DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cable Modems

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If it's their product, they should give you a new one without charging you for it. (does not mean they will though, depends on who you speak with I guess)

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I have SBC/AT&T and I spoke to someone in repair, and they told me that they (SBC/AT&T) could replace the modem at a cost of $85 and it would take about a week for them to ship it to me. I decided to go to Office Max and bought a Zoom modem which I have had for about a year and a half now. Paid about $85 and didn't have to wait.

Lees, I believe if you have AT&T/SBC, you purchase the equipment at startup and are responsible for the equipment if a failure should occur throughout the life of your service.

I spoke with 3 different people at AT&T before I accepted that I had to purchase the modem.

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I've had Ameritech / SBC / AT&T DSL for years...pretty much as soon as it was available in the area.

My modem went out last year and I had it replaced for free, but that is only because of the repairman that visited my house. The company wanted nearly the amount you quoted, but the repairman reasoned that I shouldn't have to pay for it based on my loyalty to their service. He said he had been with the company for years...I don't know if that allows him such a decision....perhaps? He was actually the third person out to my house based on my complaint of a slow connection. If I remember my experiences with AT&T, it starts with a call (farmed to India, I presume) and each problem escalates as needed. A first call for this sort of problem is a line test and then appropriate questions to attempt to diagnose. It is important to try to consider the capabilities of the customer service rep with these type of problems. I am by no means an expert when it comes to network connections, but I do try to understand what they are attempting to do to remedy a problem. On that note though, I do not have a problem with demanding resolution by going to the next "level" (e.g., trouble ticket, etc). The line test was normal so I deducted that the problem was local to my residence and I suspected it was the modem (it was 5-6 years old by this time). I ended up with three different repair visits because of AT&T's billing policy and repair procedure. Essentially you will typically incur a charge if they have to come in the house, although in my case we carry what is called "Linebacker" coverage for a dollar or two a month that covers any in-house repairs. None the less, they do have procedures for their repairs.

I also had issues with attempting to upgrade my connection a few years back. I was paying for a 300+kbs connection (can't remember exactly) and wanted to move to my current "up to" 3mbs package. I called their sales number that was on our billing and the rep told me to leave the modem on for 2 weeks to "optimize" the connection. Two weeks later a test at a connection speed site showed no improvement. To keep this story no longer than it already is, let's just say that I had to negotiate my way to a remote terminal connection and this included 2 weeks of dial up to get there (omg, dial up SUCKS...no offense to anyone... ). During my negotiations (probably the second or third call I made realizing I had not reached the speed promised) I did speak with a Tech out of St. Louis and he did the first line test and explained I was maxed out at about 250kbs (despite the upgrade). I was near the end of the max 20,000 ft loop limit. This prompted the remote terminal switch. A line test would have been a good thing to do when I first ordered this...oh well. Several weeks later I was good to go.

I am completely satisfied with what I pay for my connection and it finally works consistantly, but obviously it was a pain in the arse to get there.

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I guess if plug and play (b/c that's what modems are - just plug it in and go) is too much, then the $5/mo may be worth it if that means some nice guy comes out to install the modem for you. If you still end up installing it yourself, mind as well just buy one outright.

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Besides, do you know how many freaking morons out there don't even know how to turn a computer on?

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It can't be that hard, all you have to do is press a button.

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you'd be surprised...

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I bet I would...

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Besides, do you know how many freaking morons out there don't even know how to turn a computer on?

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It can't be that hard, all you have to do is press a button.

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When I did tech work, I had a customer who didn't have their power cord plugged into the computer. (Of course it's plugged in (to the wall) what kind of idiot do you think I am .....?)