Is anyone using "FCI Broadband" (formerly Futureway) as their ISP?

[cityhunter]

I just want to see if their high speed internet service is any good compared to Rogers or Bell. I subscribed to Futureway high speed internet about 3 years ago when they first started rolling it out, and the experience was pretty awful. No public IP address, more down time than up time, amazingly slow transfer, etc. I cancelled it after one month of use. Now I see that they are offering a special promo deal @ $33.95/month, I am wondering if their service has improved. If anyone is using them, can you tell me if they have any "invisible" cap limit (like Rogers)? What is the download & upload speed like? How good is their service up time? I am on Rogers high speed right now and I only get an average 1.6mbps download rate :(

[AudiDude]

Tell me the area you are located in and I will tell you all you want to know.

[cityhunter]

I am in the Markham area.

[AudiDude]

Woodbine Cachet, what phase?

[AudiDude]

I am guessing phase 1 or 2 if you had it 3 years ago. Was it a cable modem? Did you have Look or Rogers?

[Theoneandonly]

I am an FCI broadband customer and right now I am very satisfy with the service. Have not experienced any downtime yet and no cap limits so far. I think you have to get their basic phone line in order to get the internet for $33.95, comes out to be $69 after tax. You also get two phone features with this bundle package. If you just get the internet, I think it is $45. I didnt bother signing up for their email but I think they said it is included. There is one concern though, if you use emule/edonkey, I think they are blocking the main port for it, so you will be getting low id all the time. Other than that, the speed is amazing and much better the crappy Rogers.

[AudiDude]

FCI is too scared to cap, they need the business. Rogers owns 20 percent of FCI. The crappiest Rogers service is the stuff carried by FCI on their Fibre to the Curb network. I have the 5Mb service from Rogers and it rips. What and when was your problem with Rogers?

[Theoneandonly]

Just google Rogers sucks and you will find plenty of complaints. Just do a search here and you will find the same types of complaints. If you are not downloading then sure Rogers provide ok service. That being said, just prepare for the worst if you need support from their CSR. I didnt know Rogers own 20% of FCI, I thought they were a private company from the States. Are you sure about that?

FCI is too scared to cap, they need the business. Rogers owns 20 percent of FCI. The crappiest Rogers service is the stuff carried by FCI on their Fibre to the Curb network. I have the 5Mb service from Rogers and it rips. What and when was your problem with Rogers?

[AudiDude]

As an ex-employee I am very sure I know the most of anybody on this forum.

[cityhunter]

I am an FCI broadband customer and right now I am very satisfy with the service. Have not experienced any downtime yet and no cap limits so far. I think you have to get their basic phone line in order to get the internet for $33.95, comes out to be $69 after tax. You also get two phone features with this bundle package. If you just get the internet, I think it is $45. I didnt bother signing up for their email but I think they said it is included. There is one concern though, if you use emule/edonkey, I think they are blocking the main port for it, so you will be getting low id all the time. Other than that, the speed is amazing and much better the crappy Rogers.

Can you tell me what download/upload speed you are getting? I use both BitTorrent and Emule. If FCI are blocking the standard emule port, can I just switch Emule/BitTorrent to use a different port? Thanks.

[AudiDude]

If you guys aren't in the same location, you are not using the same type of equipment and therefore cannot compare. That is why I asked where you are and what phase you are in. Without knowing that, all good intentions aside, the info is useless.

[cityhunter]

Cachet Fairways phase I. They gave me a "fibre optic" cable modem when they first installed it. I cancelled it about 1.5 months later and switched to Rogers, and I am still on Rogers right now.

[Theoneandonly]

I dont think there is a way to change ports as I have looked on the internet and read through forums with no success. If you are really concern about getting high ID on emule, I suggest you go with Bell since they do not have any caps at the moment. As for the equipment and different sites that FCI use, I am not sure about that, but I assume that if you are in a new condo/building, they should have the latest optical wires/cables install (not sure). I think FCI only has DSL and phone service at the moment, at least I know for sure that these are the only services provided in my building. What you can do is try them out for a month or so since there is no install fee if you already have their phone service. If you are using bell for land phone then I think there is a ridiculous $55 to install the phone service. You just have to call them up and ask them.

