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Verizon FiOS Evaluated Versus Comcast Cable Internet

A bandwidth comparison between Verizon FiOS and Comcast Cable Internet.

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?

Created by admin
Last modified 2007-05-09 05:36 AM

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Dual service Router

Posted by Anonymous User at 2006-04-24 10:48 AM

Have you found a router that accepts input from both Cable and Fios, automatic back up if one goes down?

First off...

Posted by Anonymous User at 2006-05-08 09:12 PM

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?

Posted by Anonymous User at 2007-12-10 02:25 PM
I was wondering if Comcast Cable might be better as it does not have the warrantless wiretaps Verizon uses.

Verizon vs. Comcast

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-02-08 12:41 PM
As a previous Comcast and new Verizon customer who is not affiliated with either company, I can attest to Verizon being a better service. To get the full picture, though, don't forget to consider things like QoS and ping times. When you consider that, along with the D/L and U/L times, Verizon is the clear winner. I usually use speedtest.net to test. I have FIOS TV and internet, and I have found both to be better than Comcast, generally speaking. The price is slightly better with Verizon, too.

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.

dl-624

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-02-20 04:54 PM
WEP works fine on the two DI-624 routers I have purchased directly from D-Link - maybe verizon have tweaked them - mine are both running D-Link Firmware Version: 2.70 - a few releases old

Strange

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-03-14 01:55 PM
Well, I have Comcast Cable Internet. I ran tests on SpeakEasy and on SpeedTest.net. From my tests I see that both companies seem to be jipping you.

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

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-03-24 05:29 PM
Comcast cheats like crazy on speed tests as their "Speed Boost" technology leads to false information. See my comparison of FIOS and Comcast for details on that. http://www.jimgoings.com/2008/03/fios-vs-comcast-real-world-comparison.html

FIOS more marketing than real speed boost

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-04-16 02:08 PM
I have compared the speed of my former comcast and my current FIOS, and even if speed test shows 20 mega BITS not 20 mega Bytes, on (speedtest.com) its based on small file chunk,and other factors as well, in reality I yet to see a download or upload speed reaching their even 50% advertised speed I average get 3-4 megabits, download and about 500kb upload,using http or ftp on many different servers.
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

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-04-29 08:55 PM
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Its Verizon who should be sued for their incessant fios commercials. As a matter of fact, Ive called cablevision asking them to pull all fios commercials off the air. This is the same big bad pots company that wanted to have voip rates increased and one of the companies being sued for wiretapping us. Their fios commercials are misleading because in no way, shape or form is fios internet better than cable. I get 30mbps cable and verizon cant match that. Even if they could, I have serious ethical and privacy issues with them. Anyone interested in democracy should NEVER choose Verizon.

Little Biased?

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-05-27 01:07 PM
Ok... I work as Comcast and there is no 44.95 service... and modems are not 4+ they r $3

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

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-05-31 03:48 PM
I have used Comcast for quite a while and after switching to Verizon Fios, I am pretty hooked. The speeds are pretty amazing... For more faqs, check it out... <a href="http://www.ifibercompany.com/VerizonFiosFAQs.asp">http://www.ifibercompany.com</a>

verizon

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-06-08 06:47 PM
I chose verizon because it does not ask for my social security number.

go with price

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-06-15 09:29 AM
You can see from these comments that if you have to go to a website to see your speed comparison, than you really can't notice a difference. I go with comcast because I don't have to name my next kid after them and sign a 1 year contract with cancellation penalties. If I get aggravated with comcast, I can cancel tomorrow. No charge and thank you. If you have verizon and get aggravated, you suffer until the contract is up or shell out the dough. I don't like the possibility of being stuck with a bad product.

O'Doyle

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-06-17 12:57 PM
O'Doyle RULES!!
O'Doyle RULES!!
O'Doyle RULES!!

loser

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-08-06 08:56 AM
dude, my internets isnt fios, its pat media and it looks that it is about 3x as powerful than fios

Most important question:)

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-08-16 10:18 AM
How much time per week are these changes giving back to you? Everyone is talking fractions of a second. Does this saves time corelate to more quality of time to spend with your family? I bet some of these posts have taken an hour to research and submit...... LOL....Just a thought folks.....What is really important?

I AGREE

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-08-16 10:31 AM
One thing you forgot to mention. Your end can only receive as fast as the other end is transmitting. Your computer can be pulling info through a so-called three inch pipe, but if a remote server is only capable of sending it out through a 2 inch pipe, guess what..... You're gonna wait no matter what company you give your loyalty to. Us Americans have become so lazy and now we hate to wait for everything. Give us our food fast.... let me cut in line at the bank.... and for heavens sake, gimme my porn quick before my wife comes in!!!!

it doesnt matter

Posted by Anonymous User at 2008-11-03 05:13 PM
both companies have dif prices in dif areas
both companies have dif speeds in def areas
both companies have dif reliability in dif areas

you can NOT compare comcast in philly to comcast in texas
they are 2 dif services with the same company

you can NOT compare verizon in philly to verizon in texas
they are 2 dif services with the same company


if you would like to argue about prices and speeds test the speeds in the same house
even tho this STILL does not prove one b'n better then the other just that one is better then the other in your house

my suggestion

use comcast first since it doesnt have a contract (in most cases)
they try fios if you dont like comcast (u will most likely have to b in a contract tho)



network speeds and reliability differ from your house to the person nextdoor bc they are dif wires, sumtimes dif equipment and sumtimes even a dif node

you can not truly compare
 
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