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Update - April 2024 Ever optimistic, CenturyLink now offers $55 per month 3 Mbps DSL Internet service in my neighborhood to compete with Cox cable's offer of 100 Mbps at $50 per month. CenturyLink's service does provide an unlimited data allowance compared to Cox's 1.25 TB per month limit. Fortunately for me, CenturyLink continues to honor its 2017 "Price for Life" offer for 20 Mbps bonded ADSL2+ service at $40 per month. Unsurprisingly, a review of the FCC Broadband service map suggests that CenturyLink only has a handful of Internet customers in my 200+ house neighborhood. CenturyLink recently tweaked its ADSL2+ service. It boosted the upstream training rate to 1,021 Kbps for stable lines. The faster upstream rate reduced the upstream "Signal to Noise Ratio Margin" from about 13 db to 8 db. Apparently neither of my bonded DSL lines is stable enough to sustain the faster speed. Both lines revert to training at 894 Kbps upstream. I can't comment on CenturyLink Tech Support because I have had no reason to contact them. My Internet service continues be very reliable. I did switch to a C3000A modem. It seems to be more reliable than my aging C2000T modem. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Update - February 2023 Thirty dollar per month 200 mbps Quantum Fiber may not be coming to my "abandoned" neighborhood, but CenturyLink has not forgotten us: It still offers $50 per month 3 mbps DSL service. CenturyLink recently changed my Internet service from bonded 20/2 Mbps to 20/1.5 Mbps. Prior to this my modem trained each pair to about 11,776/1,150 kbps. The upstream rate was very near my modem's estimated "maximum attainable upstream values." Now my modem trains to about 11,776/896 Kbps. My modem's estimated maximum attainable rates are now about 15,600/1,200 Kbps. The upstream "Signal to Noise Ratio Margin" increased from about 7 db to 13 db. Aside from slower file uploads, the 20% reduction in the upstream rate has not otherwise noticeably slowed my Internet service. I had hoped that the improved upstream SNR Margin would improve DSL stability, but an intermittent line disturbance still can leave the modem trapped performing endless upstream bitswaps. This occurs with the C2000T modem (with my favorite older firmware) and the newer C3000A modem (with its latest firmware). Restoration of normal upstream operation requires manual intervention to retrain the line. I participate in the FCC/SamKnows Internet monitoring program found at »measuringbroadbandamerica.com/ Prior to this month's reduced upstream rate, my CenturyLink Internet service statistics reported by SamKnows: Downstream speed June Average 19.8 Mbps 99.0% Maximum 21.8 Mbps 109.0% Minimum 15.1 Mbps 75.5% July 19.6 98.0% 19.9 99.5% 8.8 44.0% August 19.7 98.5% 20.0 100.0% 13.3 66.5% September 19.5 97.5% 19.8 99.0% 8.5 42.5% October 19.5 97.5% 19.9 99.5% 11.0 55.0% November 19.5 97.5% 19.9 99.5% 11.2 56.0% December 19.6 98.0% 19.9 99.5% 11.4 57.0% January 2023 19.7 98.5% 19.9 99.5% 9.5 47.5% February 19.7 98.5% 19.8 99.0% 10.4 50.2% March 19.7 98.5% 19.9 99.5% 7.4 37.0% ---------------------------------------------------- Update - December 2022 It appears that CenturyLink has "returned" to my "abandoned" neighborhood: It resumed offering its 3 Mbps service at the old, uncompetitive rate of $50 per month. In 2017 it offered bonded 20 Mbps service. Back in 2011 CenturyLink offered its 10 Mbps "Pure Broadband" service in my neighborhood. Today it offers only 3 Mbps. Upgrading my 25 year old neighborhood served by underground copper to compete with Cox Cable, T-Mobile, or Verizon is apparently judged to be too expensive to be profitable. If I cancel my current 20 Mbps service, I won't come back to pay CenturyLink more than $40 per month for slower Internet service. --------------------------------------------------- Update - October 2022 I have occasional bouts of irrational bandwidth envy in my "abandoned" neighborhood. CenturyLink's web site recently reported: "CenturyLink may not be able to provide internet service at your address." It then offered a link to page touting CenturyLink's "Connect America Fund broadband expansion" that