AT&T U-verse

[Mom21]

What can you tell me about it? I've done a little research but my DSL keeps going down. I have 2 phone lines-1 basic, 1 with everything including long distance and caller ID, 6.0 DSL for $102/month with all the taxes and junk. Directv with 5 inputs to 3 tv's with 3 DVR's for $89/month-no movie channels.

So they told me I could get all of that plus movie channels installed (which would include moving one of the tv's to my dd's room which she has been begging to do) for $127.00/month. Plus can likely cancel my Neflix for $10/month

I can't seem to keep my DSL running long enough last 2 days to have time to look for reviews. Thanks

 

[Duchie]

Are they giving you an introductory rate? What I've found with them is that they often offer a low rate for a few months, but then it goes up to regular price. And in our area, the regular price is typically more expensive than what we have. So I'd double-check that first so you're not surprised.

On the upside we know lots of people who have the service and are very happy with it. It's one of the reasons we're interested in switching. The only thing holding us back right now is that it is more expensive than other options.

 

[JB2K]

What can you tell me about it? I've done a little research but my DSL keeps going down. I have 2 phone lines-1 basic, 1 with everything including long distance and caller ID, 6.0 DSL for $102/month with all the taxes and junk. Directv with 5 inputs to 3 tv's with 3 DVR's for $89/month-no movie channels.

So they told me I could get all of that plus movie channels installed (which would include moving one of the tv's to my dd's room which she has been begging to do) for $127.00/month. Plus can likely cancel my Neflix for $10/month

I can't seem to keep my DSL running long enough last 2 days to have time to look for reviews. Thanks

AT&T U-verse, unlike "traditional" DSL and Cable, is completely-powered by the internet. What that means for the consumer (especially, if you have a newer TV) is a really great picture.

However, there are a few things to consider:

• Unlike cable, you must have a set-top box for every TV connected (the first one is free, each additonal box is $7.00 per month).
  
• You don't have to pay local franchise fees every month (as you would with Cable TV). Just the base price plus applicable taxes.
  
• Unlike cable and satellite, the U-verse DVR can be accessed by any connected TV in the house.
  
• The U-verse "hub" is a single box that serves the same purpose as a cable modem and wired/wireless router -- all in one neat package.
  
• If you desire HD service, that will run an additional $10 a month.

As for me, I live in the St. Louis market -- for "U-verse 200", HD, a second set-top box, high-speed internet, and unlimited home phone -- all that runs me about $145 a month.

 

[JB2K]

Are they giving you an introductory rate? What I've found with them is that they often offer a low rate for a few months, but then it goes up to regular price.

That's typical of nearly any service provider -- in my town, Charter (the incumbent CATV company) is notorious for that.

 

[mrudman]

We have U-Verse and really like it.. have had it for a few yrs now. Had DirecTV before this, and it seemed as if any time we had really bad storms or snowstorms, it would go out.. but since we got U-Verse, we've only had it go out on us once, and that's only cause our router box (hub?) went out and they replaced that for us (free).

We got a great deal on it though, because we signed up right as they were coming into our neighborhood so were giving everyone a special deal.
We don't pay any extra for any of our boxes (that was part of the deal), and we get a $10 credit on the package each month as well.
Also have DVR, but honestly don't remember if that's included in the u-verse bill or if we bought that outright with no montly bill... I do know we don't have a separate bill for it.

For the "U-verse 200" package, 4 boxes (for our 4 tv's), our home phone (unlimited local, no long distance, but we use our cell phone for that), and our high-speed internet, we pay $105.29 per month.

Only catch is if we want to change our package from the "200" package, I believe we might have to start paying for the boxes. But being that we're not real big tv watchers, I don't see us ever changing.

 

[Duchie]

AT&T U-verse, unlike "traditional" DSL and Cable, is completely-powered by the internet. What that means for the consumer (especially, if you have a newer TV) is a really great picture.

However, there are a few things to consider:

• Unlike cable, you must have a set-top box for every TV connected (the first one is free, each additonal box is $7.00 per month).
  
• You don't have to pay local franchise fees every month (as you would with Cable TV). Just the base price plus applicable taxes.
  
• Unlike cable and satellite, the U-verse DVR can be accessed by any connected TV in the house.
  
  [*]The U-verse "hub" is a single box that serves the same purpose as a cable modem and wired/wireless router -- all in one neat package.
  
• If you desire HD service, that will run an additional $10 a month.

As for me, I live in the St. Louis market -- for "U-verse 200", HD, a second set-top box, high-speed internet, and unlimited home phone -- all that runs me about $145 a month.

