Hi from the "Police State" of Ont, Canada

[skyeyesteve]

First post. I am a satellite technician. I have a business ethics which preclude trust in the CRTC (Canadian Radio & Telecomunications Commission), a self regulating body which our governments give "Big Brother" powers as to what is best for the canadian consumer. As I have no alternative for my broadband service, I have an absolute hatred for Rogers Cable (Crtc major player)(consistantly get 30% of the advertised speeds which the claim I am paying for) and the despicable way they misrepresent their product through such tactics as ambiguity and outright insult as illustrated by the email pasted below, followed by the same by "snail mail" and repeated tele-sales badgering. Like my time is worth nothing and I get my gasoline free to upgrade their outdated rental equipment.

Upgrade to our most advanced cable modem
at no additional charge!​

​

Dear Stephen Rau,


Rogers is committed to continually improving your Internet experience. To keep our customers at the forefront of technology and innovation, with your assistance, we will be upgrading all the older cable modems in your area to a newer, more advanced cable modem technology. As part of this upgrade, we will be retiring your current cable modem technology and providing you with a new cable modem at no additional charge.

What are the benefits of upgrading?

While the cable modem that you currently have installed has served customers well over the years, the enhanced performance offered through our advanced DOCSIS (short for Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) cable modems has us very excited about the new and improved Internet experience our customers can enjoy.

Your new modem will get you ready to take advantage of future benefits such as:
· Network Upgrades – Even more consistent speeds, stability and reliability
· Flexibility – Access to all service tiers (Ultra-Lite, Lite, Express or Extreme)
· Exciting services – New, exclusive Internet features and services planned for the future


Free advanced DOCSIS modem upgrade!

To ensure that you continue to get the most out of your Internet service, we would like to upgrade your current modem as soon as possible. There will, of course, be no additional charges for this upgrade.

[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]How do I upgrade my cable modem?[/SIZE][/SIZE]
​

[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0][/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0] Upgrading your cable modem is quick, easy, and convenient with absolutely no additional charge to you. It’s as simple as visiting your local participating Rogers Video store! To find a location closest to you please visit https://modemupgrade.rogers.com/public/retail_locations. for information on store hours and locations.

[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]When upgrading at a Rogers Video store location, please bring:[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]· [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]Your old cable modem and cable modem power supply.[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]· Your notification letter, or a hard copy of your notification email.[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]· [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]Photo identification (must be the same address as on the Internet account).[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]
Or f[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]or more [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]info[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]rmation please call the [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]modem exchange line at [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]1-800-874-5519 [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0](available [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]Monday to Friday [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]9:30am to 8pm[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0] and Saturday [/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]10:30am to 6pm)[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0].[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0] [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]Your satisfaction is very important to Rogers and we believe that this upgrade to a more current Internet technology is a further demonstration of this commitment. [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0] [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]Once again, thank you for your loyalty to Rogers and your continued business.[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0] [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0]- Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0][/SIZE][/SIZE]
​

 

[Van]

So your upset that your cable company wants to upgrade your old cable modem to the current docsis standard?

 

[hbk409]

maybe your getting 30% of their advertised speed because you dont have the newer modem to handle the the advertised speed. I know with my service provider optimum online it use to be a 10/1mbps connection then they did an upgrade and now offer 15/2 for the same price and also offer a 30/5 however depending on how old your modem is you may not be able to get the newer speeds unless you upgrade. Hey its free, upgrade the modem and your speed will more then likely increase.

 

[SatinKzo]

Only in a western society can we complain about FREE stuff. I had a old scientific atlanta modem with my charter service and when 10/1 became available, I went for it. Reps never even told me that I needed a new modem to get the speeds, but they sure were quick to let me pay for it. At least you are getting notice.

 

[Foxbat]

Skyeyesteve, first off, welcome to SatelliteGuys.US!

I read the FAQ on the Rogers website. Skyeyesteve, you can have the new modem delivered at no charge. Of course, you'd still need to get the old modem & P/S back to Rogers, so I guess you're still looking at whatever value your time has and the cost of fuel to get you there and back. Since you have to drive to the store anyway, you might as well exchange your old unit for the new one right then and there and skip the 4-7 days wait for the courier.

Is the Rogers store so far out of your way that we're talking 10-20 CD to drive there and back? Can you combine trips to another location to lessen the fiscal pain?

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I think that some of us are putting more energy into this than the OP

But the thread raises a good point with high-speed connections. How do we know if our modem is up to snuff? Bresnan advertises 8MB connections, but I don't get anything near that. Heck, I just did a speedtest from Cable modem is a motorola, and only about 2 years old.

 

[Van]

Are you paying for the 8 meg connection? I've had wide open west, comcast, and now charter and all three had tier packages, if I wanted the 6meg package I would have to call and get my account upgraded.

I dont think the OP is coming back, just someone stopping at every site to make some personal political statement.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Are you paying for the 8 meg connection? I've had wide open west, comcast, and now charter and all three had tier packages, if I wanted the 6meg package I would have to call and get my account upgraded.

I dont think the OP is coming back, just someone stopping at every site to make some personal political statement.

