how-to block ads
|
»next review in page
Review by UnivTolKev 
UPDATED: 269 days ago
member for 4.3 years, 16 visits, last login: 267 days ago
 Toledo,Lucas,OH
 $20 per month
 about 21 days
 AT&T
 "Cheap"
 "The customer service horror stories are as bad as rumored"
 "Double check everything!"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I live in Downtown Akron and ordered dry loop from ATT since cable is provided in my apartment. Long story short, my service didn't turn on on the scheduled date... which was followed up by the tech missing the first two schedule times. I understand emergencies happen, but I'd appreciate some sort of automated call saying my tech won't show...
When the tech arrived he said "Wait, you're not in apartment 604?" I should have figured the wrong apartment number was the issue because when I tried to order online, my apartment number did not show in the list on ATT's website, but 604 did.
AT&T customer service gets pretty confused by the dry loop DSL; usually easier if you tell them up front.
Also, when I ordered, I got got the 764k/384k plan with the understanding I could upgrade later. When I called two months later to upgrade, I was told it wasn't available. I'm guessing it has something to do with my eariler apartment number issue, so I'll be calling again to argue my point.
I don't know what equipment is given out these days. I'm using an old speedstream modem from a friend.
3 for pre-sale since false info on the upgrade was giving and for mis-entering my address.
1 for install since it took 3 appt's to get a tech to show, and since it was installed wrong due to wrong apartment number.
5 for connection. No downtime I'm aware of, but I don't log outages
2 tech support is the usual, oversees drill. Gets the job done, but painfully.
If you decide to order it, be VERY sure to double check all the details. I would definitely call ATT back after ordering a service call to verify the information.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
 | »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by lolwhat
UPDATED: 274 days ago
member for 8.4 years, 3646 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Fishers,Hamilton,IN
$20 per month (12 month contract)
about 7 days
AT&T
"Fast install; good price; great customer service here at BBR."
"Billing/sales issues aren't directly supported at BBR."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I ordered DSL from SBC-Ameritech in September of 2003, through a BBR member who also works in SBC DSL sales. I ordered the Standard Plus package - 1500 down, 128 up (soon to be 256 up, for free, within the next six months), and dynamic IP - with their one-year contract deal for $30/month over 12 months. I opted for the free modem and the self-install.
The due date for the line was nine days later, but the line was up and fully operational six days later, and I had gotten the DSL setup kit (modem, filters, and software) only four days after the order. I didn't even have to wire a home run for the DSL, thank goodness. The line filters worked perfectly, and I was getting about 1300 down and 135 up after tweaks, which is acceptably close to the full capability of a 1500/128 line that was run from an RT.
I also didn't bother to install their software. It's not recommended by "anybody who's anybody"; it installs various useless bloatware. Instead, I used Windows XP's PPPoE initially, I then switched to RASPPPoE, and I now have a router that does PPPoE.
I haven't experienced slowdowns, sync issues, ping spikes, or any other sort of connection problem since the line came up. The only problem I've experienced was while using their support over IRC-style chat. I was trying to find out how much speed my line could handle in each direction, if I got something like the Expert package (6000/608). (This speed "type" is called max attainable speed, as opposed to sync speed or connection throughput.) The support rep with whom I was chatting would simply not give me that information. Instead, he gave me a scripted spiel about how the speed I was getting was perfectly acceptable, even though that didn't answer my question whatsoever. So, I ended up requesting the info from another BBR member who works in SBC DSL tech support. He told me that, unfortunately, since my DSL is RT-based, a technician would actually have to come out and plug a device into my line to get me that info. Eventually, however, SBC techs - at least, those in his "department" - will be able to get that sort of info without a tech visit.
Which brings me to tech support. I haven't needed to use SBC's phone support, and their chat support was useless the one time I tried it. However, their support here at BBR is top-notch. From my experience (and somewhat from hearsay), every tech who works the SBC forums here does all they can to get problems fixed and questions answered. And yes, "works" is the correct term; the support here is official* - part of their paid duties as SBC employees is to answer questions here. Hardly any other ISP out there does this at any level. In fact, this is the main reason I ditched my 3000/128 cable Internet connection for SBC.
