[Dead] SBC DSL 6mbit/608 $44.99/month! (Feb-Mar only) Update: If you got the deal, you keep the speed

[Devistater]

Note, as of 3-25-04 this promotion has ended. See:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,9747245
There's a discussion there also about speeds changing. Basically the plan is so far to grandfather in the existing 6mbit plans. Grandfathering means your plan doesn't change. It will only change if YOU request something done to your DSL. The guy also says that it could change, but its unlikly to. So, so far it looks like everyone who got 6mbit will KEEP IT.
Quote from the guy in midwest SBC:

I was on a call today where high level directors discussed this very issue. SBC marketing is unwavering in there position in regards to grandfathering existing customers. They fought the "big boys" and they won the war. If you are currently downloading at 6mbps provisioned speeds today.... YOU WILL NOT BE REDUCED TO A LOWER SPEED. The ONLY way you will lose this speed and price is if you decided to make a change to your service or move your service.
If you hear anything that contradicts the above, ask that person for their job title. If their jobtitle is anything other than "CEO" or "President", you can consider the information to be "well intended" but incorrect.

The new promotion is $40 a month for actual 3mbit service which still isn't that bad.

Old info for the deal when it was alive:
I just went to http://www.sbc.com picked residential, then sbc dsl, and picked CA, and bam, it shows a plan called Expert Plus Package that gives you 3.0mbps downstream and 385kbit upstream for only $45 a month! I checked several states, from what I can see, every state but CT offers this.

Expert Plus Package 1.5-3.0Mbps Down 384Kbps Up 1 Dynamic IP $44.99/month
Order SBC Yahoo! DSL for a one-year term for $44.99 per month, and receive a $149 SBC Yahoo! DSL Wireless Home Networking kit, $179 laptop Home Networking bundle or a $99 DSL modem, and receive a $99 Instant Credit (taxes and a $12.95 shipping and handling fee apply). Plus, get free activation and a free self-installation kit.

Direct link to pick a state/area code:
http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=1080&cdvn=localize&prod-snip=dsl_res_special_offers
From the DSLR forums its been confirmed that the new distance requirment is 9500'. This was changed around 2-27
Note: Its been confirmed by posts both on this thread and in dslreports forums that you get a 6mbit/608 package when you sign up for this. Apparently SBC wont have a 3mbit plan setup until March so they are putting the 3mbit orders on the 6mbit plan. I moved the quotes/links from the SBC techs to my next reply to make this one more concise. See this thread for some speed tests (other threads exist too if you look for them): http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,9337837[/b] Note that because of the 10-15% overhead of DSL and TCP/IP your actual download throughput should be around 5mbit or a bit higher. This is born out by the speed tests. Distance requirment was just changed to 9500' for this package.

Update: I purchased a splitter on ebay and put that in, and that got me up to 3775/505. Then today March 31, 2003 I purchased a linksys WRT54G router instead of the NR041 that I was using. OMG, First speed test was 4841/511 second was 4800/522. Apparently that was my problem all along!

I've been constantly editing this post. You can check last edited date to see when I last updated.

 

[Bish]

Beware...speed is completely dependent on how far from the switch (CO-Central Office) you live.

I tried them for a month in Chicagoland and they could only get the speed up around 500K. Not exactly 3Mbps. I'm about 16,000 feet.

Switched to Comcast Cable Internet and now I'm getting 3Mbps all the time. Oh yeah, their special is $22/month for the first six months, then $42.00.

 

[Devistater]

So far I have several posts from official SBC tech guys at dslreports, I quoted them below with links. Note, I've edited the quotes to show the most pertinent info, check the links for original quotes.
http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9285413

As has been said, we are not changing our Redback profiles. Currently most DSLAMs don't even have the 3mbps profile, so when we do get those profiles it is unlikely to rebuild everyone to the new profile.

