.
What are peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing applications?

P2P file-sharing applications provide the ability to share files on-line via an Internet connection between multiple computers that are often unknown to the user. Computers can communicate with each other even if you are not present and engaged in using the computer.

If you are using P2P file sharing, Bell recommends that you protect your computer by installing and updating Anti-Virus and Firewall software on a regular basis, as well as enabling Network Address Translation (NAT) on your home gateway/router if so equipped to ensure your computer is not being used by others without your knowledge.

The only requirements for a computer to join a peer-to-peer network is an Internet connection and P2P software. Common P2P software applications include:

    * bitTorrent
    * Gnutella
    * Limewire
    * Kazaa
    * eDonkey
    * eMule
    * WinMX, etc.

When will this occur?

Customers may experience extended download and upload times when using P2P file sharing applications during the daily scheduled traffic management period which is currently scheduled from 4:30 pm to 2:00 am EST for Bell Internet DSL and 4:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. EST for Bell Internet Portable and Rural. The current upload/download rate speeds only for P2P file-sharing usage are gradually decreased at the beginning of the peak period (from full speed down to 512 kbps at 4:30 p.m. and then down to 256 kbps at 6:00 p.m.) and then gradually increased towards the end of the peak period (up from 256 kbps to 512 kbps at 1:00 a.m. and then up to full speed at 2:00 a.m.).  
Are there other applications that could be impacted by Bell&#146;s traffic management measures?

If you're using an application/protocol during peak periods, such as encrypted FTP and find that it cannot attain full speed, please first ensure that you are using the standard port assigned for the application/protocol in question (as per the IANA: http://www.iana.org/assignments/port-numbers).

If you cannot find the application/protocol listed in the IANA&#146;s website or you&#146;re not currently using the assigned port listed, it is possible that the application/protocol being used may be impacted by traffic management if you are using a P2P file sharing application at the same time.

To resolve this issue, please close the affected application and ensure that all P2P file sharing applications are also not running. When you turn back on the affected application, ensure you are using the standard port assigned and that no P2P file sharing applications are open at the same time.

Note: It may take up to 10 minutes after terminating the P2P applications before you restart the affected application to ensure the application is not affected by traffic management.

If the problem continues to exist after performing the above steps, please contact us by posting your problem here (registration required).
Is Bell blocking Internet access? Is Bell monitoring customers&#146; online activities?

No. Bell does not block any type of Internet traffic or application, nor do we proactively monitor the content of customer communications or activities on the Internet.

Internet traffic management is based on the requirement to optimize network bandwidth resources, not on the content for which these resources are used.
Is Bell Internet DSL access shared?

No. Your Internet access is not shared with any other Bell Internet customer.
Are Bell Internet Portable and Internet Rural access shared?

Yes, unlike DSL, the wireless Internet technology deployed by Bell and Rogers is a shared Internet access service. Like most wireless systems, available bandwidth is shared between customers in a given radio sector, so performance could deteriorate in the case of many active customers in a single sector during periods of peak network traffic. If those customers are also using bandwidth consuming applications like P2P there is increasing less bandwidth available for real-time applications like web browsing and watching videos. The Internet Traffic Management process that Bell has deployed is in place to help ensure a more enjoyable Internet experience across our base of Bell Internet wireless customers.
Is Bell allowed to do this?

Bell has a responsibility to maximize the ability for all customers to use and enjoy their Bell Internet service and a responsibility to deliver bandwidth fairly to its customers.

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, Bell is entitled under the terms of the Service Agreement to utilize technology that maintains or enhances the performance of the Service and the integrity of its network.

Also, the Service Agreement and Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) prohibit the use of the Service in a way that impairs the operations or efficiency of the Service or creates an unusually large burden on our networks. To help ensure this does not happen during peak periods, Bell is using traffic management measures to better balance Internet traffic and deliver fair use of the network to all of our customers.
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--
Party On Garth! ... Party On Wayne !
              Shwing!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23298284</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-05 18:57:05</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>[Internet] Bad connection at night suddenly</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23292899</link>
<description><![CDATA[Ok well i factory reinstalled my computer one day due to a non relevant issue. So i hook up my internet as usual and it is working perfectly fine.

 BUT at night my ping for like condition zero will jump to 300-400 which is reallllyy high and my xbox live will go down to 1 bar.

Please help.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23292899</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-04 19:55:12</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>How to stop Bell from sending postal junk mail?</title>
<link>http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23280645</link>
<description><![CDATA[Does anyone know who and what to contact to stop these advertising messages?  It's a waste of paper for me.

Thanks!]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,23280645</guid>
<pubDate>2009-11-02 17:53:14</pubDate>
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