1 GB FIBER Coming Soon to Wrightwood

[Tyrone]

Got my UIA fiber installed today (election day)...I'm in section 2.   Good save Wes!  Vote yes and vote for Wes! (and Stephanie, Natalie, Monica etc...)

Trying to post a screenshot of my speed test...can't do it.   578.06 Mbps Download  874.66 Upload

[lwt42]

Saw a couple of HHS trucks this week -- they're the contractor that hangs fiber for UIA.

When I E-Mailed UIA last week, I asked about Section 5, and was told that their target was late May, early June.

Hopefully HHS is here to start hanging (or burying) the fiber for section 4.

[jwhays661]

Good to hear. I've just basically taken the position that fiber is never going to happen at my house. That way, if/when I do ever get a call for install, it will be a pleasant surprise. I know we've all discussed the whole situation with best intentions falling apart because of uncontrollable circumstances, but UIA could tell me installs begin next week and I'd be just as likely to believe that as next year. Dates no longer have any relevance. Taking a quick survey of this thread shows so many different rumored dates and unfulfilled expectations that at this point I just don't have the energy. I have to say it is sort of fun tracking the clues around town to see how close we are to going live in different areas.

[lwt42]

I know we've all discussed the whole situation with best intentions falling apart because of uncontrollable circumstances, but UIA could tell me installs begin next week and I'd be just as likely to believe that as next year. Dates no longer have any relevance.

A bit over 47 years ago, I decided that working in computers would be a good idea.

I got to help design mainframes, and one of the projects I worked on made it into space (and back, quite a few times).

One of the things I learned is that the anticipated date and the actual date is rarely the same.

I think the big problem is something called Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.

So, since I've seen this a few (thousand?) times before, I won't get too upset if the schedule slips, especially since, for the first time I'll have a provider that is technically competent, owns their infrastructure, and doesn't outsource their support to Mumbai.

When I was a cable customer, Time Warner dispatched technicians several times.  The support agent wanted an actual Time Warner technician, but all we could get is a third-party installer with no test equipment.

Just went through a bit of an issue with Frontier where they seemed to think my DSL line was in Big Bear City.  I asked them how they'd go about proving that my payment and my wire in Wrightwood matched.  They didn't seem to know.

So, for now, my lousy DSL does work.  Netflix and Amazon do stream, although I don't try for HD.  I have a mail server and a web server in my office, and they work, most of the time. 

In the meantime, every time someone moves  from Frontier to Spectrum or UIA, the overloaded Frontier backhaul gets a little bit better.

[SteamPunked]

I'm in section 2 and I've had a hard time waiting since the original install date of Sept. 15th but I finally got it this past Monday and I LOVE IT! It was so worth the wait. I love watching NASCAR and I've been watching it all day in HD streaming without a hiccup. Just for fun, I put four windows of streaming HD up on the screen (FoxSportsGo) and I could have easily put four more without a problem. I do wish there had been more communication but I am very happy with the product.

[spellbinder]

so is fiber available yet in section 3?   
if not is there a better anticipated date yet?

[MerlinSilk]

according to wrightwood.net I should have my fiber connection already...
Section 3: February 15, 2017

Where is is???

[lwt42]

according to wrightwood.net I should have my fiber connection already...
Section 3: February 15, 2017

Where is is???

Wes hasn't been on the forum since early February.  I E-Mailed a question to Fiber@UIA.NET and got a better answer than I'd hoped.

[MerlinSilk]

good hint - just did email - thanks!

[AvocadoFlyer]

As did I.  I received a prompt, courteous, informative and satisfactory reply. 

[MerlinSilk]

Here's what I learned:
We are currently running the fiber for section 3. As soon as this is finished, we will then splice and test each terminal. We will post to the Wrightwood.net page soon with a better timeframe for installation.

[lwt42]

Here's what I learned:
We are currently running the fiber for section 3. As soon as this is finished, we will then splice and test each terminal. We will post to the Wrightwood.net page soon with a better timeframe for installation.

I'm rooting for everyone in section 3 because I'm in section 5.

The E-Mail I received gave a May/June timeframe for first installations in section 5. 

