Broadband internet

[NIOMARVIN83]

If you've tried the new broadband service, please share your experience. How is the speed and reliability compared to Breezeline? Your feedback can help others decide if it's a good option.

[mishman]

I switched from Spectrum to Fidium in July. Signed up for the 2g speed at $105/month for the first year. With this package you get up to three wifi extenders for free (not sure of charge after that one year period but I think it would be $5/month per extender). My experience with Fidium was good. The initial installer said the wifi would be strong throughout the house. We were distracted by a houseful of company and never tested this while he was here. Come to find out later that the signal was not strong at all given our house construction and Fidium sent someone back here a few days later to set up extenders which work great. We would have gone with NHEC right off the bat but I could not get a clear answer as to when they would be hooking up customers and going live. Come to find out now that it will be sometime in early 2025 in our section of Mboro. There is no contract with Fidium so I may changeover if there is savings as I would like to support NHEC BB venture. The info contained in this thread has been very helpful especially as relates to the interface between fiber and cat 5 and 6 cable in the house and whether there is a degradation of speed using cable to locate wifi in a central location in the house. Currently my fiber comes into the basement via an underground conduit but having the router and wifi box there does not provide good coverage throughout the house.
We use Youtube TV and have had good results (although price keeps creeping up).

[longislander]

A comment regarding using speedtests. I use Oogla and Google speedtests, as well as the company sites, like Spectrum, to get an idea of what I'm getting for speeds with the "stuff" I'm using. I use a laptop for my internet activities, not the latest and the greatest, as well as cameras, wireless and ethernet; not a cell phone person! Modem/router or ONT are right in front of my lounge chair in my living room where I do my internet stuff about 15 feet away and no obstructions in line of sight.

For 1 gig service, on my laptop, Spectrum was getting 350-400 Mbps download. When I switched to Fidium, I was happy that I got 500-600 Mbps consistenly for the first few months. I'm concerned. Presently, for the last week or so, my laptop can't get more than a little over 100Mbps from Fidium.The same number of devices usable. Don't know if this a temporary glitch due to "network provisioning" by Fidium as it continhes to uplaod cutomers near me or what.

My Android phone and the wife's I-phone both get around 1100+ Mbps for the same networks. I'm aware that equipment has an effect on speeds . However, I'm comparing the same equipment between two carriers.

If a technician comes to your place after install, notice if he or she is using a cell phone to tell you what you're getting for the speeds you're supposed to get.

I've just ordered a modem and router from Spectrum, again, for my own comparison and then I'll cancel one or the other, while waiting for NH Broadband to come for their install. Don't want to buy my own modem/router or ONT yet.

[SAMIAM]

Yikes… we’re paying $353 monthly to Breezeline for cable,WiFi and land line
In Meredith
Broadband is installing… hope they come soon

[rick35]

Yikes again! I thought Comcast was bad at our house at $305 for cable, internet, phone annd Netflix. Just internet at the camp is $95 with Breezeline. We're able to get most channels using xfinity stream but we can't get some and have to use ulocal and other streaming channels. We're able to get dvr'd shows too. We were able to save a bunch when we dropped Breezeline cable.

[Winilyme]

Originally Posted by rick35

Yikes again! I thought Comcast was bad at our house at $305 for cable, internet, phone annd Netflix. Just internet at the camp is $95 with Breezeline. We're able to get most channels using xfinity stream but we can't get some and have to use ulocal and other streaming channels. We're able to get dvr'd shows too. We were able to save a bunch when we dropped Breezeline cable.

I recommend you call Breezeline and ask why you're paying $95. We're only paying for internet. When I recently learned that NH Broadband's new service in Meredith would be $49/month for essentially the same package I was paying Breezeline $65 +/-for, I called them. They said I was paying the legacy Atlantic Broadband cost and that Breezeline's cost was about $49/month. Huh? Wasn't the change to Breezeline from Atlantic Broadband just a name change? They immediately put me on the lower rate.

I blame myself for not paying closer attention to my cost but you'd think a company that placed any emphasis on providing positive customer service would have been more proactive in recommending that folks transfer to the 'Breezeline' rate. In fact, why wouldn't they have automatically done that when the name change occurred. Very confusing.

[P-3 Guy]

Originally Posted by Winilyme

In fact, why wouldn't they have automatically done that when the name change occurred. Very confusing.

$$$$$$$$$$

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Winilyme

I recommend you call Breezeline and ask why you're paying $95. We're only paying for internet. When I recently learned that NH Broadband's new service in Meredith would be $49/month for essentially the same package I was paying Breezeline $65 +/-for, I called them. They said I was paying the legacy Atlantic Broadband cost and that Breezeline's cost was about $49/month. Huh? Wasn't the change to Breezeline from Atlantic Broadband just a name change? They immediately put me on the lower rate.

I blame myself for not paying closer attention to my cost but you'd think a company that placed any emphasis on providing positive customer service would have been more proactive in recommending that folks transfer to the 'Breezeline' rate. In fact, why wouldn't they have automatically done that when the name change occurred. Very confusing.

That's BS, now that they have competition, they are using that as an excuse to keep you from leaving.
I'm going to call and threaten to leave, i'll report back.

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by Biggd

That's BS, now that they have competition, they are using that as an excuse to keep you from leaving.
I'm going to call and threaten to leave, i'll report back.

Why would you want to STAY with a company that has proven that they are willing to exploit you? As soon as you have the cheaper option, make the move.

I don't like doing business with companies that I have to fight with to do the right thing. It's unpleasant to me. Sometimes you don't have a choice so you have to deal with it. Otherwise, life to too short to have to keep looking over your shoulder.

