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 Review by haygood2 
UPDATED: 119 days ago
member for 6.7 years, 2479 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Flowery Branch,Hall,GA
 $42 per month
 about 3 days
 BellSouth
 "Fast Stable 6.0/512 connection"
 "Excellent Service!!"
 "So far so good!!"
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BSFA 6.0/512 is a great service!!
I am provisioned 8125/512 and my download speeds are consistent at 712k or so!!
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Review by peterponds
UPDATED: 122 days ago
member for 7.8 years, 962 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Lula,Hall,GA
$45 per month
BellSouth
"fast and always on"
"no connection for 18 days"
"very good----when it's working"
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Update: July 09 went back for about 8 months (HSI only) because they were cheaper than comcast, about $48 vs 62.
1) installation was w/o problem
2) connection was perfect, almost never down or slow
3) rebate never came, but that was no surprise.
to sum it up... great connection at the present time in this area, just don't believe their promotions.
Fast and furious when it's working. But 3 problems.
1 Connection goes to sleep for periods of up to 60 seconds, won't connect to anything when asleep.
2 Won't connect to anything with windows media player, they'll lie to you about this.
3 NO connection now for 18 days after some "upgrading" of the system. I believe the verdict will be bad modem when I finally get the tech to the house. But I'm hearing similar stories from others with BS DSL ( blinking line synch light on the modem front panel with a good signal to the house) Did they upgrade our modems out fo existance?
june 05: it was the modem back then. it took them 5 weeks (that's right, 5 weeks)
to get me a new one, so i was w/o broadband for over a month. thsy tried to charge me for a new modem even though original was still within warrantee period.
They billed me for DSL for the period i was w/o service even though i called ahead telling them not to. After bill received it took 4 calls to straighten it out and instead of "we're sorry, we;ll fix it right away" they argued with me, resisted refund, and i never did gat a full refund for the 5 weeks w/o service. they still kept some of my $.
BellSouth still treats it's customers like it's a monopoly.
They finally put cable internet in here, so i switched to adelphia(soon to be comcast) and added vonage. now i'm 3 times as fast, cheaper(for the combimation of hsi and voip, vs.dsl and pots) and happier.
i have a bellsouthfree household. ain't competition great?
So far(3 months) cable connection works flawlessly, and is fast as hell(almost 5 megs down)
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Review by redrims999
UPDATED: 123 days ago
member for 1.9 years, 127 visits, last login: 42 days ago
Atlanta,Fulton,GA
$50 per month
about 5 days
"Free modem, good download, very stable and solid speeds, Customer Support is superb"
"Upload speed is horrible, ratio of upload to download is very bad, the modem/router are generic"
"The service is rock-solid for what is offered"
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I have the dry-loop service (naked line only capable of dsl). I had problems for a few months but I called them and told them and they sent a tech out to replace my line. Rock solid since then. The upload speed is piss-poor. I signed up for the advertised "6 mbps down 512 kbps up". I get 6 mbps download due to MaxSync which compensates for line quality and distance by allotting more bandwidth so you get what you pay for. Very clever technology but for some reason they only use it for the download. So my upload is only .4 mbps. I mean the upload is already so low, why now at least give MaxSync for it too so we can get that minimal upload? The modem that is supplied is generic and the chipset is sensitive. Say I have a VoIP call and I'm downloading a torrent. The ping's will spike even when the call is finished and the torrent is stopped, because the modem is stressed. My only other choices in this area are Comcast and U-Verse. I opted for Comcast because of the phenomenal 100$ triple play. I will document the install when the installer comes *crosses fingers*. AT&T sent a self install kit to me. Had it working in a few minutes. They initially sent a Netopia modem/router. The range is bad and it doesn't work anymore. I've had at least 6+ different modems or modem/routers from them in the past 4 years. I have to give credit to them though, their tech support is great.
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Review by pshibb
Posted: 123 days ago
member for 1 year, 21 visits, last login: 116 days ago
undisclosed location
Contract price not specified.
"service is reliable"
"lied to on several occasions and repeatedly overcharged. treated badly by CSR"
"avoid them if you can, they only care about increasing their customer base."
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I have had them almost 2 months and I have had many problems with their billing and sales tactics. They lied twice to me to get me to sign up for service. Now they insist that I must be illiterate and the charges on my bill are not there. I must say though that at least their services are reliable.
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Review by sbken
UPDATED: 126 days ago
member for 7.7 years, 72 visits, last login: 90 days ago
Etowah,Henderson,NC
$49 per month
BellSouth
"Down time is usually short and relatively infrequent"
"BSFA (BellSouth FastAccess) tech support is rotten! No Macintosh support!! No more Usenet. Yahoo! email is a step backward."
