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Review by ramsaso See Profile

  • Location: Houston, Harris, TX, USA
  • Cost: $81 per month
  • Telco party Southwestern Bell
Reliable, Fast, Cheap (for 6 months), it's Southwestern Bell? AKA AT&T or AT&T Southwest?
They gobble up your money if you go over 150GB/month.
Best so far for NON-HD videos/excessive downloading...Not.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

3rd and final update 16 February 2017: Well, since I've gotten milked from Southwestern Bell for those data caps (which costed me $30 for another 150GB which equals to 300GB in total for a single month), I've switched over to DSLExtreme on November 2015 and couldn't be happier with their support over the length of time I've been with them and the cost for the introductory year (amounted to $22 for 6Mbps which is around the same cost that AT&T retentions will get you (6Mbps for $20 but with a 150GB data cap and $10 = 50GB each; there's no benefit to stay with them unless you still need to use a dial-up connection in an emergency or need to watch something from ESPN3 (not the main channel) online using your user-id and password) and the renewal year ($32.83 for 6Mbps w/ 1 year contract) but I still kept my POTS line and will continue keeping it for the foreseeable future as reliability is my utmost priority.

Thank you Southwestern Bell AT&T but you became too much.

2nd Update 24 February 2015: Well, after the pop-up came up, I felt compelled to do another update. We're still with Ma Bell and I think they're still the best albeit their parent company is forcing all operating companies to increase prices again. So, we're paying $24 again for internet and managed to get discounts on both POTS and internet. We're saving around $14 for POTS ($6 credit and $8 Complete Choice Enhanced retention credit) and the usual half price credit for DSL (don't know how long that's going to last since they increased regular 6Mbps internet tier to $52 in Texas). I would recommend to anyone who wants POTS to go look on cpr.att.com where there is a Guidebook for each operating state and finding promotions under it. You'll be glad you did. Then, call them up as usual or apply it online (I'd prefer by phone.)

Still faster than dial-up, and a lot more reliable compared to the U-Verse Internet.

Update 22 August 2014: Unfortunatly, after I've wrote this, they had jacked it up to $46 in my February bill so my wife called Ma Bell retention and told the U.S rep "We don't have any cell phones and the SIM doohicky." (NOTE: We both do and have T-Mobile but that's a different story is it?). She told me that the rep recognized our situation and instead of charging us $23, she made us pay $31. Not TOO much but enough so that we can still keep our beloved POTS line. (We use "pay-as-you-go on T-MO) Still, can't complain but wish that we had U-Verse Internet and hope we can keep our POTS still connected to our 5ESS central office for the foreseeable future. (Also, we pay under $60 for both phone and internet which is enough for our budget. And to those who wants to persuade us to VoIP, no thank you. Both of us oppose it. )

I signed up for their basic DSL service in March 2007 when I was moving to my apartment with Ma Bell's promotion of 14.99 for DSL. By the time i moved in, the service was already activated and everything was pleasant after i installed the modem and configured it up (im happy that my email address ended in "@sbcglobal.net"). No problems since then, even with the service increasing by $5 (by that time, my service costed 19.99 and that the original modem died) I got a refurbished Netgear since then.

Fast-Forward to now, I'm still using them but with the addition of their 6mbs plan with some tricks that made me pay $23(I told them that if they couldn't give me a cheaper price, I would move to Time Warner with their 15mbs plan.)

Please note that I am limited to 2 companies which can provide me with internet service, AT&T (and companies who are like MNVOs such as DSL Extreme) and this damn cable company WaveVision which I definitely will not use for the rest of my life.

So far... so good. Now the things that I would like to see is that AT&T support more speeds like 10mbs for DSL and get the "Phantom Mode" thing from Alcatel-Lucent...plus support our copper lines!

Also, even though i added the dsl service a long time ago, i just wanted to type this review as of 2014 because the connection has stayed stable throughout with the exception of disconnections when Ike hit Texas in 2008 and when my fax machine picks up (i don't have time to install a filter there...)

