Switch from Charter cable to AT&T DSL??
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Posted by Percival P. Cassidy on May 18, 2006, 6:10 pm
Please log in for more thread options For the 2+ years we've lived here (W. Michigan) we've had Charter Cable -- initially 2Mbps, then upgraded to 3Mbps. In all that time I think we've had just two outages. Now AT&T (formerly SBC) is offering "up to 6.0 Mbps" DSL service for less than we are paying Charter (especially as Charter is charging an extra $10/mo. because we don't have their TV service). What is "up to 6.0 Mbps" likely to mean in practice? We are 11,700 ft. from the CO. Is it possible to install one DSL filter in the line that goes to the FAX machine, phone and DirecTV receivers? Or does every device need its own DSL filter? Do DirecTV receivers and DSL play nice together? How reliable is SBC/AT&T's DSL service? Is the DSL modem truly operating-system-agnostic? I use a non-mainstream OS that suits my needs and have no reason to switch -- but there is one WinXP machine on the network that could be used for configuration if push comes to shove. Is there a better mode than the Siemens 4100 that AT&T and BestBuy sell? Perce | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Kay Archer on May 19, 2006, 1:33 am
Please log in for more thread options rt: 8.5 Kft (RT). or if you prefer, it means for you: "up to 3.0Mbps." > Is it possible to install one DSL filter in the line that goes to the
one filter per 'in use' jack, not device, please. if you put a filter on
> FAX machine, phone and DirecTV receivers? Or does every device need its > own DSL filter? Do DirecTV receivers and DSL play nice together? > the phone line, yes. > How reliable is SBC/AT&T's DSL service?
almost as reliable as the phone company. the same should be true of cable
> since the higher levels of transport are the same > Is the DSL modem truly operating-system-agnostic? I use a non-mainstream
the registration website only works with ms java. you will _have_ to use
> OS that suits my needs and have no reason to switch -- but there is one > WinXP machine on the network that could be used for configuration if > push comes to shove. > windows to create your memberid. > Is there a better modem than the Siemens 4100 that AT&T and BestBuy sell?
there are modems with built in wireless routers and 2port wired switches
> (2wire 2700 currently being shipped by att) available if you are connecting more than one computer without your own router. if you do have a router (that supports pppoe), you could use an older modem such as the speedstream 5100(a) or 5360. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Robert Redelmeier on May 19, 2006, 8:31 am
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>> What is "up to 6.0 Mbps" likely to mean in practice? We are 11,700 ft.
>> from the CO. >> > not available for you, 6.5 Kft (CO), unless you are near a dsl provisioned
> rt: 8.5 Kft (RT). or if you prefer, it means for you: "up to 3.0Mbps." I'd expect more like 1.5 Mbps at this range, even over good wire. >> Is it possible to install one DSL filter in the line that goes to the
>> FAX machine, phone and DirecTV receivers? Or does every device need its >> own DSL filter? Do DirecTV receivers and DSL play nice together? >> > one filter per 'in use' jack, not device, please. if you
> put a filter on the phone line, yes. You can also put in a "whole house" splitter at the NID. This technically the preferred solution unless the premise wiring is pristine. >> How reliable is SBC/AT&T's DSL service?
>> > almost as reliable as the phone company. the same should be
> true of cable since the higher levels of transport are the same Yes, but AFAIK cable has to put active bridges in pedestals, while DSL only needs actives (DSLAM) in RTs. Theoretically, this should make DSL more reliable. YMMV. >> Is the DSL modem truly operating-system-agnostic? I use a
>> non-mainstream OS that suits my needs and have no reason >> to switch -- but there is one WinXP machine on the network >> that could be used for configuration if push comes to shove. > the registration website only works with ms java. you will
> _have_ to use windows to create your memberid. Funny, I use Linux and FreeBSD BSD and never had any trouble (SBC in Houston). I recommend a hardware router. Follow the Mac instructions. I put the registration userid/pw into the router, let it connect, connected to the registration website and registered. Then I reloaded the router with my new userid/pw and I was in business. > without your own router. if you do have a router (that
> supports pppoe), you could use an older modem such as the > speedstream 5100(a) or 5360. I prefer the two-box setup. I've fried one DSL modem in 5 years, and I expect to lose'em (they seem a little tougher than v.90 modems). I'd rather not lose my router and have to reconfigure the blasted thing. Dumb box replacement is easier. -- Robert | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Percival P. Cassidy on May 19, 2006, 9:31 am
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On 05/19/06 08:31 am Robert Redelmeier wrote: >>> What is "up to 6.0 Mbps" likely to mean in practice? We are 11,700 ft.