"ATT gets steadily worse. Their goal is to grow and increase their bottom line."
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More dissatisfaction with ATT, formerly Bellsouth, as an ISP. I was just informed that, as of July 15, 2009, ATT will no longer offer Newsgroups. Boom! Just like that. Gone. They will, of course, reduce their monthly charges. Sure they will! As Wayne in "Wayne's World" said "They will when monkeys fly out......".
This company also offers barely minimal service to Macintosh. I receive emails telling me about the new tools I have at my disposal to optimize and troubleshoot. When I check these wonderful offerings I find they are strictly for Windows Machines. I've suggested they offer a reduced rate since many of their feature are not available to me. HA!
Believe me, if I had an alternative to this crummy big bureaucratic conglomerate I'd take it in a heartbeat!
This is a followup to a previous report posted some time ago. I'm disgusted with BSFA BellSouth Fast Access) because of their limited breadth of technical support. I use Macintoshes with a HomePortal 1000S DSL modem. My recently problems brought the following responses:
You have trouble with your Eudora email software. "Sorry, we only support 'Outlook Express' and 'Netscape'."
"You're using OS 10.2? That's called 'Jaguar', isn't it? We don't support that." (In the near future "Panther" - OS 10.3 - will be released putting BSFA even further behind.)
"Your using an "Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station'"? What's that? Oh, we only support USB connection to your HomePortal modem.
I then said that I'd try calling HomePortal directly to which they replied that I wasn't supposed to do that since the FastAccess Technical Support is supposed to handle all questions.
I sure wish there was a Mac-friendly DSL service. I don't have access to Cable so that is not an option.
More negative experience with ATT/Bellsouth.
• First, they discontinue newsgroups/usenet and, when you go to their support page they effectively flip you off with the following message: "Usenet Newsgroups Feature Discontinued On or around July 15, 2009, AT&T will no longer provide access to its Usenet content for AT&T Internet Services customers. Customers wishing to access Usenet newsgroups may do so by finding a third-party provider, who will charge a subscription fee.
We hope you will continue to enjoy your AT&T Internet Services. Thank you for choosing AT&T -- Your World. Delivered." How's this for spitting in your eye?
• I've been having many problems with YahooMail. First, this new and improved system has, by default, the setting to send all email - including the SpamGuard spam in the Junk folder to the inbox in your email client. Tech Support could not solve this problem despite numerous calls. Finally, a second tier support person IN INDIA showed me the simple change in "Options" to solve this mystery.
• Another change in Yahoo!Mail. Any email mistakenly routed to the Junk mailbox can be marked as "Not Spam" only after opening the email!
• Finally (for this time anyway) I've repeatedly complained to ATT that the "Email Us" button is still displayed throughout their Wab pages. ATT NO LONGER OFFERS EMAIL SUPPORT! Yet they refuse to remove this link. Additionally, the "Chat with an agent" link is displayed and when I click on it is say that this link is NOT AVAILABLE for Macintosh!
Followup comments:  notwrth10
join:2007-03-03
1001EB
| ok so lemme get this straight. You have Eudora E-mail service, an apple airport extreme base station and wonder why they don't support it?
Name a provider that really supports an apple extreme base station on their service. my guess is short of the small documents they create they probably don't.
Truthfully I would look at it as a 3rd party router. Contact them for support!
What I can't figure out with your review is why call AT&T to support your mac hardware and 3rd party software? They only support their DSL service. They are not a support all for your hardware and software configurations.
I think they have a "support+" but that's a pay per incident fee. Then they would support any application you wish.
But to blame a internet provider because they don't support your configuration is literally just proving you are dumb and points the finger even harder back at you.
I don't feel my U.S. based parents should pay for your lack of research in their internet price. You bought the hardware you get support for it! | |
| | sbken
join:2002-03-09
Etowah, NC
 ·AT&T Southeast
| Re: ok so lemme get this straight. I try to maintain a civil discussion. It's too bad you can't do likewise. I think name-calling says more about you than it does about me.
Say what you will, but the ATT documentation consistently refers to Windows and Vista and PCs. When I go to their Web Site - their Chat Support section says that it only works with Windows. I frequently receive emails that tell me to download applications/utilities to help me troubleshoot my internet connection. When I look at these items they say they are for PCs only. If ATT says they support PC hardware, fine. Since a percentage of their user-base uses Macs I find it troubling that they have trouble supporting it. I do NOT expect them to support, as you put it, "3rd party software".
