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Review by Carnifax17 See Profile

  • Location: Richardson, Dallas, TX, USA
  • Cost: $25 per month (18 month contract)
  • Install: about 7 days
Works well, excellent install tech, good wireless, plays well with LAN
Clunky migration of prior sub-accounts, 1st tier support incompetent
Happy so far, decent throughput
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

Here in Richardson, Tx have had legacy SBC FTTN for years but running at 1.5 Mbps which has been inadequate for awhile and non-upgradable. Many years ago we had such a bad experience with cable that we will never consider it under any circumstance. FIOS not available in neighborhood. AT&T replaced node 60 feet from house so we took advantage of introductory Elite 6 Mbps for 18 mos. for $27. Was not offered HDTV for now which was not a deal breaker because we prefer Dish's less compressed 1080p and HD selections anyway. Telephone sales confused about the difference between FTTN & FTTH. I called back twice to confirm FTTH and figured someone's pants was on fire when install tech arrived before any trench in the back yard. Not real happy with using existing CAT3 from box even if it tested strong. Got lucky with a very good install tech. U-Verse's installation program has a glitch with migrating old sub-accounts: one of our accounts was so old that we did not have the account password--going forward reset existing sub-accounts so had to go to 2nd tier install support to back out and re-install. The RG is a 2wire 3800HGV-B. We're running our LAN through an 8 port gig ethernet Linksys and took out a Ver.1 WRT54GS to run the 2Wire. I am very surprised that were no issues with getting everything up and running. Even got a much stronger wireless signal. Reset the password to 64 random character ASCII password and now everything chugs along well. Happy campers all.

member for 16.3 years, 153 visits, last login: 1 year ago
lodged 15.1 years ago


Review by tyspeed29 See Profile

  • Location: Simi Valley, Ventura, CA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
Its a dedicated connection, and fiber to atleast the curb, fast
Connection sharing with your HD signal tend to slow connection, or vise versa
The picture is great on every channel, HD channels are great also.
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

I have only been with ATT uverse for a week now, starting to figure out all the little things, like when set top box is out of sync you get audio but no picture, then you have to reset the box, the Fiber DSL is good, but having a dedicated line, compared to cable is better. The picture quality of HD, some channels are comparable to Time Warner, but other are not. Some of the channels the picture is so dark, you can barely make it out. Not so with my time warner box. Overall a good setup, ATT has somethin good here, now they just need to get all the kinks out of it.

member for 23.2 years, 5197 visits, last login: 136 days ago
updated 15.1 years ago


Speedmaster
@bellsouth.net

Speedmaster

Anon

How they do install where there is no network wiring?

I want to order U-Verse 400 package with all bells and whistles including telephone and 18Mbps internet but my house (2 story) is not ethernet wired...do they do the install? they charge for it? I want to wire for 1Gb so can I supply the Cat5e or Cat6 cable? Can I ask someone to survey my house prior than having it drilled? I'm scare to death that they send me a guy with little experience and that he makes a mess out of everything... Anyone with experience on this type of setup?

Cheers and thanks

tyspeed29
Premium Member
join:2001-01-04
Simi Valley, CA

tyspeed29

Premium Member

Re: How they do install where there is no network wiring?

No they will not charge you, the do all the wiring for you for all your tv's that you want service on.

Normally between 2-6hrs install depending on how much your having done. NO extra charge.

Review by brockalee See Profile

  • Location: Jacksonville, Duval, FL, USA
  • Cost: $133 per month
  • Install: about 5 days
Reliability, Upstream, Firewall, Programming, Features & Intuitive Interface, No Contract
May cost more than some other options, cap is comming, uses mail by yahoo,
I'm happy with the service and don't feel like I'm getting ripped off.
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

I started with Comcast, paid a lot, hated the DVR and I went to DirecTV.

With DirecTV, I liked it.. But I kept Comcast for the internet. Plus there were clouds to deal with..

Now I have U-verse @ 6Mb and their lowest level HD package, HD DVR receivers and two additional standard receivers (that can watch the DVR programming) for $133/mo.

I was paying more for the 8 or 10Mb, but honestly I'm fine with the 6Mb - and that surprised me. Torrents go around 900KB/s when there are lots of seeds.

I will try the VOIP when it is available to me. I'd recommend this service.

member for 20.6 years, 773 visits, last login: 212 days ago
updated 15.1 years ago


in jax too
@comcast.net

in jax too

Anon

In Jax, which is better - Comcast or UVerse?

