how-to block ads
|
»next review in page
Review by JONZiN 
UPDATED: 10 days ago
member for 8.3 years, 1009 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 Wichita Falls,Wichita,TX
 $35 per month
 about 5 days
 Southwestern Bell
 "pretty fast for the money"
 "not as fast as cable"
 "good deal for the price"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
well i upgraded to elite and it doubled my speed but still in geting around 5mb ps
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
 | »next review in page (previous review)
Review by zefie
UPDATED: 16 days ago
member for 1.9 years, 49 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Bryant,Saline,AR
$40 per month
about -1 days
"If it ever worked, I could tell you"
"Never got it activated..."
"Completely useless"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
Called to order DSL on Friday, January 2nd. Was told no one could come out to set it up until the 9th, which annoyed me, but I accepted it. So they came out on the 9th at 10am and set it up, the tech said everything was good to go when he left at 11am.
Plugged in the DSL modem and just got a blinking green light. Called back and they told me to wait until 8pm. Okay fine. 8pm rolls around and still a blinking green light. Call back and get a California call center that says to wait until 8pm Cali time (10pm here). Annoyed, I waited until 10pm to find the light now blinking red. It continued to do so until 10am the next morning, in which it went back to blinking green.
Called back and they said the account was activated and should be working, I told them it could not sync, so they said someone would have to come out and fix the line. Now it is Saturday, and their next available appointment was the following Friday. I already waited a week for them and now I have to wait another week for them to fix what they didn't do right in the first place? No thanks.
I told them I wanted to cancel but no one to cancel the service was available over the weekend, so Monday I went out and got Charter HSI and canceled AT&T.
So I can't really rate the quality of the service since I never had it, all I can tell you is around here, they seem to just want to make you wait.
Edit: Just wanted to add, after sending back their equipment, they proceeded to send me a bill or $80. I called and complained about this, and they credited $49.99 for the equipment, but still expected me to pay for the 1 month of service, even though I had never even been able to access it for a single second. I told them that it is unacceptable for them to expect me to pay for something I never had the ability to use, but they would not budge. I just ignored the bill, then I moved so I don't know if they are still trying to collect the money or not, but it is insane that they would expect me to pay for the month of DSL service when it never even worked. Besides, isn't there a 30-day policy anyway?
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by Mortis
UPDATED: 22 days ago
member for 7.5 years, 2697 visits, last login: 2 days ago
Clearlake,Lake,CA
$25 per month (month by month)
about 7 days
Southwestern Bell
"Cheap! Decent ping!"
"Upload is slow and gives me a long white beard"
"Okay deal for the money, decent performance"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I'm signed up for 3000/512, but the best I get is 2000/512
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by giscard
UPDATED: 25 days ago
member for 3.6 years, 701 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Enid,Garfield,OK
Contract price not specified.
"pricing"
| |
thinking about switching from bell to suddenlink (internet) and then using t-mobile@home
and also dish network..
\
tired of swbell and their charges..
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by ka3vo1
UPDATED: 26 days ago
member for 3.9 years, 2 visits, last login: 24 days ago
Nacogdoches,Nacogdoches,TX
$35 per month
about 2 days
AT&T
"Cheap and reliable"
"I could've gone with a faster option package."
"When you have to choose between cable and good DSL, DSL everytime."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
When I moved into my apartment a year ago, I was told I had one option for internet, SuddenLink. After using their service in other areas, a spent a long time looking for another option. When it finally came time to look at AT&T it showed I was available, and 3 days later, it was installed. Unlike other providers, I bought my modem from them, instead of paying for a modem for years, and even when my modem died, due to a power surge, they replaced it within 2 business days.
All in all, a reliable service. I did have an issue with it's DNS, but with most modern routers and OS options this can be solved by adding OpenDNS to your setup. I pay for 3.0 Mbps and get it, everyday, all day. While some people will tell you it is too slow, with one to two users, you can hardly tell the difference, unless you are streaming video from Netflix or a similar truly "High Quality" (not YouTube) video sources.
Unlike the cable companies I've used in the past, I never have a time where my service slows, it is always the same speed all day, and I'm not paying for a ridiculous speed I will never see. Games never have an issue, as most require a meager 384kbps to maintain lag free game play, and with the latency to most areas fairly low, it doesn't matter where the server I want to reach it located.
