Hot or Not? Winfire DSL

[OutlawWolf]

I thought PacBell DSL service is $49.95/month w/1yr contract.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

144k DSL is a joke, that's not much faster than 56k modem.
if your home is closed enough to get 1.5M, go for real DSL and pay $40/month, you'll be more happy. otherwise better try Cable.

 

[SinMen]

144k for free? No joke to me. I would use it as a back up anytime. Over my cable service.

 

[Perplexer]

Problem is, you won't be able to use Winfire as a "back-up" to your "real" DSL service; you can only have one DSL provider per phone line.

I use Telocity, and have had very few problems. Static IP, good newsgroup completeness and retention, but $50/month in Miami, FL.

 

[ALBundyHere]

Ouch, you people pay alot. I use AEI and pay 29.99 a month 1.5meg DSL line. Nothing beats that, not even the crappy freedsl.com. Once people start buying their own modems, it will get cheaper from there on.

 

[formulav8]

I have the winfire $20 plan on my wifes computer.(I have cable) The service is very reliable and she get a steady 384Kbps connection. Just because people have alittle problems they want to completely put them down. Also for the people that are saying winfire said they were available one week and the next week they aren't. It isn't Winfires fault. Its your crappy telephone company. Winfire has to go by what your phone company says. So, start saying your phone company sucks.

 

[Purvin]

13 month contract you have to do which sucks.
144k is slow.

 

[fong718]

i'm on cable, but the freedsl is very useful since my cable goes out every once in a while. my upstream speed on the freedsl is 108kb/sec, close to @home which is now capped at 128. my dl's on the dsl aren't bad either, average 30-40kB/sec. compared to aol and msn, the freedsl is good, you can keep your current isp and use winfire too. It really shaky here in san jose, keeps going down a lot, but its been improving, and for free, why wouldn't it be hot anyways (got the modem for free with the referals).

 

[formulav8]

Purvin. Almost all Dsl companys require a contract. Also if the contract with Winfire is for a year and the service is free what would the problem be?

 

[ElGato]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the privacy issues, concerned with FreeDSL. I would never in a lifetime use my credit card through FreeDSL or Netzero.

In addition to all the other costs previously mentioned they also charge $25 account setup. As a backup service it's a bit pricey to set up and as a primary service it seems unsafe.

EG

 

[samgoody69]

I live in Columbus, OH. I sign up (I can't remember when). I got approve for winfire on Dec, 00, still wondering to pay $200 for modem or not. I have till 2/15 to make my decision.
Does it really worth it?
where can I get a cheaper DSL modem that works with Winfire?
BTW, I am using RoadRunner service with Linksys 4 port Router (very happy).
Anyone in the same area as I am want to share thoughts?

 

[BlkDragon6]

The 25 dollars if for the installation kit which has the line filters, y splitters and setup cd. It's not like it's some random 25 dollar charge. And like a previous poster stated, the line speed is dependent on how far you are from the CO and also the telephone company you're using, that's why some people are moaning and some people are perfectly content. If you don't like the speed you're getting, there's a 70% speed garauntee. Believe it or not but the free plan is actually the least popular, I know because I have a friend that works there.

 

[SKORPI0]

Finally got my FreeDSL/Winfire up and running. Signed in early Sept 2000, and was supposed to be activated Nov 14th. Some of the problems are blocked ports (might be fixed), no newsgroups, propretiary e-mail system, privacy.... Its really worth the wait, since they have a current shortage of modems. Finally got a Westell WireSpeed ethernet DSL modem (from Anandtech member - saturnine) and DSL filters via Radio Shack.

Here is link to a forum where you can read more about it...

FreeDSL/Winfire forum

 

[erikiksaz]

i pay 20 dollars a month and i get a steady 384kbits. the only problems they are having right now are:

1) you will not be pingable. it's a firewall on their side, or something like that.
2) some ports are blocked. most games do work for me though, cs, q3
3)the banner BAR does not go away even if you pay, although the ads do disappear if you pay.

they are currently working on those problems, or so they tell us.

 

[shadowfaX]

I have a friend who signed up for FreeDSL ages ago... probably like last year... and it still hasn't come, although he's received many emails saying that the service was up and running.

 

[BlkDragon6]

erikiksaz,

The bar is supposed to be hidable. Check out some more of your settings.

 

[HJB417]

BlkDragon6

Senior Member Date Posted: Feb/08/2001 9:33 PM

[ there's a 70% speed garauntee ] where was this stated? I've never seen that before as on last october.

 

[fobster]

blkdragon6,

are you sure the bar can be hidden, i dont seen it in the settings. althought i dont get disconnected when i run games like cs, it just auto hides.

about sharing internet connection on another pc, yes i've done that, i've been able to run cs on both comps at the same time in the same server gettin pings of 100 or less, funny i thought that it wouldn't be possible to get onto the same server with the same ip.

yah it took a while for me to get online, not only was there a waiting period for the modem but also after receiving the modem i had to wait about 3 more months before i got connected cause of some kinda networking problem (so they say) but that maybe due to pac bell my current tele comp.

oh yah im paying 20/month for the 300k or so dl.

 

[mylam]

144k .. way too slow

 

[jacobnero6918]

Winfire facts for those considering it:

1. There just a reseller

2. They have a servere port blocking problem which means no FTP or certain chat programs

3. you have to use there toolbar to logon to DSL

4. speeds vary wildly, some with the $35 premium service barely get 300k while others with the 144k free line get 1.5 megabit line. DSL is hard to control I guess.

5. Lots of error,disconnections, slow speed from the complaints on the winfire board at dsl reports

6. $20 a month for 384K is a good deal if you have only slight problems but worthless if you have tons of problems.

7. Some people can hide the toolbar others can't not sure why

8. There sofware is written in html or java so it is slow

9. It only stays connected for 12 hours if your inactive

10. ICS works from what people tell me on the winfire board at dsl reports so setting up a home network is possible.

11. other modems can be used. The local telco actually has a list and the list is also on winfire's site. Winfire may not trouble shoot with you if your using a different modem then the 3060 or 4060


Some people love freedsl some hate it I guess it depends on how lucky you get. I recommend signing up for the free service that way if it's bad your not out much money.

here is the winfire board:


winfire board