JoeG4
join:2001-12-16
945941
 ·AT&T DSL Service
 ·Comcast
 ·Clearwire Wireless
 ·Vonage
| reply to MarkyD
Re: I got a letter from AT&T.
In other words, your cable ISP hasn't stepped up to the plate, therefore they feel they don't need to make an answer to a question that hasn't been asked.
Sucks ass when you have 2 behemoths competing when they don't want to bother  |
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apeface
join:2000-09-16
Mckinney, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to MarkyD
said by MarkyD  :-UVERSE was launched in OKC at the beginning of August. However, those of us on FTTP in OKC are stuck on the legacy DSL backbone with PPPoE and no UVERSE services. U-verse went live in OKC, meaning that offices that had equipment turned up would start to receive services. New devices are being installed, configured, and turned up daily. FTTP can't carry the service until the equipment is released to U-verse and migrated to the new network.
There is a considerable amount of equipment to be installed before an office is live and only a limited number of people to do it. |
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ripvanbl
join:2004-06-10
Cedar Park, TX
| reply to MarkyD
Funny, I had the VERY same issues with my FTTP AT&T here in Austin, TX (actually Cedar Park). As I work from home, the same issues applied to me. No U-Verse and even worse, the 6Mbps/768Kbps restriction.
The last straw for me was when they halved the upload to 384Kbps without any notification. The AT&T field manager for my sub-division was very upset and spent over a week arguing with corporation in Dallas about the cut. In the end they (corporate) told me that they no longer guarantee an upload speed, that 400kbps was "pretty good" and that my Premium package was really just a basic package that happened to get 6Mb down (but cost more of course). The field manager asked to use my name and number to send an email up the chain to demonstrate exactly why they are losing business even in a FTTP area. I hope it does some good.
Needless to say, I switched to Road Runner 10Mb/1Mb service the next day. |
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MarkyD
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| said by ripvanbl :Funny, I had the VERY same issues with my FTTP AT&T here in Austin, TX (actually Cedar Park). As I work from home, the same issues applied to me. No U-Verse and even worse, the 6Mbps/768Kbps restriction. The last straw for me was when they halved the upload to 384Kbps without any notification. The AT&T field manager for my sub-division was very upset and spent over a week arguing with corporation in Dallas about the cut. In the end they (corporate) told me that they no longer guarantee an upload speed, that 400kbps was "pretty good" and that my Premium package was really just a basic package that happened to get 6Mb down (but cost more of course). The field manager asked to use my name and number to send an email up the chain to demonstrate exactly why they are losing business even in a FTTP area. I hope it does some good. Needless to say, I switched to Road Runner 10Mb/1Mb service the next day. AT&T, are you listening?
Probably not.
I've mentioned before that AT&T has really missed the boat with FTTP areas. In my neighborhood, which is mostly homes in the 175k-350k range, hardly anyone has AT&T. A quick walk around the neighborhood looking at what network interface each home has installed on the side of the house is a pretty good indication of the take rate for FTTP from AT&T. When the cable company offers better speeds, better features for less money and free (next day) installation...it's a no brainer.
AT&T FTTP:
-Call to order service. Get the run around while they try to figure out which department you should go to since you're FTTP but not UVERSE.
-Finally get a rep that can help. Takes over 2 weeks to get it installed. Installation fees and activation fees total over $100 in many cases.
-6/1 max speed, required phone line tacks a minimum of $18 extra onto the monthly bill (for a measured line.)
-No bundle discount
To their credit, the installers were courteous and professional.
Cox:
-Free install, usually within a few days at most.
-2x the downstream speed as AT&T for $41.95 compared to AT&T's $35+$18 (because of the required telephone line.)
-Bundle discount applies if you get the triple play. |
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apeface
join:2000-09-16
Mckinney, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
2 edits | reply to ripvanbl
said by ripvanbl :Funny, I had the VERY same issues with my FTTP AT&T here in Austin, TX (actually Cedar Park). As I work from home, the same issues applied to me. Uvserse isnt live in Austin, so no, the issue isnt the same. However when it does do live it will be both fttn and fttp.
FTTP and Uverse are not the same thing and legacy network fttp issues really shouldnt be in this forum. If you have Uverse and happen to be on a fttp line and want to discuss it, fine.
I dont want to see any customers leave and will do what I can within my scope to keep them happy. However, coming here simply to flame and troll when you know that anyone on this site that might work for ATT has little to no ability to make policy changes isnt going to get it done any quicker.
Do we agree with everything that is going on with uverse, no. I will try to make the best with what I can offer people now. There are plans for the future that I cant talk about. It's like the government, it moves slow.
I have tried to explain it, as have others, how the fttp nodes are being handled, but it seems people choose to ignore it. |
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CraigBee
join:2004-07-23
Overland Park, KS
| reply to MarkyD
I have never used AT&T U-verse or DSL because there has always been a faster competitor. Right now I use a cable modem that is 10m/1m. I would love to have U-verse, but I am not going to downgrade to 6m/1m to get it. I guess I am not "the majority of customers" that are satisfied with U-verse data speeds. |
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MarkyD
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| reply to apeface
for the record, apeface...
