AT&T is dumb. School Me On WiMax.

[tony1679]

Originally Posted By: Sierra048
Given my before mentioned background, I'll be interested in your outcome. Please post any updates and hopefully solutions to you problem.
Will do! I've already learned so much about AT&T's infrastructure in my area, it's crazy... If you are interested in my findings here is a link to my topic over at DSLReports:

My DSLReports Thread

 

[Sierra048]

Thanks for the link. I read it in its entirety. Brought back some memories. When I retired, fiber to the home was just becoming prevalent where I worked and lived. Fiber as distribution lines were around long before that. I tried to follow the thought processes of some on that link but without facility prints of the area it's just guessing on my part. Just a thought, is it possible that there is a active u-verse serving fiber that runs along the road your street pulls off of and they just haven't tapped into it and run distribution facilities down your street yet? A lot of times these types of situations are caused by new plant/facility capital budgeting issues, ie. not enough in the budget this year but will be in the budget for next year. Just a thought. Again, good luck in your quest.

 

[tony1679]

Originally Posted By: Sierra048
Thanks for the link. I read it in its entirety. Brought back some memories. When I retired, fiber to the home was just becoming prevalent where I worked and lived. Fiber as distribution lines were around long before that. I tried to follow the thought processes of some on that link but without facility prints of the area it's just guessing on my part. Just a thought, is it possible that there is a active u-verse serving fiber that runs along the road your street pulls off of and they just haven't tapped into it and run distribution facilities down your street yet? A lot of times these types of situations are caused by new plant/facility capital budgeting issues, ie. not enough in the budget this year but will be in the budget for next year. Just a thought. Again, good luck in your quest.
The answer to your question is yes. This appears to be the case, fiber running alongside the property E-W, no lines S-N. While I do entertain the budget idea, this has been a problem for a few years now (since I moved here, neighbors tell me they have tried and been without service even longer). I just can't imagine there being a budget issue year after year. Especially if they would have installed this years ago, this would have paid for itself already, and would be contributing to their "budget."

But the key question I am trying to get answered is whether or not the distribution line is fiber or copper. I lack the knowledge (so far) to tell. If the line is copper, I understand the material's limitations and service at a moderate distance gets difficult. But if it is fiber, it eliminates all variables other than why the line can't be tapped into.

 

[Subdued]

What's run by your house could be anything. It could be a DS3 for a business miles away. There's just no way to know for sure.

If it's truly a fiber connection for FTTP, the fact that it's run next to your property is irrelevant to a certain extent. It still needs to be multiplexed out into individual connections for each premise, which means a CO and more fiber. I really don't think it's a splice and go sort of thing.

 

[tony1679]

Originally Posted By: Subdued
What's run by your house could be anything. It could be a DS3 for a business miles away. There's just no way to know for sure.

If it's truly a fiber connection for FTTP, the fact that it's run next to your property is irrelevant to a certain extent. It still needs to be multiplexed out into individual connections for each premise, which means a CO and more fiber. I really don't think it's a splice and go sort of thing.

Forgive me for not knowing 100% for certain if my info is accurate. And please understand that I do have some knowledge of how this works, but I definitely do NOT 100% know what I am talking about. Lol. But what I am assuming is that it is a fiber line (considering it is officially labeled as a distribution line) that runs 5+ miles to the east. I assume it is fiber because I find it hard to believe copper would supply a reliable signal/connection over that distance. I am also assuming this is a FTTN setup, considering there are nodes/pedestals littered all along Alameda along this line. So if my assumptions are correct, with a fiber line alongside my property, a node on site, and an sai within range, I can only ask "What's the hold up?"

 

[tony1679]

Also, I am "getting the troops together." I now have two businesses on board with my cause, in addition to several houses. They are also alongside these lines and cannot receive service. Does this change my situation in any way? Will it create more pressure for AT&T to get the ball rolling?

 

[Subdued]

it's also possible for it to be copper, and those pedestals to be housing repeaters...although 5 miles is still a pretty long run.

but if it's labelled a distribution line, then they may have pulled what Verizon did here and abruptly ceased buildout.

