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Looking for no-tears DSL?
(old news - 09:52AM Friday May 09 2003)
Looking for no-tears DSL? Covad's straightforward setup, solid documentation, and superb Web site make it our Editors' Choice. By Robert Luhn, April 25, 2003 Speed--that's all anyone talks about when it comes to broadband Internet access. But while your broadband connection should be fast, it should also be easy to set up and maintain. On this score, Covad DSL has other national ISPs beat hands down. Covad practically invented the residential DSL business, and it has long provided DSL service to a number of ISPs, such as EarthLink. But the company also offers a range of its own competitive speed plans, from 384Kbps ($39 per month) to 3Mbps ($149 per month)--we reviewed the $49.95 per month TeleSurfer Plus plan, which is 1.5Mbps/128kbps. Thanks to a brand-new self-install kit and a savvy support system, getting connected is a five-minute affair. From lucid instructions to hand-holding software to a smartly designed support site to a range of affordable service plans, Covad wins an Editors' Choice without breaking a sweat. » www.cnet.com/internet/0-3762-8-2···ag=boxhl
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 jasonc99
join:2003-06-03
New York, NY
|  Cisco 17xx and Covad SDSL??
I have Frame Relay to my remote sites, and I'm looking at DSL for a backup connection, but it look like it's a pain in the butt to config a Netopia or Efficient router especially since they only support RIP. | |
|  | Jeanne021556
join:2003-08-07
Portland, OR |  Re: Cisco 17xx and Covad SDSL??
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RMKyote
join:2000-12-21
Beverly Hills, CA
 ·Qwest.net
 ·ViaTalk
| WRONG! Covad Misrepresents Physical Line Speeds
I chose Covad after having to find a new provider when SprintION (3mbps both ways and 4 digital phone lines for $150 a month) was allowed to stop providing services when the Feds wouldn't support them in their futile fight to gain line access mandated by law. But mostly because they were touted as the best underdog, not a baby bell, provider that would probably survive with the cockaroach in the DSL wars. Since Covad itself wasn't an ISP when I subscribed I had to have Earthlink, who was my "in the background" ISP with SprintION. Then they were pretty good so I thought nothing of it until I got into the world of "regular" DSL. I subscribed to 1500/384 service and it was pretty much that. Now the kicker was if you had a problem it was on average 3 to 4 hours on hold to get to tech support. This is totally unacceptable. Not too soon after Covad became an ISP, so I switched. Since switching my speed has been all over the place and hardly ever near the 1500/384 that I am paying for and was told that I would retain when I switched ISPs. Now when I call I get excuses and am told that it's best effort service. I'm 3318 feet from the CO and am still connected with copper that once gave me 3Mbps SDSL and am told by Speakeasy that they, using Covad as a provider, can give me 3MBps. Something’s wrong here.
Their website says your speed depends on how far you are from the CO and advertises “up to” speeds never really saying what physical speed you will get, in my case at 3318 ft from the CO – 1000 to 1300 is the best that I was told by tech support that I should expect depending on how many people are online. I thought that only applied to cable modems. Now the techs say it depends on the package you are on and the one that I happen to be on, TeleSurfer Plus, has no guarantee of speed or consistency and they are not obligated to maintain that speed. Now if I was on a more expensive plan it’s a totally different story.
All I know is that in the DSL Reports speed test result area it looks like hardly anyone is getting their contracted speed from Covad at any level. My next stop is the FCC, Public Utilities Commission, and State Attorney Generals office. This is false advertising and misrepresentation. So ask many question and get it in writing. Because you will probably need it to hold them to their advertising. | |
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