We just agreed to switch to UVerse after subscribing to Comcast for many years for our TV and Internet services. Comcast has had its problems, but it's been largely reliable for TV, Internet searches,and working remotely from home.
Other writers here and elsewhere mentioned problems with TV pictures freezing up, slow Internet service, terrible installation experiences. Did you experience any of those in Jacksonville? I have a low-tech, low-patience level with frequent problems like those mentioned, not to mention having to notify everyone in our address books about our new email addresses. Is the UVerse service in Jacksonville really worth the change? I figure there are probably hundreds of others here who changed from Comcast to UVerse, but you're the only one I've seen from Jacksonville who posted a review.
Any comments would be helpful. We're nervous about switching and want reasons to make the change.
Thank to you and all who posted. The comments are very helpful.
brockalee
join:2003-08-17
Waycross, GA

brockalee

Member

Re: In Jax, which is better - Comcast or UVerse?

I think I had the TV picture freeze up a few months ago - it was only for a few seconds though if I recall correctly.

They say that if you're not near the box where the connection comes in the neighborhood (VRAD) that you can experience slower speeds, but I'm not close to that box and I cap out my 6Mbps (the slowest available) connection and have had zero problems.

The installation was easy, except for when the installer found some wasps in my bushes... hehe...

The only time I've had to call customer service was when I got a "you must subscribe to this channel" message I wasn't supposed to get. I was told to hold down the power button, and after a few minutes, it came back up. No problem.

For me, I'm happy I made the switch. Comcast REALLY got under my skin.
1) Their Video On Demand never worked when you actually wanted to watch something.
2) Maybe it was just mine, but the DVR was horrible. I was so afraid to use the FF and RW buttons. There would be like a 30 second lag between button presses and I'd actually FF past the commercials, past the programming, then into the next commercial slot - then just the opposite when I tried to rewind back.

If you don't have the above problems and don't mind paying a little more $$$ for Comcast, or if you are using multiple HD TV's, I'd stay where you were.

If you want to want to try a new technology with a more intuitive interface and features give Uverse a try. I love the DVR "jummp" feature - skip from play to play on a recorded football game, setup recording of programs at home from logging onto your account on the internet at work, and watch programming from any room that is recorded on your living room DVR).

If you already have Comcast, you have nothing to lose. There is no contract with Uverse. I, on the other hand, tried DirecTv after Comcast and had to pay them like $170 to get out of THEIR contract. Ouch!

I can't promise you a trouble free experience, but good or bad, share them with us if you do decide to make the switch.

Review by ALFinet See Profile

  • Location: Fontana, San Bernardino, CA, USA
  • Cost: $145 per month
  • Install: 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:

-- 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/Busines ··· 16_US-EN )
TV STBs (6 total): Motorola VIP 1200 ( »www.motorola.com/Busines ··· 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.

member for 18.8 years, 385 visits, last login: 5.2 years ago
updated 15.2 years ago


Review by user4275 See Profile

  • Location: Chicago, Cook, IL, USA
  • Cost: $134 per month
  • Install: about 20 days
Reliable, works as advertised, no long-term contract
None, thus far
Good value, if you're looking for a bundled Internet/TV/Phone package
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

Prior to ordering U-Verse, my Internet service was provided by AT&T on the second to lowest speed tier (not sure what that's called) but it was pure agony (slower than dial-up) as I am 16,000 ft from the CO. My TV service provider was Comcast, and my home phone service has been with AT&T as well. After the installation of a VRAD approx. 900 ft from my residence, I proceeded to order U-Verse (TV and Internet) on 11/20/08. The install date was 12/10/08. Had I opted to include phone service in U-Verse, the install date would have been pushed into January 2009 which I didn't want, so I left the phone service out of the package.

I am now on the U-200 package (plus HDTV) including Elite Broadband (6/1) for Internet service. Needless to say that I am now surfing the web at speeds I have never before experienced at home, so there is really no fair basis to compare. On the TV side, I am receiving 2 HD streams and 2 standard streams. Very pleased with that so far, except the audio occasionally skips for a split second, but nothing that would annoy me major league.

As a result of not having my phone service on U-Verse, I had a problem with really bad static for about a month which was subsequently remedied by AT&T, after the holidays. Turns out, prior to installing U-Verse, AT&T overlooked that they had to remove a bridge tap on the pole behind my house. Once, that was taken care of, the static on the phone was gone. Overall, a very pleasant experience dealing with AT&T, and U-Verse is an enjoyable product, so far.

member for 20.3 years, 2202 visits, last login: 77 days ago
updated 15.2 years ago


ltotino
@uslec.net

ltotino

Anon

how is the uverse service now?

