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 francishsu
join:2000-06-27
Wyoming, MI
| business DSL info I recently looked into TDS Metrocom's DSL service, among others, to see whether it was viable for me to switch DSL providers. I reside in Grand Rapids, MI.
Their residential offerings are reasonably documented on their website. Because I wanted static IP, I inquired about their business level DSL. They had no pricing information on their web site for businesses, so I had to talk with a sales rep. The pricing he gave me (around 8/20/01) was 768/768 SDSL for $135/month, with no contract requirements. This pricing is very competitive with other DSL business-level pricing, especially considering no contractual obligation or obligation to get their voice service (as opposed to their residential DSL).
(I have no intention of switching to TDS Metrocom at this time, as I was hoping for under $100/month. Wishful thinking, I know...) | |
| 
lisht
@aol.com | Too Expensive, Don't bother Ameritech has better DSL for 39.95/mo. And RoadRunner is pretty much the same price. Don't waste your time or money on this | |
|  | | | shankerwi
join:2000-09-19
Milwaukee, WI
| Yes, get the facts straight before you speak! Ameritech charges $49.95/month for their service and it is only ADSL. They've been charging this rate for months. Road Runner also raised their rates too. They are now at 44.95/month. I think TDS is very competitive and sells a very good product. | |
| | Foswell
join:2000-06-14
Milwaukee, WI
| I was one of the first customers for Ameritech's DSL. While the field people (and second tier helpdesk) were very knowledgeable and helpful, the phone/office staff were completely incompetent. I had Ameritech's ADSL for a year (as that was their contract term), and I jumped to TDS as soon as it was available in my area. Plus, Ameritech constantly had trouble with their mail servers - at one point, I had no email access for 4 days. While I've only been on TDS for a few months, I've had exactly one known instance of server problems bad enough to keep me offline. TDS' phone contact people have always been extraordinarly pleasant to deal with...the few times I've need to do so.
As other users have pointed out, there is no useful purpose in comparing RoadRunner to DSL. Why not discuss which universe is cooler: Star Wars, or Star Trek? I don't have time for that nonsense, either. | |
|
TDSUSER
@tds.net | Excellent! Great service, especially if you already have their TDSNET dail-up service! | |
| JackDeth
join:2002-03-10
Neenah, WI
|  TDS Metrocom Absolutely Rocks!!!
Evering else seemed just too darn expensive. I saw TDS's billboard ads on the highway and decided to check out their website. Everything was laid out in plain English and seemed like a really good deal (as long as you sign up for their phone services too). Besides, we never really liked Ameritech and have been trying to find a better option for awhile.
The Wisconsin rates are at »www.tdsmetro.com/internet/dsl/home_WI.shtml.
Basically, we asked for the 256k service and their basic Value-Rich phone service. If you sign up for 256k for one year it's $40. If you sign up for two years it's $35. Then you pick your phone package and pay for that. If you want 768k service with either plan it's $10 more. There are NO installation fees and if you sign up for the 2 year plan the modem is free (otherwise, $150).
They told me it would take about 3-4 weeks to get up and running as they were backlogged on installations. As it happened they only took about a week to get us up!!! The tech even had to install a jack for us and waived the fee for that as well!
Their customer service has been impecable! The services and features for their phone service are great! The amount of stuff you get for what you pay is so much more than any of the other phone companies in our area! The connection speed most of the time isn't that much lower than the 256k and we are considered on the outside of their kilofoot range!!
The only downtime we ever experienced was in the mail service one day for about 2 hours while they were replacing a server and that's the only "problem" we've ever experienced with their service since our service was up and running the first of October last year!!
To top it off, if you refer someone to them who signs up for phone or DSL service, they will give you a $10 credit off your next bill for every signup!
I have a peer-to-peer network of three computers hooked-up at home sharing the service it it has just been fabulous!!! I would recommend this company to everyone!!