* Well, as of a couple weeks ago, sales and billing issues aren't officially supported here anymore. Several kind folks were able to support such issues unofficially for a while, but that was ended after a situation involving one customer (not myself) that could've turned out very badly for the SBC people involved - as in, it was the customer's fault, but SBC heads would've rolled anyway. :-(
7/19/04 UPDATE:
I'm still satisfied overall with my service. I've had no major hiccups with it, so I decided to renew my contract last week, keeping the lower-speed plan (now called Express). Just now, I checked my line status at rolande's site (see the SBC-Ameritech forum to find out what this site is), and I noticed that the ping times for my line dropped a few milliseconds a couple hours ago. Hmm... So, I Remote-Desktopped to my home PC, ran the SBC speed test, and sure enough: 1299/218. So, I finally have 1536/256 sync; so far, my line can handle the higher upload.
11/11/04 UPDATE:
Still satisfied. About two weeks ago, my line got bumped again, to 1536/384 sync (1300/330 actual). The line seems to be able to handle the higher upload.
1/31/06 UPDATE:
Still satisfied at 1536/384 sync, 1300/330 actual! I rerated to $20 plus taxes and fees over a year ago.
5/18/06 UPDATE:
I moved to a brand-new house. AT&T's ordering system is such that even though new construction may be served by a DSL RT, phone service must be working for several weeks before the provisioning system goes, "Oh, OK, your line is DSL-able." Since I wanted to have no gap in my DSL service, I had to order new POTS at the new house, wait for it to go green for DSL, then move DSL from my POTS line at the old house to the POTS line at the new one. AT&T apparently had to send out another tech to move my phone line at the RT from a POTS-only jack to POTS+DSL.
Anyway, the DSL at my new house isn't quite as stable as I'd hoped. I get a noise margin of at least 24 at the NID, so it isn't AT&T's fault, but sometimes it's only 7 inside the house whenever it's raining. Yay, now I have to yell at the builders...
11/15/06 UPDATE:
I had to get another phone line run within the house, but the noise problem's solved. It's been rock-solid with a 20-24 noise margin.
7/21/07 UPDATE:
One day last week, an AT&T person who was doing some work in the neighborhood accidentally futzed up our phone line. It resulted in a loud hum and a nasty echo on the voice portion; the DSL signal was also horribly degraded. When I called phone repair and they quoted me an ETR (estimated time of resolution) of a week later, I was expecting the worst; however, both voice and DSL were completely fixed the next day!
2/26/09 UPDATE:
Last week, I upgraded to Elite (6016/768 sync). The upgrade took only two days. Throughput is right near the max I can get after PPPoE overhead - about 5000/650. Awesome!
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by MacThrasher
UPDATED: 277 days ago
member for 7.5 years, 2353 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Chagrin Falls,Cuyahoga,OH
$40 per month (12 month contract)
about 17 days
AT&T
"Great Speed. Great Reliability. Inexpensive."
"None really... lately."
"Well worth it for home or small businesses."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
Edit 2-23-09: Rock Solid. Better than TWC in this area, or any other internet available in the area. Speed is great see below.
5004 down/ 685 up.
Edit 12-11-08: Still running like a champ!
Edit 1-17-08: Upgraded to Elite service (6M/1M). Made the call last night and already at 4.8-5.2 Down in speed and 600-700K up depending on the speed test. I will update in the 5-7 days that the sales rep told me last night.
If they roll Uverse out here. Kudos AT&T!
Edit 9-4-07: Great speed and reliability still to this date. Still getting around 2400/440 or better on speed tests.
Most recent edit: Now AT&T DSL broadband. Have 3.0M/512K service, and usually get 2500/440 or better. Very rarely have to reset the modem, so very reliable still, great technical support on this site, but not nesessarily when you call. but getting much better
Cleveland is still a new frontier for broadband. DSL was only available about 6 months ago. Cable TV is somewhat shaky out here (loss of connections, fuzzy, etc), so I decided to get broadband via DSL instead. Not to mention I don't have to share my bandwidth with my neighbors. So when I got the phone call on Saturday morning, I told him to sign me up.
It was installed a week earlier than scheduled, and after a few heated phone calls to technical support, I was up and running.
Since then, I have the fastest speed in town. Only speeds I have seen faster was on a T1.
768/128 service. Phone sometimes acts funny though (like double rings and stuff).