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9257782

Currently the orders that I have seen placed call for the 6000/608 profile. I do believe that this is not something that will last indefinitely, though.

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9241875

OK, now to work thru the marketing stuff.
The 1.5-3/384 is a marketing tier, not a speed tier. If you order it, it will actually be the 1.5-6/384-608 like the Expert is currently.
Once again, the 1.5-3/384 is actually 1.5-6/608!!
Existing customers CAN call in and get the new price!! It's just not advertised.
This is the same speed plan that DSLExtreme and Sonic is offering, just under a different name.

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9282627

Two parts here, the first one being that if you already have a plan that is up to 6 meg, it is highly unlikely that you will be re-profiled at a lower redback profile.
So far in checking one order it just shows 1.5 6.0 on the ISP side.
Talking with someone else in the ISP who stated that they have no reason to build a 3meg option into their redbacks.

Originally posted by: Bish
Beware...speed is completely dependent on how far from the switch (CO-Central Office) you live.

I tried them for a month in Chicagoland and they could only get the speed up around 500K. Not exactly 3Mbps. I'm about 16,000 feet.

Switched to Comcast Cable Internet and now I'm getting 3Mbps all the time. Oh yeah, their special is $22/month for the first six months, then $42.00.

The minimum for this plan is 1.5, and the max is 3.0 (but rumor has it the 3.0 is uncapped and you can hit 6 if you are really close and lucky)
This means if you are too far they probably will disqualify you when you try to sign up. Otherwise they coudln't meet the advertised minimums.
In my case I'm very close to a local remote central office and I remember when I originally got the 1.5 the guy capped me at like 70 or 80% so I dont think I'll have a problem hitting 3+.

BTW, 16,000 feet is like 3 miles, thats quite a distance

 

[Urinal Mint]

Unfortunately you have to sign up for a year of service to get this deal.

 

[RobCur]

I already signed up and waiting on 2/9 due date, whats confusing me is that I may get either 3mbit or 6mbit but don't know which is which LOL.
For those on deluxe package, you must call to get this special offers, otherwise you be on deluxe forever 1.5mbit/288kbps is suck and then you pay 59.95 after 12months.
But on this special promo, there is no need to renew onces your 1yrs term run out...
44.95 is all you pay 13th month and onward, pretty cool right?

BTW, sbc got tired of upgrading people's upload from 128 to 256 and 256 to 384, its kind of dumb and many including me have not received this upgrade yet and with a measly 1.5mbit still, its pointless really. This not only make people much happier but they no longer have to pain themself changing profiles when the 6mbit/608k profile has already been done on all CO and RT dslam.
3mbit/384 is the minimum which most are going to be getting due to their distances, but for some lucky ones who are within distance will get 6mbit/608k instead as confirmed by asdl guy on dslreports.com, I have heard that some who were on 99/month and changed to this plan will not have their speed downgraded and will be paying 44.99/month afterward.
2 thumbs up from me for SBC finally getting something right.
This is too crazy They keeps making changes and its driving me nuts.
but for 44.99/month indefinitely, how can I complain?

 

[l31itz]

My distance is around 800ft from the CO but DSL sucks.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: l31itz
My distance is around 800ft from the CO but DSL sucks.

DSL doens't suck. the cable company in my area charges 39.95/mo for 128k up 512k down(and most rarely see the full speed depending on how many are on the trunk). every dsl company here offers 256kup 1.5mb down for 29.95 or less.
it really depends on what's offered in you area.

edit: almost forgot, that's the same price for the 384k up and 1.5=3.0 down it's been for nearly 6 months now.
if they offered 512k up I'd take it. don't know why they don't since adsl lines are capable of 2.0mb up and 6.0mb down.

 

[RobCur]

Originally posted by: l31itz
My distance is around 800ft from the CO but DSL sucks.