The reason for Verizon doing this is here:

http://www.ibtimes.com/verizon-were-planning-use-our-4g-lte-network-wireless-tv-1655296

I would imagine AT&T may be eyeing this as well.

 

[tony1679]

^Yeah, I have told people in the past, "throttling" is pure bull. I worked third-party for AT&T testing their LTE towers. They definitely have the capacity to make anything happen when it comes to mobile data, including this new tv idea. But the greed continues, and we continue to accept it.

One more reason I am so aggravated over my lack of service. They can make anything happen. It's just a matter of whether they want to.

If they [censored] me off enough, I promise they will want to. Between knowing how to annoy a company to death and a few official complaints to the right agencies (thanks Sierra048), I will win.

 

[tony1679]

Oh, and for those following this thread, I have discovered that a business at 7500 Alameda Drive has U-Verse service. From the same line.

So if you map that address, you will see that there is virtually nothing out there. But they can get service? W t f?

 

[michaelluscher]

Originally Posted By: tony1679
^Yeah, I have told people in the past, "throttling" is pure bull. I worked third-party for AT&T testing their LTE towers. They definitely have the capacity to make anything happen when it comes to mobile data, including this new tv idea. But the greed continues, and we continue to accept it.

One more reason I am so aggravated over my lack of service. They can make anything happen. It's just a matter of whether they want to.

If they [censored] me off enough, I promise they will want to. Between knowing how to annoy a company to death and a few official complaints to the right agencies (thanks Sierra048), I will win.

Your not wrong, but 10 MHz of Band 17 is only gonna get you so far.
RRU's and backhaul are sorely needed.

 

[tony1679]

So after 3 hours on the phone with AT&T:

I started with someone who was somewhat helpful, they got in contact with a "back office" that said I was too far from the CO (central office). When I said that was bull, and gave proof of existing equipment (including vrad locations) he then was supposed to stay on the line and 3-way with another department. After 40 minutes on hold, I discovered that I was transferred to the basic tech support line. And the other agent disappeared.

I then explained my situation again, and she was supposed to do the same thing. I get transferred to another department, and again, no agent. While approaching the 3 hour mark, I get someone intelligent, who gives me some basic answers, and realizes what I'm after. He then refers me to a higher ranking department at a different number. I confirmed the number, then called..... Only to find out it's not even an AT&T number.

And that's just the beginning, I'll update when I have time later. But I am beginning to question my sanity. If the service is this bad now, imagine once I start to pay them....

 

[tony1679]

Continuing from my last post...

I spoke with someone competent in sales, who actually stayed on the line and got a tech specialist on the line as well. I explained my situation, and said that all I wanted was for someone to physically come to my home and evaluate the situation. This lady proceeded to tell me (rudely I might add) that if I don't have an order number, nobody will show up. Period. So I asked how to "create" an order number. She said it had to be done by a sales rep.

At this point the sales rep stepped in. He said "Whoa, wait, I can't create an order number until the address is eligible in the address validation system. The only way to change eligibility is to send someone out there." The two of them actually got into an argument while I was on the line. Smh....

So unfortunately, the tech specialist somehow won the argument (I think because the sales rep got tired of her being a complete b!tch). I asked to speak to her supervisor, because there had to be a way of sending someone out. She said I could not speak to a supervisor without an order number. Really?

At this point I have lost all faith that AT&T customer service reps can possibly help me. They all seem to be programmed robots that read a screen (their "internet" of sorts. It reminds me of the phrase "If I read it on the internet, it MUST be true.) and blankly repeat the info it tells them.

Lucky for me, I finally found out who my local network engineer is, and got his number. Maybe I'll make some progress now...

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: tony1679
So after 3 hours on the phone with AT&T:



Thats why i dropped AT&T for everyhing but my internet. I have never experienced anything like their customer service.

 

[Sierra048]

What you described is a "modus operandi" for most large corporations. The corporation I retired from was no different. But I also had the privilege to work with some very dedicated, customer oriented professionals (I hope I'm remembered in that vain). I'm sure there is a problem solving decision maker somewhere within AT&T. You just need to find him or her. Having said that, could you just place an order requesting service through the normal channels? Maybe it makes it past the first wave and a service order is created. You would probably be given a service order # for monitoring and follow-up. Where I came from, everyone who touches the order, once created within the system, until it is completed or disposed of for any reason, has their name/ID, and a time stamp, placed on the order, usually with CYA remarks, for future reference. If, after the order got created, and no one could find your address in their facility assignment records, that would probably initiate a field visit from an engineer to investigate. Just trying to think out loud here. I feel for you and wish you the best.

