Verizon FIOS Internet speed: distinguishes between router to Network and device (your computer) to Network!

So, like Optimum non fiber, Verizon fiber has real speed to my computer way below the one gig I am paying for. It can vary between one third and two thirds of a gig.

Three tests below. Today's test (#3) shows the distinction noted in the title of this post.

1.

Verizon FIOS speed is about the same as Optimum. What the heck?  Thursday, November 20, 2025

I paid for one Gig from both Optimum and Verizon FIOS.

I used my Asus router for both Optimum and Verizon FIOS.

__________________________

2. a couple of months ago:

I think I used a wired connection, not WiFi. On this test, the connection is wired Ethernet from the Verizon router. As in the first test:

I disabled ad blocker and refreshed both before running the tests.

Using my Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14:

My review after 6 weeks with the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 [VIDEO]

August 11, 2025 By Robby Payne

• Super-fast Kompanio Ultra processor ...

I’ve had the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 in my bag for a bit over 6 weeks at this point, and I have to be honest with you: I knew it was my favorite Chromebook ever after just a few hours of use. Seeing it at the Chromebook Showcase in New York back in June was only a small taste of what makes this device so special, and like many others, I wasn’t 100% sold on its awesomeness right away. However, after putting it in the bag and having it by my side for real-world work in my new reality that has me working directly from my laptop in all sorts of settings these days, I have no issue saying that this is my favorite Chromebook ever made.

_______________________________

Verizon FIOS: https://www.verizon.com/speedtest/

download: 925

upload: 891

___________________________

https://www.speedtest.net/

download: 436    873

upload: 922    922

___________________________

Let's try a third:

speed test

download: 896    840

upload: 713    888

___________________________

___________________________

Let's try with WiFi:

Verizon FIOS: https://www.verizon.com/speedtest/

download: 949

upload: 901

___________________________

https://www.speedtest.net/  Ookla

download: 592    599

upload: 507    479

___________________________

speed test

download: 694

upload: 297

___________________________

3. May 9, 2026  This Saturday morning before 8:00 AM. In an apartment building and people are probably sleeping late.   

Nothing fancy.

I did not disable ad blocker and did not refresh both before running the tests.

WiFi  My Asus RT-AX3000 router. My Lenovo Chromebook again (see above):

Verizon FIOS: https://www.verizon.com/speedtest/

This time I noticed that Verizon does two tests.

Router to Network:

download: 939

upload: 899

Device (presumably my Chromebook to Network):

download: 653

upload: 479

___________________________

https://www.speedtest.net/  Ookla

download: 611

upload: 218

___________________________

speed test

download: 554

upload: 83

___________________________

I have run the tests quite a few other times. For instance, during the past week in the morning I was getting download speed 340 for all three tests. That's about one third of what I am paying for.

Speed Test: download speed half of what it's supposed to be.  Sunday, December 29, 2024

Verizon FIOS speed is about the same as Optimum. What the heck?

I recently switched from Optimum to Verizon FIOS and expected the download speed to be much faster but it's about the same, ... using something other than the Verizon FIOS speed test.

I paid for one Gig from both Optimum and Verizon FIOS.

I used my Asus router for both Optimum and Verizon FIOS.

I disabled ad blocker and refreshed both before running the tests.

Verizon FIOS: https://www.verizon.com/speedtest/

download: 925

upload: 885

___________________________

https://www.speedtest.net/

download: 568

upload: 137

___________________________

Verizon FIOS v. Cablevision Optimum "tax" & fees, especially for voice service.

It's got to be public servants sticking it to semi-monopoly Verizon. The difference is stark, especially for voice service.

Comparison of "tax" & fees for current Verizon FIOS and that for Cablevision Optimum 7/16/16:

Verizon Surcharges & Fees What is this?		voice	Verizon		Optimum
					TV
NY Universal Service Fund	$0.12				taxes and fees	$4.03
NY State and Local Tax Surcharges	$1.87				Phone
Federal Universal Service Fee	$3.15	$3.15			NY Excise Taxes	$0.74
Federal Subscriber Line Charge	$7.75	$7.75			Sales Tax	$1.35
VLD Carrier Cost Recovery Charge	$1.54	?	Verizon Long Distance		E-911 Fee	$0.35
VLD Long Distance Administrative Charge	$0.91	?	Verizon Long Distance		Federal Universal Service Fund	$0.47
Video Franchise Fee	$6.83				Total Taxes & Fees	$6.94
Regulatory Recovery Fee - Federal	$0.08
PEG Grant Fee	$1.00
Regional Sports Network Fee	$2.91
Fios TV Broadcast Fee	$1.75
NY Municipal Construction Surcharge	$1.35
	$29.26	$10.90

