Ever since we upgraded to Qwest’s 4.5 Megabit DSL service, we never got consistent speed from it. During peak Internet usage times, I would “test out” at like 2.0 Mbps or less. Sometimes it would be as low as .6 Mbps! This wasn’t much of problem before, but now that I’m working from home more often, the slow speed is a hindrance.

So over the last couple weeks I’ve been working with Qwest to find out what’s the problem. The first field technician deemed my old Actiontec GT701 modem to be “bad”. I called the business office and ordered a new 2Wire DSL modem. It arrived on Thursday, but when I tried it out, I still only tested out at less than 1 Mbps. I called Qwest requested another tech to come out in the afternoon since that’s when the problem usually occurs.

There was a mix-up with the timing of his appointment; he ended up coming out early on Friday, when Heather and I were still at work. But he supposedly checked out everything he could, outside the house. When I got home I noticed the service tag on our door and promptly went up stairs to test the connection. Still slow! So I called Qwest for a third time. The rep saw that this was the second service tech who came out and said he would talk to the network people “upstairs”. He put me on hold for a few minutes then when he came back he asked me to “try it now.”

I did and it tested at 4.2 Mbps! I did a couple more tests because I just couldn’t believe it; each time it was between 4.2 and 4.4 Mbps and it was a Friday evening! A time when it’s typically super-slow! I asked the rep, “So, what did they do?”

He replied, “They switched you over to another line.”

I should have asked why they didn’t try that to begin with, rather than sending out two service techs which probably cost them $100/visit. But I was so happy at my newfound speed that I didn’t care. I did call the business office to get an RMA to return the 2Wire modem I just ordered since I really didn’t need it. They were friendly and didn’t have any problems with that…the modem already came packaged with a return postage label. Now I’m back to using my old Actiontec GT701, which still works after all these years, but now at a whopping 4.4 Mbps! Woo hoo!!!