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Sonic.Net Starts Offering Pair Bonded 30 Mbps ADSL2+
$80 a month for 30 Mbps down 2 Mbps up

Independent California ISP Sonic.net (see our user reviews) started offering ADSL2+ service over their own network last fall, offering tiers in 6Mbps, 8Mbps and 18Mbps flavors. In recent tests in their labs, the ISP tells us the carrier was able to obtain ADSL2+ speeds of 46 Mbps downstream and 4.8Mbps upstream. Of course that was on short loop lengths in a lab environment, but Sonic users living in the real world should be happy to know the company is now offering line-bonded 30 Mbps ADSL2+ starting this week.

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According to the Sonic website, the new 30 Mbps "Fusion" tier comes with 2 Mbps upstream, for $80 a month standalone. The company offers a $5 discount if their service is bundled with Verizon Wireless, or a $10 discount if the service is bundled with DirecTV. "For customers who want a standard voice line delivered with Fusion, that service will be available soon," says the company.

Yes, fiber is the future. Yes, that 2 Mbps upstream is looking ragged for a "next-generation" higher end broadband offering. But Sonic.net earns some brownie points for not only remaining in business in the face of deep-pocketed, lobby-centric mega-carriers, but building out their own network with said carriers working against them. They also consistently snag good reviews from our users, and just got done lowering prices. The carrier could have pulled a Speakeasy and abandoned their residential users, but they didn't. And hey, Macworld seems impressed.

Jasper isn't oblivious to the fact that fiber is the future. "Delivery over copper in the last mile makes sense for us today because the copper is there, and there is new technology that allows us to drive it faster (ADSL2+, Annex M, and pair bonding.)," says Jasper in a recent post in our forums. "Obviously this isn't the end-game, and I do believe it's inevitable that everyone will be served with fiber in the long run."
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adisor19
join:2004-10-11

adisor19

Member

Compared to Bell and Videotron upsteam speeds, 2Mbps = WIN

Ya, that's how sad the state of broadband is in Canada... :S

Adi

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Re: Compared to Bell and Videotron upsteam speeds, 2Mbps = WIN

said by adisor19:

Ya, that's how sad the state of broadband is in Canada... :S

Adi
It's about the same where I live. 30/2 is the highest tier I can get from the cable company.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Compared to Bell and Videotron upsteam speeds, 2Mbps = WIN

Except SEBB charges more and caps you, if I recall correctly?

fifty nine
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ

fifty nine

Member

Re: Compared to Bell and Videotron upsteam speeds, 2Mbps = WIN

said by iansltx:

Except SEBB charges more and caps you, if I recall correctly?
$70/month and 100GB cap.

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

1 edit

SimbaSeven

Member

Hmm..

Ya, it's Copper-Pair Technology, but at least they're trying. I haven't seen anyone else offer these speeds and charge a decent amount for it over existing copper pair.

A big "Thumbs Up" for these guys. If I lived there, I'd have their service.

maartena
Elmo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA

maartena

Premium Member

Bummer

Not available in my Orange County location. (AT&T territory).

I guess i'll stick with my 15/2 Roadrunner connection.
raye
Premium Member
join:2000-08-14
Orange, CA

raye

Premium Member

Re: Bummer

Unless TWC lousy in your area why switch? 15 Mbps little difference and you will lose upload speed because of increased overhead at 30 Mbps.

Yeah I live in AT&T/TWC duopoly as well. 1.5 Mbps upstream on AT&T sucks which is why I have TWC.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Bummer

You don't lose upload speed due to overhead at 30 Mbps. Even if you did, Sonic offers 2 Mbps uploads all the way down to 3 Mbps.

maartena
Elmo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA

maartena

Premium Member

Re: Bummer

That still doesn't make it available to me.

Apparantly, I am about 13500k from the CO, which pretty much means no one (besides the cable company) can offer me great upload speeds using copper.

I have 15/2 now, I was just hoping that providers like SONIC were able to put in their own DSL nodes closer to my house and thus offer better service..... but alas.

I can get uVerse though....
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Nice Job

This is the fastest copper-based internet service in the US except for Qwest VDSL2, the fastest-download copper-based service except for Qwest's two highest VDSL2 tiers. Which arn't available in most places.

Sure, it's not fiber, but 30/2 also handily beats every DOCSIS 1.1 cable company (Time Warner Cable for example).

What I'm really curious about is how much the lower-upload bonded tiers cost. I'm guessing $10 extra but that pricing is hidden behind a qualification wall that I know I'll never pass.

So far here's the pricing I know:

Express 1.5/1 - $35
Pro 3/1 - $40
Pro Bonded 3/2 - ???
Elite 6/1 - $45
Elite Bonded 6/2 - ???
Max 12/1 - $50
Max Bonded 12/2 - ???
Extreme 18/1 - $55
Extreme Bonded 18/2 - ???
Ultra Bonded 30/2 - $70

Since the price differential is so small, 'd probably get Ultra Bonded if I was in Sonic's service area, but for "normal" people Pro Bonded blows away the upload speeds of price-comparable alternatives.

