I converted from Comcast. The online deal was $250 cash back (visa debit card) for TV and Interwebz. Conversion went fine but the MODEM is next to the DVR now which is on the opposite side of the house from where DSL was. This screws up the network. A moment about my network...
I have two wireless routers. One was connected to my DSL in the family room. The other is in the living room some 70 feet away. I ran CAT5 under the house to connect the two routers as they refused to work as access points. So, Wifi in the living room was transported 100MB Ethernet to the family room and off to the internet. My web server was by my desktop all Ethernet connected to the main router. Wifi in the family room was mainly for the 802.11b laptop since it is little older and does not support 802.11bg. Oh, I have 4 laptops and three desktops.
So, the new MODEM/Router is across the living room from the old one. I have no way to connect the two without running a new cable under the house. The new router also has wireless and it makes no sense to have two wireless routers in the living room. The old ones and the new ones won't work together like access points either. My main desktop and web server are 50 feet from the new router.
How is this solved by AT$T? Using power line network adapters of course. The devices plug into the wall power outlet and use the electrical wiring as a network. Easy peasy right? Sorta. So, I plug the power line adapter into the wall outlet by the new router and one by my desktop. I connect it to the old router. So I have living room old router (wireless turned off now) connected Ethernet to the old main router which is connected to the powerline adapter which magically connects to the powerline adapter in the linving room and then to the new router.
With the new U-Verse 3mb Internet, I am getting anywhere from 1mb to 2.8mb. Not impressive considering it dips down to 1mb which is slower than DSL. So what do I do? Upgrade from 3mb to 6mb (with a $20 cash card rebate). A couple days later the order is complete and I should be at 6mb or lose right? Wrong. Same speeds as before. I measure form three Ethernet connected computers. After a couple hours working with AT$T over a couople days (their support ranges dramatically from annoyingly bad advice to OK), we have not solved the speed issue. I repeatedly get routed to DSL support despite entering my Phone number and U-Verse account number. I have to repeat my problem over and over. Eventually I get routed to "someone who can definitely solve this issue" which ends up being tier 2 DSL support. Of course they can solve it. They give me the U-Verse support number "that is what I called" I say. They give me the account number to use, "that is the number I entered and gave the first rep" I say. Luckily tier 2 DSL are pretty swift and get me in touch with customer support who cannot help at all but does give me a credit and transfers me to U-Verse support.
U-Verse tier 2 thinks all you problems are the desktop settings. I go through a series of annoying procedures, always two steps ahead of the rep. Everything is always fin on my desktop. Of course I tell them I have the same speed results on three different computers using both Vista and XP Pro. Eventually I get frustrated and force the point that it is not the desktop. They run some diags and look at the router but can't see anything. I give up and tell them to call me back later.
I go to a WiFi connected laptop and test the speed form the front room. 5.7mb. Huh? Whaaaa? I test a second WiFi laptop. Same thing. I test desktops in two rooms an both are less than 2mb. Ah ha! must be the powerline adapter(s). I connect one to the outlet by the old router (across the from from the new one) and disconnect the one in the family room. Speed test is 5.7 or so MB. I connect the one in the family room and test. 2.2mb. Ah Ha! The adapter is crappy! Swap adapters and same results. Oh, seems the electrical wiring between the family room and living room supports 2.5mbps or less. Usually less.
Some I reverse the old network layout. Family room is connected to the living room over the CAT 5 Ethernet cable (100mb) The family room old router (basically just a 4 port Ethernet switch now) is connected to the powerline adapter which connects to the new router the then the interwebz. Everything is speedy and dropped 10 - 30 ms of ping time.
AT$T calls back. I advise how I investigated the problem and the resolution. All I get is an "OK". Case closed. Keep in mind that the installers set everything up and tested it. I guess since it was over 2mb when they tested it it must have been fine. I feel sorry for folks who are not network or computer experts.
FYI, this also a blog post of mine.
