Review by Graystoke 
UPDATED: 300 days ago
member for 3.6 years, 1283 visits, last login: a few minutes ago
 Stockton,San Joaquin,CA
 $150 per month
 about 30 days
 "HD Picture Quality, Support, DVR"
 "Some Things Were Not Explained By Pre Sales Person"
 "Overall, I'm Happy With U-verse."
| Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I signed up for the U-400 package. TV, internet (Max 18), and phone. I had Comcast service prior to U-verse. I was fairly happy with Comcast service. The main reason I switched, was the price. It was going to be a $50 a month savings, and Comcast wouldn't negotiate.
I was given an install date and a time window of 8AM-10AM. Install tech showed up at 8:15AM. At first he was going to use the old cable TV cable, that was installed about thirty years ago, but then decided to remove that, and install new cable. From the time he started work, to when he finished, it took about 4.5 hours. He was very helpful. He answered all my questions.
I had some problems at first with audio and video sync, but that was taken care of by swapping out the HDMI cable for components.
Tech support has been very good. The people on the phone have been very helpful, and if I needed to have some one come out here, they were here that same day, if I called early enough, or first thing the next day. Something unheard of with Comcast.
The only major problem I've had is with U-verse phone. It is not compatible with my home alarm system. According to my alarm company, and several others that I've contacted, the alarm system will not work with VOIP. I need a special "radio box" that works with cell towers in order for alarm system to be monitored. If I had known that, I'm sure I wouldn't have ordered U-verse phone. I think the sales rep should have mentioned that.
Other than that problem, I'm pretty pleased with U-verse.
Followup comments:  
TNPhoneman
@bellsouth.com | Your are correct Dial up alarms do not work with VOIP services. Many reps are unaware of this, though it is fairly well known in the field. The same problems came about from Comcast/Time Warner's initial VOIP rollouts from customers who tried to use fax machines. | |
|  |
ResearchMama
@bellsouth.net
| Re: Your are correct I had a sales guy here last evening from AT&T U-verse and I specifically asked him if there were conflicts with the phone and an alarm system. He said absolutely not. Makes me wonder if he had a clue about anything else I asked him. | |
| | | Graystoke
join:2006-03-24
Stockton, CA
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·Comcast
| Re: Your are correct I got a call from the installation manager of my alarm company today. I should point out that it is a local company. He said that the only VOIP they are compatible with is Comcast's. Comcast is a big customer of there's, and Comcast worked with them to solve the compatibility problem.
He said the only way for my alarm's monitoring system to work with U-verse's VOIP, is to have a "radio box" installed. It works basically like a cell phone communicating over cell towers. He said that since I'm a long time customer with them, that he would give me a deal on the price of the install.
Looks like I have three choices. I go with the "radio box". I dump U-Voice and go back to using a land line for local calls only, cell phone for long distance. I switch back to Comcast's bundle (TV,Internet,Phone). I'm leaning towards the "radio box", but I'm going to give it some thought. | |
| Jasper
join:2009-02-05
| Alarm Monitoring Graystoke,
Although you may have to switch companies there are lots of monitoring options throught the internet. Typically you buy a $99 box that allows you to connect the phone line from your alarm system to your broadband connection. Google is your friend! | |
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