Max Bonded isn't too bad either considering the pricing is about in line with Comcast internet-only service at the same tier level. Same thing on Extreme Bonded vs. Blast, though you aren't getting PowerBoost.
rbedard
Premium Member
join:2007-06-19
Scotts Valley, CA

rbedard

Premium Member

Sonic.net does a lot right

One of the great things about sonic is that when issues do arise (and on copper they do seem to arise), you aren't forced to navigate some tree that seems designed to foil your attempts at getting resolution, or deal with techs that give you that deer in the headlights so strongly you can see it through the phone ... nobody is perfect, but sonic really does a lot right.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless


wa2ibm
Premium Member
join:2000-10-10
San Jose, CA

wa2ibm

Premium Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

Although Sonic uses AT&T copper, they are a CLEC and have their own equipment at the CO. Thus their Fusion product isn't a wholesale reselling of AT&T DSL circuits, although they offer that as well.

Additionally, Sonic's AUP allows servers. Try that on a residential cable account. Another big advantage of Sonic over AT&T is their customer service with local folks that know what they're talking about.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

it is a worthless product. It depends on copper.

When ATT started shoving out VDSL this board was pissed off. this company does it and people are sooo happy to have them.

This company is a sinking ship and will be. ATT will kill them when they take out the Copper.

I can run servers on my residential cable. NEO doesn't care.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

TWC "doesn't care" but it's against their TOS.

As far as copper goes, when AT&T rolls out fiber they roll out fiber. Where they have copper it'll be a LONG time before they overbuild fiber. Sonic is using the copper because it's there...
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

NEO says that i can host a server as long as its for personal use. NEO does what they want and doesn't care.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

What's your upload speed?

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK to hottboiinnc4

Premium Member

to hottboiinnc4
said by hottboiinnc4:

it is a worthless product. It depends on copper.
You have to start somewhere.

We can't just go from "nothing" to like "Full awesomeness Fiber to the Home"

No independent ISP could ever just do it. However, over time, you can grow and build out.

The whole point behind the now destroyed and gutted TA1996 act was to create new companies that could get into communications via line sharing and last mile access, and then over time build out and grow their own networks and end user telecommunications. If we'd done this, we'd be like Japan is now.

But no.... we just couldn't do something that smart. No enforcement and eventually a almost total gutting of the act destroyed our Tech future for a long time to come.

Sonic.net, much like Teksavvy, is an example of a company that does things right even when people are throwing sand in their face or Bell is trying to kick them in the teeth.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

You could go from zero to fiber directly, however it's expensive, and if you can get 30/2 out of DSL for a good number of customers for less than $1000 per home, why not?
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4 to KrK

Member

to KrK
The TA1996 was there to GIVE the companies a line to use WHILE they built their own network. After all THESE SAME COMPANIES DID NOT build out like they were required to and now whine and cry when something gets changed.

And starting some where? ADSL? Com'on a worthless product.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

said by hottboiinnc4:

The TA1996 was there to GIVE the companies a line to use WHILE they built their own network.
That was the plan. It never was even allowed to bear fruit. It was sent to a quick and nasty death. Many companies were destroyed who had been tricked by TA1996 into thinking the regulatory landscape would protect them and allow them to grow.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

1 edit

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

No NOTHING stopped the ISPs from building out. They waited until the last minute to worry about anything. That's when they were told line share would be SOL within the XX amount of time the FCC gave it.

Now they want to build out. It shows that when you let them leach off the actual provider's network they'll do it until they can't and then still do.

RTs are the way to go for ATT's network.

VZ just needs to keep building out FiOS and kicking more and more ISPs out. Hell DSLX will be off their network soon.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Ehhh. Copper---reseller---worthless

Your revisionist history is amazing. I watched as companies who were right in the middle of buildouts burned in flames.

Even just 2 - 3 more years and they'd of been off and running.
Dan2112
join:2001-08-24
San Jose, CA

3 edits

Dan2112

Member

Again as long as you are within 11K of CO...

I have stated this before about this deployment and while this is a great development for Sonic.net - this is not so great news for all of us served by Sonic.net - myself included. Unfortunately Sonic.net Fusion products are limited to AT&T CO deployments and can not be deployed on Remote Terminals (RTs). So for those of us provisioned on an ATT RT and are more than 11K from the CO, we are out of luck.

Kudos to Sonic.net for providing this service, but like any technology there are limitations. I am extremely happy with the service I receive (6Mb/768) from Sonic.net. However since I am over 11K from the CO and less then 2K from my RT my next upgrade is either ATT U-Verse or Comcast. I would love it if Sonic could provision Fusion out of RTs, but alas they can not.