Tax, etc. on land lines: "Verizon Surcharges and Other Charges & Credits SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2014

Verizon FIOS login does not work in Chromebook.

http://www.verizon.com/?lid=//global//residential

Bad Request

Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.
Size of a request header field exceeds server limit.
__________________

It worked for years but not the last couple of weeks.  Verizon FIOS support was not helpful, insisting it was the fault of my Chromebook or its browser, both of which work fine with the rest of the web and Internet.

Cablevision wrote that it requires Social Security Number only for "standard retail rates", i.e., rates NOBODY takes.

Cablevision (Mathew, of Corporate Executive Customer Relations (CECR)) wrote a paper letter to me dated June 30, 2015, post marked July 15, 2015, which arrived yesterday July 17, 2015.  You can't make up stuff like this.

I have written several recent posts on this topis, including:

Cablevision called but insisted on recording our conversation. I declined. SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

A couple of days ago a guy (Mathew, I think) from Cablevision called to discuss what's described in my previous post ...

There are two things that federal and state legislatures need to do:
1. Prohibit private companies, especially those providing utility and pseudo-utility services, from demanding that a customer provide them with his/her Social Security number.
2. Ban the recording of conversations unless a copy and/or transcript is made available to the consumer...

Unfortunately, when a company with monopoly or duopoly power in an industry asks it is really a demand.

I call upon my elected representatives to pass legislation to fix this.
________________________

Mathew did not provide a last name.  He did provide a phone number (631-846-5317), which I called yesterday about 7 PM.  It was answered by a person who had no idea who Mathew was.  She assured me that Mathew did not have a voice mailbox where I could leave a message.  She did, however, provide an e-mail ID for the group that Mathew is in: cecrdesk@cablevision.com.  It turns out I already had that for a guy named Thomas Hagzan.  I'll send a link for this post to that e-mail ID and also to:

James Dolan, Cablevision CEO: JDOLAN@cablevision.com

OK, here's what Mathew wrote:

... providing your Social Security Number to Cablevision is not a requirement. If a Social Security Number is not provided by a prospective customer, service would still be offered at our standard retail rates.  Please note, we do request a Social Security Number when a customer wishes to sign up for a promotional offer."
________________________

Nobody pays standard retail rates when switching to a company like Cablevision. NOBODY. To suggest that this policy is not an absolute requirement is to present a distinction without a difference. It is either ironic or a poor choice of words that Mathew wrote they "request a Social Security Number ... for a promotional offer".  If that's really true then there is no issue.  They request.  I decline.  Cablevision provides service at the rates for a promotional offer.  But that won't happen.

Mathew also mentioned the phrase "sign up".  I think part of the attraction of a Cablevision "promotional offer" is that there is no annual contract, so a new customer is not required to "sign up".

A Cablevision "promotional offer" is pricing intended to entice you to switch.  Then after the promotional period expires, maybe in a year, the rates increase to, I guess, "standard retail rates".  At that point a customer decides whether to switch and take a "promotional offer" from a competitor, in this case Verizon and its FIOS.  Mathew did not provide any rates, either "standard retail" or "promotional".  He should have.

In his opening sentence Mathew wrote:

"The complaint that you filed with the (New York State) Public Service Commission has been forwarded to my attention for investigation and handling."

New York State Public Service Commission complaint against Cablevision for collecting Social Security numbers. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

Complaints have also been filed with the FCC, Social Security Administartion and a message sent to the New York State Attorney General.  Messages sent to both U.S. Senators and member of the House of Representatives.  Oh, and Executive Director White Plains Cable TV...

Communicated by phone and e-mail with Thomas Hagzan, Corporate Executive Customer Relations Cablevision: cecrdesk@cablevision.com 631-846-5317
____________________________

Let the "investigation and handling" begin! But do not record conversations without providing me with a copy. And I think that New York State requires that both parties consent to a phone conversation being recorded. Companies do not even come close to asking for consent. They don't even hedge anu more and state that it may be recorded. They tell you that it is being recorded and then plow ahead with their prepared telemarketing script and completely ignore any objection or question. This has to stop.