[TomC]

I also use the NHEC fiber and also highly recommend it. I was one of the first hookups in Sandwich and have been using it for 2 years now. I pay $50/month and it hasn't increased, although sooner or later it surely will. I pay for 100up/100down and have my bandwidth 99% of the time when I check it:

[longislander]

For 1 gig service, on my laptop, Spectrum was getting 350-400 Mbps download. When I switched to Fidium, I was happy that I got 500-600 Mbps consistenly for the first few months. I'm concerned. Presently, for the last week or so, my laptop can't get more than a little over 100Mbps from Fidium.The same number of devices usable. Don't know if this a temporary glitch due to "network provisioning" by Fidium as it continhes to uplaod cutomers near me or what.

Last night, watching TV (The Old Man) I was irked by the buffering wheel circling around waiting for a connection while changing channels. Then the buffering seem to clear up. Went on my laptop and did a speedtest and ,voila, speedtest was over 500 Mbps download and close to same for upload. Just did OOkla and Google speedtest. Got 536 Mbps download and close to same on upload on Google. Got 436 Mbps download and 634 Mbps upload on OOgla. About 7:00 AM timeline. I haven't made any changes to my "stuff".

[longislander]

Glad to hear Ooma shows NHEC is delivering. However, I believe that is phone service. I've always gotten over 1100 Mbps for my Android and the wife's I-phone here at home.

[tis]

Originally Posted by longislander

Glad to hear Ooma shows NHEC is delivering. However, I believe that is phone service. I've always gotten over 1100 Mbps for my Android and the wife's I-phone here at home.

Yes, what does OOma have to do with NHEC's fiber? I am confused.

[TomC]

Originally Posted by tis

Yes, what does OOma have to do with NHEC's fiber? I am confused.

its just an advertisement on the speedtest page.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by longislander

Last night, watching TV (The Old Man) I was irked by the buffering wheel circling around waiting for a connection while changing channels. Then the buffering seem to clear up. Went on my laptop and did a speedtest and ,voila, speedtest was over 500 Mbps download and close to same for upload. Just did OOkla and Google speedtest. Got 536 Mbps download and close to same on upload on Google. Got 436 Mbps download and 634 Mbps upload on OOgla. About 7:00 AM timeline. I haven't made any changes to my "stuff".

Have you tried Tcpoptimizer? I used it to speed up Windows wifi speed. I switch to optimal and change the internet speed to maximum. I notice an increase using OOKLA.

[codeman671]

Found this on a real estate newsletter I receive every Friday.

• Hub66, an internet service provider in New England, has been awarded $8.5 million in grants from the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ Broadband Matching Grants Initiative. These funds will bringing enhanced internet connectivity from Hub66’s fiber-optic network to underserved communities, including Alton, Bridgewater, Canaan, Cornish, Enfield, Plainfield and five of the islands in Gilford, according to a press release. (NHBR)

[garysanfran]

I wonder if a $8.5 million grant would have resolved Breezeline's problems instead of creating a new entity which will have problems of their own.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Why would you want to STAY with a company that has proven that they are willing to exploit you? As soon as you have the cheaper option, make the move.

I don't like doing business with companies that I have to fight with to do the right thing. It's unpleasant to me. Sometimes you don't have a choice so you have to deal with it. Otherwise, life to too short to have to keep looking over your shoulder.

I will see if they will be cheaper or not, but it's always worth making the call first.
In the end they are all the same, the squeaky wheel gets the grease

[Lakegeezer]

Ookla is the speedtest.net company, Ooma is the phone service. When doing speed tests, best results will be done directly at the modem or router. Also consider, many routers max out at 600-800 Mbps. The ones that can handle over a gig are expensive.

In my case, speed from Fidium is fine, but then I only purchased the 100/100 service. I'm getting a solid 111/112 speedtest results, measured at my router. If you are getting buffering with any streaming service and subscribe to an Internet speed of over 100 Mbps, the problem is likely in your LAN/WiFi or with the streaming service that you are using. It could be a bad Ethernet cable. Older spec'd Ethernet cables don't support speeds over 100 Mbps.

At Fidium's promotional price of $25 for 100/100, I can't complain. Next year, I'll see what NH Broadband offers and maybe switch back and forth.

In my case, I am still stuck with Spectrum (800/34 on speedtest). I haven't moved off my Roadrunner accounts yet and also use Spectrum Mobile, which is a great mobile service but requires Spectrum Internet. I also use a Spectrum Streaming package that is much less expensive than its cable-box service. Once I shed my 300+ email accounts (bank, medical, various service accounts, etc), I hope to shed Spectrum as well.

I have both Fidium and Spectrum (and a router than can load balance) because I upload a lot of videos and do cloud backup. Spectrum is limited to 40 Mbps upload, so Fidium gets me 2.5 faster speed (and a failover service) for only $25/month.

[bobkatfly]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

In my case, I am still stuck with Spectrum (800/34 on speedtest). I haven't moved off my Roadrunner accounts yet and also use Spectrum Mobile, which is a great mobile service but requires Spectrum Internet.

FYI, I had both Spectrum TV/Internet and Spectrum mobile. Just recently sold my house and cancelled TV/Internet. They allowed me to keep mobile at the same rate.

[NH.Solar]

I just ran the first test that came up on Google three times with my laptop with 2 phones and Pandora playing off of the the Roku and the best results were 49.3 down and 47.3 up. I booked into their 100mb basic program and am very, very pleased with the performance so far. I wonder however if it might degrade as more subscribers jump onboard?