[Merged] TekSavvy DSL Report

[Oversized Rooster]

I ordered the TekSavvy 5Mbps Unlimited DSL plan on December 4th (Monday).

On December 5th (next day, Tuesday) they sent a confirmation e-mail with my PPPoE settings.

I had already obtained a used SpeedStream 5360 DSL modem from an RFD member. TekSavvy has confirmed that they would support it even though they it's not on their list of modems.

On December 11th (Monday) the DSL service went live on my phoneline (I have 3 Bell phonelines).

From the first try, the service connected and worked properly. For the first 3 days I just left my laptop connected to monitor for connection drops. There were none in 3 days.

Today (December 15, Friday) I deployed my new DSL service across the home network.

After performing proper speed tests at various sites, my official results are:

4.2Mbps down and 670Kbps up. That's not too far from the advertised 5Mbps down and 800Kbps up.

The connection is NOT throttled in any way, and no ports are blocked either.

I can easily start any torrent and start uploading at full speed as well as download at top speed.

I am paying around $34.14 per month including taxes. There is no contract, so I am allowed to cancel at any time without incurring any penalties, fees or such. The only exception is that the 1st month's pay is not refundable which is reasonable considering how I'm not on a contract.

I plan to keep this DSL service. I will keep my Rogers Extreme 6Mbps connection until the end of next week. If by then I see nothing wrong with this TekSavvy DSL, then I will cancel my Rogers connection for good!

[cliff]

I plan to keep this DSL service. I will keep my Rogers Extreme 6Mbps connection until the end of next week. If by then I see nothing wrong with this TekSavvy DSL, then I will cancel my Rogers connection for good!

I would be really surprised if you saw any problems, I've been with teksavvy for roughly a year now and their service is just as reliable as rogers was if not more so (both have had great uptime, but teksavvy is so much better for file sharing -no throttling/blocked ports- you can't realistically even compare the two).

It's also great being able to talk to a live person (when/if needed) after the phone rings twice.

[Paolo]

I had tech saavy for over a year too, loved em.

i had to cancel them cus of an employee paid internet line (pre-wimax ofdm) but either way, i would still be wit them if i could. plus you DONT have to use what ever modem they tell u. u can use ANY modem ever that bell sympaticrap or telus or look or primus has ever used in their history. since all the lines and linecards are still bell so its not like its gonn impact anything.

[hyperaf]

I have been with them for about a 2 weeks and the connection is really good. Check out my speedtest from speedtest.net. Well the speed was not exactly 5mb but close.....

[skule123]

I signed on with these guys for the new year. Looking forward to the switch.

Found a place online selling the Speedtouch 516 for 25$ a couple of weeks ago. Checking the site now, they're at 45$, but it's still a pretty good deal compared to renting.

http://www.yesplay.com/StoreFeatured.asp?hStore=OL

[terrybear]

I wouldn't give yesplay 1 cent of $ .. there business practices & sales peaple are shotty & there prices are terrible.

Sorry to rob the thread but thought I would give ya some advice to find a better place to deal with for parts.

[ipxxx]

Thanks OP for the review!
Anyone in Ottawa with TekSavvy that can comment on performance?

[Octavius]

Thanks OP for the review!
Anyone in Ottawa with TekSavvy that can comment on performance?

Indeed, I'd also like to know in Ottawa.
Currently paying about 55 bucks after tax for my 6MBPS line with rogers...
But I pay 35 bucks a month for all digital channels (less PPV and Porn), so thats why I'm sticking with them for now.

But if the performance is decent in Ottawa...I just might jump ship on the internet.

Is it always on like rogers, or do I have to use some lame ass "access manager" or something like that like I used to have to use with bell like 3-4 years ago? Also, is there a cap?

[jimmyzaas]

Does TekSavvy have any download/upload caps or plans to implement any? Bell is starting to reimplement caps.. at least for new customers.. i think caps for old customers is a matter of months away. I think it's about time to switch.

If TekSavvy is unlimited.. I am all for it.

[cliff]

Does TekSavvy have any download/upload caps or plans to implement any? Bell is starting to reimplement caps.. at least for new customers.. i think caps for old customers is a matter of months away. I think it's about time to switch.

If TekSavvy is unlimited.. I am all for it.

Take a look on their site, or the forums on broadband reports. They have an unlimited and a capped (100GB) plan.

The unlimited plan is has a different redundancy plan (from all that I've heard it's still really solid) and has a slightly higher ping.

The capped plan (100GB) -which I'm on- has a better ping, and greater redundancy.

Either service is a great choice. The both have excellent up-times. If I was anywhere near the cap, I would go unlimited - but I'm not even getting close.

[Pete Jones]

Another big thumbs up for TekSavvy.

I've only been with them since August but eveyrthing went smoothly and the service has been rock solid.

However, I do have one story to share:

A couple of weeks ago, they called me at work (as I gave them my work number as my primary contact number) and left a message telling me my monthly payment didn't go through on my credit card.

Well, I called them back and immediately spoke to someone who was most helpful. She basically tried it again (since I couldn't see a reason why it shouldn't have gone through -- there was tons of room) and all was well.

The thing I like about them is that when you call, they are small enough that you will probably be talking to someone immediately who can help you, or at least get you someone who can.

--Pete

[zalapski]

Thanks OP, pretty certain I will be signing up for Teksavvy rather than the cheaper and much maligned Acanac.

Any recommendations from fellow RFDers for sites/stores to buy a new DSL modem and some filters?

Cheers,

-z

I wouldn't give yesplay 1 cent of $ .. there business practices & sales peaple are shotty & there prices are terrible.

Sorry to rob the thread but thought I would give ya some advice to find a better place to deal with for parts.

[jshen]

Just started using Teksavvy but I have encountered a problem. I am having difficulty setting up my router with Teksavvy ISP. Is it PPPoE? Static or Dynamic?
Thank you, James

[Pete Jones]

Just started using Teksavvy but I have encountered a problem. I am having difficulty setting up my router with Teksavvy ISP. Is it PPPoE? Static or Dynamic?
Thank you, James

You could have just called them but...

You will use PPPOE
Your IP will be dynamic. Although if you paid for a static IP, it won't change.
remember to use "username@teksavvy.com" as your username.

Hope that helps,
--Pete

[sxz]

That's good to hear. I'm planning on switching to them after my 5 months for $19.95 with Primus is over. And yes, for those wondering about TekSavvy in Ottawa.. Well I'll let you know in about 5 months.