This started a year and a half ago when I first had ATT Uverse wireless installed. I had asked them if it would be better to be wired, and they said it would be exactly as before with the same quality picture. From the beginning the picture quality was not the same, but I had no real problems for the first 6 mo.? if I remember correctly. After six months I started have to reboot the wireless unit at the very least monthly. As I had the service longer and longer, it took less time for the need to be rebooted. Back in August the router/modem bit the dust. It would reboot itself every 2 to 3 seconds and did this for 3 or four days before they came out to look at it. They replaced it. Did this solve the wireless problem?............................. No.
The last straw came the week of Xmas. I had to reboot it twice a day for three days. I would reboot the wireless box and the modem/router. This is now a problem. We have a schedule of shows we have set to record and watch later because of other commitments. We called and set an appointment for Monday, they offered for Sat. or Sun., but who wants to do that just after Xmas? Hello, that time is spent with family. So, I told them I wanted it hard wired like I wanted when I first got their service, but was told it was necessary and it would not affect picture quality. To tell you the truth, I had forgotten how good the picture was on hardwire. I was told it would be $150, because I didn't get it when they first did the install or that was what I was told by the Tech. who showed up to "fix my problems". He got there on time, I had to be his first stop. It was about 8:30 am when he got there, but did not knock until about 15 min. later. I got on the phone to talk about my costs and he (tech in my house) stated I was wasting his time and said "Good bye", and left after about 10 min. in my house. Hmmmm? Not the most professional move, but what the heck. So I was told for their monthly $6 charge I could get the install without the having to pay the $150. I set up another appointment for the next day and again on time and the same spiel about how it was going to cost me. This time it wasn't $150, but $300. So I called ATT again, but this time the guy doesn't run off. Hmmmm? What is different. He was a nice guy. Seriously, I guess the first guy hadn't had his cup of coffee yet? Who knows? Any way the the ATT people on the phone were wondering why I could have the install done for what they said yesterday and just a few minutes before. I should clarify that I was on speaker phone and the Tech that was at my house was trying to explain why it was to be charged. Before we got off the phone, two more guys showed up and I got the install for "free". Free? Seriously? I thought I had been paying for inferior service for about a year and a half?
To be honest, I had complained a few times and really wasn't satisfied with the service, but wasn't really ready to change. Prior to ATT Uverse, we had Direct TV. I don't care what anyone says about them, if it rains you will lose signal. That is why we left them, The year we hit a drought, we get rid of Direct TV. What are the chances? But I digress.
Any way I have 3 techs in my house and we are doing the install. I am helping minimally, hold flashlights relaying messages from attic to guy working inside the house. They drop the line after about 3 and half hours, but this was after being on the phone for about an hour being transfered from one dept. to another until we get to the correct dept. It is typical big company problem. So many dept. and not everyone knows which problems should go to where. Did this solve the problem, no a new one appeared, what are the odds of that happening? I mean I have a tech there, the other two left right after they dropped the line. He replaced the wireless box with a wired box. No problems after the fix so far...............................so far. It is our first full day after service. If I have more problems ATT Uverse TV is gone! I like their INTERNET service and phone has always been good if not great, but the wireless TV is not what it is advertised to be. I strongly suggest if you want ATT Uverse go with the wired version. It is a lot less trouble and the picture is extremely visibly better. There is no pixelation, or shadowing (ghosting) of people on the screen. :o)
All in all, I hope this help someone with their decision with what they should get and how they should have it set up without have to go through what I did. read more