If you explore the ATT Web site since the switch to Yahoo! you will find several links that do not work. That has nothing to do with any platform. Also, try to communicate for technical support via email. When you finally bore down to the page to send the email you see a paragraph that says they no longer offer email support to ANYONE. | |
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cameronsfx
join:2009-01-08
Pensacola, FL | Mac Stations are Junk Regular routers work with Macs too.
Apple should give directions on those stations. | |
| | JackMiles
join:2009-06-29
Dayton, TN | Re: Mac Stations are Junk Apple AirPort is the most advanced and reliable router i have ever used. | |
| | | sbken
join:2002-03-09
Etowah, NC
·AT&T Southeast
| Re: Mac Stations are Junk The debate of Apple versus the rest of the world is much like debating politics and religion - it generates much heat but never convinces the opposing view to change. PCs and Apple computers and software both have their supporters and detractors. I feel both have pluses and minuses. I happen to be a Mac person and therefore, I realize, a minority in the computers world.
Mac has made some poor hardware and software over the years as has Microsoft and PC manufacturers. I just wish that ATT would recognize that, perhaps, 10% of their customers do use Macs and either offer the same level of support or offer a reduce charge commensurate with their reduced level of support. | |
| 
luck09
@bellsouth.net
| No problems here, but... ...then again I use PCs. Several of them. Actually though, I've had AT&T (formerly Bellsouth) DSL for years. I had to call them twice: once to order the service, and once to order a replacement modem after lightning took the first one out. I've never had any problems with them otherwise, and I live in the boonies (we only got cable internet around here 18 months ago).
Frankly I don't see why you'd be concerned about any "tools" for either the PC or mac. They're not needed. | |
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Review by SC1R
Posted: 131 days ago
member for 5.4 years, 37 visits, last login: 119 days ago
Aiken,Aiken,SC
$50 per month
AT&T
"Service has been on 24/7 with only a few exceptions for years. Reliable"
"Claimed speeds not close FastaAccess speed test > dslreports speed tests. Trust dslreports. Huge latency problems with this ISP."
"If you casual brows not bad. If latency is an issue, AT&T= bad service. Pay for another provider"
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Have had 6M service for years now. The service is degrading and they are slow to repair their equipment. They are good for modem problems etc. I had 3 modems go bad in 6 yrs. The network is reliable just hits slow spots. So if your just browsing its a good service. If latency will hurt you, then this is service is unreliable.
see these test results done at dslreports. Oh yeah they dont match what AT&T speedtest reports. All 5 dsl reports tests came in well below the threshold expected for the stated service.
»img" >speedtest.dslreports.com">img border=0 src="http://www.dslreports.com/im/75066556/5701.png
Followup comments:
attdslemployee
@bellsouth.net
| BST TECH!!! call in and get a bst tech to come out.get him to check dslam port, lines to house, and good sync to outside nid. Then get him to come on inside to check good sync on jack, check modem, and run some speed tests. Dont assume its the Att Network, computers get slows too and build up junk. Tell employee to put $SAVE$ in tech notes, but if any inside issues the charges will be applied to ur bill. Now if the modem just ask the tech to give u one off the truck, just dont expect it to have a warranty. I enjoy my dsl, you just gotta educate urself abt the technology a little, unless u wanna go to cable and share ur speed and deal with new throttling policies. Good Luck!! | |
| Airwolf7
Premium
join:2004-12-12
Franklin, KY | The speed tests at DSLReports suck! . | |
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 Review by Diaboyos
Posted: 131 days ago
member for 2.2 years, 438 visits, last login: 6 days ago
Shreveport,Caddo,LA
$30 per month
about 5 days
"Cheaper Than Cable - Faster Than Dial-Up"
"Alot Slower Than Cable"
"Depends on your Internet Usage"
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If you require faster speeds go with Comcast. If you wanna save a lil money and deal with slower speeds go with AT&T. I went through 3 modems in 6 months. The ones they sent me just kept going out. I've since switched back to Comcast as much as I hate to.
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Review by GSTEXEC1
UPDATED: 134 days ago
member for 5 years, 53 visits, last login: 118 days ago
Fort Pierce,Saint Lucie,FL
$37 per month
about 5 days
BellSouth
"Fast at getting service setup"
"Bad at keeping service working"
"Would not recommend to anyone in Florida"
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Signed up for service FastAccess DSL 6.0m in August 2008. Had the modem and service setup in 5 days. After that it has been constant calls to technical support and at least 35 truck rolls to house to finally decide to cancel service today. 7/16/09. Had 2 different trucks at house today and the second one finally stated he replaced the card that provides service but can not explain why every time the phone ring or you pick up the phone to call the modem will lose sync. This happen at the nid with the house disconnected or if the house is connected.
