Metrocast or Fairpoint?

bigdog · 06-28-2013, 10:57 AM

Metrocast or Fairpoint for Internet service?

What is the Forum's opinion.

Aboout had it with Metrocast, the service in my area is lousy, and was thinking about making the change?

Thanks,
Bigdog

BroadHopper · 06-28-2013, 11:50 AM

Fairpoint is DSL service which is totally dependent on distance from the DSL service box. Also if there is a lot of DSL traffic on the trunk line, you will notice.

Metrocast, which I have is flaky. It is up and down and a call to customer service almost always ends with having to call the modem manufacturer. They are so frigging lazy. I had Comcast and I ended up getting DSL and find it must more reliable allthough slower than Comcast when I was living in Hooksett.

At the office in Concord I find Comcast as not being reliable. Fairpoint offered fiber optics and we switch, huge difference and 99.9% reliable. We locked in for three years and save almost $100 a month including 6 lines over Comcast.

If Fairpoint has fiber optics in your area, that is the way to go!

Chaselady · 06-28-2013, 12:26 PM

We have Fairpoint Internet on the island. It's DSL and we pay $44/month. It has been pretty reliable, but it does occasionally slow down. Nothing we can't deal with. We are able to turn it off in the winter and restart in the spring.

bigdog · 06-28-2013, 01:12 PM

BroadHopper,

I echo your sentiments. Metrocast customer service in my experience has been terrible. As an example, I was in the phone queue for 15 min, finally got a live body to help. During the explanation and call, I was disconnected. You'd think Metrocast would call me back to continue conversation? NADA !

Unfortunately there aren't many options for internet service around the lake.

Thanks,
Bigdog

jazzman · 06-28-2013, 02:52 PM

Fairpoint (at least in the Wolfeboro area), seem pretty good. At first they said I was too far from their main office for service, but I told them my next door neighbor had it and eventually they gave in and installed it. At first the speed was pretty slow and they can out and spent 2-3 hours tweaking things around the island (in pouring rain), to get me to 1.5MB/sec. It's not blazing fast, but it's pretty reliable.

wickedtravelah · 06-28-2013, 03:01 PM

Metrocast hasn't been more of a headache than any other ISP that we have had in other homes. The speed is actually very good and the "down time" or when the service is slow/not working is minimal.

Fairpoint's infrastructure isn't ready to handle the demand. Metrocast seems to be ahead of the game, for now......

FLAG! · 12-18-2013, 01:49 PM

I am looking for internet service at our cottage. Is it still between Fairpoint and Metrocast? Will DSL provide enough bandwidth for a webcam? Anyone out there have any tutorial guides how to set up a web cam or suggestions for a simple camera/kit to buy?

webmaster · 12-18-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLAG!

Anyone out there have any tutorial guides how to set up a web cam or suggestions for a simple camera/kit to buy?

There is lots of help in the "Area Webcams" section of this forum. Several of our members operate webcams and are usually willing to answer questions.

Bear Islander posted this guide on his website:

http://www.bearcam1.com/cam_info.htm

Pine Island Guy · 12-18-2013, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLAG!

I am looking for internet service at our cottage. Is it still between Fairpoint and Metrocast? Will DSL provide enough bandwidth for a webcam? Anyone out there have any tutorial guides how to set up a web cam or suggestions for a simple camera/kit to buy?

I have Fairpoint DSL on Pine Island which is ample bandwidth for multiple webcams with streaming video (also use it to watch on-demand Netflix, connect remotely to work, etc without issues). While I wish there was a better alternative to Fairpoint, Verizon 4G LTE seems like the other viable option, however my rough calculations say the bandwidth usage costs are going be much greater than Fairpoint DSL (and Metrocast is not an option on Pine Island).

I consider myself fairly technical and yet it always takes me much longer to set up a new cam than I expect... not so much the webcam, but the remote management, auto-sending emails, etc... But happy to share info - and have multiple Netcams, Panasonic PTZ, and Q-See cameras/recorders set up.