does not recognize addresses in my neighborhood: »www.centurylinkconnectsa ··· ica.com/ The issues are "I want the 100 Mbps service Cox Cable touts." versus "I don't want to pay more for faster Internet when I only need the 20 Mbps service I have." CenturyLink does provide the Internet service I need at a modest price. Seven years of 20/2 Mbps (bonded 10/1 Mbps) service with five years of "Price for Life" provides me adequate Internet access at a $40 per month. Faster Internet service would be a convenience, not a necessity. CenturyLink's 1,024 gigabyte monthly data allowance is not an issue for me. ------------------------------------------------------- Update - May 2022 By offering in recent years only a sorry 3 Mbps service priced at an uncompetitive $50 per month, CenturyLink effectively "abandoned" my neighborhood. I am back on bonded ADSL2+ service. I guess CenturyLink needed the VDSL2 ports for a new customer in one of the neighborhoods that it has not yet abandoned. Like my upgrade to bonded VDSL2 service, reversion to bonded ADSL2+ service only required rebooting my modem. The higher overhead of ADSL2+ compared to VDSL2 did cost me the additional 10% throughput I had gained when I was on VDSL2. At an estimated 4,950/5,575 feet (about 1,500/1,700 meters) VDSL2 trained much like ADSL2+. Both were over provisioned to train to about 11,776/1,150 Kbps. (Different modems make different estimates of loop length.) For ADSL2+ service I prefer the C2000T modem with an older firmware found at »internethelp.centurylink ··· .100.bin It performs much like the newer the C3000A modem. Both support the DSLstats modem monitoring software that can be found »dslstats.me.uk/ DSLstats lets me force ADSL2+ modems to retrain without rebooting. It also lets me tweak the modem's downstream SNR Margin. CenturyLink's modems lack the router features I need. I configure my modem for "Transparent Bridging" and use a router with third party firmware from »www.dd-wrt.com The router firmware provides the features I need to monitor my monthly data allowance. I was overly optimistic regarding the performance of Comtest Networks NID DSL splitter with EMI filters (NID-TJ-FB-EMI) for bonded DSL modems. It performs much like the single pair Suttle 649NV-48 DSL splitters that CenturyLink uses. The Comtest splitter does have the advantage of a single test jack for bonded DSL service. I can't comment on CenturyLink Tech Support because I haven't needed one of their technicians since my bonded ADSL2+ service was installed seven years ago. Aside from modem retrains at irregular intervals, the service has been reliable. Estimated reliability 99.9% or better. ------------------------------------------- Update - February 2021 Last March CenturyLink "upgraded" my bonded ADSL2+ service to bonded VDSL2 service. At the same sync rate, VDSL2 provides about 10% more throughput. I found VDSL2 less reliable than ADSL2+. The FEC (Forward Error Correction) rate is much higher. I think that VDSL2 is more vulnerable to radio frequency or electromagnetic interference (RFI/EMI) because VDSL2 uses 8.8 MHz bandwidth. ADSL2+ uses only 2.2 MHz. Comtest Networks makes an NID DSL splitter with EMI filters (NID-TJ-FB-EMI). I installed it with a pair of the station protectors (Bourns 2377-45-BC) that CenturyLink uses for DSL installations. I did it because I doubted CenturyLink would have much interest in solving intermittent service interruptions at irregular intervals in a neighborhood it had abandoned. Problem solved. My VDSL2 service is now more reliable. CenturyLink has effectively abandoned my neighborhood to its competitor, Cox Cable. Ten years ago CenturyLink provided "Pure Broadband" 10Mbps/768Kbps Internet service for $30 per month. Today CenturyLink's website offers new customers only 3 Mbps service. Cox offers 25 Mbps service for $50 per month (discounted to $30 for 36 months). No one will pay $49 per month CenturyLink's 3 Mbps service. With my 20 year old neighborhood served by underground copper, CenturyLink seems unlikely to make the additional investment needed to compete with Cox. I consider myself fortunate that I retained my 20/2 Mbps service after the VDSL2 upgrade. Five years ago I could