Comments on: Rogers Portable Internet bait and switch http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch An outcome-driven leader, proven technology product developer, and marketer with over 20 years of hands-on experience including start-up, small and large business environments, and the board room. This is my blog. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:15:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Delshad http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-8888 Delshad Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:45:36 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-8888 Oh my god! I had the most horrible painful experience! Pleas save your time and money and do not deal with Rogers. Two and a half hours on the phone transferred from one department to another and talked to Tracey, Pamela, Kassim, Sherry, Dan, Christal, Stephanie and two other 3 others that I missed the names and none of them being able to resolve the issue. Departments that I talk to were billings, monthly payments, pre paid, customer care, retention, technical support, management, and a department that un-locks phones. They all had the same manner of saying “I understand your frustration but there is absolutely nothing I can do because you been transferred to a wrong department” All of this started with a visit to Rogers at Lime Ridge mall in Hamilton, they sold me a service plan for a cell phone and charge went through my credit card. I have not stepped out of the store when the same person who sold me the plan said he can not activate the account for me. I immediately asked him for a refund but he refused. He admitted that it was his mistake but said he was sorry and it is not in Rogers’s policy to give a refund back. Oh my god! I had the most horrible painful experience! Pleas save your time and money and do not deal with Rogers. Two and a half hours on the phone transferred from one department to another and talked to Tracey, Pamela, Kassim, Sherry, Dan, Christal, Stephanie and two other 3 others that I missed the names and none of them being able to resolve the issue. Departments that I talk to were billings, monthly payments, pre paid, customer care, retention, technical support, management, and a department that un-locks phones. They all had the same manner of saying “I understand your frustration but there is absolutely nothing I can do because you been transferred to a wrong department” All of this started with a visit to Rogers at Lime Ridge mall in Hamilton, they sold me a service plan for a cell phone and charge went through my credit card. I have not stepped out of the store when the same person who sold me the plan said he can not activate the account for me. I immediately asked him for a refund but he refused. He admitted that it was his mistake but said he was sorry and it is not in Rogers’s policy to give a refund back.

]]> By: Grovest http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5601 Grovest Thu, 13 May 2010 08:20:05 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5601 Unfortunately WiMax with Rogers is the only game around hen it comes to yral service & cost. Yes Rogers charges $50/month (once you inlude taxes ext). Rogers still does not charge for 'overusage' unlike Bell who includes 50 GB for $50 but then charges an extra $10 for every 5 GB. What I have been told by Rogers is that their 'policy' is that they calculate that your projected usage will be and if it exceeds the 'included' 50 GB they assign your traffic a lower priority so during peak times your throughput may become dismal. Anyway, with streaming media, VPN, etc our usage is around 100 GB Down + 20 GB Up which with Bell would cost us $190/month. Where we are we get 4 or 5 bars constantly and see the same traffic throtting problem (which seems to be specific to Rogers - Bell doesn't have this problem althoough using the same infrastructure). I disagree however with the 'deep packet inspection' theory - from what I have been told by someone technical with Rogers it comes down to that they traffic shape especially now that they are also offering wireless VOIP service. If they see a lot of 'low priority' traffic such as torrents they will assign your IP a lower priority on the network which during high traffic times may even result in your throughput dropping off all together (i.e. no throughput at all). They 'claim' they can not do anything in the way of QOS prioritization whereby they throttle torrent traffic only for example - they can only throttle all your traffic. It kind of sucks that when you pay for 3000 kbps are lucky to get 1700 kbps and if they project your traffic to exceed 50 GB per month they lower so QOS so at any time your service may drop to 0 kbps (but more often to around 250 kbps) BUT it is still better than Bell who will charge $120 for the same traffic OR Rogers Rocket service which would charge $60 for 10 GB + $5/GB so for our 120 GB traffic we would be paying $610 (yes SIX HUNDRED) per month. Inteestingly Rogers unless you specifically ask about Portable Internet hide the fact that they even have this service (just try to find it easily on their Web site). Why would they want you to use a $50.month service when they could offer you a $600 per month service? Unfortunately WiMax with Rogers is the only game around hen it comes to yral service & cost. Yes Rogers charges $50/month (once you inlude taxes ext). Rogers still does not charge for 'overusage' unlike Bell who includes 50 GB for $50 but then charges an extra $10 for every 5 GB.