I am headed out of town in a few days, but I put Bresnan on my list for things to deal with on my return. Just ran another speedtest; today the connection is closer to 3MB, compared with 1.5 two days ago. Regardless, its nowhere close to the 8MB they advertise.

 

[KE4EST]

to SatelliteGuys!!

 

[Van]

I am headed out of town in a few days, but I put Bresnan on my list for things to deal with on my return. Just ran another speedtest; today the connection is closer to 3MB, compared with 1.5 two days ago. Regardless, its nowhere close to the 8MB they advertise.

Better connection but are you paying for the premium package of 8mb wich should probably be about $50 a month or the 3 meg wich is probably $39 a month?

The slower connection could mean that they are working on upgrades or repairs.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Better connection but are you paying for the premium package of 8mb wich should probably be about $50 a month or the 3 meg wich is probably $39 a month?

The slower connection could mean that they are working on upgrades or repairs.

I pay $56/month, because I don't have cable from them (no surprise there )

Their service has sucked for the past six months. I regularly get timeouts loading SatGuys; it brings up a timedout page, and then I click retry, and it always loads. Thats not bandwidth, but problems with their DNS.

It sometimes is blazing fast on file downloads, but not lately. Going to follow up on this soon...

 

[Van]

hmmm, if your paying $56 a month then your not paying for the 8meg package. $59 is the average price for cable companies to charge for 3meg cable internet without any other service. I have issues loading satelliteguys but not to your extent, mine tends to be a delay of 5 - 15 seconds each time I select a link though its mostly during the morning and middle of the day.

 

[Derwin0]

hmmm, if your paying $56 a month then your not paying for the 8meg package. $59 is the average price for cable companies to charge for 3meg cable internet without any other service. I have issues loading satelliteguys but not to your extent, mine tends to be a delay of 5 - 15 seconds each time I select a link though its mostly during the morning and middle of the day.

Prices tend to differ in Canada.

 

[hbk409]

cablevision prices is for a 15/2 connection is 49.95 for a non-customer 44.95 for video customer. They also have a 30/5 connection for 64.95 if you do not have video or the phone and if you have the phone you get a $5 discount so you could get it for a low as $54.90

 

[Van]

Prices tend to differ in Canada.

Never mentioned Canada but yea prices do differ, my last trip to Windsor last year ( the first since 9/11 ) things were more expensive in town as compared to across the river in Detroit plus all the taxes made it worse.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Interesting. Just ran the http://www.dslreports.com/stest?flash=1 broadband speed test on my desktop, connected via 100MB ethernet to the switch/router. Got 7500Kbps for download. Ran it again, got 6200Kbps; ran downstairs to the laptop, on the 80211.G wifi network. Got just over 2000Kbps.

Now, a 54Mb wifi connection should be able to handle the bandwidth from an 8Mb connection, right?

What would cause me to get such a slower response from the laptop (its a Thinkpad, about a year old)?

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I am starting to wonder if all of the blasted timeouts are related, somehow to the laptop. Been upstairs on the A64 desktop for awhile, and its running smooth as can be.

I am thinking that in June, its going to be time for a reformat and restore to factory defaults on my thinkpad.... A day's work, for sure, but probably worth it.

 

[Van]

How does the signal from the laptop to the router look? Are you using the built in wifi or a wifi card and is the wifi card from the same manufacturer as the router? With the card I know that competition is tight and one vendor such as netgear has it where linksys wifi cards wont work on their set up easily if at all. When I upgraded to wifi 4 years ago with a linksys I had to make sure to put the computer in a location that didnt have alot of interference wich ment on the opposite side of the wall from the room the router was in and not on the otherside of that room so that I would have a good transfer rate.

When I upgraded to netgears mimo wifi router I couldnt get my linksys card to work with the new router even after removing the card and drivers and reinstalling it.

 

[pweezil]

Interesting. Just ran the http://www.dslreports.com/stest?flash=1 broadband speed test on my desktop, connected via 100MB ethernet to the switch/router. Got 7500Kbps for download. Ran it again, got 6200Kbps; ran downstairs to the laptop, on the 80211.G wifi network. Got just over 2000Kbps.

Now, a 54Mb wifi connection should be able to handle the bandwidth from an 8Mb connection, right?

What would cause me to get such a slower response from the laptop (its a Thinkpad, about a year old)?

I had the same problem with my wifi laptops. The wired desktops were fine but the laptops were only running about half speed online. I went to dslreports.com and ran a tweak test under the "Tools" tab. Then I downloaded DrTcp and increased my rwin value as the tweak test had suggested. That solved the problem completely. Just make sure you write down the current value before you start changing it so you can put it back if you have to. Hope this helps.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I had the same problem with my wifi laptops. The wired desktops were fine but the laptops were only running about half speed online. I went to dslreports.com and ran a tweak test under the "Tools" tab. Then I downloaded DrTcp and increased my rwin value as the tweak test had suggested. That solved the problem completely. Just make sure you write down the current value before you start changing it so you can put it back if you have to. Hope this helps.

Excellent, I will try that.

I am running the built in wifi with a linksys network. If the above doesn't work, I might just put in a 80211G card and see how it works.