Signed Up for AT&T U-Verse Internet Service

[Scott]

So, over the past few months I've watched random workers digging up my back yard--showing up without notice, installing new boxes, ect. When asking what they were installing, they new that it was a fiber backbone (down the road) with plenum RG6 to each home. They thought it was for WOW; but, two days ago I got a knock on my door from a U-Verse sales dude.

He tried to convince me to switch to their TV platform from DirecTV. I explained to him that I had just signed a two-year commitment with the installation of the 5 LNB saucer and the new HD-DVR (guess I need to update my sig).

He said that they would reimburse me via a $300 Visa check card, but I wasn't biting. I do have an AT&T land line, and I have been growing tired of Insight's internet service as of late because of the shared loop. Although they had increased DL speeds to 6mb/s, I rarely get this speed unless it's later in the evening. Plus, the cap on the UL at around 300kb/s really is not conducive to my line of work.

So, I listened to his pitch and he offered me a two-year price guarantee for their top-tier internet package at around $55 per month. Supposedly a dedicated line (although I know that there will be a bottleneck at the RG6 box) of 10mb/s DL and 1.5mb/s UL. Bundling my phone service in got me 1000 minutes of long distance to anywhere in the US for $30 additional. Cool, because I didn't have long distance before and I was paying about $20 more a month.

The install is scheduled for next Friday and I'm going to keep my Insight around in case there are issues with their internet service. I was surprised that he just offered me the internet installation because I had read previously that you had to sign up for both the TV and internet together (although you could cancel the TV later).

At any rate, does anyone else use their internet service? How is it? Speeds as advertised? I've been happy with Insight's cable internet for almost 10 years, but am looking forward to delving into the world of "fiber".

[Scott]

Oh, one more thing... Because I wasn't signing up for their TV service, I was obligated to pay an $85 service charge, but he was able to get me a $50 Visa check card to offset the cost.

[mikegodwin]

I thought AT&T was Dish Network.
Just to let you know, I had AT&T land line forever and got so feed up with them I canceled all my phone service with them. I had the unlimited long distance to anywhere for a while but it seemed that the most places I called, such as Delaware Ohio since I live in Delaware County, were not covered with the anywhere plan since AT&T didn't cover Delaware. I would also keep getting strange charges on my bill that no one could seem to find out where they came from or get them removed. I was told I would have to pay the bill anyway and fight it later. They got nasty and then they lost a long time customer.

I put the MagicJack system in and it works great. And for $20 a year, I'll never go back to AT&T.

[Scott]

Mike this is a different package than the AT&T/Dish/DSL deelio. It's their U-Verse package that runs everything from fiber (including the TV package). My land line stuff isn't changing--with the exception of 1,000 LD minutes.

I'll be keeping my Insight cable internet activated until I'm satisfied with U-Verse.

[posty-mcpost]

I have U-verse internet. I have the 3/1 but it runs at 3.5/1 and is always steady. The only drawback is the latency issues due to pair bonding. Serious gamers should look elsewhere but it's fine for the masses.

[rossl]

Will the TV service have better bandwidth since you have RG6 to the home instead of twisted pair?

The HD TV over twisted pair is the biggest drawback to U-verse. I wouldn't even consider it unless they hooked up RG6 and I got uncompressed HD.

[Scott]

I have U-verse internet. I have the 3/1 but it runs at 3.5/1 and is always steady. The only drawback is the latency issues due to pair bonding. Serious gamers should look elsewhere but it's fine for the masses.

That's good to hear. I'm hoping the 10/1.5 is just as solid :wish:

[Scott]

Will the TV service have better bandwidth since you have RG6 to the home instead of twisted pair?

The HD TV over twisted pair is the biggest drawback to U-verse. I wouldn't even consider it unless they hooked up RG6 and I got uncompressed HD.

Although I'm not getting the TV package, I would assume this is the case. Friday is the day, and if they start digging up my yard to run CAT6, I'm going to be pissed because the sales dude told me that they would use the existing RG6.

[zelig2]

I've thought about trying to get U-Verse for my internet as I'm using their DSL right now. I do play the occasional Xbox Live game though, I wonder how bad it is for that. I have a strange feeling that I wouldn't be able to be downloading at 10Mb/s while recording two HD streams. My wife and I are thinking about ditching DishTV this fall after the Olympics are done. I've got the HDHomeRun and have started getting something up and running for recording/watching those shows.