It would appear to me that AT&T needs to work on the service aspect of this product at least in my area. I noticed that in the last 2 months they have started offering U-Verse in some ares where I live and it seams that FastAccess DSL has suffered since that time.
The customer support and technical people have been super for there help but the outside techs are of no help. This makes the whole company look bad.
I would recommend if you do sign up for service from AT&T in this area and have problems just cancel ASAP and do not waste your time calling then since the outside techs will not take the time to repair a problem.
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Review by jerrymaynor
Posted: 134 days ago
member for 5.9 years, 584 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Alpharetta,Fulton,GA
$90 per month
BellSouth
"Mostly reliable"
"4 calendar days for scheduled POTS repair - almost a week until fixed"
"They emphasize reliability but, in reality are worse than cable"
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I have had ATT voice and DSL service for almost 5 years with no outage of more than an hour on POTS and 2 days on DSL until last week. I've been without dial tone for almost a week now and the best that ATT can do is "repair by 7pm on Saturday" (2 days from now). I think that 8 days to fix what their advertising describes as a "lifeline" service is laughable and totally unacceptable. Unfortunitely, this seems to be what the merger of Bellsouth with ATT has brought us - cable level hyperbole in advertising with sub-cable quality service.
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Review by card240
UPDATED: 138 days ago
member for 5 years, 112 visits, last login: 132 days ago
Greensboro,Guilford,NC
$43 per month
about 1 days
BellSouth
"Has been rock solid for more than five years with Bellsouth/AT&T"
"Not enough to complain loudly."
"After Edits: AT&T and I have learned to live together comfortably."
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I started with Bellsouth about three years ago in Miami, shifting from AT&T, which I had for about two years. I started in the South Miami area with 1.5 Mbps connection with AT&T which never attained the speed I was paying for, appearing to be locked at 928 Mbps. AT&T sent a technician who said it would remain so as I was 16,000 feet from the CO. Then I changed to Bellsouth, and within two hours and nothing more on my part than a simple modem reboot the speed doubled and stayed that way throughout my remaining year in Miami. Bellsouth owned the lines I guess, so had a big say where the load coils would stay.
I moved about a year and half ago to Greensboro, NC and retained the Bellsouth DSL at 1.5. I could have had Time-Warner RoadRunner, but decided to stick with what had been a good service at Bellsouth. The same Bellsouth Westell 2200 modem came with me and from the first day here the connection hit that mark consistently. Our utilities are underground and my understanding is we have fiberoptic cable very close to our street.
Only recently has it had some slow-downs, and they have been only for a couple of hours. I am hoping that the merger will not effect the fine job that Bellsouth people seem to have kept up, at least in my experience, in both of my locations.
UPDATE: July 30, 2008: I guess the ATT effect has set in. The speed has declined a lot in the past few weeks, I am now paying for 6.0 and getting 3200Kbps only. I will complain of course, but it is discouraging after so many years of good Bellsouth service.
UPDATE: April 23, 2009: I have to report that after the previous loss of speed the connection did go back to the full 6.0 I am paying for. No real problems with the connection since.
I did make the move to the new Yahoo/ATT mail servers, and was NOT happy with the way it was handled. Mostly it was my fault, as I moved only the primary address and did not change my Apple Mail/Outlook Express clients as I just thought the change affected only the webmail site, which I almost never use. Of course no primary mail came in but secondary accounts did, and this took a month for me to notice. When I finally tumbled and changed the email clients there was a gusher of unread mail from the primary account. ATT was of NO HELP in this, it took the forums here and the Mac forums to make it clear to me. Big, red anger ball thrown at AT@T !
UPDATE: July 12, 2009: In fairness, I do have to note that the 6.0 "Extreme" constancy of speed has been very good despite my fears after AT&T's takeover from Bellsouth. I have the occasional loss of sync, but a modem reboot has always brought it back and various speed tests indicate around 6300 Mbps at all times. I have suffered no real outages.
I DON'T like the much increased Spam I am getting with the Yahoo email servers, but since everything ends up in my Spam folder anyhow it is not anything but an annoyance. I continue to use the original Westell WireSpeed modem orginally brought from Miami more than three years ago as I see no gain to come from a change.
So, years later, I remain happy with the Bellsouth/AT&T service, and have now raised the "Value for Money" rating to 5 stars.
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