AT&T U-Verse Has Arrived!

[Triforceofcourage]

Should I drop comcast for it? I'd like to because I hate comcast but I have no idea if U-Verse is any better. Please advise!

 

[XZeroII]

It works well. I have it at home. A bit expensive but I've never had a problem with it.

I take that back, sometimes the DVR messes up but that's it.

 

[Acanthus]

I switched over from TWC because of their proposed bandwidth caps.

The bandwidth and pings are the same, and the price is the same where i'm at.

 

[yhelothar]

I have the 18mbps package.
I always test full speed on speedtest, but oddly, I rarely ever get over 200-300KB/s on any download.
The firewall seems a bit iffy too. You could only set one computer at a time on the router to disable the firewall or open any port. And often many ports will still be closed even if you set the port to be open or the firewall disabled. I had to call several times about it.
It's the only fiber optic service at my area though.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

enjoy the suck.

 

[Cyco]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
enjoy the suck.

Suck worse than Comcrap? Or the lesser of two evils?

 

[schneiderguy]

Regular AT&T dsl isn't offered here so I had to get u-verse (just internet). I like it, the speeds are more consistent than DSL I had before I moved was. I have the 6mbps down/1mbps up package and get around 5.85mbps/ .96mbps up in speed tests. With the 3mbps DSL package I was lucky to get over 2.2mbps down :|

This is a new housing division though, so we have fiber running into the house, instead of just having fiber running to the box and then regular copper wiring running the few thousand feet to the house like uverse usually is AFAIK, so I'm not sure how that would affect service. From what I've read having the fiber go all the way to the house results in much lower ping times because it doesn't have to be interleaved like the signal over copper wires would.

 

[Slick5150]

Anytime U-Verse becomes available somewhere new people always cheer because FINALLY they can dump Comcast/TWC/Whatever. Then a couple months later they realize U-Verse sucks just as bad, and frankly tends to be more expensive.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy
Regular AT&T dsl isn't offered here so I had to get u-verse (just internet). I like it, the speeds are more consistent than DSL I had before I moved was. I have the 6mbps down/1mbps up package and get around 5.85mbps/ .96mbps up in speed tests. With the 3mbps DSL package I was lucky to get over 2.2mbps down :|

UP TO 3Mb/s

This is a new housing division though, so we have fiber running into the house, instead of just having fiber running to the box and then regular copper wiring running the few thousand feet to the house like uverse usually is AFAIK, so I'm not sure how that would affect service. From what I've read having the fiber go all the way to the house results in much lower ping times because it doesn't have to be interleaved like the signal over copper wires would.

what is the name of your service and who is the provider? btw, what you've read is a pretty poor explaination of how it works.

 

[ScottMac]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Anytime U-Verse becomes available somewhere new people always cheer because FINALLY they can dump Comcast/TWC/Whatever. Then a couple months later they realize U-Verse sucks just as bad, and frankly tends to be more expensive.

I've had it for the better part of a year (July 23), I love it. I dumped DirectTV for it. I didn't have issues with DTV picture quality, but they've turned into the Cable Company with all the pissant charges and add-ons (and the two year contract I was a customer for 13 years and they have to try to lock me in on a two year contract for HD? that's BS).

I get the 450 package + Playboy channel (plus Internet) for well under what DTV was charging me (I have/had four boxes, all HD).

Five of my friends also have U-Verse and love it. They recommend it over either satellite or Comcast (as do I).

What specifically are the complaints you've experienced with U-Verse? It's far and above anything offered by Comcast for picture quality (at least in the Chicago area), U-Verse has many more HD channels (100+), and I (and every other 10Meg Internet package user) just got a 10->12 meg upgrade for free (and it's a "real" 12 Meg).

Different people have different expectations; what one person takes for suckage, is a minor issue for others. At least with U-Verse there's no contract ... if it sucks, you can back out with no penalty charges unlike with many Cable Companies and DTV (not sure about Dish).

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
Should I drop comcast for it? I'd like to because I hate comcast but I have no idea if U-Verse is any better. Please advise!

If you need more than 4 TVs on the service, U-Verse won't handle it.
We had both U-Verse and Comcast HD running side by side here and we went with Comcast.
Better picture, Better Internet access, Better Customer service. Yes, we like Comcast's customer sevrice here in Sackatomatoe.