I would suggest it to my family, friends, and neighbors.
EDIT: Been running now for 9 months with no real issues. The speeds are consistent and I have not noticed any down time since the install in February.
EDIT: First good (well, bad) outage, Mon 1/13/03. Everything working fine about 1:30 PM. No sync light at 4:30 PM.  Dead Dead Dead. No flicker. Reset modem, router, checked all cords, nothing. Spent an hour and a half with tech support. Not even as much of a clue why its not working, but won't issue a trouble ticket for 24 hours. "Just check it in the morning and give us a call back. We will give you a trouble ticket then." was the final answer I got.
As I thought that was a poor answer, I jumped online with dial up and IM'ed ADSL guy, and gave him my DSL account number. He called back a few minutes later and helped me troubleshoot it, just to be sure, and said everything looked great as of this afternoon, you should be getting service. A few minutes later he called me back with Beach Boy and set me up with a trouble ticket. A serviceperson should be out here this afternoon.
A huge thank you to Ken and David for helping me out on my latest outage. They are very knowledgeable and quite responsive! If all of SBC's help desk people were as good as these two gentleman, I would give SBC a five star rating.
EDIT: 7/15/03. Everything is still running great. So much so that I recommend it to many of my customers in the area. I have even installed the 1.5/256 Static service in my office. Keep up the good work.
EDIT: 1/22/04. Still working great. Moved to a new house, which has some antiquated wiring, most of which I have replaced inside. There is a tree out in the front yard that needs to be cut back before I loose phone, electric, and cable TV. Other than that, it works the way its advertized. I heven have static service at my office that works excellent. I have had DSLR monitor it for several weeks now, with NO service interruptions.
EDIT: 8/31/04. Still working like a charm. Service, espcially from the SBC techs on this site has been excellent. I would definetly recommend SBC DSL service to friends and colleagues.
EDIT: 4/6/05. Working great. The speeds are consistent. uptime is great.
EDIT: 10/10/05. Still working like a charm. Got an upgrade to a 3.0/512 package a few weeks ago by reupping my contract for another year, so my 49.95 a month for 1.5/256 is now 32.95 for 3.0/512.
EDIT: 4/27/06. Everything still works great and no down time...knock on wood.
EDIT: 6/19/07. Everything is still great. No complaints here.
EDIT: 6/6/08: Now have Elite service 6/1. Pretty much never goes down, and get a solid 5600/790 on certain local speed tests.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by reflection29
UPDATED: 279 days ago
member for 280 days, 6 visits, last login: 269 days ago
Jackson,Jackson,MI
$40 per month
"Great Connection. Elite package."
"Great Value"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
I have the elite package from att. For 2 years now, I have not had a problem. Connection speeds are always great. Download speeds range from 630-640 kbs and up speeds range from 80-100kbs. It is not as fast as cable but for the price it is all around good. They advertise 6mbs down and 768kbs up. Speed test shows 5.2mbs down and 650kbs up. Ping times are pretty good. I have the speed stream 4100 and so far it is rock solid. Dry loop DSL rocks.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by MikeC
UPDATED: 281 days ago
member for 8.1 years, 3286 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Des Plaines,Cook,IL
$40 per month
about 14 days
Ameritech
"Solid speed and reliabilty."
"Slow Speed, too far from CO"
"Speed is reliable."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I ordered the cheap 768/128. The monthly is 49.95. The order and install was smooth. Until ameritech had to move my line from the what they called electronics to a hard line. It only took the tech 10min. The DSL modem provided was received before install date. The service is PPPoE with a dynamic IP. Love the reliabilty. Update 2/25/2002 (Speed 653/133) Still solid and reliable have had no outage that effected me. Mail sucks down a lot of time glad I never really use it. Newsgroups bites it is capped and has less groups. Update 8/31/2002 Still solid no complaints. Update 9/27/2002 still solid a year into it. I could do without the ton of spam in the mail account that I don't use. Update 5/13/2003 Still great service I upgraded to the 1500/256 package I love the new speed. I still wish email and newsgroup service would improve. Update 9/14/2004 Sometime this year others and I have been experiencing hung sessions, at the time I reported it I also had some line issues. Since the line has been fixed I get hung once in awhile along with sudden rapid IP changes. I still think the service is great considering I'm on the edge of the allowed distance. Update 4/16/2005 Still get a hung session once in a while only reason it's annoying is because it requires a modem reboot. I will have to put a remote power down unit on it to make sure I can get back in when I'm away. Update 2/19/2009 Still solid got a small speed increase still leaves me wanting more. I seen a RT nearby, I hope that might help a bit. Also switch to a dry line recently.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by filadog
UPDATED: 286 days ago
member for 8.2 years, 220 visits, last login: 286 days ago
Lincoln Park,Wayne,MI
$44 per month (12 month contract)
about 18 days
AT&T
"Easy setup-Fast connection speed"
"NONE!"