Only for some that are too far out of range but those who are closer have very good speed plus cable like time warner, rr, ool will cut you off if you are downloading more then they like. OOL for example will cap your upload to 150kbps, hell even my 1.5mbit/288kbps connection is nearly twice as fast, LMAO.
DSL is purely unlimited uses, no bandwidth restriction!!!

WHY? because all the user with crappy speed of 192k-384kbps are paying for the bandwidth of other leechers like u and me. Too cool, but with Cable everyone's speed is at least 3mbit, and it too fast plus I know some that have switched to DSL due to being terminated, for 1.5mbit/256k, paying 26.95 and is much happier...

 

[Dulanic]

Just ordered, I didn't want to deal with Comcast and their bandwith caps and them cancelling me. I beleive I'm rather close to a RT, so hopefully Ill get over 3mbit down. I dunno why someone would say DSL sucks.... its much more reliable then cable in my experience.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

indeed, it's as reliable as your phone service.

 

[travanx]

If my max because of my distance is about 75 KB/s speed, can I get any faster with a higher paying plan? Or am I stuck at this cap?

 

[ams30gts]

Originally posted by: travanx
If my max because of my distance is about 75 KB/s speed, can I get any faster with a higher paying plan? Or am I stuck at this cap?

most likely you will be stuck. your distance to your closest CO is everything.

im pretty far and im barley holding 1500/256 with sbc. so most likely i wont be able to upgrade to 3mb. dslreports rated me 11,000ft from the CO, but sbc CSR said i was 15,000ft. oh wells.

 

[svtour1]

I just ordered yesterday, and i hope i will get 6mb speeds, i am ~2500ft away from the CO. If not, 3mb will do

 

[usernamemax20charact]

Sucks that they raised their basic service fee from $26 to $29. Still a good price though, especially those still on dial-up.

 

[Cooljt1]

and just when i was going to switch to comcast since they had 3mbps.....where can i find out how far i am from the co? i remmeber along time ago when i was looking into dsl there was a place that told me how far away i was.

 

[ams30gts]

Originally posted by: Cooljt1
and just when i was going to switch to comcast since they had 3mbps.....where can i find out how far i am from the co? i remmeber along time ago when i was looking into dsl there was a place that told me how far away i was.

www.dslreports.com

but the estimate from there isnt very accurate. call SBC and speak to a CSR. they can tell you im sure

 

[codeyf]

This deal doesn't apply to me, but the conversation re: distance from CO is interesting.

According to DSLreports, I am 18304ft away from my closest CO, and my only options are Covad 144k aDSL.......YET, here I am, posting on my Verizon DSL line, currently getting about 85% of my 1.5 down connection.

 

[weepul]

Originally posted by: Devistater
The minimum for this plan is 1.5, and the max is 3.0 (but rumor has it the 3.0 is uncapped and you can hit 6 if you are really close and lucky)
This means if you are too far they probably will disqualify you when you try to sign up. Otherwise they coudln't meet the advertised minimums.
In my case I'm very close to a local remote central office and I remember when I originally got the 1.5 the guy capped me at like 70 or 80% so I dont think I'll have a problem hitting 3+.

that's what i heard too. my friend is getting 6mbps down/608 up in Monterey Park, CA.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[dirtcheapII]

that's what i heard too. my friend is getting 6mbps down/608 up in Monterey Park, CA.

//krunk (^_^x)[/quote]
I am in rosemead and 5400 feet away and hopefully I can get 6mbps down/608 with the price of 45.99 dollar

 

[SherEPunjab]

damn thats FAST... wish it were available at my place.

 

[kindest]

i renewed a one year contract a couple months for 39 a month for 1.5 down/384 upload.
i wonder if i can get on this, anyone know?

i know i can get 6megs to cause when they tested my line the guy was like damn
you must be close cause he was reading over a > 7mbit connection before
they had to cap me down to 1.5.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: Urinal Mint
Unfortunately you have to sign up for a year of service to get this deal.

