This discussion has gone WAY over my head! I don't work for a corporation; I am self-employed. And I don't want to leave my desktop computer on all the time, especially when I'm not home. So maybe I'm stuck with substandard DSL.

Earthlink did some work yesterday. An open network in my building that disappeared with mine is now back. I've been able to print wirelessly on my network all week, but it still won't connect to the Internet.

I would get some feedback from the dslreports.com forums, those guys are really good, ATT tech angels. I think you should be able to get actual ATT, and depending on where you live, it could be as little as 10$

Linsj... I see via the thread list at DSLReports that you have had a back-and-forth with the techs re: your Prequal request. What have they told you???

This is the first reply:
"sent your account to the engineers to confirm loop length it currently shows your account over 14Kft."

Then I asked again why I can get Earthlink and not AT&T and got this reply from the same person:
"More than likely its either different equipment and It does not appear that their on-line checker cross references our records when they pre-qual. I cant answer for Earthlink as i do not work for them."

So I still don't know anything more than I did before.

I finally have my wireless network with Earthlink working again. The tech had me reset something that messed it all up. My computer guy walked me through fixing it yesterday. Spent about an hour on the phone with him, but it finally works. He did tell me to ask for the second tier of help next time since the first tier, as I already know, is totally useless but the tier above them actually know something.

I still can't decide if I should just dump DSL and go with broadband card or not.

RE: Covad
Has anyone had any experience with this DSL, especially residence instead of business and in the Chicago area?

Covad provides DSL service primarily to business users, and also resells DSL to other ISPs. I would highly doubt that they will get any closer than 14k feet if that's what other DSL providers are telling you.

Regarding broadband, you could go sign up for it, try it, and then return it if it doesn't work for you (or your budget.) Ask for a USB based antenna.

I'm a Verizon broadband user and its fine, but a lot of FT people are hot on Sprint. The general feeling is that Sprint is doing a lot of infrastructure investment for their future in WiMax - a next generation thing you don't have to worry about.

Always, always, always ask for second tier support when dealing with technical support. They will tell you no, but be insistent.

It sounds like you Eearthlink DSL connection is on the ragged edge of acceptable distance from the CO. Keep in mind that the distance in feet not only includes what the line owner (local phone co.) says the distance is from the CO to the building, but also the inside wiring. The length and quality of the inside wire plays a huge part in line quality.

If you consistently have problems you could ask Earthlink to drop your line speed which usually would increase reliability.

DallasBill, here's the word from the engineers:
"The engineers confirmed that your line is 14.3Kft which is 300 ft too long from the cutoff." So no hope of getting AT&T back.

Still doesn't explain why I can get Earthlink, but I've given up trying to get an answer on that one.

could there be an RT that nobody is targeting? i have found that often ATT, which would most likely own the darn thing might not know it is there till you get to a higher level? I ad one location in FL that ended up being like that, since I knew that other providors had service.

ATT can also at times reduce the loop length. Sometimes there is redundant connections that make it longer.

With some prodding, AT&T WILL send a tech out to the premise to check the actual distance, vs what the computer says. Suggest that to them.

And depending on how your complex is wired, on building over could mean significant added distance in the wire length. Its stupid, but true.

But call AT&T back again and ask that they send a tech out to verify. They'll do it.

Yea... I second that.