OT: DSL Woes (was RE: Plato terminal

From: McFadden, Mike <mmcfadden_at_cmh.edu>
Date: Thu Jul 19 13:31:11 2001

I have been involved in the installation of 5 ISDN, 7 cable modem and 2 DSL
installations. One of the DSL installations never went live. The other
works, sort of, now being replaced by Cable Modem.

DSL
SWBell was unable to handle having a router and then wanted us to remove the
sniffer we were using to troubleshoot the line. I was lucky the police
didn't arrive when the DSL and the alarm system phone line couldn't coexist.
I also didn't enjoy crawling under beds and furniture to place filters on
all of the phone jacks. Unable to authenticate unless connected, unable to
connect unless authenticated.

Cable Modem
I have lost service twice due to creatures eating my coax cable. It's now
routed through a pipe and they instead chewed my phone line last night. I
think they are squirrels, "rats with tails".

ISDN
My nightmares have almost subsided from these installations. If you hear
the work ISDN start drinking immediately. The installation crews want to
leave all of the problems to the service crews. Configuring ISDN modems is
a nightmare, SPID=profanity.

All of the companies have no clue about support. First level wants you to
reinstall your operating system. Second level reads script and will call
you back. System status knowledge is always a joke. I've called in after a
1/2 hour server outage and been told the system was never down. My first
troubleshooting technique is to call several of my neighbors who have cable
modem and ask if their systems are up. My last cable eaten by squirrel
adventure, the TV still worked by the modem wouldn't connect. Download speed
only varies a little, slower about 6-7 PM.

I'm troubled by the desire of companies to provide mission critical services
over consumer quality telecommunication and computer equipment.

Mike
mmcfadden_at_cmh.edu
Received on Thu Jul 19 2001 - 13:31:11 BST