Think ICE! -PIG

8gv · 12-18-2013, 10:13 PM

I could use either but since I'm at the lake infrequently I use a Veizon wireless 4G gizmo that works quite well. Until I move to NH permanently this is a reasonable option.

06-28-2013, 10:57 AM	#1
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,411 Thanks: 308 Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts	Metrocast or Fairpoint? Metrocast or Fairpoint for Internet service? What is the Forum's opinion. Aboout had it with Metrocast, the service in my area is lousy, and was thinking about making the change? Thanks, Bigdog

06-28-2013, 11:50 AM	#2
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,512 Thanks: 3,118 Thanked 1,090 Times in 784 Posts	DSL vs Cable Fairpoint is DSL service which is totally dependent on distance from the DSL service box. Also if there is a lot of DSL traffic on the trunk line, you will notice. Metrocast, which I have is flaky. It is up and down and a call to customer service almost always ends with having to call the modem manufacturer. They are so frigging lazy. I had Comcast and I ended up getting DSL and find it must more reliable allthough slower than Comcast when I was living in Hooksett. At the office in Concord I find Comcast as not being reliable. Fairpoint offered fiber optics and we switch, huge difference and 99.9% reliable. We locked in for three years and save almost $100 a month including 6 lines over Comcast. If Fairpoint has fiber optics in your area, that is the way to go! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

06-28-2013, 01:12 PM	#4
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,411 Thanks: 308 Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts	Metrocast or Fairpoint? BroadHopper, I echo your sentiments. Metrocast customer service in my experience has been terrible. As an example, I was in the phone queue for 15 min, finally got a live body to help. During the explanation and call, I was disconnected. You'd think Metrocast would call me back to continue conversation? NADA ! Unfortunately there aren't many options for internet service around the lake. Thanks, Bigdog

12-18-2013, 01:49 PM	#7
FLAG! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Upton, MA Posts: 112 Thanks: 44 Thanked 14 Times in 6 Posts	Internet service for web cam I am looking for internet service at our cottage. Is it still between Fairpoint and Metrocast? Will DSL provide enough bandwidth for a webcam? Anyone out there have any tutorial guides how to set up a web cam or suggestions for a simple camera/kit to buy?

06-28-2013, 12:26 PM	#3
Chaselady Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Melvin Village Posts: 309 Thanks: 150 Thanked 105 Times in 73 Posts	We have Fairpoint Internet on the island. It's DSL and we pay $44/month. It has been pretty reliable, but it does occasionally slow down. Nothing we can't deal with. We are able to turn it off in the winter and restart in the spring.

06-28-2013, 02:52 PM	#5
jazzman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Mont Vernon NH & Big Barndoor Island Posts: 320 Thanks: 4 Thanked 184 Times in 62 Posts	Fairpoint (at least in the Wolfeboro area), seem pretty good. At first they said I was too far from their main office for service, but I told them my next door neighbor had it and eventually they gave in and installed it. At first the speed was pretty slow and they can out and spent 2-3 hours tweaking things around the island (in pouring rain), to get me to 1.5MB/sec. It's not blazing fast, but it's pretty reliable.

06-28-2013, 03:01 PM	#6
wickedtravelah Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Lakes Region (NH) Posts: 70 Thanks: 58 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Metrocast hasn't been more of a headache than any other ISP that we have had in other homes. The speed is actually very good and the "down time" or when the service is slow/not working is minimal. Fairpoint's infrastructure isn't ready to handle the demand. Metrocast seems to be ahead of the game, for now......

12-18-2013, 10:13 PM	#10
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,009 Thanks: 61 Thanked 701 Times in 455 Posts	I could use either but since I'm at the lake infrequently I use a Veizon wireless 4G gizmo that works quite well. Until I move to NH permanently this is a reasonable option.