Why I HATE Explornet

[KegRiver]

I am so frustrated right now, pardon me while I rant.

For the past several years we got our internet access through a small local company. They gave us good service, good rates and a built in email service.

Their system was reliable and easy to learn to use. They even had local technicians to fix thing if anything went wrong.

Then they sold out to Expornet and the problems started. Our email login no longer worked and there was no longer a local technician to talk to.

But after many calls to Toronto and many hours of searching help sections I learned that my old mail had been transferred over and was still accessible, by adding a step to my login.

After I figured that out it was back to doing email as I always had, until today.

Today I log in and everything had changed. Instead of the familiar layout I was used to I saw instead page after page of lines of words that looked more like a spread sheet then an email page.

Okay, I'll have to learn how to use this was my first thought.
Easier said then done.

First off I had to scroll down two pages just to fund the incoming mail, then I discovered that clicking on it did not open it.

I think to myself, "oh darn, more calls to Toronto coming up"

So I look for a log out button. No button, none, not one, just lines of text, some of it black, some of it blue.

I went over the pages again and again, almost an hour later I give up and shut down the browser thinking that might log me out. No such luck.

So I called, nearly an hour later a real person was on the line, "let me explain how this works" she says.
Pardon me? Why should it have to be explained? Then there is some cackling and popping and the line goes dead. Oh Great! Now I have to go through all that again.

So I'm sitting there staring at my email page and for some unknown reason I read the very first line, word after word.

This is what I read, as near as I can remember

To link to rssc feed click on logout.

What the heck is that supposed to mean! It's in blue so maybe it's a link, so I click on the first part, nothing happens, then I click on the word logout.
And up pops a warning saying do you want to log out.

Well yes, as a matter of fact I do.

I can't believe some computer tech thought this made sense!
What sort of world do they live in anyway!

Morons, complete morons! Don't they realize that outside, in the real world, there are people who don't live by compute code!

I thought tech was supposed to make our lives easier, not complicate it to the point where we feel like smashing every electronic device in the house!

Rant over.

[Phil McCracken]

Can you get LTE where you are at?

[Talking moose]

If you have cell service at your farm, get Telus hub. Runs off the towers. Works great.

[CNP]

Create a gmail account. It's a pain informing all of your contacts that you have a new email address.......but do it.

[KegRiver]

Can you get LTE where you are at?

No, unfortunately we have only two options. Explornet and Telus dial up.
We used to have three before Explornet bought out the local provider.

[FCLightning]

Weird. I have xplodnet and my e-mail interface hasn't changed in years.

[KegRiver]

If you have cell service at your farm, get Telus hub. Runs off the towers. Works great.

I have no service here most of the time. Every so often I do get one bar signal but it generally lasts less then ten minutes.


The folks next door put in a booster. Now they get two bars for up to half an hour at a time.

[KegRiver]

Create a gmail account. It's a pain informing all of your contacts that you have a new email address.......but do it.

I have a throwaway gmail account. I could make it my primary account and am thinking of doing so.
But I hate to loose my abnorth business account.

[KegRiver]

Weird. I have xplodnet and my e-mail interface hasn't changed in years.

Maybe because your account was with explornet all along, mine was migrated over from abnorth which used citymail.

[Dewey Cox]

I also have no use for explorenet.
They strung us along, promising to give us usable internet for a month, and the day after we couldn't cancel and get our money back their tune changed. Suddenly they had no more plans to fix it, and what we had was all we'd get (which was completely unusable internet)
I am very fortunate that an entrepreneur in the next town over started his own internet company, and it is great. (Vitalnet)

[WV911]

Have you looked into Starlink?
I hear a lot of great things about it if you can get it.
Xplorenet just bought out the small provider we had here as well.

[Phil McCracken]

No, unfortunately we have only two options. Explornet and Telus dial up.
We used to have three before Explornet bought out the local provider.

I used to have the Explornet dish. No more...

Changed about 7 months ago to Explonet LTE. Unlimited coverage and has worked great for me at the acreage.

But...had to wait for the tower to get installed in the area. Maybe you don't have one yet where you live.

Big difference...and LTE is cheaper...:)

[KegRiver]

I used to have the Explornet dish. No more...

Changed about 7 months ago to Explonet LTE. Unlimited coverage and has worked great for me at the acreage.

But...had to wait for the tower to get installed in the area. Maybe you don't have one yet where you live.

Big difference...and LTE is cheaper...:)

I think we may already be on their LTE service. We are on a tower system. That much has not changed.