As a side note, I'm chuckling to myself because you are fighting so hard to get this service and I'm disgusted with my current provider (due to unending cost increases, not service related problems) that I'm considering cancelling my cable service and going with a dish alternative. I'll be asking for opinions in a thread I'm going to start soon. I don't want to steal your focus here.

 

[tony1679]

Originally Posted By: Sierra048
As a side note, I'm chuckling to myself because you are fighting so hard to get this service and I'm disgusted with my current provider (due to unending cost increases, not service related problems) that I'm considering cancelling my cable service.
Yeah this is exactly what my mom says every time I'm over there. "I think it's ironic how I fought so .... hard to get rid of AT&T, and you are trying to do the opposite."

I know these large companies suck when it comes to caring about the customer, but when their rates continue to climb again and again, they are still cheaper than my only alternative. And still providing a faster speed too.

On a side note, if the net neutrality laws pass, and internet becomes a regulated utility, wouldn't that force AT&T to do something? What I mean is wouldn't they be forced to provide service if they have a monopoly in the area? And if i understand correctly, if they chose not to, they would have to sell this area to someone else (Frontier, Windstream, etc). Then they would want a return on investment, so they would actually want to provide service. Sound right?

 

[tony1679]

Bump. Does my last post (last paragraph) sound right?

 

[Subdued]

The net neutrality thing is more for content delivery, and not so much for infrastructure, as I understand it...although I haven't had time to get into the nitty gritty of it

 

[tony1679]

Perhaps someone can enlighten me. I am starting to draw the conclusion that U-Verse will not happen. But they do offer dsl with speeds up to 6Mbps (which honestly sounds heavenly to me, because it's cheaper than my wimax alternatives).

The question is, what is required to bring dsl to my house? I CAN order POTS, I have a node/pedestal on site, and have an SAI/Cross-Box close (well within a 1/4 mile). Is there something I'm not thinking of?

Thanks for all the help so far, and for additional help I'm sure I'll get. If only AT&T was 1% as helpful as this site is....

 

[tony1679]

So (surprisingly) an AT&T rep told me to initiate something I already schemed up but thought would never work. I called to order POTS Monday so a tech would actually come to my door. He arrived this morning and I revealed the real plan of wanting internet. I explained my situation, and he took his time and ACTUALLY evaluated my case. After looking at lots of info and schematics, he said "dude you should easily be able to get at least dsl." He went hunting for a RT nearby (that I was unaware of), looked at my crossbox, and returned after about 20 minutes.

He came with bad news...

Apparently the crossbox that serves me is POTS only. And this RT he spoke of was a "ghost" and was nowhere to be found. He stated that I was in a very unusual "dead zone." He couldn't believe I was ineligible for anything, considering my proximity to everything. He took about 30 minutes talking with me about what my options were (more like weren't), and I once again came to a dead end. I asked if he knew of anyone higher up who may be able to help me. He gave the CYA answer of "maybe some of the engineers, but I wouldn't know how to contact them." I said I have one of their numbers, and said his name. He then threw the formalities out the window and said

"Damm, you really are serious! How did you get his name, much less his number? Nevermind, I don't want to know, but that is definitely the guy who could make something happen. He's never in the office though..."

So essentially I'm screwed, unless I get into the business of miracles, or come up with about $25k to run a mile's worth of F2 (his words). No hard wiring for me. PTP or WISP here I come

 

[tony1679]

So I had a light bulb moment today. While driving down my street, I was trying to visualize a way to run cable, when it hit me. There are above ground power lines that form a direct, perfect path from the closest VRAD (~3/4 mile) to my house. I know AT&T runs fiber on poles to some cell towers. Would AT&T run fiber on the poles to my house? Or copper? If directly to my house isn't an option, what about to my crossbox? Either way, that would put me within range.

Sierra048 where are you? Lol.