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Date:	Tue, 15 Mar 2005 22:33:59 PST8
From:	"J. R. Fox" <jr_fox@pacbell.net >
Reply-To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
Subject:	SCOUG-Help: Possible DSL Change

Content Type: text/plain

It took about 6 or 7 assorted technician visits (Data side, Voice
side, inside the premises, & outside -- incl. 2 pole crews, each of
which took a week's wait to schedule because they were so backed up),
but the vexing, intermittent DSL problems I've had ever since the
rains began last Nov. seem **at last** to have been fixed. Over that
period, the service was down more than it was running. And I had
thought of possibly making a change long before this, because the SBC
DSL service has been pretty mediocre even back when it was
semi-reliable. (Emphasis on the "semi".) The old plan I'm on is also
much costlier than what is available now.

The other options here -- because Adelphia REALLY bites, so forget
cable -- looked to be EarthLink or DSL Extreme. I drew up a list of
questions, but barely got into them with EarthLink, because it turns
out that their DSL isn't even available in this area. O.K., that left
Extreme. A rather good rep., LOCAL tech support, and they sound like
they know what they're talking about. That's 3 points for them right
off the bat. Most of their answers sounded pretty good, until we got
to a couple of possible sticking points. I think there may be a
couple of DSL Extreme users on this List, which is why I'm bringing it
up here.

Of course, they will only offer SUPPORT for certain versions of
Windoze and Macs . . . but, hey, we're used to that, right ? The
critical issue is OS-neutrality on a *functional* level. That is to
say, nothing *worse* than what I had with SBC. (Note: I still have
the *old* SBC DSL. Their new "SBC-Yahoo" DSL package has certain
detriments that Tony has described on a couple occasions, and poses
more problems for us non-Win iconoclasts.)

Extreme tells me that they can offer what I'm looking for with a
bridge router (Huh ?), otherwise they require the use of something
called Win-POET. (Now there's an oxymoron for you !) And that will
obviously be Win-centric. My strong guess here is that this is a
mis-speak from their TS: Win-POET sounds to me like it must be
something for PPOE. I have a fixed IP now, and would continue to have
one if I switch to Extreme, in which case this would NOT apply to me
(?) They say one can continue to use the prior DSL modem -- but with
no guarantees; otherwise, they can provide either a Westel Wirespeed
(DSL switch modem), OR a Broadmax (DSL bridge modem & router). These
distinctions are lost on me. Steve, Steven, Tony -- anyone care to
elucidate this ?

Curiously enough, another possible option just came along. I was
contacted by a senior tech from SBC, apologetic about this whole
prolonged mess. Also because I was a long-term customer, and one
thinking of leaving, he claimed that he could arrange the following: a
big price drop, faster DSL (by means of putting in a remote terminal,
with fiber optic cable for much of the distance), but with otherwise
NO account changes. Anyone going in via regular Customer Service
would be forced into the new SBC-Yahoo package -- with withdrawal of
your fixed IP, having to change mail servers and use _their_ software
bundle, etc. -- but he could arrange to circumvent this. I'd like to
see that in writing, and probably won't, but it does sound attractive,
if he can really deliver on it.

Jordan

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