[KegRiver]

Have you looked into Starlink?
I hear a lot of great things about it if you can get it.
Xplorenet just bought out the small provider we had here as well.

No, I had not heard of them, but I'll look into it.

[6MT]

xplornet


Not Explornet.

Xplornet’s biggest problem….overbooking their tower sites. Thus…poor throughput and limited bandwidth.

[Phil McCracken]

xplornet


Not Explornet.

Thanx for your input...appreciated...:)

[Tannerdog]

My thought was Starlink too, but not sure where it's available yet. I too had bad experiences with Expornet and was very happy to finally dump them. I spent a lot of years trying to get a cell signal in the foothills and north so wonder since you can grab one bar occasionally (there is signal there but very weak) if a tower and antennae of your own would get you useable service. I used to run a Yaggie (sp) antennae up on a 15' pole and get it working well.

[6MT]

Thanx for your input...appreciated...:)

I’m not trying to be sarcastic. I’m using their service right now. Even though my path is only 3/4 of a mile and my signal is huge at my location, because my tower is overbooked, I have limited bandwidth. That’s what xplornet is….limited possibilities.

[rjlester]

Keg, I know your pain. We were with Explodenet for probably ten years. Being that I work in IT as a career, I found them the most disorganized, lying, cheap (hardware), clueless, nonfunctional provider in North America. I hated calling their tech line to report issues, because they would ask: "did you reboot the radio? etc..." which angered me to no end. I could build a new radio that worked better than the crap they kept selling me. I would usually end up with a higher end tech guy on the phone because my knowledge put the first two lines of defense in a spin.

If you have no reliable LTE service available, I honestly encourage you to look into STARLINK. It is extremely reliable and very fast from what I understand. Might be a waiting list but the wait would be worth it.

On a side note, I grew up in Peace River and my Dad worked for AGT. He remembers working and installing phones in the Keg River area in the 60s! He knew the area very well all the way up to High Level.

[curtz]

We got tired of xplornet poor service and high prices. We got a telus hub but had to get a yagi booster that I mounted on our roof. We live in the middle of the bush and was surprised how good the booster worked, we had poor cell service before.

[rjlester]

We got tired of xplornet poor service and high prices. We got a telus hub but had to get a yagi booster that I mounted on our roof. We live in the middle of the bush and was surprised how good the booster worked, we had poor cell service before.

Yes I should have mentioned we switched to the Telus Hub and it is excellent. The booster as mentioned may work for you. Try it, you have nothing to lose.

[Phil McCracken]

I’m not trying to be sarcastic. I’m using their service right now. Even though my path is only 3/4 of a mile and my signal is huge at my location, because my tower is overbooked, I have limited bandwidth. That’s what xplornet is….limited possibilities.

No problem...all good.

I have no issues here after I was able to change. But I agree with you in regards to "over use".

Fortunately, "cross my fingers", I do not have that issue here...:)

[KegRiver]

Keg, I know your pain. We were with Explodenet for probably ten years. Being that I work in IT as a career, I found them the most disorganized, lying, cheap (hardware), clueless, nonfunctional provider in North America. I hated calling their tech line to report issues, because they would ask: "did you reboot the radio? etc..." which angered me to no end. I could build a new radio that worked better than the crap they kept selling me. I would usually end up with a higher end tech guy on the phone because my knowledge put the first two lines of defense in a spin.

If you have no reliable LTE service available, I honestly encourage you to look into STARLINK. It is extremely reliable and very fast from what I understand. Might be a waiting list but the wait would be worth it.

On a side note, I grew up in Peace River and my Dad worked for AGT. He remembers working and installing phones in the Keg River area in the 60s! He knew the area very well all the way up to High Level.


No kidding! I may have met your dad then. We got our very first phone line back then. Before that our only connection with the outside world was a XJ phone setup at the Cabins.

I just now had a look at StarLink, it looks good.

[WV911]

No kidding! I may have met your dad then. We got our very first phone line back then. Before that our only connection with the outside world was a XJ phone setup at the Cabins.

I just now had a look at StarLink, it looks good.

Ask Tirebob about Starlink, he has it and last I heard he loves it.

[Ceilidh69]

Another vote for Starlink - it works really well

[Gerald_G]

I took a look, and it appears Explornet supports 3rd party email applications.
So you could use an installed email program (such as Outlook) and access your Explornet email with your choice of application interface.

https://www.xplornet.com/support/internet/email-set-up-guides/server-settings-for-xplornet-emails/

The folks at "Open Office" list Thunderbird as a good option for email client.

https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/

Could also possibly look into forwarding all your explorenet email straight to the gmail account, and just read it all there.