Cablevision record keeping sucks. And it wants my Social Security Number to provide service.

In January I had tried to switch from Verizon FIOS to Cablevision.  "Tax" on Verizon was causing my bill to be unacceptably high and Verizon was too inflexible to provide any meaningful price concession.  Part of the reason for that is that Cablevision's agreement with the City of White Plains has expired, which entitles Cablevision to not pay PEG, whatever the heck that is.  Nice system of regulation, huh?

I ordered service from Cablevision and scheduled an installation.  That day I received a call from the Cablevision installer who said I was next and that he'd be here soon.  After a while he called again and asked for directions.  Eventually it became clear that the Cablevision installer had an incorrect address.  It wasn't even close, not in any way, not even the street number.  Not the street.  Not the town.  In fact it was private house and I live in a large apartment building.

The Cablevision installer put me in contact with the the Cablevision dispatcher who did not help.  I said you must have someone either here or nearby but the dispatcher would not do the installation that day and asked me to reschedule.

Later that evening I tried to reschedule but Cablevision started asking me a lot of basic questions and it turned out that they needed to start the signup process all over again.  Why?  Bad systems.

Fast forward to the recent nonsense over:

Cablevision collects VERY personal data and it's OK with the local government. THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

"This call may be recorded for quality purposes." Who will give you a copy? THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

Which led to:

Cablevision called but insisted on recording our conversation. I declined. SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

A couple of days ago a guy (Mathew, I think) from Cablevision called to discuss what's described in my previous post:..

There are two things that federal and state legislatures need to do:
1. Prohibit private companies, especially those providing utility and pseudo-utility services, from demanding that a customer provide them with his/her Social Security number.
2. Ban the recording of conversations unless a copy and/or transcript is made available to the consumer...

Unfortunately, when a company with monopoly or duopoly power in an industry asks it is really a demand.

I call upon my elected representatives to pass legislation to fix this.
_______________________________

There was actually more to that aborted conversation.  Cablevision guy tried to check for a record of my having been a customer years ago.  Guess what he found?  The incorrect address from the failed installation in January.  I was shocked.  I assured him that I never lived anywhere near that location and might never have been in that town.

Then it dawned on me.  I wondered if I had been foolish enough to have provided my Social Security Number to Cablevision back in January to complete that installation order for new service.  Sure enough, I had.  I asked Cablevision guy to check and he was able to view it on his screen.  Oh, not the entire number.  Just the last four digits.  You know, the four that now serve as the universal mini ID that everyone and his uncle gets to request.  I asked Cablevision guy if he could remove my SSN.  He tried by backspacing the four digit value in the field and I guess saving.  Of course, that doesn't mean that it was deleted from the Cablevision database and I'd be very surprised if it was, especially since Cablevision preferred to lose me as a customer rather than provide me with its service without my SSN.  So when I tried to get Cablevision service a second time this year did Cablevision again ask for my SSN when it already had it?

Finally, I just received a second paper communication from Cablevision addressed to someone I have never heard of but to my mailing address, including apartment number.  Cablevision's database thinks that someone else lives here.

And Cablevision wants my SSN?  Again?

New York State Public Service Commission complaint against Cablevision for collecting Social Security numbers.

Complaints have also been filed with the FCC, Social Security Administartion and a message sent to the New York State Attorney General.  Messages sent to both U.S. Senators and member of the House of Representatives.  Oh, and Executive Director White Plains Cable TV.

New York State Public Service Commission Office of Consumer Services Three Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223-1350 Voice: 518-473-0229

You Have Submitted The Following!

You are: Mr. Kenneth Matinale
If you are complaining for a business, the business name is: 
Your address is:
The utility you are complaining about: Cablevision of Westchester
You have also provided your account number: none
You have given your phone number as: 914.
You have provided a daytime reach phone number of: 914.
You provided us with your email address: KEN

The problem you are experiencing is ..
Communicated by phone and e-mail with Thomas Hagzan, Corporate Executive Customer Relations Cablevision: cecrdesk@cablevision.com 631-846-5317

The resolution(s) you are seeking ..
Private companies, including Cablevision and Verizon, should be forbidden from collecting personal information, especially Social Security number. The data that Cablevision states it has a right to collect includes: "date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number, credit card number and expiration date, bank account number" (from Cablevison's privacy agreement with White Plains).  Note: Cablevison's franchise  agreement with White Plains has expired.

This can be used for identity theft.