I only wish they had it in Minnesota so I could call me brother-in-law and his family and get THEM signed up! :-(
Hahaha...this is so funny....my wife noticed on our phone bill a phone number she had dialed that wound up being a mis-dial. So, on the bill that amounts to 1 cent. No big deal, right? Nothing to really complain about. Well, she called customer service to just have them take that off the bill......1 cent, mind you! The customer service rep said that just in case it was a routing error on their part she was gonna credit us $1 off our bill!!!
Talk about customer service!!!  | |
|
AmethystCentaur
@tds.net | TDS METRO KICKS TDS Metro gets WONDERFUL speeds; and you're not confined to great download but crappy upload
Get TDS to escape the AT&T MONOPOLY if for anything!! | |
| Skeeve1
join:2003-02-13
Jasper, GA | www.tds.net same as TDS Metrocom? Anyone know? | |
| |
Jayttt
@tds.net | Re: www.tds.net same as TDS Metrocom? Yes, in essence. TDS Telecom is the parent company of both, tds.net is a devision of Telecom, as is Metrocom. | |
| | | supportguy8
join:2002-11-13
New Glarus, WI
| Re: www.tds.net same as TDS Metrocom? tds.net is a general front end for two companys. TDS Telecom's and TDS Metrocom's Internet Services.
Telecom is an ILEC (Owns and supports the entire telecom system for the market), where as Metrocom is a CLEC (competes with other carriers in the market).
www.tds.net is simply the portal for the internet customers.
If you have Metrocom DSL, you pay Metrocom for the service - but all your email, personal pages, etc is handled by TDS Telecom because the infrastructure is already there.
Anyone with a PPPoE, Dialup connection, webhosting, or backup dialup account also would be directly dealing with TDS Telecom. If you have a DHCP connection then it's Metrocom.
Clear as mud? Sorry, I didn't set it up that way. | |
| waynemr
join:2002-01-28
Madison, WI
|  Please please please expand service in Madison!!!!
I have been a 768 kbps DSL user for three years with TDS, and just recently, I moved across town in Madison, WI (from west side to east side).
Unfortunately, my new house is right smack in the middle of a freakin dead-zone for COs. No CO exists, less than 21,000 feet from my house (in a newer subdivision). Now... I'm forced to pay MORE with charter and get LESS! Bastages! I used to run my own web servers, forums, and VoIP servers from home, for use by family and friends, and now every incoming port for http, ftp, telnet, dns, etc. is blocked by charter! They suck!!!!
I am in such horrible withdrawl from no longer having DSL... please, please, please! Tell me what I need to do, in order to get TDS to install a new CO in my neighborhood?
Seriously! What does TDS need to justify the cost? How many business/home accounts would it take to get a new CO put in? Just tell me, and I'll do what I can to drum up support. There are a ton of businesses in the area, as well as hundreds of new homes.
Please rescue Madison's east side!!!!! Ridgdewood neighborhood area. I've already spopken to my local alderman, and he suggested speaking at the Madison Common Council of ... services of some sort.
Do you need a petition? For the love of all that is good and great and wonderful!!! Tell me what I need to do, in order to get TDS DSL service again!!!!! | |
| | supportguy8
join:2002-11-13
New Glarus, WI
| Re: Please please please expand service in Madison!!!! There maybe an available slick hut closer to you that has all the telecom equipment and fiber, but since SBC and all the rest of the ILECs don't give access to those like they do for the Central Offices, you may be able to get DSL from the local ILEC - SBC/Ameritech.
Give them a call and see if they'll sell you DSL, if they say yes, then ask why you couldn't with TDS. As areas expand they start re-routing loops... maybe in a few years your distance will drop - or increase. | |
| noahas
join:2002-04-15
Grayslake, IL
| Cheap Fractional T1's for business I understand that on 7/1/03 If you are a business with 5 lines or more (using TDS phone service, why not, you save 50% vs. SBC), you will have fractional T-1's available for a steal. 386k each way for $50, 768k each way for I think $80.
Great company to work with on the phone side, look forward to getting the fractional T-1 for the biz. | |
| | keason
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Ann Arbor, MI
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| Details on the TDS Frac T1 offering Here is info on the TDS Metrocom "Xdata" offering.....
