Review by ineel 
member for 1.7 years, 24 visits, last login: 81 days ago
updated 264 days ago
 Sacramento,Sacramento,CA
 $79 per month about 1 days "Better than Comcast or anything I've had before" "ran into connectivity problems a while back"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I've had Dial-Up service from msn from 2000-2006. We didn't really care for fast internet speeds back then since we only used the internet for web browsing. In 2006, I started getting into Myspace and Youtube. Everything took forever to load so I decided that I should upgrade to a faster form of internet. Went to the local electronics store and they had the 2wire 2700HG-B free after rebate if I signed up for DSL by SBC. The internet plan I purchased was the 3mbps at $25/mo in addition to the local only POTS line. Once I opened the box with the gateway in it, I found another rebate. I mailed both rebates and got money for both. Lucky me. Installing the gateways was easy enough and the DSL activation went as planned and no hickups. I got consistent speeds of around 2.4mbps down and .6 up. I don't ever remember having the DSL go down. In early 2008, sometime after SBC changed its name to AT&T, some AT&T crew were doing some work on the pedestal in front of my house. Me being curious, I asked what they were up to. They explained to me that they were checking all the pedestals in the area to make sure all the homes would be properly configured to some new faster services AT&T would be rolling out soon. They didn't know what it was, but they said once they checked a pedestal they would put a little sticker inside of it saying "lightspeed ready". I google'd "lightspeed ready" and nothing really showed up except it was some secret plan the former SBC was working on. I didn't really think of it much after that. Some months later, AT&T started marketing their U-Verse products in mailers and the newspaper. I didn't really care since my cable was provided by my HOA and my internet speed felt plenty fast. Later that year, my HOA sent letters that our bulk cable contract would be ending due to Comcast purchasing our local cable company, STI. STI stated that they would stop all broadcasts on their network the day after the 2008 Olympics were to be concluded. TV still worked a few weeks after the Olympics ended so I just concluded that Comcast just hadn't got around to cutting the cable for everyone. TV did eventually go black. Comcast wanted to charge $55 for their base package and I thought that was absurd. I've never paid for cable directly in my life so I was a bit shocked to find out cable tv would cost so much so I just ended up not watching TV. About 2 months after, a door to door AT&T U-Verse sales man came to my door and showed me that we could get U100 for $44. At that point I figured it was a little bit cheaper than Comcast so I just gave in and ordered the U-Verse tv service as well as the VDSL based U-Verse 3mbps for the same price I was paying for the ADSL based 3mbps. The installer installed a VIP1200 receiver for the TV and the 3800HGV-B RG. Internet speed felt a little more spiffy and speed tests showed 2.7mbps down and .9up. A year later in 2009, I wanted a DVR and called AT&T to order one. They explained that U200 ($64) had a DVR included so I went ahead and ordered the service as well as a second receiver for the upstairs bedroom. Also canceled my POTS service in favor of ooma VOIP service. Installation was free and I received the VIP1216 DVR and VIP 1200 receiver for the upstairs. In 2010 I decided to get rid of the receiver upstairs since I barely used it. I also upgraded to the 6mbps down / 1mbps up internet for $40/mo since we started getting into multiple streams of netflix and youtube. In 2011, a Comcast rep visited my home raving about their new "fiber optics" and "on-demand" all for $20 less than what I was currently paying. I said okay, and this turned out to be a mistake. Installer didn't show up on the scheduled day. Rescheduled and a tech came and and said he couldn't find the drop cable. I was sure there was a drop cable since I had cable from the company Comcast bought. Rescheduled once again and they installer found the drop cable (it was hidden somewhere in the pedestal). The installer didn't have a DVR like I ordered, so I had customer service UPS one to me. The internet was advertised at 15mbps and I only got around 8mbps. I shrugged it off since everything was $20 cheaper. Once the DVR arrived, I was horrified by the on screen menu and guide. It looked extremely outdated. Whatever, since it was $20 cheaper. Bill finally came a few weeks later and it was $260. I was promised a bill of $115+tax. I called Comcast to get this fix, but they only lowered it to $180. I gave up at that point after trying to fix this mess and using their "30 day money back guarantee" I canceled my service and canceled my bill. Took the Comcast equipment to the Comcast store and that was the end of that. During this process, I got a new HDTV. I ordered U-Verse again. I got the same U200 package, HD, and 12mbps down / 1.5mbps up internet. Oddly, I started having problems with my TV service losing signal late 2011. I didn't really care until apparently my RG died. A tech was dispatched the next day and he replaced. He took a long while to do it. Apparently he forgot his iPad password and had to call tier 2 to reset it. Same problems persisted for another month and now it is early 2012. I call again and tech support says i have a old RG and they send me the newer 3801HGV via UPS. I recieved it and liked the way it looked. A month goes by and still problems. A tech is dispatched to my house again and he tests my homes internal wiring. He finds nothing wrong and gets a ticket for and outside tech to look at the line since I should be having no problems with me being 1200ft from the VRAD. The outside tech came while I was at work and left his business card on my door and it said "call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx". I called the tech and he explained to me that my NID was improperly grounded and that was the main cause of all the interference I was getting. He also said he went ahead and cleaned up the line, re-spliced all the connections, and changed my port at the VRAD. Its been 1/2 year since and I've had no problems at all. I wanted tv service upstairs again so I called AT&T and they said I would have to pay $55 to get a receiver installed. I said no and the customer service lady said she'll just send us the new wireless receiver for free at $7/mo. All I can say is that I am satisfied by AT&T even though a lot of people have trouble with them. I guess if you are persistent, you'll get what you want. I don't think I will ever go back to Comcast, at least for now. I've seen reports of Comcast's new X1 DVR, but apparently its only available in a few markets. What can I say I'm happy with U-Verse.
I currently pay:
$72 U200
-$10 retention discount (12mo)
$10 HD
$7 exra receiver
$48 12/1.5 internet
-$5 retention discount (12mo)
$6 internet equipment fee
Total $128 + tax / mo.
Ok so I have gone ahead and canceled the internet portion of my account due to comcast offering a simlar service for $29.99/mo for 6months. There was nothing wrong with U-Verse's 12mbps/1.5mbps as it had an uptime of close to 100%. I just got tired of paying $49 for the internet and the rental fee. I did a self install for comcast using my own tools to avoid an install charge. I also bought a new docsis 3.0 modem and a router. I'll be moving back to U-verse internet once the 6mo promo ends. By then Uverse shall be offering me promos.
As of now my new Uverse bill is as follows:
$72 U200
-$10 retention discount (12mo)
$10 HD
$7 exra receiver
Total: $79+tax
Comments:
|
·
AT&T Uversr HACKED!