 

[schneiderguy]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

This is a new housing division though, so we have fiber running into the house, instead of just having fiber running to the box and then regular copper wiring running the few thousand feet to the house like uverse usually is AFAIK, so I'm not sure how that would affect service. From what I've read having the fiber go all the way to the house results in much lower ping times because it doesn't have to be interleaved like the signal over copper wires would.

what is the name of your service and who is the provider? btw, what you've read is a pretty poor explaination of how it works.

AT&T uverse

Sorry for the crappy explaination

 

[Cobalt]

I guess U-Verse packages may differ depending on location but I live in Chicago, have had it for 4 months now in my apartment and love it. I've got the U450 with the Max 18 package. Max 24 is coming soon as well.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

This is a new housing division though, so we have fiber running into the house, instead of just having fiber running to the box and then regular copper wiring running the few thousand feet to the house like uverse usually is AFAIK, so I'm not sure how that would affect service. From what I've read having the fiber go all the way to the house results in much lower ping times because it doesn't have to be interleaved like the signal over copper wires would.

what is the name of your service and who is the provider? btw, what you've read is a pretty poor explaination of how it works.

AT&T uverse

Sorry for the crappy explaination

i didn't know uverse was fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). or maybe they do FTTH in some markets and HFC (hybrid fiber-coax) in others. i don't think they have service anywhere near the northeast.

people with FTTH (verizon fios) have told me the internet service absolutely rocks. the ping times shouldn't be much different, but the throughput is off the scale and not capped (yet). of course, a huge pipe is only useful if you're transferring tons of data. otherwise, something like 99% of customers are being oversold on something they don't use.

 

[ScottMac]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
Should I drop comcast for it? I'd like to because I hate comcast but I have no idea if U-Verse is any better. Please advise!

If you need more than 4 TVs on the service, U-Verse won't handle it.
We had both U-Verse and Comcast HD running side by side here and we went with Comcast.
Better picture, Better Internet access, Better Customer service. Yes, we like Comcast's customer sevrice here in Sackatomatoe.

U-Verse can handle up to eight boxes. Most customers get 2+2 service (2 SD, 2 HD) (four live incoming streams on different stations). In addition, with Total Home DVR, every other set-top box can play back the recorded content on the DVR, up to another four streams (four in addition to the four independent inbound streams).

All STBs and the DVR are HD capable, with all video outputs up to (including) HDMI, all STBs are 5.1 audio through both teh TOSlink optical and (just recently) the HDMI cable.

Every area is different, and it's certainly possible that in some areas Comcast has better picture quality, but in Chicago, Comcast HD is like watching video projected onto a sandstorm, it's absolutely the worst I've ever seen.

 

[ScottMac]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

This is a new housing division though, so we have fiber running into the house, instead of just having fiber running to the box and then regular copper wiring running the few thousand feet to the house like uverse usually is AFAIK, so I'm not sure how that would affect service. From what I've read having the fiber go all the way to the house results in much lower ping times because it doesn't have to be interleaved like the signal over copper wires would.

what is the name of your service and who is the provider? btw, what you've read is a pretty poor explaination of how it works.

AT&T uverse

Sorry for the crappy explaination

i didn't know uverse was fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). or maybe they do FTTH in some markets and HFC (hybrid fiber-coax) in others. i don't think they have service anywhere near the northeast.

people with FTTH (verizon fios) have told me the internet service absolutely rocks. the ping times shouldn't be much different, but the throughput is off the scale and not capped (yet). of course, a huge pipe is only useful if you're transferring tons of data. otherwise, something like 99% of customers are being oversold on something they don't use.

U-Verse is 100% IP. IPTV, VoIP, Internet service. They can also bundle cell service in the package.

In new construction areas, they install Fiber-to-the-Home. In older, existing areas, they do fiber-to-the-node (fiber from CO to local cabinet, copper VDSL to the home).

FIOS video (the "normal" service, not VOD) is the same old hybrid crap, carried over the fiber in "overlay mode" on the 1550nm lambda. It's still just cable TV, it just happens to be delivered on a fiber.

U-Verse FTTH uses exactly the same equipment as FIOS, the only real difference is that it's 100% IP, and FIOS video is still just cable TV.