The basic offering is available in the following areas:
Michigan - Detroit Western Suburbs, (Novi, Livonia, Wayne)
Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Jackson, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Holland, Grand Haven
Illinois - Waukegan to Northbrook, Rockford
Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Madison, Greenbay to Oshkosh, Fond du Lac
Service- A shared T1 service. You get a channel bank with an ethernet port and 5-12 loopstart, ground start, or wink start ports punched to a 66 block. You also get a (very heavy) 8-10 hr battery backup for the channel bank. No distance limitations like DSL as long as you are within the service area.
The big advantage of a T1 is HiCap 7x24 service. You get 1 hr response time and 4 hr average resolution vs days for voice or DSL problems. If you've ever had a phone or DSL outage you know how great this is.
Installation $400/1 yr, $250 2/yr $0 3 yr
Ethernet extension $100 (waived if they don't need to extend from your Dmarc / entrance)
Data- 384/384 for $40, 768/768 $80
Static IP - $5 for one, $25 for 5. There are real IP's , not PPoE.
TDS is a Tier 1 ISP and appears to be well peered. Backbones are mostly OC-48. Since this is a T1 you don't have the 13% ATM overhead like DSL.
Voice 5-12 business lines including-
POTS, Transway enhanced POTS (transfer, 3way), Centrex (a phone company hosted PBX- good for cheap caller ID + features)
One Way DID, Two Way DID trunks.
The DID trunks are very interesting. They can be inbound or inbound/outbound and can be configured as wink, ground, or loop start. With a loopstart config you could hook the trunks directly to a fax server for DID fax or to a PBX without special boards. You can also port phone #'s within your LATA to the DID trunks.
Voice pricing is the same as TDS' normal voice pricing. In Michigan, $10.50-$14 for the lines, $6 more for DID, $2 for 20 DID numbers, plus taxes ($7-10 per line)
LD is 6.5c / min. Local and Local Toll varies by state. No PIC charges if you use TDS LD.
On top of this, add your state sales tax and 3% federal tax on the non-internet portion of the bill
For about $230 per month delivered, you get 5 phone lines, a 768/768 connection fast enough to run email, high end video conferencing and web servers and multiple Vonage adaptors. All you need is a firewall or NAT router | |
| | | supportguy8
join:2002-11-13
New Glarus, WI
| Re: Details on the TDS Frac T1 offering I think I found that was really neat with the XData product was the ethernet extenders...
you get two small boxes about the size of an external modem, and they're connected over standard twisted pair phone line using RJ-11 connections (just like a telephone).
One box is acts like a DSLAM and the other like a DSL modem - transmitting 5-8Mbit over standard phone lines so your ethernet connection can be put right where you want it without having to run ethernet cable or run into ethernet distance issues. | |
| | keason
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Ann Arbor, MI | More info TDS also added a feature for $6.95 per month per account - so far in Detroit 340 Lata only - , it makes all calls within the LATA $0.07 per call (any length). I expect that they will roll this out to other areas as well. | |
| jimahrens
join:2002-05-30
Owego, NY
| tds..is there more than one? I am in a woodsy remote area in new york everything is long distance...no cable no dsl....I got a package from verizon to give me free regonial calling in my area code I tried earthstink...then got tds...only has dialups in small towns in most all states...no dialup in big cities...19.95/month
same outfit? | |
| | Skeeve1
join:2003-02-13
Jasper, GA | Re: tds..is there more than one? Sounds like it...
www.tdsmetro.com
www.tdstelecom.com
www.tds.net
All owned by the same parent...
-Skeeve | |
| | | petejayhawk
join:2003-02-24
Rockford, IL | Re: tds..is there more than one?
Um...ever heard of marketing, guys? | |
| | supportguy8
join:2002-11-13
New Glarus, WI
| TDS- Metrocom is a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC). They compete with the existing companies like SBC Ameritech for customers in larger cities. MI, WI, IL. Since they lease the lines from Metrocom for their customers, SBC or whoever owns the lines has to do the actual repairs. They offer DHCP based DSL connections, dialup, and dedicated lines.
