The World of Grandpa Don
Conversion to a new DSL Provider - A History - 2003
January 3, 2003
In mid December I was notified that DirectTV DSL was getting out of the DSL high speed internet provider business. Service would be provided 'till Jan 16 and maybe beyond. I called SBC, my phone provider, because they made a deal to pick up the service.
There was no charge, but they needed to furnish a new DSL modem and after asking several questions the young lady said I qualified for a self installation kit which would be sent UPS. If I had needed it, a service person could have been sent at a cost of over $400.00. I could install the equipment on Jan 6.
Friday, Jan 3, it arrived. The first thing I noticed was that it was for connection to an Ethernet card. I do not have one and none was provided. My existing system is connected via USB cable. The kit also included four telephone line filters which are to be connected to each phone in the house. I have about 8 phones. OK, maybe I don't need that many, but I have them!
Saturday, I checked their web site and found good general information but not the answer to my questions. So, I called. I was very quickly connected to Chuck who was most helpful. To start with, the Ethernet card should have been furnished. (The order taker just assumed I had one). BUT, the department that sends them does not work on week ends. I will have to call back on Monday.
I explained to Chuck that my present DSL service includes a filter in the connection box outside the house that feeds all my phones and there is a separate phone line from there to my DSL modem. He said that is great and I do not need the individual phone filters. That sure does simplify things.
On Monday morning I made the second call to SBC. Roger had a difficult time understanding the situation and getting to the right person to get it resolved. I was put on hold several times while he fumbled with the task. He finally got me connected with a young lady who knew exactly what she was doing and the missing Ethernet card order was placed. Delivery should be by Jan 13.
January 14, 2003
The Ethernet card came on Friday Jan 10 but I decided to wait until a weekday to do the installation. I got around to it on Tuesday. The Ethernet card went in and was configured with no problem at all.
SBC provides a disk giving on-screen instructions to walk you through the process. When I got to step #3, I was to have 3 lights on the modem on and one off. I did not. The next step was to call the help line.
I spoke to Larry and we determined that Chuck (part 1) was incorrect and I needed to use the individual line filters that were shipped with the modem. I said I would install them and disconnect some of the little (or never) used phones and then try again. I went outside and found that there was no filter in the phone interface box but only a connection block for the old modem. In addition, I remembered my ADT system and found that it had an odd phone plug and jack. A call to ADT was made to let them know I was disconnecting for a few hours also got me the information that I could get a RJ31X DSL filter at Radio Shack. I phoned the nearby stores and they do not stock them.
With the filters installed and ADT disconnected, I tried again. Same results - back on the phone. Harrison had me try a number of things. Move 900mHz phones away, plug into a different jack., turn it off, and then back on. In the process, we got disconnected and when I called back I got Keith.
Retracing my steps, Keith determined that a check of the line was in order. They will have a service man call for an appointment in 24 - 48 hours. I am to leave the modem on so they can check their end.
The call came at 8:55 on Wednesday. Prompt! It was the technician who was doing the line check and he told me I was over 22,200 feet from the switching office and SBC could not establish service. I am to pack up the equipment, affix the return label and drop it in a UPS box for return to them. I asked why they didn't do the line check before sending the equipment and he said that SBC apparently did not think that it was a "cost effective" thing to do.
Maybe it is cheaper to do it this way but it certainly is not convenient to the person who has to go through the hassle of installing, removing and sending back useless equipment.
Footnote:
On Feb 18 I received a letter stating they have tried to contact me by
phone to let me know my line was active and I am being billed even
though I am not using the service. On the 19th I phoned and Marilyn
informed me that the letter was an error and my account was closed on
Jan 23.
After disconnecting the SBC equipment and gathering up all the line filters, I reconnected my old Telocity modem and within minutes I was on line and receiving email via DSL.
Bob Lewis uses Earthlink DSL and tells me that the first thing that Earthlink does is check the line. I may try them in a day or two. Or, I just may wait and see what happens.
p.s. By searching diligently on the DirectTV DSL site I found that my "last mile provider" is WorldCom. I have inquired on-line and they are to have a rep contact me.
