MetroNet

Overview Of MetroNet As An ISP

This review will look at MetroNet and its offerings, pros, and cons. At first sight, their gig offering looks almost too good to be true, so what’s the catch, and what do their other products look like?

Here is a quick outline of this review:

When it comes to choosing a new internet service provider, it can get complicated. This is not only because of the number of packages available, but also the sheer number of ISPs out there. And the fact that a lot of the providers offer very similar services, doesn’t make it any easier.

So, where does one start? Is it as simple as picking the cheapest ISP or maybe just choosing the package with the higher speed? It isn’t quite as simple as that. Picking the right product is a careful balancing act between the asking price and the service the user will get. In other words, it comes down to the ISP’s value proposition or, in other words what value does the ISP provide in return for the price the user pays.

Because of this, it is necessary to do some research on all the available options to see what they offer, what their prices are, and what value they give. And here ISP reviews are of immense value because they show the pros and cons of the specific ISPs objectively without the marketing lingo that makes a product appear better than it really is.

ISP Checklist

Things To Look Out For

Before looking at what MetroNet offers, it may be helpful to look at some things prospective customers should look at when choosing an ISP. The simple reason for this is that, if they know what to look for, it’s often a lot easier to look past the marketing hype that service providers use to prop up their products.

So, when choosing an ISP, customers should make sure:

Availability
Is the service available near you? This is probably one of the most important things to look at because an internet connection is only good if it is actually available. In other words, customers should look at whether the specific provider offers services in their state. If they don’t, they can be removed from the list and customers don’t have to waste time to study and compare their packages.

Speed
It’s fast enough. This is often tricky to judge. This is because many customers don’t know what the different speeds mean for them, making it difficult to decide which package will be best. Also, it can affect price significantly, often by adding no value. What is meant by this is that a customer may need a slower connection but opts for the faster one because it sounds better. This then means that the customer’s paying more than he should. Likewise, choosing a package that’s too slow will make things like streaming and online gaming a hassle. The key takeaway here is to choose a speed that suits the purpose the internet connection will be used for.

Price
It has to be priced right. The right price doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest price. It’s about finding a balance between speed and price. For example, paying $200 per month for a dedicated fiber connection may not make much sense to a home user, while it could be perfectly acceptable for business use. Likewise, paying a bit more for a provider that offers almost 100% uptime makes sense compared to a provider whose connection is down a lot.

Connection
It must be the right connection. Once again, the connection type depends on the use of the connection. Here things get a little more complicated, though.

Believe it or not, two different connection types with the same speed can feel different. For example, a satellite connection and cable connection may have the same advertised speed, but the satellite connection will feel slower, simply because the data must travel into space and back. In contrast, a fiber connection with a latency of 20ms will feel much faster, even if it has the same stated bandwidth.

Reliability
It must be reliable. A user can have the fastest connection, but it’s of little use if it’s down all the time. So, users should consider the reliability offered by the provider when choosing an ISP. Here, it’s always a good idea to look at an ISP that offers a service agreement that specifically states exactly how reliable the connection will be.

By looking at all these factors, and weighing up the different options against each other, customers will be sure that they pick the right ISP considering their needs and budget.

Now, what makes MetroNet a good option and what does it offer?

MetroNet Perks

What Packages Does MetroNet Offer?

Before looking at the packages, though, there are some perks that come with MetroNet.

Fiber
First, MetroNet is fully fiber all the way to the customers home, so this means that their download speeds should be more reliable and upload speeds should be just as fast as download speeds.

Unlimited Data
Secondly, customers get unlimited data, so there are no data caps, overage charges or warnings once a certain threshold is exceeded.

MetroNet Packages

What Packages Does MetroNet Offer?

When it comes to packages, MetroNet offers the following:

100 Mbps for $49.95 per month.
This package is best for light web browsing and light to medium email use. Customers will also be able to do some light music streaming and connect two or more devices to the internet.

200 Mbps for $49.95 per month.
With this package customers will be able to do some light web browsing and light email use, light streaming of music, and easily upload and download large files. This package is also suitable for minimal gaming and video chatting. Keep in mind, though, that this price is only valid for the first 24 months that the customer has the connection.

500 Mbps for $59.95 per month.
This package is best for video and music streaming, gaming, video chatting, and uploading and downloading videos and photos. Being faster, customers will also be able to connect more devices to the Internet. As is the case for the previous package, this price is valid for the first 24 months, whereafter it will increase to $69.95.

1 Gb for $59.95 per month.
The fastest of all the packages is great for heavy streaming video and music, heavy gaming, video chatting, and uploading and downloading videos and photos. This price is valid for the first six months, whereafter it will increase to $69.95 for 12 months. After 18 months the price will increase to $89.95.