What I have been told by Rogers is that their 'policy' is that they calculate that your projected usage will be and if it exceeds the 'included' 50 GB they assign your traffic a lower priority so during peak times your throughput may become dismal.

Anyway, with streaming media, VPN, etc our usage is around 100 GB Down + 20 GB Up which with Bell would cost us $190/month.

Where we are we get 4 or 5 bars constantly and see the same traffic throtting problem (which seems to be specific to Rogers – Bell doesn't have this problem althoough using the same infrastructure). I disagree however with the 'deep packet inspection' theory – from what I have been told by someone technical with Rogers it comes down to that they traffic shape especially now that they are also offering wireless VOIP service.

If they see a lot of 'low priority' traffic such as torrents they will assign your IP a lower priority on the network which during high traffic times may even result in your throughput dropping off all together (i.e. no throughput at all). They 'claim' they can not do anything in the way of QOS prioritization whereby they throttle torrent traffic only for example – they can only throttle all your traffic.

It kind of sucks that when you pay for 3000 kbps are lucky to get 1700 kbps and if they project your traffic to exceed 50 GB per month they lower so QOS so at any time your service may drop to 0 kbps (but more often to around 250 kbps) BUT it is still better than Bell who will charge $120 for the same traffic OR Rogers Rocket service which would charge $60 for 10 GB + $5/GB so for our 120 GB traffic we would be paying $610 (yes SIX HUNDRED) per month.

Inteestingly Rogers unless you specifically ask about Portable Internet hide the fact that they even have this service (just try to find it easily on their Web site). Why would they want you to use a $50.month service when they could offer you a $600 per month service?

]]> By: Jon http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5600 Jon Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:27:50 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5600 Yeah, in the fall of 2008 we got the $99 Rogers's Portal Internet radio-modem, for $19.95 per month for 12 months, which went up to $27.95. The horror-story begin when trying to purchase a radio-modem... "The Roger's store clerk said that our address was not in the database and would *NOT* allow purchase. Clerk e-mailed HQ, and said to come back in 24h." The horror-story continued when trying to activate the radio-modem... The Roger's support clerk could not activate the modem, and suggested that I drive back into the city to exchange it. I refused, and asked to be forwarded to 2nd-line support. 2nd-line support said that the radio-modem serial # was not in the database, so they forwarded me to 3rd-line support. 3rd-line support was able to add the serial # into the database, and then activate the radio-modem. After all that, the radio-modem provides 500-kbps-down/256-kbps-up using 3 out of 5 bars of signal strength, but fails to connect during heavy snow or rain, or when the microwave oven is on. Also, all encrypted traffic is Traffic Throttled for VPN, BitTorrent, Shareaza, VOIP, On-Line banking, and some Web-Mail by artificially delaying the time-shape of your internet traffic bandwidth using Deep Packet Inspection. Caveat emptor - buyer beware. Jon. Yeah, in the fall of 2008 we got the $99 Rogers's Portal Internet radio-modem, for $19.95 per month for 12 months, which went up to $27.95.

The horror-story begin when trying to purchase a radio-modem…
"The Roger's store clerk said that our address was not in the database and would *NOT* allow purchase. Clerk e-mailed HQ, and said to come back in 24h."

The horror-story continued when trying to activate the radio-modem…
The Roger's support clerk could not activate the modem, and suggested that I drive back into the city to exchange it. I refused, and asked to be forwarded to 2nd-line support.
2nd-line support said that the radio-modem serial # was not in the database, so they forwarded me to 3rd-line support.
3rd-line support was able to add the serial # into the database, and then activate the radio-modem.

After all that, the radio-modem provides 500-kbps-down/256-kbps-up using 3 out of 5 bars of signal strength, but fails to connect during heavy snow or rain, or when the microwave oven is on. Also, all encrypted traffic is Traffic Throttled for VPN, BitTorrent, Shareaza, VOIP, On-Line banking, and some Web-Mail by artificially delaying the time-shape of your internet traffic bandwidth using Deep Packet Inspection.
Caveat emptor – buyer beware.
Jon.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5599 Barbara Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:23:39 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5599 I happen to be a very happy Rogers customer. I have internet, cable TV and recently switched to their home phone service. Their customer service is EXCELLENT and any problem I've had has been dealt with quickly and efficiently. They've also given me and my friends and family TERRIFIC discounts on services. Bell Canada on the other hand has been HORRIBLE. over billing, poor technical service, very poor customer service...outsourcing to overseas. I don't want to talk to someone in India, etc. when I had problems with Bell. I live in Canada. I never ever have that problem with Rogers. With Rpgers I always deal with someone in Canada. Bell Canada is the WORST company I've ever dealt with. Rogers will continue to have my business. I happen to be a very happy Rogers customer. I have internet, cable TV and recently switched to their home phone service. Their customer service is EXCELLENT and any problem I've had has been dealt with quickly and efficiently. They've also given me and my friends and family TERRIFIC discounts on services. Bell Canada on the other hand has been HORRIBLE. over billing, poor technical service, very poor customer service…outsourcing to overseas. I don't want to talk to someone in India, etc. when I had problems with Bell. I live in Canada. I never ever have that problem with Rogers. With Rpgers I always deal with someone in Canada. Bell Canada is the WORST company I've ever dealt with. Rogers will continue to have my business.

