Canadian Broadband → Getting Ready to Get Rid of Bell

I had three services with Bell. I switched my Bell landline to VoIP and could not be happier with the service from FreePhoneLine. Since I do not watch much TV, I cancelled my Bell TV satellite account and installed an OTA antenna with which I receive 30+ channels, some of superb HD quality. I'm very happy with this, too.

Time has come now to part with Bell Internet, too. However, the Internet is essential for me and the transition and post-transition experience must be the best. I will stay with the VDSL2 technology and will not switch to cable internet.

1. I am looking at several independent providers, some of them listed below. From a reliability point of view, technical and customer service experience, would you recommend one over the other? Any other suggestions?

Acanac
Electronicbox
Start
Teksavvy
Vmedia

2. Do the independent ISPs use PPPoE for authentication? On Bell, I sometimes use a login-only account from another provider - would I be able to continue to use that account with an independent ISP?

3. Would the quality of the connection in terms of speed and latency be any different than with Bell, especially for the ISPs located away from Toronto (due to their servers/routing not being in Toronto)?

4. What would be the best step-by-step procedure to switch from one ISP (Bell) to an independent ISP to avoid any potential downtime?

Thank you very much for your help. I look forward to becoming free of Bell sometime in the not-too-distant future.

1. Teksavvy - they constantly push their offerings like the idea Marc is mulling/getting community feedback on about potentially offering optional unlimited download in non-peak hours in exchange for reduced speed during peak hours. Key word: optional - you can choose what's best for you.

2. Assuming you're staying with DSL - PPPoE. Not going to comment on the rest as that is against most ToS'

3. For me latency went from 250ms to 6ms on an identical line but that was some time ago, not sure what Bhell is like now. In terms of quality - you are on the same infrastructure the main difference would be the routing/peering that the independents have setup.

4. More than I'd want to get into but it depends if you're going to be wet or dry loop. Contact the providers you're most likely to go with, ask them what the procedure is - that can be their first test.

On point #3, I've seen in the past Bhell being a-holes and transferring wholesale customers to 'worse' remotes worsening their connections.... Just a FYI. Tho in most cases, a call to your ISP and a ticket to bell fixes that issue....

Go with Start it will an easy transition. Start installs by default any VDSL connection on a secondary line (if available) and the dry-loop fee is included in the price you see. So you can overlap your existing connection on one line with Start on a second until you are sure all works. You can disconnect your existing connection later. For VDSL you will use the Bell infrastructure so you will get same speed/ performance. Start is one of the few providers which offers 50/10 VDSL (if available) other limit you to 25/10.
As price on 50/10 you are the same as TekSavvy if you consider dry-loop so it's your option. You will buy your modem (SmartRG) way better than Sagemcom. You can use it as a gateway (has dual band and complete unlocked pretty much standard router features) or switch to bridge mode (again pretty simple) and use it with your router.

overlap the service which means getting a dryloop install as bell is known to muck up new installs especially with their tech visits

Thank you, all, for the excellent responses. I hope that, with your help and suggestions, I will be soon free of Bell. To clarify a few things:

1. I already have a dry loop line with Bell Internet because I don't have a PSTN landline any longer. Would an independent ISP be able to install a second dry loop line in my apartment? I think it would be tricky because, although not necessary for my dry loop, Bell forcefully installed a DSL general filter in my wall outlet.

2. Secondly, there may also not be available slots in the remote. In this case would the independent ISP use the same port I'm connected to now?

3. In choosing an ISP, my main criterion is reliability and good customer support. This may eliminate some of the independent ISPs from the list. Price is secondary. But, since, I rely on the Internet for a lot of my activities, the potential downtime shall be minimal. In 10+ years with Bell I had virtually no downtime.

Given the above, are your recommendations still valid? Thank a lot.

In an apartment you likely have a better chance of being able to do a 2nd dry loop. There's a chance the ports are filled but more than likely not. The only trouble will be whether or not you want to have the 2nd dry loop run up another riser or if you want to keep your gear in it's current location. Running them up the same riser they'll end up disconnecting one line to hook you up on the new one which would negate the overlap.

yes, you can get 2 dry loops easily.

As long as you can find the 2nd pair in the wall. Sometimes assholes cut the 2nd pair way back to the point of it being really difficult to splice an extension onto them. I saw this in one friend's apartment when he wanted to get a 2nd phone line.