I appreciate what you, David, arealdsltech, and other people who may or may not be AT&T employees do on the forums to try and help. My beef is not with you guys, despite it possibly seeming that way. You guys provide a great service and do the best you can without getting into trouble. that is appreciated.
That being said, I'm not trying to be a troll. I am trying, instead, to make AT&T's flaws known so that maybe...just maybe...AT&T will take notice. Maybe someone higher up will see what is broken in the process and do something about it. Staying silent about broken processes is not going to get things fixed. Making a fuss often does. That's how things change in the world.
For the record, my beef with AT&T is not solely based on the slow rollout of UVERSE services in my FTTP area. My beef lies more in the fact that AT&T is forcing a landline bundle when, in fact, there is no technical requirement for it. My other complaints were well outlined in my previous posts: no bundle discounts, high installation costs and wait time, etc. I feel these things are legitimate concerns and incongruencies that need to be looked at. AT&T is so big on making the offering "uniform" and congruent across all platforms as far as speeds go...but where is the consistency in terms of pricing, bundle discounts, etc? The "consistency" that AT&T claims to strive for is only in areas where it benefits and simplifies things for them.
As for your complaint of legacy FTTP posts not belonging in this forum...I take issue with that mainly because there IS no place for AT&T FTTP users to post. FTTP posts in AT&T Southwest get moved here, and posts here about FTTP legacy often get moved to AT&T SW.
So, for now, we stake claim to the UVERSE forum
--
MarkyD, Paper Tiger
MCSA 2K3, SCNP, MCDST, MCITP, ACHDS, ACDT, ACPT, ACTC, A+, Network+ Security+, Server+, ITIL Foundations |
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Aidens Daddy
join:2006-01-30
Tampa, FL
| reply to MarkyD
I am also a FTTP customer. I am happy because it is better than Sprint's EVDO. Charter is too lazy to lay cable BEFORE the sub-division was popping up houses (like AT&T and Fiber). I would pay for higher speeds. Right now my monthly bandwidth budget is $100 a month. So I am more than willing to pay more. Some how I have had great CS except for trying figure stuff during pre-installation (which dept, etc). I don't need POTS. Just give me raw speed. I don't even know what my phone number is, except that I have it written down if I need to call for support. In regards to U-Verse, I could care less until they can stream 4-5 DIFFERENT HD Channels at the same time. You would think that AT&T would be tripping over itself to get my money every month. I have the static IP package. So I am paying $85 plus the fees for the phone (that I don't use). Once Charter gets out here I will have to reevaluate the situation. |
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MarkyD
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| reply to MarkyD
Re: I got a letter from AT&T.
I spoke to a tech in my 'hood yesterday who was installing new service for my neighbor. He told me that they have been told every week for the last 3 weeks that "this week is the week" that they'll flip the switch on FTTP UVERSE in the OKC Metro. He said he's hoping for it any day...Apparently there are a LOT of FTTP installs in Edmond (OKC suburb). He said all the copper areas that surround the FTTP areas have active VRADS and can get sevice, but NO FTTP area in any of the OKC metro can get UVERSE yet.
--
MCSE, ACSA, and a lot more |
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rkdigital
Premium
join:2004-10-28
Norman, OK
·Internet Telephone..
·AT&T Southwest
| reply to MarkyD
Re: I got a letter from AT&T.
I can tell you that the VRADS in the OKC area are not all active on the old copper networks. The VRAD serving my neighborhood has been finished by the subcontractors for over 3 months, and over 2 months by the bell technicians. As a matter of fact when they physically moved the lines from the old box to the new VRAD they moved the wrong pair over for my phone line. I had dial tone but no DSL. Lucky for me that I had dealt with the tech before, and all I had to do was place my toner on my line feeding out, and he found my old pair and moved it over to the VRAD. I have called AT&T to no avail about when they were going to go live but the only answer I got at the beginning of November was that it would be around Nov 15. Interesting enough I received a call from the AT&T network on the night of the 16th saying that "Neighborhood improvements have been completed," after making a couple of dozen phone calls I found out that this recording meant that "Wireline Improvements" had been completed. What improvements, they haven't increased my max speed on my DSL, nor have they added any new features to our phone service, what gives?
So as a technician I know the equipment is their, and the CO has the signal coming in, why is the VRAD not turned on yet?
Also I have stopped in several neighborhoods that have had VRAD's installed for a period of time, and none of them are turned on either. Looks like AT&T is loosing money hand over foot if they can't get this equipment activated.