In the Chicago area as well and considering the service, you have had it for over a month now and wanted to know how it is fairing.

user4275
Location, Location, Location
Premium Member
join:2003-11-27
Chicago, IL

1 edit

user4275

Premium Member

U-Verse Update

Click for full size
U-Verse continues to be an enjoyable product for me and my family. There haven't been any glitches, neither on the IPTV nor on the Internet side. The bottom line for me is that I have had an improvement on my sync rate, and I can watch recorded TV in 4 different rooms with whole-house DVR. I've attached my DSL stats for a little over a month. The uncorrected blocks and DSL errors were from a couple of weeks ago when I had a problem with my phone, and everything had to be disconnected at the NID.

Review by missionbbs See Profile

  • Location: Derby, New Haven, CT, USA
  • Cost: $89 per month
  • Install: about 10 days
Fair price for the 10Meg speed
Sound for there internet phone could be clearer
Not bad for there price with all the features.
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

I have the AT&T U-Verse Internet and U-Verse Internet phone service.
For the price I pay it is a bargan, the phone end could be clearer.
If I did not get the 10Meg speed it would be $69.00 a month for 3 Meg speed,
for $20.00 more get the 10 Meg speed.

Derby CT

member for 18 years, 35 visits, last login: 13.7 years ago
updated 15.2 years ago


DrTandem
@sbc.com

DrTandem

Anon

My U-verse Experience

Ordering was easy. The tech called before arriving and was on time. Knowing how the STBs connected to the RG, I decided to run all of my own Cat 5 IW and install Ethernet jacks. That way, I was able to hide the wiring and was able to do away with any old Cat 3 IW or coax.

The tech arrived went back to the VRAD and returned within 15 minutes. Since I had done all of the wiring, his job consisted of opening the boxes and plugging everything in.

I have four computers on a LAN and four STBs. The tech supplied an additional switch as there are not enough ports on the RG for what I was doing.

Everything works great. I have had service for about a year. No failures in that time. All-house DVR is awesome! Internet is super fast both up and down stream. Picture quality is so good that standard def TVs look as good as my high def one. I use standard land line for telephone service. Oh, I discovered you can back-feed another set from a STB using coax. So, you can have the same channel on in another room without the STB.

Lastly, it's all far less expensive that cable was.






Review by donkeycooter See Profile

  • Location: Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
  • Cost: $90 per month
  • Install: about 14 days
Great Price, Great Technology, Best bang for the buck
occasional freezing glitches
I wish this was available at my other home in Santa Cruz
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Value for money:

First Report after two weeks of service

We recently moved to Sacramento, CA for a consulting job and found out that U-verse was available. At my permanent residence in Santa Cruz, we have a choice of minimal HD with Comcast, or Satellite without Local HD Channels. I've read the complaints about U-verse HD Quality but it doesn't even compare to worse HD quality of Comcast in Santa Cruz. Some of the same network channels are bad like CBS. Anyway, I'm enjoying everything I had from Comcast + 50% more channels, Better DVR, and nearly half the price. Comcast does beat them on the On Demand HD. The internet seems fine and reasonably priced, but Comcast always had great internet for me. I didn't get the phone since it was going to delay the install by two weeks. I just went for a skype home phone number for the telemarketers and our usual cell phones for everything else.

member for 15.2 years, 4 visits, last login: 15.1 years ago
updated 15.2 years ago


Review by Clo4 See Profile

  • Location: Hollywood, Broward, FL, USA
  • Cost: $150 per month
  • Install: about 30 days
Speed / Standard Definition TV Picture Looks Great
Terrible Customer Service / HD Quality Looks Awful
If you can deal with crappy tech support and bad HD quality this service is for you.
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

Order was placed on 12-3-08 after a DSL tech had advised me that U-Verse was available. The service was to be installed on 12-8-08.

12-08-08 U-Verse tech shows. He quickly checks for a signal and tells me its a no go since I still had DSL service. Rescheduled for 12-10-08. That right still a no go. Rescheduled for 12-18-08.

12-18-08 that’s right the tech blows me off. Not even a phone call. The support promises to have someone out on 12-24-08.

12-24-08 8PM still no call no show Lovely.

12-26-08 I get a call that someone will be out on 12-28-08.

