[TriLUG] Residential IPv4 address stability, etc. (AT&T vs. Google Fiber)

Fri Sep 15 10:15:32 EDT 2023

On Fri, Sep 15, 2023 at 9:58 AM David Both via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org> wrote:
>
> I switched to ATT Gb fiber a few years ago as soon as it was installed in
> my neighborhood. I also got a static IP block, in part because I host
> multiple websites, an email server, and I SSH in from outside quite
> frequently. I think it just saves a bit of hassle.
>
> My Spectrum connection used to go out rather frequently. At least part
> of the time this was due to the crappy modem/router which needed
> frequent reboots.
>
> I don't have any love for ATT because they caused me many problems in
> the past when I had a local ISP for my connection and they still used
> the ATT local loop for the last hop to the house. One outage was weeks
> long and I had to call my US congressperson to intervene to get it
> fixed. The tech from the ISP was there when they did not replace but
> simply pushed the DSLAM into the slot on the switch where it had been
> inserted but not seated.
>
> So I was leery about ATT but it was the only fiber available to me at
> the time. I have had only a single outage during the 4 (I think) years I
> have had it and that was fixed by an easy reboot of the ONT and router.
> I got through 1st try with only a minute or so wait. Other than that it
> has been rock solid and I always get within a % or so of the advertised
> rates in both directions.
>
      The reason I bought my specific router I wanted to get multiple
distinct network sources -- cable, fibre, DSL or a combination of them
-- such that if the main connection took a dump I would not be out of
a network... even if failover is much slower. Last night I checked and
found ATT/Verizon/Google offers nothing here.

> We don't use the phone or TV service, opting instead for Hulu, Netflix
> and Amazon Video.
>
> Google Fiber is now in my area and I have thought about switching but
> decided that I am happy with ATT for now. If that changes, so will I.
>
> --
>
>
> *********************************************************
> David P. Both, RHCE
> He/Him/His
> *********************************************************
> www.both.org - My personal web site
> www.Linux-Databook.info - Home of the DataBook for Linux
> DataBook is a Registered Trademark of David Both
> *********************************************************
> The value of any software lies in its usefulness
> not in its price.
>
> — Linus Torvalds
> *********************************************************
>
> On Thu, 14 Sep 2023, David Burton via TriLUG wrote:
>
> > Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2023 18:25:35
> > From: David Burton via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org>
> > Reply-To: David Burton <ncdave4life at gmail.com>,
> >     Triangle Linux Users Group General Discussion <trilug at trilug.org>
> > To: Triangle Linux Users Group General Discussion <trilug at trilug.org>
> > Subject: [TriLUG] Residential IPv4 address stability,
> >     etc. (AT&T vs. Google Fiber)
> >
> > I'm looking for some advice.
> >
> > Can anyone who has either AT&T fiber or Google fiber please tell me about
> > how long your IPv4 assignments typically last?
> >
> > I currently have "60 Mbps" Internet from Spectrum (née Time-Warner). It's
> > actually about 70 Mbps down and 6 Mbps up. I've been with them since
> > January, 2007, and apart from a 3-day outage in July, 2017, it's been
> > pretty good.
> >
> > But both AT&T and Google have run fiber to my curb.
> >
> > So far, I've stuck with Spectrum because:
> >
> >   - I run a web server in my house, and I really appreciate that my IPv4
> >   address hasn't changed since early 2019.
> >   - Spectrum *was* slightly cheaper than the other options. (But no more!)
> >   - Inertia (if it ain't broke, don't fix it)
> >
> >
> > But Spectrum has quietly raised my rate from $60/mo to $80/mo, even though
> > the advertised price on Spectrum's Internet site
> > <https://official.spectrum.com/lfo-spectrumone> for 300 mbps is only $49.99
> > / month.
> >
> > They also show a special deal on their web site in which they also throw in
> > "Advanced WiFi" [normally $5/mo] and one unlimited mobile line [normally
> > $29.99/mo], total value $84.98, but for the first 12 months it's just
> > $49.99/mo, with auto-pay. Here's a screenshot (click to enlarge it
> > <https://sealevel.info/spectrum_lying_about_their_prices_2023-09-14.png>):
> >
> > <https://sealevel.info/spectrum_lying_about_their_prices_2023-09-14.png>
> >
> > So I called Spectrum and asked them, 'why did you hit me with an
> > unannounced 33% price increase?' They said my $59.99 rate (which I'd paid
> > for years) *was a promotional rate*, and it had expired, and they said the
> > regular rate for my 60 mbps Internet is $80/month. (Oddly, I didn't hear
> > him giggling, while telling that whopper to a customer who'd been with them
> > for 16¾ years.)
> >
> > He also said the price change wasn't unannounced, because they'd mentioned
> > it on one of my previous bills (which I didn't read, of course, since I'm
> > signed up for auto-pay).
> >
> > He also said Spectrum's regular price for 300 mbps Internet is actually
> > $85/month, even though their web site shows it as $49.99/month. "That's a
> > promotional price," he said. I asked him where the "regular" prices are, on
> > their web site. He said they aren't on the web site.
> >
> > What a sleazy company!!!
> >
> > So it's obviously time to move on. Google has 1 Gbps for $70/month. AT&T
> > has 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, & 1 Gbps, for $55, $65, or $80, respectively. I
> > don't know what taxes & fees they charge.
> >
> > AT&T has a reputation of being as sleazy as Spectrum, but I hate Google.
> > So, which is the lesser evil?
> >
> > One thing which would be good to know is how long do IP address assignments
> > typically last with each company? Every time my IPv4 address changes, it'll
> > take my site offline for a few minutes, until my script notices it, and
> > updates the nameserver, and the change percolates out.
> >
> > With Spectrum, the IPv6 addresses change very frequently, but their
> > "dynamic" IPv4 addresses are remarkably stable. That's wonderful (but not
> > wonderful enough for me to put up with the aforementioned abuse).
> >
> > So, can anyone who has either AT&T fiber or Google fiber please tell me how
> > long your IPv4 assignments typically last?
> >
> > Also, are there any other gotchas to impede you from hosting a web server
> > at home?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Dave
> >
> --
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