Break Verizon Fios contract over netflix throttling?

[SP33Demon]

What's a good cheap VPN to use? I'm having the same problem.

 

[zerocool84]

Contract? You have a contract with your cable company? WTF is this shit?

To get any decent pricing you need one. I'm not on contract with my cable company since all of them are for 2 years and I'm not sure if I'm going to stay at my current address another year.

 

[BeeBoop]

I use the vpn below.

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/buy-vpn/

 

[Wyndru]

Is this only specific to certain locations? I had their low tier service 15/5 and I always had decent Netflix streams. HD had no issues. On wireless in some sections of my house it sucked, but that's obviously not Verizon's fault.

Now we have quantum FiOS, it's still fine...I don't notice it being better our worse. YouTube has always sucked for me though, never had that issue with twc.

 

[Printer Bandit]

What's a good cheap VPN to use? I'm having the same problem.

VyprVPN

http://www.goldenfrog.com/vyprvpn

 

[TwiceOver]

To get any decent pricing you need one. I'm not on contract with my cable company since all of them are for 2 years and I'm not sure if I'm going to stay at my current address another year.

Must be a big city thing. No way in hell that would fly around here. In fact, the cable companies usually offer a price guarantee for x years, you can walk whenever.

 

[slackerinabox]

Just got off the phone with fios and canceled service. Paying a $190 etf but the local cable company has an offer for switchers - free dell laptop worth around $300 for switching, softens the blow just a bit.

 

[reallyscrued]

I vote piracy.

But that's just me.

 

[shortylickens]

I pay for 50/25, been getting 65/45.

Netflix and Amazon are both fast and HD when available. Maybe I'm lucky.

 

[slackerinabox]

Get this, netflix isn't working at all. I sorta feel that verizon's catty enough that they found this thread and are grounding me, trying to get back at me for canceling Oye, i was looking forward to some bbc comedy. time warner installation this friday, good riddance fios... "verizon fios" #verizon #fios

 

[mugs]

I don't know much about the technical process of connecting networks, but it seems like it would be a pretty straightforward process of plugging netflix servers directly into the Verizon network?

Netflix even offers caching servers to ISPs so most Netflix data would come from inside the ISP's network. I don't think any of the big ISPs have taken them up on the offer.

In Verizon's defense though, I don't think you can use a VPN to prove they're throttling like people think you can. That could just as easily indicate that there is congestion between Verizon and Netflix (or Level 3), and using the VPN routes around the congestion.

 

[master_shake_]

Pretty much, but we're talking data-centers here. A direct connection with a previously unconnected network requires specialized equipment to manage said connection on both sides. Given how massive the Verizon and Netflix networks are, setting up such equipment takes some time.

Better explained here:
http://arstechnica.com/information-...solve-its-netflix-problem-as-soon-as-comcast/

https://www.netflix.com/openconnect

https://www.netflix.com/openconnect/hardware

both of these options are free for any isp, the dickish ones not listed here usually have their own type of streaming available.

Major ISPs around the world have already connected to Open Connect, including Frontier, British Telecom, TDC, Clearwire, GVT, Telus, Bell Canada, Virgin, Cablevision, Google Fiber, Telmex, and more.

 

[BeeBoop]

But who's fault does the congestion belong too? Netflix works fine going through a VPN, so Netflix isn't congested. Most likely, the congestion is an access point somewhere on Verizon's network.

 

[master_shake_]

But who's fault does the congestion belong too? Netflix works fine going through a VPN, so Netflix isn't congested. Most likely, the congestion is an access point somewhere on Verizon's network.

of course it is, your local throttler over sold its network and never expected people to actually use the internet like a hardcore downloader would.

thats the reason for introducing caps and wanting more money from sites that use the most bandwidth.

 

[Wingznut]

Are you sure you aren't being to quick to blame Verizon for an intentional act? Perhaps there's some other (unintentional) issue going on. Have you called their tech support and followed through with all of their suggestions. This, btw, would be the first step to begin able to win any kind of judgement to not pay the ETF fees.

I've been on FIOS for a long long time now, at various speeds. Never have I had an issue with Netflix, or any other streaming service.

 

[Accord99]

of course it is, your local throttler over sold its network and never expected people to actually use the internet like a hardcore downloader would.

