Adelphia Cable opinions?

[GSmith]

Anyone using Adelphia Cable's Powerlink internet service? They took over cable service in my Cleveland suburb over the summer, and also took over Cablevision's 3 year old promises of cable internet in "2-3 months". If they ever get it together and actually provide the service, does anyone have an opinion of them?

Also, wht modem do they use? I found out that people on the next street over from me have had it since late summer. I'm on the southern edge of Cuyahoga County, next street is Summit County (Akron area). I understand that they use DHCP, and according to a contractor that does some networking support for my work, the lines in my area were upgraded for internet 2 years ago, and the proper signals are present on the line now. He suggested getting ahold of one of the same modems and plugging it in to see if it works. He may be wrong, but I'd like to try it. Sound like a possibility?

 

[deftron]

Had them for about a year now.
Pretty good speeds down ..500KBytes/sec [4mbits]..usually tops at about 350KBytes [2.5 mbits] on most servers
Not so great up ..30KBytes [240Kbits] max
Service has gone out a few times...lasted a couple days once.
I got a Toshiba PCX1000, but thats kinda old..
you'll prolly get a newer Toshiba or an RCA
Newsserver totally blows.
Havent used the webspace. You get 5 Mbytes
Get 5 email accounts.
$29/month... not bad


Regarding the last part of your post...
You cant just plug in a Cable modem and it'll work.
Your Network Card's MAC address needs to be in their database.

 

[PrinceofWands]

If Adelphia uses @Home, which I believe they do in most locations, then you'll have the same basic results as everyone else with @Home. You have a 60/40 chance at having very few problems. Download will be high, 200-600KB down, but upload is or very soon will be capped at 128kb (note the small kb there). The @Home network is not a true DHCP service and you can always set yourself up static if you want, although you can also use DHCP if you want for some reason, but be ready for a lot more trouble than static settings. Mail is 'THE' worst of all the ISP's, the news isn't too much better. Their webspace is a total joke. There is next to no tech support (this coming from a former @Home tier II tech) so you'll be happier overall being pretty knowledgable or visiting a lot of web sites and message boards regarding cable internet. Overall if you're just wanting to surf and download you should be pretty happy. If email, news, and webspace are your biggies, or uploads then forget it.

@Home actually doesn't 'need' your nic mac addy. There are various tests and services that we want it for, but the modem will get synch if you never hook up a computer at all. However, you can't just buy a modem and go. It must be provisioned specifically for the service, by the cable company. They need to have all info on the modem, plus the modem needs to be DOCSIS complient with the latest upgrades and the network needs to support the modems firmware. There's very little difference overall in modem quality so generally just take the one they give you with the service, save yourself the money.

One important safety tip: Do NOT install any @Home software, it isn't necessary and could severly hose your system.

 

[dirtboy]

I have/had Adelpia here in Indiana. They are using @Home here, but they bought out our previous cable provider who was using @Home. So, I don't know if they are just continuing their @Home service here or use it in all their service areas. I also know that Adelphia has been bought out by Comcast, who also uses @Home.

 

[GSmith]

Finally got ahold of someone on PowerLink's customer service line who was willing to actually do some checking on availability for me. She confirmed they are passing a signal in my area, and 28 people have it in my city. Availability is listed as "on hold for roll-out", meaning that it's probably 2-6 weeks from being officially available. I asked about beta-testing (like the other 28 are doing), and was told to call their Cleveland offices and to offer to test it, only after I told her I am the computer/network tech for the local school district and that I would not have trouble setting up the modem on my own.

The Cleveland office cust service reps had no idea what I was talking about. the third one I was transfered to knew what the service is, but refused to do anything other than put me on a waiting list (that I'm already on). She agreed to transfer me to a supervisor who suggested i contact a neighborhood office, but didnt know what the number was. I know where that is at so I might just stop there after work tomorrow and see how confused they are.

 

NO NO MORE ON ADELPHIA NETWORK!!!
You stealing my bandwidth

Its a fairly good service, going through a lot of upgrades right now so it has been a bit flaky here in buffalo.
But worth the price.
And worth not dealing with the poor serviced phone company.