Because none of the normal phone company equipment is involved, none of the normal phone line limits apply. DSL lines can run at very high speeds.
DSL lines run over what the incumbent telco (usually PacBell) considers residential lines, line problems are given the same priority as other residential services. For faster repairs, we reccomend a T-1.
Some related terms: ISDN Digital Subscriber Line (IDSL) is a standard way to do 144kbps ISDN-like telco bypasses. Asymmetrical Digital Subscribe Line (ADSL) is a DSL line that can receive more than it can send or vice versa.
You can check on availability via Covad. Depending on how far you are from your phone switch, only some speeds may be available to you. To use the highest speeds, you must be fairly close to your phone switch.
Idiom is based in California. We can provide DSL in other parts of the country, but doing so either costs more or involves using another ISP to handle the bandwidth.
To find out if DSL services are available for you, please send us support@idiom.com an email with your address and phone number.
DSL equipment comes in a couple of flavors: cards; bridges; and routers. We prefer to provide bridges or routers.
With a router multiple computers can access the Internet over a single DSL line. With a bridge, only one computer can access the Internet. Multiple computers can connect to the Internet through a DSL bridge if a standalone ethernet-ethernet router is used with it.
Installation of the DSL equipment is sometimes done by the end user (you) and is sometimes done by the DSL provider.
Covad DSL is available in many parts of the country.
Idiom has three T3 connections to Covad: one each in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles.
Covad DSL service comes at different speeds: 144kbps IDSL, 192kbps SDSL, 384kbps SDSL, 768kbps SDSL, 1.1mbps SDSL, 1.5mbps SDSL, 608/128kbps ADSL, 1.5mbps/128kbps ADSL, 1.5mbps/384kbps ADSL, 1.5mbps/768kbps, 3.0mbps/384kbps ADSL. 3.0mbps/768kbps ADSL, 6.0mbps/768kbps ADSL.
Covad does not treat the kinds of DSL services the same. T1 services are considered appropriate for situations that require the serivce to be up nearly all of the time. Covad will repair such circuits at any time. SDSL services are appropriate for situations where uptime is important but not critical. Covad will work DSL trouble tickets during business hours. Covad will provide bandwidth guarentees. ADSL services are appropriate where speed and price the the primary considerations.
Idiom can both measure and limit bandwidth. In addition to the charges below, enough bandwidth must be purchased to cover most typical usage. Usage will be measured in five minute segments and graphed for your immediate review. If the five-minute averages shown on the graphs frequently exceed the bandwidth purchased, then Idiom may limit your bandwidth to the amount purchased. These bandwidth limits only matter to people who are very heavy users. Just surfing will not exceed the limits. This method ignores spikes in usage. Even spikes that last the whole day. Additional bandwidth costs $150/month per 100kbps.
Covad DSL is available in two flavors: business and residential. The residential DSL is only available at residential locations. Residential DSL packets are given lower priority in Covad's network than business DSL packets.
Some DSL circuits use a router, some use a bridge, some may use either. With a bridge, you require an additional router if you want to have more than one IP address. When available, bridges cost less.
The minimum service length commitment for Covad DSL is one year. If you cancel your service before your term is up, there will be a disconnection fee of $275.
