Is there a DSL provider that isn't a swindler?

[cousinlucky]

Looking around for a DSL decent provider is very discouraging. Different prices in different places. Different terms in different places. Everybody just looking to rip people off.

It's Very Depressing!!

[oz]

Here's a pretty good place to read some user reviews regarding the different providers:

The Good, Bad, Ugly charts - dslreports.com

Dig around a bit and you can learn a great deal about the problems and the benefits that come with the various providers.

[cousinlucky]

Thank You, Ozar!!

[bigvoo]

I use att and t d.s.l, mine is the lowest speed, butI only pay $ 19.95 a month, and it's fast enough to watch streaming video ( most of the time ) I have to say, so far I have been impressed at their major attitude change from when i had phone service with them a few years ago..plus they were the only i.s.p in my town that would actually quote me a price over the phone, because i will NOT deal with a company that is not upfront with the price, I use 99% ubuntu, but i still have one windows machine for dealing with my i.s.p, been meaning to ask on here, if there is a way to use att software in linux, because if there is, then that comp will be ubuntu also.

[cousinlucky]

I noticed that At&t only provides support for Windows and Macs. I sure am getting put off by this whole thing. My ISP says that they will sell or rent me one of their D-Link DSL modems but they haven't, as yet, told me how much it costs or what model it is.

[oz]

Keep in mind that because they don't "support" their DSL connections under Linux does not mean that it won't work under Linux. They just won't offer any support if you call them and tell them you are running Linux.

Regarding modems, I have a D-link DSL-2540B modem that works fine with Linux. I think that most DSL modems are going to be doing all their work before they even come into contact with the OS itself.

[cousinlucky]

I went to the computer section of J&R in Manhattan today to see what DSL modems they carried. I was a little shocked to see all of the empty computer casings where the modems used to be.

When I found the modems I saw a Verizon DSL Gateway ( that will only work with Verizon ) for $79.99 and next to it an Actiontec DSL Gateway for $69.00

I found a Zoom 5654 at Staples for #79.95
I found a Zoom 5590 at Best Buy for $99.99

An Ethernet connection must be vulnerable because I noticed these modems had built in Firewalls. It was suggested to me to try and find a local DSL provider who valued their customers.

[oz]

Here's the modem that I'm currently using:

D-Link DSL-2540B ADSL2/2+ Modem with 4-Port Ethernet Router

It might not work with all ISPs for one reason or another, but it works fine with my own ISP and is much better than the modem that they supply to customers.

[bigvoo]

yeh, what ozar said cous, I use at and t, and i use uhbuntu about 4 hours a day on it...it works flawlessly, I just can't call their support people and complain, that's fair enough for me. odd that at and t wanted you to use anything but their modem/router, that's another thing, I have the at and t 2wire gateway..which is both wireless and ethernet. I was afraid that this router might throw a tantrum when i connected to it from linux machines.nope works fine.

[questio verum]

Cousinlucky,
One possibility might be finding a good regional ISP/BSP in your area. My experiences in the past have been that they sometimes offer better service than the big boys. When I was living in Atlanta there was a DSL provider that leased their big pipes from Bellsouth and yet were cheaper, faster (through optimization) and offered far better support to end users than Bellsouth did. It's been almost 5 years since I've had DSL though, so things may have changed.

qv