For Thursday, October 14, 1999 Drummer Column, Gibbs, 699 words

DSL baby!

Today is Tuesday and I'm having DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet service wired into my home. The installer from Pacific Bell isn't here yet. He's due in 20 minutes. I'm excited and curious as to how smooth and flawless this process will go. My version of DSL allows downloads at 384 Kbps, a good step up from the 56K modems.

While I'm waiting, I pick up the Tuesday edition of the Benicia Herald. Lori Scott, our campus security officer, had advised me earlier today that I was being roasted in a Letter to the Editor. Sure enough, there was a wily, witty response from my old girlfriend, Janet, commenting on my previous My Fair Gentlemen columns. She made a good joke at my expense. She said I never did learn my forks, but that I did eventually learn my fork, and that was commendable. She reminded me of a promise I'd made and forgotten. I told her that I would, like a gentleman, stop eating with my mouth open if she would eat a whole red pepper. As I recall she wolfed down that pepper most unlady like.

Right at 1 p.m. the installers showed up. Were they in a big red and white Pacific Bell truck? No. They were driving a red sedan. Were they PacBell employees? No. There were a contracted firm. PacBell is selling DSL at such a fast pace their own installers can't keep up with the demand.

Two guys went to work. One fellow began dismantling my phone jack while the other guy worked outside installing a splitter for the voice and data.

Here is the interesting part, if you ever intend to have DSL yourself. For years we have had two numbers, one for us and one for the computer. DSL allows one telephone number to do both -- be online high speed to the Internet 24-7 without dialing in, while at the same time providing dialtone for regular telephone use. It eliminates the need for the second phone service. That's a good thing because DSL also uses all four phone wires (two for voice, two for data), so the extra phone number can't get through anymore anyhow. We will call Pacific Bell and disconnect the other service.

DSL cost presently $39 a month plus $10 for an ISP (Internet Service Provider) which is nothing more than a gateway to the Internet, plus an email and web site domain. My new email is gibbz  AT pacbell.net.

PacBell is currently running a special. We buy the modem for $198 and they wave the installation charges and setup fees. The catch is that I have to commit verbally for one year. It's a gentleman's agreement.

Normally the installers put a network card into the computer and configure it, then attach the black external DSL modem to it using an RJ-type patch cord. My son and I both have computers and they are networked together using a small $40 four-port hub we bought at the computer fair. So the installer didn't have to open my computer. He just plugged the modem into the hub.

Adam and I will use Windows98 Second Release to share the Internet connection. Win98.2 has ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) that allows multiple computers to share one connection. You can download this update on CD from Microsoft for $19.95 plus shipping.

The installation was flying until we got to the paperwork. The order mistakenly said that I'd ordered five IP addresses for $150 a month. That's enough to run a small business and provides 1.5 Mbps download. He had to start making phone calls and being put on hold.

I got bored and wandered off to the kitchen. I tidied up a bit. I put away the fine bottle of Merlot that Susan Hutchinson had brought over last Thursday night after my column about her ran. She didn't have to do that, but she was thankful and gave me a great big long hug and mmmm mmmm she smelled good. Once again she has taken good care of me. We will save that wine for a special occasion, not for toasting a new Internet connection. Perhaps we'll use it to christen our new hot tub.