A poor wretch who just wants DSL...

[Xayd]

Heh, anyone who orders telco DSL in the SWBell regions, here's what you very may well be looking forward to...

Here's my story for DSL...

• June 28th, 2000...
  
  Got up, installed everything, called telco, they say the line is ready to go, hook everything up and if it doesn't work call 1-800-blah for tech support. Alright, everything installed, doesn't work, called tech support, checked a few settings, played with network components for a bit, they checked to make sure my line was routed correctly, still no dice. But never fear! Telco guy is supposed to be here in a few days, so we'll get the line tested then and find the problem....
  
  Time passes...
  
  
• July 7th, 2000...
  
  Get up, eat breakfast, already gettin' anxious, so I play some Warcraft, mess around on the net awhile, kill some time...
  
  MORE Time passes...
  
  Call telco, make sure that the guy is comin'. They say "Yeah, they work late, so you'll prolly see him in a couple hours, if no one shows up by 6:00, call us back and we'll check on em'".
  
  Some MORE Time passes...
  
  Try to call telco back around 6:30, all lines are busy. Keep calling, still busy. Give it a few minutes, and try a few more times, still busy...
  
  A little more Time passes...
  
  Try telco repeatedly from 6:45 to 7:00, it finally rings at 6:58, with the message telling me they're closed for today. The guy who was supposed to show to test the line, well, you guessed it, he NEVER GOT HERE.
  
  So, I ordered DSL on May 28, 2000. I've always paid my phone bills on time, all that jazz. First I called em around the 10th of June to make sure everything was still on the up and up, they say my order got lost, resubmit me for a new date. I call em again to check on everything around June 15th, they say they can't make the date of June 23rd that they were supposed to make, because when my order was lost, they filled up the switch in my neighborhood, so wait til they upgrade the switch, give em about a week. Ok, fine. Called em back around the 25th of June, they say "Gettin' close! Try us back in a couple days." Ok, fine. Try back on the 28th of June, they say "Man, you're ready to roll, line was setup today, hook it all up. Guy will be by on July 7th to make sure it all works." Ok, great! Didn't work, though, and on the magic day, the F#!@%er never shows.
  

I work tech support myself, so I'm not one to complain. Not every problem can be solved, and mistakes happen, I understand that. But dammit, if you push me back on somethin I ordered damn near two months ago TWICE and then don't show up on the third try, then yeah, I think it's time to start complainin'.

Sarge, that multilink idea of yours is looking better and better all the time. Too bad I still have to call telco to get a second line, though...

Xayd, who is now really looking forward to the day when Alltel starts offerin' local phone service.

[This message has been edited by Xayd (edited 07-07-2000).]

[SARGE]

Xayd, from what I hear, all telcos are having some "bumps" with DSL. It's a new service that everyone wants yesterday, and telcos are learning as they go. I've seen 'em install w/o a hitch, but I've seen yours and my experience as well. The techs in the field get frustrated because it's actually a piece of cake to set up; the problems arise when one cog breaks down and the buck starts getting passed. Too many fingers in the pie, one might say.

------------------
"Don't be so open-minded that your brains fall out"

[Junkman]

I think your service experience was less than desirable. Having a little back ground in the industry I can tell you that while DSL can work great it is in effect using hardware from a lot earlier age (copper telephone cable) thats been hanging out in the weather usually for several years, and running hi speed data on it.
It's not like we see alot of 1960's vintage cars running at Indy. At the same time service is service no matter what your selling..
I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't got some outside cable issues.Time will tell,or maybe not.
Good luck.

[SARGE]

Copper is copper and handles nicely if maintained. The only other option is fiber, which no telco will ever spend $ on to lay from CO to every house, or wireless.

DSL requires several depts, including the pc installation, to work. Imagine your starting system on the car. I'll install the battery, you install the starter, Reboot installs the ignition switch, and byte connects all the wiring. If just one of us falls down on the job, car ain't starting.

------------------
"Don't be so open-minded that your brains fall out"

[This message has been edited by SARGE (edited 07-10-2000).]

[reboot]

How did I get stuck with the ignition sw?
Can't I have your job?

------------------
Who needs a life?, I have internet!
Cheers, Jim
Jim & Sue's Free Files | Jims Modems

[Xayd]

That's pretty accurate Sarge. They seem to do the line work themselves, have another division that does tech support, and another company that handles line issues afterwards.

The people without line issues are up in no time. Co-Worker ordered last week, soon as he got his gear in he was up and running. I've been waiting on a line tech for a week now, and two months total.

To add fuel to the fire, my mom, with her trusty P133, called Cox after she moved to the other side of the state, and she gets cable in two days, and tells me how fast it is and how I should wait for it, and screw DSL.

Gee, thanks mom, that's what I wanted to hear, yet ANOTHER person who orders something after me and gets it before me



Xayd

[This message has been edited by Xayd (edited 07-12-2000).]

[Junkman]

Hey I won't agree with copper being copper for the phone stuff but it's not worth a argument anyway. Please let us know when you actually get your DSL running and what was the hold up if they tell ya.
thanks
no offense sarge :-)

[Xayd]

I know what the hold up is. Telco knows how to maintain voice lines and turn on/turn off new numbers, that's it. Here we have something new, that everyone wants, and that doesn't work 100% of the time.

ISP problems are unique to individuals in many cases, which is a situation that doesn't lend itself well to big huge Telco beaurocracies (hope I spelled that right).

Xayd

[RayH]

I applied for DSL in March...I'm still waiting!