"great service-no problems"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
stable,consistant,reliable connection. No problems with AT&T's services. Very happy 
update:11-26-04
no trouble..stable connection..love it!
update:2-14-09
still running strong after many years of service, line is heavily used.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by jobby99
Posted: 286 days ago
member for 1.6 years, 12 visits, last login: 70 days ago
Cleveland,Cuyahoga,OH
$19 per month (12 month contract)
about 14 days
AT&T
"Consistent connection, Cheap"
"Too far to Home Office, Slow Connection Speed, Loss of Packets"
"Good if you don't use the Internet a whole lot."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
ATT Basic Package (dry loop on line 2 - line 1 has too much signal loss for dsl so only using phone on that one)
Took awhile for them to "fix the wiring" around the block to get it to work. Then, I went out there and twisted the two copper wires on (which were disconnected before b/c they weren't in use). Then, I figured which was Green and Red or whatever distinction you want to make and hooked up the DSL box to get it to work. I am using Wilcom DSL Filters, which probably make little difference, but at least you can remove the DSL filters from all your phone outlets if you so desire.
Overall, I would say that calling Tech Support is a waste of time for ATT DSL. Most of the processes for creating a username, resetting modem, etc can be found online and printed out for future reference, instead of contacting Tech Support India. The only good reason to call is to cancel service or barter for a lower price!
Time Warner Cable Road Runner Internet has never worked well here! Those damn squirrels eat up the line every Winter, which requires calls for service during the -20 degree temps of Winter. I feel sorry for the technicians, but got to have my basic cable TV for my TV CARDS and Vista MCE. I have tried Road Runner a couple times throughout the year, but modem speed is erratic and sync gets lost more than ATT DSL. Also, the rated speed is a joke as the real speed stays close to the 100 - 500 kbps. The extra cost for "really high speed" is just advertising. You don't get really high speed, sometimes you get really low speed. In addition, the installers just hack there way through the house to run cable, instead of doing things neatly. Thankfully, I have found a use for most of the existing holes in the house like running Ethernet Cable and such.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by FordTractor
UPDATED: 292 days ago
member for 6.6 years, 2259 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Fishers,Hamilton,IN
$28 per month (12 month contract)
about 12 days
Ameritech
"Solid service - no problems"
"None yet"
"Good value"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
2/8/09 Update - Still on Elite and still very solid performance. We've had very few outages. U-Verse is now available but I like the option of using my own home built DVR so I can move shows around to different computers so I've stayed with cable.
----------------------------------------------------------
5/24/07 Update - I've been on Elite for almost a year and I've had solid service with very few service interruptions. Had to replace my old 5360 Speedstream modem with a new 4100 but still getting a solid 5000/500.
------------------------------------------------
6/09/06 Just upgraded to Elite since it's cheaper ($28/month) and slightly higher upload speed. Ordered it online with no problems and was upgraded in less than a week. Currently getting 4980/500 and it's still rock solid. We have experienced a few outages (only one lasting a day or so) but otherwise have had very high availability.
-----------------------------------------------------
1/30/06 Update - Provisioning must be done because my download speed has increased to almost 5 mbps. So far it's rock solid.
------------------------------------------------
1/28/06 Update - Just signed up for the Expert class service with a single dynamic IP address. Install date is Jan 31 but my speed has already increased to 3.3 Mbps down and 500 kbps up. Hope for the money I'm spending ($50/month for 6 months then $65 monthly for last 6 months), ATT isn't done provisioning the line yet and speeds will go up somewhat. Still rock solid service, very few outages and low pings. Still recommended.
