# Upgrading to DSL pro on ATT's DSL **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596 "2009-01-09T22:17:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/1 "2009-01-09T22:17:33Z")
Tech Support says shut down computer at 8 pm maybe I’ll get the update 10 past 8 tonight. But, he said, it’ll take about 10 days for the servers to fully adjust to the update. So my computer won’t be as fast as it should until the proper time passes. Fact is I heard the same thing from a couple of ATT staffers. Can anyone explain? ---
**Author:** ![Casserole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Casserole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casserole)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/2 "2009-01-09T22:51:26Z")
Assuming that DSL in the US is similar to that in Canada (and why wouldn’t it?), you’re simply getting a profile bump, which means your modem will connect to the local exchange (called a “central office”) at a higher speed. For you, it means you get a higher download and upload speed. The caveat, as with all DSL connections, is the dependency on quality and length of copper wiring from your home to the local exchange. Some homes have the luck of being built next to the central office, and thus, have the capacity for lightning fast speeds, while others are far away and have next to no chance of maintaining a decent speed. The tech is trying to explain to you that it will take about 10 days to change everybody’s profile to the new speed. The only problem is, even if your profile is “changed”, if you don’t disconnect, you will remain at the old speed for the remainder of your current internet connection. Luckily, all you need to do is disconnect and reconnect, and you should be good to go at the new speed. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/3 "2009-01-09T23:04:50Z")
Seconding **Casserole**. All you need to do is reboot the modem after they’ve completed the reprovisioning on their end. I’ve had several instances where I had to talk to AT&T’s Tier II support after their automated system bumped me down to 768kbps, they were able to set it back to 1.5mbps and immediately upon reboot the increased speed was shown. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/4 "2009-01-09T23:09:04Z")
My thanks to the two of you!! ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/5 "2009-01-09T23:18:04Z")
One other thing, if I may… I also have a laptop which I use wirelessly. I won’t get the DSL update for that, will I? ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/6 "2009-01-09T23:19:48Z")
The “update” is stored in the modem, not any of your computers, the connection to the internet is the same so as long as your laptop is connecting to a wireless router or hub that draws internet from the modem. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/7 "2009-01-09T23:25:12Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Tech Support says shut down computer at 8 pm maybe I’ll get the update 10 past 8 tonight. > > But, he said, it’ll take about 10 days for the servers to fully adjust to the update. So my computer won’t be as fast as it should until the proper time passes. > > Fact is I heard the same thing from a couple of ATT staffers. > > Can anyone explain? Bumping your profile is a technically trivial matter that a tech can perform in a matter of minutes. The long lead time is due to the time it could potentially take for the service order to traverse all the processing and validation stages. There are dozens of points of failure here that can hold up your order. Another possibility is that you are on a backbone that is saturated and in the process of being upgraded to handle more bandwidth. Or, your switch might need a new piece of hardware, or a firmware upgrade, or any one of a dozen things. But yeah, you’ll need to restart… and make sure you’re cycling not just the computer but the dsl modem as well. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/8 "2009-01-09T23:28:01Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > The “update” is stored in the modem, not any of your computers, the connection to the internet is the same so as long as your laptop is connecting to a wireless router or hub that draws internet from the modem. Oh man!!! Thank you so much!!! ’ I have the DSL modem and a Router connected to my desktop. Do I need to shut down my laptop at 8pm? I know, I am incredibly stupid. :D:D:D But right now I’m too happy to care. ---
**Author:** ![Casserole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Casserole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casserole)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/9 "2009-01-10T04:16:31Z")
If your modem/router combo connects to the internet, then you won’t have to shut down your laptop. You’ll only need to power cycle your router and modem. The techs recommend you restart your computer to cover the particular setups which utilise the Windows XP internet connection manager to connect to the internet. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/10 "2009-01-10T12:41:19Z")
