And I was just getting used to dsl...

[audiyoda]

Damn..... http://www.northpoint.net/press.html

Back to the drawing board....I guess Telocity and a local phone company (not Ameritech) are offering dsl in our area.


-Craig

[glc]

You can't really go wrong with Telocity. Get your order in right NOW - they may be able to expedite it being that you already have a dry line. We have had Telocity at the office (through Rhythms, thank god) for over a year now with no real hassles.

Telocity is a bit unusual - you get a *routed* static IP (no PPPoE crap), they *give* you the router (well, they hit you $24.95 shipping and handling), and they don't mind if you run servers or even host your own domain. They do have a monthly *upload* traffic cap that they can enforce if they choose - its 3 gigs I think. This is just to keep you from running a warez site. Good luck - the boards over at dslreports.com are really hopping right now.

You still want that old Plextor external SCSI CD drive? Drop me a line. It's still sitting on the shelf collecting dust.

[audiyoda]

I've read the good, bad and ugly regarding Telocity. Packet loss, extended ping times, too many hops for packets.... But the people that have good experience with Telocity love them. Looks like the same basic thing I've got going with MSNdsl with NorthPoint (which is still up and running BTW). Some people love them, some hate them. After tweeking my connection, I happen to love MSNdsl service. Great downloads of over 1700 and uploads around 250. Telocity here is offered by New Edge Networks, and I can't find much regarding them.

Here's what I've got so far: Telocity for $49.95 with this gateway thing. I've been reading some people have difficulty setting up thier home network routers with htis thing. Local company michcom.net for $54.95 (385/128) or $69.95 (768/384). I don't like those numbers, but they are local. And then AT&T@home is starting to roll out their cable modem service. But from what I've been told by them is--> 1) I cannot use any form of ICS (basically my home network) to provide access to our computers. I'd have to get two modems and pay $4.95/month for the additional connection. 2) They use a modified version of IE5 and have 'rigged' (their word, not mine) their system to diable Netscape, Opera.... and so on. But their price is only $29.95 if I buy the modem(s) for downloads of up to 1500 and uploads of 300ish.

I'll probrably go with Telocity -- I just dropped AT&T cable inlue of the DishNetwork -- I refuse to give into the AT&T juggernaut. And this local company just charges too much.

And glc, since that SCSI CD-Rom is for my church's keyboard, I need to get 'authorization' to add that to the rig. I'll let you know.

-Craig

[Edited by audiyoda on 03-25-2001 at 09:29 PM]

[Xayd]

70 bucks isn't bad for 768/384.

Could be worse Audi, at least you have a choice. I have no other option but telco at this point, and getting a static IP and 384k up from them runs ya 170 bucks a month.

Xayd

[glc]

1. Telocity works very well with sharing routers and sharing software - once you grab your IP. All you do is hook up the router to a standalone computer and set it for DHCP - and open your browser and do your setup. Then you reboot and run winipcfg - and copy down the IP addresses. Hook up the sharing and dial the numbers in. Done.

2. @Home is not that bad. It works fine with a router or sharing software - or you can pay the extra $4.95 a month for the second IP address and just plug their modem into your hub. Any browser works, and you do not HAVE to install their branded crap. However, their proxies and their mail servers suck BIG time.

3. If you aren't a gamer, why don't you consider Starband from Dish Network?

[audiyoda]

I've thought about Starband-- unfortunatly, that would mean either: 1) another dish on my roof since the starband sat. isn't the same as the one used for Dish500 or 2) use the Starband sat. rather than my Dish500 and get fewer channels. The other issue with Starband is that I can't 'tweak' the connection. I took my MSNdsl from 512/128 up to over 1700/250 with a few tricks I learned from my profs here at MSU. I doubt I could do that with Starband.

And Xayd, I know $70 isn't bad -- but I was paying $40 for a faster connection AND a static IP. Michcom.net offers dynamic IP routing along with PPPoE, Telocity offers static routing and no software. Telocity also has a dedicated news (usenet) server -- something MSNdsl didn't have and Michcom.net does not have. I was using MSU's filtered news server which only carries 17,000 of the 40,000+ newsgroups.

The only thing with Telocity that is holding me back from ordering is they don't want to use the existing line installed by Northpoint. They want to hook into my phone line and say their gateway device will filter all the data packets just fine so I won't need to install and additional filters. I just don't believe that.

