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Verizon FiOS Evaluated Versus Comcast Cable Internet
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They've dug up my neighborhood, wired fiber optics into my home, wired cat5e ethernet in my garage, but unfortunately didn't go the last few meters to wire ethernet to my basement. That's where it would be ideally in close proximity to most of my IP enabled appliances (i.e. a.k.a. computers). To top it off, they left a wireless router, unsecured and without a password for me to reconfigure.
Here's a photo of what's installed in my garage:
Just the backup powersupply.
There's also a box twice as large outside the house that seems to do all the heavy work translating fiber signals to ethernet:
It didn't cost me a dime to get the installation or the wireless router. That's of course with a one year commitment. ;-)
However, despite the dissapointments in the installation process, I think everyone wants to know the bottom line. Let me reiterate the bottom line, it is "Bandwidth, Bandwidth and Bandwidth". I've found a neat site "Speakeasy Speed Test" that is arguably the best-looking and most convenient way to test your bandwidth. You should never thake the word of a vendor. You should always run your own independent tests. So here are mine in its full glory (both tests directly wired to the router):
Comcast Internet Cable Speed Test. |
Verizon FiOs Speed Test. |
Standard Disclaimer: Your milleage may vary depending on context.
I currently pay $44.95/month + $4.95 for the cable modem (w/c for some reason I never replaced) for Comcast Internet cable. I subscribed to the $44.95/month Verizon FiOS service. Given the higher bandwidth for FiOS, it's a no brainer as to which service to throw out.
To be completely fair, Comcast does intend to catch up with its planned 16mbps service. Yes, free market economics in action!
[update] I found this blog entry "Verizon FiOS Installed: Macintosh Compatible and Fast!" which is an order of magnitude more detailed than my entry. One can't feel but me amazed at how much research goes into blog entries.
Dan Bricklin (Visicalc fame) has another long writeup of his experience.
After spending a couple of hours wracking my brain trying to configure WEP on the supplied DI-624 Dlink router, I'm begining to suspect that it's impossible to do. Could this be Verizon's way of selling it's own "tweaked" wireless adapter cards?
First off...
You didnt find speakeasy....the Verizon tech showed it to you. It is not affiliated with Verizon and IS independent. The answer to your router issue is quite easy. Reset the router via using the pin hole on the back near the power plug-in. Hold down the tiny button with a paper clip for 10 seconds and then pull up a browser {i.e. Explorer or firefox} type the default gateway I.P for the router which is 192.168.0.1 {save the router homepage in your favorites for future changes} then type ADMIN and PASSWORD {lower case} to get in. Proceed to your WAN tab on left type Fios then do a tab-Shift-end-backspace, type FIOS again and do the whole thing again for a total of 3 lines, Hit APPLY. router will restart. Go to WIRELESS tab and choose encryption 64 bit will suffice using a 10 digit number { your cell phone number is good and wont require too much thought} When entering the 10 digits dont use any spaces , then hit APPLY. Router will restart. Now you are Encrypted wireless signal wont be compromised. Your Welcome
What about Verizon's Warrantless Wiretaps?
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Verizon vs. Comcast
The only complaint I have is that it's not straightforward to use your own router, as it was with Comcast. You can either configure the Verizon router as a network bridge (which I ended up doing), or somehow convince the installer to run ethernet directly from the ONT. And they're not going to drill holes in walls and fish cables, so that part's up to you. ;)
Another plus is newsgroup access. Unlimited downloads with Verizon, capped at 2GB/month with Comcast.
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dl-624
Strange
My results from SpeakEasy to the Dallas,TX server, which is 1500 miles away from where I live where: Download Speed: 15353 Upload: 1375 I would love to show you pic's but I don't feel like cropping the images. So I went to Speedtest.net because they have direct links and many more servers.
Direct Link to server in Dallas,TX: http://www.speedtest.net/result/246444755.png
Direct Link to server in Los Angeles, CA (which is 2500 miles away from me): http://www.speedtest.net/result/246447947.png
Direct Link to server in London in the United Kingdom (which is 3300 miles away from me): http://www.speedtest.net/result/246448668.png
SpeakEasy results to Los Angeles, Ca: Download: 10275 Upload: 1104
Unfortunately SpeakEasy doesn't have a server to London.
So from my results they closely compare with Verizon FiOs, and are much better than what you had with Comcast. Also I only pay around 30$ a month and about 3$ for leasing a modem.
Hope you have better luck in the future.
Beward Comcast Speed Tests
FIOS more marketing than real speed boost
I spoke to verizon about it and they are basing their arguments on speedtest.com explicitly and dont want to accept all other otions, so make a wise decision before switching.
false
Little Biased?
if u want to accurately display the dif between the 2 services then put Comcast in the bundle price that Verizon put u in...
-Verizon has a 15Mbps/2Mbps for 52.99/mo with a 1 yr contract ($150 to break contract)
-Comcast has a 16Mbps/2Mbps for 44.00/mo without any contracts
If you do not know how to make a corret comparison please do not make at all... It makes you Seem a little biased
Thank You,
Jason Reichle
Email: jdreichle@hotmail.com
The speed is pretty incredible
verizon
re comcast vs fios
Upload Speed: 6719 kbps (839.9 KB/sec transfer rate) comcast now kicking fios but and no price increase automatically got it comcast rocks
Have you found a router that accepts input from both Cable and Fios, automatic back up if one goes down?
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