A REVIEW OF ROGERS UNLIMITED INTERNET (AND HOW TO USE IT)

Our first month of Rogers Unlimited Internet service is now over and we’re happy. That’s right: “Rogers” and “happy” in the same sentence. Compare this with how Rogers fooled us three times.

We used 806 GB of data last month without any catches. Our service didn’t deteriorate once we exceeded our previous cap of 250 GB. We didn’t get any warnings about using too much data. We had no additional problems. Rogers delivered.

Downloads

Our plan is rated at 150 Mbps. Here are our download speeds in July, as reported by SamKnows.

There were some glitches, perhaps due to our stormy weather and power outages. That’s forgivable. Overall, Rogers provided faster service than promised.

Peace Of Mind

The big advantage of an unlimited plan is peace of mind. In the past, we’d have to ration towards the end of the month once we got the dreaded warning that we’d used up 75% of our allotment.

Here’s how you could use much more data.

Netflix

We now watch Netflix in the highest quality without worrying. You might recall that bandwidth caps forced Netflix to cut video quality in Canada (GigaOm, Mar 2011).

Netflix offers HD (2.3 GB/hr), Super HD (1080p at 2.7 GB/hr) and 3D (5 GB/hr) (CBC, Jan 2013). There’s no extra cost but you need a supported setup.

Not every title is available in higher quality. Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies is but may not rank high on your must-watch list.

If you’re buying a 4K TV (4096p), you’ll want content. Netflix is planning to deliver as early as 2014 (The Verge, Mar 2013). You’ll also want unlimited Internet since streaming consumes about 160 GB per hour (Deloitte TMT Predictions 2013).

Backups

I back up much more data online now. Previously, I only backed up one primary computer using CrashPlan+ Unlimited ($60/yr for one computer). Now we have CrashPlan+ Family Unlimited ($150/yr for up to 10 computers). Here are the home plans and reviews:

• A full review of Crashplan+ (About.com, Aug 2013)
• CrashPlan review (Backup Review, June 2013)
• Cloud backup for all (ars technica, May 2012)

If you shoot HD video, you use up space fast. Archiving raw video is a good idea but takes up lots of room. Online storage is ideal if you’re using an unlimited service like CrashPlan+ and are patient when restoring files.

For backups, your upload speed is important. Rogers limits ours to 10 Mbps. That’s okay because CrashPlan+ also backs up files to a local hard drive. That allows quick backups and quick restores.

Re-downloads

In the past, I’d download items and save them on a hard disk. That meant buying more and more external storage and hoping the disks wouldn’t breakdown. Now I delete items because I can re-download them easily (and they’re archived with CrashPlan+). There’s less need to buy physical storage.

Teenagers

If you have a family with children, an unlimited plan means less shouting.

The Drawback

The primary drawback with Rogers Unlimited Internet is the price. We’re paying $183/month for 150 Mbps unlimited. We don’t have cable TV (use Netflix, YouTube) and or a landline (use Ooma, Skype).

Compare that with Olds, Alberta where residents get one gigabit (1,000 Mbps) unlimited Internet for $57 a month (CBC, Jul 18, 2013). That’s even cheaper than Google Fiber, which costs $70/month.

At least Rogers is delivering what’s promised.

Links

• Ultimate unlimited Internet? How Rogers fooled us three times
• Great customer service from Rogers
• Are you more like Apple, Google or Microsoft?
• The right way to view Netflix in Canada
• Chocolate, salmonella and price-fixing
• The battle between temptation and personal responsibility
• Customers behave like Pinocchio too
• The power of redundancy
• Avoid Windows 8

Podcast 231

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS How about unlimited Internet usage on my smartphone?