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member for 10.2 years, 4314 visits, last login: 6 days ago
updated 7 years ago


Review by Lennonism See Profile

  • Location: Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
  • Cost: $30 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 5 days
  • No Cap
  • Telco party AT&T
None.
Pricey for crap service. Only thing stable is how unstable DSL is. Slow speeds. Speeds/performance are determined by distance.
Crap service. Crap speeds. Crap latency. Hassle to renegotiate contract.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

AT&T DSL in my area is unreliable. Stay away from it. Your speeds and stability is dependent on your distance from your nearest CO, and the health of the copper lines in your house. One wrong filter can screw up your connection. One oxidized line can screw up your signals. The modems supplied by AT&T are also unreliable. They crap out after two years. I know this, because I bought the 2wire approved one twice.

In the beginning after installation, my service was capped under a certain speed because I was deemed too far away from my CO. To achieve the advertised speeds, I had to run a line through the garage and connected directly to the NID with a filter. That only lasted for about a month before signals went to crud again thanks to filter deterioration. I've never had stable latency. My speeds varied. And the signals dropped, I couldn't keep a stable connection. Had a couple of techs come over to tell me there was nothing they could do due to distance.

This is outdated technology. It's time for AT&T to start rolling out the fiber to replace copper. They have the money to do it. So until then, avoid DSL at all costs unless you really have no other option.

member for 19.6 years, 243 visits, last login: 6.1 years ago
updated 7 years ago


mt999999
join:2016-06-16
East Liverpool, OH

mt999999

Member

DSL

I didn't know AT&T would even offer to sell you DSL anymore. Everyone else seems to say they refuse to offer it - even if there is no fiber.
scoobymon
join:2016-12-10
Portland, OR

scoobymon

Member

In same position

I am in the same position, but with Frontier. It is the only choice for terrestrial where I live. It is highly unstable — and they can't get it to work properly.

mt999999
join:2016-06-16
East Liverpool, OH

mt999999

Member

Re: In same position

Conveniently, I work for Frontier customer service. PM me, and I'll give you my work e-mail.

Review by skydiver449 See Profile

  • Location: Liberty, Randolph, NC, USA
  • Cost: $40 per month
  • Install: about 10 days
  • Telco party AT&T
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

AT&T and tHE adsl @ 6.0 mps/387/dwn is what we pay for

order and install went great

a Netgear 7550

the varying speeds that we get.....one day it may be 2.0 mgs dwn/ 155kgs up then we'll get 5.5 mbs/ 387 dwn kbs
and the impossibility to get the U-Verse products where we live. AT&T seems to have a monopoly on the land lines we must have for ADSL. Why can we not get U Verse, I can see a brand new AT&T box from my house! Also, by doctors (2) I am requested to only work from home. I have lost 3 LEGIT proprietary tech support jobs because of the low speeds. Now I do not to get the Americans w/ Dissabilities Act, but if it comes down to that I may have no choice!

member for 16.2 years, 47 visits, last login: 212 days ago
updated 7.5 years ago


Anond1cfe
@2607:fcc8.x

Anond1cfe

Anon

Interesting.

First AT&T owns all of the telco lines in your area if they are the local ILEC. It's the way it works. If DSLX wants to compete in your area with faster speeds, then they should lay their own lines instead of being a reseller. Also if they told you the line is dedicated and you would receive the full 6megs, then you need to take that up with them. As it's not true and never has been true. It's an old marketing ploy from the 90s/early 2000s.

Also the ADA does NOT cover your Internet connection. It covers that employers must higher you. It's not their fault nor the law's fault that you cant get anything faster. Everyone knows that DSL is distance base and if you went direct to ATT they can tell you roughly what you'd see out of the full 6meg and that's at BEST you'd get that. Speed also depends on how full that DSLAM is- the line is NOT dedicated like they claim it is. Its still shared just like everything else.

