Yes, it was o.k. I did have a problem with them a long time ago but I don't even remember what it was! Something to do with their definition of "long distance" calls versus local toll calls. We left AT & T at that point but we got them back kind of by default with companies merging, etc. No problems lately with their service and we changed just because we now have a local company and an office nearby and it is a bit less expensive. Sandi ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hank Smith" <hanksmith5@xxxxxxxxx> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:32 AM Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: high speed internet > was att landline good service? > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sandi Beach" <sandib2@xxxxxxxxx> > To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 8:52 PM > Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: high speed internet > > >> We had been with AT&T for our land lines until just this past month when >> we >> switched to Nex-Tech Rural Telephone. Also got our new cell phones from >> them. Prior to this we had cell phones with Alltel and we could not call >> or >> receive from our home. It was stand on the deck in the cold (or heat) >> and >> then it would often drop the call--or drive to the top of the hill! Had >> a >> problem with Alltel when we canceled with them--but that is another >> story. >> Sandi >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Hank Smith" <hanksmith5@xxxxxxxxx> >> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:06 PM >> Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: high speed internet >> >> >>> what your phone company? >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Gman" <gman.pctt@xxxxxxxxx> >>> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 3:44 PM >>> Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: high speed internet >>> >>> >>>> Sandi, >>>> We had problems with the service almost from day 1. The speeds and >>>> connectivity were great at first, but soon started to drop off. Within >>>> about a month, we were hardly able to connect at all. After several >>>> calls >>>> and transfers (and a couple of months complaining), I got to speak with >>>> a >>>> WildBlue senior tech who confessed that one of their 5 satellite beams >>>> was >>>> having a serious issue and it was affecting everyone running off of >>>> that >>>> beam. During our conversation, she asked me if I would prefer to back >>>> out >>>> of my contract without penalty. I asked her to give me her personal >>>> opinion >>>> on whether the service would be fixed and improved any time soon and >>>> she >>>> said she did, but couldn't give me a timetable since the techs >>>> themselves >>>> weren't really sure what was at the root of the problem. I knew she >>>> was >>>> being real with me (a VERY strange feeling when dealing with most tech >>>> support people) so I told her I'd hang in there a little while longer. >>>> Thankfully, she was kind enough to add that offer to my records so that >>>> I >>>> could activate it later if necessary. >>>> >>>> Well, they got the beam fixed, but a few months later, we were hit >>>> with >>>> a FAP violation and our speeds were cut down to just above dial-up >>>> speeds. >>>> Our contract was for their top tier $80 US/month service (1.5Mb/second) >>>> which includes 17000Mb worth of downloads and 256Mb in uploads over any >>>> rolling 30 day period (this is much higher than Hughes FAP limit, BTW), >>>> so >>>> there was no way that we had come anywhere near that amount over the >>>> previous 30 days (or ANY 30 day period for that matter). I called to >>>> complain and was told that DishNetwork doesn't monitor bandwidth use >>>> and >>>> has >>>> no way to even look into the matter. When I asked them to put me in >>>> touch >>>> with someone at WildBlue, I was told that my contract specifically >>>> states >>>> that I can only get support directly from DishNetwork. I was >>>> absolutely >>>> livid! The speed reduction remains in place until the measured use >>>> drops >>>> below 70% of the limit, which is 11000Mb in our case. It took about 3 >>>> weeks >>>> at those dial-up speeds for it to drop that low and our advertised >>>> speeds >>>> to >>>> be reinstated. >>>> >>>> By now, you can probably imagine where I'm going with this. After >>>> numerous calls, transfers and runarounds (and a couple more FAP >>>> violation >>>> accusations/speed reductions), I eventually had enough and decided to >>>> play >>>> the wildcard that wonderful WildBlue senior tech had added to my >>>> account >>>> record. I backed out of the 18-month contract after about 10 months of >>>> headaches without penalty (although they unsuccessfully tried to charge >>>> me >>>> for a lot more equipment than I had used) and switched over to the DSL >>>> that >>>> my phone company had JUST finally brought into my neighborhood. >>>> >>>> My current connection is now DSL and is the slowest speed the >>>> company >>>> offers (1.0Mb/s), but they tell us it's the best they can do for our >>>> area. >>>> The funny