One issue I had was with an "old" Netgear router WRT300N, which would drop connection every time the WAN side DHCP would update. The fix, was to use an even older Linksys until I could afford a new Apple Extreme, of which neither had any issue. So it seems, it was just a first generation Netgear product being just that.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by TigerNutz
UPDATED: 29 days ago
member for 8.5 years, 3066 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Maumelle,Pulaski,AR
$40 per month (12 month contract)
about 18 days
AT&T
"Rock solid connection, consistant speeds. Even faster now!!!"
"Not near as fast as cable for the same $$"
"Only wish I had other choices for broadband service in my area."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
Connection went smooth. Consistent speeds below guaranteed minimum-384kbps. In fact, I have not gotten over 360kbps. I haven't received a straight answer on this yet. Expect long wait times to speak to anyone with support! The SWBell website could be more helpful and easier to navigate.
As of this date none of my postings are reaching any Newsgroups.
First line tech support people are somewhat clueless.
I miss Earthlink!
Update 12/23/2000: I called ASI (877-asi-data) with NO wait time (it was 2am).
A guy called back in an hour and I had at least DOUBLE the speeds to 750kbps!!
I love ASI!!!!
Why doesn't SWBell list this info with their DSL package?
UPDATE 5/02: OK, after 2 years of rock solid speeds of 1170 down and 130 up since 3/2002 my DSL speeds SUCK. Tech support with SWB is a JOKE! Repeat, a JOKE.
I get better customer support when I buy a $12 book from Amazon.com than the $600/year I spend on DSL.
Think twice about going with SWB!!
If I had a good broadband alternative in my area I would have left SWB yesterday.
UPDATE 8/02 : OK, the kind and knowledgable techs on this forum fixed our problem here in Little Rock and now I have a rock-solid connection with download speeds of 1140+kbps. Very rare down times and low pings. The problem was corrected but without going through the regular customer support pathways with SWB.
Good connection, lousy customer support!!!!!
UPDATE 4/06: Connection remains rock solid. Good speeds for what I'm paying but could always be cheaper 4800/500 down/up.
UPDATE: 6/09 Back to AT&T DSL after 2 years with Cox Cable. Good solid stable connection but cable speeds are much faster for about the same monthly price.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by social
UPDATED: 60 days ago
member for 8.9 years, 873 visits, last login: 2 days ago
Saint Louis,Saint Louis,MO
$29 per month (12 month contract)
about 15 days
Southwestern Bell
"Install was fast and easy"
"None"
"Changed to SWB"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I had a very good install and was up and running in less than three weeks. Now granted this was back in February but I still felt lucky. I even had one problem that Southwestern Bell helped me correct with my NIC Card. In talking to tech support and when they were unable to fix the problem did a conference call with Kingston ( I think) and they resolved the conflict. Now everything was going just fine I had no downtime good pings and good downstreams somewhere around 1.2Mbs. The ISP also gave me a static IP.
Now here comes the fun part. In July I notified Southwestern Bell that I was moving the first week of August. They informed me that my phone number would remain the same and for this reason it might take a little while longer because it takes a little while for my phone number to unassociate with my old address. Hmmmm sounded reasonable and they stated that it would only be around 3 weeks until I was up and running. By the way I will still be in the same CO. So after about two weeks (around 8/14) I call them and am told hmmm there is no disconnect order. I say that is strange as I asked that it be moved to the same address as my new phone. She says well no problem I will put it in know and it should not be to long. I call back the next week the week of 8/24. They tell me well they are working on it but the disconnect has not gone through I am sorry.
Well to make a long story short today (9/20) the disconnect order still has not gone through and everyone tells me when I call it should be taken care of in the next 24-48 hours and they will call me back. By the way I call once or twice a week and always have them look back at the log and ask why it was not done by the date that was given to me before. Hmmmm, have I got called back....I'll let all of you decide on that one. Ohhh one hint the word starts with an N and ends with a O. They also tell me that once the disconnect does go through that I will have to wait 15 working days for everything to get provisioned and up and running.
Well that is my story...someday I might get my DSL back up and running. I guess the moral of the story is if you move make sure you get a new phone number. If anyone has any suggestions please make them.
2/10/2005 Well Back in December I left my old ISP and went to SBC for the special and the increased speed. Was getting tired of the no frills Valuenet. I have to say I was very nervous about the switch over but it was very painless and did not even see a down time. I have not been down in two months and everything seems to be working great. Had one small issue with my speed not being ramped up but the guys over in SBC forum hooked me up and improved my speed. Over all a very good experience
9/2/2008 Ok it has been a while since I have updated my review. I am still with AT&T and everything is still going well. A few months ago I switched to Naked DSL 6M and the switch has been no problem and I am still happy. The only thing that I would like is a faster speed as I work from home and use VPN and it can be a little slow sometimes but nothing huge.