You should look at getting cable Internet. If you can't get cable then one would suggest finding a WISP or even - sorry to say- move. AT&T does not have to nor can be made to upgrade you to U-Verse. And new boxes don't mean anything.
Sandman192
Premium Member
join:2014-09-15
Healdton, OK

Sandman192

Premium Member

Re: Interesting.

said by Anond1cfe :

Also the ADA does NOT cover your Internet connection.

But it is ATT fault when they tell or show you will get that speed and they can't always give you that speed. All line are dedicated expt for cable.

the line is NOT dedicated like they "claim" it is.

You said they "claim" it is? Well they should claim anything if it's not true. So they just lied. Of course when companies lie means they can do whatever they want, even tho can hurt your business. So if ATT promise you something and they can't keep up with that promise and hurt your small business. Well that "land of the free" meaning it's free to do whatever you want to do right? That free means spit when you got hungry large business taking your hard earn money, pules not making your hard earn money that you need ATT to uphold on what they say. If a small business hurt a customer then they would have to "fix" there mistakes that they "claim" would do what they told the customer. But if a large business does it then they can just "claim" all they want evon tho they "claim" I mean "lie" how even they want. Don't "claim" something if you can't back it up. I'm pointing out, if they "claim" that your monthly bill will not go up for the first month and you be paying that amount every month and you found out that they charge you "3, three" times totaling $397 and at least 2 reps say they WON'T because they can do whatever "ATT" wants. This happen to me. I can't keep paying for crap that just feels like charging me anything ATT wanted. If they kept doing that I'll be poorer then I am already. I won all 3 of those charges. And on top of that they "claim" on "TV" "relax you internet is on" meaning your internet is "always on" meaning they "claim" it will never drop. Never drop? For me it dropped 20 times a day. Don't "claim" you're "on" ATT if you're going to drop like crazy and can't even fix the problem and still charge me full price. Notice I put "claim" in quotations. I didn't pay to have it drop! There is such thing as streaming, gaming or downloading and your internet can't just slow down or especially drop. I don't like chatting by typing or voice chatting and lose the people I'm chatting with and asking again what did you say after I got DROPPED and the internet "finally" comes back on. "A couple of times for me for 3 hours to almost a day!" I also can't trust them on any type of gaming. They give me one excuse after another. Oh it's this, it's that, it's you, it's "them", then back to it's you, it's that, it's... You try dealing with them for 3 1/2 years. 200 calls. BS

You should look at getting cable Internet.

???
You know cable slows down when more people stream, gaming or downloading right. Expasyl city cable!

ATT truly doesn't care about there customers. If you don't believe that then you never read much into the complaints ATT haves every DAYS. How have over 100 complaints a day? Bad companys. Not just ATT. Did you know ATT gets sued about every year for years and lost their case. And as of 2020 ATT is trying to drop copper. Well DSL and U-verse is copper. And force us with "if we wanted, if they put the towers close to the houses" more expensive wireless internet. Which we may have no choice if ATT is all we can get.

The point is you're not going to get what you pay for even if they "claim" it is. It doesn't matter if it's the "contract, police and/or TV" "which they have to uphold which is the law." AAA, BBB or court. I have proof let's say for all them contract, police and TV advertising and phone records saying they "claim" I will get what ATT said they will give me and can't even do that. ATT makes there own laws just to save there own asses. So maybe you won't win your case. Like I said "the land of the free" isn't so free after all.

Demonfang
join:2011-04-21
Spring Mills, PA

Demonfang

Member

Line Issue

This sounds like a line issue that needs repaired. Might I suggest making a thread here »DSL Extreme describing your issue so that someone can look into getting it fixed?
J_kuykendall
join:2016-08-10
Ardmore, OK

J_kuykendall

Member

Wanting U-Verse.

