AT&T project Lightspeed

The AT&T installer just finished my U-Verse. WOW!!! By the time I figure out how to use all the features I hope I'm still alive. At least they have training videos available on the TV.

Unlike the Comcast installer, he was very knowledgeable and helpful and even knew what a RJ31X was!!! Of course he didn't have to touch it because of my rewiring it properly after the Comcast install.

I got the equal advertised speed to the Comcast but just like the salesperson said, it's faster. Now I'm told I'll have to dig into my computer and add RAM!! I'll have to open it up and see if I can do it (after some investigation as I'm such a computer wiz - not!!)

I also need to figure out how to change my home page to AT&T as Comcast still opens up.

I'm jealous Pete.Did they have to run new wire? Or they able to use your coax. I heard they were getting trained to install some kind of range extender- I hope they do it soon,right now I'm about 2000 ft too far

No Pete,I know that the v rad is a mile from my house

jbear wrote: How do you guys measure it...open meter (965) or short at the end and divide by 1/2? john

John,
The meter I saw them use was one that I've never seen before. Very fancy with a display screen like a high end cell phone. It must be open end because they didn't shunt the copper at the other end at the vrad.

Gary,
Can't you "pull some strings" and get them to run some fiber closer to your house?

BTW, the installer did tell me that he is already seeing cutbacks or at least cost controls on project Lightspeed. The big bucks poured into the system are running low and the people signing up are not the numbers they had projected. The installer told me the inside the house installs now have restrictions - when he started, he could spend the time to fish walls for a proper install. Now, he has to take the "cable guy" route and resort to drilling through the wall direct to the outside and stringing cable on the house!!!! I'm glad he didn't have to do that. Of course when Comcast came in, I had the forethought to open the walls to the basement/crawl up myself, install wall plates and even left my fish tapes in the walls!

I relly liked the 965...very good tool. Liked the look of that little guy..never saw one before. Man they are sure making it easy...no more figuring ft/ohm or gauges...just push the button and walk to the trouble. Yeah right.

john

I've really been enjoying my project lightspeed service (know to the public as "U-Verse") except it sure hasn't been without problems! Yesterday I got home mid morning and no phone, internet or TV! Last week I knew something was going on because I needed to re boot the TV box 3 times. Called via a cell to their tech, went through all the re boot of the "gateway" and it was determined I did have phone line issues. Scheduled a afternoon (1:00 to 5:00) time slot for a tech to come out and sat back. No show until 6:30 only to find out he drove in from a "office" 25 miles away! I've always been impressed with AT&T's install and tech service. With Comcast the tech would have had to drive in from India!! Well, even though I do have service this morning, I'm not counting on it lasting very long. Yesterday the tech wasn't able to fix the problem. They need a lineman to go through the old copper pair from the house all the way to the "Vrad" (where service converts to fiber optic).

This may or may not happen today - the tech who came to the house yesterday told me there is a chance that they would go on strike at midnight! Then, the managers would need to get out and do the repairs and they will be backed up! Why me!!!

The method of using the old/existing copper pair wire to the house is really the weak link in the fiber optic system. It's always bothered me and sure enough failed. My house was wired for phone back in the early 40's so I'm sure there are spots that aren't in the greatest condition. At least with new subdivisions they are installing fiber all the way into the house.

I'll just keep my fingers crossed for a couple days or more like a couple weeks.

The strike issue really concerns me. We're in a economic crisis - People are out of work all over, automotive is going down, I've taken a 20% cut just to keep my job and they what more!

Another AT&T tech just left. He happened to be the same one who assisted the tech who did the install with cleaning up and conditioning my outside copper pair over to the Vrad. It gave hime a good idea of where to start. Yup, the old copper is the problem and after todays confirmation is scheduled for replacement. There's 1000 ft of old single pair line that isn't bonded (grounded). The new cable does have a means of shielding/bonding. He bonded my new underground at the pole and is (me too) crossing his fingers until the new cable is installed.

The real time computer in his truck is amazing. It showed all the current and past faults. Past faults numbered in the 400's but most weren't severe enough to take down the system.

