[Leaplist] WWA DSL speed limits.

[patrick]

Today, I worked on trying to speed up the DSL at the WWA.

I reviewed the Business Account contract (Embarq). It is in the second
year, and is for the DSL phone line, the business phone line, and
"Embarq Yellow Pages" ads.

I called Customer Service.  I asked if there is a way to obtain a bit
faster service on the DSL line.  Better modem?  We have a Sprint SP645R
DSL modem.

They offer a 512kb/s, a 1mb/s and a 1.5mbs speed connection for the same
$39,95.  In Las Vegas, they offer 10mb/s. They explained to me, and said
they did the readings as we spoke.

The reason for the speed variance is the wires in the underground, most
of which are decades old.  WWA must have lines pushing half a century or
more...

Technicians scope out the 'last mile' from the Central Office, to the
customer location.

The cables serving WWA is scored in those tests at 100, on a scale of
300.  So, all that will work, they stated today, is the 512kb/s.

I would call around and get info on Sprint, or other DSL services,
except that the current contract might have penalty clauses.

Also, various telecommunications companies simply use the cables already
serving and area, with permission of the owner utility on reciprocity
agreements, so we would tend to be in the exact same pickle with any
provider of DSL.  The 'last Mile' of wires is the crux of the matter.

So, swapping DSL carriers could be premature at this time.  Any other
suggestions?

Now, at most, during peak hours, there are only 21 classroom and
administration computers on the network, and most are not downloading at
the same time, so the Internet seemed perky.  Ping tests to google have
latency of 124ms average, with a high of 134ms (on an XP Homely system).

That isn't too awful bad. But, when we go and hold an Install Fest, and
20 folks try to grab updates or ISOs, it bogs down...