MetroNet Ames

[LostinIowaCity]

I agree with what other people are saying here. If you are testing internet speed and getting 200/200 and ESPN+ isn't working, it's probably not the ISP's fault.

I switched to MetroNet from CenturyLink DSL. While I've noticed a huge improvement, I realize now that not all the slowness was due to the ISP. I had Mediacom for the first couple of years I was in Ames and it was consistently out. Not for long periods of time (usually), but at least once or twice a day it would drop completely for a minute or two. We've had one outage with MetroNet and it was only for one hour.

I've had a couple of small customer support issues and MetroNet was incredibly helpful and resolved issues with one call. I will not speak of CenturyLink or Mediacom's customer support other than to say that I will never do business with those companies again unless I absolutely have to.

One last comment real quick: With Mediacom and CenturyLink, you always had to play that bull**** game of calling each year to get back on the current "special". It doesn't look like MetroNet plays that game with you.

 

[Jiub]

Metronet hands down has been amazing. My parents have it and while I don't live in Ames their speeds kill Mediacom. I believe they get a gig speed for $90/month. Mediacom standard rate is $130 for there gig internet service.

Lets see $90 with Metronet or $130 and continue support of mediacom?

Which is better.....

ANSWER: Metronet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Mediacom in Ames is $50/month for 100/10 service. Supposed to be $63 but I own my own modem and router so I get $13/month off.

Metronet quoted me $60/month for 200/200 + a $10 non-negotiable "Tech Fee" even if you provide your own hardware.

The performance of my Mediacom has improved enough recently that I'm content sticking with it and saving $20/month. If it starts going downhill again I will have to re-evaluate. I will also note that we do not have a large family, so at this time the 1000GB Mediacom data cap is not an issue for us.

Not sure where you are getting 100/10 service for $50 a month unless it is a promotional price. Any internet speed of 100 down with tv costs at least $109 as a promotional price ($154 after).

 

[Jiub]

I agree with what other people are saying here. If you are testing internet speed and getting 200/200 and ESPN+ isn't working, it's probably not the ISP's fault.

I switched to MetroNet from CenturyLink DSL. While I've noticed a huge improvement, I realize now that not all the slowness was due to the ISP. I had Mediacom for the first couple of years I was in Ames and it was consistently out. Not for long periods of time (usually), but at least once or twice a day it would drop completely for a minute or two. We've had one outage with MetroNet and it was only for one hour.

I've had a couple of small customer support issues and MetroNet was incredibly helpful and resolved issues with one call. I will not speak of CenturyLink or Mediacom's customer support other than to say that I will never do business with those companies again unless I absolutely have to.

One last comment real quick: With Mediacom and CenturyLink, you always had to play that bull**** game of calling each year to get back on the current "special". It doesn't look like MetroNet plays that game with you.

Centurylink has offered a price for life rate for a while now. While in Norwalk I was getting 160 down for $50.00 a month, I had my own wifi modem so no rental fee. Never had to call them after I got it set up. Also service was great, never went down so I had minimal need to contact customer support.

 

[titleist]

One last comment real quick: With Mediacom and CenturyLink, you always had to play that bull**** game of calling each year to get back on the current "special". It doesn't look like MetroNet plays that game with you.

Have they been around long enough to know this though? Their website states a 2-year price lock which is exactly what Mediacom does. Hopefully though the increase after 2 years stays lower than what Mediacom provides at the time.

 

[tim_redd]

For me ESPN+ usually works pretty well. I've had a couple games that paused and buffered, but not often. On the other hand, whenever I try to stream stuff that's airing on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU it's completely unwatchable with horrible resolution and a buffering mess.

 

[Agclone91]

Metronet hands down has been amazing. My parents have it and while I don't live in Ames their speeds kill Mediacom. I believe they get a gig speed for $90/month. Mediacom standard rate is $130 for there gig internet service.

Lets see $90 with Metronet or $130 and continue support of mediacom?

Which is better.....

ANSWER: Metronet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Not sure where you are getting 100/10 service for $50 a month unless it is a promotional price. Any internet speed of 100 down with tv costs at least $109 as a promotional price ($154 after).

I do not have TV service.

 

[LostinIowaCity]

Centurylink has offered a price for life rate for a while now. While in Norwalk I was getting 160 down for $50.00 a month, I had my own wifi modem so no rental fee. Never had to call them after I got it set up. Also service was great, never went down so I had minimal need to contact customer support.

Have they been around long enough to know this though? Their website states a 2-year price lock which is exactly what Mediacom does. Hopefully though the increase after 2 years stays lower than what Mediacom provides at the time.

Good point by @Juib. I was on price for life with Centurylink and that was going smoothly and eliminated the annual call. However, the highest speed available in my neck of Ames was only 12 down/1 up. That's not going to cut it in today's day and age, especially with Covid. If Centurylink had fiber in my neighborhood and a reasonable price for life with it, I would consider it.

@titleist - you can't know for sure, but you can see MetroNet's standard pricing on their website. I think my bill goes up $10/month after the promotion is over. I can live with that. Mediacom would have a decent promo price and a ridiculous standard price.

 

[Jimr]

Update on my service. I watched 2 games last night on ESPN+ and there were no glitches. I hope that continues when I watch ISU women again.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

Update on my service. I watched 2 games last night on ESPN+ and there were no glitches. I hope that continues when I watch ISU women again.

The ladies game was wonky for me as well so Im leaning towards an ESPN+ issue.

 

[BryceC]

These guys are coming to Ankeny soon. I'm tempted because CL service has been really spotty but I might wait a bit after it's installed to test it out.

 

[3TrueFans]

When I had Metronet in September it was terrible, but I signed back up last month and it's been very solid so far. I don't know if they were still in the process of completing their infrastructure, or if they added hardware to increase capacity, but I have no complaints so far this time.

 

[brianhos]

These guys are coming to Ankeny soon. I'm tempted because CL service has been really spotty but I might wait a bit after it's installed to test it out.

I will jump on day 1, or at least use it to pressure mediacom down in price. They have laid conduit on my street, so it should be soon.

 

[Trice]

I will jump on day 1, or at least use it to pressure mediacom down in price. They have laid conduit on my street, so it should be soon.

They say the project won't be done until November 2022 but I've seen nothing that addresses if different parts of the city will come on line sooner than others or if it's all at once.

Anyway, here is their construction page. I assume a map for Ankeny will be coming soon.

Construction Hub

Learn more about Metronet's 100% fiber network construction. Get help concerning construction in your area.

construction.metronetinc.com

 

[Agclone91]

When I had Metronet in September it was terrible, but I signed back up last month and it's been very solid so far. I don't know if they were still in the process of completing their infrastructure, or if they added hardware to increase capacity, but I have no complaints so far this time.

How is their in-home hardware? I'm still with Mediacom and own my own router, but since Metronet won't waive their "Tech Fee" there is really no benefit to not using their equipment unless it is terrible.

 

[3TrueFans]

How is their in-home hardware? I'm still with Mediacom and own my own router, but since Metronet won't waive their "Tech Fee" there is really no benefit to not using their equipment unless it is terrible.

I’m not using their whole home WiFi because I use my own router, so I can’t say. I think it may be an Eero that they use, not totally sure.

 

[stvfarmboy]

How is their in-home hardware? I'm still with Mediacom and own my own router, but since Metronet won't waive their "Tech Fee" there is really no benefit to not using their equipment unless it is terrible.

We are using their equipment. I have been happy with it so far. We were on Centurylink before and the difference in speeds has been night and day. The equipment is Eero brand.