The copper is really the weak link in the lightspeed/U-Verse system!

Gary,
I'm about ready to go back to Comcast!!!! I lost all three services again over the weekend but they did reboot. The U-Verse continues to fault out and all three times a tech has been to the house they have stated it's the old copper pair phone line. All three put in reports stating the old copper needs replacing. I mentioned the last tech bonded my relatively new underground at the poll which has helped but didn't cure the issue. All have stated that my old copper is scheduled for replacement so today I called the 800 number to find out when. Even though all the records are there from the 3 techs and they state the issue is with the old copper, they need to send out another tech. I got pi$$ed when they told me I have to be home. My thinking is since it's a confirmed outside issue, why do I need to be home?? The network interface is outside!!! Then she told me she can only schedule another tech and doesn't have any access to "IEN"??? Even asking her twice who I should be talking to was worthless. She even noted that my system faulted and rebooted 15 times while I was on the phone with her!!!

The tech will be out between 5 and 9 pm today. I hope his report does something. I did threaten to go back to Comcast!!

I think what happens Pete is the inside tech comes out 1st,then he is the one who has to get out the outside tech. I'm so close to the end of the road Pete,I dont think I ever want to be trained on this stuff. If you ever get ahold of the outside tech ask him or her for their managers card with their phone #, we all carry them,and you can call him direct or pm me with your home phone # and I can find out tommorow who he is

I'm on it

By now Pete I hope you got my message. The new cable is the same as the old,but now sometimes they use filled cable "icky pic" so when the squirrles chew it it dosn't fill with water. Notice I say when not if.

I called you from my work phone Pete,and I don't answer that if I don't reconize the number . The way the cable is made it has the pairs covered by a plastic sheath,then wraped in aluminum,then another thicker plastic sheath. That aluminum is what is bonded.It's bonded where you cut an opening,ie a splice case or terminal or where you run out of cable and connect another piece and to the strand and the grounds at the poles. What happens with age as you know the aluminum corrodes and turns to white powder, maybe this is what has happened with yours. I'll give you a call when I get a chance tommorow after work, Pete

Gary,
I just got off the phone with support. She checked on the service ticket # I have and it was "delayed". It's been rescheduled for today????

I took a closer look at the routing from the poll in front of my house last evening. It doesn't look like it's going to be a very fun job. (If they do give me new copper and don't just twiddle with the existing) The existing runs through lots of tree branches that have intertwined all the lines over the years. Looks like the tree trimers only do the tops for Com Ed!

Gary and John,

Thanks for the phone calls to fill me in on some of the tech terms and to fill me in on what to expect out of AT&T!!

John,
I did go out and check the routing of my copper. The "drop" type cable is strung between 6 poles and then into a "soft"? box hanging on the aerial one street over!!! At least the drop cable is the newer stuff with the blue/white, white/blue the yellow and the orange/white. The old "flat" cable is next to it but abandoned.

I did get a lineman in this afternoon but then had to run to get my daughter. I at least caught him up at the soft box working on my line. I explained the issue with the "drop" cable all the way to the house and the problems it was causing and he seemed to understand. When I got home I found a yellow tag on my door knob stating new wire needs to be hung (surprise - how many AT&T techs does it take to determine that!!! - 3 so far!!) but two techs are needed for the job. Now the next step will be to see when and what they put back up. Just like you said, just putting up drop type cable with multiple splices in it won't do me much good. I've got to wait for my area manager to get off vacation and call her and find out what the real plan is. But then does the customer ever find out??? At least I have you guys to fill me in on the details on what really should be done. If that happens is another story!!

John,isn't that why you spread some peanut butter on the wire when you leave? From what I know ,which isn't much,anyone with uverse,should not have any of the old style single pr drop,it needs to be twisted new stuff all the way. One thing I don't understand is since grounding and bonding is so important,how does it work on an aerial drop? Some of my buddies who work on it say bonding and grounding is not so important the farther from the v rad. Another problem is T1 interference, they cant be in the same binder, sort of like the old isdn lines which had the same trouble. You in for a road trip John?,I'll clean off my seat and we'll be the 2 techs