not resist the luxury of 20/2 Mbps Internet and upgraded from my 10 Mbps service. Unfortunately, CenturyLink has since abandoned my neighborhood while offering higher performance Internet service in nearby neighborhoods. That makes me a little envious. And raises the issue of "need" versus "want". Faster Internet service would be nice, but I really do not need more than 20/2 Mbps. The alternatives to CenturyLink are Cox Cable and T-Mobile's new fixed wireless service. Cox has a reputation for incessant price increases. T-Mobile's fixed wireless service is too new. If I am dissatisfied with either, I can't go back to CenturyLink's 20/2 Mbps service. And I am an early "Price for Life" customer. I pay $40 per month. The alternatives cost more. I'll keep Centurylink's less expensive, adequate Internet service for now. I use a C2000T modem configured for transparent bridging and a router with dd-wrt.com third party firmware. The router lets me measure the amount of data I consume each month. I compared the C3000A and C3000Z modems with their latest firmwares against the C2000T with an older CTH003-4.12.0.100.bin firmware. I agree with the consensus that the C3000A is a better modem/router than the C3000Z. Telnet access to the C3000Z modem is broken. The C3000A is adequate as a basic modem/router, but it does not appear to offer any advantage over the C2000T when configured for transparent bridging. The C2000T firmware I use can be found at »internethelp.centurylink ··· .100.bin I do not use the latest C2000T firmware because that firmware broke modem telnet access. Telnet access to the modem is important to me because the DSLstats utility I use to monitor the performance of my Broadcom-based modem requires it. DSLstats can be found at »dslstats.me.uk Many CenturyLink modems are Broadcom-based including the C1000A, C1900A, C2000A, C3000A, and C2000T modems. In 2011 I joined in the FCC/SamKnows Internet service monitoring program. It monitors my Internet service and sends me monthly emails detailing important performance statistics. Information about the FCC/SamKnows Internet service monitoring program can be found at »measuringbroadbandamerica.com Download speed: Average 21.7 Mbps Maximum 21.9 Mbps Minimum 11 Mbps Latency: 33 msec. -------------------------------------------- Update - May 2019 CenturyLink continues to honor its "Price for Life" rate. No additional fees or taxes. I been on CenturyLink's 20M/2M bonded ADSL2+ service for four years. The service continues to be reliable: estimated reliability 99.8% or better. The modem trains to 11.775/1.118 Mbps to compensate for DSL overhead. I use an Apple TV for video streaming without any freezing and stuttering issues. The 1,000 GB usage cap has not been an issue for me because I use less than 500 GB per month. I participate in the FCC/SamKnows Internet service monitoring program. It reported these statistics last month for my CenturyLink Internet service: Download speed: Average 19.8 Mbps Maximum 19.8 Mbps Minimum 14.1 Mbps Latency: 23 msec. Information about the FCC/SamKnows Internet service monitoring program can be found at »measuringbroadbandamerica.com I use the C2000T modem with CTH003-4.12.0.100.bin firmware configured for transparent bridging and an Asus RT-N66U router with dd-wrt.com third party firmware. I use the older firmware because the latest firmware broke the telnet feature of the modem that allows me to monitor the modem using the DSLstats utility program. The older firmware can be found at internethelp.centurylink.com/internethelp/modems/c2000t/firmware/CTH003-4.12.0.100.bin The DSLstats utility can be found at »dslstats.me.uk I found that the latest firmware for the C2000A modem fixed the telnet feature of that modem. I prefer the C2000T modem because it runs cooler. --------------------------------------------------- Update - May 2018 CenturyLink continues to honor its "Price for Life" rate. The service continues to be reliable: estimated reliability 99.8% or better. I used the DSLstats utility to turn the modem's "bitswap" feature off. My modem's ADSL2+ connections are more stable with "bitswap" off. DSLstats is a great utility for monitoring DSL modems. CenturyLink's local