The resolution they offered you ..
None. I could subscribe at a much higher rate than that offered to other new subscribers, which is obviously intended to coerce the Social Security number, which they want for debt collection by overbearing collection agencies. 

Cablevision wants Social Security numbers so that it can collect what it views as unpaid bills.

Online chat:

Arthur K.: Having your previous address helps us to identify that as well.
Kenneth Matinale: Why would Cablevision need my Social Security number?
Arthur K.: We use it strictly for identification purposes.
Arthur K.: We do NOT run credit checks.
Kenneth Matinale: None of my other accounts asks for Social Security number. I log in using ID and password.
Arthur K.: Once your service is set up, we would also suggest that you create an Optimum ID and password.REE/
Arthur K.: Plus, we are not asking for your Social Security number.
Arthur K.: We are only asking for your contact phone number and your previous address.
Kenneth Matinale: Again, why did Cablevision need my when I called two days ago?

Arthur K.: Kenneth, I'm sorry but I do not understand your last question.
Kenneth Matinale: My Social Security number was absolutely required by the Cablevision order taker I spoke to a couple of days ago when I tried to switch from Verizon. When I refused, I was denied service.
Arthur K.: Kenneth, I cannot speak to your earlier experience, but I do apologize for any inconvenience or unpleasant experience.
Arthur K.: Sometimes we do need a Social Security number when the phone number and previous address do not specifically identify the potential customer.
Arthur K.: In this instance, I'm fairly confident that we will be able to proceed with just your phone number and previous address.
Kenneth Matinale: The other person was polite but insisted that Social Security number was required for security reasons.

Kenneth Matinale: I concluded that Cablevision wants Social Security numbers so that it can collect what it views as unpaid bills. It certainly could not be for security.

Arthur K.: Kenneth, part of trying to identify new customers is, in fact, an attempt to identify past customers who have unpaid previous balances.
Arthur K.: We do try to collect past due balances for service we have provided.

Why does Cablevision want your Social Security number?

I'm getting killed with the cost of my Verizon FIOS service, partly because of all the "tax".  So I just tried to switch to Cablevision's Optimum service.

I started the order process on the Optimum website but that would not go through and I had to call.  We didn't get very far.  The order taker wanted my Social Security number.  The explanation was security, that someone might contact Cablevision pretending to be me and try to cancel my service.  I said there were other ways to provide that type of security and refused to provide my Social Security number.  I also asked if it was for Cablevision to do a credit check but that was denied.

I figured Cablevision would fold and place my order anyway but that did not happen.  I was told to call back if I changed my mind.  I said likewise and hung up.

Cablevision actually lost a new customer over this.  Why would it be so important?  Certainly not to provide security to either the company or to me.  Probably to chase people to collect unpaid money Cablevision thinks it is owed.

purevpn: more chatting about disconnects from Windows and Chrome OS. Support still wants me to disable my firewalls.

Name: Kenneth Matinale
Registration E-mail / E-mail: KEN
Are you Existing Customer Yes
Country / Location: USA/New York

  Deniz Thu, 03/19/15 02:11:21 pm America/New_York

Hello Kenneth Matinale. How may I help you?

  Kenneth Matinale 02:12:48 pm

I'm connected to purevpn on my Chromebook. Hooked it up yesterday. But it has the same problem as my Windows 7 PC: the connection drops.

  Deniz 02:13:51 pm

may i know which server address you are using

  Kenneth Matinale 02:14:19 pm

oscar1 LA
That doesn't seem to matter.
I'm connected now.
I have another Chromebook and connected it to Miami yesterday and the connection dropped. Windows drops from amy servers.
many servers

  Deniz 02:18:17 pm

http://support.purevpn.com/customer/portal/articles/1616041

please follow this link

At the link:

My VPN disconnects after every few minutes. What should I do?

There are multiple reasons which may cause the disconnection like:

1-Switching the Protocol: If you are experiencing disconnection issues, then change over between the protocols, i.e. PPTP, L2TP, SSTP and OpenVPN. Mostly, disconnection issues are broken up by switching the protocols.

2-Firewall: If switching protocols doesn’t help then check Router / Windows / 3rd Party Firewall settings. Disable your firewalls at first, temporarily and try again. Sometimes router firewalls cause the disconnection problems and internet activity issues because WiFi routers usually grind the VPN to a stop after a few minutes of use, plainly because they can’t keep up with SPI / Firewall turned on.