January 22, 2003
WorldCom Strikes out.
I waited until Tuesday for a reply from WorldCom and not having received one I went back to their site and sent an email inquiry. A reply came within hours:
"Unfortunately, WorldCom does not offer Internet Access for the typical home user at this time. If you are a very heavy user and are interested in a dedicated line, such as a fractional or full T1, then please call 800-488-6383."
We are talking BIG bucks for that kind of service. No, Thanks.
The search continues ...
EarthLink won't Link.
On Wednesday, I used the Earthlink web sit to check availability for service and it said "Yes", sign up and we'll send a self install kit." Having been that route with SBC, I phoned and explained my situation. The gentleman said that if it didn't work with SBC, it wouldn't work with EarthLink. He transferred me to their commercial department.
They could provide me with service on a separate line. Apparently, that is what I now have and didn't know it. The cost for this would be 150% of my current monthly charges. (No wonder my current provider is going out of the DSL business!)
Thanks, but No Thanks.
January 28th.
I had planned to wait it out to see if my IDSL connection would be there even after Direct TV DSL shut down their service as had happened at the end of 2001 when Telosity went belly up. At that time I had over 3 months of free service.
However, I was prompted to do the honest thing. A trip was made to Best Buy in response to an ad in Sunday's paper. You buy the modem for about $100.00, which eliminates a monthly rental fee. Then you get about $90.00 in 3 different rebates. I hate rebates but I will send them in. They check availability of service and register you with AT&T at the store. Free "premium installation" is included in the deal so an appointment date (Monday 3/3) is set up for the installer to come out and install a cable jack near the computer and set up the modem. (They will call to confirm)
The normal monthly charge is $42.95 (as long as you already have cable TV service) but the first 3 months is $19.95.
By the time I got home, there was an email confirmation from Best Buy waiting for me. I am to expect a confirmation from AT&T within 48 hours. A toll free phone number was given in the event that I need to contact them.
Of course, AT&T is no longer in the cable business. It has been sold to Comcast. So, ... If I have any problems at all, I will call my grandson Dominick who works for them.
I am reasonably sure that the installation and activation will be without problem. My neighbor has had the service for several months and is satisfied with the service.
At about 3:00 on Wednesday I got the call from AT&T confirming my installation scheduled for Monday 3/3 between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.
February 3rd, 2003
At about 9:30 a.m. the installer arrived. He checked the situation and went right to work. I had mentioned my poor TV signal, particularly on local stations and he determined that a new outdoor cable needed to be run to the house and an interface box installed outside.
This new cable would be a better quality and be buried deeper than the one now in place. He also explained that my present inside wiring was an old type with a single shield which was very apt to act as an antenna, picking up broadcast local channels which would interfere with the cable signals especially if the incoming signal was weak. (I finally had an explanation of why I had ghost pictures on my upstairs TV!)
Inside the house, it was a simple matter of running a short cable to a new outlet near the computer. He plugged into my existing Ethernet card and without adding any software was connected to Comcast Internet in a few minutes.
My service was quickly configured and I was ready to go. He took the time to configure my Comcast email account and we made sure that it was working as well as my existing plefka.net mail address.
He was finished before 11:00 a.m. I am a happy internet surfer.
After 'playing' with the new setup for a time and becoming fully confident that it was functional, I went on to the DirectTV DSL web page, signed in and quickly found a page to "Discontinue Service". With one click, I received a confirmation that they were gone and billing would cease. I could not have been easier.
I got a TV Bonus. With the new incoming cable my TV signal strength is so much better that the ghosts are gone from the bedroom TV.
Oh yes, the added bonus is that I am now a Comcast customer (they now own AT&T Broadband) and I help to employ my grandson Dominick.
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Conversion to a new DSL
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The
World of Grandpa Don www.plefka.net |
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by The JavaScript Source | |
