That's one of the most useful and informative comments I've seen on Slashdot. I wish I could give you mod points. This is exactly why I asked this community. I suspect you're right that we're just so overloaded in our area there's little to be done. I took a rural job and a rural house and I realize this is the reality. Knowing what to ask helps - thank you.

Thanks - this is helpful. I'll dig around in the modem's web server pages to see what I can get to. Any suggestions for a DSL speed test program?

Thanks for this - learning about how the thing works really helps.

Yup, I don't care about the difference between 2.7 and 3. Feh. It's the order of magnitude difference that is a problem.

Howdy neighbor! We have a different provider, but yes, rural. General apathy in the area is something of a barrier, but that is an idea.

Cell would be an option if I got cell signal. I can barely make a call in the summer, but it's a little better in winter when the leaves are down. Not likely sufficient for netflix.

Good points to remember with any call center call. Play along with their script but be clear the problem isn't solved, eh?

Good suggestion - I'll give that a try. I suspect we're just overloaded on the DSLAM here in our "holler" but I'll take any relief I can get.

Some friends have tried satellite. It costs more for much poorer latency, as you note. And being on the north slope of the mountain doesn't help. It was my first house purchase and first time living in mountains so I haven't even had to think of these things before. Sigh - should have done more research.

hehehe

It was an...unusual situation to even get service. I had to know someone who knew someone at the provider who got me set up with a plan. I suppose you're right.

I'll see if that's somewhere in the paperwork - thanks.

I'll have to dig up the documentation, but I suspect you're correct. I'm basically stuck with their service whether I like it or not as the only viable option.

Competition would be nice, but there's basically none where I am.

The house is 12 years old, but good point. Since the pattern of bandwidth drop is consistently in the evening - 5 pm to 10 pm - I'm guessing a bandwidth issue somewhere in our area.