3-Mobile Credentials: Likewise, you may face disconnection issue if you use Mobile account credentials (username/password) on PC / Mac / Router etc. Mobile account doesn't cover PC / Mac / Router etc and only supports Mobile and Tablet.

4-Internet Connection: If you still face disconnection issues after switching between protocols and turning off firewalls, you have to check your network. If there is any glitch in your internet connection, you may have disconnection issues in such scenarios as well.

_________________________________

  Kenneth Matinale 02:23:14 pm

Thanks. On Windows I switched protocols. That didn't seem to matter. Another purevpn support person suggested that I disable my firewalls for diagnostic purposes. I refused. That seems out of the question, especially given the nature of the service that you provide.
I am using the Verizon FIOS router.
I do not know where the Chrome OS firewall is, even if I wanted to disable it, which I do not.
You must have a log of my connections and disconnects and the servers and protocols.

Duration: 16m 43s
Chat has been opened from website: http://www.purevpn.com/tutorials.php

*******************************

Name: Kenneth Matinale
Registration E-mail / E-mail: KEN
Are you Existing Customer Yes
Country / Location: USA/New York

  Hummer Thu, 03/19/15 02:34:21 pm America/New_York

Hello Kenneth Matinale. How may I help you?

  Kenneth Matinale 02:34:43 pm

I was just in the middle of a chat when ...
Connection lost. Please check your internet connection and then try again.
It was about all the disconnects.

  Hummer 02:35:34 pm

Please share the issue you are having in detail so we will proceed accordinglu
*accordingly

  Kenneth Matinale 02:36:45 pm

purevpn connections drop often: Windows 7 and now Chrome OS on two different Chromebooks.

  Hummer 02:37:14 pm

Please try switching between protocols i.e PPTP/L2TP on your windows then try again

  Kenneth Matinale 02:37:18 pm

Ironically, I finally got it working on my Android tablet.
Changed protocols several times and don't want to disable firewalls.
Using Verizon FIOS router.
Check my log. Username: xxxxxxxx
The connection to LA dropped during the chat just before you came on. I reconnected.
Now on Chromebook connected to oscar1 as before disconnect.
Was chatting with Deniz.

  Hummer 02:41:03 pm

You are requested to disable the firewall
as firewall causes the disconnection

  Kenneth Matinale 02:42:37 pm

I do not know how to disable the Chrome OS firewall but do not want to do it. Since Windows has the had the problem the most times, it does not seem as if the OS firewall is the problem.

  Hummer 02:43:26 pm

You may simply disable the firewall of your router then try and check


  Kenneth Matinale 02:43:38 pm

The connection dropped during a purevpn chat. That's all I was doing.
I'm not fooling with my router.
I'll try at other locations but my guess is that the problem will persist.
If a router firewall can cause disconnects, the purevpn service does not seem very robust.
By the way, I had the flashrouter.com router for two days plugged into the Verizon router and had disconnections. flashrouter failed at streaming video of NBA games through a Roku box, which was the main reason I bought it. I then returned it.
I think we're done. Anything else?
OK. Bye.

Duration: 15m 48s
_________________________________

Bottom line: they follow the script, which culminates with asking the customer to disable firewalls.

Today for the first time I got my Android 5 Nexus 7 tablet to connect to purevpn.  The one change I made was to let the server be assigned as "any".  Also, last night Google upgraded Android to 5.1 kernel version 3.1.10-gf5d7b8b, build number LMY47D

I connected my Android tablet several hours ago and it's still connected according to the purevpn app.  So if the problem was the Verizon FIOS router, then why is Android running purevpn and Chrome OS stopped running purevpn?  The only activity on the Chromebook when the purevpn connection dropped was my chat session with purevpn support, which could not have put much of a load on the connection.

Alert: I got suspicious and checked my Android tablet several hours later.  The purevpn app still shows me connected ... to Atlanta with a non-New York IP.  However:
- There is no VPN created among connections
- in the browser: wimi.com: What'sIsMyIP: 192.69.251.194    Same as in WiFi menu.

Apparently the purevpn Android app shows itself connected when it is not.

Business opportunity: beat the sports blackouts.

Maybe such a service or product already exists but I have not seen it yet.  Both of these failed miserably:

unlocator.com

purevpn.com

Cruise back through recent posts to wallow in details but the basic problems were:
- they do not work, certainly not consistently
- they do not address the sports blackout in the USA.

