Internet woes
Videotron is having issues, which they admit to on their tech support line. I’m connected here via iPad and phone hotspot, not great for posting, but the blog will be back as soon as Pierre Karl gets around to fixing it.
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Kevin 15:24 on 2022-05-24 Permalink
Cooncidence that this happens as Bill 96 is passed…
Kate 17:10 on 2022-05-24 Permalink
Some combo of line glitches and an apparently fried router.
I already pay nearly $100 a month for internet and they want me to pay an additional $3.99 for a new router. $3.99!!
dhomas 18:57 on 2022-05-24 Permalink
Videotron no longer allows for users to use non-Helix hardware, so that’s likely what the 3.99$ fee is for. You have a few options: buy your own Videotron Helix modem/router, which you can find on Facebook marketplace or Kijiji for less than what Videotron charges, provided you opt for the Gen 1 model (which is WiFi5 vs the Gen 2’s WiFi6); go for a reseller of Videotron service, which will allow you to use “standard” DOCSIS modems (I actually have one, if you need it); get on Videotron’s sibling network, Fizz, which comes with a free modem/router; go for Bell or one of their resellers.
100$/month is a lot for Internet. I’m sure you can find cheaper.
Kate 19:31 on 2022-05-24 Permalink
My cable modem is a little box made by Hitron and my router, which I suspect is dead, is a really old Linksys. The technician I spoke to didn’t say I was supposed to have Helix hardware. I must do some research here.
DeWolf 21:27 on 2022-05-24 Permalink
I switched to Helix and my bill dropped from $100 to $70 per month for unlimited internet… and the service is much better.
With utilities it’s best to switch up your plan every couple of years, otherwise you’ll end up paying way too much for some obsolete package.
walkerp 07:25 on 2022-05-25 Permalink
Go with a third-party ISP. Buy your own hardware. Videotron is the less of the oligopoly of evils here in Canada, but still want to see everything you are doing. That Helix box is nasty. TekSavvy is the big name but there are a few others.
Ephraim 11:29 on 2022-05-25 Permalink
I’m on VMedia. Also have IPTV from them. Love their service… you buy the modem from them, but the router you can get cheaply used or… open box from Amazon via shorturl.at/bnLQ9
maggie rose 11:49 on 2022-05-25 Permalink
I’ve been with Teksavvy, hmm, over 10 years. Pretty much since they started up. They had to raise their prices a couple of times (due to CRTC rulings in favour of the big guns). Not sure what their other services cost, my DSL, 400g a month, is 47.03. My main love for TSI is that they are engaged with fighting for the rights of 3rd party companies, for the sake of customers. Customer service has always been awesome. May depend on your location, they have ways to check that beforehand.
MarcG 15:22 on 2022-05-25 Permalink
I have unlimited DSL with VIF for around $40/month + tax and they gave me a free old modem, but I don’t stream anything so it’s probably too slow for modern users.
Kate 17:43 on 2022-05-25 Permalink
I’ve switched to Helix and will be getting my new hardware by Friday, with any luck.
Why is the Helix box nasty, walkerp?
dhomas 19:33 on 2022-05-25 Permalink
@Kate: I don’t have Helix myself, but my mother-in-law does. What I find really odd is that Videotron wants to know everything you do. All your personal settings are stored in the cloud (helix.videotron.com). If you do any port forwarding, for example, it doesn’t seem to be stored locally on the modem/router, but in the cloud. This might be what walkerp is referring to?
I have Videotron’s sibling brand, Fizz. I signed up during their beta phase and got a ridiculous price that is grandfathered, so I’ll keep it as long as possible. I set my modem/router to “bridge” mode, so it only acts as a “dumb” modem. I use my own router hardware and I completely bypass the Videotron DNS. This is possible with Helix, too, but most people won’t bother.