competitor, Cox Cable, offers higher speeds for a higher price. Faster Internet is always desirable, but CenturyLink's 20/2 Mbps service provides me with adequate bandwidth for reasonable price. Update - August 2017 CenturyLink increased the monthly data allowance to 1,000 GB. ---------------------------------------------- Update - July 2017 I am happy to be on CenturyLink's Las Vegas $40.00 "Price for Life" offer for my 20/2 Mbps Internet service. No more annual calls to renew an expiring promotional price contract. The service has been reliable: estimated reliability 99.8% or better. My one reliability quibble continues: CenturyLink is pushing too hard for the 2 Mbps upload speed. The FCC/SamKnows Internet monitoring service measurements for June: Downstream throughput: 19.5 Mbps average, 19.1 Mbps min, 19.8 Mbps max CenturyLink's Las Vegas competitor, Cox Cable, offers a 1,000 gigabyte data allowance. CenturyLink needs to raise its 250 gigabyte data allowance to be competitive. --------------------------------------------------------- Update - May 2016 CenturyLink increased its "Broadband Cost Recovery Fee". The bill for May just arrived: $41.38 ($73.95 Pure Broadband less $10.00 Autopay Promotion less $29.00 HSI Promotion plus $6.43 Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges) per month. The 20M/2M service has been reliable: estimated reliability 99.8% or better. My one quibble: CenturyLink is pushing too hard for the 2 Mbps upload speed. For my service, a more reliable upload speed would be 1.536 Mbps. Before I upgraded to 20 Mbps bonded service, I had 10M/768K service (sync at 11.773 Mbps down and 896 Kbps up). My DSL lines are over provisioned to allow each of the bonded lines to sync at 11.773 Mbps down and 1.103 Mbps up. The modem's estimates for maximum rates: 20.536 Mbps down and 1.125 Mbps up. I have lots of head room downstream and very little upstream. After a line disturbance my modem does a lot of upstream bin swapping. -------------------------------------------------------------- Update - July 2015 In April CenturyLink's web site offered a 20M/2M Pure Broadband at a discounted price for a 24 month commitment. My first bill without prorated charges just arrived: $39.33 ($73.95 Pure Broadband less $10.00 Autopay Promotion less $29.00 HSI Promotion plus $4.38 Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges) per month. I doubled the speed of my Internet service for an additional $5.00 per month. I was paying $34.33 on a 12 month commitment for 10M/768K DSL service. Nine years ago I paid $35.00 per month for 1.5 Mbps DSL service. I placed the order for the upgraded Internet service using www.centurylink.com on Saturday, April 25. I received an email confirming my order on April 27 for installation on May 4. I received a second email on April 28 asking me to call CenturyLink regarding my order. The CenturyLink representative insisted that I needed to purchase or rent a new modem. Unable to convince her that the modem I purchased on eBay was sufficient, I agreed to rent a modem. Installation was rescheduled for May 5. My CenturyLink billing cycle starts on the first day of each month. By placing my order late in April with installation in early May cost me an extra $40 in prorated charges: basic (not discounted) rates are used to calculate charges for a partial month. Upgrading my service to bonded ADSL2+ took about an hour. CenturyLink's technician replaced one and added a second station protector module in the Network Interface Device on the side of my house. The new protector modules are specifically designed for high speed data applications. The technician tested the DSL signals at the wall jack where I connect my C2000T modem. I returned the rented modem to a local CenturyLink store to get the modem rental fee removed from future bills. 