Can you tell me what download/upload speed you are getting? I use both BitTorrent and Emule. If FCI are blocking the standard emule port, can I just switch Emule/BitTorrent to use a different port? Thanks.

[AudiDude]

That was the Fibre to the home, with Look service on the cable. Phase two is Fibre to the curb which is where Rogers is carried buy FCI equipment. You had a blue cable modem from FCI. We had the CMTS set at 1.8 Mb, and the max setting was best effort. It is still set at 1.8 Mb and the equipment is scheduled to be removed and replaced with a different name brand, so look no more for improvements.

[AudiDude]

I dont think there is a way to change ports as I have looked on the internet and read through forums with no success. If you are really concern about getting high ID on emule, I suggest you go with Bell since they do not have any caps at the moment. As for the equipment and different sites that FCI use, I am not sure about that, but I assume that if you are in a new condo/building, they should have the latest optical wires/cables install (not sure). I think FCI only has DSL and phone service at the moment, at least I know for sure that these are the only services provided in my building. What you can do is try them out for a month or so since there is no install fee if you already have their phone service. If you are using bell for land phone then I think there is a ridiculous $55 to install the phone service. You just have to call them up and ask them.

Unfortunately where this RFDer lives, there is no Bell. FCI had no DSL service then and even if they did, it wouldn't be compatible with the network used in Woodbine cachet.

[Theoneandonly]

They changed my modem recently so that I am getting 3meg just like Bell and rogers although they recently moved to 5meg. Like I said the only complaints I have so far is the port restriction for emule.

[cityhunter]

That was the Fibre to the home, with Look service on the cable. Phase two is Fibre to the curb which is where Rogers is carried buy FCI equipment. You had a blue cable modem from FCI. We had the CMTS set at 1.8 Mb, and the max setting was best effort. It is still set at 1.8 Mb and the equipment is scheduled to be removed and replaced with a different name brand, so look no more for improvements.

Is that why I only get about 1.6Mb on Rogers as well? Does the Rogers 5Mbps work on this network? Do you know if eMule/BitTorrent ports are all blocked by FCI? If FCI monthy fee is cheaper than Rogers, is it advisable to switch from Rogers to FCI, since their transfer speed is pretty much the same in my area? Thanks.

[AudiDude]

Like I said, your equipment will be changed again, to support the new network. Things didn't work out well with the existing manufacturer of your existing equipment. I would suspect things should be fine because since Rogers has their own network in that phase,FCI doesn't have to acommodate the extra bandwidth required to carry cable services. So you might be at a great advantage being in phase one. Fiber to the curb users are not so lucky.

[cityhunter]

I am still confused. So should I stay with Rogers, or should I switch to FCI?

[Theoneandonly]

Very simple, if downloading is your main usage, go with FCI or Bell other then the cap issue, I think they are all the same give or take a bad/good customer service.

I am still confused. So should I stay with Rogers, or should I switch to FCI?

[AudiDude]

I am still confused. So should I stay with Rogers, or should I switch to FCI?

If you still have a Motorola, Blue shark fin Terayon, or a large black Terayon, that is why you are getting those speeds. None of them are DOCSIS modems. If you get a DOCSIS you will get 3 meg. If you purchase your DOCSIS modem (once you get one) you will get 5 meg. Phase one Woodbine Cachet Rogers is not carried by FCI as the 20 percent investment by Rogers hadn't happened yet when the Phase was being built.

[andlai]

Just have a quick question for Audidude.

My home (Yonge & Finch, Princess Place) is also serviced by FCI. How's the DSL service there? I just noticed that from this thread FCI has a promotion for the DSL service.


Thanks.

[AudiDude]

Well, this is your lucky day as I wired those buildings whe I used to work for Bell. The Bell central office is located on the south side of Finch east of Yonge
across from all the Pemberton condos (that I wired :D ). Since the distance from the central office is not that far (FCI has a co-locate in the building) you should be fine. Now just remember, I'm not promising FCI won't screw up, I am saying the conditions exist for good service.

[andlai]

Well, this is your lucky day as I wired those buildings whe I used to work for Bell. The Bell central office is located on the south side of Finch east of Yonge
across from all the Pemberton condos (that I wired :D ). Since the distance from the central office is not that far (FCI has a co-locate in the building) you should be fine. Now just remember, I'm not promising FCI won't screw up, I am saying the conditions exist for good service.


