ATT Frustration: DSL = Dial-up Speed Line (Darn Slow Links?)

[hermit64]

Web browsing in the last few months with ATT DSL is HORRIBLE, closer to 28.8k modem dial-up than what I thought DSL would be like (& like it was when I first signed up for this DSL w/o Home Phone Service in 2010). I try to call tech (NON-)"support" and when I finally get a live person, I get some guy I can't understand and who seems clueless to assist with the issue.

They refer me to a download speed test that indicates d/l speed is around 76kbs, or something like that.  How can a straight download be at that speed, but it still takes forever to load webpages - I click on a link and it just sits there "waiting...." for 30-60sec before finally starting to show the page?  Sometimes not even then until I hit F5 (refresh) half a dozen times to wake up ATT and get this lousy service to do something.

1. It's not a specific website.

2. It's not my operating system.  (same problem in WindowsXP, and in two versions of Linux installed on my machine)

3. It's not my browser  (same problem with Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Exploder)

4. It's not my hardware.  (bought a brand new Actiontec DSL modem since I read that the default Motorolas provided by ATT are pieces of junk - didn't help one bit)  (also same issue whether I'm using the ethernet port built-in to the motherboard or in a PCI expansion slot)  (yes, new cat5 cable too)

This has got to be something with the way ATT (mis)handles web browsing.  Maybe the DNS servers suck, or we need static DNS numbers. (I asked for those from the tech non-support guy, and he said we had to PAY for static DNS servers?  NO ISP has ever charged for static DNS servers - that's basic, standard config. for internet service!!!  Surely he was confusing that for a static personal IP, which usually is extra charge.)

Good luck trying to get "support" from the ATT website. The gatekeeper page DEMANDS that I enter a phone number.  Hint: DSL without Home Phone means THERE IS NO PHONE NUMBER to enter!  (acct. # does not work)

Any ideas or do I just cancel this lousy sevice?

[sparky8]

I have lots of the same problems here in Florida .Download speed withe DSL EXTREME 6.0 ? 5.0-6.5 all the time running Winxp. My problem is the UPLOAD speed? ONLY 0.42 mbps at best! Just talked to no help support in who knows where and wants to sell me a new modem? Lol They sent me a new one free 2 years ago. Same Problem . Problems have been going on over 1 year so far and I am ready to switch to cable.

I think this problem is a move to make people update and pay more money! THIS IS CALLED REPUBLICAN GREED !

[Wifey1]

Don't expect blazing speeds form AT&T. Upload or download.  I'm trying to upload about 70, 720x480px images.  It takes roughly and hour to and hour and a half on this 1.5MB DSL.  I cannot upgrade since they, "don't offer higher speeds in my area."  Thankfully a new company has come to our town. It's 100% wireless.  And even from 7 miles away I can get 6MB down/3MB Up for $44 dollars.  Bye bye AT&T. 

[Rossley]

76kbps IS less than twice the speed of a 56k dial-up line. Whatever speed you pay for, half of that should be the minimum speed, or you should get a credit.  I had DSL in Houston for 10 years, and for 9-1/2 years my 6M line gave me at least a solid 5.2mbps download speed 24/7. Then one day, it would still be that speed from about 1am to 2pm the next day, but from 6pm-midnight the speed slowed to about 600kbps or less. Over 6 months, I had 8 techs come out, and since they only showed up during daylight hours, the speed was always okay. I called customer service every month and got at least half off credits during that time. After getting to know almost everyone at every tier of tech support by their first name, I finally got a call from a guy who called himself the President of Tech Support in Dallas who said changing to different paths wouldn't help because my Remote Terminal was overloaded, and he couldn't even guess when it might be fixable. It was like their trying to roll out U-Verse was taking all their resources. I hate Comcast, but I've gotten a year of minimum 35.5mbps down, and 5.8mbps up since then.

[hermit64]

You would've thought that someone from ATT support or customer service would have been monitoring these discussions and jump in with suggestions.  Since I see that hasn't happened, it's becoming obvious that AT&T doesn't give a **about whether customers are happy or not.  My internet browsing is still totally crappy and I just rec'd an email that it's time to pay the monthly extortion dues.  I'm on the verge of telling ATT to go to **.  But obviously they wouldn't care either way.

[word filter avoidance]

[Wifey1]

Not gonna happen hermit.  I've tried and tried.  We had an outage today for no reason.  Speeds are still slow.  No word on when or if an upgrade will ever come.  I'm ready to pull the plug.  I'm just wondering how much of a "cancellation fee" they are going to want.  Oh yay for me.