[Scott]

I've thought about trying to get U-Verse for my internet as I'm using their DSL right now. I do play the occasional Xbox Live game though, I wonder how bad it is for that. I have a strange feeling that I wouldn't be able to be downloading at 10Mb/s while recording two HD streams. My wife and I are thinking about ditching DishTV this fall after the Olympics are done. I've got the HDHomeRun and have started getting something up and running for recording/watching those shows.

zelig, where ya' been? If I'm not mistaken, I believe the full bandwidth for the TV and internet package is around 25Mb/s. I guess I could see you getting close to 10Mb/s.

[Scott]

Well install took a little less than two hours. I had a cat5 drop right next to where I wanted the modem so the installer just used two pair to rj-11. After hooking me up to the crossbox, he tested my speeds and I was pulling 70Mb/s into the house! Of course, I'm governed at 10MB/s, but he said the rest is, in fact, used for TV. I asked if he could "un-govern" me... He didn't know how :D

The only thing that I can think of thus far as a con, is the modem... This thing is a monster. Twice as deep as my Cable modem and 3 times as long. It's just laying on my desk right now until I figure out a place to stick it.

I did a speed test before I made the cut-over, and was at 4Mb/s down and 320Kb/s up :down:

After, I'm pulling 10.3Mb/s down and 1.4Mb/s up... :up:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/300750578.png

[HD-CMH-OH]

Did they use the existing TW cable run up to your house?

[Scott]

Did they use the existing TW cable run up to your house?

Nope, didn't touch any cable. They used the phone line running directly into the house. Unlike DSL, it runs on its own pair, so no filters, etc. The modem is really nice (although large) because it has 3 different methods of receiving the signal (RJ-11, RG6, and Cat5e/6), has 5 external ports, and a wireless G router (which has a really nice interface). I didn't have to change a thing except for unplugging my hard-wired patch cables from my old router to the new, and setting up wireless on my laptop. Seemless.

[zelig2]

Damn, I want. I called AT&T yesterday to cancel my home phone since it's not been plugged in for 6 months. It was an extra $17 charge each month that I shouldn't be paying. When I called I was told that if I wanted to drop the phone service my DSL service would go up $20! Brilliant. So to console my heart they offered me $5 off per month for the next year. Well, it's at least something.

I then asked about U-Verse and my subdivision isn't set up for it. Grrr....

[Scott]

Checked their website today and they launched the Max 18 (18Mbs Down) package on the 10th of November. I called them today, in five minutes they switched my account (extra $10 per month) and I came home to these speeds:

via Speakeasy:

Last Result:
Download Speed: 16737 kbps (2091.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1469 kbps (183.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

I likez!

[bspvette86]

Hmmm this is interesting. I just got 11,013 down and 485 up on standard TWC rr without even placing a call. Now if they would just fix that dadburn line out on the poles that has my SDV channels blocking and dropping.... <sigh> Three months and counting.... If only U-Verse would move 1/4 mile down the road....

Cheers! :cheers:
BSPvette86


<edit>
Got 12,224 kb/s down and 485 kb/s up on my wired box.... Again, this is with standard 7mb/s rr service... :o)

10/30/2008 4:50 AM GMT 6769 kb/s 479 kb/s 36 ms Chicago, IL ~ 250 mi
10/30/2008 12:22 PM GMT 6828 kb/s 488 kb/s 35 ms Chicago, IL ~ 250 mi
10/31/2008 1:09 AM GMT 6660 kb/s 474 kb/s 161 ms Chicago, IL ~ 250 mi
11/2/2008 4:09 AM GMT 6634 kb/s 482 kb/s 35 ms Chicago, IL ~ 250 mi
11/7/2008 4:04 PM GMT 6687 kb/s 484 kb/s 64 ms Chicago, IL ~ 250 mi
11/8/2008 2:02 AM GMT 4248 kb/s 485 kb/s 45 ms Chicago, IL ~ 250 mi
12/3/2008 2:28 AM GMT 12796 kb/s 458 kb/s 99 ms Chicago, IL ~ 250 mi

</edit>

[Robbiee19]

I wish AT&T U-vrese would come to Hilliard! I would change to them for the bundle service.