Thanks AudiDude :lol:

Just one last question, how's the download and upload speed (apporx.) in my buildings? Thanks.

[AudiDude]

Just have a quick question for Audidude.

My home (Yonge & Finch, Princess Place) is also serviced by FCI. How's the DSL service there? I just noticed that from this thread FCI has a promotion for the DSL service.


Thanks.
My mistake I was thinking of the wrong building. Yours has a fibre feed directly to FCI and your dialtone is generated in the basement of your building. The data network is slow and crappy. On the bright side of things, next month you should be getting new equipment. This DSL should work flawlessly as, like I said all the equipment is downstairs.

[andlai]

Cityhunter, sorry for the thread crap.

Just want to provide you more information, I had sent some questions to FCI, below are the questions and answers from them:


(1) For the $33 service fee, is that a permanent charge or just a
promotional charge for a period of time?

(2) What is the upload and download speed (1Mbit, 3Mbit...) for the
service? Is that any cap for the download?

(3) Do I need to sign any contract if I want to join the service? Any
installation fee? Do I nee to purchase my own modem?


FCIBroadband does not have a transfer Limit. As an FCIBroadband customer, you are not limited to transfer rate. Therefore you are only charge a standard monthly price for your High speed service. Based on the specs below. The service bandwidth for surfing the net is about 1M. A 1M transfer limit is only applicable for email usage. This means that u can only send or receive up to 1M file using the FCIBroadband email service. If you chose to use another mail server client you are able to receive or send mail based on their limit.


You will given a modem for free. The price that we offering the internet service is $33. This price is our current offering and is subject to change in the future. There are no installation fee or contracts. However, upon cancellation you must return the modem or applicable charges will be added to your account. If you have any questions please refer them to noc@futureway.ca or info@futureway.ca

[AudiDude]

The current service in the building is limited to under a meg by the slow equipment. The new stuff should give you the speeds you want when they install it.

[cityhunter]

Thanks to both AndLai and AudiDude for the info. I just called FCIBroadBand and they said that their download rate is max. 1Mbps, and upload is about 200kbps. There is no cap as to how much you can transfer and there is no port restriction. They have NO idea when they will upgrade their hardware to support faster speed. I scheduled to have them install it anyway just to see if it is that much worse than my current Rogers connection.

[AudiDude]

While we have been typing away,I checked. You are supposed to be getting the cutover to new equipment next month. And you are right the CSRs have no idea. :D

[cityhunter]

Cool.. Does that mean I will be able to download at 1.6Mb like my current Rogers connection? :)

[AudiDude]

Well hopefully for you faster than that. I don't see with all what is going on that a ISP can afford to offer less than 3 meg service with their high speed.FCI is not known for giving slow speed on purpose, just mostly through bad choice of manufacturers products (they wanted to try the lastest equipment which doesn't always work out).

[andlai]

Thanks to both AndLai and AudiDude for the info. I just called FCIBroadBand and they said that their download rate is max. 1Mbps, and upload is about 200kbps. There is no cap as to how much you can transfer and there is no port restriction. They have NO idea when they will upgrade their hardware to support faster speed. I scheduled to have them install it anyway just to see if it is that much worse than my current Rogers connection.


Cityhunter, please let me know how is the service. I was thinking to call Rogers for the 5Mbit service before I read your thread. But if I can save $12 per month, why not. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[imshyru]

How is the FCI service now? I just sign up , soon to be living in Upper Cornell.

[Stupy76]

I'm at Bayview/Sheppard and have been using FCI for about 8 months now. I used to use the Rogers 5MBPS service for the sake of comparison. I absolutely love the FCI service so far (touch wood). I'm currently getting 6.3 MBPS on a transfer (not Torrent/eMule). I suspect I can get more (I have 8MBPS service), only if I could uncap my upload speed. Which brings me to a question for AudiDude. Anyway to get a little bit more out of the upstream - some sort of firmware fix or settings tweak?

[imshyru]

anyone else?

I just signed up for both telephone and internet the 8mbps. By the way how quick is that compare to high speed sympatico? (I have that now)

[imshyru]

anyone ?