20 Mbps service makes Internet bottlenecks more visible. For example, I get 20 Mbps updates from Microsoft but only 15 Mbps updates from Adobe I still believe that 10 Mbps Internet service is adequate for my needs, but I could not resist the luxury of 20 Mbps Internet service for an additional $220 (including installation and prorated charges) over next two years. Crosstalk between the two bonded circuits reduced the Signal to Noise ratio by about 3 db. Interleaved mode increased latency by about 10 msec. ------------------------------------- Update - March 2015 I recently renewed a 12 month contract for CenturyLink's 10M/768K Pure Broadband High Speed Internet Service at $33.31 per month ($63.94 less $34.00 discount for 12 month contract plus $3.37 in taxes, fees, and surcharges). I estimate service reliability at 99.8% or better. The FCC/SamKnows internet monitoring service measurements for my internet during February: Downstream throughput: 9.87 Mbps average 4.77 Mbps min 10.19 Mbps max Upstream throughput: 0.71 Mbps average 0.43 Mbps min 0.79 Mbps max Latency: 30.08 msec average 28.08 msec min 50.22 msec max Packet loss: 0.27% average 0.00% min 44.13% max At my address CenturyLink recently started offering 20 Mbps (apparently using bonded ADSL2+ technology) internet service. Web site prices: $73.95 no contract month-to-month internet service or $66.90 for bundled internet and unlimited home telephone service with a five year price guarantee. CenturyLink's competitor Cox Cable now offers 50 Mbps internet service at $49.99 per month for the first 12 months and $66.99 thereafter. While faster Internet service would be desirable, CenturyLink's 10 Mbps Pure Broadband service offers, in my opinion, the best value: adequate performance at a reasonable cost. --------------------- Update - January 2013 I am continuing to use CenturyLink Pure Broadband High Speed Internet service at 10 megabits per second (10M/768K). I renewed again on a 12 month contract at $59.95 less $20.00 promotional discount plus fees giving me total cost of $41.93 per month. Contract has a $200 early termination fee. My modem syncs at 11772 kbps down and 887 kbps up on ADSL2+ mode with fast data path. I participate with the FCC / SamKnows internet monitoring service. Measurements for my DSL service during December 2012 as reported by SamKnows: Downstream throughput: 9.97 Mbps average 8.36 Mbps min 10.35 Mbps max Upstream throughput: 0.74 Mbps average 0.49 Mbps min 0.77 Mbps max Latency: 31.73 msec average 25.17 msec min 829.76 msec max Packet loss: 0.23% average 0.00% min 19.49% max Service has been better than 99.8% reliable. Reliability would have been even better if CenturyLink had not bungled a central office equipment upgrade. The work on my line should have been done overnight instead of during the day. Once I reported the outage CenturyLink technicians promptly restored service. The equipment upgrade was completed the next day without disrupting my service. ----------------------------------- CenturyLink upgraded my Pure Broadband DSL service from 10M/768K to 10M/896K last week. They also changed my data path from fast to interleaved. I sent an email to TalkToUS@centurylink.com asking to be switched back to a fast data path. They responded within a day to report that my fast data path had been restored. After trying Clearwire for several months, CenturyLink's introductory offer of 10 Mbps Pure Broadband offer at $29.99 per month on a 12 month contract was too much to resist back in January 2011. I renewed on a 12 month contract at $40 plus fees/taxes with a $200 early termination fee. I am in an area where Prism TV is offered. I signed up last year for the Federal Communications Commission broadband monitoring program run by SamKnows.com. Data collected by SamKnows confirms my experience: consistent, reliable broadband service at or near advertised speeds. From Sprint to Embarq to CenturyLink, my DSL service has been always been reliable. Looking back six years to my previous review, I find that I have DSL service that is more than six times as fast for only 20% more money. My review from 2006 -- 1.5 Mbps DSL service - $35.00 per month - 12 month contract Helpful and well informed customer representative. Placed order on Monday for 1.5 Mbps DSL. Received self install kit on Tuesday (Sprint SP-660ME-61 modem/router). DSL service scheduled for Thursday. Live at 2:00 am on Thursday, as promised. Smooth as glass. No problems. member for 21.8 years, 5052 visits, last login: a few hours ago updated 74 days ago
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