TDS- Telecom is a incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC). They own the phone lines and C.O.s in the area and have full control over the area. They offer dialup and ISDN in almost all locations, PPPoE based DSL in many areas, and dedicated lines for most areas as well.
tds.net is the portal page for both internet customers.
Then there is TDS Corporate and that company is kind of the glue that keeps them both going.
I found this info at: »www.teldta.com | |
| mulletmusket
join:2003-08-06
Madison, WI | where to get dsl i live on the west side of madison, near high point pool. we are almost in middleton. is there anywhere to get dsl from here besides tds telecom/metrocom | |
| 
Armada1
Heat Miser
join:2001-05-16
Chicago, IL
|  LISTEN UP TDS---
Singed, Very Pissed Off Heat Miser.
--
Formerly the Snow Miser... | |
| | petejayhawk
join:2003-02-24
Rockford, IL
| Re: Get off their Backs!
GODSENDS I TELL YOU! | |
| | |
Armada1
Heat Miser
join:2001-05-16
Chicago, IL
| Re: I will ride their Backs! My account coordinator was a nimrod and spoke to me like I was an 8 year old. I had to call a zilion times to get any information. Yet every week, a different person would tell me "next week, next week".. "On the 7th... 14th... 21st...". Their cooridination with SBC was miserable.
I must say, now that the pain and suffering is over and the service is in, it works just fine.
--
Formerly the Snow Miser... | |
| taycounty
join:2003-10-28
Medford, WI
| Medford,WI. TDS dsl vs Charter Pipeline | |
| 
GreatPumpkin
join:2003-01-24
Knoxville, TN
| Questions for new user I was a Bellsouth user and I've recently moved addresses (still in Knoxville, TN) to a location where Bellsouth DSL is no longer available (TDS telecom owns the lines). I got Charter Cable, and it doesn't compare to the DSL I had w/ BS. I know TDS is offering 768/384 service for my line. I just want to know if anyone can tell me if the stability and latency are non-issues. Charter's latency isn't that wonderful and I have already lost service a few times.
Perhaps someone could ping dslreports.com and post their results?
Thanks for any help. | |
| | supportguy8
join:2002-11-13
New Glarus, WI
1 edit | Re: Questions for new user
They are connected to the same DSLAM's as the rest of the area is using (not directly to the trunk, as many assume).
Your location may be connected from a hut closer to your home, but it all connects over the same network. Latency can change in a ms... and it always depends on so many factors. But it'll give you a good idea of what you'll get.
FYI - TDS Telecom and Metrocom are different business units. Issues you have with one - will not pertain with the other.
DSL Reports needs to reflect that in their Forums, Reviews Section, etc. | |
| | |
GreatPumpkin
join:2003-01-24
Knoxville, TN
1 edit | Re: Questions for new user Thanks for the response. I called them last week and got one of their service reps to do a ping test from his PC to some servers, and it seemed a little high. I don't know if it was an internal network that may have been bogging it down or not (I know mine at work is horrible). I am scheduled to receive the service this Wednesday, so I have my fingers crossed. My Charter service is risk-free for 30 days, so I'll keep it running until I can tell for sure if TDS is going to be better. If it's not, it's going to cost me $100 to back out of the 18-month agreement.
Another question:
Is there the possibility that they will increase their bandwidth w/o raising the prices? They were temporarily offering 1.5Mb/512Kb service for $80/month (which is outrageously steep  ) but that is no longer an option. | |
| |
GreatPumpkin
join:2003-01-24
Knoxville, TN
| Well, I got the service up and running last Thursday. It took me all of 5 minutes to call them back and cancel. Latency was very high, and I couldn't justify spending that much monthly for the allowable bandwidth without low latency. I have to pay $100 to back out of the contract but I knew it was risky going in. Also, the service I got was the 768Kb-down/386Kb-up. I checked speeds and I was only getting 512down/258up. I know DSL speeds aren't guaranteed because of the distance from a CO, but that's waaaay to low for the price. | |
| | supportguy8
join:2002-11-13
New Glarus, WI | Each ISP is different, especially on how your data is routed to the Internet. The only way to find out what's best is to try it... | |
| mr_skrilla
join:2003-02-04
Madison, WI
| TDS really really really sucks
I live in Madison, Wisconsin and recently moved. Because of this switched ISP's from Charter to TDS. I must say the TDS service is horrible. I connect up to the internet and I will be connected for 10-30 minutes and then my internet just stops working. It still says that it is connected but will not send or recieve any data. After about 1-3 minutes it starts working again. This is just an annoying problem when surfing the web - but it means that it is impossible to play online games or download large files because it disconnects EVER FREAKIN TIME!