U-Verse FTTN uses most of the same equipment as FIOS (routers, switches), but the access devices (the DSLAMs) are obviously made for copper.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: ScottMac

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
Should I drop comcast for it? I'd like to because I hate comcast but I have no idea if U-Verse is any better. Please advise!

If you need more than 4 TVs on the service, U-Verse won't handle it.
We had both U-Verse and Comcast HD running side by side here and we went with Comcast.
Better picture, Better Internet access, Better Customer service. Yes, we like Comcast's customer sevrice here in Sackatomatoe.

U-Verse can handle up to eight boxes. Most customers get 2+2 service (2 SD, 2 HD) (four live incoming streams on different stations). In addition, with Total Home DVR, every other set-top box can play back the recorded content on the DVR, up to another four streams (four in addition to the four independent inbound streams).

All STBs and the DVR are HD capable, with all video outputs up to (including) HDMI, all STBs are 5.1 audio through both teh TOSlink optical and (just recently) the HDMI cable.

Every area is different, and it's certainly possible that in some areas Comcast has better picture quality, but in Chicago, Comcast HD is like watching video projected onto a sandstorm, it's absolutely the worst I've ever seen.

Then it's an upgrad or improvement sinc we tried it. Their system would not handle 5 sets on a single drop, and sounds like it still dosn't. 5>4.

 

[LS21]

quality is better but problem is its run by ATT

 

[ScottMac]

Originally posted by: LS21
quality is better but problem is its run by ATT

As opposed to who?
They all tend to suck, it generally boils down to who sucks less.
In Chicago, Comcast sucks the most, there's a cable company downtown too, I don't remember their name, but I've heard they actually suck worse than Comcast - hard to imagine.

Probably one of Da Mare's pals.

 

[PhaZe]

Does U - Verse have a monthly bandwidth cap?

Also, we have Comcast and pay 128 with tax a month for internet and cable with hdtv with a dvr.

This is their regular internet (usually tops out at 6mbps) and digital cable but with the hd channels.

I think we're paying too much.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: ScottMac

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

This is a new housing division though, so we have fiber running into the house, instead of just having fiber running to the box and then regular copper wiring running the few thousand feet to the house like uverse usually is AFAIK, so I'm not sure how that would affect service. From what I've read having the fiber go all the way to the house results in much lower ping times because it doesn't have to be interleaved like the signal over copper wires would.

what is the name of your service and who is the provider? btw, what you've read is a pretty poor explaination of how it works.

AT&T uverse

Sorry for the crappy explaination

i didn't know uverse was fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). or maybe they do FTTH in some markets and HFC (hybrid fiber-coax) in others. i don't think they have service anywhere near the northeast.

people with FTTH (verizon fios) have told me the internet service absolutely rocks. the ping times shouldn't be much different, but the throughput is off the scale and not capped (yet). of course, a huge pipe is only useful if you're transferring tons of data. otherwise, something like 99% of customers are being oversold on something they don't use.

U-Verse is 100% IP. IPTV, VoIP, Internet service. They can also bundle cell service in the package.

In new construction areas, they install Fiber-to-the-Home. In older, existing areas, they do fiber-to-the-node (fiber from CO to local cabinet, copper VDSL to the home).

FIOS video (the "normal" service, not VOD) is the same old hybrid crap, carried over the fiber in "overlay mode" on the 1550nm lambda. It's still just cable TV, it just happens to be delivered on a fiber.

U-Verse FTTH uses exactly the same equipment as FIOS, the only real difference is that it's 100% IP, and FIOS video is still just cable TV.

U-Verse FTTN uses most of the same equipment as FIOS (routers, switches), but the access devices (the DSLAMs) are obviously made for copper.

verizon installs a demux on the premises and serves each cable box (motorola 6200's afaik) with coax. is this similar to uverse?

are you saying fios overbuilt areas aren't getting the superior (original) picture quality that people are raving about? would the overbuilt 1550nm systems still use heavy compression?

 

[Ksyder]

Got u-verse about 4 months ago and it has been great. The DVR boxes are fast and stable (seriously) and the internet speed is sufficient. Its nice that they include a router but the firmware is pretty sucky. In order to use your own router you have to DMZ one of the ports to the router and then set up your regular router. Trying to set up port forwarding on the Uverse router didn't work out so well so I'll be going back to the linksys router/dd-wrt.

