Can't get Internet service @ my house. Can anyone help??

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The U-Verse equipment should have an RJ11 jack. My folks are pretty bad with setting up technology. My dad has called me up just because he couldn't figure out how to select a printer from a drop-down menu. I've gone over a couple of times to set up their U-Verse box; they've gotten new equipment three times So what did they do? I suppose it's possible to have just a four-wire connection to an RJ11 cable.

Well what do ya know..there is a jack labled "phone lines" on our U-Verse Residental Gateway so I suppose that would work as well

 

[barkley]

I'm in Anacortes. What I meant was, for some reason, I could get satellite TV from DirectTV, but wasn't able to get satellite internet from them. They said I would have to find a different internet provider, so I just went with Comcast where I could get cable internet and TV.

OK. You're not exactly out in the middle of nowhere. You should have options, although I've got no experience with satellite internet

the op could be like us and only have one choice PERIOD. in Washington it seems like the companies that offer services took the entire state, divvied it up with no rhyme or reason and the consumers are left to deal with it.

dd lives in a city that's about 12 miles away from us-only 2 choices (one through a cable tv provider). where I'm at it's one choice. I have direct tv but they cannot provide me with internet b/c another company (one of the big landline phone companies in our state) has the sole contract. we will never have the option of cable providing it b/c cable will never be dropped in our area (we live in an area with rock that makes dropping any lines far too costly for it to ever be appealing to a cable company). there's a waitlist in our area for service so I don't know what those who buy out here do (I think some use their cell phones but cell reception is spotty at best so I can't imagine it works very well).

I don't think there's any legal requirement to disclose about internet availability.

 

[bcla]

Here's the back of one of their boxes:

The green port is what most use to talk to AT&T, and that typically hooks up to a phone jack. The red (Ethernet) port might be used if there's an optical box, but very few neighborhoods can get that.

 

[bcla]

Well what do ya know..there is a jack labled "phone lines" on our U-Verse Residental Gateway so I suppose that would work as well

That's only for voice over IP phone service. If you look over the photo I posted, that's the white Port. The red one may be connected to an optical networking box, but most don't have that. The yellow ports are Ethernet ports like any router has. The green port is what most people use to talk to AT&T. The coax connector provide the TV service.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That's only for voice over IP phone service. If you look over the photo I posted, that's the white Port. The red one may be connected to an optical networking box, but most don't have that. The yellow ports are Ethernet ports like any router has. The green port is what most people use to talk to AT&T. The coax connector provide the TV service.

Ah ok that's what my husband and I just discussed..the phone lines jack=VoIP part.

Here's what ours looks like which is essentially the pic you posted:


This particular box was given to us in late Feb 2016 when we upgraded to gigapower (now something like AT&T Fiber or whatnot).

 

[chartle]

Because the hard-wired phone line was not going to be a separate phone line. It was going to use a few of the wired pairs in the ethernet cable (which is a common enough thing around me to do).

It's a common enough practice near me at least in the last few years to do away with hard-wired phone lines in a home especially in favor of booting internet capabilities when many people don't actively start with a brand new home with a hard-wired phone (they use cell phones or a VoIP).

On Verizon FIOS they hook up your house phone lines

Here's the back of one of their boxes:

The green port is what most use to talk to AT&T, and that typically hooks up to a phone jack. The red (Ethernet) port might be used if there's an optical box, but very few neighborhoods can get that.

Well I have FIOS, 50 MPS up and down, so fiber runs to an ONT box on the side of my house and from there coax carries the signals for my TV boxes and wireless router. Since its Verizon aka "the phone company" he also hooked up our house phone wiring to the box so all our phone jacks run the same.

In our area, Pittsburgh, we have Comcast, Fios and Dish for TV. I'm not sure if DSL is still available. Thats what we had before and before that dial up WOW from CompuServe. Comcast or its Predecessors have been around since cable first came in in the mid 70's.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't think there's any legal requirement to disclose about internet availability.

That's why I asked moreso because it could be useful for the OP to at least know.

For example the Kansas Association of Realtors has a sample form and one of the questions is:


That would be an excellent spot to explain "once current internet is disconnected you will be left with only one choice for internet (Hughes Net in this case) or go on the waiting list."

