Calling all AT&T DSL users

[Sonny]

I am currently with Comcast. I plan on calling AT&T back to ask for more info about their Elite DSL ( Up to 6.0 Mbps and Up to 768 Kbps) for $34.99 a month. I'm really interested in their faster upload speeds. It would make life a lot faster when uploads a few hundred full size images to my websites.

Today my wife switched our LAN phone to AT&T. The service rep asked if we also wanted to change our internet service to AT&T DSL. The little bit of info my wife passed along to me that she got from the service rep is as follows:

• dedicated internet line direct to my home.
• guaranteed the 6mbps down & 768kbps up speeds.
• not locked into any yearly contracts (although website says different)
• must purchase modem.

Would I like is feed back from current or past AT&T DSL users.

1. Are you really getting the speeds as advertised?
2. Any problems with the modem purchased from AT&T? Should I buy a third party modem?
3. Used to be the farther away your house was from the hub the slower your internet speeds got. Still true?
4. Also DSL providers used to put noise filters on your phone line. Still true?

Thanks,
-Sonny

[JohnT]

I don't know, but I'm checking into this. I'm still on an old SBC plan, and it isn't 6 down.

[akimartymar]

Hey Sonny, I have the Elite DSL and it's as fast as anything I can imaging needing right now. I'm pretty close to the office (which helps) and I get over 6Mbps download speed. The main reason I went with it was uplaoding all my images to my website. I can upload about 800 images in 30-45 minutes. One thing I will say about the "dedicated" line is not to take this the wrong way. It is not a separate line from your phone. What they mean is that you will be the only subscriber using the bandwidth from that line. This is unlike cable where the more people using the internet in your area, the slower your download speed will be. You should be able to get a free modem with a year contract. And yes, the closer you are to the hub or office will affect your speed (just like cable). However, if they guarantee a certain speed then you should get it. Also, you do need to put filters on your phone but this isn't really a problem and they come with the kit. It's not so much for the noise on the phone, as most cordless phone won't pick it up, but it makes sure that your phone doesn't slow down your DSL. Not using a fliter WILL affect your speed. I work for AT&T so I hope I have given you some help about this. If you have any other questions PM me.

[KJ Smith]

Sonny,

I live in NW Houston. I have the Elite service.

I currently run 5125 kbps down, 475 kbps up.

When I went with the elite service I purchased the 2wire wireless modem, it died after 2 years, I went back to the original modem and a wireless router.

Yes, you still need the filters.

The farther you are from the local CO or remote the slower the speed.

A friend on Verizon DSL was having speed problems, they put a splitter on his line that helped a lot, don't know if ATT offers this.

I am happy with my service.

Kevin

[KJ Smith]

Oh Yea, before I forget.

ABC..................anyone but cable.


Kevin

[JamesB]

I work for AT&T and I wont switch to their DSL from Comcast Cable.

Does that tell you anything? I have been real happy with my Comcast upload speeds

But if you can get the bundled package for a lower cost it may be worth doing


James

[rph]

Does this all involve the U-Verse plan they're selling now? I've only heard good things about it and I ... cannot ... stand ... Comcast ... after some recent screwups on their part...

[Cybastean]

I tried AT&T elite DSL for about two weeks earlier this year. It delivered less than 2000kbps down. Worthless.

[JamesB]

Originally Posted by rph

Does this all involve the U-Verse plan they're selling now? I've only heard good things about it and I ... cannot ... stand ... Comcast ... after some recent screwups on their part...

the U-verse system has limitations. and its not widely available yet.

AT&T U-verse can NOT do the following

Watch HDTV simultaneously on 2 or more TV's
Watch HDTV while recording different HDTV channel on DVR
Record 2 HD shows at 1 time

this is a BIG must do in my house hold and I can get this with Comcast and Tivo, but not with AT&T

James

[JamesB]

some people have reported signing up for the elite DSL or what ever the highest bandwidth is and not getting the full speed. One of the reasons is they did not set it up correctly, even though it looks to be set up the right way its not, have to go through several levels of tech support to finally get it done correctly. then there is distance limitations and line quality issues to deal with.

James

[akimartymar]

As James said, a lot of it has to do with how your service is set up. I don't why these guys can't get their heads out of their @$$ sometimes but they can't. I tried signing up for a U-Verse type plan online and was told that DSL wasn't available in my area....and I HAVE DSL. I can see how this would frustrate the hell out of customers as it does me sometimes. That being said, I'm not much of a Time Warner fan around here and the price for their Road Runner is rediculous.

[janetg]

i've been happy with my dsl overall - most times i get the speeds i'm supposed to - sometimes i don't - but it's not often. the biggest kicker for me over cable - is....i've been down 2 times in like 5 years. that's it. with cable, it was constant!

live on dsl!

[Bella]

We got AT&T Uverse about 2 months ago, and aside from a rocky installation at the beginning, it's been great. My husband does speed tests fairly frequently, and the results are always 5700 or better down and 800 or better up. We went with the AT&T modem, and I have no clue how far away from the hub we are.

We only have one HDTV so the inability to watch HD on two tvs really isn't important to us,a nd so far we haven't had issues with wanting to record more than one HD program, but then again, we don't watch a lot of tv.

-Cindy

[WTx]

Would I like is feed back from current or past AT&T DSL users.
Are you really getting the speeds as advertised?
Any problems with the modem purchased from AT&T? Should I buy a third party modem?
Used to be the farther away your house was from the hub the slower your internet speeds got. Still true?
Also DSL providers used to put noise filters on your phone line. Still true?

I have had AT&T DSL for almost two years now and I can say I am VERY happy with what I have. I am getting the speeds advertised, have not had any problems with the modem, and I did get noise filters. I have noticed when I am at the opposite end of the house I do get some slower service but not bad enough to complain about. Overall I think AT&T has the best service for the money and I would not switch to anything else.

One side note about the two top levels of AT&T. I sometimes shoot sports for daily newspapers. AT&T allows you to log on for free at about any McDonalds anywhere. Having McDonalds really helps with meeting deadline in somewhere like Mineral Wells, Decatur, etc where about the only free place to log on is McDonalds. In fact, I plan on using that feature tomorrow night after I shoot a game.

[Cope]

I've been with SBC/AT&T DSL since 1999. A rocky start, due to my location and historically poor line quality. I have been extremely happy since 2003 with the line quality and service. All hinges on your distance from the RT hut, too far, and you won't get the advertised speed. In some cases, if on elite, you will actually have worse speed than if you downgrade a level. I have phone/long distance/cell/dsl/dish through AT&T. When I combined with Dish last October, I got a total of $180 in rebates, and for 2 1/2 years, I have gotten a $3/month discount on my cell bill.

If you do go with AT&T, PM me for a phone number to bypass the India connection if you have connectivity issues.