I live here in Oklahoma. I am severely happy with our At&t U-Verse service. We receive
Your Test Results (Tested on 8/10/2016, 2:45:33 PM)

Download Speed HELP 0.15 Mbps (18.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed HELP 0.51 Mbps (63.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency HELP 173 ms
Jitter HELP 13 ms

on a good day. On a bad day the test times out. I have called them several times over the last year over this.
They responded as we will get a tech out to you as soon as possible. Then they proceed to make the appointment for 3-5 days later. The Tech might actually show up sometime within the next 2 weeks following that appointment just to tell you its not your lines or modem. Its something to do with their mainframe system they have set up here and sorry for the inconvenience. I have asked if they plan on upgrading the system anytime soon? The response is they do not want to put that type of money into a new area until more ppl sign up. Ironic? I always thought you wanted to show your customers why you have them pay between 50 - 80 dollars a month for what they call high speed internet service. I guess not. I do think the billing department is awesome. First I signed up for the auto pay program. I got a bill on the same day they cut off my service saying I didn't pay them. I hate to say I didn't because they didn't pull it out like they was supposed to. They then proceeded to charge me a reconnection fee. So at that time I sat there for over an hour setting up a new auto pay plan. ( The Operator didn't understand english very well at all. ) 4 months later this all happens again. Then another 4 months after that it did it again. They refused all times to adjust my bill. Then their little promotion where you get the internet and voice talk combined ended. They charged me double on my next bill. Thats fine. I called them to have the voice talk removed. The whole conversation with them was nothing but them trying to sell me things on my cell phone and also direct tv. The whole time they was avoiding talking about my U-Verse service or taking off the voice so I wouldn't be charged double any longer. ( I was standing in one of their stores at the time this call was made with a rep listening.) I asked them one last time to just remove the voice and they said yes. I hung up. 2 months later I am still getting charged for it. I called today to find out why. They responded the call was never completed. Huh? I stated I was in their store with one of their reps when this call was made. Would they like me to go back up there and have that rep verify this? They Gladly removed the voice and adjusted this months bill.

So yes U-Verse is the way to go if you like the kind of service they provide.
Remember
This is what you will get.

Your Test Results (Tested on 8/10/2016, 2:45:33 PM)

Download Speed HELP 0.15 Mbps (18.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed HELP 0.51 Mbps (63.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency HELP 173 ms
Jitter HELP 13 ms

If you decide to get there service welcome to world of the happy U-Verse customer.
And have a wonderful day.

dslx_nick
ISP Employee
join:2011-12-24
Chatsworth, CA

dslx_nick

ISP Employee

DSL Extreme

Hello, I think there may be some confusion. It sounds like you have AT&T's "FastAccess DSL Xtreme 6.0" service, as listed here: »www.att.net/speedtiers ? If so, this should probably be filed over with AT&T so they can help you.

If I'm mistaken and you do indeed have service through us (DSL Extreme), then please shoot me an IM with your info and I'll be happy to help you out.

Review by TIGERON See Profile

  • Location: Pacifica, San Mateo, CA, USA
  • Cost: $84 per month
  • Install: about 3 days
  • Telco party AT&T
was stable and reliable but now slow and very slow
$84 for 6-meg DSL is extortion
expensive 6 meg DSL with a monthly 150 gigabyte cap plus overages
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

$84 for a 6-meg 150GB cap DSL internet service is bad business
To Mr. Randall Stephenson :

I am writing to you this email with an issue. I do not like what AT&T is doing.

I have been an AT&T subscriber of internet DSL service since 2008 when I moved to Pacifica California. For the most part, your DSL service has been reliable with very little issue with only two techs coming out to service my area twice the most recent was last week in the 7 years I have been a customer. For the most part, I have been pretty happy with the service until the last 6 months of this year.

The reason for this letter is that I am having a hard time accepting your company’s justification of paying $84.00 for slow, sub par internet service while my neighbors across the street from me fiber to the cabinet U-verse is available to them with no data caps whatsoever or you do not enforce them.