If it was oversold, then the VPN wouldn't help. The issue is purely congested links between Netflix and Verizon.

thats the reason for introducing caps and wanting more money from sites that use the most bandwidth.

FIOS's cap is somewhere in the multi-terabyte range.

 

[Accord99]

Are you sure you aren't being to quick to blame Verizon for an intentional act? Perhaps there's some other (unintentional) issue going on. Have you called their tech support and followed through with all of their suggestions. This, btw, would be the first step to begin able to win any kind of judgement to not pay the ETF fees.

Some say it's a peering strategy on the part of Netflix to obtain cheaper peering:

http://blog.streamingmedia.com/2014/06/netflix-isp-newdata.html

 

[BeeBoop]

Some say it's a peering strategy on the part of Netflix to obtain cheaper peering:

http://blog.streamingmedia.com/2014/06/netflix-isp-newdata.html

I don't mind if it is a strategy on Netflix's part to keep prices down. They've always been known for cutting their subscription prices. Comcast and Verzion are known to raise prices, so I side with Netflix.

 

[zanejohnson]

this is the kinda thing that makes me glad i dont live closer to the metroplex... that's atrocious..


the isp i use is a local little operation, they do cable TV/modems/and SkyFi (4GLTE)

i pay 50 and some change for 30/2, nothings throttled.... no caps..

at moms she has the 15/1 4GLTE package, works great...

i used to get all the qam channels for free (they didnt have them encrypted, and i could pick up pretty much everything but the pay channels (hbo etc) with a cheap qam tuner in my HTPC... they stopped that though... i did it for 2 years though.. ah well, i barely miss the cable TV..

 

[Dari]

So all the Fios customers bragging about super fast internet service can't even utilize it? They're getting internet speed from 1996? That's just sad.

 

[irishScott]

https://www.netflix.com/openconnect

https://www.netflix.com/openconnect/hardware

both of these options are free for any isp, the dickish ones not listed here usually have their own type of streaming available.

We're not talking about cost, we're talking about setup time. Also you'll note I have never defended Verizon, quite the opposite in fact.

 

[irishScott]

So all the Fios customers bragging about super fast internet service can't even utilize it? They're getting internet speed from 1996? That's just sad.

Not all of us. I have FiOs 15/5 and Netflix performance for me is sporadic. Sometimes I get HD within seconds and it stays there the whole time, other times I get throttled down to ridiculously grainy video and have to reload the page or be patient or use a VPN to get something better.

 

[Dari]

Not all of us. I have FiOs 15/5 and Netflix performance for me is sporadic. Sometimes I get HD within seconds and it stays there the whole time, other times I get throttled down to ridiculously grainy video and have to reload the page or be patient or use a VPN to get something better.

So, let me get this straight. You have a superior internet service but you have to pay for another service (a VPN) in order to get decent service? I don't know how you guys can tolerate that? I would switch in a hearbeat.

And people said I was wrong when I started this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2296356&highlight=fios

Who knows what else Verizon is throttling. They suck donkey balls.

 

[irishScott]

So, let me get this straight. You have a superior internet service but you have to pay for another service (a VPN) in order to get decent service? I don't know how you guys can tolerate that? I would switch in a hearbeat.

And people said I was wrong when I started this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2296356&highlight=fios

Who knows what else Verizon is throttling. They suck donkey balls.

Actually the VPN I use (Hola) is free, although it can be finicky at times. In any case, connections are superior for anything I've encountered other than Netflix. Youtube streams 1080p instantly and without issue, Steam maxes out my bandwidth, and I've never had an outage.

Honestly it's not worth the early termination fees and hassle of switching to a new provider.

 

[Dari]

Actually the VPN I use (Hola) is free, although it can be finicky at times. In any case, connections are superior for anything I've encountered other than Netflix. Youtube streams 1080p instantly and without issue, Steam maxes out my bandwidth, and I've never had an outage.

Honestly it's not worth the early termination fees and hassle of switching to a new provider.

I understand but it's really fucked up what Verizon is doing. I'm surprised you guys aren't more upset. It's wrong and it's wrong. If they succeed with Netflix (and they have) Google (youtube and gmail) may be next.