Do you hook other computers/devices up to the U-Verse router, or just the U-verse products? Would this box completely replace our existing router?

Here's one of my concerns. Both DH and I work from home so our bandwith can get pretty tight at times. We've got VOIP now (Vonage) and there are times when the call will just drop for no reason. It sounds like U-Verse has everything going through the Internet line as well and I wonder if that will cause the same issues we're having now.

 

[bonoriffic]

I can't seem to keep my DSL running long enough last 2 days to have time to look for reviews. Thanks

Is your DSL provided by AT&T? That is a huge warning sign, and is bad news for U-Verse. You may be at a distance from the central office that is less than ideal. For U-Verse this would mean potentially you can't get as many streams into your house. If you have HD, that is a huge problem, basically wiping away 1/2 the possible streams you could get. For non HD viewing, if you were recording 3 shows for example, you wouldn't be able to watch live TV.

The problems people experience with U-Verse is proportional to distance. The closer you are, the happier you will be.

 

[bonoriffic]

Do you hook other computers/devices up to the U-Verse router, or just the U-verse products? Would this box completely replace our existing router?

Here's one of my concerns. Both DH and I work from home so our bandwith can get pretty tight at times. We've got VOIP now (Vonage) and there are times when the call will just drop for no reason. It sounds like U-Verse has everything going through the Internet line as well and I wonder if that will cause the same issues we're having now.

The U-Verse router can take the place of any existing routers you have. Or you can continue to use the existing router BEHIND the U-Verse router, which is less than ideal.

As for VOIP dropping, are you currently using Comcast for internet? They actively throttle VOIP connections, basically causing all sorts of problems. I had to drop VOIP because of that. The short story is net neutrality laws that can't get passed. Comcast feels a competitor (VOIP) is using their infrastructure (internet lines) for free, and they can prioritize your VOIP packets to cause problems. I don't know if AT&T has a history of also doing this, but they could.

I also don't know if U-Verse would work with a VOIP device in FRONT of the U-Verse router, and putting VOIP behind a router just seems to cause more problems than it should.

 

[SandrA9810]

I know UVerse is a fiber optic/copper cabling and different from older phone lines.
Currently verizon is the only one to have lines running in the neighborhood, and AT&T currently working on installing the UVerse cables. Which apparently is what my aunt asked for when she called to have the phone service transfered.

All she has is one home with long distance and the cheapest internet (for 25$ a month). It's an old dsl modem, that she's probably had for years. So why can't she access the internet through the phone line?? They're telling her she has to wait till they install the lines.

I can see why she'd ask for faster speeds, but can't they give her what she had till they finish?? It could take a month or longer to get the internet turned on.

 

[Mom21]

Is your DSL provided by AT&T? That is a huge warning sign, and is bad news for U-Verse. You may be at a distance from the central office that is less than ideal. For U-Verse this would mean potentially you can't get as many streams into your house. If you have HD, that is a huge problem, basically wiping away 1/2 the possible streams you could get. For non HD viewing, if you were recording 3 shows for example, you wouldn't be able to watch live TV.

The problems people experience with U-Verse is proportional to distance. The closer you are, the happier you will be.

No that wasn't the problem. I've had At &T DSL for years. They have something strange going on that only started happening a few weeks ago. I think I'm back now. Engineering is very mystified at this. I've always been fine before, so nothing about distance. Just a freak problem with the entire neighborhood with DSL.

Also they told me for now 4 streams for the house. So I could record 3, watch 1; record 2 and then I could watch a tv and dd could watch a tv. They think they are close to being able to do at least 6 but that will be a while or maybe even 8. It is only me and dd. Right now we have 5 from Directv and rarely do we have a conflict even though with mine I have 3 boxes. 2 of them can get 2 at a time and 1 can get only 1, so I don't see a problem with the total house of 4 if we rarely have a conflict with 2 on a DVR.

Still researching.

 

[kaytieeldr]

OP, does this help http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source...2hQSw7eW2CgAAAKoEBU_QZUXK&fp=d88f8d5e5faa9003 ? I Googled AT&T UVerse reviews, and this link is the result. I hope it works for you, and will (should) be faster than you searching yourself - so maybe you'll be able to read results before DSL cuts out on you?

 

[Mom21]

OP, does this help http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source...2hQSw7eW2CgAAAKoEBU_QZUXK&fp=d88f8d5e5faa9003 ? I Googled AT&T UVerse reviews, and this link is the result. I hope it works for you, and will (should) be faster than you searching yourself - so maybe you'll be able to read results before DSL cuts out on you?

yes it did thank you. I have it bookmarked so whenever my DSL comes back in I run and read a page or 2. They said this is a freaky thing they have never seen before 3 weeks ago. Takes them 3 days at least each time to get it working again. I'm thinking engineers better start earning their pay...LOL. I'm still up in the air as I just don't do well with change in technology.