But if he is getting VDSL as a secondary service, the tech that does the "Pots Splitter" will do that internal wiring.

yep, Bell/Telecon will be responsible for getting a second pair somehow even if they to have run a new line into your house from the street. in that case it just might take a few days but that's pretty rare.

The main outlet is in the living room and it is here that the Bell technician installed the in-outlet POTS filter. It barely fit in the wall due to a huge number of pairs going through to the apartments above, plus a number of free pairs. Out of the latter, I am not sure how many come from the outside and how many go further to other phone outlets in the other rooms. For example, my Bell modem is connected to an outlet in the bedroom that I use as office. I'm not sure how many pairs go to that outlet but, for testing purposes, I suppose I could install the second modem in the living room (connected to the main outlet).

Since I am on a dry loop, I don't understand why I need a POTS filter. The Bell technician who installed it said that it would "stabilize" the line. I think this does not make any sense.

What about Nexicom? They've been offering wholesale GAS Internet for a while. How are they? Any experience with them? Thanks.

i recommend vmedia dsl/cable
still hoping for ftth but that will never happen for my location.!

You don't need any filters for the dry loop line, but the tech must check that he installed a "POTS splitter" which is a simple plastic box with connectors where he can hook the wires. It has a jack also and a diagram on it but in my case (and many others, I suppose) the tech just interconnect the second line wires and this was all (the jack is not connected). He did not touch the existing pair (POTS) at all which goes around the box (if isn't broken...).But you pay 50 bucks for install so he has to do it.
I still recommend you get a second pair and keep your existing connection for another month, the connections are completely independent so your second one is not affected in any way when you cancel the first one. I suggest you go with Start or TekSavvy , your choice, both have the new SmartRG modems. There are slight differences, for example Start includes the dry-loop in the price you see, on TekSavvy you pay additional 5 bucks. On Start they set as default that any install is done on a second pair (the tech has this request written) on TekSavvy be sure that you request this and they set your request for the tech if not he may want to go the easy way (and Bell may cut your existing connections). The quality of service and support will be probably equally good from both of those two providers.

From the other providers you listed, ElectronicBox has also good reviews , but they don't offer VDSL 50/10 even if available (Start and TekSavvy do), and they are located in Quebec some complained before that the geo-location showed them in Quebec and some sites were blocked (looks like due to specific regulation some online shopping sites block access from Quebec). This might be minor or fixed by now. Also if you read their forum a lot of discussion is in French or related to Montreal area.

Be careful what you wish. Right now FTTH lines are only for BELL (or whatever telecom you have in your area). They don't give access to third party providers to FTTH and are not required to.

All new development in my area gets FTTH but you only have Bell as provider, or you need to go with cable where you can chose another provider. Where FTTH is installed there is no copper wire anymore so there is no FTTN VDSL or even old ADSL .

Aside from the monthly dry loop fee charged by the independent ISPs typically, is there generally also a one-time dry loop install charge?

You pay $50 for any install. If you switch later from wet to dry you will also pay $50 .This is on any provider. So better get from beginning what you want.

I was asking about a dry loop install fee, not the general install charge. For example, one independent ISP that I called charges a $100 install fee, plus a $25 dry loop install fee, to a total of $125.

Is it typical that the independent ISPs charge an additional dry loop install fee for those who haven't got a landline?

No it's not. Reputable ISPs just charge the $50 which goes to Bell in fact not to them. I mentioned before for example Start install all VDSL on a second pair which is a dry-loop by default and you still pay only the $50 (CRTC mandated) for install.

Another question: do any of the independent ISPs include complimentary access to Usenet?

i don't care if third party can't get ftth at this moment...

Nexicom did, it was Giganews. Don't know if it's still the case.

+1

yes, Nexicom still provides full Usenet service (powered by Giganews).

Well, the name of the thread is "Getting Ready to Get Rid of Bell..." I have two friends which moved in new build area and had to go with cable because they have FTTH. At least they used the 6 month free service offer from Bell before switching to cable for internet.

I'm with ElectronicBox and would highly recommend them.

At one point they had a free dry loop promo on (I have them at two addresses and don't pay for dry loop). All in my 25/10 250GB (unlimited 2 am - 2 pm) lines are about $52 with taxes. Service has been reliable. When I was on fastpath I got sync no surf, but a call in and change to interleave has solved that problem.

As others mentioned, you are often geolocated to Quebec. Some shopping sites don't work, however for something like NHL GameCentre Live I can watch "out of market" Leaf games. I have unblockus so it's not a big deal, but for some, geolocation may be an issue.