12-28-08 tech shows up and laughs at me telling to reschedule at which point I told him to cancel. He quickly gets on the horn and makes things happen. 6 hours later U-Verse was installed and he was on his way. That night we start to have TV picture quality issues when watching HD. Support tech was called and told me he would have someone on 12-30-08.

12-30-08 tech shows up . He looks around and checks the phone jack with his handheld test. He walks outside and never comes back in. Awesome !!!. Called support who was extremely nice and apologetic and promised me a call back from a supervisor. Supervisor promptly calls back and says he will have someone come back and resolve the issue.

12-31-08 No call No Show.

1-8-09 Tech calls me that he will be there in 30 minutes. Tech promptly shows up and starts testing the line. Sure enough there were errors. He replaces almost every single component up to the nid outside my home. Even after all that the HD picture looks terrible on both my HDTV's. He runs another test and the quality was worse than when he started. He calls for an ST to come out.20 Minutes later the ST was at the front door. He quickly replaces the EBN and Power protector on the NID. Still the signal is a no go. He walks over to the VRAD and replaces a wire. Still a no go. The ST then tells me that the HD picture that is being displayed on my TV looks great and that was as good as it can get. I look and laughed at him and tell him to compare my OTA HD picture and then look at your Crappy HD picture. He doesn't like where I was taking the conversation and quickly makes a B line for the exit. Mean while the U-Verse tech is on the horn with a level 2 support that tells him that she is going to lunch and will be back in one hour. It is now 8:30 in the evening and I tell the poor guy to call it a day. He gets up and starts packing his things while still being on the phone with level 2. She suggested that I call back and get some sort of credit for the service. Over all I am not happy with the service. The HD sucks at best. The Internet Service has lots of latency compared to my DSL service. Customer Service Sucks. Dish Network Here I Come!!!!

member for 22.2 years, 288 visits, last login: 8 years ago
updated 15.2 years ago


RDSinUrbanaIL
@comcast.net

RDSinUrbanaIL

Anon

had similar bad experience

Have very similar experience to yours, except through november; finally called to cancel in December. They were yet to credit me for service billed but never delivered.
Today I received a notification from ATT about my DSL service telling me that there were changes on my account in NOV.

SAD to have had to deal with over 20 agents now and each had little idea on how to get their services on, off, or billed correctly.

Review by wirphotos See Profile

  • Location: Green Bay, Brown, WI, USA
  • Cost: $110 per month
  • Install: about 35 days
Better value, faster internet, receive all channels on all tv's!
Install takes to long, customer service sucks
Great value, superb service!
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

I switched from Time Warner Cable. It was either DSL or U-Verse. We have the U200 Package, the slowest internet and 4 boxes.

The order was easy, the install was painful. Failed to show up on install date and was 4 hours late on the make up date.

Tech went well above the call of duty and made sure everything would work right from that point forward.

member for 21.6 years, 3683 visits, last login: 8.2 years ago
lodged 15.2 years ago







Review by rcbrcb See Profile

  • Location: Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
  • Cost: $130 per month
  • Install: about 30 days
Better HD selection than TWC, Good ISP Speeds
The lack of ability to Pause Live TV and Record Programs from Secondary STB's,
Great product
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:

The time lead time form order to install was about 30 days. Tech that came to do the install was well informed about the product and how to do the work but he had to call out a lineman to redo the wiring setup in my buildings Telco Room, so the install of 2 TV's and Internet Service took well over 6.5 Hours. I am glad that I did not get U-verse Phone as it seems to be a problem to get it working for several in my building. They had their TV and Internet installed over a month ago but AT&T still cant get the phone service to work.

The only downside I have come across so far is the lack of ability to pause live TV and set recordings from the secondary STB. I guess I am spoiled by TiVo. The Whole House DVR is a nice function so you can watch recordings in multiple locations but it is rather annoying to get out of bed to run to the Living Room to set a recording or not being able to pause a live TV show in the bedroom when the phone rings or nature calls.

Overall I am very happy with the end product.

member for 17.1 years, 1798 visits, last login: 7.7 years ago
updated 15.2 years ago


JeffT
@sbc.com

JeffT

Anon

Strabge...

Funny...you can set/delete recordings from a cell phone or the internet but you can't do if from another STB within your home!?!?

rcbrcb
Premium Member
join:2007-02-21
60642

1 edit

rcbrcb

Premium Member

Re: Strabge...

Yep....I found it strange too, but that is the way it is. It is going to be a function that is addded in the future but no one seems to be able to give a firm timeline as to when that is going to happen