Personally, I expect it to be June 19th, just because that is the one week that I'm simply not available.

[crazylola]

Just had our UIA internet installed today and are very pleased with the increased speed and the efficiency and friendliness of everyone involved.
We are in section 2.

[jwhays661]

I'm in section 4 and was also given a May/June timeframe. FWIW.

[Desmo]

Makes no difference to me.  I've dealt with Spectrum in the past, and do not wish to deal with them again.

I don't know when the last time you dealt with them was.  For me, it was over a decade ago and I absolutely hated them.  When I signed up a couple months ago, they were actually very helpful, to my surprise.  I even had an issue with my speeds that ended up being something with the router and they had it switched out for a new one the same day.  I still intend to switch to UIA as soon as I possibly can, but it's definitely been worth having Charter in the meantime.  Just food for thought.

[lwt42]

I don't know when the last time you dealt with them was.  For me, it was over a decade ago and I absolutely hated them.  When I signed up a couple months ago, they were actually very helpful, to my surprise.  I even had an issue with my speeds that ended up being something with the router and they had it switched out for a new one the same day.  I still intend to switch to UIA as soon as I possibly can, but it's definitely been worth having Charter in the meantime.  Just food for thought.

When things go easily, most companies will measure up well.

My experience was with a "business" connection that was not working, and months of getting one support person say "no, it's fine" and the next saying "we need to get a tech out there now."  It was telling the tech "please minimize downtime" and having them pull the plug on the modem and then call in and sit on hold.

It was being told "we need one of our techs to test this" and getting a contractor with no test equipment.

I'm doing a little more than just watching Netflix, so the first step is to get a new connection and test it thoroughly (no matter who it is).  Not saying Frontier is good, but it's predictable.

The problem with any provider is when they under-provision for a given area.  Frontier's problem isn't "speed" as much as the fact that they've put a hundred pounds of (your favorite substance here) in a proverbial five pound bag.  My guess is that enough people have moved that it's closer to 30 pounds in a five pound bag -- and it'll only get better.

[Pbrady]

Man I wish I knew what you guys did two years ago.... I was without any internet for two years because at the time Verizon DSL would not take any more customers and Charter Cable did not offer internet *Spectrum* in wrightwood, at least my part of wrightwood I guess or maybe they lied to me because it seems everyone has an option about them and I only could get them a month ago lol.

Also I would not knock them too bad I don't think Frontier is going to give me a month to month at 100mbs while I wait for UIA, in fact I am pretty sure not %100 that they would have wanted me to to sign up for a two year contract and forcing me put off UIA for the next two years, to which I was debating on since I was living without any internet... for me, Charter is my saving grace at the moment.

[lwt42]

Man I wish I knew what you guys did two years ago.... I was without any internet for two years because at the time Verizon DSL would not take any more customers.

When I moved, I talked to several Verizon reps before I got a good one.  She said that the central office had to be "open" to write the order for my new place, but they absolutely would do that to accommodate an existing customer.

It took a day to "open" the CO, and it would be open for a day to write the order, then it would be closed again.

If someone else called on that day, they'd happily write an order for new service for someone else, and they could because the CO was not closed on that day.

Pretty messed up.  I don't know if Frontier is messed up in the same way.

[BikingBrian]

There is something called an ONT.  Laser in, Gigabit Ethernet out.  It needs to be mounted inside near power.

For $5/month, UIA will supply a router and manage it for you.  If you aren't up to speed technically or just don't want to bother with it, this is a really good idea.

If you are, it's a very normal plain vanilla Ethernet connection.  DHCP if you don't have a static IP, the same or simpler if you have static addresses.

Does anyone have a photo of the ONT?

I'm hoping they can install inside my crawl space - easily accessible, just inside the door where the space is 4 feet high.

[Bob C]

Does anyone have a photo of the ONT?

I'm hoping they can install inside my crawl space - easily accessible, just inside the door where the space is 4 feet high.

I don't have a photo of mine, but it's basically a 4-port switch looking thing. About the size of a typical router.  Its job is to convert fiber into Ethernet Cat-6. It does require power.