ATT/SBCYahoo/Pacbell DSL

[Muse]

I'm with ATT/Pacbell DSL. I got a letter yesterday offering to double my speed for an extra $5/month, plus they'll credit me $20. I think I'm supposed to get 2.7 Mbps (Does it have download caps? I am unaware of any.) I'm thinking about it. I figure first thing I should do is some speed tests, though (see below). I wouldn't really care much except that I turn off my computer at least once a day and when I reopen Firefox all my windows/tabs are restored and it takes several minutes for things to calm down and the internet is reasonably accessible. I figure that "double" speed might help this a lot... ?

I tested my up/down speeds at a few sites. Some sites bombed for some reason (CNet, ATT).

Figures seem to be around:

Down: 2140 kbps
Up: 410 kbps (Speedtest.net had this ~250 )

I'm paying $30/month for my supposed 2700 kbps download speed that's actually around 2140 kbps right now. Is this speed-"doubling" upgrade worth it? Will I really get double speed?

 

[BoomerD]

I have pacbell/AT&T's DSL Elite. Supposed to be "up to 6 mbps down.

I get in the 5.5 range pretty consistently.

I've been a customer since about 97.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I have pacbell/AT&T's DSL Elite. Supposed to be "up to 6 mbps down.

I get in the 5.5 range pretty consistently.

I've been a customer since about 97.

Impressive. I'll try it, what the heck.

I've been with Pacbell DSL since 1999. It'll be 10 years this April. Thanks!!

 

[Fritzo]

DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.

You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speed. A lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.

You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speed. A lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

I don't know what point they are now measuring from, but in 99, when we moved into this house, we were about 3000 feet too far for DSL...then about 6 months later, they offered us "extended reach" DSL and we've only gotten faster ever since. I still use my "extende reach" modem.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.

You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speed. A lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

I don't know what point they are now measuring from, but in 99, when we moved into this house, we were about 3000 feet too far for DSL...then about 6 months later, they offered us "extended reach" DSL and we've only gotten faster ever since. I still use my "extende reach" modem.

I'm still using the original modem they gave me, an Alcatel 1000, 3.0 version I believe.

I'll definitely try to sound them out about how far I am from the terminal and what download/upload speeds I can _reasonably_ expect. If I can get over 4000 download speed I think it's worth it. I don't just want to fork over money to them on a hope and a prayer. Thanks for the info...

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.

You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speed. A lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

I don't know what point they are now measuring from, but in 99, when we moved into this house, we were about 3000 feet too far for DSL...then about 6 months later, they offered us "extended reach" DSL and we've only gotten faster ever since. I still use my "extende reach" modem.

Reach is a signal booster technology. It generally maxes out around 1.5mb. I'd be suprised if you can get much over that.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.

You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speed. A lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

5 years ago I was 6553 feet from the CO. I gotta figure I'm at least that close now. Don't figure Sunday is good time to call them so I'll wait 'til tomorrow...

 

[TallBill]

I quadrupled from 1.5 to 6 with AT&T for like $7 extra a month. Definitely worth it.

 

[Newbian]

I am still waiting for the full 21 inches of my monitor to be there...

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Newbian
I am still waiting for the full 21 inches of my monitor to be there...

web hog! :laugh:

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speedA lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

Does that mean that if my line is provisioned at standard 3.0 DSL they'd have to upgrade the line coming from the pole to my house for me to get above my current speeds (I am indeed about 2200/400 now according to the tests I did yesterday)?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.

You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speed. A lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

I don't know what point they are now measuring from, but in 99, when we moved into this house, we were about 3000 feet too far for DSL...then about 6 months later, they offered us "extended reach" DSL and we've only gotten faster ever since. I still use my "extende reach" modem.

Reach is a signal booster technology. It generally maxes out around 1.5mb. I'd be suprised if you can get much over that.

The tubes seem a little clogged today, but using Speakeasy's test, I get this:

Download Speed: 5140 kbps (642.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 653 kbps (81.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.

You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speed. A lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

I don't know what point they are now measuring from, but in 99, when we moved into this house, we were about 3000 feet too far for DSL...then about 6 months later, they offered us "extended reach" DSL and we've only gotten faster ever since. I still use my "extende reach" modem.

Reach is a signal booster technology. It generally maxes out around 1.5mb. I'd be suprised if you can get much over that.

The tubes seem a little clogged today, but using Speakeasy's test, I get this:

Download Speed: 5140 kbps (642.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 653 kbps (81.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

That's bloody brilliant. If I can get those speeds I'll be stoked. Thanks. I'm calling them tomorrow.

I'm still wanting to know the answer to the following. Anybody?

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speedA lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

Does that mean that if my line is provisioned at standard 3.0 DSL they'd have to upgrade the line coming from the pole to my house for me to get above my current speeds (I am indeed about 2200/400 now according to the tests I did yesterday)?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.

You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speed. A lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

I don't know what point they are now measuring from, but in 99, when we moved into this house, we were about 3000 feet too far for DSL...then about 6 months later, they offered us "extended reach" DSL and we've only gotten faster ever since. I still use my "extende reach" modem.

