Problems with AT&T DSL Revisited

The process for managing the issue of DSL performance should be:
Do NOT contact them before you have eliminated equipment outside AT&Ts responsibility: 

1.  When a problem is perceived, run a speed test.

I have a couple of blog entries on this: 

• http://leetlinktips.blogspot.com/search?q=speedtest#!/2009/06/why-might-your-dsl-service-be-so-bad.html
• http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4224036224359508359#editor/target=post;postID=5823549266310849265
• http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4224036224359508359#editor/target=post;postID=8257477957874380151

Of these, the third link is most valuable to the Cliffs resident, and the second one is most valuable to the engineer.  The first tip above talks about interpreting the results of the second link in the list of test sites.

It is best to record the results after 3 separate tests run fairly close together.  I might add, it also helps to have a baseline, when your network is working like you think it should.  Write the results down or take a desktop picture and keep them handy.  With this information, you will be part way toward providing ATT with the justification they need to send someone to fix the problem.  

2.  Make sure it is not your router!  Lately I seen a lot of router problems due to lightning strikes.  It is also due to the way the router and modem are configured, both electronically and positionally with respect to where the computers/iPads, etc sit.  ATT is going to want the customer to rule out inside problems.  With a few exceptions, depending on what services you are paying for, their responsibility stops at the modem or, if you were supplied with a netgear or 2wire, the modem router. 

By the way, most of the complaints I have had to deal with recently are actually at the router and computer level, or are due to OLD settings in your router or email account.  (ATT changed all these recently.  link). 

With respect to router settings, I see very noisy routers- too noisy to provide good connectivity.  The result are many drops per hour.  Sounds like the problem someone was talking about at the meeting.  

To eliminate this as an issue before contacting AT&T:  If you are communicating via wifi, download inSSIDer by googling "cnet inSSIDER".  Install and run this program.  Make sure you have selected the correct connection which is your wifi connection.  Walk around your house, watching the signal quality.  Take a snapshot of the results (Alt-PrntScrn on a Windows machine) and paste it into a word document for safe keeping.  If the real time line has a lot of ups and downs in it, but it is straight line right next to the router, then you have a problem in your house.