RIP World Net - AT&T Sunset Dial Up

Michael Trew

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Mar 2, 2021, 2:38:05 PM3/2/21

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December 1st, 2020 - AT&T Sunset Dial Up Service

JAB

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Mar 2, 2021, 4:54:34 PM3/2/21

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On Tue, 02 Mar 2021 14:37:55 -0500, Michael Trew <mt99...@ymail.com>
wrote:

>December 1st, 2020 - AT&T Sunset Dial Up Service

Still got a web presence here

https://www.att.com/support/topic/dial-up/

Michael Trew

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Mar 3, 2021, 1:10:10 AM3/3/21

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Maybe they haven't taken down the support articles yet, but I saw on
their website that they are discontinuing Dial Up. I confirmed this
with a call center rep when I called in over my DSL outage; I asked if
they still offered the backup dial up account, and he told me their Dial
Up service is out. Time marches on, I guess...

JAB

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Mar 3, 2021, 8:42:47 AM3/3/21

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On Wed, 03 Mar 2021 01:10:13 -0500, Michael Trew <mt99...@ymail.com>
wrote:

> Time marches on, I guess...

Usenet and email via POP3 would work fine, but a B&W browser (Lynx)
would be required. Dialup ISP would have to be local.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx_(web_browser)>

The Best Dial-up Internet Providers in 2021

https://broadbandnow.com/internet/best/dial-up

Michael Trew

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Mar 3, 2021, 11:21:07 AM3/3/21

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Believe it or not, I'm on 56K right now. My AT&T DSL has been out for
almost 2 weeks now. I'm a rebel and still hold onto a cell plan with no
data. Usenet and e-mail are fine, I've always used POP3. WWW is
painful... basic searches and most forums, when not picture rich, are OK.

I found that Worldnet died when I tried to get AT&T to give me a free
dial up account for backup when the DSL went down. I'll have to look
into that browser you linked; might be a better option.

JAB

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Mar 3, 2021, 8:11:12 PM3/3/21

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On Wed, 03 Mar 2021 11:21:08 -0500, Michael Trew <mt99...@ymail.com>
wrote:

>hold onto a cell plan with no data.

If Verizon signal is decent in your home, for $25.00/month, unlimited
voice/text/data on a Smartphone.

5 Mbps hotspot...if VZW signal is good...just need an USB WiFi Adapter
for a desktop.

https://www.visible.com

> I'm on 56K right now.

I was on 26.4K upto 2000 with AT&T...then used work place internet
until 2005 when I got Wildblue satellite. In 2000, I moved out in the
sticks.

Currently, I have an unlimited VZW data plan @ $70.00/month, but this
plan is no longer offered. Good speeds...25Mbps DN, 10 Mbps UL...on a
lonely rural tower. Even if dialup existed in my rural location, it
would be terrible since I'm some 12 miles from a small town.

Michael Trew

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Mar 4, 2021, 1:57:49 PM3/4/21

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I only pay 5 cents/min for talk with a grandfathered T-Mobile pre-paid
plan. Maybe $5/mo. I'm cheap as can be. Someone did recommend that
Visible to me. I will consider it if I can hook it into a cheap hotspot
device and literally just use it for home internet.

JAB

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Mar 4, 2021, 4:16:38 PM3/4/21

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On Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:57:53 -0500, Michael Trew <mt99...@ymail.com>
wrote:

>I will consider it if I can hook it into a cheap hotspot
>device and literally just use it for home internet.

Visible is new, and a few people have inserted the SIM into a Jetpack,
and it works. But, I suspect Visible will program their computer so it
associates the IMEI with a device, and Bingo, knock off those using a
Jetpack...or those with a Jetpack using too much data.

Verizon knows which Jetpack model is being used in their computer
program, and previously have knocked out those whose plans don't match
the devices that were suppose to be on those plans. Years ago, there
was an unlimited Smartphone plan, but a number of users stuck their
sim into a Jetpack, and got busted. Data rates then were very high.

Visible only works with specific Smartphones...unlocked.

I'm rural, and I have to use a cell booster...a good/decent cell
signal is required.

In time, Visible might define how much data is too much...I suspect it
depends upon typical usage of all users.

Michael Trew

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Mar 4, 2021, 5:40:39 PM3/4/21

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I doubt they would ding me, I use maybe 25 - 40 gigs per month on 3 meg
DSL via AT&T's website, on average. I don't even come close to the very
low (by today's standards) 150 gig cap.

JAB

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Mar 5, 2021, 12:25:37 AM3/5/21

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On Thu, 04 Mar 2021 17:40:45 -0500, Michael Trew <mt99...@ymail.com>
wrote:

>I use maybe 25 - 40 gigs per month on 3 meg
>DSL via AT&T's website, on average.

On fast.com I'm hitting around 9 Mbps DL and UL

With a 5 Mbps DL, Youtube and others tend to upgrade video to 1080p.

3 Mbps represents typical users' speed, but when a connection speed
can do more, there are sites that increase resolution.

For instance, I watch evening news,

https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news-full-episodes

and they bump me up to HD quality, which is not needed, and no way to
back it down. With Youtube, video speed can be controlled.

On the other hand, its nice to watch a video like this in HD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6jprOZ29wY

or even this one

https://vimeo.com/315102638

Point being, a person will use more when their connect speed
increases. Yes, I'm aware videos can be downloaded...for slower
connections.

I'm not video heavy, but I use around 50 Gigs/month.

Michael Trew

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Mar 5, 2021, 5:02:16 PM3/5/21

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Well, you can manually change the quality on YouTube, but you have to do
it every time you start a video. I have a Roku on my TV that allows me
to manually dial back the resolution with a "hidden menu setting" that I
researched. I have a CRT television, so nothing more than 480 is
necessary.

I've been meaning to put up an outdoor antenna with a digital converter
box for local stations, but I never get around to it.

JAB

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Mar 5, 2021, 8:51:07 PM3/5/21

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On Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:02:21 -0500, Michael Trew <mt99...@ymail.com>
wrote:

>manually change the quality on YouTube,

Once changed, it will remain the same if further vids are played...but
only when web browser remains opened...once closed, and then
re-opened, you have to reset vid resolution.

.