[xla4life]

I'm considering switching to FCI Broadband just because Rogers is raising their rates again. They even cancelled the corporate discount I had.

I have phone service with FCI already and it appears that I can save an extra $5 if I get hispeed with them as well, plus a free phone feature.

FCI is $40/month for 3Mb speeds.

Service is what I'm not sure about though.

Any thoughts?

[xla4life]

I'm in a FCI Broadband service area and it's either Rogers or them as an ISP. I tried to get teksavvy, but no Bell lines here.

but now that Rogers is throttling bittorrent traffic I might have to switch to fci broadband. Who else is thinking about that?

[mulambo187]

ive been in the rockerfeller condo at bayview and sheppard for almost 2 years now, fci broadband was already set up upon arrival, im paying 70 bucks including tax for an analog phoneline with voicemail and high speed internet, phone is fine not much to say about it, but the internet i think i have one of the better connections at least compared to people i know, on rogers and bell, speed test is showing my connection at just under 5megs down and about 775kbps up, so about 500-525KB/s down and hovering around 100KB/s up give or take about 5KB. i can get those speeds off bittorrent or off a regular net download. i guess i should add to i pinged google a few times and im getting 10ms pings, and when i play counterstrike source, my ping is always 5-10, so yeah i think its a great internet connection, although i want it to be faster now, especially upspeeds, alright my 2 cents, fci pwns, dont think you can get them anymore, their site seems to go straight to rogers now, which i would stay away from due to caps and throttling issues i have read about.

[fooit]

Rogers sent me a letter that they are moving all former FCI Broadband customers to the Rogers network, as the FCI Broadband network will no longer be available.

The big problem is where to go now... Need to start research on what's available in my area >:(

[xla4life]

Teksavvy. But I hear Bell is starting to throttle torrent traffic now.

[fooit]

Teksavvy. But I hear Bell is starting to throttle torrent traffic now.

Frack! TekSavvy is NOT available in my address - we have never had Bell lines, only FCI Broadband and Rogers, now that Rogers acquired FCI Broadband nothing is left but Rogers.... Frack!

[xla4life]

I had the same problem... but I switched to a Bell phone line first.

[BB88]

Can anyone know for sure that FCI will not put a cap in their service soon after Rogers did that? And are they throttling traffic?

[wolf30]

Rogers sent me a letter that they are moving all former FCI Broadband customers to the Rogers network, as the FCI Broadband network will no longer be available.

The big problem is where to go now... Need to start research on what's available in my area >:(

I'm just as screwed as you are. I live in vaughan and there is only rogers. I called teksavvy last year and they said I can't get it because bell doesn't have the lines in my area. Whats this dry loop dsl I hear about that you don't need a landline?

[mulambo187]

so i got the fci letter myself this week letting me know i would be switching over to rogers cable internet as they are no longer offering their service, forget that noise....

I gave primus a call and got their basic phone line and dsl internet, gonna come to total $51 and some change a month, i had to buy their modem for $35 though.....

dont want to count my chickens before they hatch but the CSR said i was 2 miles from CO (is that good????) and i could expect up to 7 megs which im pretty excited about. as well they have their own newsgroup server included which im pumped to try. I'll come back in a week or so let you know what kind of service ive actually recieved, but im seriously looking forward to 800 KB/s downloads and no ratio to worry about, see yall later, primus looks promising. im out.

[LingOWen]

primus? are they available for all fci broadband customers (the ones not by choice i meant)? b/c from all i can see right now, if bell doesn't have access to the lines to our house, all these third party isps (well, all these smaller isp that rent bell's lines) wouldn't either...

are we stuck with rogers? this would really suck (if you read about this: http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=566889#post6567787 :mad::mad::mad:)

does any of you folks live in thornhill woods area and happens to be able to get primus (they seem like they don't have limit on bandwidth usage caps according to their website)? i think i might give them a call tomorrow anyways to find out...

[LingOWen]

I just called primus, seems like they use the same line as bell (probably rent from bell?), so no luck, no internet or phone service from primus... :(

hey mulambo187, if you are previously with fci, how do you get service from primus?

