AT&T fiber optic?

[gardener]

A very poorly trained saleswoman came to the door on Saturday noting that as an AT&T customer (which we are), we could get a FREE! home installation ("usually $500")of AT&T's fiber optic system in our house. Along with that comes a FREE! 30 day TV package at their highest level of service which we can downgrade if we choose after the 30 days (which we will).
I asked if the fiber optic cables had already been installed in our alleyway where all the utility services run and her reply was that she just knew it had because AT&T wouldn't be offering to wire out house for FREE! if it wasn't already there. The system is also supposed to include wireless installation for our computer (already on AT&T DSL and already wireless and working just fine as-is).
My questions about the service availability and line speeds went unanswered other than the fact that I can operate up to "200 wireless devices" once the installation is complete. I suppose the fact that we only have one wireless device, a laptop computer, and don't plan to get more any time soon flew completely over her head so more questions went unanswered.
Now, to the crux of the matter... Asking you folks that know about these things to give your opinion on whether I should do it or not. We did sign up for the FREE! installation but the appointment is far enough out that it can be easily canceled. By the time we downgrade the package at the end of 30 days, our monthly cost should stay about where it is now.
Our facts: Two adults, one desktop on DSL modem, one laptop on wireless, we're not gamers, we don't use the internet for much more than minor personal business and fun, and much of our computer time is spent on pictures, picture processing, several e-forums like this one, and the occasional newletter that my wife creates for the local geneology group plus a few occasional e-mails to relatives and friends. At most, we may add one more desktop if I can ever get an "office" set up just for me.
Do it? Don't do it? Worth the effort? Advantages? Disadvantages?
Your expertise on the matter is appreciated and will be incorporated into our final decision...
Thanks for the look,
Steve W

[fuzzyka]

We had someone come to our door and offer us the same thing a few months ago. I was skeptical as well, because their package prices were way lower than what we were paying for Directv alone, not to mention internet on top pf that. The Uverse package included internet also and the salesperson told us that in the near future you will be able to add your house phone line for only 5 dollars a month. So we made the switch and it has been great. We have a wireless laptop and now our desktop is wireless and they both run as fast as they did with the old AT&T broadband. We recieved a better free DVR than the one I had to buy from directtv . There are some other things Ilike better about the U-verse, but there are some things I liked better with the directtv TIVO. All in all, I think the At&T U-verse is great and would definently make the same choice agian.

[ndsimm]

How old is your neighborhood? If it is fairly new, then you may have fiber, if not, then they are probably talking about ATT UVerse which uses the existing lines in you neighborhood....

[Jake]

I can't stand U-verse. There has been a few threads about it here on TPF.

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...hlight=u-verse

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...hlight=u-verse

that's just the first 2 that popped up.

[gardener]

ndsimm... Our house is 14 years old. The immediate neighborhood is 16 years old at most.

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by gardener

ndsimm... Our house is 14 years old. The immediate neighborhood is 16 years old at most.

then it's UVerse you're getting...they only put Fiber in brand new neighborhoods

[toverman]

Not only that, but Verizon (who has been installing new fiber for a few years in upscale and newer areas) claims that it's the only company that's putting in a completely new network, including fiber directly connected to houses. For example, in places where AT&T is retrofitting fiber, it's still using part of the old copper system from the main lines to houses. If you're getting some things for free that you think are worth it, give it a go, though.

We use AT&T broadband in our much older (40-50 years old) neighborhood and it works just fine for what we do, which includes downloading, uploading large photo files, etc. The only problem I have with our wireless router is that my neighbors don't know enough to limit the range of their wireless routers so it can get crowded in the mornings and evenings. Our system is fairly robust, but sometimes we get interference.

Maybe a fiber upgrade would help!

[Concisus Cognatus]

Most likely you're getting UVerse. Basically, fiber optic from the CO to a concentrator in your area, then regular copper to your individual box in the alley.

[gardener]

I guess what bothers me most was that the salesperson didn't know diddly about what she was trying to sell so while we got the standard spiel, anything after that was just conjecture and guessing on her part.
The other thing is that it took nigh on forever to get our phones, our computers, and our tv's all working correctly without interruptions and glitches so if we have to even remotely start over with all that brain damage, it's a no-go on our end..
I'm not against new technology mind you but rather, neither the wife or I are electronically inclined so if problems go much past the idiot stuff, we have to call a service person to work on it.

I appreciate your responses so far.

[jw001]

we have had uverse for almost a year. have had great success with it. From what I have learned, in the older neighborhoods, the fiber optic is run from their central offices to what they call VRADs. these are box like terminals in each neighborhood that are installed next the big existing phone terminal box. So from the VRAD to your house is regular copper wire (existing phone lines). here is a link that might answer some of your questions.
http://www.uverseusers.com/
join the forums and you can ask any question you like, and get both good and bad answers....

[Gambit]

Here's a great site when you're looking for or considering changing your internet provider:

http://www.dslreports.com/

Lots of customer reports, explanations of how things work, diagnostic tools, etc.