My dsl service allowed me to discontinue my second line, and I often
initiate/receive phone calls while online. The DSL costs less because (1) the
DSL service is a few dollars less costly than a separate phone line, and (2)
none of the additional fixed fees and taxes apply to the DSL line that would
otherwise be added to the basic rate for a second line.
I ordered my DSL service, waited about ten days, at which point I had a visit
from the phone installation technicians, who then waded
through the mess that
existed in their wiring. After about a 4-day period of
finding faults in their
wiring, they gave my line their blessing, and, aside from one incident caused by
another wiring error made after my installation, it's been more or less trouble
free. I say more-or-less, because the modem driver software seems to cause some
system instability. Though that explains why they (QWEST) got the Intel Pro2100
modems at a reduced rate, it doesn't explain why the user should put up with the
problems they cause.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Chomko" <chomko(a)greenbelt.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 7:59 AM
Subject: Re: OT: DSL Woes (was RE: Plato terminal)
"Jeffrey S. Sharp" wrote:
On Thu, 12 Jul 2001, Feldman, Robert wrote:
Or you can sign up for DSL service, wait 5 months
to get the line
brought into your house, during which time you have to be home for
half a dozen service calls, then the Telco will run the test and tell
you that you are too far away. That was my experience with Telocity
and Ameritech in Chicago. :(
Jeez! My cable modem "installation" took about 10 minutes. I count that
as one of my life's best experiences. I nearly gave the service guy a
hug.
The problem I'm having is that Verizon claims that you don't need a second
line
(i.e. voice and data can be on the same line with DSL). It's untrue!
I tried using a single line for data and voice using their microfilter
technology.
Well, all is fine for local calls, but when we would use the phone long
distance there
was substantial degradation in quality when speaking to the other party when
simultaneously connected to the net via DSL.
So I bit the bullet, kept the second line that I was used for data. Called
Verizon to switch my DSL
from main number to data number. $10 more a month but I am not locked into a
year
long deal. Hardare is free just like before. Now I have two sets.
Anyway, its takes 3 weeks to set up DSL on THEIR end. On my end its a snap;
hook DSL modem to phone line and ethernet to modem in computer. After that
it a matter
of installing SW via CD. No big deal, especially since I'll not need the
microfilters that
really don't work anyway!
The problem is that Verizon conacted me after three weeks and said it would
be another three weeks!
Now I'm pissed. I have upgraded system with bigger hard drive, switched
lines and have new HW.
I'm ready, where are they?
Eiric
--
Jeffrey S. Sharp
jss(a)ou.edu