anybody using SBC Yahoo DSL?

[Brian Kelsay]

I have a few questions about details of the above service install.  Answer only if you are a current or former user of the service or have performed installs for others with the service.  I need details, not flames and trolls so I can make an intelligent, informed decision.

Current pricing is $26.95/month (1.5Mbps down) for a one yr commitment with free hardware and self-install.  The higher speed (3Mbps down) is avail. for $36.95/month and same free hardware and install.

If you have this service and use Linux, did you have to hook up a Windows PC for the initial install and then move the NIC used for the install to your Linux box or Linux based firewall?  I had to do this when I originally signed up for @Home, but this problem went away with the switch to Comcast.net.  I noticed this change when setting up friends with Comcast.  I have not really dealt with Roadrunner or DSL for anyone.  The deal was that your MAC address was used as part of the authentication scheme somehow.  I don't really recall more detail than that.

Do they use PPPoE?  Not a big deal, but I know it can be a pain in some ways when you try to keep alive your connection for an always on PC.

How is their customer service if you are competent with PCs and networks?  Do they try to give you the run-around and have you do stupid things in their support script books or do they listen to you when you tell them you have already tried all that?

Have you had any problems with the service being down frequently like some users here that have RR have experienced?  I have not had outage problems with Comcast until I moved to the new address, but I'm looking to save some money and maybe lose the ties to cable.  This is probably more dependent on your phone line quality, like cable is on the age and quality of cable wire, than anything else, though DSL is dependent on distance to switch.

Tied to the last question, have you had trouble with email being down?  I think they just have most people use Yahoo webmail, which I do now anyway, but with paid service you can do a legal POP download of mail.  Again, this is a frequent complaint of RR users, but not a problem with Comcast.  If I get this DSL connection I intend to try to have my own mailserver, but the family will probably be on the ISP mailserver.

Any trouble running a home webserver, mailserver and using ssh into said servers?  Any blocked ports by default?  I've not had a problem with Comcast, but some RR users have had to call CS to get ports unblocked.  I'm not planning on running a business or getting 5 nines of service, I just want a playground for server stuff, so don't get yer panties in a bunch over getting a business level DSL connection.

Any other caveats about using their service that you have noticed, any limitations that I haven't thought to ask about?

Brian Kelsay