sjl wrote:
Tom wrote:
What were the alternatives available at your parents' home?
Practically none where they live (in Seagoville, Texas). There is a dearth
of broadband alternatives other than DirectPC or using a USB 3G adapter like
I use in my laptop.
Steve:
Yeah, that's often the big snag.
The first _advertised_ DSL availability that _seemed_ to apply to
our address was through Earthlink.
When I contacted them, they did some detailed searching through
whatever they refer to as "data" and had to tell me that they
couldn't do it for my specific road. Rather, they said that their
high-speed package was only available through ComCast cable at my
address (along our road). They had an agreement of some sort between
them for various non-urban areas -- which does make some sense to me.
I replied that ComCast did not provide cable service anywhere in the
nearby surrounding area, so I wondered why Earthlink couldn't go the
other route. Apparently, their "data" simply said it couldn't be
done; but would I like to be on their waiting list? Sure, might as well.
Sometime later... a year? two? Not sure. Our phone provider --
CenturyTel -- started advertising DSL service. Some inquiries
brought positive results; it looked like we were fully within the
range of the nearest remote terminal for DSL.
I checked back with Earthlink to see if conditions had changed for
them. The results were unchanged.
I went with CenturyTel because there simply was no alternative that
I could find. (I've been plenty satisfied, so no complaints for
overall service.)
In the meantime, a good buddy of mine was working for AT&T Wireless,
Seibel, Cingular, and back again, as mergers and buy-outs were going
on. He was developing SQL and related objects for apps that
inventoried equipment, circuits, etc. Conversations with him helped
me gain a slightly clearer picture.
In general, _none_ of the various providers are ever certain of what
equipment and/or circuits they have at any stated location. Unless a
crew actually goes and looks, and accurately records results, their
databases often mislead whatever reps you talk to. Although queries
can often be sent through the networks to retrieve equipment info,
that's seldom how sales rep and even tech reps get to review things.
They see whatever's been stored in SQL Server or Oracle or DB2 and
made available to them.
The databases can be massive, complex, poorly constructed and
maintained. It struck me that they're pretty much just average guys
working under dumb directions from above, making contradictory
changes from one week to the next...
IOW, much like any significant company, there are always messes.
Sometimes customers get lucky. Other times, they're screwed.
Tom Liotta
midrange.com