Why is that? Why in a city of over 40,000 people only 7.1 miles from downtown San Francisco is AT&T doing this AND NOT expanding or upgrading their hardware to newer technologies? I would love to have U-Verse/FTTC/VDSL internet instead of legacy ADSL broadband. This is not acceptable and not justifiable no matter how you say it.

I am a cord cutter that has recently moved to streaming only TV services. Are you not aware of Amazon Prime TV, Netflix, HBO Now, Showtime, HULU and sling TV streaming services that depend on an internet connection to work? Or are you that interested in robbing people of their hard earned money while providing mediocre service? Or are you hoping to drive me to another duopoly provider?

My bill was once $30 per month, then $47, then it hit $71 and now last month of August 2015 and now September $84.00 for sub-par DSL is not justifiable. It is extortion.

If your company is not interested in expanding services to this area then sell the last mile wireline to Sonic, Frontier Communications or CenturyLink.

I will be heading towards Comcast broadband soon if service is not improved or my DSL bill is not greatly reduced.

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member for 16 years, 3126 visits, last login: 1.8 years ago
updated 7.7 years ago


att die now
@ameritech.net

att die now

Anon

att price hike

I pay 35 for 1.5mpbs, I know at&t is bull shit. because i used to pay 25 for 1.5mbps

try petitioning the fcc

»www.change.org/petition

Review by unitd See Profile

  • Location: Vaiden, Carroll, MS, USA
  • Cost: $47 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 103 days
  • Telco party AT&T
always up
support--lanuage
Price is high for 1.5 megs. can not get a faster speed. Would change isp if one was available
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Price is fair, at&t customers get a lower rate than bellsouth customers, AT&T should give the same price for all their customers.

member for 19 years, 1369 visits, last login: 6.1 years ago
updated 7.9 years ago


LunarChaos
join:2016-05-08
Morganton, NC

LunarChaos

Member

I agree...

I agree with you totally. I live in a very rural community away from town and there are absolutely no other options for internet, save for satellite, and that's not going forward in better prices ranges or service really. I have been fighting with AT&T for over 3 weeks now trying to figure out why my internet speed is dropping to 0. They had even hooked me up with their "extremely difficult case" dept and had a tech guy call me and all he could rant about was the amount of data that I have used, and changed my DNS servers to googles, and also my VTI setting in my modem. Still no resolution to it. I *was* getting 1.3 meg of my 1.5 untill all of this fixing took place, now its even worse that it was.
Sandman192
Premium Member
join:2014-09-15
Healdton, OK

Sandman192

Premium Member

Re: I agree...

There 99.9% reliability they claim on TV is worth spit.

LunarChaos
join:2016-05-08
Morganton, NC

LunarChaos

Member

Re: I agree...

so true
hebintn
join:2016-05-07
Dandridge, TN

hebintn

Member

same here

I'm supposed to get 1.5 meg. On a good time slot I might get 1.1. Then it will drop to 0-0.1. Lately there have been periods where there is no internet and broadband light on modem is red. Tech is coming today. I have little confidence that he'll find anything. I see a space link coming up. Combined landline/DSL/taxes cost over $80/month... this is a waste of money. I can get a 3+ meg satellite for less money. Should I bite the bullet and make the switch? Trying to decide what to do.
Sandman192
Premium Member
join:2014-09-15
Healdton, OK

Sandman192

Premium Member

Re: same here

Just to note the techs that come out to my house are not IT trained. So what good are they???






Review by Bones37167 See Profile

  • Location: Smyrna, Rutherford, TN, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 5 days
  • Telco party AT&T
It's stable and I get the speeds they sell me.
Took 1 year to convince AT&T they could give me service. Only option.
If it wasn't a monopoly I would choose anyone else. even comcast.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

After buying my house AT&T told me for 1 year they couldn't give me service. Had to disturb local tech to get my address fixed. customer service would not send out a local tech to verify address. Once i finally got service it's fine. AT&T offers gigapower less than a quarter mile from me in one direction and a small ISP offers GIG less than a quarter mile the other direction. I'm stuck paying 60 a month for 6mbps down while very close neighbors pay 70 for gig. no other carriers in my area.

member for 8.3 years, 423 visits, last login: 5.4 years ago
lodged 8 years ago


Red Hazard
Premium Member
join:2012-07-21
O Fallon, IL

1 recommendation

Red Hazard

Premium Member

"If it wasn't a monopoly I would choose anyone else. even comcast."