Can't answer for the OP but if I was disclosed this type of issue prior to purchasing the home I would have been unlikely to have bought it. Like multiple people have said on this thread they would sell the house at this point and move.

*ETA: And while it is a sample form not a legally required by the State form it just goes to show sorta what I meant by asking if the previous owners had to or I guess I could say had the opportunity to disclose of this issue*

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

On Verizon FIOS they hook up your house phone lines


Well I have FIOS, 50 MPS up and down, so fiber runs to an ONT box on the side of my house and from there coax carries the signals for my TV boxes and wireless router. Since its Verizon aka "the phone company" he also hooked up our house phone wiring to the box so all our phone jacks run the same.

In our area, Pittsburgh, we have Comcast, Fios and Dish for TV. I'm not sure if DSL is still available. Thats what we had before and before that dial up WOW from CompuServe. Comcast or its Predecessors have been around since cable first came in in the mid 70's.

Apologies but I'm not understanding what you mean by they hook up your house phone lines?

 

[bcla]

Ah ok that's what my husband and I just discussed..the phone lines jack=VoIP part.

Here's what ours looks like which is essentially the pic you posted:
View attachment 215218

This particular box was given to us in late Feb 2016 when we upgraded to gigapower (now something like AT&T Fiber or whatnot).

Oh. What you're running is their high-powered service and not the original service. The original version worked over a DSL line that had a maximum length specified that would guarantee the line was capable of 24 Mbit/sec. That would have to be shared between TV, internet, AND VoIP, compared to cable where TV and internet worked independently.

 

[bcla]

Apologies but I'm not understanding what you mean by they hook up your house phone lines?

I think that means the FIOS box is patched into the home phone wiring after disconnecting those lines from the outside world. The FIOS box probably also provides power to the phone line, since some people still use traditional phones that run off of line power.

I think most VoIP systems are capable of that. Our provider rents out a Linksys VoIP box. We have it connected directly to a cordless phone system, but I suppose we could get it connected to our existing home wiring.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Oh. What you're running is their high-powered service and not the original service. The original version worked over a DSL line that had a maximum length specified that would guarantee the line was capable of 24 Mbit/sec. That would have to be shared between TV, internet, AND VoIP, compared to cable where TV and internet worked independently.

Ahhh. Thanks for explaining all of that

 

[chartle]

Apologies but I'm not understanding what you mean by they hook up your house phone lines?

I think that means the FIOS box is patched into the home phone wiring after disconnecting those lines from the outside world. The FIOS box probably also provides power to the phone line, since some people still use traditional phones that run off of line power.

I think most VoIP systems are capable of that. Our provider rents out a Linksys VoIP box. We have it connected directly to a cordless phone system, but I suppose we could get it connected to our existing home wiring.

Yes the phone lines go to the ONT so nothing has changed. I can plug a phone in any of the jacks in my house. The ONT is powered from a 110v outlet inside the house and it has a battery backup for just the phone if the power goes out.

For Comcast you plug your phone into the wireless router which for most people works since if they still have a landline they have a cordless phone base station with charging stations around the house. I do think if you unplugged your phone lines from the outside world and plugged the phone line from router into a wall jack with the right cord it should work.

 

[bcla]

the op could be like us and only have one choice PERIOD. in Washington it seems like the companies that offer services took the entire state, divvied it up with no rhyme or reason and the consumers are left to deal with it.

It depends. Verizon has no presence in our area outside of cellular service. The usual suspects are AT&T and Comcast. Some cities are hoping that Google might come in with its fiber service. San Francisco only has Google Fiber going to condo/apartment complexes that deal with Google. Kansas City, MO is their highest profile attempt at residential service to neighborhoods. I remember back when they announced they were going to KC, some people in the Bay Area were upset that they weren't providing that service closer to home. San Francisco wanted the neighborhood service badly.

Back when traditional DSL was big, a local phone provider was required to make its lines available to other internet companies. Those companies could lease space at the switching offices for their equipment, and the phone company would connect their equipment to the phone lines. I had EarthLink DSL, but I remember AOL and Excite had DSL. The OP might consider inquiring about other DSL providers that might have an empty slot at their phone switching office. Right now it sounds like AT&T isn't interested in investing in more DSL equipment. I kind of understand why, as traditional DSL is really kind of outdated compared to FTTN like U-Verse or faster stuff like Gigapower.

