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Review by beewoolie 
Posted: 5.9 years ago
member for 2.3 years, 0 visits, last login: 2.3 years ago
 Seattle,King,WA
 $60 per month
 Qwest
CLEC party: Qwest
 "Stellar uptime and reliability"
 "Qwest encumberance"
 "Excellent provider, wish they could us another local loop provider"
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Several years ago, I switched ISPs from Qwest (gag) to Blarg!. At the time, it was clear that Qwest couldn't handle basic network operations such as DNS zone management. In a nutshell, Qwest created a web site to manage DNS that was broken and unsuable except for the most pedestrian configurations. Blarg!, on the other hand, has professional staff who got it immediately. The only downtime I've seen in years was due to one of the Microsoft worms saturating Blarg!'s network. They took their network offline for a few hours while they reprogrammed the routers (I think).
The only complaint I have is that the Qwest local loop limits throughput. I'm running 640/256 right now. I'd like faster upload speeds for work. I can get them from Blarg!/Qwest, but the prices are *way* too high. The Qwest fee alone for 640/640 is higher than a competing provider's total cost for 1.5/768.
The bottom line is that Blarg! is so reliable that I'm loathe to switch ISPs to get more bandwidth if there is a chance that service won't be as good.
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Review by jhmartin
Posted: 6.4 years ago
member for 8.9 years, 28 visits, last login: 4 years ago
Bellevue,King,WA
$70 per month (12 month contract)
Verizon
"Great service, very good TOS for running servers"
"None"
"A great ISP"
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I ordered the 768/128 SOHO package (ISP $30/mon), which gets me the ability to run my own webserver/mailserver/anything else, unmetered rates, 5 ip's and a PTR-delegation (very rare for consumer ISP's). The staff were knowledgeable and completely accepting that I'd be running a linux NAT box and connecting multiple computers to the setup. When I went to get my DSL moved to a new apartment they just said 'let us know when the line is in and we'll move it' no hassle at all. Their service has been rock-solid. I've recommended them to all my friends.
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 Review by ZWill3
Posted: 6.6 years ago
member for 9.2 years, 1482 visits, last login: 2.1 years ago
Kirkland,King,WA
$62 per month
 about 2 days
Verizon (ex GTE)
CLEC party: Verizon (ex GTE)
"99.999999999% uptime, excellent customer service!"
"Can't think of one!"
"Choose this ISP--you won't regret it!"
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I signed up for GTEOnline (now Verizon) DSL in 2000. After several headaches with my physical line and several visits by the GTE repairman (and about three different modems), it started working correctly. I still wasn't happy with the GTEOnline ISP, especially after Verizon took over. I contemplated going with Telocity (which I wrote a bad review on this website in 2000 due to my horrible experience of just trying to sign up for service). Luckily they aren't in business anymore.
Shortly after all of that, I heard of Blarg! and their "Verizon SoHo" package that offers a block of 5 static IP's, excellent uptime, etc., etc. for just $30/month (plus the $32.50 line charge I'm paying Verizon) for 768/128 ADSL (straight Ethernet--no PPPoE). What a deal! I looked for similar deals but couldn't find any, so I called Blarg! and signed up. It took them just a day to switch me over (took Verizon 6 months to quit billing me the ISP charges though--although I did finally get a credit for that). Marc at Blarg! explained the entire process and was very helpful. When I can called or emailed (which has not been very often), I get an answer immediately. It's the personalized service I love as well as the uptime. The longest downtime I have had in 2 years is about a half hour as Blarg! was upgrading their equipment.
In short, Blarg! rocks! Since they allow you to run servers with the SoHo plans, I now have two domains hooked in with my own mail/web/DNS running them. I still haven't used all 5 of my IP addresses! If you live in the Seattle area, sign up with Blarg! and you will be nothing but happy. I know I am!
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Review by mylriahd
Posted: 6.8 years ago
member for 6.8 years, 0 visits, last login: 6.8 years ago
Sammamish,King,WA
$30 per month
about 3 days
Qwest
"EXCELLENT support, I had a response in 5 minutes -- on a SUNDAY."