As you have had to do to get just about all other SBC DSL deals. Including the $27 a month one that just ended.

Originally posted by: Cooljt1
and just when i was going to switch to comcast since they had 3mbps.....where can i find out how far i am from the co? i remmeber along time ago when i was looking into dsl there was a place that told me how far away i was.

Watch out for Comcast's recently enforced invisible & unknown download limit cap that they will terminate your service if you go over them a couple times. This link has links to other sources like Associated Press story and the Slashdot one, etc.
http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/38022
For all those saying DSL sucks, watch out for the cable companies who not only often have down/up caps, but are also starting to add total gigabytes transferered per month caps. Granted, if you are too far from a CO or remote office your DSL speed does suck, but for a large percentage of us DSL can offer more features than cable.

Originally posted by: kindest
i renewed a one year contract a couple months for 39 a month for 1.5 down/384 upload.
i wonder if i can get on this, anyone know?

i know i can get 6megs to cause when they tested my line the guy was like damn
you must be close cause he was reading over a > 7mbit connection before
they had to cap me down to 1.5.

Same here almost exactly. I renewed too a couple months ago, but for 1.5/256. I will be calling tomorrow to see if I can switch, I dont see why not, they will get more money out of me Also I'm dang close as well, I think they put a remote office out here for our specific development and I had this massive cap on mine to get me down to 1.5 mbit. Its funny too, the guy wrote down the cap on a business card and stuck it into the telephone box. I've always regretted not changing the numbers a little on another pacbell card I had

 

[russw]

seems like a lot of you are getting good transfer rates. I installed SBC/Yahoo for my sister who is 1.3 miles west of her closest CO and her speeds are all over the place. On initial install I got relatively good ul's of 220 but dl's were in 400's. Checked again after the "10 day" settling in period and ups were still in low 200's but dl's were as high as 1300. BUT sometimes the dl's drop a lot. Tested it at 1200 something, then again at 984, and half hour later is was less than 300. Sucks if you ask me and I don't know why it is so variable.
...russ

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: russw
seems like a lot of you are getting good transfer rates. I installed SBC/Yahoo for my sister who is 1.3 miles west of her closest CO and her speeds are all over the place. On initial install I got relatively good ul's of 220 but dl's were in 400's. Checked again after the "10 day" settling in period and ups were still in low 200's but dl's were as high as 1300. BUT sometimes the dl's drop a lot. Tested it at 1200 something, then again at 984, and half hour later is was less than 300. Sucks if you ask me and I don't know why it is so variable.
...russ

How are you testing? Many times the testing apps from the internet can be busy at certain times from too many people testing at that moment and wont show accurate testing results. I've found the best way to test downstream is to goto a fast site and start downloading a big file. Like nvidia.com generally is pretty fast for me. For upstream, if you have some site you can FTP into and upload (almost any web server hosting service, college FTP student account, etc) that usually gives you a decent idea of upstream.

Also, keep in mind that on most ADSL lines (i.e. where upload is not same as download) when you upload you will most likely kill your download rate. For instance if you are uploading at 25k/sec (200kbps) and that is your max, your download can slow to 20k/sec or even 5k/sec. I've seen it happen. So its generally not a good idea to test the up/down rates simultaneously if you want the maximums of each rate separatly.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

As long as your cable internet provider is good, you'll get excellent service. My first experience with cable was through Cincinnati Road Runner, and I even knew a guy high up working in that service. He told me that they had twice the bandwidth ready for the ammount of predicted potential customers, which meant that you'd never really see your quoted bandwidth speeds not reach their cap. 2Mbps down, 384Kbps up and I never saw a drastic deviation until they upgraded the down speed to 3Mbps for no extra charge.

DSL was never that attractive until itactually has become (recently) a cheaper yet lower bandwidth solution to cable. If I couldn't afford cable I'd certainly have DSL, sure beats dialup.

When it comes down to it, just be thankful to have broadband