Here's what can make money for someone:
- address specific U.S. sports: NCAA basketball tournament, NBA, MLB.
- let the user specify his (it's going to be guys almost exclusively) home market.

For instance, here in New York Major League Baseball (MLB) with it's mlb.tv streaming video package will blackout the Yankees and Mets.  If I'm willing to pay for a subscription to mlb.tv, why wouldn't I just subscribe to MLB Extra Innings, its TV version.  Two basic reasons, which also apply to the NBA (don't know about NCAA):
1. MLB Extra Innings package: many channels NOT HD.  Wednesday, March 4, 2015
2. using the Internet version of the sports package, the user has the possibility to cut some of the cord and downgrade from an outrageously overpriced TV package to something less expensive or to nothing.

Most of the cord cutting stuff that's written seems geared towards beings from outer space who have no interest in sports.  The big boom in TV viewing is not movies but live sports.  That's what drives up the money, it's from those huge TV contracts.  The sports leagues receive mega money.  Then much of the cost is spread to "cable" customers, especially to pay for ESPN whether they watch it or not.

Currently to get the local sports teams from Verizon FIOS I must subscribe to a combo of HBO and Showtime, which, if I'm lucky, provide maybe one watchable movie a month.  I'd rather dump them both and pay less but I cannot without losing the New York teams.  I could if I switched to Cablevision and I tried that but the Cablevision installer insisted on performing his installation in a town in which I did not live, so after a full day of consternation I cancelled my order even though it would have been $30 less per month than Verizon.  At least Verizon could keep track of where I lived.

That's when I started looking at alternatives and tried subscribing to the packages that provided all the games for the NBA and MLB, but which unfortunately, black out the local teams.  You can see how this circle was formed.

So come on.  How about some semi-smart person using the existing, though far from perfect, technology being wasted by the services mentioned at the top of this post?  Those services apparently cater to paranoid people, not red blooded American guys who don't really worry so much about their messages being read but who want their sports provided their way.

Unlocator experience, not a review, dealing with NBA and MLB blackout.

My objective: reduce monthly costs to the provider of television, voice and Internet services by subscribing to online streaming video for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB), including bypassing the league blackout of the local New York teams.

I read a couple of reviews of Unlocator by people who seem to actually understand this stuff.  I do not.  I'm just trying to use it.  I started the free seven day trial a couple of days ago but I cannot see myself using it.  In addition to the issues specifically related to Unlocator mentioned below, the one service that I tried, NBA League Pass, convinced me that there are still substantial differences between TV and video on the Internet for sports.  For the concurrent games that I want access to, Internet streamed games require a bunch of silly junk to get to a game and for switching to another game.  It's not at all like TV where we can switch very easily.

I upgraded my unused Roku box from XL to 3.

Subscriptions:
- started NBA League pass
- future MLB.TV

I considered Virtual Private Network (VPN) but unlocator.com sounded like a better alternative for my limited requirements.  I'm not concerned about the government reading my messages, although I wouldn't mind protection from crooks.

Unlocator has a seven day trial.  So far its been consistently disappointing.

Implementation seems to be per router, not universal, which would seem to require a separate entering of Unlocator DNS data for each router encountered.  This would quickly prove to be tedious.

- Unlocator advises that I should have subscribed to an international version of NBA League Pass.

With Google's Android OS:
    - Nexus 7 tablet: Unlocator online documentation only addresses verion 4, not 5 (Lolipop); I followed directions for Android 4 but after entering Unlocator DNS data the screen never activated the Save button.
    - Droid Turbo smart phone: I tried the Unlocator "Smart VPN".  I entered Unlocator data but it did not seem to work.  Then when I tried to back out Andriod seemed to be stuck with the Screen Lock required by Unlocator "Smart VPN".  Verizon Wireless documentation said to go to Screen Lock in Android Settings and select None but that was not an option.  I finally found in another forum that I could do this: clear Credential Storage, then go back to Screen Lock and None was now an option.  Who knew?

Google Chromebook: not an option for Unlocator .

Windows: Same deal.  I need to change stuff for my router that is buried in the bowels of Windows.  What if I want to take my PC to a friend's home?  I'd have to change the settings for that person's router, then change back when I get home.  Who the heck is going to do this?

I'd have to change the Verizon FIOS router settings to remove the blackout of home teams on my Roku 3.  Unlocator documentation does not match the router screens.  Unable to implement.

I am now thinking that VPN might actually be easier to implement and also provide much more security even though that was not the primary objective.