-Craig

[Xayd]

Well, even if ya do have to put some filters in place they're relatively cheap, and the use of the existing phone line does work. Any time you get DSL from telco they just use the existing line split in half.

If filters is what ya want lemme know, I have a box full .

Xayd

[audiyoda]

I just talked with MSN -- they expect my area to be 'cut-ff' by the AT&T buy up of Northpoint's assets in 1-3 months!! That means at least 1 month of FREE dsl service while I track down a new provider.

I also talked with the local telco -- what a bunch of numbnuts. Anyway, once I finally got someone who knew what dsl was and what I was talking about (Northpoint leasing lines/space to provide service yada yada yada) I was informed that Northpoint's entire hookup in the CO is automated and connected directly to the UUnet and MCI switches provided to Michigan State for their T3 lines. This guy basically said as long as that equipment is hooked up, I'll be surfing.

So today at my office on campus, I pinged my home IP addy thinking it would go from MSU to MCI/UUnet to Northpoint back to the MCI or UUnet bridge and back to MSU. Nope. One hop -- MSU to my house which I found interesting. So I called up one of our profs who's speciality is the Internet. He also found this very interesting so he made some calls. It seems that was I was told by the local telco is true -- until the equipment is pulled from the office, anyone hooked to it has a direct connection and is only limited by filters for bandwidth. Pretty snappy if you ask me.

So when this finally dies, I'll probrably go with Telocity unless the local telco starts to offer dsl. Until then, I hangin', bangin' and surfin' for free.

-Craig

[Xayd]

I was reading the same thing on the DSLR Forums Craig, it seems that until the buyout is signed, sealed, and approved by FCC/SEC, AT&T can't touch any of the gear in the CO's, so until then folks get what's there.

Lucky you, for now at least .

Xayd

[glc]

So much for that theory, gents - a customer of mine went dark last night. They had business DSL from XO (formerly Concentric) through Northpoint. They are giving them free dialup for 60 days and hopefully rerouting them through Covad - which will take "30 to 60 days".

[audiyoda]

Don't know -- I'm still up and running. I know the FCC okayed the AT&T buyup Thursday. Figured I might have gone down then. Although MSNdsl is going pretty slow now....best I could achieve at dslreports was 500 down (was over 1500) and 96 up (was around 200ish).

MSN did give me 6 months free dial up and I have my MSU dial up as well. I've already ordered Telocity so I should be covered.

-Craig

[audiyoda]

Damn...went black last night. Back to dial up. My Telocity order came back as unavailable -- seems they also used Northpoint in our area.

Ordered 512/128 DSL for $50 via ACD.net this morning -- local company which is probrably a good thing. Biggest problem is I have to buy their DSL modem for $200 -- they won't tell me what brand it is so I might be able to get it cheaper via e-bay. They did think I could use the MSN modem -- but I believe before MSNdsl went black, they pinged the modem and changed the IP -- I can't get into it via telnet any longer. I had a feeling last week I should change the IP addy -- now I've got a paperweight with LED's.

Have I told you how much dial-up sucks once you've been rocked by dsl?

-Craig

[Xayd]

Run a search on DSL reports to find out what providers the local outfit is using. If you can find out whose lines they use you can find out what gear will work.

As this happens I'm sure it won't be long before someone finds out how to get into those routers and reset it back to a basic factory configuration, just give it a few days .

Xayd

[audiyoda]

New Edge is the company providing for ACD.net. Seems NEw Edge has a market niche -- they provide DSL in smaller almost rural markets. Keeping away from compotition with the big boys like Rhthyms and Covad.

My biggest problem is getting the leased line out of Northpoint's hands and into ACD.net's hands. So far they have called the telco as have I trying to get the line released but all they'll say is that Northpoint has a 12 month lease on that line and they will not run another line to my house for a second provider. From what I understand, I need a "Letter of Agency" from MSN to release the line -- MSN says they have no clue what that is and that it shouldn't be necessary anyway. Anyway....they expect to have dsl back to the larger markets within 6 months so what am I worried about? Lansing is not a large market -- that's what I'm worried about.

-Craig

[Edited by audiyoda on 04-04-2001 at 10:29 PM]