Man you would really be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

gregr
@rr.com

gregr

Anon

Neighbors

Work out an arrangement with them?

Review by grendel_x869 See Profile

  • Location: Chicago, Cook, IL, USA
  • Cost: $75 per month
  • Telco party AT&T
Available
Speed is nowhere near advertised speed.
Connection reliability:
Services:
Value for money:

The price keeps climbing, service keeps getting worse. Comcast just became available again, I'm jumping.

Speed advertised is 6MBps, I get ~1MBps.

member for 18.9 years, 7 visits, last login: 7.5 years ago
lodged 8.1 years ago


Red Hazard
Premium Member
join:2012-07-21
O Fallon, IL

2 recommendations

Red Hazard

Premium Member

6 Mbps DSL Price

Even if you got the full advertised 6 Mbps, $75/mo is outrageous. I get 134/4.5 Mbps from Charter for $60/mo though that probably will go up next month.
notonto
join:2015-06-26

1 recommendation

notonto

Member

Re: 6 Mbps DSL Price

It might be an area redlined by Charter like mine, No choice but to pay high prices for very slow DSL.
rstawick
join:2016-01-29
New Lenox, IL

1 recommendation

rstawick

Member

AT&T Phone and Internet

Was never able to get close to price provided over the telephone. In addition much trouble getting DSL installed and activated. Spent over 20 hours and 2 months getting service and correct monthly billing (never the original price quoted on phone). Searching to replace AT&T landline and internet service.

lhvetinari
yaW gnorW
join:2008-09-26
Kenosha/Chgo

1 recommendation

lhvetinari

Member

AT&T BS

I hear you. The salesman sold me 6/1 service, despite knowing full well our neighborhoods wiring (installed in the 60s) was not capable of handling more than 2/.5 - and I never saw anything above 1/256k in the 5 years I had service with them.






Review by HaloFans See Profile

  • Location: Menlo Park, San Mateo, CA, USA
  • Cost: $52 per month
  • Telco party AT&T
Dryloop install. Rarely any downtime. 8+ years service. Can swap modems out easily.
Expensive for very slow speeds. 150GB cap is absolutely stupid for this kind of service level.
See if Sonic.net is in your area. Otherwise, look into MonkeyBrains or other local ISP before settling on Comcast.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Had service for 8+ years. AT&T keeps raising the price every year what used to be $35/month. Now $52/month for 2.5/0.384.

Usually the lines slowed down when it rained on very old modems.

Looking to jump to Sonic.net before settling on Comcast.

member for 17.2 years, 1115 visits, last login: 6.8 years ago
updated 8.3 years ago


TIGERON
join:2008-03-11
Boston, MA
Motorola MG7550

TIGERON

Member

had them for 7 years but got fed up with usage based billing

I’ve gotten fed up with the status quo and even then I was forced to go to another provider due to finding their service completely unacceptable. 7 years of being a loyal AT&T customer, I finally left them and made the switch to Comcast cable. I grew fed up with usage based overage charges, a terrible website that was not easy to navigate, and a “meter” that for most of the time was not accessible.
$84.00 for a 6-meg last mile DSL that the company insists imposing justifying it as necessary for managing network congestion while at the same time they refused to upgrade me to U-Verse until I wrote a letter to CEO Randall Stephenson.
Within 24 hours, I received a call from the office of the President explaining to me he will personally investigate U-Verse availability in my area. Two hours after that call later, U-Verse is available.