Also, Unlocator works by providing two IP addresses for its DNS.  Why wouldn't/couldn't NBA, MLB, etc, simply block them?

Tax, etc. on land lines: "Verizon Surcharges and Other Charges & Credits

The "tax", etc. on both home and mobile voice, data, video service is obscene enough but I was shocked to learn about what appears to the current tax on a home land line, which I just added after doing without for about years.  Here's my e-mail to Verizon about its FIOS service:

to:		Verizon FIOS
date:		Sat, Aug 23, 2014 at 8:49 AM
subject:		Billing problem, what else? I just called and wasted five minutes waiting for your system to tell me that there's no one take my call.  Did it know that at the start? account number: nnnnnnnnnnnn 1. After trying to resolve it for about 18 months Verizon continues to charge me for two cable cards.  Remove and credit retroactively as promised multiple times. 2. Voice service was just added when I moved and is itemized at $30.  What the heck?  Plus, I now have lots more new "Verizon Surcharges and Other Charges & Credits", including: Federal Universal Service Fee $4.54 Federal Subscriber Line Charge $12.37 VLD Carrier Cost Recovery Charge $2.42 VLD Long Distance Administrative Charge $1.43 Regulatory Recovery Fee - Federal $.08 Franchise Related Costs $1.80  Aren't they all? Video Franchise Fee $7.93   Why now? Are the first four because I now have voice service, which was supposed to be $5, not $30.  If it also costs an extra $20 in tax, I'll drop it. Please call or reply to resolve.  Thanks. Kenneth Matinale

Wither Google Talk?

I used to be able to make free voice calls to regular phone numbers, land or cell.  Talk has been retired and I only get Voice, which simply let's me send a number to be dialed and paid for by a real phone service, in my case Verizon Wireless.

It's nice to be able to look up a number and have Google dial it for me.  Much nicer was Google presenting two, not one, phone icons in my address book with the option of having Google make the call for free.

I may have to go back to Skype and pay about $38 a year for free calls to regular numbers.

Searching on "Google Talk" yields a link to google.com/talk (chat with family and friends), which re-directs me to google.com/hangouts, which states: "You can upgrade Chat to Hangouts by clicking on your photo icon in Gmail's chat list."  Did I inadvertently do that and lose the free calling? 

Is there a way to make free voice calls to regular phone numbers with Google+ Hangouts?

Verizon Home Monitoring service: what does Verizon think of my critique?

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Verizon Home Monitoring service needs work.

Since posting that message a month ago I have not noticed any action by Verizon, which may simply be because it has only 14 views.  So I decided to send it directly to Verizon.  This was alluded to in my previous message posted a few minutes ago.  Contacting Verizon is difficult.

Here is that message:


ACCOUNT NUMBER XXXXXXXXXXXX

http://techthoughtsmatinale.blogspot.com/2013/01/verizon-home-monitoring-service-needs.html

Please address these issues.  Thanks.
__________________________________

Let's see what response I receive from Verizon, if any.

Verizon Customer Support e-mail: customersupport@verizon.com

customersupport@verizon.com

The Verizon website is impenetrable.  It loops you, dead ends you, fails to support Chrome you.  You name it.  Just try sending e-mail to them directly.

A couple of minutes after sending my e-mail message I received an e-mail message back from Verizon, which contained this:


Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting Verizon.

 One of our customer support associates is currently reviewing your inquiry and our goal is to respond within two business days.  Please note, response times may vary depending on our e-mail volumes.

Verizon Home Monitoring service needs work.

In September 2012 I paid $89 for the required kit, which I think is now free.  It includes the gateway, which connects to the router and a simple camera and wall device to which any electrical thing like a light may be plugged in.  I also ordered the front door keypad lock and a Trane thermometer.

I got the gateway working with some help from Verizon support and subsequently had the lock installed.  It works well and almost makes the monthly service charge of $9.99 worth it.  I have yet to attempt installation of the Trane thermometer.

Windows PC access is OK but could certainly be improved.  However, the apps that I've used on my Android tablet and Droid smartphone need a lot of work.  Remote access is often problematic and junctions limited.

I cannot add, change delete pass codes for the lock from the apps.  This is a big limitation.

The gateway has failed and caused me to lose remote access to the devices but Verizon did not send a message informing me.

The Verizon camera does not have infrared like my previously purchased D-Link IP camera, which I can always access remotely using its app through the free D-Link network.  However, I have not been able to record with the D-Link camera.

