I also have AT&T DSL, and lately, I've been having occasional website connection problems - I sometimes click on a link and get an error message, but if I click "retry" or "reload current page" a time or two, I connect to the target website.
AT&T has been hyping their "package" deals with "improved" U-Verse internet service and VOIP phone service bundled together, so I wonder if this is their not-so-subtle way of annoying me into switching . . . any ideas from our IT/PC gurus?
I've been researching AT&T DSL and Uverse because I have to come up with some solution for the times I have to stay with my folks up in the boonies. I've been using a Verizon 4G modem when I'm there, which is great with 20MB/S download speeds, but very expensive, at $50 for 6GB/mo. I have to spend more time up there, and 6GB disappears pretty quick after a few Netflix sessions. They may have an AT&T option at their place now as DSL, but AT&T in their location advertizes it as only 3-6MB/s for around $35/mo compared to Uverse (not available in the sticks) at 30MB/s for the same $35/mo, or cheaper with a bundle.
So yeah, I'm betting AT&T and others would love to get away from supporting the older DSL tech with its slower speeds. I doubt they're down-throttling you though. I expect it's more of what I mentioned in my first post - 3-6MB/s is pretty crappy for streaming, especially HD.
To veer your thread (sorry), I'm curious as to why 4G wireless connections are so danged expensive. The signal seems to be much more available now, especially in fringe areas where DSL and cable are not, and it seems like it would take much less infrastructure to put up towers than to run and maintain hundreds of miles of cable. It's MUCH faster than DSL, and comparable to cable. Yet the cost for just a bare minimum data package for someone who watches maybe a half dozen streaming HD movies a month, and does fairly normal Internet browsing, will run $150/mo and up for the 4G to get maybe 30GB/mo of data. My cable company recently put a cap on data, but the cap is 250GB/mo for $60/mo (went up $10 when I dumped the TV part of my cable), which even with nearly daily Netflix, I haven't come close to.
