FIOS Follow-Up

Comparing FIOS to DSL is like comparing the space shuttle to a pair of sneakers. Seriously, in my experience and opinion, FIOS is fast and reliable, whereas DSL is slow and flaky. To be more specific, the beauty of FIOS is that is uses high-fidelity fiber optics to carry digital signals, while DSL uses analog copper wires to transport digital data.

The proof is in the speeds these technologies are able to achieve:

DSL: 3Mbps
FIOS: 50Mbps

What do you think? Of course you can make up your own mind on these matters, but that's the conclusion that I've come to.

Since this blog is mostly focused on DSL, my other blogs, Informed Hosting and Telecom Rebirth feature most of what I have to say regarding FIOS. Check 'em out!

Verizon Yearly Plan

My Verizon DSL plan recently completed its term and I received this email about what happens next:

FROM: "Verizon High Speed Internet Customer Care Team"

SUBJECT: Important information regarding your Verizon High Speed Internet account

Dear Verizon Customer,

Our records indicate that you currently subscribe to a Verizon Online DSL 768k Annual Plan and that your one-year commitment has been completed or will soon be completed. We are writing to inform you that your rate for your High Speed Internet package is changing to $26.99 per month.* You will see the new rate on your bill within two billing cycles. Your service will automatically continue, with no term commitment or early termination fee. If you have recently changed to a different plan, please disregard this notice.

If you are interested in other plans that may lower your rate or if you would like to see if you qualify for a higher-speed package, please go to www.verizon.net/greatrate or call 1-800-567-6789.

Verizon Online remains committed to ensuring that we remain the best value in Broadband and will continue to keep prices affordable to our customers. Now Verizon Online comes with a comprehensive entertainment package, featuring Disney Connection, ESPN360, ABC News Now, Movies.com MAX and SOAPNETIC. There’s something for everyone —including kids, movie buffs, news junkies, sports fans and soap opera lovers. You’ll enjoy videos, games, special attractions and much more. Check out all of the great content available to you as a Verizon Online member at http://surround.verizon.net.

Thank you for being a Verizon Online customer. We appreciate your business and we look forward to continuing to serve you.

Verizon Online


*Additional surcharges, taxes and fees may apply.

Of course, the login for their "great rate" system for renewing didn't work in Firefox (I didn't dare try Firefox or Deerpark, let alone Camino!), so I booted up Parallels and am checking it out in Internet Explorer (IE) blech. I checked their price list anyway and it reports I can get my level of DSL for $14.95 / month... that would be nice. But that's probably not dry-loop.

OK... I could login via IE but only got this response:

Verizon DSL is Down?

Our DSL service has been unresponsive since yesterday so its time for a modem restart.

UPDATE: The DSL wasn't actually down - the wireless router needed a restart, its back up and running again.

VOIP over DSL

I just wanted to make a quick comment here that VOIP over DSL is definitely possible, even over 768/128 speeds. At the lowest speeds, you MUST use the g729 codec - with ulaw/alaw you'll definitely get delays and stutters.

Thank you Verizon!

Comcast Workplace is down, and has been for the past 5 hours. So glad I still have Verizon DSL!

Verizon and Comcast Comparison

Its been some time since Comcast Workplace was installed, and I gotta say its way faster than Verizon's DSL. However, the price difference is even bigger. Comcast's Workplace is more than five times as much.

Don't worry - I'm keeping my Verizon DSL. Its nice to have a backup anyway. Either way, I really with Verizon would speed up its roll-out of FIOS. Its such a great service, can't wait to try it out.

Can Verizon DSL and Comcast HSI get along?

Awhile back I had both DSL and Comcast cable in my office, and I tried setting up a failover route but it didn't work very well - the DSL slowed down the cable latency.

But that was on a linux machine, and I just found out Cisco has a router with both a RJ11 wan port for ADSLoPOTS (Asyncronous digital subscriber line over plain old telephone systems) and an RJ45 port for ethernet wan access. Interesting. I bet they manage the routing much better.

Consumer Reports gives Verizon DSL high marks

In this month's Consumer Reports, Verizon DSL ranks #1 in the DSL Internet Service category. Way to go Verizon!

The rankings were based upon price, speed, reliability, and tech support.