Re: DSL provider on the south shore --> Speakeasy

["Nicholas Bodley" <user=1375@nabble.blu.org>]

 On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:51:16 -0500, Robert Krawitz <[hidden email]>   
wrote: 

> Speakeasy resells Covad, and they most certainly offer very 
> Linux-friendly residential service.  Their ToS basically amounts do 
> "don't do anything stupid or malicious", but otherwise, what you do 
> with your bandwidth is your business. 

A while back, they were encouraging customers to set up wireless access   
points, and said they didn't mind if their customers charged others for   
wireless access. As to uptime, they are better than NStar, and here in   
Waltham, NStar is very good. 

Speakeasy provisioning here: 

<chat> 
I was a DirecTVinternet customer, when D/TV (afaik) decided they weren't   
making enough profit, and became a "DirectSwitch" customer. Somehow,   
Verizon sales discovered me, and while I was definitely into Speakeasy   
provisioning, I told Verizon I was going to stay with S/e. The V. salesman   
(who had the voice of a trained actor) made it extremely plain, without   
actually speaking the words, that I'd "be sorrreee!" if I didn't switch to   
Verizon. 

After a very few days periodically lifting the handset to listen   
(unfiltered) for broadband-carriers sound (loud whitish noise) on the   
line, I decided to try initiating a DSL connection; Speakeasy logged every   
sync attempt, but it simply refused to sync. Speakeasy escalated the   
ticket, and iirc I even spoke directly to Covad (something residential end   
users rarely do, and really aren't supposed to), iirc for good reason and   
with permission. The Speakeasy rep. who took care of the escalated ticket   
had a personal interest in seeing me up and running, and soon. I know   
nothing about what he said to whom, but iirc within 24 hrs. Happiness   
Returned. 

I {*suspect*} that when Verizon switched me at the CO to a DSL-qualified   
pair, at the CO, they "sabotaged" the connection intentionally to disable   
ADSL. No way to prove that. 

Speakeasy offered a temporary voice-band dialup modem service until DSL   
was up and running, but it was not nearly as good as their DSL, regardless   
of bandwidth. I had (and still have) dialup with TheWorld.com; they were   
the first ISP anywhere, but aren't ever going broadband, afaik. 

As to listening via handset for DSL carriers, apparently the CO's DSLAM   
card doesn't transmit until a successful startup has completed. Makes   
sense... 
(DSLAM = DSL Access Multiplexer; it's apparently a card cage (or box), one   
card per customer. Contains ADSL circuitry, and has a broader-band link to   
a regional center, or some such.) 

(Anyone want a DirecTV modem and kit? Very nice modem, made in USA, but   
also apparently has custom firmware, very likely flashable.) (DSL bridge =   
modem, for me) 
</kitty> 

Regards, 

-- 
Nicholas Bodley 
Waltham, Mass. 
DirecTV bought Telocity 
"Chat" is French for "cat" 

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