"Setup fee's stink, regardless of ISP. :)"
"Never been down, speeds are what I expect, great support"
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I've been using Blarg for around a year, and in that year I've never experienced any downtime (my modem flaking the only exception.) I have a cisco 678 using NAT, and all the problems associated with that. After discussing the problem briefly with their support (on a Sunday!), they helped me decide to just get static IP's with a SOHO account. My first thought was that this was a "gotcha", but the price increase is nominal for the liberties is opens up, such as a block of static IP's and the ability to run a server. (I was pay $20 before, now I'm paying $30.)
I can't judge speed well, since I'm not signed up for anything spectacular from Qwest, but the speed is exactly what I would expect for what I'm paying and what I'm signed up for. (640/256)
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Review by stormyday
Posted: 7.1 years ago
member for 8.9 years, 290 visits, last login: 21 days ago
Bainbridge Island,Kitsap,WA
$56 per month
about 10 days
Qwest
"Delivered ontime, easy setup, reliable service"
"First bill had incorrect charge (corrected quickly), some packet loss, limited email names"
"Great service for the dollar"
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I previously had IDSL service (Megapath/Covad) for 18 months and was generally happy with the service except for billing issues. Last fall QWest located an ADSL repeater near my residence. After reseaching various QWest ISP partners and checking out review at DSL Reports, I decided on Blarg. I also decided to wait for QWest to start shipping their Actiontec Routers due to EOL of the Cisco 678s. I placed my order on August 9th for 640/256 Deluxe Service (dynamic IP/PPPoA/unmetered transfer) and was given a active date of 10 days later. The price quoted to me included hosting my domain email account (extra $5 per mo.). Various one time discounts were applied from Blarg and QWest. The best being the Actiontec rental ($5 per mo) was waived for the 1st yr. The router was delivered in 9 days, but did not set it up until 2 days after the service was to be active. The setup directions were extremely easy to follow. The most time was spent putting on the line filters on my other phones and rerouting lines between my fax, answering machine, caller ID, iMac, etc. The web interface to the router was extremely easy to access and setup, including allowing IPSec passthrough for work PC. I have a Linksys AP/router/switch which I connected to the Actiontec via switch to switch (LAN) connecton and had to change the address on it to conform with the default on the Actiontec. I spoke to Tech Support to verify mail delivery setup for an existing email account with foxinternet.net ISP. Hold time was not long. I was up and running in less than an hour. Blarg's email invoices are very complete and setup of automatic payment was painless. It is also great that they don't force you to do an automatic payment plan. My first bill had an incorrect charge that was removed after I called customer service. Since Aug 18th I have run 16 speed test and they have averaged 430/182. Generally they are in the 520/220 range but several test results were really bad. I have also been seeing some packet loss and called tech support and they did observe some loss but not enough to warrant correcting. So far very please with my Blarg service.
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Review by JamesM0
Posted: 7.2 years ago
member for 7.3 years, 3 visits, last login: 7.2 years ago
Redmond,King,WA
$67 per month
about 45 days
Verizon
CLEC party: Verizon
"can't go wrong with Blarg!"
"None. No, really, there aren't any!"
"sales, support, services, bang for the buck, they've got it all!"
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My adventures started when I tried to dump Verizon Internet Solutions (formerly GTEI, Genuity, etc., and now my former CLEC and ISP). To call that painful would be an understatement. After a few runaround rounds and a couple escalations, I finally got them to release the stinkin' line. Verizon (the Telco) became the CLEC as well, and and had the new circuit up to Blarg in 6 days (including a holiday weekend).
I called Blarg at the start of my 45 day night mare and their end was done within 24 hours - I just had to wait for Verizon Internet to pull their head out.