5/4/2009 - Just thought I would update that I still have a consistent connection and still wish I had a higher speed. All the CO's are being converted around me to Uverse so maybe I will have the opportunity to have a higher speed in the near future. Anyways my only other choice is Charter and I am not going there.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by PamelaTS
Posted: 63 days ago
member for 5.2 years, 458 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Dallas,Dallas,TX
$36 per month
"Normally very reliable, excellent price point"
"Tech support is not located in USA"
"You have to be FIRM with tech support when there is an issue"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I live in Dallas and have for years experienced one quirk that until now I thought was TXU electric's issue. I was paying bills online this morning and could not reach TXU.COM this sometimes happens.
This past month I had recently upgraded my cell phone also with AT&T and added an unlimited data plan to the cell phone. It could reach TXU.COM. So I conducted an experiement forcing the DNS on my DSL line to OpenDNS (Primary DNS Server : 208.67.222.222 Secondary DNS Server : 208.67.220.220) and guess what all three of my PC's and my Palm T|X could now get to TXU.COM via DSL. Change DNS back to default AT&T DNS (Primary DNS: 68.94.156.1
Secondary DNS: 68.94.157.1) and no TXU.COM.
Tech support tried to argue with me that they can't browse the internet. What a tech for an ISP can't/won't or not allowed to open a browser, I was floored. Finally got a supervisor on the line and it took him a while, to check it out. He then tried to blame TXU as being a special website not accessable.
What a minute I live in the same city, my AT&T cell phone can get there. My DSL should to.
btw I have about 30 years in the IT experience with Telco.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by sideloaded
UPDATED: 72 days ago
member for 3 years, 24 visits, last login: 10 days ago
Rogers,Benton,AR
$30 per month
about 5 days
"Everything worked."
"Installation only worked on xp, vista was a no go."
"Seems good."
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
Well to register the modem and actually get on the internet you have to run some active X stuff that was really buggy. It detected i was running vista but the active X wouldn't load at all. I turned off all the security stuff in IE, then i deactivated my anti virus and firewall and it still wouldn't load. Plus IE said there was an error on the page. The CD wouldn't really work in vista clicking the setup exe did nothing. So i had to activate with an XP machine, even then IE crashed once, but it did go all the way through the registration. Even microsoft is phasing out active X that's why vista really doesn't want you to run it. Can att please just code a simple activation application and auto run it when you insert the disk? Oh and test it on vista too.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
| »next page (previous review)
 Review by bkoeni1
UPDATED: 98 days ago
member for 8.5 years, 3970 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Fort Worth,Tarrant,TX
$35 per month (12 month contract)
about 47 days
AT&T
"Once they get you working ... it really works !!!"
"I'm capped at 384k due to my distance from the CO"
"Expect start-up problems, keep your cool, don't get mad, don't point fingers"
| Pre Sales information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
Update 3/27/2009 - I've been paying $25.00 per month for the last four months on the Express plan. I was offered a lower rate when I changed some of my options on my land line. My connection has been excellent for the past year as I've had no outages at all. I'm still capped at 384/384 but recently, my speeds have been running 353/322 (Speakeasy Dallas speedtest). I've not had the need to contact customer support recently. All of the telephone cables have been recently updated (replaced on the poles) in my neighborhood which has increased the stability of my connection.
Update 3/16/2008 - I've been paying $34.95 per month for over a year now for the Express plan and still capped at 384k. I have a second landline here at my home that I use for monitoring my alarm and voice and the AT&T online application that you use to see if DSL service is available in my area tells me that it is not available for the second line; so I realize that I am really far from my CO (line distance).
As far as service is concerned, I've had a very stable connection and stable (slow) speeds up and down for well over a year now. I've not had to contact AT&T support at all. I changed out my ADSL modem from an older Westell Wirespeed to a Speedstream 5100 after the Westell failed and have had no problems at all.
Update - I agreed to another 12 month commitment at the $14.95 a month rate and am being billed for $28.58 per month. On 9/11/2005, my minimum latency (as measured by BBR test) jumped from 55.2ms to 124ms. I also went from 14ms to 24ms to my first hop! Web pages were not rendered completely as some frames never loaded on non-cached pages. I received more error messages trying to render a web page than I can remember. Nothing has changed on my end. I used the SBC Direct support forum on BBR and was finally downgraded from interleaved 384/384 to fast path 192/128. Now it's slower than ever! I continued to check my latency using the BBR test and on Oct 5, my latency dropped to 67.3ms (from 122ms the day before). I just ran another latency test and it's back to 124ms.