If you are considering this option Sonic.net support will tell you how far you are from your RT or CO. For those who can get it, this is a nice alternative. Congrats to Sonic.net.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Again as long as you are within 11K of CO...

Are you sure that the pair bonded service, albeit at lower speeds, can't be deployed farther than 11K feet from the CO? I'd think that 12/2 would carry just as far as 6/1, and 6/2 as 3/1, etc.
Dan2112
join:2001-08-24
San Jose, CA

2 edits

Dan2112

Member

Re: Again as long as you are within 11K of CO...

Pre-qualification tool states I am out of range and I have confirmed this on the phone with sales and tech support.

Also I am around the corner from my RT and I am provisioned on the RT at 6Mb/768. I am over 11K from the CO, if I were provisioned from there I would barely get 1Mb. (Would have to verify the exact speed, but it doesn't make sense considering 6Mb/768 from the RT).

Dan

Random_Nut
@cox.net

Random_Nut

Anon

Re: Again as long as you are within 11K of CO...

The company's owner is a member of this site, and seems like a nice guy.

Perhaps if you PM him, they can just put you at a "best effort" option. I am quite sure with bonding you could double your current speed.
Dan2112
join:2001-08-24
San Jose, CA

Dan2112

Member

Re: Again as long as you are within 11K of CO...

This has been already discussed in the Sonic.net Forum.

Here is the reply where Dane states the 11.1K limitation.
»Re: Feeling "left out" in San Jose....
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4 to Dan2112

Member

to Dan2112
your on an RT which will kill you from ever having the service. ATT could go around and put everyone on RTs and kill them over night.

ISPS and CLECS are NOT allowed to have access to the RTs.
Dan2112
join:2001-08-24
San Jose, CA

Dan2112

Member

Re: Again as long as you are within 11K of CO...

Yes I know I am on a RT and I is why I said 11K from the CO not the RT
The RT is why I am getting 6Mb/768 today.
xan_user
join:2004-11-18
Santa Rosa, CA

2 edits

xan_user

Member

Re: Again as long as you are within 11K of CO...

What would be revolutionary is getting decent copper speed to go farther, not just faster.

Sure fiber is the future in the urban setting, but rural users are still left out of the loop. It would be great if sonic (and other indy telcos) would also focus on new technology that will benefit those of us that are out of cable/fiber/dsl range.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Again as long as you are within 11K of CO...

Heard of the AdrenaLine DSL booster? Lots of rural telcos use it. CenturyTel (now CenturyLink) and Frontier are two big examples of this.

You can milk more feet out of DSL. It's just spendy and the ROI may or may not be there when you're used to serving VDSL customers in a very populous area on triple play.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4 to Dan2112

Member

to Dan2112
I said the RT is what kills you from having any service expect what ATT offers you.

IF ATT was smart they'd start deploying RTs like mad along with U-Verse services. They expand their coverage and can convert more customers over to them. a Win Win for them.
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88 to Dan2112

Member

to Dan2112
said by Dan2112:

I have stated this before about this deployment and while this is a great development for Sonic.net - this is not so great news for all of us served by Sonic.net - myself included. Unfortunately Sonic.net Fusion products are limited to AT&T CO deployments and can not be deployed on Remote Terminals (RTs). So for those of us provisioned on an ATT RT and are more than 11K from the CO, we are out of luck.

Kudos to Sonic.net for providing this service, but like any technology there are limitations. I am extremely happy with the service I receive (6Mb/768) from Sonic.net. However since I am over 11K from the CO and less then 2K from my RT my next upgrade is either ATT U-Verse or Comcast. I would love it if Sonic could provision Fusion out of RTs, but alas they can not.

If you are considering this option Sonic.net support will tell you how far you are from your RT or CO. For those who can get it, this is a nice alternative. Congrats to Sonic.net.
Thats the problem, COs haven't been built since the 1970s . So all subdivisions and new suburbs built in the last 40 years are out of range of the CO.
tyrodome
Premium Member
join:2004-02-18
USA

tyrodome

Premium Member

Correction?: $80, not $70

According to this announcement:

»corp.sonic.net/ceo/2009/ ··· r-bonded

...the 30-Mbps package costs at least $80 per month, not $70,
as the DSLR item states. (Maybe I missed something.) Here
are the quotes:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pair Bonded, Residential locations, dynamic IP:
* 30Mbps/2Mbps $80/mo

Pair Bonded, Residential locations, 8 static IPs:
* 30Mbps/2Mbps $105/mo

Pair Bonded, Business locations, dynamic IP:
* 30Mbps/2Mbps $145/mo

Pair Bonded, Business locations, 8 static IPs:
* 30Mbps/2Mbps $190/mo
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Correction?: $80, not $70

Hmmm, $20 extra per month for 1 Mbit of upload speed. Granted, line bonding allows for faster peeds overall and $20 isn't too bad for a full extra phone line, but that's still more spendy than I thought. Comcast 22/5 is $75 at most...same price as 18/2 on Sonic.