This explains the OP's situation pretty well.

http://arstechnica.com/business/201...s-broadband-to-your-neighbors-but-not-to-you/

Lewis isn't alone. Nearly a decade after AT&T promised the US government that it would bring broadband Internet service to 100 percent of its wireline telephone territory, many people who are desperate for AT&T Internet face a maddening problem. They can get AT&T phone service through the DSL-capable copper cables coming into their homes, their neighbors have DSL Internet service from AT&T, but they themselves cannot get wired Internet service because AT&T claims its network is full.​

 

[chartle]

Certain apt buildings, like my MIL's, around here are Comcast only. Verizon just doesn't want to rewire the building and I'm not sure where they would put the ONTs.

Like I posted Comcast has been around for for ever and they don't need to install anymore boxes to give you what ever you want. My son in upstate NY had a choice but he moved in just when Verizon Installers went on strike. He went to a store in the mall and he signed up for service and picked up a router. e just had to plug it in.

 

[bcla]

Yes the phone lines go to the ONT so nothing has changed. I can plug a phone in any of the jacks in my house. The ONT is powered from a 110v outlet inside the house and it has a battery backup for just the phone if the power goes out.

For Comcast you plug your phone into the wireless router which for most people works since if they still have a landline they have a cordless phone base station with charging stations around the house. I do think if you unplugged your phone lines from the outside world and plugged the phone line from router into a wall jack with the right cord it should work.

I've had some fun when the power went out with DSL. I had an uninterruptible power supply, which I used to power my DSL modem and wireless router. My laptop obviously could run on its battery. With that I could still get internet access. The only annoying thing was that my UPS had an alarm when it was operating off of the battery.

I've got Comcast internet now, but with a satellite TV service. I own my own cable modem and WiFi router. I don't want to pay monthly for their equipment. If I ever stop, I can just sell the cable modem and still use my WiFi router.

Also, a lot of people are unaware that their Comcast-provided all-in-one boxes do double duty as WiFi hotspots for customers of Comcast and customers in the CableWiFi consortium. I personally take advantage of them, but there's no way I'd allow my equipment to do that. There's a way to turn it off, but the average customer has no idea about how to access the settings to turn that off.

 

[bcla]

Certain apt buildings, like my MIL's, around here are Comcast only. Verizon just doesn't want to rewire the building and I'm not sure where they would put the ONTs.

Like I posted Comcast has been around for for ever and they don't need to install anymore boxes to give you what ever you want. My son in upstate NY had a choice but he moved in just when Verizon Installers went on strike. He went to a store in the mall and he signed up for service and picked up a router. e just had to plug it in.

Over the years they have updated their equipment to DOCSIS 1.0/2.0/3.0. At the neighborhood level they still need to install equipment for every new customer. They may also rewire the setups so that the internet is distributed through more unique branches connected to their central office. Internet congestion is still an issue, so splitting up the load is still something they do.

Rewiring a large building or complex is a pain though. I interviewed at a company that was making equipment to improve TV service using existing wiring. At this point most want HD video, so I don't think The product was a long-term solution. Last I heard, that company was bought out primarily for the employees.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes the phone lines go to the ONT so nothing has changed. I can plug a phone in any of the jacks in my house. The ONT is powered from a 110v outlet inside the house and it has a battery backup for just the phone if the power goes out.

For Comcast you plug your phone into the wireless router which for most people works since if they still have a landline they have a cordless phone base station with charging stations around the house. I do think if you unplugged your phone lines from the outside world and plugged the phone line from router into a wall jack with the right cord it should work.

Ah ok I see. For our house we don't have phone jacks period..it was wired without a home phone line in mind we just have ethernet ports. But I get what you are saying. Either way we're happy right now with what it is but it's good information you've shared

 

[klmall]

When we started looking for a new house more than 5 years ago, access to cable was tied for #1 with the house itself. We had to eliminate so many neighborhoods, cheaper tax areas, beautiful mountain spots because the only internet available was satellite. Since DH and DS play online games this wasn't acceptable. I was amazed at how many expensive housing developments in beautiful locations didn't have cable. We could probably have saved $50,000 or more on a house if we had bought where high speed internet isn't ever going to be available.