I’ve used a DSL connection to the internet for longer than I can remember…
For the last 3-4 months Century Link/Quantum has been sending me messages to upgrade to their new Quantum fiber network. Always took them as “Hey we got this new thing, try it out…” Well, today I found out they were serious about signing up for it. They started selectively blocking various internet sites including my Sirius stream with a message that says “Action Required” with links to the Quantum signup website that you can’t get around. You just can’t kill it.
So I acquiesced today and signed up for it, no way around it unless I wanted to go with Xfinity… It appears that their goal in this is to get rid of the copper network entirely, including phone service. Yes, I have a land line, I’m a dinosaur… After you chose your internet speed and wifi options your next choice is to connect your phone service as well. If you want to opt out they politely inform you that unless you move your phone service to Quantum fiber your Century Link phone service will be cancelled when your Quantum internet is activated in any event. So there you have it. Choice made. I imagine had I not had internet service that a few months down the line I would have received an ultimatum to switch my phone service to fiber in any event.
They should have made it clear from the start that this was not an option, they were moving to this. Had I known this I would have made the switch before they started getting nasty and selectively blocking my internet. Maybe I should have read between the lines.
Maintaining landlines isn’t a bad thing. It’s a shame how much the public is strong armed into things by big tech companies. Other - albeit less convenient - options are out there, though.
Man, I bet you will be glad you upgraded to fiber from DSL totally skipping cable.
It surprises me that AT&T still offers DSL in my area and charges nearly the same as fiber. Know a person who still had it in their apartment a few months ago, they showed me the bill and it was 74.99 for 15mbps. My fiber runs 64.99 for 400mbps, but as low as 44.99 if I call them and renegotiate to get their starting price. Spectrum cable guys are always at the local Walmarts, and about a week ago went and got asked about my internet. I told them my Internet price loudly as I was walking away. They immediately waved me off and said shh . Lmao.
I hear HAM radio is a fun hobby. When I was a youngin, I remember a friend of mines father being into it having a map of pins representing everyone he’s talked to around the globe.
Yes, at the initial signup it’s $30 for 200 mbs internet and $10 for phone. But no mention of charges for caller ID and call waiting. My current phone bill for that and 20 mbs DSL internet is $87. Also there is no fee for the router and wifi mesh, with a qualifier that this may change.
You say it as a joke, but radio is still the most reliable communication technology on this planet.
But of course I would never suggest a radio set for everyday use. Not the least for the harsh laws around licensing.
After getting transferred to 6 or 7 techs (I lost count) and being on hold for about 45 minutes and another 45 minutes explaining the problem it got fixed today. I’d like to say “thanks century link.” but I just can’t find it in me…
(They have the most nauseating on hold music theme.)
Yep all copper is being ended sooner than later. There isn’t a thing like a pots line anymore it’s all voip. The problem is the engineers that maintain these networks are retiring and there aren’t many left out there. They are also expensive… so is the gear which isn’t being actively produced. It’s just not much incentive to keep the old networks alive when the market is demanding fiber.
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fradiger
(the world is a beautiful cat and i must meow meow meow)
12
Ditched centurylink recently after almost 20 years of being forced to put up with their crap for a 5g mesh system (welink is the isp, really only available in a few cities), have never been happier. Went from having bonded DSL capped at like 25Mbps down and literally <500Kbps up because centurylink refused to do infrastructure upgrades in the area to a 2.5Gbps symmetric link while cutting my bill by about 80%. Would highly recommend avoiding centurylink at all costs.
Well, it’s the responsability of the public/the government to maintain communication, not of the private market. Communication is linked to the postal laws in most countries and that’s a state mandate. It’s a service, not a product. Like healthcare and transport.
In the US I’m 98% sure all comms are privatized. I really don’t think there’s any mandate it’s just cheaper to run fiber than maintain copper at this point.
The FCC did deregulate copper comms lines in 2019 which allowed companies to retire them and stop maintaining them…
The saga continues…
Quantum came out to install the fiber and the router on Monday 12/23. The tech didn’t have the adapter to plug the phone (land line) into the fiber modem. He said it would be sent “soon”. I asked if the phone would remain functional until it came and he said yes it would. WRONG…
The last call we received was Monday nite. Couldn’t call in or out. Being Christmas and all I waited until Thursday to call Century Link for service. Dreadful experience. The so called “customer service” reps are all either Indians or Pakistanis, many of whom have a minimal understanding of English. (Not being disrespectful but it’s a fact) Spent about 2 hours being shuttled between Century Link and Quantum (probably the same people each time.) The last one was about an hour call that should have taken no more than 15 minutes. Had to repeat the problem and answer the same questions about 8 times. The guy had little understanding of English and his accent was very bad. Finally got him to the point of scheduling a tech for today.
Century Link in their wisdom gives you a 8AM to 5PM window. So here I sit all day and the guy never shows and no explanation or contact. So at 7 tonite I start a chat session with the support team. Come to find out that my phone account has been cancelled and my phone disconnected so no service to be had. When Quantum installs, they submit a cancellation order for the account to Century Link. So the disconnect was done Monday nite which explains why the phone didn’t work and the account was cancelled today which is why the tech never showed up. It sure would have been nice if someone from Century Link would have contacted me about this today.
And of course calling Quantum to inquire about when the phone adapter would be sent brings me back to the same people. What a catch22…
They are like 8 bucks on Amazon if so. You can also split your own if you want to untwist an Ethernet cable and terminate the 2 pairs for phone service to and rj11. I’ve done that for a temporary turned permanent fix more times than I can count. Probably a few places still running off my cobbled together rats nest.
. Lmao.