[fooit]

I just called primus, seems like they use the same line as bell (probably rent from bell?), so no luck, no internet or phone service from primus... :(

hey mulambo187, if you are previously with fci, how do you get service from primus?

AFAIK, most (if not all) houses in your areas have had 2 communication lines - Rogers and FCI Broadband. Having acquired and disconnected FCI Broadband Rogers has become a monopoly for Hi-Speed Internet and phone services.

[mulambo187]

i dont know why you cant, my internet and phone were hooked up already when i moved into my brand new condo at bayview and sheppard in 2006, i know though that my phone service is not the digital kind that rogers offers but an analog line. internet was dsl hooked up through the same jacks... im pretty sure here we can get whatever service we want even cable we got rogers and express view available here. sucks if you have to with rogers, i hate them and bell with their fliers, "save $100!!!!" and such things, when anyone could just go with primus, or maybe even yak and save a ton of dough not just the first 3 months but indefinitley. it makes me laugh to see how the two of them have all these diff. speed packages and such, just sell the fastest you can at cheap prices like everyone else...... no slow high speed, and 30gb bandwidth caps, thats rediculous. i'll be back to for my primus review in a few weeks. im out

[jpc82]

Has anyone tried moving from FCI to TekSavvy now that Bell is available in FCI area's?

It seems that bell is now available in areas that used to be controlled by FCI (At least they are in mine). How any now tried to move from to Teksavvy then?

[xla4life]

I was in a FCI area, but switched to Bell just to get Teksavvy service.

No problems at all, just with Bell's lousy customer service and them messing up the switch. but teksavvy service working great!! but Bell throttles bittorrent traffic now.

[jpc82]

Are you with Teksavvy for phone also, or bell for phone?

I was planning on switching to teksavvy for everything

[xla4life]

just Internet

[jesterj]

I'm on FCI (Thornhill Woods area). I called bell and they don't service my area. So, no Tek Savvy, Primus... etc.

So sad... i've been quietly enjoying unlimited & un-throttled 800k/s downloads and 600k/s uploads.

Looks like Rogers has me in a headlock.

[xla4life]

i went through the same hassle when trying to switch.

Does your house have a beige Bell box outside? Mine does and Bell just had to come by to do the switch.

I always thought Bell ran all the phone lines everywhere, therefore, they can activate their service at anytime. They would call FCI for you as well to cancel.

Once I got the phone line switched, I called Teksavvy.

[jesterj]

Unfortunately, no beige Bell box. Looks like I'm owned.

[jpc82]

I believe Bell is taking over the phone lines from FCI in all areas, but I may be wrong. Bell originally wasn't available in my area, but shortly after FCI got bought they started to send us fliers. If I check online bell's system still says they are not available, but if I call they are available.

Also, I talked to FCI today and it seems like if you want you can stick with them till they finally cut off service. The person I spoke to said they haven't picked a final day, but they think it may happen towards the end of the year. They just made a note on my account that I want to stick with FCI and they will call or send a letter at least 2 months before the system is shut off. This is very different then the Roger reps that keep calling telling me they will be getting rid of the service very soon. So FCI for now, and Teksavvy once I get notified.

[jesterj]

Spoke with FCI and let them know that I am sticking with them till my time is up.

In the meantime... I hope for the Bell fliers to come one day.

[AudiDude]

Spoke with FCI and let them know that I am sticking with them till my time is up.

In the meantime... I hope for the Bell fliers to come one day.

Your time will be up soon from what I know. Bell will not come into the neighbourhood, it's too late. If they came now, they would have to spend a fortune. When the neighbourhood is built, all companies involved will share a common trench and divide the cost.

Too late for Bell to do that. Also if the trenches were still open (which of course they have long since been covered as they are available for a small window after the foundation is placed), they still wouldn't come in because the chances of them getting more than 30% of the neighbourhood is NIL. So if it costs too much, or they won't get enough ROI due to the fact the neighbourhood is infested with another company, or there just aren't enough houses, they aren't coming.

Since the structure of the Rogers network is different (main coax carries the power to feed fibre nodes and amps ) they could afford to come in (cheaper) into a neighbourhood they do not currently exist in.

