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Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Access

Please read the following questions:

  • Would you like your Internet connection to be at least ten times faster?
  • Would you like your computer to be connected to the Internet all the time?
  • Would you like to access the Internet while talking on the same phone line?
  • Would you like all of the computers at your home or business to share a single Internet connection?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you are on the right page!

We are proud to add DSL access to our wide range of Internet and related services.  It is probably the best value in consumer-grade Internet access today.  This page is divided into several important sections.  To avoid confusion and frustration, we strongly recommend that you read each section very carefully then request clarification as needed.

Section I:  General Information

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a high-speed networking and communications technology.  There are several types of DSL.  The type that is used with our service is called Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL).  The term "asymmetric" means that the downstream speeds (from the Internet to your PC) are several times faster than the upstream speeds (from your PC to the Internet).  This is optimal for typical Internet access.

ADSL capabilities are added to your existing AT&T phone line without interrupting your regular phone service.  Therefore, you'll no longer need a second phone line in order to talk on the phone while accessing the Internet, saving you approximately $15-20 each month.  If you're a small business, DSL will also negate the per-minute charges you currently pay for local calls, saving you as much as $100 each month!  For most small businesses, DSL will easily pay for itself.

ADSL capabilities are provided by special equipment that is located in a select few of AT&T's central switching offices.  The special equipment is owned and operated by an AT&T subsidiary/affiliate.  A very high-speed connection between their network and our network enables us to use the ADSL capabilities to provide you with high-speed Internet access.

With APCiNet DSL, you'll enjoy the same great APCi service and support you've come to appreciate but without the headaches associated with standard phone lines and analog modems.  When you access the Internet over your new DSL, you'll be going through our blazing fast Internet backbone connections.  And if you think that's fast, wait until you see how fast the connections are to our servers as well as other APCi DSL users!  Sending and receiving mail will take seconds rather than minutes.  You'll receive and view web pages just as fast as the remote servers can send them.  Large file downloads will take minutes rather than hours.  Streaming audio and video will be smooth and clear, including point-to-point video conferencing (especially with other APCi DSL users).

Internet access added a whole new dimension to your computing experience.  Now DSL will add a whole new dimension to your Internet experience!

Section II:  Availability (as of 4/15/2005)

In order for DSL capabilities to be added to your phone line, it must meet several requirements:

First requirement:  Your phone service must be provided by an AT&T central switching office that has been equipped with DSL access concentrators.  DSL is currently available in parts of the following area code 618 communities (click the city names for maps showing approximate service areas):

If your phone service does not originate from within one of these communities, you can not take advantage of APCi's DSL services at this time.  As AT&T adds DSL capabilities to more central switching offices, we will post them here.

Second requirement:  Your local phone service must be provided by AT&T.  If you are not sure, check your monthly phone bill (for local service, not long distance).

Third requirement:  Your AT&T phone line must be "plain old telephone service" (POTS).  It must not be an ISDN line, a T-1 line (or other leased line), or an off-premise extension.  It also may not be used for special applications such as central alarm system, keyless entry systems, or apartment door answering service.

Final requirement:  The pair of copper wires that connect your phones to the AT&T central switching office must be continuous copper (no fiber, load coils, etc.) and must be no more than 16,000 feet in length.  Please use our interactive DSL Pre-Qualification Site to see if your location meets this requirement.

If your phone line meets all of these requirements, you may use our interactive DSL Sign-up Site to place your order.  Service activation will typically be completed within two weeks.  Once we receive confirmation from AT&T that DSL capabilities have been activated on your phone line, we'll have you up and running in no time!

Section III:  System Requirements and Recommendations

Generally speaking, if your computer can access the Internet now, it can use DSL.  However, some computers and configurations may require different equipment than others.  DSL access requires a special DSL modem.  Unlike many DSL providers, we are able to work with you to find a DSL equipment solution that meets your needs.  Unless you already have compatible DSL equipment, we strongly recommend that you get it from us.  We carry several different DSL products and  probably sell them as cheap or cheaper than anyone else.  Plus, by getting your DSL equipment from us, we'll be able to configure it for you, replace it quickly if necessary, and provide you with the best possible support.

