On Sun, 2011-05-15 at 03:19 -0400, Chad Bailey wrote: > I've enjoyed our conversation, hope it hasn't gotten too lengthy heh.
I have enjoyed it as well, though not sure about others :) > There is a tool we have for estimating loop length based on line > parameters, but mostly what I'm referring to is a database of stored > figures. Where they get these figures and how old they are, I have no > idea. I am not 100% but I think they were running some sort of line loopback test, and figuring out the distanced based on information there, delay, attenuation, etc. I really can't speak to specifics there. > I don't really know either. What I do know is that "DSL is regulated > and U-Verse is not". What specifically that means, and to how much > regulation I really don't know. That would be very odd because again U-Verse is very much DSL. DSL comes in many forms, not just the ADSL that is most prevalent. But SDSL has been around for some time. Not just the recent VDSL, which is used for Internet, TV, and Voice. In fact the speeds are quite high, but most of the circuit is reserved for TV and Voice. > I'm aware of that, but within the company the 2 are operated > completely separately. If AT&T decided to cease DSL operations, I'd be > laid off but the U-Verse guys would be fine. Within the company we're > referred to as DSL, and U-Verse is U-Verse (not VDSL). On a partially > related note, it's sad that most agents do not realize U-Verse is also > DSL. Now I can see the tech support being very different between DSL customers and U-Verse customers. Since if you have DSL related issues, thats your VDSL and its going to effect all services, Internet, TV, and Voice. You won't have the same sort of tech support you would with DSL. It would be much more basic, issues with connecting to the gateway either wired or wireless. Since the internal router is connected via ethernet, but using HPNAv3.1. The tech support would be very basic, if necessary really at all. Its a pretty different product in how its delivered. Here is a document on the setup. Should have provided this earlier. http://www.pace.com/Documents/Gateways/2Wire_HomePortal_iNID_Brochure.pdf I am still learning about this setup, its quite interesting :) > When it comes to technicians, there are many that overlap in > responsibilities. There are some techs (facilities and service techs) > which do work on all 3, POTS, DSL, and U-Verse. I would imagine you > were talking to a DSL premise tech. The first tech that showed was a general all around. Dealing with provisioning of the copper from A to B and running tests. Along with the initial wiring, so that they U-Verse techs just terminate in the external gateway/router. > Another useful bit of information > that helps understand these things (new equipment, cool gadgets, etc) > is because each entity has a budget and that budget is typically set > by revenues. The U-Verse budget is probably much higher than the DSL > budget, explaining the equipment differences. That was basically it, but the first tech dealt with much more than U-Verse. The second tech with supervisor, were both 100% U-Verse and nothing else. > Fortunately, AT&T is > pretty reasonable about not wasting money on unnecessary equipment. If > they have the choice between making their workers use older equipment > or laying off some people or giving out pay cuts, they would choose to > make them get by with what they have. I think this is a good quality > actually, as it shows me they are interested in the fair wages of > their employees. Similar things go on within the tech support > department. We don't have the best tools for troubleshooting > connection issues, but I'm happy with that knowing the choice was > between that or having lay offs (unless it were overseas reps haha -- > fat chance, they're the cheap ones) For both tech equipment and software tools. It very well could be they do not want to expend money on things that won't be used going forward. I could see the technician's roll changing from pots, dsl, t1, etc provisioning. To just U-Verse and Wireless. Though there of course will still be copper provisioning in U-Verse. But will just be that and not all the rest. > > Though it would not be beyond any big company to do layoffs in decent > > amounts. I sure hope that does not happen to you or anyone locally, or > > anywhere for that matter. But to have a job is to have the potential to > > lose it for many reasons just as any. One reason I have remained self > > employed. Only I can fire myself. Take that Trump! :) > > Agreed, I aspire to do the same someday. I find it silly to work > relentlessly without being properly reimbursed for your efforts. Well being self employed not always are you properly reimbursed for your efforts. But there can be a level of self pride, which can help to compensate some. > It's > disappointing to see someone being paid as well or better than you who > intentionally take advantage of the company, do not have pride in > their work, are unable to resolve simple issues, etc. There's a lot of > value in being the one who benefits from your work rather than it > being for someone else. There is allot to be said for that, and again sometimes that value is not monetary, but still has value ;) -- William L. Thomson Jr. Obsidian-Studios, Inc. http://www.obsidian-studios.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive http://marc.info/?l=jaxlug-list&r=1&w=2 RSS Feed http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml Unsubscribe [email protected]