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Review by (hidden by request)
Posted: 7.2 years ago
(review was emailed from domain blarg.net)
Bellevue,King,WA
$30 per month
Verizon
CLEC party: BiznessOnline
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From: Bellevue, WA
Telco: Verizon
Service: SOHO768/128
Price: $30
Blarg has been great, it was a bit rocky getting started (not due to
Blarg but Verizon), but blarg made it a lot better. They allowed me dial
up access and didn't charge me for DSL until Verizon flipped the switch.
On several occasions they got involved with Verizon to assist with the
problems.
Blarg went above and beyond the call. Since then I have had 100% up
time, high speeds (often in excess of what I should get), great DNS
response, and easy billing. Blarg is by far the best ISP I have ever
dealt with!
Taylor
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Review by blowwad
Posted: 7.3 years ago
member for 7.8 years, 148 visits, last login: 171 days ago
Lakewood,Pierce,WA
$20 per month
about 500 days
Qwest
CLEC party: Qwest
"Blarg! Rocks! If it wasn't for the monthly bill I would think magic were responsible for my connection."
"None so far."
"If you don't have it, Get it!"
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I started off with Qwest.net. When they decided to opt out of the public sector for ISP service and handle only business accounts I was faced with the pressure of many rewards for using MSN. After doing some reading about the nightmares that insued with the MSNster I found this company with the goofy name and couldn't be happier. Lucky me!!!
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Review by ccarden
Posted: 7.5 years ago
member for 7.5 years, 1 visits, last login: 7.5 years ago
Seattle,King,WA
$50 per month (month by month)
about 15 days
Qwest
"Excellent Tech Support and Good Value"
"I don't recommend the "Best Data" modem. Cheaper than Cisco, but a pain."
"Quite Happy!"
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I was with SpeakEasy for years for dial-up and watched their support and service go steadily down hill. Asking around a lot, Blarg seemed to have the most consistently happy customers. Ordered the SOHO/Deluxe package, and everything went smoothly with my DNS setup, static IPs, multiple mail accounts, etc. Speed and up-time of the connection are excellent.
Downside is I ordered the Best Data 800 R modem through Blarg. It's definitely not ready for prime time. Needed substantial phone help getting it working, and it seems need a cold boot every 36-hours, which SUCKS for hosting a personal web site. Just visit the Best Data site and look at the support section: no how-to information, no driver downloads, etc. The web site says it has features that aren't even mentioned in the manual. I honestly don't know what features don't work and which just aren't documented. Buy a Cisco off E-Bay.
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 Review by Clangeddin
Posted: 7.5 years ago
member for 9.2 years, 983 visits, last login: 5.7 years ago
Kirkland,King,WA
$70 per month
about 1 days
Verizon (ex GTE)
"Absolutely nothing bad to say about Blarg."
"None. Really."
"Blarg is an excellent ISP and even Verizon has upped their service level."
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Ok, I originally posted a long time ago with a basic 768/128 DSL through Verizon (old GTE).
I have since moved the ISP portion to Blarg Online! and they rock. Absolutely nothing bad to say. Recently I moved accross town and was worried about the delay in reconnecting my service with Blarg/Verizon (I work out of my home so delay = go to office = bad). I pre-checked the new home with both Verizon and Blarg and when the day came (new phone was up - dsl connection in) my crossover was the time it took to get the network out of the old apartment and into the new house (about an hour). That is simply amazing.
Blarg has excellent service. For $20 extra a month (dump Verizon as ISP - save @$10 - Blarg costs $30 for Bronze plan) I have 5 static IP's accross my line. The one time my system went down it was a failure at the CO ATM and the trouble shooting to fix it (when I called Blarg/Verizon) lasted all of ten minutes and I was back up. Other then that, the line has never been down.
I don't use the mail or news and even the DNS is a backup, so can't rate them better since I don't know. But it can't be bad. My only complaint is sometimes you actually have to leave a message with Blarg if you have questions. But I know that there aren't that many folks on teh Tech staff. When they do call back, tech help is excellent.
If you live in the Kirkland, Seattle area, I can't recommend Blarg enough...
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