> [@Casserole](#): > > If your modem/router combo connects to the internet, then you won’t have to shut down your laptop. You’ll only need to power cycle your router and modem. > > The techs recommend you restart your computer to cover the particular setups which utilise the Windows XP internet connection manager to connect to the internet. How do I do that, please? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/11 "2009-01-10T13:50:52Z")
Tested my DSL at dsl [reports.com](http://reports.com). Before Update: 215 Kb/S Download 422 Kb/S Upload After: 1350 Kb/S Download 463 Kb/S Upload Is this good? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/12 "2009-01-10T15:40:13Z")
“Power cycling” your DSL modem is just that – turn it off and on. (If yours is like ours, unplug the transformer from the outlet.) If the instructions are to reboot the computer before reconnecting to the Internet, unplug modem/transformer (or switch off if you have a power switch) and leave unplugged while rebooting, plugging back in when reboot is complete. On our (768KB) DSL, it takes 15 seconds or less for the modem to ascertain that Ethernet works OK, modem is getting good connection to incoming service, etc., and give you a stable higher-speed connection. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/13 "2009-01-10T18:12:54Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Tested my DSL at dsl [reports.com](http://reports.com). > > Before Update: 215 Kb/S Download 422 Kb/S Upload > After: 1350 Kb/S Download 463 Kb/S Upload > > Is this good? Depends on what you’re comparing it to. It’s showing speeds of what should equate to a 1.5mbps line. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/14 "2009-01-10T18:29:32Z")
Before I updated to ATT’s DSL Pro and after. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/15 "2009-01-10T18:40:55Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > “Power cycling” your DSL modem is just that – turn it off and on. (If yours is like ours, unplug the transformer from the outlet.) If the instructions are to reboot the computer before reconnecting to the Internet, unplug modem/transformer (or switch off if you have a power switch) and leave unplugged while rebooting, plugging back in when reboot is complete. On our (768KB) DSL, it takes 15 seconds or less for the modem to ascertain that Ethernet works OK, modem is getting good connection to incoming service, etc., and give you a stable higher-speed connection. I didn’t power cycle the modem. TechSupport guy said just turn on the computer. I did and liked the speed increase - which should also get even better. But I damn sure will power cycle later on today. My son does it when he sees his speed decrease. Nice to see you again, **Polycarp**. You don’t seem to post any near the frequency you once did. I hope you’re well. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/16 "2009-01-11T01:11:11Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Before I updated to ATT’s DSL Pro and after. Well the download speed is about 5 times better than before. I don’t remember how fast AT&T’s Pro is supposed to be. I have their fastest service, whatever it is, which runs about 6 mbps. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/17 "2009-01-11T01:24:25Z")
> [@snailboy](#): > > Well the download speed is about 5 times better than before. I don’t remember how fast AT&T’s Pro is supposed to be. I have their fastest service, whatever it is, which runs about 6 mbps. I repeated the test just now: Download 330 Upload 425 I’m not lying or bullshitting. Just reporting the the readings I get. Obviously they’re all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/18 "2009-01-11T14:39:40Z")
snailboy, I’ll admit to a screw up if you promise not to get too snarky about it. :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/19 "2009-01-11T14:54:04Z")
Now you have me curious… ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596/20 "2009-01-11T15:42:42Z")
When you go to [dslreports.com](http://dslreports.com) and click on Tools, you enable two applets - **Speed Test,** and **Your Test History** So, I click on Speed Tests, and this enables a number of speed testing sites. I find I have been randomly using two of these - one in NYC, the other in Toronto. The one in Toronto always gives me high download marks, and in NYC lower marks. ([COLOR=“Blue”]The upload numbers are all similar - in the 400’s./COLOR]) Now I go to my test history and get this info Toronto Download Figures: 1245 1335 1350 NYC Download Figures: 336 330 336 etc. Can anyone explain what’s going on? I’m in CT. Toronto’s a helluva a lot further away than New York City, so geography wouldn’t seem to be a factor. It’s free to do all this at the site mentioned. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-to-dsl-pro-on-atts-dsl/480596.md?page=2)