Thanks everyone for the reviews and keep them coming. I need to make my decision soon.

 

[bicker]

A warning for folks with or considering U-Verse. AT&T is threatening to pull AMC, WE TV and IFC if a carriage deal isn't completed by July 14. This is yet-another case where the networks want more money than a service provider is willing to pay.

 

[hsmamato2]

just a side note (budget related) that the price you're quoted is less than the actual- they tack on large monthly usage and tax fees,so calculate that in, tho it sounds like you're already paying quite a bit more anyway-
Oh,and a friend of mine who has it- her MIL was supposed to pay the bill one month, and paid it late- service got stopped,to restart it,they charged $30 per service as a restart fee- so, that was $30 for tv,$30 for phone,$30 for internet...you get the idea. just a heads up on how it works. And the prices will rise after the intro period. Can you tell I'm not in love with Att high prices?

 

[tinkmom2]

I have had ATT Uverse for a few years now. You have to pay really close attention to your bill. What you are quoted for services in not necessarily what you will find on your bill. My bills have been between $150-180. That's for 3 receivers, phone, and internet, HDTV, and HBO. (right now I have HBO free for 3 months) When you intially sign up they offer you rebates. I got a$150.00 gift card for joining. Also because of some problem on their end we are only able to either watch or record one HD station at a time.

 

[TLH1977]

Yes, i would have to agree. At first my bill was 137.00 for the first year and then it went up a few dollars every couple of months. Now im off the promo special and my bill is 176.00 for HD, 3 boxes, phone and internet. You can call and cry to them to lower you..sometimes work, sometiimes doesnt..lol!

 

[bean bunny]

I know much depends on where you live but I know my father-in-law has had U-verse for a few years and why there are some definite positives (like the NFL network) he experiences A LOT of outages. They aren't ever weather related and they typically don't just "fix" themselves. He's had to have a service person come over multiple times. We were seriously considering switching because it really is cheaper than cable however the service issues have kept us from making the switch.

 

[Zachsmom4]

We've had U-Verse since January and frankly have not been too happy with it. Our picture constantly freezes. We have called customer service and they came out and replaced our router (or whatever they call it) and it was fine for about a week. However, our picture still continues to freeze and we have noticed recorded programs just disappear. We will give it until this January, but if things don't improve we will go back to Directv.

 

[daughtersrus]

We looked into getting UVerse a few months ago and decided not to. DH is famous for rewinding live TV. (especially when watching sports). This is not possible with UVerse. The only way to do it is to record every program that you're watching. You can then rewind the recording.

Someone else mentioned lightening. A very good friend of ours had their house hit by lightening a few weeks ago. It blew a hole in the roof (no fire thank God!). The only thing that they lost was everything UVerse related. They lost their phone, internet and everything TV related. AT&T sent a guy out to fix it. After working on it for 2 days, they got it back up running, only to have it go out several more times. AT&T not only charged them for the service calls, they charged them for all of the equipment that was damaged. Of course, our friends are turning it all in to their homeowners insurance but State Farm isn't sure if they'll cover it or not.

Even before this, they weren't too happy about the service and quality plus had a lot of billing problems. AT&T was continuing to bill them for the phone like before plus adding it on again to the UVerse bill. AT&T even threatened to have the phone disconnected for non-payment even though they were paying for the phone service through the UVerse bill.

We decided to stick with Dish Network. They gave us a deal for 24 months to stay so we're happy.

 

[bicker]

A warning for folks with or considering U-Verse. AT&T is threatening to pull AMC, WE TV and IFC if a carriage deal isn't completed by July 14. This is yet-another case where the networks want more money than a service provider is willing to pay.

After a fair amount of public posturing, AT&T and Rainbow Media Holdings have hammered out a new carriage accord.

...

"We're pleased to have reached an agreement with AT&T for AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel that truly recognizes the value of our networks," said Rainbow in a statement. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with AT&T and are excited to continue to bring their subscribers our award-winning programming, including the new season of AMC's Mad Men on Sunday, July 25."

The telco issued its own statement Thursday evening: "We are happy to report that AMC, IFC and WE tv will remain on AT&T U-verse TV. We're very satisfied that we were able to reach the fair deal we wanted for our customers -- one that includes the right content, across platforms, at prices that are in line with the marketplace, and that helps us with important strategic content initiatives. We are very grateful to our customers for their support."