Installing Verizon DSL - What You Need To Know
In this day and age, you wouldn't expect that installing Verizon DSL would be an overly complicated procedure, and in the majority of cases, you would be right. Verizon would prefer that you install the DSL service yourself, so they pack everything you should need in a nice little kit, including the modem, filters, installation CD, and a printed installation guide.
Most of the time, this is all one will need. With attention to the instructions, everything goes fine, and an hour later you have DSL service up and running. Unfortunately, whether it be Verizon or any other DSL provider, there will be those cases where everything does not go fine. Then it can get hairy trying to get things going smoothly.
To avoid these glitches, first you want to be sure to read the entire installation manual before starting. Unless you just did a Verizon DSL installation for somebody else last week, don't assume you know where everything goes. Also, be aware of a possible problem if you have more than five or six "phone devices" like fax machines, answering machines, or, of course, phones. In that case, it's unlikely that the filters supplied with the kit will be sufficient (and not only because there aren't enough of them). When you have that many devices, the filters will begin to degrade the DSL signal. You'll need to have a DSL splitter installed instead, which is normally a job for a technician, as it requires running a dedicated line for the DSL connection.
Another possible problem to take note of - if you have a Mac and run Safari as your browser, is that the DSL installation program seems to have a proclivity towards removing all the bookmarks. Sometimes they have been found backed up in ~/Library/Safari, and sometimes not. So, a word to the wise: if you use Safari, back up your bookmarks before running the DSL installation software. Some individuals have also reported what could charitably be classified as less than optimal customer service. When the install goes as planned, service is fine. But when a glitch pops up, sometimes there appear to be gaps in communication There are some reports of having to call numerous times, repeat the same description of the problem every time, be promised a call back or a visit by a technician that never happens, and then have to start all over with another phone call. The worse offenses seem to be when human error has caused a misstep - Verizon seems unable to admit someone could make a mistake. If you should have the availability of Verizon FIOS (fiber optic) service in your neighborhood, and are thinking of signing up, be aware of something. Once the fiber optic lines are installed to your house, you will be unable to downscale to DSL should you ever want to. That is because DSL can only be delivered on copper lines. When the fiber optic lines are installed to your location, the copper lines will be removed permanently. While not many people will want to revert to a slower speed broadband connection, it could occur as a result of financial considerations, so keep that in mind. Anyway, this is not meant to discourage you from signing up for a Verizon DSL offer. Every big company will have service snafus, and the chances of it happening to you are minimal. Just research the installation process before signing up, surf the web for some customer experiences, and most importantly, follow the directions when hooking up the initial install. You'll most likely be cruising at DSL speeds before you know it!
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