Review by ALFinet 
member for 6.6 years, 385 visits, last login: 2.9 years ago
updated 3 years ago
 Fontana,San Bernardino,CA
 $145 per month about 7 days "Speed, Price, Picture Quaility, Quick Install" "STBs freeze while watching TV, can't customize network info" "Will update next month"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
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-- Pre U-verse availability --
After my many connection problems with Adelphia, and then Time Warner cable I switched to AT&T DSL (elite, 6Mbps/768K). AT&T DSL was rock solid for over a year and never disconnected. I was getting speeds of 5Mbps/512K (due to my distance maybe?)
As I noticed the VRADs were installed and had power I checked online and it allowed me to place an order for U-Verse (3 days after my order, I received an e-mail notification that it was available in my area).
-- Online Ordering --
The online ordering process was simple to follow yet confusing because I wasn't sure what package I wanted. After matching what I had with Time Warner Cable to AT&T channel line up, the U200 had all the channels we watched with cable, plus more HD. I ordered online, which gave me $10/mo off my internet price, and a $200 rebate that I'm supposed to receive after the 1st month.
-- Package Selection & Provided Equipment --
Programming Profile: 2 HD / 2 SD
Basic Service Level: U200
Added High Definition (HD) channels: Yes (additional $10)
Internet Max 18 - Up to 18.0 Mbps downstream and up to 1.5 Mbps upstream
Router/Gateway (RG): 3800HGV-B Gateway (Software: 5.29.105.94)
DVR STB (1 total): Motorola VIP 1216 ( »www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/···16_US-EN )
TV STBs (6 total): Motorola VIP 1200 ( »www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/···00_US-EN )
-- Installation --
Since I have Fridays off, I scheduled installation for the next Friday (January 16th). The tech called at 8am saying he would be there at 8:30am. Once arriving he stated he checked the premises and said he would be back in 20 to 30 minutes because he had to go to the VRAD to switch the cables over. About 25 minutes later, he returned. We started where my DSL modem was and he replaced 2 port phone the outlet with a 4 port one- 2 ports for DATA, 2 for POTS. He also had to bond two pairs of copper phone line together at both the DMZ and where the wall outlet was. From here we ran Cat 5 with a RJ45 jack on it from the wall outlet to the RG.
Then we connected the router to my existing network, and using the coax line I had for my cable internet many months ago, we fed the TV signal back to the splitter for the rest of the house.
-- TVs --
All STBs except the one in my room was connected via coax. The tech had to replace most of the ends on all coax in the house because it wouldn't work properly for the signal the way they were. I cannot tell the difference between the coax STBs and the Ethernet STB!
The STBs respond almost instantly to commands- even changing the channel is QUICKER than regular cable. The Adelphia/Time Warner STBs were a joke- the button responses were slow to non-existant sometimes.
I cannot stress enough about the quality on ALL channels! I have never seen picture and sound so clear! Lately I find myself watching the HD channels on non-HD TVs as these STBs will down size the picture to fit the TV. Even my 20+ year old Zenith in the garage looks like it's a HD picture. The only down fall is the non-DVR STBs can NOT pause/rewind live TV. However- you can pause/rewind/fast-forward any recorded show from ANY STB!
The only problem is that you can only have 2 incoming HD streams and 2 SD streams at once- if you try to watch any other channel you'll be informed of this situation and it gives you options to either watch an item from the DVR or turn off the other STB.
-- DVR capability --
The storage capacity in the DVR box is massive compared to the measly 20 hours of HD my Time Warner box gave me. You can only do DVR functions such as setting schedules, view upcoming, etc etc from the main DVR box OR from online!
-- Internet --
I was pretty happy with my AT&T DSL, the U-Verse Internet is fast. Speakeasy speed tests put me right where I'm supposed to be. If all the TVs are off I see 25Mbps/2Mbps- when people are watching TV I'm getting NO-less than 18Mbps/1Mbps.
-- Hardware --
The Router/Gateway provided seems sturdy enough. But as with more "simple" setups, I do not have options in this router to set my own DNS servers (I use OpenDNS). You also cannot change the DHCP range. I will have to for-go my OpenDNS unless I manually enter it into my devices.
-- Final Thoughts --
So far I am very pleased with the U-Verse service- The cost of my U-Verse service is exactly what my DSL & Cable bill together were. Hopefully being one service now I will see a reduction in taxes (but I'm not holding my breath- we'll see when the first bill gets here).
Currently the STBs like to freeze a few times an hour- A simple channel up, channel down solves the issue. While not an issue yet, I can see it will cause problems. I'm going to schedule a tech to come out and check signal next week.
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