By No DSL alternatives along Fallen Leaf
One big DSL problem was totally missed by this article: there are regions in Los Altos where there are no practical DSL solutions or alternatives.
Where I live, in southeast Los Altos on Fallen Leaf Lane, DSL is not available because of the 20,000-foot distance from the telephone office. Worse yet, there are no adequate alternatives!
The wireless microwave links (now marketed as “Sprint Broadband Direct”) are not available in this area because of noise generated by corona discharge from nearby high voltage power lines along the border with Sunnyvale, and because of a lot of big mature trees in this area. (This service does work fine just a few blocks from here.)
Satellite connections have big delays and other limitations (e.g., low upload speed) that make them undesirable.
iDSL (a tenth as fast and twice as expensive as DSL) was available here from NorthPoint until it went bankrupt and unceremoniously shut us off suddenly, when buyer AT&T decided it didn’t like our kind of customer. They said they wanted residential customers instead? But that’s what we are! So apparently AT&T just didn’t have any clue what they were actually doing.
Our iDSL service was later picked up by Rhythms. Rhythms went bankrupt just a few days ago, but this time they are providing for a transition to new provider Covad, which is now also bankrupt, Chapter 11.
Cable modem service is still unavailable in Los Altos because our city is putting conditions on it (”negotiating,” as reported in your Aug. 8 article), but anyway cable has serious disadvantages compared to DSL.
The only practical solution is for Pac Bell to install a repeater within range of our neighborhood, so that we can get true DSL service. But the telephone people I’ve discussed this with tell me this isn’t going to happen in the foreseeable future, because Los Altos makes it so difficult for the telco to install repeaters. So the telco isn’t going to bother; the revenue expected isn’t worth the hassle of negotiating with our little city. I certainly hope what I’ve heard isn’t true….
So, my neighbors and I are just stuck - it’s slow iDSL (if we’re really lucky in this third bankruptcy) or dial-up modems here, with no relief in sight.
I realize Los Altos wants to remain as beautiful as possible, and has had a long tradition of fighting ham radio antennas, cellphone antennas, streetlights and sidewalks. But today it’s seriously inconvenient having dead zones in cellphone coverage - it could even be hazardous - and it’s a serious disadvantage not being able to get real DSL.
I would like my city not to obstruct installation of modern utilities, but to encourage them instead.
It’s rather ironic that there are a number of people around Los Altos who played signifant roles in the creation of the Internet and its infrastructure, but who live too far from the telephone office so they can’t be properly connected!
David GustavsonLos Altos
Wireless alternative misidentified
The Aug. 8 cover story article incorrectly identifies the wireless alternative to DSL as Sprint PCS.
You may be able to get wireless Web access for your cell phone via Sprint PCS; however, the wireless alternative to DSL for the home is Sprint Broadband Direct.
This service requires line of sight to Monument Mt. behind Milpitas. The customer who complained about their service probably needed a tall mast to raise the Sprint antenna high enough to get the signal and the existing antenna was in the way of the needed mast!
While initially very fast, the service has slowed down as people have discovered it. Installation is very fast (as little as five days in my case) because there is only one company to deal with and no lines to run.
Service may be impossible if you are behind some tall trees or a little hill!
Bob De GrasseLos Altos
Poor marketing strategy by providers
Thank you for the article about the DSL problem.
I live in south Los Altos. Neither DSL nor ATT Cable Internet (@HOME) is available. I find this to be an exceptionally poor marketing strategy on Pacific Bell’s and AT&T’s part. We are a bedroom community of Silicon Valley, you would think they would everything in their power to equip the houses with DSL. I understand that that adding a new switch may be costly, but you’d expect Pacific Bell to invest in area where at least 1 in 4 households are involved in Internet related businesses.
A dial-up modem connects at 36k on a good day and typically 28k. Until yesterday, I have been using Ricochet, now I have no option than to go satellite.
Phil Menasce
Los Altos
Another DSL horror story
The Aug. 8 cover story article brought back nasty memories. I tried to subscribe to this service through my ISP, Earthlink, on a special promotion linked to Pac Bell.
It took two weeks to “test” my telephone line. Two more weeks for an installation appointment. On the scheduled day, two PacBell trucks showed up, each with three people. The six of them worked for close to three hours without getting the system to work. A high level repair order was written.
Nothing happend. After numerous telephone calls to customer (non) service, a higher level repair order was written. The system never worked.
Eventually Pac Bell blamed Earthlink; Earthlink blamed PacBell. I was without the use of my computer for more than three weeks. I canceled the service and went back to regular dialup service. Also, to add insult to injury, it took two months to get them to stop billing me for the DSL service that was never operable.
George Dunn
Los Altos
Good reasons to keep safe-street Halloween
Once again a council meeting was held (July 24) concerning our neighborhood and residents were not notified. The only hint we had that something was “up” was the informal survey taken by one of our Orange Avenue neighbors.
You could tell that the survey was written by someone who wanted to ban the closure, but I still went ahead and wrote some positive comments on the survey in favor of having the streets closed for our kids.
Within a one-block distance from our house we now have 16 kids all under the age of 12. We appreciate and welcome the closure of our street during Halloween. Not only does it provide a safe place for all of our children to be on that night but it gives all us a chance to continue what has become a traditional and hometown Halloween night. Everyone around us seems to have a dinner party of some sort and the kids enjoy running to each other’s houses.
This will be our third year and we have had a great time decorating our front yard with new haunts for the kids. Last year we even had all new landscaping, including sod, we just roped it off and there wasn’t any “trampling of landscape, etc”. The kids were polite, respectful and adorable in their costumes. Whether they come from Saratoga, Los Altos Hills, wherever, our lights were off by 9 p.m. and we didn’t have one problem.
For those of you that live on Orange who don’t have children, don’t like Halloween or don’t want to participate - shut your lights off, but don’t deny the rest of us who look forward to the closure as a means to safety and peace of mind for all the little “trick or treaters” that look forward to a fun safe night.
Next time, we should all be informed of a meeting concerning our street. Some of us would have presented at least 16 very good reasons to keep the closure on Halloween.
The Hermansens
Orange Avenue
Los Altos
Great experience at the museum
Editor’s note: Last week’s cover story on DSL (Digital-Subscriber-Line) Internet service in Los Altos touched a nerve with many of our readers. Some were quick to correct us on the facts while others were eager to share their own struggles with establishing a connection. What follows is a sample of the reaction we received.
We had a wonderful outing! We parked right in front of the new Los Altos History Museum, ate our bag lunch at the oak shaded picnic tables behind the museum and History house and then took the audio tour of the museum.
Why did we wait so long? Docents warmly greeted us at the door and were so helpful. The museum was just superb, very interactive, appropriate for all ages, a most entertaining way to learn about the city of Los Altos, the town of Los Altos Hills and their people. Our day ended with a pleasant conversation sitting in the beautifully landscaped courtyard. All of this was cost-free!
We plan to return soon with our families since several visits are need to absorb it all and make purchases in the unusual and theme related gift shop.
Thanks to all who contribute to this special place!
Rory Kaplan and Marge Shively
Los Altos
