Your Opinions on SBC Yahoo DSL

bpschlitt · 04-18-05, 06:45 PM

I'm moving to an area where the only DSL provider that I can find is SBC Yahoo. I've read mixed reviews elsewhere on the web and am wondering if any of you have their service? If so, I'd love to hear what you think about it, how its working, or how you have it configured (such as using a wireless router)? Right now they have a special of 12 months for $19.95 - Does anyone know what kind of prices I can expect after the 12-month period? Does anyone know what kind of phone service I need to have to get it - If possible, I'd just like to get a basic local-line since I use my cell-phone for all of my long-distance calling.
Thanks

Kricket · 04-18-05, 07:00 PM

well i have sbc here in chicago and i havent had any problems with it whatsoever - ive got a wifi setup in my house using the 2wire router/modem they have available - and it works great - the software is VERY user friendly and its super-easy to configure just about anything to it

just got my axim x50v last week and had it up and running with my wifi setup within about 2 minutes

as far as the pricing goes - it seems to be going down - my first year i paid 26.95/month - and then i upgraded to the dsl pro for 29.95/month - that gives me a minimum of 1.5mb/s and a max of 3.0 - i usually cruise around 2.1 at home (with ups around the 500-700 range - this comes in very handy because i use my home pc as a quasi-server through orb)...

i have to warn you though - my girlfriend had sbc in an area where service was pretty poor - it was so poor in fact that they ended up just disconnecting it (sbc i mean - sbc just disconnected without any prior warning - one morning she woke up and had no internet access whatsoever)

if sbc is the only option in your area, however, i would expect them to have some sort of decent network - but ive learned never to assume anything

from my experience - im totally happy with sbc - its a VERY decent price and the service has been awesome in my area...

04-18-05, 07:06 PM

I have it in Houston and no complaints but I would check with people in your area for their opinions.Like everything else service can differ from one area to another.

04-19-05, 12:38 AM

:) I have it in Indy and have had no problems. I was told before the year contract expires, call and ask for the same price and I should get. I have also been using the trial version of their WiFi service outside of the house on my v and it has been great, that expires at the end of May for all users. But after that, I think it is under $5 a month :approve:

andrew_y · 04-19-05, 04:20 AM

I have it in near LA, and so far it has been a piece of crap. Every so often, It will go through this vicious cycle of conecting, losing connection, then requiring a router/dsl box reset. It is VERY annoying, and so far I have found no solution from SBC.

mfromo · 04-19-05, 07:58 AM

I had it in Connecticut. Wasn't totally amazed by it. Went to cable modem when i moved to another area of CT and realized how bad SBC was. The support wasn't great and I had to reset my computer, modem, router or all fairly regularly.

04-19-05, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by andrew_y

I have it in near LA, and so far it has been a piece of crap. Every so often, It will go through this vicious cycle of conecting, losing connection, then requiring a router/dsl box reset. It is VERY annoying, and so far I have found no solution from SBC.

Near LA also but I have been mostly lucky as mine rarely goes down. I do however have a friend who used to get kicked off dsl from 6pm to midnight every day and sbc couldnt figure out what was wrong with it.

ooosadface · 04-19-05, 12:33 PM

I've got it here in Danville, IL and simply love it. No complaints on service nor speed. I have a Linksys wireless 'G' router and it covers all 3 stories of my house (4 if you count the basement).

Mays1918 · 04-19-05, 01:09 PM

I changed from Time-Warner Road Runner to SBC DSL one year ago and haven't regretted it since. Much improved service with no down time and consistent speed.

They will probably offer to extend your low rate at the end of a year (as they did with me), but you will have to do it online in a relatively narrow window of time, else the rate jumps significantly.

bpschlitt · 04-20-05, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Mays1918

I changed from Time-Warner Road Runner to SBC DSL one year ago and haven't regretted it since. Much improved service with no down time and consistent speed.

Thank You all for the inforamtion - I recently discovered that RoadRunner is also available in the area to which I am moving. I am still trying to decide between the two providers. It kind of depends on what I decide to do for my Cable TV - I appreciate all the posts.

04-24-05, 03:44 AM

I had SBC DSL service for well over a year and loved it....til I moved. SBC didn't offer DSL where I moved to, so I got a cable modem instead. I like it better too.

The problem was that I kept the SBC phone service. Not that the phone service was bad or anything....Long Story to follow.

SBC had offered "free" Dial-up service in addition to the DSL, for when you travel etc. When I moved my phone service to the new address, and canceled the DSL, the "free" dial-up service never got cancelled and I started getting billed for it.

I called them several times and got the run around. It seems the phone people could not cancel it had to talk to the Dial-up folks....transfer. The Dial-up people could not cancel it because it was established by the DSL folks.....transfer. The DSL people could not cancel it because it is not DSL service it is Dial-up. I ended up being told by the FCC they could not FORCE SBC to withdraw the bills for dial-up either, even though I had never ordered or even authorized a paid for "dial-up" account.

Long story short after 6 months an 20 plus hours being transfered around.....I canceled the SBC phone service, only paid for the phone service and let the "Free" Dial-up go into collections, and got a cable phone with the same number.

I had to let the SBC bill go into collections and ask the collection company to verify the debt and my authorization for a "dial-up" account. The matter has fianlly been removed from my credit record.

Bottom line - the service itself was great....until you eventually might need some "customer" service...then it absolutely sucks!

bpschlitt · 04-24-05, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by MyUncle

Bottom line - the service itself was great....until you eventually might need some "customer" service...then it absolutely sucks!

Yes, I know what you mean. I've had terrible problems with SBC customer service (and Ameritech before SBC took over). That is part of the reason I am hesitant to try their DSL. Billing errors always seem to find me and they are such a pain to straighten out. I've gotten the run-around just trying to find out if the service is available at my new address. I'm having some doubts about SBC and am leaning towards giving Road Runner a try. What do you think?

Howard2k · 04-24-05, 11:31 AM

DSL is highly dependent on the distance from your location to the telco central office and the quality of the copper wiring in between. I would ask them what they anticipate the copper loop length to be (they should be able to tell you) or at least the linear mileage between your place and the CO. Once you start to get above 4-5km (depending on their equipment and their standards) you'll find the service will decrease. If you're within 2km you should be flying.

It's also possible that you could be within 2km and have crap copper. Or you could be 9km from the CO but be fed from a mini-DSLAM in a remote.

All these things factor into the quality of their service. Either way - $20 for a year sounds too good to pass up.

04-24-05, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by ooosadface

I've got it here in Danville, IL and simply love it. No complaints on service nor speed. I have a Linksys wireless 'G' router and it covers all 3 stories of my house (4 if you count the basement).

same here in SoCal