thing is that our perceived speeds are actually much faster >>>> than >>>> when we were using satellite internet, there's no such thing as a FAP >>>> and >>>> the company is very responsive, courteous, etc. to customer calls. Oh, >>>> and >>>> the package only costs us $20 US/month for the first year under the >>>> sale >>>> they had going at the time we signed up. That will increase to the >>>> usual >>>> $30 US/month for the second year. Faster speeds, no FAP and decent >>>> service >>>> for about 1/4 of the price? Go figure! lol >>>> >>>> Peace, >>>> Gman >>>> >>>> "The only dumb questions are the ones we fail to ask" >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Sandi Beach" <sandib2@xxxxxxxxx> >>>> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 5:49 PM >>>> Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: high speed internet >>>> >>>> >>>>> G, did you last through your 18 month contract period or opt out >>>>> sooner? >>>>> If >>>>> sooner, what kind of a penalty did you have to pay. We will be on a 2 >>>>> year >>>>> contract and that bothers me a bit. Especially when I just now >>>>> thought >>>>> about cleaning the snow off the dish in the winter time! >>>>> I have explored all other options. I thought for a while we might get >>>>> high >>>>> speed with our local telephone service which is Nex-Tech rural >>>>> telephone >>>>> but >>>>> they could not see us though all the trees. I offered to negotiate >>>>> putting >>>>> up a tower on our property but they have had several offers like that. >>>>> Not >>>>> enough population out here to make that attractive to them. Then I >>>>> learned >>>>> they would be putting up another tower but when I checked on the >>>>> location >>>>> we >>>>> will still not be within sight so--- just hope HughesNet works for >>>>> me. >>>>> Several people in this area have told me they are happy with them. >>>>> Sandi >>>> >>>> >>>> --------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> Please remember to trim your replies (including this sentence and >>>> everything below it) and adjust the subject line as necessary. >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe or change your email settings: >>>> //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk >>>> >>>> To access our Archives: >>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ >>>> //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ >>>> >>>> To contact only the PCTT Mod Squad, write to: >>>> pctechtalk-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> --------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Please remember to trim your replies (including this sentence and >>> everything below it) and adjust the subject line as necessary. >>> >>> To unsubscribe or change your email settings: >>> //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk >>> >>> To access our Archives: >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ >>> //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ >>> >>> To contact only the PCTT Mod Squad, write to: >>> pctechtalk-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> --------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com >>> Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.4/1566 - Release Date: >>> 7/22/2008 >>> 6:00 AM >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------- >> Please remember to trim your replies (including this sentence and >> everything below it) and adjust the subject line as necessary. >> >> To unsubscribe or change your email settings: >> //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk >> >> To access our Archives: >> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ >> //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ >> >> To contact only the PCTT Mod Squad, write to: >> pctechtalk-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> --------------------------------------------------------------- >> > > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > Please remember to trim your replies (including this sentence and > everything below it) and adjust the subject line as necessary. > > To unsubscribe or change your email settings: > //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk > > To access our Archives: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ > //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ > > To contact only the PCTT Mod Squad, write to: > pctechtalk-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.5/1569 - Release Date: 7/23/2008 > 1:31 PM > > > --------------------------------------------------------------- Please remember to trim your replies (including this sentence and everything below it) and adjust the subject line as necessary. To unsubscribe or change your email settings: //www.freelists.org/webpage/pctechtalk To access our Archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTechTalk/messages/ //www.freelists.org/archives/pctechtalk/ To contact only the PCTT Mod Squad, write to: pctechtalk-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ---------------------------------------------------------------