This update is more for my own information/reminder/scheduling, but I’ll put it here anyway.

• Verizon came by this morning to install the “loop”. After thoroughly explaining the situation, the Verizon guy installed the “loop” to the first (already wired, though I need to double-check it) circuit in my NID. My independence from the stupid phone wire coming in through the wall (and not the NID) is almost complete! I just need to get the hard line for the alarm set up and then I can banish the stupid other line completely.
• The Speakeasy DSL modem is already in “bridge mode”, so when I am able to test it against the circuit provided by Speakeasy, I shouldn’t have to do anything special to get it to work with my computer or my network.
• I did find out that Speakeasy intended to have (despite my requesting not) COVAD installers come in and verify the twisted pair connection from the NID to my house wiring and verify that everything was up and running properly. That visit was scheduled for from 12p - 4p on Wednesday, 1/9/2008. I contacted Melissa at Speakeasy Activation and asked her to cancel that service. Instead, she offered a compromise, which was that I do the wiring/installation within the house, and call by 1/7/2008 to cancel the COVAD visit, and they’ll come out if I have trouble with it. Apparently they’re not used to people doing their own telephone wiring at all, let alone well.
• I also found out that Verizon and AT&T are the slowest at porting telephone numbers from one provider to the other, so that the folks I spoke with didn’t seem to think I had much to worry about my phone line getting ported out from under me before I’m ready for it.
• Also, the lady I spoke with at Speakeasy said that after the come out and provision the loop, Verizon sometimes needs to do additional work, so I shouldn’t be alarmed if the loop doesn’t work right away, and I can carry out the rest of the wiring, but I should probably wait until tomorrow to test it.
• Finally, she said that it was this install, that I or COVAD will do, that is what moves along the VOIP installation and number porting process. So presumably (though I didn’t talk with her about this), I could ask them to hold up the final checks until after I got the hard line provisioned for the alarm system from Verizon.

So anyway, Schedule for phoney things:

• I check wiring/make changes today to make sure the newly provisioned line gets to where I want to put my modem.
• Tomorrow, I test the Speakeasy Modem with that line to make sure it’s installed properly, and to make sure I can hook up properly to the DSL loop.
• Monday, assuming it works out, I call Speakeasy and tell them to cancel the COVAD visit.
• Wednesday, I call my alarm company and tell them about the work on the hard line and give them the new incoming number (for the hard line and for their systems). Also, if my install doesn’t work out, COVAD visits between noon and 4 to install Speakeasy in my home. Regardless, Verizon comes out to provision a hard line for the alarm system. I switch the phone services for the alarm system to the new hard line and test it with the alarm company, finally telling them to cancel test mode and put it back into service assuming that works out.
• Some time later, Speakeasy initiates the VOIP activiation and number port for the existing Verizon voice telephone number.
• Some time even later, I contact Verizon and arrange to have my DSL disconnected. Not sure about the voice line - whether the VOIP number port cancels the service or whether I need to do it manually.

Tags:   adsl · phone · scheduling · service · speakeasy · telephone · verizon · voipNo Comments