[NTLUG:Discuss] setting up a web-hosting company

[Richard Cobbe]

Lo, on Saturday, April 21, David Neeley did write:

> At 12:51 PM 4/21/2001 -0500, you wrote:
> >David:
> >
> >The biggest problem with DSL is that there is
> >siginificant downtime with the line.
> >
> >We have ADSL access thru Verizon and we have no access
> >for hours every month or so.
> >
> >         Neil.
> 
> That's interesting, for I've had Verizon DSL for a month and a half and 
> haven't had any downtime due to them yet. WinPOET on Windows 98 machine, yes!

As far as I can tell, DSL reliability tends to vary pretty widely.  I've
had a residential ADSL link in Plano for roughly 18 months now: the line is
through Verizon, but Directlink is my ISP.

* About six months ago, my modem went south on me, and they replaced it
  free-of-charge.  Rather unfortunately, the replacement wasn't quite
  compatible with the equipment at the CO, so I had to get them to replace
  it again, but they still didn't charge me anything.  Total time of
  interruption, somewhere in the 3-5 day range.

* A couple of months ago, the DSLAM (device at the CO to which the modem
  connects) had some difficulties; they had to reboot the thing, and all
  was fine.  (Who knew Windows did telecom?  <grin>) Total outage, 2 days,
  primarily because the DSLAM went down on a Sunday morning, and they don't
  always have techs around for this sort of non-essential service on the
  weekends.

Other than that, I've had no difficulties whatsoever.  However, about six
months ago, GTE/Verizon attempted an upgrade at some of the other COs in
Plano, and this broke service to customers in those exchanges for a couple
of weeks.

I think the moral of the story is that DSL reliability can be very good or
very bad, or anywhere in between, depending on a number of factors outside
your control.

Richard