SBC DSL Users - is it reliable?

[RebelYell]

I'm considering upgrading from dial up to SBC DSL. Any comments from current users? Thanks!

[SonofMass]

1. I've been using it for three years. Always up and fast.

[Soloflecks]

2. I like it.

Have had SBC/Yahoo DSL for over a year with not one problem.

[lovedems]

3. My mom has it and loves it.

We have broadband cable, just recently got it and that works great too!

[johnnie]

4. No problems in a year and a half

It works well for me.

[nickinSTL]

5. SBC

I'm glad you asked.

Hadn't occurred to me to do so, but I'm planning to switch, myself, as I want a faster connection before I start my Master's program online.

Good to hear it's reliable and fast.

[RebelYell]

6. Thanks.......

.....I truly appreciate the input. I was laid of from my job (manufacturing) and can't afford our local cable rates for high speed internet. SBC DSL is only $8.00/month more than my current dial up. Cable is more than double my dial up rate.

I have a laptop (for part time job) and a desktop, so I need a home network. SBC is offering the network equipment for $50. I think I'll take the leap. Thanks again.

[King Of Paperboys]

7. NO NO NO NO NO NO

GOD, I had NOTHING but problems with SBC DSL. Constant drop-outs and slow service. They wouldn't respond to my inquiries, never fixed the problems in TWO YEARS.

When my contract was finally up and I could disconnect the service, they charged me a FULL MONTH'S service charge as a "disconnect fee." I then told them that they could keep the $30, if it meant that much to them. I would simply drop them as my home phone provider, my business phone provider, and that I would NEVER pass up an opportunity to tell people what SHITTY SERVICE I got from them. This was the WORST service I've ever gotten from a utility provider in my life! I switched to Cox Cable, and haven't had a single problem with the connection OR the service. SBC is second ONLY to MCI in their evilness.

SBC is the Devil! And they own Cingular, too, which I will never use!

[Maestro]

8. I don't use them

but check to see if they put caps on your upload and download speeds. They do here in the Dallas area. My wireless connection to the Net is much faster, but if it is your only choice, it beats dial-up so get it.

[LWolf]

9. 2 1/2 years here.

It's not perfect; it slows down during peak times, drops out every once in a while. But there is no comparison to dial-up. None. Just to be sure I remembered what it used to be like on dial-up, I spent 10 days with my mother at the end of June. The most I tried to do was keep up with my email. That meant deleting spam and non-essential reads, and saving everything else til I got home.

I paid for my dsl by getting rid of the 2nd phone line, call-waiting, and caller ID. So I'm not paying extra. I noticed that their recent promotion is for quite a bit less than I'm paying, though!

:grr:

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

10. It's great until you have a problem, then suit up for battle

In all instances, after you have called Tech Support and given them your basic info, INSIST on speaking with a second-tier tech.

Tier one support has been outsourced to India. They are courteous and and read the script diligently but they are working off a checklist that seldom resolves the issue. They are not skilled, experienced or intuitive, they are reading a script. And in all fairness, it has nothing to do with the fact that it's an India call center...SBC's tier one support has ALWAYS been this way.

SBC changed their policy after numerous customer complaints. It is now your RIGHT to INSIST on second-tier support, right up front. In the past, transferring you to tier two was solely at the discretion of your tier one tech (or you yould yell and stomp and ask to speak with their supervisor, which would usually do the trick).

DO NOT install the "SBC Yahoo" software. If you have Windows XP, you do not need it. Just make sure you have the current drivers for your network interface card and create a new connection in the "Network Connections" section of control panel. I made the mistake of installing it...and an SBC tech came to the house, REMOVED the software, told me it was the reason I was having disconnects and slow-downs, and they had the audacity to charge me $60 for this, which I had to fight. If you don't have XP, maybe someone here can advise you on what to do.

If you get through to the RIGHT people, they will help you...quickly and efficiently. If you don't know how to swim the waters and GET TO these people, trust me...you most certainly WILL suffer at some point.

In Silicon Valley CA, SBC owns the phone lines...so no matter what DSL carrier people here go with, when problems need fixing, they are fixed by SBC. Going with a different vendor does NOT mean avoiding SBC.

[RebelYell]

12. I have XP.......

.....thanks for the tips.

SBC owns the phone lines here too. SBC is the only DSL provider. However, we have a local satellite provider, but they're expensive too.

Maybe I'll keep dial up until I find a full time job and able to afford cable or satellite.

[Beware the Beast Man]

11. It's impossible to use "SBC" and "reliable" in the same sentence.

Your head will explode :nuke:

[Beaker]

13. SBC DSL has always been very reliable for me.

we used to have cable access through Comcast, and it was total shit...we've been infinitely happier with DSL thru SBC.