Re: switching to Bellsouth DSL

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:10:22 -0400, E Z Peaces wrote
(in article <f5ctni$uie$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>):

I'm considering getting DSL from Bellsouth. It's frustrating to seek
information at their website.

The New AT&T is just like the Old AT&T. Surprise. (Who, me, not particularly
care for BellSloth? What makes you think that?)


I have a Bellsouth phone line. Besides computer software, what would
the installation require except plugging in a modem and some filters?
Can I save by providing these things myself?

You need:

1 a DSL modem. CompUSA carries 'em, at least here in Palm Beach County. Radio
Shack has 'em on their website, but I've not actually seen one in a store.
Best Buy allegedly has 'em, too. Pricing is $70-100 depending on brand and
features and which store you buy from.

2 at least one filter, depending on how your DSL is installed. On some
installations, you need a filter for every telephone. CompUSA carries filters
in single packs ($20) and three-packs ($30). Radio Shack also carries filters
($13-20).

3 a router of some type. Most (not all) DSL modems have built-in routers...
but only one LAN port, so you'd need a switch or a second router if you have
more than one machine on your local net. You should turn DHCP off on the
built-in router and use a fixed IP for the other router. Note that some DSL
modems ship with wireless capabilities, but that's usually WEP, not WPA. Do
_not_ waste your money on 'em. Get a 3rd-party router with WPA if you must go
wireless.

BellSloth allegedly provides a 'free' modem. Check the actual, real price, as
I think that it's 'free after rebate'. And check what features it has. If it
has features you want, and the price is comparable to modems from CompUSA,
Radio Shack or Best Buy, go with theirs. Otherwise, pass on it and make a
road trip.


I'd like to switch to VoIP. At the Bellsouth site I selected DSL and
said nothing about phone service.

BellSloth would rather that you didn't know that VOIP existed. This may
change, as AT&T has been offering (very well disguised) VOIP since at least
1996.

They offered me their advertised
price. Is it true that dropping Bellsouth phone service will not affect
the price of DSL?

No idea. However, given my experiences with BellSloth's internal bureaucracy,
I suspect that it'll take at least six months before the Word filters down to
the Customer Screwing Department that you've dropped voice service.


ISPs often use packet sniffers with the intent of controlling various
kinds of traffic. Can I depend on Bellsouth not to throttle my IP phone
service?

They're the phone company. They don't care. They don't have to care.

--
email to oshea dot j dot j at gmail dot com.

.

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