[LingOWen]

like jesterj, I am from Thornhill Woods area... Looks like I am forced to switch to rogers (being the ONE AND ONLY company servicing my area) as FCI service will be shut off (at least for my area) around end of June (which the CSR @ FCI told me today)... I'll call bell again on Monday before I reply to the guy from rogers trying to get me to switch...

I certainly hope jpc82 is right about bell taking over the phone lines from FCI in all areas... once that happen I can switch over to teksavvy or whatever and become a happy camper again...

:evil: damn rogers for such ridiculous small bandwidth allowance (i started using high speed internet since late 90s, speed has been going downhill, more restrictions, higher prices ever since... @!#$%^&)

[LingOWen]

I believe Bell is taking over the phone lines from FCI in all areas, but I may be wrong. Bell originally wasn't available in my area, but shortly after FCI got bought they started to send us fliers. If I check online bell's system still says they are not available, but if I call they are available.

Also, I talked to FCI today and it seems like if you want you can stick with them till they finally cut off service. The person I spoke to said they haven't picked a final day, but they think it may happen towards the end of the year. They just made a note on my account that I want to stick with FCI and they will call or send a letter at least 2 months before the system is shut off. This is very different then the Roger reps that keep calling telling me they will be getting rid of the service very soon. So FCI for now, and Teksavvy once I get notified.

hey jpc82, which area are you located at? I am assuming not Thornhill Woods area?

[jpc82]

Sorry for not replying back earlier I didn't notice you have replied to the thread. I am in the Weston/Ruthurford area.

Well it seems like what I was originally told was not true. Bell did take over the lines in our area and technically I could get Bell service. However when I actually called to make the conversion (FCI service is cut off in early September) I was told I can't go with bell becuase the FCI contract is still valid and due to that they can't service me.

This is such bull. My bill will be going up considerably, and after a year will be going up by $20. And the service is a joke compared to what FCI offered, or what I could have got with Teksavvy/Bell.

I am going to try to contact the Compition Beurue to see if there is anything I can do, but I really doubt it. So for now I have had to book an appointment with Rogers to get moved over and I am really nto happy.

[xb0xb0y]

Thought I'd share. I have to migrate to Rogers but I'm not thrilled at going to a digital home phone service, due to the knowledge of potential poor phone quality and no service during power outages. Family member recently moved and went with Rogers phone and it would disconnect calls like you wouldn't believe. They ended up canceling and going with Bell, but Rogers gave them a credit towards other Roger services they still have.

Anyway, I have no choice as they are cutting FCI service in Sept (original letter said Aug) and Bell doesn't service my area. I've been pushing switching as long as possible.

I negotiated the following which seems decent:

Basic Home Phone + 1 free feature (I chose call display) for 1 year term:
$21.95 - $10, $5.95 SAF waived and $50 promo credit

High-speed Lite for 1 year term:
$34.95 - $10

Installation fees were also waived. Note these are 1 year term, not contract. CS told me to call back a few days before the years up and tell them to keep the SAF waived and to negotiate other retention discounts.

[mighty_falcon]

Have any of you guys managed to get Bell service in areas which FCI used to cover? I am in thornwhill woods and wanted to switch to DSL but no luck so far...

[xla4life]

I am in major mac and woodbine area. I had no problems switching from fci to bell.

[mighty_falcon]

I am in major mac and woodbine area. I had no problems switching from fci to bell.

Did you get a dryloop? I was on the phone with a Bell rep on friday and the woman kept telling me its not available in your area and offered me the portable internet instead...

[xla4life]

Did you get a dryloop? I was on the phone with a Bell rep on friday and the woman kept telling me its not available in your area and offered me the portable internet instead...

I just called Bell up and told them I wanted to sign up for their home phone service. A couple of days later a tech came by the house and did some wiring outside. He didn't even come inside.

Then I called Teksavvy and signed up with them for internet.

[mighty_falcon]

I just called Bell up and told them I wanted to sign up for their home phone service. A couple of days later a tech came by the house and did some wiring outside. He didn't even come inside.

Then I called Teksavvy and signed up with them for internet.

I gave them a call again and just asked for a phone line from bell this time. After a few attempts from the CSR she just told me Bell can't do anything in the area and couldn't give me any exact information as to why.

I just don't understand why they cannot do anything only in the Thornhill Woods area, so strange....