To enjoy your DSL experience, you need a computer that operates smoothly and properly and has current Internet software installed.  Older computers that are all "junked up" with tons of programs should be wiped and upgraded or simply replaced.  At the very least, your system should be running Windows 98 on an Intel Pentium II 400Mhz or better processor, 64MB of main system RAM, and 100MB of free hard disk space.  Such a system would have been on the cutting-edge about four years ago.  If your system is four or five years old and hasn't been upgraded significantly, you will not get the most out of your DSL, but it will still be better than using a standard modem.  If you really want to enjoy DSL to its fullest, we recommend running the new Microsoft Windows XP on an Intel Pentium /// or Pentium 4 processor with 512MB of RAM.  Of course, as a Microsoft Certified Partner and Intel Product Dealer, we can help you get there!

Your computer must have an available Ethernet network interface.  PCs must be running Windows 95 or later (98, ME, 2000, XP) and Macintosh systems must be running MacOS version 9.0 or later.  If you're not sure what your computer has, we encourage you to have our technicians take a look.  We will never charge to just look at it and make recommendations.

If you have multiple computers and wish for them to share your DSL access, we have a wide range of solutions.  If your computers are already networked together or are all in the same room (so that they may be networked easily), a simple DSL router will suffice.  If they are not already networked, we can either network them for you or provide you with a wireless DSL router solution so that no wiring is necessary.  Wireless access is especially useful with one or more laptop computers.  If you are using an operating system such as Linux, we also recommend using a simple DSL router.  Whatever the configuration, we can recommend a solution and help you make it work!

Section IV:  Pricing and Options (as of 11/1/2006)

To avoid confusion, please read the previous sections before continuing.

Our DSL pricing and options allow you to design your own DSL access plan with as few limitations as possible.  We feel that this approach enables you to get exactly what you want as opposed to having to choose from a few pre-defined packages that might give you too much of one thing and not enough of another.

We do not try to "get you in cheap" only to raise the rates and make it painful for you to leave at some point in the future.

Our base DSL package for only $45 per month includes all of the following:

  • Basic ADSL Capabilities added to your existing AT&T phone line
  • Premium DSL Internet access with 768kbps maximum download speeds
  • One static private IP address (NAT firewall for basic security)
  • Five (5) e-mail boxes (@apci.net) with POP3 and web-based access
  • E-mail virus scanning
  • Custom junk mail controls
  • Ten megabytes (50MB) of personal web page storage
  • Web-based account management
  • Expert technical support

If you're a typical Internet user, the base package probably has everything that you need.  However, if you plan on downloading a lot of big files, sharing the DSL connection with several other computers, running specialized applications, or need to have your computer accessed by remote computers, the following upgrades and options are available for $5 per month each:

  • Upgrade to 1.5Mbps maximum download speeds
  • Upgrade to static public IP address (warning: no firewall/security)
  • Add five (5) additional e-mail boxes (@apci.net) with POP3 and web-based access
  • Add dial-up access (56kbps analog modem)

Upload speeds are 128kbps with 768kbps download speeds and 256kbps with 1.5Mbps download speeds.  If you need additional upload speed, any 128kbps may be upgraded to 256kbps or any 256kbps may be upgraded to 384kbps for and additional $5 per month.

If you need additional public IP addresses (after upgrading the base DSL package to a static public IP address), they are available at the following monthly rates:

  • $5 - One (1) additional public IP address (30-bit subnet mask)
  • $10 - Five (5) additional public IP addresses (29-bit subnet mask)
  • $20 - Thirteen (13) additional public IP addresses (28-bit subnet mask)

In most cases, you'll need a standard Ethernet DSL modem kit and phone line filters.  These kits are available at $50 each (available only with DSL service).  Routers for multiple computers and special applications are approximately $50-250 depending on your configuration (wired, wireless, corporate, etc.).  There is a one-time DSL service activation fee of $50.

