Review by mjwise 
UPDATED: 363 days ago
member for 2.5 years, 110 visits, last login: 28 days ago
 Ann Arbor,Washtenaw,MI
 $74 per month
 about 14 days
 "Fast, reliable for me, reasonably priced"
 "Availability is spotty, not for the uber-hardcore"
 "If this available to you, try it out"
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Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I moved into my new condo back in April 2008. My options for internet/cable were Comcast or AT&T. I had wanted to try out U-verse at my previous residence but it wasn't available.I placed an order via phone for U-100 (one TV only - you cannot order U-100 online, you have to call) + Pro (3Mbps) internet and set up an install date 2 weeks in advance (earlier dates were available - I was still in the process of moving at the time. Since my new place was in an area where only 768kbps DSL was available, I was allowed to order internet-only but the $95 installation fee would not have been waived then, so I decided to try out the TV option. When I moved in there was a rat's nest of coax wiring from an old satellite system so I removed all of it and decided to start from scratch.
On install day (a Saturday), I was given a window of 8-10AM and the tech arrived at 9:30. He was considerate and competent and was interested in listening to how I wanted my place wired. I wanted a very simple set up consisting of a Cat 5 "home run" bypassing the 40+ year old wiring in the walls) directly to the RG (residential gateway - VDSL modem + HPNA switch + Ethernet switch + wireless access point) with two more network drops to the first floor, one for TV and one for PC. I have an all Cat5 installation, and if this is an option for you, I would pursue it.
The tech was very efficient, didn't mind me watching/asking what he was doing, and my installation was finished by noon. He even wore plastic booties when he was inside. The TV receiver by far took the longest time to set up and it needed to download something like 4 or 5 updates which each took ~10 minutes each. That was the biggest snag in the whole install - it's kind of silly they need that many updates out of the box.
The internet is as advertised - 3 down/1 up 24/7. Latency is a tad higher because the DSL is interleaved but the gamer in the house has not complained.
The TV service is good. The guide interface is a lot nicer (both in eye candy and functionality) than the Time Warner and Comcast boxes I've used in the past, channel changing is nearly instantaneous, and the SD picture is flawless. When I go over to a friend's place and see analog cable SD, the difference is readily apparent even on older TVs. I have no HDTV to test with the service and I did not subscribe to the HD option. I very occasionally (1 a week) get stutter/freezing on a channel.
Overall I recommend the service and will be keeping it for the foreseeable future.
UPDATE: 11/08 - I dropped the TV service as I just didn't watch enough TV to make it worthwhile. I upgraded to 6/1 internet and it's fine. I plan on keeping the service unless AT&T's decides to take service caps national - then I will have to reconsider and possibly go to Comcast instead. My usage is generally under the current trial cap at 6/1 of 80GB a month but I may start doing more work from home and 80GB is way too stingy for a 6/1 service (you'll reach it in just 30 hours of downloading...ignoring any uploading!).
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