L.A. DSL users, need your input about your ISPs.

[WoundedWallet]

I'm about to change my DSL ISP. Mainly because he won't let me upgrade to Bronze+ and keep my fixed IPs.

I was looking at paclink.net because of their good rates on the 768/768 service. But a guy at SysOpt confirmed me the saying about "too good to be true."

Now I'm looking at the next best rates which are franklin.net, keyway.net, linkline.com and mminternet.com.

Do any of you know anything about these guys?

How about your current ISP, are you happy with it?

What kind of interruptions do you experience?

Does the speed fluctuate too much?

Do they have any weird limitations, like transfer limit or port blocking?

Do you get free Newsgroups? What news service do they use?

Is their staff friendly? I remember calling one of the ISPs I mentioned and their tech guy sounded like a real jerk.

Any info will be greatly apreciated.

Thanks,
WW

 

[Pauli]

Hey Wounded,

I'm in West LA and have GTE Bronze+ using PCMagic.net for my ISP. They are pretty cheap and they give you a static IP address - $2 per month for each additional IP. Their service has been pretty good but they seem like a very small operation. A friend recommended them to me but he had some billing problems with them and is not very happy about it. I have not had any problems and very little downtime - they seem pretty good to me. Don't know about the one's that you mentioned. Good luck.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Hi Pauli,

I'm in Santa Monica as well, and I have tried PCmagic a couple years ago before DSL got here. At the time their service stunk, worse than AOL or Earthlink after they lauched "all you can eat". That is one company I won't try again, even if they are better now. Once you get bruised it's hard to trust again.

But thanks, hope they keep being good to you.

Now I'm wondering if we are the only two guys around here that live in LA and have a DSL connection? Do you think everybody else is so happy with their providers that they don't want to share. Hey I only hog after midnight

 

[b0red]

whoot, I have mminternet!!! Been using it for 3 months. The company is quite small, so no 24 hours tech support. They allow home networks. Support ppl are friendly, but very limited (no live support after 6pm I believe). My speed is always around 80K+. Network was down 1 time for 15min. Newsgroups, I dunno, I don't use them. Email was down 1 time in 3 months. They also block out junk emails. Extra IPs cost 2bux extra. I highly recommend them. Go check out dslreport.com.

 

[oblivion2888]

@home rocks! 1 month uptime and counting

 

[Henry Kuo]

Earthlink DSL. my only one, so can't comment good or bad, but hasn't really failed on me yet.

Can someone explain to me what Bronze+ is?? Thanks.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Thanks guys

b0red I assume you have bronze+ right? If so how far from the CO are you? I'm only 6 blocks away and I think I have a good chance of getting the same. Also if you have the B+ do you also have static IPs?

I like them being small. If they are honest(no overcrowding), they'll treat you better. I'll give mm a call soon.

rominl, Earthlink is not on my plans because of the above reason, I was with them on regular phone during their unlimited hours fiasco and I don't trust them anymore. I even used them again for a month while I was waiting for my DSL to be installed and they still sucked. Their DSL may not be as overcrowded, but it's just a question of time. I would rather gamble with someone I don't know for sure will screw me up sooner or later.

Regarding Bronze+, that is a DSL variation. It is called RDSL. While I don't know much to be technical about it, I know that it is different from ADSL in regard to signal distance.

To use RDSL you really need to be close to their CO as the signal deteriorates rapidly with the distance. While with ADSL the signal propagates a little further, probably because of repeaters or some other gizmo, making it more expensive than RDSL.

And oblivion2888 I wish @home wouldn't be such hypocrites and let me run my businees at home

 

[b0red]

Yup, I have Bronze+. MMInternet only offers static IPs. I'm about 4,000feet from CO.
Go here http://online.mminternet.com/forum/ It's MMInternet's DSL customers forum.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Thanks for the Forum link b0red!

I checked at dslreports and I'm only 2,500 feet from the CO.

I also found out that mmi and linklne have many good reviews.

Since I'm running a limited hosting site it seems that the $2/IP may be a better deal in the long run. Even their gold service seems good.

So if I end up with mmi do you want me to tell them that you refered me?

WW

 

[b0red]

hehe... It's ok.

MMInternet lowered their Gold and Platinum last month I believe. Cool deal.

 

[Homerboy]

If you are interested, many of these ISPs listed here are actual customers of mine (for their upstream bandwidth) and I would be more than happy to give you my 2 cents on them if you want it...