I had to negotiate to get the lower price for 6 months. I threatened to go to cable (which I didn't want to do but would have if necessary) and they transferred me to the "DSL Team" where I was offered the deal.
-------------------------------------------------
3/19/05 Update - due to increased email activity to support work, I upgraded to the Pro Package with no problems. I now get 2-2.5 Mbps down and 450 kbps up. Service has been reliable and consistent. 10 to 12 fellow employees where I work also have SBC-Ameritech DSL and their results have mirrored mine.
---------------------------------------------------
Update - we have had SBC DSL service for about 15 months now with very few outages and no other problems. When SBC had their special on entry level DSL for $26/month, I signed up for another year. I'm currently getting 1.3 mbps down and 120 kbps up - plenty fast enough for web surfing. I would recommend SBC-Ameritech DSL service because of the value and reliability we have received.
----------------------------------------------------
Signed up for the 768 service about two months ago. SBC-Ameritech sent me the install kit and DSL modem and it was pretty much an easy set up. I had some issues with my Netgear MR814 wireless router and my office VPN but none of those problems were Ameritech's.
About a month after service started a fellow worker mentioned he just got DSL but he referred to premium service - 1.5 mbps download speed. Within a week I had ordered it.
This time there was a problem. Within a couple of weeks, I noticed my upload speed had doubled from about 120 kbps to 240 kbps but download speed was consistently still around 640 kbps. I called Ameritech tech support and was told that it had been upgraded but that their test of the line showed a problem. This was Friday or Saturday night and they said it would be several days before someone could checkout the trouble ticket they submitted.
An hour later an Ameritech DSL tech called me and said he had reset the router and my download speed should be close to the promised 1.5 mbps and it was.
In the past, I have not been a fan of Ameritech - in fact I would classify my opinion of them as very low. I'm an engineer with previous telecom experience and when I moved to IN in 2000, my experience with Ameritech was the worst of any RBOC I had ever dealt with.
However, my experience with Ameritech since SBC's merger has been very good and I would classify my DSL experience as excellent. Good job SBC/Ameritech!
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by raypsi1
Posted: 303 days ago
member for 8.6 years, 397 visits, last login: 17 days ago
Wayne,Wayne,MI
$34 per month (month by month)
about 7 days
AT&T
"month by month no contract better than expected billing dept. wow"
"time to connect is slow if line goes down, jump thru plenty of hoops"
"aboslutely nobody trying to hack my comp like on comcast cable"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I was looking for a connection that wasn't a party line, like I had with cable.
I tried signing up on the internet but couldn't find the link for Dry DSL, I found out latter I should have signed up for phone service then internet and dumped the phone.
But I pay only $4 more for Dry DSL.
I got 3mbps for $34. And that price will never change so they say.
I waited for the modem to be Shipped that took 5 days and another 2 day to come out to install and oh yeah it took another 2 days to connect. Because the first guy out didn't have enough time, or he wasn't a trouble shooter only an installer. Turns out they hadn't connected me in the CO.
I got a really sweet netopia/motorola modem. Was a snap to set up to my router and set up for always connected. It must have an unbelievable firewall I haven't been attacked since I got it 7 months ago.
The billing doesn't start until you are live which is great and when the system went down for 2 days they gave me 2 days credit. Best of all when I couldn't pay my bill online because of their server, I couldn't logon, they waived the pay over the phone charges like $5, and they were nice about it
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
| »next page (previous review)
Review by attuser
UPDATED: 313 days ago
member for 1.2 years, 126 visits, last login: 148 days ago
Grayslake,Lake,IL
$35 per month
AT&T
"Speed is great, no lag when on Xbox live, pricing reasonable"
"None that I have notice"
"Great service if you can get it."
| |
I have had been with at&t since it was ameritech here in Illinois. I got DSL back in 05 when it was SBC. I had the 1.5 mbps service for a while but I was told I should get the 6 mbps since I have Xbox Live, but I have never really notice a difference on Live, but the 6 mbps did help when it came to downloading music, video etc. Also love the free anti virus from Mcafee for my windows computer(main computer is a Mac). The phone pricing is a little ridiculous, but I am getting Uverse soon so that will change. Never had issues with it. Overall great service, I highly recommend it.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Midwest |
|
|
AT&T Midwest
(34)
(62)
·
·
·