Why can't I get DSL in my neighborhood?

Question

I've been living with dial-up at home for the longest time and I'm tired of it. AT&T (my phone company) says they can't help me because my area doesn't have enough of something (can't remember what they said exactly).

I have Dish Network which offers internet, but it's way too expensive. The only other option is cable.....but I'm locked in to the satellite contract for another 6 months.

What are my options here........any advice?

Thanks.

lms:
Thank you. I live in Orlando (AT&T...formerly known as Bell South)
The website keeps telling me it's unavailable for my phone number.

lms:
Thank you. I live in Orlando (AT&T...formerly known as Bell South)
The website keeps telling me it's unavailable for my phone number.

Answer 1

I have AT&T too and was faced with same problem. We (people in my community) started calling and e-mailing AT&T daily, it wasn't long before they gave us what we wanted but it was a neighborhood effort so get out and talk to your neighbors. They will cite any number of reasons why they can't but I believe it is all about numbers. Try it .... it worked for us.

Answer 2

For DSL to work you have to live within 18,000 feet of the telephone company central office (place where the telephone wires terminate). 18,000 feet is the maximum distance, but DSL "speed" deteriorates over distance, reliable performance on DSL drops significantly once you get over about 10,000 feet.

There is more to the distance than just measured miles via following telephone poles too. Telephone wiring often involves something they call a "bridge tap". When a telephone wire gets broken someplace, the guys on the pole will often grab an unused pair at the location of the break, and then splice in the unused pair someplace else to create the complete circuit. This can create a loop of unknown distance. Not that this would apply to you, but just so you know the whole story.

DSL sucks anyway. Get cable for Intenet access only, then upgrade to include TV service later. Don't know what your cable service is, but Comcast is running a $30/month promotion for the first 3 months in New England.

Answer 3

You can get cable internet without having to get cable tv service. It'll be a little more expensive at first until you can get off of Dish network and get cable tv but then you'll be able to bundle them together. You probably can't get DSL because you're too far away from a phone company repeater or service station. The farther away you are the slower it is and if you get too far away it won't work at all.

Answer 4

It very well could be a case where you live too far from the central office, and if so, there's little that can be done. If you live too far from the trunk, the DSL signal can't communicate with your PC.

You might want to ask a question here about how ironclad satellite contracts are. If it's something you can break with a minimum penalty, it's worth looking into.

Answer 5

Thank God you have what you have! I waited for years before DSL was available here, and I bet many have access to better quality in bigger cities, or along the route between cities.

The cable (not just cable TV, but computers etc.) capabilities of the phone lines going by your home depend on 3 things..."LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!"

Why not go where it is available? IS MOVING AN OPTION? If Mohamed won't move to the mountain, the mountain must move to Mohamed!!!

Answer 6

I use BellSouth as my phone company (I guess they are now AT&T or whatever). I tried signing up for DSL online, and was told that it wasn't available in my area. Then I called in to ask about it, and they said that my neighbor two houses down has it, and I was able to get it.

Maybe try going at it another way. If you initially tried over the phone, try on their website. I am not promising you will have the same outcome as me, but it never hurts to try!

Answer 7

Too far from the central location. I've been trying to get DSL for 3 years. If it's ATT that your trying to get, forget about it. I've tried several hundred times and the best answer they gave me was to move.

Answer 8

dsl neighborhood

Answer 9

Try another company....
I have DSL through peoplepc my Internet provider...

check with your internet provider and see if they offer DSL in your area.

In my lop -top I have wireless Internet through Sprint, the card is build is the lop-top or you can purchase on and you can have Internet anywhere its awesome......

Answer 10

If you can get internet through your cell phone provider that is if they do it through HDSPA or UMTS. Or you can wait six months because all good things are worth the wait.