A quick search shows that gmail can even retrieve email from external systems if you'd rather do that than forward Explornet. Here's a link.

https://www.howtogeek.com/school/gmail-guide/lesson9/

[nitro]

Keg, I know your pain. We were with Explodenet for probably ten years. Being that I work in IT as a career, I found them the most disorganized, lying, cheap (hardware), clueless, nonfunctional provider in North America. I hated calling their tech line to report issues, because they would ask: "did you reboot the radio? etc..." which angered me to no end. I could build a new radio that worked better than the crap they kept selling me. I would usually end up with a higher end tech guy on the phone because my knowledge put the first two lines of defense in a spin.

If you have no reliable LTE service available, I honestly encourage you to look into STARLINK. It is extremely reliable and very fast from what I understand. Might be a waiting list but the wait would be worth it.

On a side note, I grew up in Peace River and my Dad worked for AGT. He remembers working and installing phones in the Keg River area in the 60s! He knew the area very well all the way up to High Level.

Me to I actually think at one point I was even flagged by their system in one way it was great I got their "level 3" tech right away

[MountainTi]

xplornet recently bought CCI, who I have my internet thru. Here's hoping

[esher]

My email is fine so far, as far as a telus hub is good unless the phone number that comes with it also comes with the previous users baggage. They kept billing me for somebody else's crap months after shutting off my hub because of charges from Google play I never made I refused to pay for. Hub needs good cell service, sure miss the old abnorth.

[theoldguy]

If you have cell service at your farm, get Telus hub. Runs off the towers. Works great.

Not always. Our stupid “smart” hub isn’t much better than xplornet. I made it clear to Telus that if my place wasn’t in their service area I didn’t want it. Oh yes they said you’re good and it was for a few months. Now it’s off and on again buffering way too much. Too many people on cell service I guess.
tog

[FCLightning]

Not always. Our stupid “smart” hub isn’t much better than xplornet. I made it clear to Telus that if my place wasn’t in their service area I didn’t want it. Oh yes they said you’re good and it was for a few months. Now it’s off and on again buffering way too much. Too many people on cell service I guess.
tog

They are all the same - eventually they are all at the same level of overbooked for their capacity - otherwise they wouldn't be able to compete at the same price points. Like when CCI came in the area and everyone was happy to jump ship from whatever provider they were with and then CCI was exactly the same as whoever they had left.

[58thecat]

Over the last 10 years we have changed things up probably three times and the bottom line was satisfaction so we immediately went elsewhere.....Dont have time to listen to excuses etc......next!

[Dylan15]

My dad has starlink at his cabin in the mountains of Montana. Only recently since the border opened up though. We used to not be able to stream netflix, simple google searches would take minutes. Now, netflix can go nonstop on multiple devices with lots of extra capacity. Can't recommend enough.

I have Starlink on order for the acreage I am building this spring, hope it comes in time. I have used Telus hub with varying success, and own one I can use for a few months if need be, but I think in my area there will be quite a difference from the Telus to Starlink.

[Redfrog]

We're not happy until you're not happy!!!

Without exaggeration xplornet is the worst company UI have ever dealt with from product to staff, to customer service bar none. Rude, ,,incompetant,. Hours spent on hold listening to static filled elevator music.
I've had them for 15 years.
I only have them because the other option is Telus "windup".
For several months Xplornet had be functioning. Not great but not impossible to work with.
I had Voip with them as well as the internet, until their gear crapped the bed and they said they weren't replacing it.

Sorry i have nothing positive to offer, but until you can find a different provider, you are stuck.

[ganderblaster]

The best internet company I have dealt with was McsNet was on an acreage so with storms the satellite was a bit spotty but they took customer service very seriously. That was 3-4 years ago and it could of changed but have yet to be satisfied with an internet company since we moved.

[TBark]

I’m actually good with Xplornet at the cabin,
Full 200Gb pkg for $100/ mo.
And put on hold from Dec til May at no monthly charge.
Unsure if they will bill me the modem rental for my held months, likely, will know shortly.
Even tho we get 3-4 bars LTE up there for phones, made the move to satellite to work from home last fall.
Attend a few meetings, back in the stand, ha.

TBark

[rjlester]

No kidding! I may have met your dad then. We got our very first phone line back then. Before that our only connection with the outside world was a XJ phone setup at the Cabins.

I just now had a look at StarLink, it looks good.