I'm nearing my 3rd anniversary with SBC ADSL (Jan 1, 2001). My service has been very good during the last year with very few outages and few problems. My only desire is for higher upload and download speed. I'm still capped at 384 kbps due to my 14,000 ft (wire) distance from my CO. I live in an older neighborhood in Fort Worth and there is no Remote Terminal. We have older copper lines in my area. Within the last few months, my upload speed has gone from 108 kbps to 94 kbps with my download pretty steady at 324 kbps.
Everything is pretty normal with my ADSL service from SBC/Yahoo. I've had ADSL service for over two years now and have very few outages, usually whenever my pots service goes out, my ADSL service goes with it. This has happened twice in the past twelve months. Each time the problem has been external from my premises and has been fixed within 24 hours.
I've run a home-run from my NID directly to my Westell ADSL modem and installed a Siecor splitter at my NID. I continue to be capped at 384 down and am continuously experiencing about 318 down and 107 up. I have been told that I am 14,000 wire feet from my local CO. Other than the two outages mentioned above, I have had no reason to contact SBC about my DSL service.
It has been over a year now since I first got Southwestern Bell DSL (Jan 1, 2001). They raised my monthly rate from $39.95 to $49.95 after my first year of service. The first several months of service were hit and miss and SWB seemed to have problems providing me with quality service. I continually lost sync on my modem. I reported so many problems to ASI that SWB actually tried to cancel my DSL service two different times. I was determined to keep it as I really thought it should work. For the past 6 months, I have had very few problems with my DSL service. I leave my PC connected all the time and I always seem to have sync. My download speeds vary between 306 - 319 kbps (I'm capped at 384kbps because of my distance being so far from the CO). I had ASI uncap me and I immediately lost sync, so I guess I'm stuck at this speed. I live in an older neighborhood and have older telephone lines.
As far as service goes, ASI and SWB seem to have their act together at this point. The last time I called ASI and reported a problem, it was handled promptly and I really got the impression everyone involved was knowledgeable of what the other person was doing. At this point, I'm satisfied with my DSL service from SWB. I always wish for faster download speeds and I think the monthly rate is a bit high for the speeds I'm getting; but it beats the problems associated with cable.
I have left my original review in-tact below for those who are interested.
I put in my original request for ADSL via SWBELL's web page. I received an e-mail back in three days with an acknowledgement, but no install date. Received my self-install kit within two weeks. I heard nothing until an ASI tech showed up at my front door on Monday, Dec 11, 2000 to check for a DSL signal. He indicated I had a strong DSL signal and told me to go ahead with the install. I did the self-install without any problems, but I didn't have sync at the DSL modem. I called ASI and was told my turn-on date wasn't until Monday, Dec 18, 2000. I waited all day Monday thinking it would somehow sync but it never did. Called ASI back on Tuesday and they scheduled a tech to come out to check DSL signal strength again. Tech showed up on Dec 22, 2000 and tested DSL signal strength. He reported that it was too weak and he would turn in a trouble ticket with SWBELL.
The next contact I had was on Tuesday morning, Dec 26, 2000 when another ASI tech showed up to check the DSL signal strength again. He reported a strong DSL signal but a 70db attenuation on the line at the network interface. He called another ASI tech and I talked to him. He gave me two options, box it all up and send it back or he could put in a request to SWBELL to condition my line. He indicated my line was adjacent to T1s & T3s and he reported a bridge tap present on my line. I opted for the line conditioning as I knew that I was only 8913 feet from my CO. Another week went by and on Jan 1, 2001 at 5pm, an ASI tech left me a voice mail message saying that I had a strong DSL signal at my network interface and that if I could not get sync now, I must have an inside wiring problem in my home. I turned on the DSL modem and I had sync !!! My speed tests indicate that I am getting 315 kbps down and 106 kbps up. I'm paying the $39.95 a month fee for 384/128. I received the Speedstream 5260 modem. I am on PPPoE and have a dynamic IP. I configured my new mail/news account to work with MS Outlook express and this works just fine. I use IE 5.5, not Netscape. This certainly beats 56k dial-up speeds. I have had no other problems since Monday, Jan 1, 2001.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T Southwest |
|
|
AT&T Southwest
(23)
·
·