| Prices for Covad DSL | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Download & Upload Speed | Bandwidth Included | California Setup | California Monthly |
| Bridge / Router / Customer Provided | ||||
| Residential ADSL | 384kbps/128kbps | N/A** | $200 / na / na | $55 |
| Residential ADSL | 768kbps/128kbps | 20kbps | $200 / $250 / na | $75 |
| Residential ADSL | 1.5mbps/128kbps | 25kbps | $200 / $250 / na | $100 |
| Residential ADSL | 1.5mbps/384kbps | 50kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $120 |
| Residential ADSL | 1.5mbps/768kbps | 50kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $140 |
| Residential ADSL | 3.0mbps/384kbps | 80kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $150 |
| Residential ADSL | 3.0mbps/768kbps | 80kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $175 |
| Residential ADSL | 6.0mbps/768kbps | 80kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $200 |
| Business IDSL | 144kbps/144kbps | 50kbps | $300 / $300 / na | $170 |
| Business SDSL | 192kbps/192kbps | 55kbps | $300 / $300 / na | $175 |
| Business SDSL | 384kbps/384kbps | 80kbps | $300 / $300 / na | $220 |
| Business SDSL | 768kbps/768kbps | 100kbps | $300 / $300 / na | $275 |
| Business SDSL | 1.1mbps/1.1mbps | 120kbps | $300 / $300 / na | $345 |
| Business SDSL | 1.5mbps/1.5mbps | 140kbps | $300 / $300 / na | $425 |
| Business ADSL | 1.5mbps/384kbps | 90kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $200 |
| Business ADSL | 1.5mbps/768kbps | 90kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $240 |
| Business ADSL | 3.0mbps/384kbps | 120kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $220 |
| Business ADSL | 3.0mbps/768kbps | 120kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $270 |
| Business ADSL | 6.0mbps/768kbps | 120kbps | $250 / $250 / na | $300 |
| T1 | 384kbps/384kbps | 300kbps | na / $1150 / $450 | $450 |
| T1 | 768kbps/768kbps | 500kbps | na / $1150 / $450 | $575 |
| T1 | 1.5mbps/1.5mbps | 1.3mbps | na / $1150 / $450 | $700 |
Self-installation is available for residential DSL orders. Choosing this option will reduce your set-up cost by $200.00. However, failed self-installs will cost a minimum of $60.00 and require equipment returns within strict conditions. If these conditions are not met, the cost to you may be $200.00.
The speed of the residential services depend on line quality. The numbers given above are best-case. Worst-case is 128kbps downstream / 64kbps upstream.
The Residential 384/128 service uses Covad bandwidth and IP addresses. It is a PPPoE configuration with one dynamic IP address. No static IP addresses are possible.
Covad provides discounts of various amounts at various times:
| Setup Discounts for orders placed | Bus 1.5/384 | 144 kbps | 192 kbps | 384 kbps | 768 kbps | 1.1 mbps | 1.5 mbps | T1 384 | T1 768 | T1 1.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1/04 - 9/30/04 | $50 | $215 | $215 | $215 | $215 | $215 | $215 | $525 | $525 | $525 |
| 4/1/04 - 6/30/04 | $50 | $215 | $215 | $215 | $215 | $215 | $215 | $450 | $450 | $450 |
| 10/1/03 - 3/31/04 | $50 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $450 | $450 | $450 |
| Additional monthly cost for non-California service | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro area | Res ADSL | Bus ADSL | Bus 144kbps | Bus 192kbps | Bus 384kbps | Bus 768kbps | Bus 1.1mbps | Bus 1.5mbps | T1 384kbps | T1 768kbps | T1 1.5mbps |
| Bay Area | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Sacramento | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Los Angeles | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| San Diego | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| All others | $15 | $15 | $20 | $20 | $25 | $30 | $35 | $40 | $25 | $30 | $40 |
| Miscellaneous charges | |||||||||||
| Item | Price | ||||||||||
| Inside Wiring from NID to RJ45 | $110 | ||||||||||
| Field technician dispatch | $210 + $30/15 mins after 1st hour | ||||||||||
| Upgrade/downgrade of service - with service call | $225 | ||||||||||
| Upgrade/downgrade of service - w/o service call | $115 | ||||||||||
| Cancel residential service within 15 days, equipment returned | $20 | ||||||||||
| Cancel residential service within 90 days | $375 | ||||||||||
| Cancel business service within 90 days | $475 | ||||||||||
| Cancel service after install, before end-of-term | $275 | ||||||||||
| Cancel service before install | $65 | ||||||||||
| Missed appointment | $120 | ||||||||||