Re: Speakeasy status (Re: [PLUG] DirecTV switchover)

["William H. Magill" <magill@mcgillsociety.org>]

On Wednesday, January 15, 2003, at 11:07  AM, Kevin Brosius wrote:
> No, that's the problem.  No sync (and no dsl light.)  Both Power and 
> Sys
> lights come up solid green, after Sys blinks for a few seconds during
> startup.
>
> Sadly, I've already been through three NID (outside phone box - Network
> Interface Device) tests with them on the phone.  That's part of why I'm
> unhappy with their diagnostic capability.

This is the biggest issue with getting a new DSL line up and running.

Getting Verizon to get the DSLAM in the Central Office configured, and 
then getting the configuration saved so that the next CO reload won't 
loose it.

As far as testing is concerned, the ISP subcontracting with Verizon (or 
Covad) cannot do any testing at the DSLAM level if the DSLAM is not 
correctly configured and the line "up and running." All that they can 
do is to tell that the DSLAM isn't talking to anything on the other 
end. They then have to put a trouble ticket in with Verizon or Covad 
and wait for them to "roll a truck" to troubleshoot the problem.

However, watch your sync light -- it may just miraculously come on some 
evening. (My experience is that the 2nd shift (4pm-12am) seems to be 
where all of these things get fixed, unless they have to actually swap 
out a card in the DSLAM or "finish" the CO wiring.)

DSL connections are different from regular phone line activations in 
that someone must physically enter the CO [most COs are un-manned these 
days] and run a pair of wires from the frame where your phone line 
appears over to the DSLAM racks, and back again. Regular phone line 
connections are all "pre-wired" and are simply activated at the CO 
Switch.

For some reason, getting DSL started is STILL a painful process. And it 
doesn't seem to matter who the ISP is. However, once it's functional, 
it will probably run "forever."

T.T.F.N.
William H. Magill
magill@mcgillsociety.org
magill@acm.org
magill@mac.com

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