Its funny, two weeks prior to me contacting AT&T CEO my service was having serious speed and performance issues that were minimal in the beginning but becoming more frequent almost all the time. I reported the problems to tech support and they finally agreed to send a tech out to check my line outside and the connection to the DSLAM. The tech checked everything and found no issue and could not understand why I was having problems. He asked me why I am not eligible for U-Verse as he made it very clear that AT&T is forcing people to upgrade with one catch : once you move to U-Verse, you cannot go back to legacy DSL again.

After the rep got back to me, they offered me U-verse. I would’ve gladly stayed with AT&T but you have to use their modem, you can only rent it, you cannot buy it and you cannot use another VDSL modem from another manufacturer. They are also much more expensive over Comcast and speeds are slower.

And one more thing : the tech that AT&T tech support sent out made it clear to me that the company does not want to deal with last mile customers anymore. They don’t want the wireline. They are hoping to sell their copper by 2020.

This is a CWA employee telling me this. That being said, I still don’t understand why AT&T bought a satellite provider. That money could have been used to invest in 5G cellular networks instead.

Time to accept the reality that AT&T and Verizon do not want the wireline. All their investments is in wireless.

HaloFans
join:2006-12-18

1 recommendation

HaloFans

Member

Re: had them for 7 years but got fed up with usage based billing

I found that out with Verizon at a different residence. The reality is no one cares about last mile. If you're last mile and you have cable as an alternative to DSL, cable is the only option for speeds.

For DSL users, they're lucky if they're within 4000-5000 feet. The closer the better. Otherwise, forget about it.






Review by petifma See Profile

  • Location: Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 999 days
  • Caps of 5 gigabytes/month
  • Telco party AT&T
Easy Installation
Doesn't work 24/7
Not worth the frustration!
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Ok, yes, I have had this for over 14 years. Most of those years were with Pacific Bell who was bought by AT&T several years ago. There have been good times and bad times with no correlation to the provider. The only real problem is that for about 6 hours a day, I don't have any broadband. The DSL modem searches for a connection, but can't make it. Sometimes it will make a connection for a few seconds, then lose it. Other times, it can't make it at all. This outage starts at about 7:00 every evening, and continues until well after midnight. Tech services has been out many times, sold me several "newer better" brands of modems (2-Wire is the latest), but last time they told me that uplink noise margin isn't high enough for my "high speed" contract (2.368 up, .512 down) and that I should get it changed to a lower speed. Every time I do, it helps some, but they eventually switch me back to the higher speed without my knowledge.

I'm going to continue the "turndown" trick, but they continue to crank the speed back above 1.5/.5, and charged me for the higher speed. I would try a switch to Time Warner Cable broadband but neighbors say it isn't much better.

member for 22.9 years, 57 visits, last login: 8.4 years ago
updated 8.4 years ago


npln
Us Army
join:2000-07-17
Martinez, CA

npln

Member

Too far? line issues

"high speed" contract (2368 up, 512 down)"

OK, if you have had DSL since PacBell days, you probably have a splitter. Which is good. Now your speed at 2368, tells me the problem is with the copper line. You are either too far away from the C.O. (In order to get 3 Megs down, the loop has to be 9500ft or less. Per AT&T standards). Now if you are within 9500ft, and have a splitter (properly installed). The problem could be the copper. Sometimes even a small issue on the line can cause BIG problems at higher speeds.

Your modem should be able to give you some readings....look for your Down Attenuation, 41.5db = 9500ft. If its more, stay at 1.5 Megs speeds. If its less, you have line problems.

TIGERON
join:2008-03-11
Boston, MA

TIGERON

Member

get rid of them.

believe me, they don't want you.