I know it is not a line quality issue because I live right downtown by their location. Also, friends of mine who live near me and farther away from me all have the same problem. TDS says that nothing is wrong with the service - but there really is. DO NOT GET YOUR SERVICE FROM TDS! They are the WORST ISP I have EVER had. Anyone know what I can do to help this problem?? | |
| | supportguy8
join:2002-11-13
New Glarus, WI
| Re: TDS really really really sucks You know it's not line quality? It most certainly can be line quality, or it could be environment, or network, or your hardware related.
Eitherway, call them again - the line quality can be checked while you're on the phone.
If you get an answer like "it's not our fault..." but you really think it is - request a supervisor and explain your frustration, if you call during normal business hours you may be surprised how quickly things get fixed. Don't be a jerk, but just lay it on the table.
Don't give up - but man don't blame it on Metrocom system wide. I've had service with them for years - DSL has been rock solid and fast.
What kind of modem do you have? What kind of computer do you have? Do you have a network or just one PC?
--
Opinions expressed in my posts are just that - opinions. | |
| 
WaukMan
Premium
join:2004-01-01
Waukesha, WI
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Router to use with XData service I am setting up a XData service for a local non-profit. I got involved after orders were placed with various vendors. At this point have not found a vendor in this project who is providing a router. I do know that TDS provided a check list to this non-profit listing what/who does what. One of the points was the customer will provide the router but do not use Netgear.
So, the big question, anyone have any recommendations for what to use for a router that is not going to break the tiny, tiny, tiny (did I say tiny??) budget that I have to work with? I have looked at Cisco but they mostly run about $1000 which is going to be difficult to get. | |
| kdavison007
join:2004-07-13
Madison, WI
1 edit | Don't trust TDS techs! I have a long frustrating issue with TDS, but I'll give the short version. I've been very pleased with the 768kbps DSL service I had with TDS in the downtown Madison, WI area during the last 8 months or so. They upgraded their packages and I changed to 1mbit service. I was billed for that package and after 2 months got frustrated with no increased speed. Called them, they said they made a mistake and I was still capped at 768, they said they fixed it and two days later I called back because there wasn't any change. This time they said it was a card that was going to get upgraded on their node that I connect to. Two days later still no change. Called back and got an arrogant tech that told me the DSLAM I'm connecting to can only max at 960kbps and that the card upgrade was a bunch of misinformation. He blamed my connection on poor phone lines in my area (seems like an easy excuse for DSL that can't be verified easily) I asked why they told me I could upgrade to 1mbit and he basically said that was also a break down in communications. I still don't understand why my downloads often times start above 100k a sec and then drop down to my steady 76.8-80k/sec range. At this point I don't know what course to take. | |
| moonjaguar
join:2003-05-29
Dundee, IL
|  Actiontec modem, router, help?
Anyways, when I try to send a file via IM (I usually use AIM on Trillian but sometimes on AIM itself), I can't. I have the port open for sending/receiving on AIM's servers but nothing happens. I assume this is something to do with the modem itself? I can neither send nor receive files (and these are basically just small pictures of the cats, rats, kids, the ugly billboard across the street, etc, 50K or less). | |
| | |
moonphrogg
@tds.net
| tds actiontec and xbox live? So, I just got my tds.net service up and running today. The equipment provided was an actiontec gt704-wg gateway. My computer is on it recieving an internet signal with complete clarity via wireless connection. However, I cannot seem to connect to xbox live. I checked actiontec's website and they said to forward certain ports and I've done this, but I still have the same problem. Anyone able to connect in this scenario successfully? | |
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