 

[13Gigatons]

Comcast = suck

U-verse = suck

Verizon FiOS = OK

 

[ScottMac]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: ScottMac

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

This is a new housing division though, so we have fiber running into the house, instead of just having fiber running to the box and then regular copper wiring running the few thousand feet to the house like uverse usually is AFAIK, so I'm not sure how that would affect service. From what I've read having the fiber go all the way to the house results in much lower ping times because it doesn't have to be interleaved like the signal over copper wires would.

what is the name of your service and who is the provider? btw, what you've read is a pretty poor explanation of how it works.

AT&T uverse

Sorry for the crappy explaination

i didn't know uverse was fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). or maybe they do FTTH in some markets and HFC (hybrid fiber-coax) in others. i don't think they have service anywhere near the northeast.

people with FTTH (verizon fios) have told me the internet service absolutely rocks. the ping times shouldn't be much different, but the throughput is off the scale and not capped (yet). of course, a huge pipe is only useful if you're transferring tons of data. otherwise, something like 99% of customers are being oversold on something they don't use.

U-Verse is 100% IP. IPTV, VoIP, Internet service. They can also bundle cell service in the package.

In new construction areas, they install Fiber-to-the-Home. In older, existing areas, they do fiber-to-the-node (fiber from CO to local cabinet, copper VDSL to the home).

FIOS video (the "normal" service, not VOD) is the same old hybrid crap, carried over the fiber in "overlay mode" on the 1550nm lambda. It's still just cable TV, it just happens to be delivered on a fiber.

U-Verse FTTH uses exactly the same equipment as FIOS, the only real difference is that it's 100% IP, and FIOS video is still just cable TV.

U-Verse FTTN uses most of the same equipment as FIOS (routers, switches), but the access devices (the DSLAMs) are obviously made for copper.

verizon installs a demux on the premises and serves each cable box (motorola 6200's afaik) with coax. is this similar to uverse?

are you saying fios overbuilt areas aren't getting the superior (original) picture quality that people are raving about? would the overbuilt 1550nm systems still use heavy compression?

It's not a demux, it's a gateway router like any other SOHO router.

And yes, it's the same old crappy cableTV with the same old cableTV compression, it just happens to be delivered on one of the three lambda delivered to the ONT (the grey box on the side of the house). Superior quality from Comcast? Certainly not in Chicago; their PQ is as bad is it can get for every place I've seen it ... even at retailers that use Comcast for their demo channels and have Comcast sales booths ... it stinks, it sucks, and that's probably an insult to other cableTV providers that merely suck.

People rave about it because they're too embarrassed to admit it sucks and can't leave without paying an early cancellation fee. Actually, the only people I've seen rave about it are people (usually sales and marketing people) from Comcast trying to save their jobs ... because U-Verse (and probably any other alternatives that are available) are bleeding them of their customer base because their customers are tired of the abuse and neglect from their Customer Service Department and their weak-assed so-called field service.

A friend called to cancel Comcast for (newly available) U-Verse ... Comcast dropped his bill by (not to) $60.00 a month for a year. That is not the action of a confident provider, they're in full panic mode.

Coax to the STBs ? no big deal there. I think FIOS uses MOCA, U-Verse uses HPNA 3 - it's a feature that exists for the provider's convenience (using existing the coax from previous cableTV installs) ... technically, there's no advantages, and in some cases, it's a Bad Thing (differential mode noise is much harder to suppress than common mode noise).

Comcast sucks in most areas, and it sucks worse than many / most / all of the alternatives, including U-Verse.

 

[Ichigo]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: schneiderguy
Regular AT&T dsl isn't offered here so I had to get u-verse (just internet). I like it, the speeds are more consistent than DSL I had before I moved was. I have the 6mbps down/1mbps up package and get around 5.85mbps/ .96mbps up in speed tests. With the 3mbps DSL package I was lucky to get over 2.2mbps down :|

UP TO 3Mb/s

This is a new housing division though, so we have fiber running into the house, instead of just having fiber running to the box and then regular copper wiring running the few thousand feet to the house like uverse usually is AFAIK, so I'm not sure how that would affect service. From what I've read having the fiber go all the way to the house results in much lower ping times because it doesn't have to be interleaved like the signal over copper wires would.

what is the name of your service and who is the provider? btw, what you've read is a pretty poor explaination of how it works.

Maybe he'll pay "UP TO" his monthly fee.