US Telco Support > AT&T > AT&T U-verse > Crappy AT&T install

Crappy AT&T install

New cable over wall

Cables coming to the house

Inside the box. Notice the entrance of the conduit that leads to the top of the wall.

I don't really see what you're upset about, regarding the install. Sure, the line may not have been where you wanted it, but it's not ugly. Does your service work? Believe me, I've seen "crappy" installs and I think most people would agree that yours is not "crappy."

reply to germ65
I see your point, and I wouldn't be happy either with an unannounced visit, but from the installer's perspective, your wife should have objected or specified how the work was to be done. Because she did not do so, the installer took that as implied consent to do the minimum that met AT&T requirements.

Or, the terms of service or PSC requirements may state somewhere that they can do what they want from the pole to the NID, and notifying you or "your agent" is just a courtesy. I don't see your NID so there is some gray area there.

We have a pretty stereotypical marriage - she chooses styles & colors, and it's my fault if stuff isn't done right. If this had happened at my house, my wife should have called me. She uses good judgment, but my requirements are sometimes arcane, so it's usually best if she does not communicate in any way with installers.

In any case, if she does what she thinks is reasonable, and it doesn't meet my requirements, it's my fault because I didn't communicate the requirements in advance. Never mind that I had no idea the work needed to be done in the first place.

Sorry.
--
USNG:
16TDN2870
Find your USNG coordinates:
USNGWeb

reply to germ65
Cosmetically, you may not like the "observance" of the outside service line, but there is nothing wrong with the install.

Was the previous service wire that was replaced in that conduit or was there not one there at all ? I see the protector unit in that so called NID w/ your wiring. The tech is not responsible for pulling anything into conduit w/ a "co-joining" service wire w/o a pull string, which has to be supplied by you.

Network/ST's have pre install service orders for Uverse all the time & are dispatched accordingly to get any outside work completed before the actual hardware install. Granted a "pre call" to the customer for the work should be done, but it's not always done unfortunately. Your wife could've refused the work & the tech would've went on there way, it's not a big deal.

As far as you fixing it, I would suggest you make your call to AT&T repair & request that the local network mgr for your exchange area come take look, you should not be manipulating the outside wire, it's not yours to do so, sorry. Don't forget the pullstring, it'll save you headaches.

Just my 2c.

reply to germ65
Does anyone notice the nonstanard Comcast install here? I don't see any proper attachment to the building, and a hard bend where it enters the vent hole.

The AT$T job looks good IMO.

reply to germ65
I fixed the install myself today. It took about an hour and it wasn't easy to feed the cable though the 90 degree bend near the roof. But nothing that a professional installer should't be able to do easily.

@Canezoid:
1. If I request that the "local network mgr" comes take a look, I would probably have to wait for a long time only to hear a bureaucrat telling me that the job meets their standard. Well, it doesn't meet my standard.
2. Interesting that you ask about the previous connection. I seem to remember that the older cable went down from the inside of the box, not up. So I always thought it would connect underground. This new cable connects to aerial lines.
3. Why should I have to provide the pullstring??? What is in those huge white AT&T vans that I frequently see in my neighborhood? Doughnuts?

@ArgMeMatey:
1. The "NID" is that white box in picture 3 where I wrote "Comcast cable". Inside it there are two screw terminals where the new wire is connected (orange pair) and the inside wire is connected to the same screw terminals.
2. My wife actually called me. Unfortunately, my iPhone 3G had switched to "silent" mode, so I missed the call. I could not have come home anyway because I was busy at work that afternoon. For the record, my wife didn't even look at the work.

@Barovelli: Yes, the AT&T technician did a better job than the Comcast ones as far as connecting the cable properly to the roof, I will give you that (see picture 1). I am going to attach the Comcast cable to that same carrier wire.

@Splork, @Barovelli. You really think the install look good? Wow.

reply to germ65
If that qualifies as a "crappy install," most installs, regardless of provider, are crappy.

Regardless, the installer probably didn't know that those woodpecker holes, which in and of themselves look crappy and half-assed, led down to the demarc box. I can't fault him there.

reply to germ65
"3. Why should I have to provide the pullstring??? What is in those huge white AT&T vans that I frequently see in my neighborhood? Doughnuts?"

Simple answer, your conduit, your responsibility for a pull string. That is the way it is over the AT&T area, whether for a residential customer, or a business customer getting fiber to his location.

reply to germ65
There needs to be a separation of the wires at the house attachment. Call Comcast and have them properly attach the line to a separate p-hook. Putting the cable line on the phone attachment can lead to the phone co cutting it down.

Yah, I love a wired world. Though maybe a little closer to the downspout might be asked for there.

reply to germ65
How the **** was AT&T supposed to know what your holes in the roof led to? I'm sorry, this is nothing more than someone complaining for the sake of complaining.

reply to germ65
People that know me know I RARELY (eg NEVER ) defend ATT, but this is exactly how techs are trained to do it.

Do you really think the tech is going to shove the drop line down some random hole on the side of your house hoping it pops up at the NID??????

To say this rant is retarded would be too nice.

reply to dmxrob6
Because there's a Comcast cable that enters the "woodpecker" hole near the roof and exits from the conduit near the top of the box and from there it feeds all the cable lines in the house, that's how.
A look into the box is all one needs to figure this out--- if one has an IQ larger than 50.

reply to DataRiker
Random hole? That sounds pretty retarded to me.

reply to germ65
It makes no difference if he could recognize which hole went where, if there is no subscriber plased pull string in the subscriber owned conduit, it won't get pulled into the conduit.

IQ has nothing to do with it. That is company practice.

reply to germ65
I think the biggest problem for the OP was at the installer showed up without an appointment! If he had known that he could have either been available or at least informed his wife of the conduit! It sounds like a communications with the biggest problem for AT&T!

reply to germ65
There is no need for and appointment. Techs are sent out on self installs to provision the telco side of things.

If he wanted a tech to talk with he should have paid for a full tech install.

DataRiker,

First, if AT&T sends a technician who enters my property and performs work in a distribution box in my house, then I would expect to be notified in advance at a minimum. Contacting me and making an appointment would be what I would expect from a company with good customer service.

Second, why the hell would I have to pay for install if they only do their side of the wiring???

reply to germ65

reply to germ65