Ellipsis Jetpack

[Camerkim]

we just bought this jet pack about 3 months ago. We have always used about 150 GB regularly no problem. Our data just rolled over a couple days ago and now all of a sudden it's fuzzy and it keeps buffering when I connect to Netfli. Feel My very frustrates.

[Ann154]

Which plan do you have?

[Camerkim]

We have the unlimited plan. We only have our Xbox one connected to it.

Sent from my iPhone

[Ann154 · Accepted solution]

Jetpacks is a hotspot device and is limited to 10 GB of LTE high speed hotspot data before you are slowed down to 3G speeds for the remainder of the billing cycle.

[Camerkim]

I understand that. But we always use an average of 130-150 GB and it doesn't normally slow down that much if at all. Didn't know why all of a sudden it's slow this time around.

Sent from my iPhone

[Ann154]

Probably because Verizon Wireless wasn't enforcing the speed restrictions immediately after they announced the new Verizon Unlimited Plan or they didn't have restrictions in place on the server side ready to go at the time. The announcement of the new Verizon Unlimited Plan was a surprise to many of the customers. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a surprise to the network engineers as well.

[Camerkim]

Dang. I guess that does make some sense. Figured it was too good to be true. thank you for responding

Sent from my iPhone

[TERHEM86]

Twas a beautiful bait and switch. Initially it was: See how great this is? It works as they described. It didn't slow down because I'm not on a congested network.

What it turned into after 10GB usage on the jetpack is 10kbps download, 1.5 minutes to load cnn.com

To continue to sell this as "3G Speeds" is fraud. You should make adjustments.

[Ann154]

I'm not selling it. I'm not an employee of Verizon Wireless. Try to use the proper pronouns and direct your frustration to the correct party.

[TERHEM86]

Whether or not you're an employee, you're still selling the service by perpetuating a lie. Read the other users' complaints and try to apply some common sense.

[Ann154]

Where have I lied?  I was aware of the 10 GB limit for LTE high speed hotspot data from the original press release before the plan was available. I have mentioned it several times to community members here to help them decide if the plan will work for them. If the plan isn't a good fit based on the information they provided I will tell them that.  I factored that information into my own personal choice on whether or not I would switch to that plan.

[TERHEM86]

Your second response in this thread was:

"Jetpacks is a hotspot device and is limited to 10 GB of LTE high speed hotspot data before you are slowed down to 3G speeds for the remainder of the billing cycle."

Jetpacks are crippled after 10GB usage, since 4/18 for me. Initially the jetpacks didn't behave this way. The devices worked as sold in that they didn't slow down, weren't throttled well over the 10GB limit because they weren't on congested networks. After 4/18/17, with a great signal, my most common speed test result was 10kbps download (1/5 dialup speed.) I sometimes saw as high as 250kbps, but equally as often the speed test page would time out it was so slow. These are not 3G Speeds. When you say "Slowed down to 3G speeds", that is an absolute lie.

I wasted over a day calling in to support and customer service for this issue. They were ultimately unwilling to help and recognized that this isn't a device problem. It's widespread. When I opened my first trouble ticket, it was merged with a nationwide ticket, before admitting days later that it's not a device problem, that's the throttling. So I solved the problem by FCC complaint. I am here to warn other people not to fall into the same trap. People are being suckered in by lies. I'm trying to put a stop to that, I hate being lied to. The only thing I hate more than that is my money/belongings being stolen.

Is it OK that I try to clear up misconceptions here, or is this a Pro-Verizon only zone? Not officially of course, since you're not an employee.

[lukevinyl]

While I understand the frustration with being told one thing by a rep, only to find out that what I was told was not correct, I also know that it is ultimately up to me to look into the "fine print" and terms and conditions. This is the only thing that truly means anything and not what I claim a rep told me or didn't tell me.

It is a little ridiculous to post repeatedly across the boards that "people are being suckered in by lies", VZW is committing fraud and using bait-and-switch tactics when the policy has been there since day 1. Ultimately it is up to you to change the plan if you don't like the unlimited offering, or go elsewhere for service but to make these claims all over the community forums are a little ridiculous when it is up to the individual to do their research and not rely on word of mouth from a sales rep.

[TERHEM86]

Would you kindly point me to where I find the speed expectations in the fine print? I tried everything I could think of to test what the speed would drop off to because I couldn't find it and no rep could point me to that data. I even asked VZW to force my device to 3G so I could test the speed (they didn't/couldn't). Why would I? Because they were being evasive and the speeds weren't clearly defined. And because it's a commitment that is costly.

This isn't what one rep told me, it's what all reps told me and told many others. Saying a jetpack will drop off to 3G speeds after 10GB is a lie. 10-250kbps isn't the 3G speed we used when 3G is all VZW had. How about 1 bit per year, is that a 3G speed?

[Ann154]

The fine print has been linked in the thread now, but it was easily available to you with a quick search of the community or the Verizon Wireless site. Item 9 in the FAQs and the end of the press release outlines the hotspot restrictions.

[harleyman22]

Verizon reps were all over the community forums stating 3G speeds were expected to be 2 mbps

[harleyman22]

Here is an example:

How much faster is 3G than Safety Mode?

[Ann154]

One example.  Find more.

[Ann154]

That statement wasn't a lie. It is restating the official VZW expected speeds. The new Verizon Plan Unlimited FAQs | Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless doesn't specify the 3G speeds in their FAQs for the new Verizon Unlimited Plan. They did specify the speed in the Safety Mode FAQs would be 128 kbps which is most likely 1xRTT. Anything faster than the Safety Mode speed is likely to be considered 3G to Verizon Wireless. I have read somewhere but I don't recall where that 3G speeds on the new Verizon Unlimited Plan is 600 kbps. I believe it was a VZW rep that wrote it first though. As with the LTE speeds, your actual conditions would vary.

FYI dial up speed is maximum of 58 kbps.

Get unlimited data on the network you deserve: Verizon | About Verizon

As for the first month or two with unlimited speed and data usage, I suspect and have no proof of it that Verizon Wireless didn't have their network restrictions in place to enforce the speed limits when the plan was first implemented. Either the plan was a surprise to the network engineers as much as the customers or Verizon Wireless choose not to enforce the restrictions to get customers to switch to the plan. It could be a combination of both. But it is just a theory.

[harleyman22]

You've been Verizonized!!! Welcome to the  club.

[TERHEM86]

You can facilitate a return of the jetpack by filing a complaint with the FCC online. Verizon Executive Relations will email you back. I returned mine after the return period, got a month of credit for the month they screwed me out of and a waiver of the early termination fee. Good luck in whatever you choose to do, if anything at all. If you take the time to file with the FCC, it will help all of us though.