 Review by Technogeez 
UPDATED: 144 days ago
member for 2.8 years, 775 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Dayton,Greene,OH
 $130 per month (12 month contract)
 about 14 days
 "Good picture, clear phone and up/down speeds as advertised."
 "Too far away for the tier I wanted."
 "Very dependent on distance from the local VRAD."
| Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I ordered service via the AT&T U-verse website, and was scheduled for 14 Feb, about 2 weeks waiting time. I received emails, a post card and a letter prior to the install date, and the installer called about 30 minutes prior to arrival. Tech arrived slightly early and informed me the nearest VRAD is about 2/10s of a mile away, but that he would run a line test to see how far away I am by copper. Turns out I'm 3100 wire-feet from the box, confirmed by a wire tech called to troubleshoot signal issues, meaning I had to accept a downgraded service level limiting my HD/SD TV feeds to 1/3 (instead of 2/4). I still get VoIP, U200 TV and Elite (6/1) internet, but the line won't support the multiple HD TV feeds -- not a problem, since I only have one TV. While waiting for the line guy, the install tech assessed my existing coax, and decided to run Cat5e to carry signal from the NID to the Residential Gateway (and even ran a parallel drop to facilitate my whole-house wiring plan). After a short install tech-to-line tech discussion of the data rate vs line capacity, signal was finally achieved, and the install tech hooked up the wiring. It took about 10 minutes for the RG to download an update, and the STB took another few minutes to initialize. Got TV and dial tone, but connecting to the internet proved a challenge -- some internal setting in the RG led the system to believe I had another router in the network, and the installer was unable to resolve the issue, forcing me to call AT&T's U-verse Customer Service number to get the RG correctly configured. After about 20 minutes of constant reassurances that my "offshore call center" CS rep would solve my problem, the registration page finally came up. The CSR patiently waited while I completed the forms, and confirmed my sign up information before ringing off. The install was (eventually) successful -- I have a Cisco HD-capable, DVR STB; 2Wire RG; and a Belkin BBU for the RG (which works, as I accidentally cut off power while rearranging some cables -- the RG stayed up, but the STB went down.) A few things to note: If I had had signal to the house, the install would have taken about an hour. As it was, and with the multiple attempts to register for internet service, it took about 4 hours before the tech gave up and left. Interestingly enough, while he was trying to get me connected to the internet, he inadvertently turned off the wireless transmitter in the RG (forcing a hard-wire connection to correct that), inadvertently forced my laptop to the DMZ, and then turned off my firewall (which I quickly corrected), and then disabled my laptop's wireless connection (which forced me to log on using another account to fix). Word to the wise -- make them use their own computer for configuration! Security-wise, the RG comes WPA-PSK enabled right out of the box -- a good thing -- but the 10-character default password is printed on a label on the bottom of the box -- a bad thing. The RG is easily reconfigured, however, so the potential insecurity shouldn’t last long. The RG puts out a strong Wi-Fi signal, and I'm happy with the range within the house. Menus are simple and pretty clear, and there are plenty of configuration options to match your personal RF environment, so that’s a plus. So far – one day into it – I’m happy with the phone and internet. I’m seeing minor issues on the TV signal, however – black line artifacts on extremely white screens – along with blatantly wrong tv guide information (but that’s not unique to U-verse). I’ll give it a few weeks and reevaluate when I see the bill.
UPDATE, Feb 20th - I called Customer Service last night to find out what the artifacts were about. After trying remote remedies to boost the signal, the CSR sent out a technician today. After about 20 minutes of various remedies, the tech figured out that one of the connecting component video cables was bad.
Update, Mar 4th - It's not the cables -- another site lists picture problems while using component cables with the Cisco STB as a known problem while trying to use the 1080i signal. I've had to drop the STB output to standard def 16:9 in order to get rid of the artifacts. The SD picture is good, and the STB processes the HD signal at SD on the HD channels - but I'm missing the sharpness I've come to expect on HD (FiOS spoiled me, I guess...)
AT&T, if you're listening -- is there a fix? I don't feel like buying a new TV right now, and I'm paying $10 monthly extra for HD picture....
Update March 14th
Still no progress on the HD picture situation, but at least I got my promised rebate cash for the VoIP and U200 signups. Thanks, AT&T!
Update July 4th (Happy Fourth of July!)
A technician replaced my Oct 08 STB with a Jan 09 build, and the lines went away. The component outputs must just barely be in specs, tho', 'cause I can't run them thru the AV Receiver without seeing them come back. Officially happy with U-Verse.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T U-Verse |
|
AT&T U-Verse
(64)
(41)
(16)