OT: DSL Woes (was RE: Plato terminal)

From: Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com>
Date: Wed Jul 18 09:28:15 2001

My dsl service allowed me to discontinue my second line, and I often
initiate/receive phone calls while online. The DSL costs less because (1) the
DSL service is a few dollars less costly than a separate phone line, and (2)
none of the additional fixed fees and taxes apply to the DSL line that would
otherwise be added to the basic rate for a second line.

I ordered my DSL service, waited about ten days, at which point I had a visit
from the phone installation technicians, who then waded through the mess that
existed in their wiring. After about a 4-day period of finding faults in their
wiring, they gave my line their blessing, and, aside from one incident caused by
another wiring error made after my installation, it's been more or less trouble
free. I say more-or-less, because the modem driver software seems to cause some
system instability. Though that explains why they (QWEST) got the Intel Pro2100
modems at a reduced rate, it doesn't explain why the user should put up with the
problems they cause.

Dick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Chomko" <chomko_at_greenbelt.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 7:59 AM
Subject: Re: OT: DSL Woes (was RE: Plato terminal)


> "Jeffrey S. Sharp" wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 12 Jul 2001, Feldman, Robert wrote:
> >
> > > Or you can sign up for DSL service, wait 5 months to get the line
> > > brought into your house, during which time you have to be home for
> > > half a dozen service calls, then the Telco will run the test and tell
> > > you that you are too far away. That was my experience with Telocity
> > > and Ameritech in Chicago. :(
> >
> > Jeez! My cable modem "installation" took about 10 minutes. I count that
> > as one of my life's best experiences. I nearly gave the service guy a
> > hug.
> >
>
> The problem I'm having is that Verizon claims that you don't need a second
> line
> (i.e. voice and data can be on the same line with DSL). It's untrue!
>
> I tried using a single line for data and voice using their microfilter
> technology.
> Well, all is fine for local calls, but when we would use the phone long
> distance there
> was substantial degradation in quality when speaking to the other party when
>
> simultaneously connected to the net via DSL.
>
> So I bit the bullet, kept the second line that I was used for data. Called
> Verizon to switch my DSL
> from main number to data number. $10 more a month but I am not locked into a
> year
> long deal. Hardare is free just like before. Now I have two sets.
>
> Anyway, its takes 3 weeks to set up DSL on THEIR end. On my end its a snap;
> hook DSL modem to phone line and ethernet to modem in computer. After that
> it a matter
> of installing SW via CD. No big deal, especially since I'll not need the
> microfilters that
> really don't work anyway!
>
> The problem is that Verizon conacted me after three weeks and said it would
> be another three weeks!
> Now I'm pissed. I have upgraded system with bigger hard drive, switched
> lines and have new HW.
> I'm ready, where are they?
>
> Eiric
>
>
> >
> > --
> > Jeffrey S. Sharp
> > jss_at_ou.edu
>
>
Received on Wed Jul 18 2001 - 09:28:15 BST