Review by wombatclov 
UPDATED: 223 days ago
member for 5.9 years, 642 visits, last login: 3 days ago
 Easthampton,Hampshire,MA
 $35 per month (12 month contract)
 about 18 days
 Verizon
 "Reliable Connection, Free Router, Good Value"
 "Speed, Hardware Install Headaches"
 "An Excellent Value if you combine with voice packages, and are not a heavy bandwidth user"
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Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Update 2/27/08-
OK yes, DSL has been pretty solid. Still have the 1.5M/385 plan, can't go any higher than that. Sometimes at night it seems things get really slow though. Also the connection drops during lightening storms. But, other than that it has been up 99.9% and with fairly consistent speeds.
Update 9/7/06-
Going back to DSL, but this time no voice on the line (see my Charter review). I need stability, and DSL has that over cable. On Charter I never get much over 1.5mb even so they say it is a 3mb package. At least DSL is consistant. When I placed the order (online) they gave me a service ready date 7 days from the order date. I thought that was pretty good. But, somewhere along the line, something happened and it got pushed to 14 days later. I don't know if it was b/c they found out it was not a voice line, or what (there was no in home install to do, I have a line to my house). I got many confusing and contrdicting e-mails from Verizon about the service ready date. Even when I called, the automation said one date, but at the end of the call, it said another! I had an old DSL modem, so I decided to just hook it up and keep an eye on the DSL light. Sure enough, yesterday, a full 4 days before the service ready date, light was solid. So, I try to connect, but it did not take my user/password. I did get an IP and DNS info, so I know the link was fine. I called tech support and after about 20 minutes with clueless reps, they told me that they could not turn on a user name since my account was pending until the service ready date. My CO got the work done early and I have to wait- that is nuts! I searched BBR and found out about dslreg.verizon.net, put my info in, and vola! I was up and running. So much for those knowlwgable tech support reps.....
I know this is not a typical first time user experience, but I hope it helps anyone who is coming back to DSL and has a modem and wants to get online with DSL. I am loving the low latency now- no interruptions, and a better VPN experince with the 385 upload.
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Update 2/6/06-
No problems. No downtime except for power outages. Excellent performance and relability. Will never get the 3M speed upgrade due to distance from CO, but that is OK with me. I use the connection alot for work- VPN and VOIP all work well. I don't know why anyone would pay twice the price for cable if they are within DSL range!
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Update 7/05/05-
I called for the speed upgrade. I now qualify for the 1.5/385 tier, since Verizon changed how they send the DSL signal. I first called tech support, but they told me I had to call billing, which was of course closed. Tech support was helpful though, as I did probe them if I could get the 3M, but the answer was that I had to be 12K feet. The next day I called billing, and they told me I was already provisioned at 1.5! So now the run-around starts! I called tech support again, and apparenly something on thier end had to be changed. By the next day it was. Still great relability, no outages, best value in broadband as far as I can see! I also want to say that installation is now a breeze. I recenly set it up for my sister. VZ now gives you a router with wireless, which is a bonus. The install CD was quick, informative, and easy to get her account activated and online. I had her online in 10 minutes. I also praise VZ for sending out a very secure firewall within the router.
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I ordered DSL because I was sick of the problems my cable provider (Charter) was having. I need a reliable connection for the work I do. I have been a cable user since 2000 simply since it was the only thing available at my location. I have been watching the availability on Verizon's website for a year now, and finally- by some miracle, I qualify, although I am nearly at 18000 feet, so I signed up. I figured that with a 30 day free trial I have nothing to loose. Some of you may wonder why I would drop down from the speed cable provides (3M) to DSL (768K). I carefully considered how much I used the bandwidth- and it was not much since I am not a gamer or multi-media person. And the benefits of better ping times and better latency of DSL outweighs the speed benefits.
So I signed up online, (768/128 Dynamic) and 3 days later a Westell 2200 modem arrived with the welcome kit. Two days later, I got the e-mail that my DSL was turned on- this was 2 days earlier than promised.
I hooked up everything, and to my surprise the Westell is actually a router with firewall/NAT capabilities, DNS server, and DHCP server. This single fact made me very happy, since in the past I had used a Linux router and firewall, and this basically means I can turn off one server of mine. I also learned that the Westell could act as a Bridge (just a DSL modem-no rouuting) if I wanted to continue to use my Linux router.
Ok, back to the initial install-- I used the CD_ROM to get my account setup, and at first I could not connect at all (the modem DSL light was blinking indicating no sync). I found that the particular phone jack I had plugged the modem into was loose. Once that was fixed, I was able to register and browse the net. All evening speeds were 740/130.
The next day, I came back, and my speeds were all over the place- ranging from 300-600 down. So I used the support center program and the tech support guy was very helpful- he had me plug the modem into the network interface directly- and basically speeds were then fine, and he even ran a line test for me. So I found out the hard way that my house wiring was affected because I had an alarm connected in series. I solved the problem by wiring a dedicated phone line to the DSL modem, and I have had great consistent speeds ever since.
My next problem was with the e-mail and web space. I was not able to access my web space, nor was I able to use the e-mail forwarding (I have my own domain, I wanted to simply have any messages go there). I chatted with a not-so nice person in the support center this time. She would not tell me when the mail forward feature would be back, only that it is "unavailable". And she found that my web space as not active yet because I was a new customer (5 days), and that not everything was synced up. She did not like it when I complained that the web site and PR stuff says all that (web space, e-mail) will be available as soon ad your account is activated. Apparently "account activated" means different things to people- but I would think that means when the DSL line is working!
Last, I did call to see if I could be provisioned at 1.5M just to see if it would be any faster, even though I know I am out of the distance- I at least wanted to have their computers let it through- but a very nice man told me no,
So far I am very pleased- even though I have a slightly slower speed than cable, I am very happy that response time and ping time, and latency is better. I would recommend Verizon DSL to anybody who is within the distance limitations- it is a much better choice- and more cost effective- especially if you get the freedom plan. You must be patient and willing to do a little tinkering with your home wiring (as opposed to cable you usually do not) to get optimum speed results from DSL.
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