Review by koolkid1563 
Posted: 1.5 years ago
member for 3 years, 934 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Houston,Harris,TX
 $140 per month
 about 6 days
 "Wonderful speed tests, internet and TV rock solid."
 "HD content doesn't look as good as it could."
 "U-verse is a great new service with alot of potential."
| Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
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I have had U-verse since February, and it has been rock solid. Our RG has never gone down (aside from when I unplug it). Speed tests are very good, and don't stray too far from our advertised rate (6/1). We have the U-400 package with Elite internet.
Our VDSL signal is coming over a dedicated pair from the VDSL POTS splitter in the NID to our 2wire 3800HGV-B gateway, I am currently getting a sync speed of 27,264Kb/s downstream and 2,048Kb/s upstream to the DSLAM capped, with a max sync speed of 105,344Kb/s downstream.
I would recommend U-verse to anyone that loves a rock solid, very fast internet connection. I wouldn't quite recommend the TV package if you are really into HD content. U-verse offers 25 HD channels, but right now, they are highly compressed, and only 1 HD stream can be viewed at a time per household.
U-verse uses DHCP dynamic IP addresses, but mine has not changed in the two months that I have had it. Our install time was 4 hours, but it went by very quickly, and the install tech was really knowledgeable and was really nice. We had a problem getting our third set top (the only one to use HPNA) to sync up to the RG over HPNA. For some reason, the RG would not see the set top on the coax HPNA network. We had the box grab the first set of downloads over the Cat5 network, then everything seemed to work great!
Followup comments:  LostInWoods
join:2004-04-14 | Why Fiber Why is this listed as a fiber connection. VDSL is not fiber to the subscriber, no matter what propaganda AT&T feeds us... | |
|  | koolkid1563
Premium,MVM
join:2005-11-06
Powell, WY
clubs:
 ·Bresnan Online
 ·AT&T U-Verse
edit:
May 2nd, @05:04PM
| Re: Why Fiber Technically, VDSL is a form of Fiber, as it is running on a Fiber To The Node network. Traditional ADSL runs on the PSTN system to the CO, VDSL rides the existing copper wire to the VRAD (DSLAM). The current local loop limit is 2,500 ft from the premise to the DSLAM for U-verse. Then it is fiber from the VRAD to the RT, then a fiber trunk to the CO. | |
| | | LostInWoods
join:2004-04-14
| Re: Why Fiber I would argue that technically, VDSL is a form of DSL. By the FTTN logic, most all cable would be Fiber as well, since the nodes are typically fed by fiber, which then connects via copper to the subscriber. I refuse to drink AT&T's Kool-Aid on this one, koolkid.
VDSL from a remote cabinet (be it on the side of the road or MDU basement) still delivers data to the subscriber over a copper pair, just like regular old ADSL. Standard ADSL in a remote cabinet (like the one my service uses) can be fed from fiber as well, but that doesn't turn my 3 mile long rural 1.5 Mbit service into FTTX any more than VDSL at 500 feet does. | |
| | | | koolkid1563
Premium,MVM
join:2005-11-06
Powell, WY
clubs:
·Bresnan Online
·AT&T U-Verse
edit:
June 12th, @03:43AM
| Re: Why Fiber said by LostInWoods :I would argue that technically, VDSL is a form of DSL. Yes, it does use a form of DSL to the VRAD (DSLAM), I am not arguing that.
said by LostInWoods :By the FTTN logic, most all cable would be Fiber as well, since the nodes are typically fed by fiber, which then connects via copper to the subscriber. With U-verse, fiber is run all the way to the DSLAM (node), and copper the rest of the way. Right now, the copper distance from the premise to the DSLAM can not exceed 2,300ft (it has been reduced). How does this not fit your description of FTTN? From the CO to the DSLAM sitting no more than 2,300ft from the premise is all fiber. Every VRAD has a DSLAM inside, and every VRAD is serviced by fiber.
said by LostInWoods :Standard ADSL in a remote cabinet (like the one my service uses) can be fed from fiber as well, but that doesn't turn my 3 mile long rural 1.5 Mbit service into FTTX any more than VDSL at 500 feet does. That is true, and you make a great point. The only thing is, I don't know of any ADSL/ADSL2+ modem capable of speeds even close to VDSL/VDSL2. There must be a big difference somewhere in the technology feeding the two. I don't know of too many ADSL providers advertising it as FTTN, even if it is serviced out of a RT fed by fiber.
Call it what you want, but, I think AT&T is on to something. Are they the only company doing this? No, Qwest is doing the same thing, and I think they are even using VDSL to provide their IPTV services too. | |
| | | | | eandrews
join:2002-07-22
Scottsdale, AZ
| Re: Why Fiber This is true, qwest is provideing FTTN and VDSL in parts of Phoenix, AZ. I have a 3/1 data connection as well as IPTV through them. The only problem is they dont have a set top DVR solution yet.
I do not qualify for Qwest's standard ADSL as I am over 25,000 feet away from the CO. But with a their VDSL I am 500 feet away from a fiber fed remote DSLAM. | |
| kshymkiw
join:2004-12-21
Columbus, OH | speed So your saying your speed is 27x2? I haven't heard anything like that from U-Verse before. I have heard of DSL speeds around 6x2, etc.. | |
| | koolkid1563
Premium,MVM
join:2005-11-06
Powell, WY
clubs: | Re: speed That is my sync to the DSLAM, my internet is the 6/1 package. The sync speed is that high because it needs to run the set top boxes for the TVs off of that pipeline as well as the internet connection. | |
| | | kshymkiw
join:2004-12-21
Columbus, OH
| Re: speed said by koolkid1563 :That is my sync to the DSLAM, my internet is the 6/1 package. The sync speed is that high because it needs to run the set top boxes for the TVs off of that pipeline as well as the internet connection. Better Understood now. | |
| | edinsananton
join:2006-12-08
San Antonio, TX | So I've had U-verse over a year. My sync was 25/3 back then and the rate they tested was during install - uncapped - was 44 Mb/s. This is not atypical for VDSL. | |
| m1arnett
Premium
join:2007-02-24
Wickliffe, OH
| Cable ???? I worked for Time Warner for years and installed about 1000 miles of Hardline, I am now a design engineer for AT&T and the cable companies have ZERO FIBER anywhere in their network, except at the base station, every major city has a couple and they are many miles from the subscriber with multiple repeaters and amps along the way, while the U-verse has Glass Fiber within 3,000 feet of the premises. It is a much better system than say a FIOS where the entire install is labor intensive and typically a pain in the ass. The U-verse system puts you on the Lightspeed Internet Backbone very fast and efficiently and uses existing tech from the node to the home. Where this system will really smash FIOS and all competitors in the Internet market is the day they roll out the IPSL system for U-verse with 100+ mbps speeds down and anywhere from 10-35 mbps upstream, these are capped figures. Uncapped figures are absolutley unadulterated with speeds reaching 200 mbps both up and down. the IPSL protocols can do these speeds right now in testing over the U-verse enabled system. | |
| | 
copper loop
@sbcglobal.net | Re: Cable ???? Could you go into IPSL in more detail as I don't quite follow? Is it a standard protocol which is being deployed at the moment? If so, where? Thank you | |
| | GolfJan1
join:2007-12-05
| Re: Cable ???? IPSL IPSL is the technology of Rim Semiconductor which has announced 384 mbps max speed with 35 mbps available at 8,000 feet. With low latency and many other attributes, I am not surprised that ATT is testing it. Can you tell us any more about the tests?
For those who want to read more.
www.rimsemi.com
»findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m···16691004 | |
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