[NTLUG:Discuss] *SL alternatives

[Aaron Goldblatt]

Sorry to have missed out on the conversation here; I've been trying to be 
self-supporting through my own voluntary contributions, and at times that 
takes me away from my email, since I'm no longer in the nerd business (since 
I can't find a job in that line of work right now ...).

Anyway, a quick note to relate my DSL/cable story and what I've done.

Several years ago my only option was cable via Charter/@Home.  The big 
drawbacks were their funky 10/8 network (which someone else here alluded to). 
 Nobody would tell me how it worked, and when I asked they told me to email 
abuse at .  Very helpful.  I noticed shortly after that conversation that they 
were strobing my network, and they had firewalled UDP port 53.  I could now 
no longer run the DNS servers on which my domain depended.

They weren't particularly helpful about billing, either.  They require a 
credit card for their broadband service, even though their cable television 
license requires that they accept cash.  I am ... shall we say ... 
economically challenged ... and getting a credit card is no easy chore for 
me.  The ability to accept cash for ISP service was coming RSN for two years 
when I dumped 'em.


When I went to DSL, I went with SWBell's ISP.  At the time I got five static 
IPs, with server permission, for $80/mo, with 384 down/128 up, which is 
plenty sufficient for me (I actually get 1.5md down/384 up, so I'm a happy 
man).  It took some doing to actually get them to enter that price into their 
system, but the service has been rock solid reliable for the year and a half 
I've had it.  I was totally thrilled when I asked that they delegate the 
reverse DNS resolution to me, and they did, no questions asked!  They also 
set up secondary MX reception and secondary authoritative DNS for me at no 
additional cost.  That's worth something to me.

The downside, however, is, of course, the cost.  Combined with the rest of my 
phone bill, my average monthly bill runs $180/mo.  That's a little steep, IMO.

I've made the decision to switch to Sprint Ion.  It's apparently a DSL-like 
service, and completely replaces SWBell for DSL, ISP, and LL service.  I'm 
paying, I believe, $120 or so, for two landline numbers (which are the same 
as my existing numbers, no phone number change hassle), something like 300 
minutes nationwide LD, unlimited free LD to other Ion customers (if you know 
any), and decent speed (the same 384/128 gaurantee).  The only downside: Only 
one static IP, and you can't get more.

Servers through Ion/Mindspring are unsupported, but permitted.  Also, 
apparently the box the must install in your house requires electricity 
(they'll sell you a UPS for it tho), and the software that configures it is 
(of course) Windows-only.  Linux is not supported, but is not prohibited. 
You're just on your own.

In addition to the reduction in cost, my wife is a Sprint employee, so we get 
a $30/mo break on the price, so this was a deal I basically could not pass 
up, even with only one static.  I guess I get to learn ipchains.

They're supposed to handle the transition with SWBell, although I believe I'm 
supposed to terminate the DSL service myself.  Given how much fun it was to 
get my $80/mo charge straight last year, I can just imagine it taking another 
five months (and a call to the chairman's office) to get it fixed.

My installation is scheduled for the 10th.  Will let yall know how it goes.

http://ion.sprint.com/

ag