Reach is a signal booster technology. It generally maxes out around 1.5mb. I'd be suprised if you can get much over that.

The tubes seem a little clogged today, but using Speakeasy's test, I get this:

Download Speed: 5140 kbps (642.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 653 kbps (81.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

That's bloody brilliant. If I can get those speeds I'll be stoked. Thanks. I'm calling them tomorrow.

I'm still wanting to know the answer to the following. Anybody?

Originally posted by: Fritzo
DSL has about 10-20% overhead, so if your line is provisioned at 3008/512 (standard 3.0 DSL for ATT lines), your throughput should be in the 2200/400 range.You may want to see if you're actually in range for their 6.0 service though. You need to be under 8000ft from the telco central office or remote terminal to get that speedA lot of times they flood a neighborhood with those offers and it's not available to everyone.

Does that mean that if my line is provisioned at standard 3.0 DSL they'd have to upgrade the line coming from the pole to my house for me to get above my current speeds (I am indeed about 2200/400 now according to the tests I did yesterday)?

Like I said earlier, I don't know where exactly they measure from, but my subdivision is the last one before the almond ranches...I'm right on the edge of living in the country.

Of course, to most people in the Bay Area, Modesto IS living in the country...

 

[Muse]

I call AT&T today and the woman I talk to says the information they have for my account indicates I am eligible for the Elite service. I arrange it and she says the upgrade will happen on the 11th (2 days, Weds) by 8 PM. I start asking her some technical questions that occur to me and she can't answer and I have her transfer me to tech support.

The woman I get in tech support doesn't know the answers and says she's transferring me to someone who does. Instead she comes back and tells me that a woman in tech support told her that I already have the maximum speed! I ask to talk to them and eventually talk to someone else. I have an ADSL modem from 1999, the Alcatel 1000 Version 3.0, and am wondering if this can provide the throughput necessary. It's not clear. I'm wondering also if their lines will support the maximum throughput (up to 6.0 mbps). Nobody can speak to that at all. Since I can't get a straight answer from these people (even the ones in tech support don't seem to know squat), I canceled my upgrade. I am given Sales and a guy who tries to sell me a DSL modem:

$49.99 +12.95 SH, "2 Wire" is the brand. I ask him if he can provide any specs and he said he can't and he'll get that info for me, hold on...

He comes back:

ADSL device configured for att internet services
10/100 lan interface is single port ethernet
10/100 base T ethernet RJ-45
4 LED indicator
Model Number: 2210

I tell him I have to think about it...

I called tech support again and get a guy who I'm having trouble communicating with and get dropped from the line and he doesn't call me back. Man, ATT is a hassle to deal with. Very impersonal service, and nobody seems to know anything.

I'm wondering if I need another modem and what to get, where to get it. :disgust:

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Of course, to most people in the Bay Area, Modesto IS living in the country...

And for those of us who know, Modesto IS living in a shithole

 

[Nohr]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
The tubes seem a little clogged today, but using Speakeasy's test, I get this:

Download Speed: 5140 kbps (642.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 653 kbps (81.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

That's within a few kbps of what I get on the Speakeasy test also (5136/648). I'm on AT&T Elite DSL in east TX.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: sactoking

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Of course, to most people in the Bay Area, Modesto IS living in the country...

And for those of us who know, Modesto IS living in a shithole

sez the guy with Sacramento in his user name?

Pot...meet kettle.

 

[Muse]

Hmm, according to this site Alcatel 1000 modems support:

# Max Upstream Speed: 800 kbit/s
# Max Downstream Speed: 8 Mbit/s

If that's true, I'd think it should handle the Elite 6.0 mbps max throughput, right?

 

[Muse]

I went ahead and ordered again. Got much nicer people this time. In a couple of days it should be up. The first woman I talked to earlier in the day told me that after they hook up the new service it might be ~24 hr before they have it working right. ???

 

[Nohr]

My DSL service was working a full day before the install date so who knows..

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: sactoking

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Of course, to most people in the Bay Area, Modesto IS living in the country...

And for those of us who know, Modesto IS living in a shithole

Actually, the shithole is a little further down 99, more towrds Coalinga... You know Harris Ranch

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: sactoking

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Of course, to most people in the Bay Area, Modesto IS living in the country...

And for those of us who know, Modesto IS living in a shithole

Actually, the shithole is a little further down 99, more towrds Coalinga... You know Harris Ranch

When you get right down to it, the entire Central Valley, from Bakersfield to Redding is a shithole...but it's a better shithole than many places I've lived over the years...

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Nohr
My DSL service was working a full day before the install date so who knows..

I just checked (they said by 8 PM tonight) and my speed has almost doubled:

2 days ago DL was 2150
Right now DL is 4188 (at speedtest.net)

2 days ago Up was 432
Right now Up is 618


This is great. I'm wondering, though, if there's something that can be done to get me over 5000, maybe approaching the 6000 presumed possible speed.