A definite plus of these packages, is that MetroNet offers customers an excellent choice of download speeds. This means customers are more likely to find a plan that fits their needs and less likely that they’ll overpay for extra speed. And when it comes to speed, MetroNet performed well in Netflix’s ISP speed index, ranking 11th out of 69 Internet service providers.

Extras
In addition to these packages, MetroNet also offers add-ons like TiVo, Whole Home Wi-Fi, and streaming services, that come at an extra charge.

How do you get started with MetroNet?

Contracts

First off, it’s good to know that customers don’t need to sign any contracts with MetroNet. This means that customers can keep their Internet service for as long as they want or need it and pay on a month-to-month basis. It also means that customers can cancel their service without any harsh penalties, which makes it an excellent option for anyone who isn’t sure that they’ll be in one place for a long time.

Equipment

All of the MetroNet packages includes a wireless router. Although there is no indication on their website what brand of router this is, it’s in all probability a Linksys or Zyxel one.

Cost

The rental cost of this router is included in the $9.95 monthly service fee which also includes support.

Repairs

If the customer’s equipment is faulty, and a technician goes out to the customers home, it will be fixed at no cost to the customer.

Use Your own Router

For customers that don’t want to use the included router, it’s perfectly possible to use their own equipment as long as it supports the download speeds of the chosen package. In other words, if a customer chooses a 1 gig package, but the router only supports 300 Mbps, the customer will end up with speeds closer to 300 Mbps.

Fees

As far as fees go, customers can expect to pay up to $75 for installation but can enjoy potential discounts if they opt to do a credit check or set up an autopay method.

MetroLink vs the Competition

Is It Value For Money?

To consider whether MetroNet offer good value for money, it’s necessary to compare it to some of its competitors in the market and see what they offer.

Xfinity
With 6 pricing plans that range from $19.99 for a 25 Mbps plan to $84.99 for a 1000 Mbps plan, Xfinity’s plans are similarly or lower priced compared to similar ISPs. Keep in mind, though, that these prices are subject to signing a 12-month contract and only valid for the first 12 months of the contract.

Verizon

With packages starting at $39.99, Verizon Fios is a viable option especially when it comes to speed. One thing to keep in mind though, is that router rental costs $15 every month and an extender which adds similar features to MetroNet’s Whole Home Wi-Fi offering adds another $10. Alternatively, customers can buy the router for $299.99 and the extender $199.99.

Suddenlink

With four pricing plans ranging from $34.99 per month to $74.99 per month, Suddenlink offers a similar offering to MetroNet. Remember, though, that Suddenlink charges a $99 installation fee, an $40 activation fee, and an hourly service call fee of $60.00. Also, should a customer wish to upgrade their plan, Suddenlink charges an amount of $25.

From this it seems that MetroNet’s competitors are similarly priced in respect of the packages they offer and that there isn’t much that separates them.

Some things that may make MetroNet worth a customer’s while, is the low $9.95 technical service fee, the fact that there’s no data caps, and their good speeds across all their packages.

Service Area

MetroNet’s availability is limited to the Midwestern United States and, as a result any customers that stay elsewhere will be better served by looking at other options.

Conclusion

Verdict: So, is MetroNet a good ISP?

To recap:

  • It does offer good prices, but customers should keep in mind that those prices, in many instances, are limited to a certain period. Even though the prices after the initial period will be merely average, customers still get unlimited data and no contracts, so the prices offered come with lots of value.
  • It’s fast. Although MetroNet offers similar speeds to other ISPs, it’s fiber internet so a customer’s upload speeds are just as fast as their download speeds. In fact,
  • MetroNet also scored well in Netflix’s latest speed index.
  • Customers don’t need to sign any contracts with MetroNet, so there’s no fixed term obligations and no cancellation fees. The technology service fee also lessens the impact of any service calls or broken equipment.
  • Metro needs customer service is a hit or miss affair, but it’s not unlike any other ISP’s customer service.

Ultimately, customers must weigh up the unlimited data, full-fiber connection, and the fact that there’s no contracts against the limited availability, hit or miss customer service, and average prices after the promotional prices end. If, after doing this, MetroNet still offers what the customer needs for their budget, it is the best ISP for that customer. If not, the customer is better off looking at other options.

If a customer does go with MetroNet, the best plan seems to be the 100 Mbps, which is fairly priced and doesn’t go up after the initial promotional period. With this plan, customers will still be able to game and stream Netflix, and it’s suitable for most homes unless they need the higher speed of another package.

Order MetroNet

Call 833-318-0743 to set up service.

MetroNet Customer Service