PROMOTION:  Until December 1st, 2006, we will credit $100 to your account to offset the $50 Ethernet DSL modem kit and the $50 service activation fee!  Plus, we'll let you try APCiNet DSL for the first month absolutely FREE!

Monthly payments must be made by major credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover).  If you don't have a major credit card, ask your bank for a "check guarantee" or "debit" card with a VISA or MasterCard logo.  They're usually free and will work just as well.  Some exceptions will be made for businesses who establish credit.

A few additional services are available for those who prefer a total hands-off approach:

  • $50 - System configuration (at our facility).  Includes installation/configuration of DSL modem drivers, DSL software, and the latest free Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.
  • $100 - On-site Technician (up to one hour).  Includes installation/configuration of DSL modem, drivers, software, and line filters or troubleshooting as requested.  Additional hours billed in 15 minute increments at the same rate of $100 per hour.

The bottom line is that everyone here at APCi is both ready and willing to do whatever it takes to get you up and running and totally satisfied with our DSL Internet access!

Section V:  Why do we charge more than some other providers?

Other providers offer introductory or other limited time rates only to double or triple the charges within a year or two.  We don't play those games.  We also don't have any hidden costs such as "taxes" and "fees" that can easily add another $5-15 to your monthly bill.  The fact is that we're usually less expensive once the promotional rates from our competitors have expired.

APCi specializes in Internet services, networking, systems, security and support.  We're not a phone company or other entity who hopes to "get a foot in the door" with cheap Internet service in order to sell you products or services totally unrelated to the Internet and computing.  We've been providing top-quality Internet and related services to thousands of subscribers in the St. Louis Metro East region since 1995.

We will not overload our bandwidth.  This is unfortunately a very common practice among many of the larger and cheaper Internet Service Providers.  We carefully monitor bandwidth utilization and always ensure that our Internet backbone connections are at least 20% higher capacity than required to service our subscribers during peak usage.

We will not sell our subscriber list.  In almost every industry companies sell their customer information to other companies.  We feel that this practice is a violation of your trust as well as your privacy.  If we can't make money by providing you with quality products, services and support, then we don't deserve to make money.

We provide intelligent, competent, "hands-on" support to our customers.  Unlike many larger and cheaper providers, we never try to see how fast we can blame problems on other vendors so that we can get you off the phone.  If we can't help you over the phone chances are that we'll invite you to bring your system to us for our qualified technicians to take a look.  We will never charge you to evaluate a problem, and friendly advice is always free as well.  If you system requires service we'll explain the details and the associated costs to your satisfaction and well before any charges are incurred.

We will not out-source our support responsibilities to some other company.  We take full responsibility for the needs and expectations of our customers, and it is and always will be an honor to do so.  Each time we speak with a customer it is an opportunity to earn their continued business and support.  This is hardly a task that can be entrusted to some other entity.

Section VI:  A few things that you do not get with APCiNet DSL

  • Prices ending in "9.95" to try to make them look cheaper.  We know you're smarter than that.
  • Attempts to sell you long-distance or other services totally unrelated to Internet access.
  • A connection that loops from house to house so that you are forced to compete with your neighbors.
  • A connection that loops from house to house and enables your neighbor's 11-year-old son (computer genius) to see everything you send and receive.
  • Services actually provided by other companies over 1,000 miles away (that will eventually go out of business with little or no warning).
  • Technical support representatives who have no idea how to help you, so they just tell you to put in your computer's "restore" CD (and don't happen to mention that it will wipe your entire hard drive right back to how it was the day you bought it).
  • Threats of terminating your service or charging you twice as much because you're sharing it with multiple PCs (instead, we'll help you set it up that way).
  • Ridiculous fees for terminating your service.
  • Ridiculous fees (or lost discounts) for using your own DSL equipment.

Section VII:  How to Order

If you have any questions, comments, compliments or complaints, we need to hear them.  Please call us at (618) 632-7282 or send e-mail to info@apci.net.

 

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