]]> By: Anon http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5598 Anon Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:38:43 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5598 Sadly this is the state of Telecom in Canada. Rogers and Bell can break the law with impunity. Speaking of bait and switch, how's your BitTorrent working these days? Sadly this is the state of Telecom in Canada. Rogers and Bell can break the law with impunity.

Speaking of bait and switch, how's your BitTorrent working these days?

]]> By: andrew http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5597 andrew Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:01:46 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5597 talking to any rogers rep,for any reason will ruin your day.there used to be a consumer protection agency,but due to cut backs ,the government decided buyer beware was acceptable.i will never sign any term contracts,the stress level alone isn't worth it. talking to any rogers rep,for any reason will ruin your day.there used to be a consumer protection agency,but due to cut backs ,the government decided buyer beware was acceptable.i will never sign any term contracts,the stress level alone isn't worth it.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5596 Wayne Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:04:21 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5596 I've had RPI since June 2007 at which time i would get 1.5+ mbs with only 2-3 lights...even in bad weather (from the Brantford tower). This year the speed has been all over the place, but mostly well below the 1.5mbs. Even with Roger's increase to 2mbs I now getting inconsistent speeds often below 500kbs. unfortunately there is no other reasonable highspeed options available in my area. I've had RPI since June 2007 at which time i would get 1.5+ mbs with only 2-3 lights…even in bad weather (from the Brantford tower). This year the speed has been all over the place, but mostly well below the 1.5mbs. Even with Roger's increase to 2mbs I now getting inconsistent speeds often below 500kbs. unfortunately there is no other reasonable highspeed options available in my area.

]]> By: Martin http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5595 Martin Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:56:42 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5595 I used to be on candlelight but they have had interference from xplornet. my friend at heritage farm is also having trouble. I'm off of Ramara b. I used to be on candlelight but they have had interference from xplornet. my friend at heritage farm is also having trouble. I'm off of Ramara b.

]]> By: Richard Pearson http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5594 Richard Pearson Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:03:12 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5594 I'm with Bell wimax and have not had any service from the Brechin tower for the last three days. Bell claims there is a tower problem but will not provide any info of when it will be restored. Unfortunately I left my previous wireless ISP provider to go over to Bell and I now regret it. I'm with Bell wimax and have not had any service from the Brechin tower for the last three days.
Bell claims there is a tower problem but will not provide any info of when it will be restored.
Unfortunately I left my previous wireless ISP provider to go over to Bell and I now regret it.

]]> By: Martin http://www.saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5593 Martin Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:01:22 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/10/15/rogers-wimax-bait-and-switch/#comment-5593 I have been using Rogers Portable off of the Brechin Tower and find that I am getting a lot of packet loss, despite the fact that my outdoor modem is showing 5 lights. I can even see the tower from my location - I have good LOS. My stats are good (Rf=32, RSSI=-54dbm). There was a time when I used to consistently get 1.5 mbs but now I'm down around 400kbs. Spoken to Rogers several times , and they refer the ticket to Inukshuk. No progress in the last 3 weeks. Anyone else having trouble with the Brechin Tower?? I have been using Rogers Portable off of the Brechin Tower and find that I am getting a lot of packet loss, despite the fact that my outdoor modem is showing 5 lights. I can even see the tower from my location – I have good LOS.
My stats are good (Rf=32, RSSI=-54dbm).
There was a time when I used to consistently get 1.5 mbs but now I'm down around 400kbs.
Spoken to Rogers several times , and they refer the ticket to Inukshuk.
No progress in the last 3 weeks.
Anyone else having trouble with the Brechin Tower??

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