Since the Verizon camera cannot see in the dark it would be nice if camera activation could trigger having the light in the room turned on.  I cannot find that.

The Verizon camera has a privacy button, which is needed because if you have record set for activation you would be initiating recordings with notifying e-mail messages constantly every time you walked past the Verizon camera.  So I must remember to turn off the privacy on the Verizon camera every time I go out.  I almost never remember.  So, I can just turn on the Verizon camera remotely from an app, right?  Wrong.

Who comes up with these combinations?  How much common sense would it take to consider a realistic use of the devices and service?

Verizon, come on.  You can do better.

Verizon cannot find returned equipment. What a shock.

I had Verizon FIOS.  I moved and Verizon advised me to I get a new account (so that the on sight sales person would get credit) and I might get a better deal.  OK.  I would get new equipment, which was something I wanted anyway.  I returned the old equipment following Verizon procedures.  When Verizon did not send acknowledgement of receipt (UPS had warned me that Verizon misplaces its stuff), I sent proof from UPS that Verizon had received its equipment: date/time, location, person.

For my new home I ordered the Verizon Home Monitoring service with some extra stuff and when I got a big bill I figured that it was for that new stuff.  Who can decipher Verizon bills anyway plus I was consumed with the move.  Wrong.  Verizon had charged me $650 for not returning the equipment that I had returned.  Foolishly, I paid $580 thinking it was for the new stuff.  HUGE mistake.  Now Verizon wants another $606 due early November.

After being jerked around for weeks Verizon finally acknowledged, kind of, that equipment had been returned.  No mention of what equipment or how much money was involved.  Here is a message that I just received:


Dear K. Matinale,

Thank you for choosing Verizon. I have received your email dated 11/02/2012 regarding the unreturned equipment charges. I apologize for any frustration or inconvenience this has caused. My name is Janis, and I will be happy to assist you.

I understand your concern about the unreturned equipment charges. 

According to the records, we do show equipment processed back on 9/14/2012, 10/24/2012 and 10/29/2012.  You should see a final bill generated reflecting the returns processed with a refund check to follow.
____________________________________

My reply:

"refund check"?  Is this a joke?  I paid online.  Credit my current account as requested ... immediately, you know, like when I pay.

"refund check" mailed to where?  My current address?  My previous address?  When would this paper check even be mailed?  And when/if I receive it I still need to wait for the funds to clear.  So what, maybe ten days from now, if I'm lucky and the hurricane diminished U.S. Postal Service forwards mail from my previous address?

Fix this NOW.  I called this morning and wasted five minutes going through the call prompts before hearing that Verizon only answers calls Monday-Friday.  What, your system doesn't know this is Saturday when the call comes in and cannot inform the caller immediately that no one will answer?

Verizon does everything to obfuscate, delay, discourage.

Verizon FIOS Battery Backup: for what?

Two days ago I received an e-mail message from Verizon which said in part:

If you have fiber-based voice service or FiOS® Digital Voice, the Battery Backup Unit (BBU) installed with your service supplies up to eight (8) hours of phone service.  Please note that your FiOS® TV and/or Internet service will not be available until your power is restored.
_____________________________

I replied:

I do not have voice service.

1. Why do I have a battery backup?

2. Why not design the battery backup so that the modem/router can be powered by it?  Better yet, so that a power strip can be attached to also power my Home Monitoring gateway and some small computers: smartphone, tablet, laptop.
________________________________

Note: The only phones that will work with no electric power are those old types that plug directly into a phone jack and do not require electric power themselves.

Verizon returns: always aggravating.

Verizon sent me two Home Monitoring kits.  I've been trying for two weeks to return one.  Twice I was verbally told that an e-mail with a return label was being sent.  Never got it.

I just sent this to Verizon in response an e-mail message informing me that Verizon has an account with UPS and all I need to do is bring the package to UPS.  That's it.  No other information.  Here is my message:

1. Increase font size in your e-mail messages unless you do not want them read.

2.
Bad request
Your browser sent a query this server could not understand.

I got that when I clicked your stores link in the Chrome browser.  In IE I did a nationwide search and found no store near me.  Didn't you know that?

3. I'll try UPS Monday.  I recently returned stuff to Verizon with a shipping label, got confirmation of delivery from UPS, then a paper letter from Verizon demanding that same equipment or else I would be charged an exorbitant amount.