Review by SparkDawg See Profile

  • Location: Belleville, Wayne, MI, USA
  • Cost: $43 per month
  • Install: about 14 days
  • Caps of 150 gigabytes/month
  • Telco party AT&T
Latency is OK.
150gb cap forces me to play sub HD videos and not download any PSN games
Get if you're only casual user--other than that, stay away.
Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I ordered the 1.5mb speed for $34 (January 2005) .. The install and setup went smoothly. My speed went down once during the last major thunderstorms, but a quick unplug and plugin made it come back to full speed. They were nice about upgrading me to 3.0mb speed (March 2005) for $29 a month, its a great deal if your area can get the speed.

1st Update: I'm at 6.0mb speed now. (August 2008) My old 2wire died last month. They've eliminated the need of installing any software. It's almost plug-in-play.

2nd Update: I had to get a new modem since the other one died quickly after I got it. Doing alright every since.

3rd Update: Finding out 2wire wireless routers suck for gaming. Have to go to the wireless 'B' band to play or it will reset itself. (August 2010) Waiting to get some money so I can get the Netopia WiFi Router, but heard it was hard for non-business DSL customers to get. Router susceptible to DNS problems and retraining.

4th Update: Got a replacement 2wire modem (about 2 weeks ago), not a lot of issues so far other than the typical DNS issues AT&T has with 2wire.

5th Update: Speed not as consistent as I'd like. (Nov. 10 2011)

6th Update: Prince increase for April 2012 now at $43. :/ Not very happy that only AT&T DSL (no cable, or wireless data service ISPs) is the only thing available. Park won't let Comcast install their cables here and guess what? UVerse isn't coming here either. If i could move to a better area I could..

7th Update: And now hit with my first data cap overage e-mail. Wow, all I do is watch Streaming Video and read websites. Not cool.

I'm getting bored of 5-6mb download speeds in 2012 while everyone else in my county can pretty much get 10-25mb.

8th Update: After buying a Pace Wireless Gateway in December, things are working decently but I wish faster speed uVerse was around. Was given a $10 discount per month on my bill for 12 months after having to buy the router from them. (Bought the extra insurance too.)

9th Update: I'm thinking that my wireless unit inside the gateway is going out since on a semi daily basis I have to manually reset my gateway to re-establish wifi connections. Posted on att direct to see if I have to replace it after owning it for 9 months (9/8/2013)

10th Update: This 150gb data cap is a PITA! After this month, I'll be charged $10!!! per 50 gb for any data after the cap! The only reason I am with AT&T is because its either this or satellite (yuck). (3/4/2015)

(9/10/2015: AT&T needs to go through the wringer for the low data cap. I can't even use the PS4 I had to download software updates!)

member for 19.2 years, 2075 visits, last login: 2.4 years ago
updated 8.5 years ago

Rob2647
join:2008-08-12
Rochester, MI

Rob2647

Member

Good to hear

Good to hear it's working out well. I'm about to make the switch from cable to DSL

How are your speeds, close to whats advertised?

SparkDawg
Premium Member
join:2005-01-06
Ypsilanti, MI

SparkDawg

Premium Member

Re: Good to hear

They're pretty close.

Ultibeam
join:2008-05-27
USA

Ultibeam to Rob2647

Member

to Rob2647
at&t DSL, which I have as well, tends to be at their advertised speed. I just want them to get on with some kind of improvement like adsl2+ but my 1.5 meg connections has been rock solid with next to no downtime.

David
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL

David

Premium Member

in RE 2wire...

might try the "strict udp control" checkbox of the 2wire. I hear that makes games quite a bit easier to play.

SparkDawg
Premium Member
join:2005-01-06
Ypsilanti, MI

1 edit

SparkDawg

Premium Member

Re: in RE 2wire...

I'll have to remember that once I can figure out the other problems

I'm getting ERR_DMA errors in my DSL Diagnostic logs. Tweeted customer support and called them the other day for EMI problems (Solved the EMI problem). At my wit's end.
SparkDawg

SparkDawg

Premium Member

Re: in RE 2wire...

Seems like I switch some problems for others..

Other having a marginal line, my 2wire decided to reset itself tonight. Not fun.