How cool, I talked to my Dad and he says he remembers the Keg River Cabins, and the XJ phones! I guess they were some kind of two way radio phone. Small world. I went on Google Maps and he described the drive off the highway west towards Keg River.

He has a few cool stories from back in the day. One was when it was -30 and he was heading back to PR in the dark on the OLD highway. He got stuck in a snowdrift, and walked through the bush and 3 foot deep snow to the new highway. Finally he sees headlights and it was another AGT truck sent to go find him as he was missing!

I bet the two of you would have some great conversations!

[KegRiver]

I'm sure he knows some of the same people I do.

Yes the XJ phones were really just two way radios, tuned to channels controlled by AGT and used exclusively for making phone calls.

The were a royal PITA. There was always someone a bit closer or a bit faster who would trip the repeater before I could or they snatch the connection I had tripped because they were faster on the key then I was.

Even if I did make the connection my wife back then couldn't seem to grasp that I could listen talk but not both at the same time.

I was the first guy in the district to get a cell phone, all because I hated those XJ phones.

[KegRiver]

Update, this morning I tried three different computers and three different browsers to log into Xplornet mail. They all turned out looking the same.

Then tonight I tried again and everything is back to the way it was before.

[dgl1948]

My son had Explornet. Then he got Starlink about 6 months ago. He said it took about 20 minutes to be up and running. They are very pleased with it. When he canceled Explornet they told him they were coming with better service and offered reduced rates but he said he would never go back.

[leeelmer]

We are in the exact same boat.
It was CCI wireless, tower is 1/2 mile from my house. Was fantastic, great service, local techs, fast.
Now Expolernet, terrible service, call center is in India, slower and slower by the day.
****ed off, telus hub not a great option here and costs a pile more.
Looking into going to Starlink

[nimrod]

We have xplorenet now LTE unit, our last company needed a antenna to get there internet to your place, we went through 3 companies before Xplorenet , at times I need to unplug there unit under my desk, then unplug our router, then when the light goes green, fast internet again, this LTE unit seems to be the ticket to better internet speed , so lets hope this keeps us happy for a few years now.

[rjlester]

My son had Explornet. Then he got Starlink about 6 months ago. He said it took about 20 minutes to be up and running. They are very pleased with it. When he canceled Explornet they told him they were coming with better service and offered reduced rates but he said he would never go back.

I remember a few times when I told Xplornet I was frustrated and thinking of going with someone else, they would always promise an upgrade for cheap, and it would work for a month or two, then get slow again. When I finally cancelled it was such a good feeling! I will never believe anything that company says.

[Iron Brew]

I have a throwaway gmail account. I could make it my primary account and am thinking of doing so.
But I hate to loose my abnorth business account.

You can either get it forwarded to your gmail account, or set it up so your mail program runs two email addresses.

[CptnBlues63]

Update, this morning I tried three different computers and three different browsers to log into Xplornet mail. They all turned out looking the same.

Then tonight I tried again and everything is back to the way it was before.

Sounds like they got enough complaints they finally had a serious look at the issue and figured it out.

If you haven't, it might be a good time to backup all your saved emails. You should be able to export it all to a file in one shot.


You've had a few responses recommending Starlink. I would have a serious look at that if it were me. They have some small connectivity issues which I'm sure they'll figure out eventually but at present any outages that do happen are pretty short lived. I suspect the issue there is when your signal is being handed off from one satellite to the next one in line.

Starlink is expensive though. $600 up front for hardware then $130 or so per month. But, if you are running a business, you should be able to claim that on income tax.

Someone recommended using a 3'd party email account. This is a good idea. Even for your business!

Check this email provider out: https://www.mail.com/

You can create choose from multiple domain names. I have one account with them: xxxx@inorbit.com You can have multiple accounts, including your business account. This way, should you ever have need to change your internet providre in the future, it won't affect your email in any way, shape or form.

I mention this because should you move to Starlink, you may not be able to access your present email.

I switched providers several months back from Telus to another one new in my area but all my important stuff points to my telus.net email account. Luckily, for a mere $7.00/month telus lets me continue to use that email account. So that is definitely something you need to know. Will xplorenet let you keep using your present email or not. If not, or if they want to charge you too much, it's time to move to 3'd party email.

Eventually I'll get everything moved over to my @inorbit.com email account and then I'll say my last goodbye to telus but it's a bit time consuming because I've been with them 16+ years now so I have a lot of stuff going automatically to that account and I have to move each one as they come in.

[KegRiver]

They fixed the problem. I'm told the code wasn't rendering html for some reason.

And I'm on the waiting list to get Starlink. The say it's be some time after harvest this fall.