Just my 2 cents |
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lead cable man
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to MarkyD
Marky D, you are not the only one to notice the lack of at&t customers in FTTP areas. A lot of factors play into that. First, the ordering process sucks. Online orders do not work. It may take the information, but it winds up getting lost, so most customers say the hell with them and go to cable. If you try to place an order over the phone, you usually get the rep telling you the area is not served by at&t. If you somehow stumble upon the correct group in Amarillo, they will take your order then tell you there are no bundle discounts. And the wonderful subdivision sales people also play a factor. Both sides, cable and telco, try to grease the palms of these model home salesmen and offer kickbacks for every referral. But most don't want to steer anyone towards at&t because the construction foremen are usually pissed at at&t. They are usually angry because they won't run the ONT power cable during the prewire stage even though at&t supplies them with the wire. Then when someone does order at&t service the tech goes out, tells the homeowner there is no power cable because the builder refused to put it in and then tells the customer the power cable must be drilled through the wall of the brand new house. It's all one big cluster. |
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MarkyD
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| said by lead cable man :
Marky D, you are not the only one to notice the lack of at&t customers in FTTP areas. A lot of factors play into that. First, the ordering process sucks. Online orders do not work. It may take the information, but it winds up getting lost, so most customers say the hell with them and go to cable. If you try to place an order over the phone, you usually get the rep telling you the area is not served by at&t. If you somehow stumble upon the correct group in Amarillo, they will take your order then tell you there are no bundle discounts. And the wonderful subdivision sales people also play a factor. Both sides, cable and telco, try to grease the palms of these model home salesmen and offer kickbacks for every referral. But most don't want to steer anyone towards at&t because the construction foremen are usually pissed at at&t. They are usually angry because they won't run the ONT power cable during the prewire stage even though at&t supplies them with the wire. Then when someone does order at&t service the tech goes out, tells the homeowner there is no power cable because the builder refused to put it in and then tells the customer the power cable must be drilled through the wall of the brand new house. It's all one big cluster.
every part of this is spot on, in my experience. |
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Enlightener
join:2006-01-28
Cedar Park, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to MarkyD
That is so spot on with what I saw when I bought my new house earlier this year. Not only was the ONT and power not installed during the prewire, the fiber from the pedestal to the curb was missing also.
It would have been easier to go with Time Warner but I really busted my hump just trying to find the fiber group in West Texas becuase heh, it's FIBER and the potential should be nearly limitedless. Before you know it my Local/LD/Elite+Tax was $120/mo. Ouch....
Now I'm on measured service and elite with Vonage for phone service. If AT&T doesn't bump up the speed within the next few months I'll be jumping over to Time Warner since I'm no longer married to who provides my phone number. |
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lead cable man
@sbcglobal.net
| reply to MarkyD
For FTTP to work correctly there should be 2 Cat5 4 prs, a power cable, and 2 coaxial cables run to the structured wiring panel. Most of the new homes have 1 cat5, 1 coax, and no power cable. Seems like the builders are adding another obstacle to a process that at&t is slow to adapt to anyway. I even remember a super telling me 1 coax was run to try to discourage the satellite customers as the price range of the homes were too snooty to want dishes hung on houses. |
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Enlightener
join:2006-01-28
Cedar Park, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
| Lead Cable Man-
This might be of interest to you. My builder ( Lennar ) did everything like you said. There is a power outlet outside in a sealed enclosure and even on the model house I saw the ONT and APC mounted on the outside.
However, when AT&T came out to do the install they still drilled a hole through the house and mounted the APC inside the garage instead. They used the sprinkler system power outlet.
They claimed that the APC wasn't rated for outdoor installation and that there was no need for an outside power outlet from the builder. |
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JoeG4
join:2001-12-16
945941
·AT&T DSL Service
·Comcast
·Clearwire Wireless
·Vonage
| reply to lead cable man
said by lead cable man :
For FTTP to work correctly there should be 2 Cat5 4 prs, a power cable, and 2 coaxial cables run to the structured wiring panel. Most of the new homes have 1 cat5, 1 coax, and no power cable. Seems like the builders are adding another obstacle to a process that at&t is slow to adapt to anyway. I even remember a super telling me 1 coax was run to try to discourage the satellite customers as the price range of the homes were too snooty to want dishes hung on houses.
Structured wiring is BS. Our 5 year old house has all 8 coax runs as home runs to the access panel  In fact, our techs were able to put the dish up in a spot right near it that's almost invisible to the street 
No ethernet though, I just couldn't justify $3000+ for cat5e wiring at the time. All of my important stuff is in one room to begin with, and the rest of the machines are just fine on 802.11n |
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koolkid1563
Premium,MVM
join:2005-11-06
Powell, WY
clubs:
·Bresnan Online
| reply to lead cable man
If you are in a crunch for Cat5 cables to the ONT, couldn't you also use the existing Cat5 cable going to the NID from the panel for phone and use 2 pairs out of that for 100Mb/s Ethernet from the ONT to the RG? Assuming of course that the line going to the NID from the panel is Cat5 or greater. It might look bad, but it should work just fine. |
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Enlightener
join:2006-01-28
Cedar Park, TX | That's a nasty hack. The better solution is to dump the overpriced pots and grab a router with a built in terminal adapter and go with way cheaper VoIP. Now you only need 1 ethernet drop from the structured wiring box to the demarc ONT. |
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