>>> from the CO. >>> >> not available for you, 6.5 Kft (CO), unless you are near a dsl provisioned
>> rt: 8.5 Kft (RT). or if you prefer, it means for you: "up to 3.0Mbps." >
> I'd expect more like 1.5 Mbps at this range, even over good wire. The rep to whom I just spoke says they "guarantee" a minimum of 3Mbps down. >>> Is it possible to install one DSL filter in the line that goes to the
>>> FAX machine, phone and DirecTV receivers? Or does every device need its >>> own DSL filter? Do DirecTV receivers and DSL play nice together? >> one filter per 'in use' jack, not device, please. if you
>> put a filter on the phone line, yes. > You can also put in a "whole house" splitter at the NID.
> This technically the preferred solution unless the premise > wiring is pristine. Is this whole house splitter something I would have to buy separately, or is this included in the installation kit? >>> How reliable is SBC/AT&T's DSL service?
>> almost as reliable as the phone company. the same should be
>> true of cable since the higher levels of transport are the same > Yes, but AFAIK cable has to put active bridges in pedestals,
> while DSL only needs actives (DSLAM) in RTs. Theoretically, > this should make DSL more reliable. YMMV. Our cable service in NY (Optimum Online -- 10Mbps down, and it's been upgraded to 15Mbps since we left) and here (Charter) has been pretty reliable, although not quite as reliable as the phone service (Nynex/Bell Atlantic/Verizon in NY, SBC here). >>> Is the DSL modem truly operating-system-agnostic? I use a
>>> non-mainstream OS that suits my needs and have no reason >>> to switch -- but there is one WinXP machine on the network >>> that could be used for configuration if push comes to shove. >> the registration website only works with ms java. you will
>> _have_ to use windows to create your memberid. > Funny, I use Linux and FreeBSD BSD and never had any trouble
> (SBC in Houston). I recommend a hardware router. Follow the > Mac instructions. I put the registration userid/pw into > the router, let it connect, connected to the registration > website and registered. Then I reloaded the router with my > new userid/pw and I was in business. >> without your own router. if you do have a router (that
>> supports pppoe), you could use an older modem such as the >> speedstream 5100(a) or 5360. > I prefer the two-box setup. I've fried one DSL modem in 5
> years, and I expect to lose'em (they seem a little tougher > than v.90 modems). I'd rather not lose my router and have to > reconfigure the blasted thing. Dumb box replacement is easier. Good point. I already have a Linksys WRT54G. Perce | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Kay Archer on May 19, 2006, 11:32 am
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snipping has occured in this document. > > I'd expect more like 1.5 Mbps at this range, even over good wire.
>
down.
> The rep to whom I just spoke says they "guarantee" a minimum of 3Mbps >
he's a salesman, get it in writing...
>
separate. att will install for ~$100 (~$60 for installation, ~$34 for the
> Is this whole house splitter something I would have to buy separately, > or is this included in the installation kit? > nid, added to your phone bill). how many phone jacks do you have in use? how old is the wiring to those jacks? and is it "homerun" wiring? one of the included filters can be used for an nid (instructions at broadbandreports.com) but they are not made for it. see discussions at broadbandreports.com. note: nid = pots splitter = "whole house filter", you would install a separate telephone jack just for the dsl >
> >> without your own router. if you do have a router (that
> >> supports pppoe), you could use an older modem such as the > >> speedstream 5100(a) or 5360. >
> > I prefer the two-box setup. I've fried one DSL modem in 5
> > years, and I expect to lose'em (they seem a little tougher > > than v.90 modems). I'd rather not lose my router and have to > > reconfigure the blasted thing. Dumb box replacement is easier. >
no argument there
> Good point. I already have a Linksys WRT54G.
pppoe = the memberid (email address, _including_ @sbcglobal.net) of the
> primary account + password. leave all the other pppoe settings blank or default | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
> -- initially 2Mbps, then upgraded to 3Mbps. In all that time I think
> we've had just two outages.
>
> Now AT&T (formerly SBC) is offering "up to 6.0 Mbps" DSL service for
> less than we are paying Charter (especially as Charter is charging an
> extra $10/mo. because we don't have their TV service).
>
> What is "up to 6.0 Mbps" likely to mean in practice? We are 11,700 ft.
> from the CO.
>