High Speed Internet (DSL) and Dial-Up

[#1]

Where exactly was this 30 day advance notice supposed to arrive at? I received no letter, no email, no phone call, nada.

- Sean Glenn

[#2]

Can one of Verizon employees please confirm the process regarding 'grand-fathering' someone so they don't lose their stand-alone DSL connection?

I have been on long holds calling customer service, the forum maybe a quick place to get a valid response.

[#3]

I don't know what to think either.

Standalone DSL cost more than DSL bundled.

[#4]

Maybe this article might help clarify some things: http://stopthecap.com/2012/04/09/verizon-will-cease-selling-standalone-dsl-service-may-6th-voice-wit...

[#5]

Bit the bullet and upgrade from DSL to FIOS Internet

It was relatively painless upgrading online. Ofcourse, am paying more now than before but hopefully the additional speed will be reliable.

Will I get a new modem?

Also, there was something in the T&C about Verizon installing a back-up device for voice calls and for the customer to replace the battery every 12 months!! - was unsure if there will be a box installed outside the house? inside the garage etc - Guess will have to wait until the Tech person is out in the next week or two.

[#6]

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Tampa304 wrote:

Bit the bullet and upgrade from DSL to FIOS Internet

It was relatively painless upgrading online. Ofcourse, am paying more now than before but hopefully the additional speed will be reliable.

Will I get a new modem?

Also, there was something in the T&C about Verizon installing a back-up device for voice calls and for the customer to replace the battery every 12 months!! - was unsure if there will be a box installed outside the house? inside the garage etc - Guess will have to wait until the Tech person is out in the next week or two.

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Verizon warrants the battery for 12 months. After that, it becomes your responsibility but those batteries should hold out for at least a few years. A relative of mine with FiOS has at least a three year old battery in their ONT. They've not needed to replace it yet. If it's in a bad environment the battery will die sooner than later. Keep it in a good environment and hope a power outage does not deep discharge it, and it should last for several years.

[#7]

The battery backup unit goes inside the house, the ONT can be either inside or outside. I opted for inside. It usually needs to be located very close to the electric service entrance to meet electrical lcode requirements.

The battery backup unit has a 12volt, 7 amp hour Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Battery. Under normal circumstances the battery  can be expected to last about 5 years, and my advice would be to replace it at 5 years if it hasn't died sooner. SLA's tolerate overcharging reasonably well, they don't tolerate deep discharge very well at all however, so if you have a power outage that outlasts the Battery Backup unit, it is likely to kill the battery.  The only thing the battery backup supports is the telephone connection.

The battery can usually be purchased for ~$20 (as long as you don't buy it from Verizon). These batteries are commonly used in Alarm systems, so they are not hard to find.

When my unit was installed, I just put a label on it identifying when the battery is due for replacement. I still have another year to go.

As far a reliablity goes, compared to my DSL service, FiOS is 'bullet-proof'. No weather related outages, which was a constant problem with DSL. FiOS is pretty much an all or nothing product. You either get at least the rated speeds, or you get nothing at all.

[#8]

Interesting , I was researching this anb finally I got my lightbulb yesterday :

http://www.lockergnome.com/news/2012/04/20/verizon-and-the-cable-industry-could-destroy-the-internet...

I will for sure jump on the FIOS train soon !!

with other words and short :

In fact, Verizon is pulling back from the old Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service, which goes over the normal copper network. The company just announced that anyone wanting to buy DSL will also have to buy regular phone service — no standalone DSL for you. That should serve to drive people away from both fairly quickly. When someone subscribes to cable, they will get the pitch for Verizon Wireless. Nice, huh?

The basic outline is clear. Verizon and the cable industry (Cox later joined in the club) are dividing up the Internet access world. For the most part, cable gets the landline business. Verizon will still offer its fiber optic FiOS service, but stopped the build-out and is concentrating on selling to the customers it already passes. Verizon reported that five million subscribers are now getting the service. FiOS passes about 18 million homes — about half of Verizon’s landline service territory