Review by KA9YHD 
UPDATED: 1.6 years ago
member for 8.2 years, 151 visits, last login: 33 days ago
 Round Lake,Lake,IL
 $59 per month
 "They provide service in my area"
 "Random disconnects"
 "Price is too high"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I originally started with DSL service in 2000 with DSL Networks. With a Static IP address. And after two years DSL Networks went out of business and I was switched to Covad through a safety net program. What I was switched to was a 1.5 meg/ 384k PPPoE.
The service was great with a 1.5 meg/ 384 k DSL line until November of 2006 when I started having problems with random disconnects.
I contacted Covad's tech support on the phone and I have people telling me to connect the computer directly to the modem, if it connects then the problem is with my Linksys router.
I unplugged the power from both the modem and router and when I powered up everything I had a connection, which only lasted 2 weeks.
I called Covad again, this time I get a tech that sounded like he had a chip on his shoulder about Linksys and started bad mouthing Linksys telling me that Linksys is "crap" and he only uses D-Link..
Ok so I did a hard reset on the Linksys router and power cycled the modem....... Still no connection. In a fit of anger I unplugged the power for both the modem and router and let them sit off over night. The next morning I powered up first the modem and then the router and I had a connection, which lasted two months until it went down again.
In February of this year (2007) I discovered a forum for Covad on DSL Reports and posted there. A Covad tech read my post and ran a test on my line and posted that the margins need to be at 10% minimum, my download side was at 9%. And another tech suggested try a new modem. I bought a new modem and still the same......... Random disconnects. They decided to issue a service ticket and send a tech out to my house.
A service tech came to my house and brought with him a Broadxent Brite Point 8120 Gateway. And guess what? A random disconnect the next morning I had no service for a half hour. I played with it and the unit would not get an IP address, but it had the DNS entries.
To make a long story short. In March, once the snow is off of the roof, I am switching ISP's and going to a local ISP that has wireless service and is offering synchronous 10 megabit service for $55.00 per month.
Covad has been charging me $59.95 per month for a 1.5 meg/ 384 k DSL service when other companies are offering the same service for $27 to $29.95 per month.
UPDATE:
Covad closed the open ticket and never sent me an email asking for my input. They charged me a $99 service charge for the tech coming out, and they also charged me $99 for the Broadxent Brite Port 8120 ADSL Gateway unit that the tech brought with him to test the line.
The problem has not been fixed because I am still experiencing random disconnects and not having a connection to the Internet for periods of a half hour or longer.
I have had to contact the billing department at Covad about the bill for the service call and the gateway unit that the tech brought with him. My next step is to stop payment through my bank and contact both the Attorney Generals Office of Illinois and the FTC........... maybe this will get their attention to fix their problems.
UPDATE Again:
It has been about 2 weeks since I have spoke with Covad and at that time Covad told me that the only way I would receive a credit for the Broadexnt Brite Point 8120 Gateway is to return it to them. So I asked Covad to mail me a return label so that I can return the gateway to them. Someone from Covad called me to confirm my mailing address but it has been two weeks and I have yet to receive a return shipping label from Covad.
A person from my bank made the comment of "sure sounds like a forced sale" And my bank has credited back to me the amount that Covad has charged me.
Now what to do with a piece of equipment that Covad does not want back................. Sell it on ebay hmmmmmmmmm?
Oh and the random disconnects are still happening.
And another UPDATE:
Since I have disputed the charges through my bank and my bank has credited back to me the amount that Covad charged for a piece of equipment, which has been sent back to them, and the service call. Covad is trying again to bill me $264.39........ I guess I will have to notify my bank and this time the FTC.
Followup comments:  | emmess
join:2001-12-18
Chicago, IL | Covad not expensive I have 1.5/384 for $24.95. Covad offered me the new price, as long as I renewed my contract. I have had very few problems with my service, outside of some system-wide problems in Chicago several weeks ago. | |
|  | hottboiinnc
Kyle
join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH | Re: Covad not expensive For the same package as you're paying $24.95 on the Covad site its $59.95 | |
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