I've been a very happy customer for several years of your bonded Fusion DSL down here on the San Francisco peninsula, but I have been looking forward to gigabit fiber ever since Sonic first announced they were pulling it up in Sonoma years ago. Last week's service expansion announcement filled me with squee. I've told my landlord about it, and I've also told a couple who are moving in next door about it so that they can hopefully avoid signing a two-year contract with AT&T.
However, after speaking with a customer service rep, I get the impression that the transition may not be a smooth or complete one, and so I'm hoping to get some answers (some of which you may have answered hundreds of times already).
Since we have the bonded Fusion service, that means we have two hard-line POTS circuits, both of which we use, and both of which we will want to keep. However, it appears the fiber service only offers one VOIP voice line. How is this normally handled?
I currently have static IP with my Fusion service (it's a teensy-weensy /29), and I have a registered DNS name pointing at it. No matter where I am, I can 'ssh' in to the machines sitting on my desk and check on stuff. I am informed that static IP is not available at all on the fiber service. I find this astonishing. Is this because of the shortage of IPv4 addresses? How do you meet this need with businesses?
Keep in mind I'm an existing, happy customer, but it looks like I might lose some critical functionality if I switch completely over to fiber. Realistically, what are my options here? Should I convert only one line to fiber and keep the other copper line running as plain DSL/POTS? How have you transitioned other customers in the same or similar situation?
Also:
However, after speaking with a customer service rep, I get the impression that the transition may not be a smooth or complete one, and so I'm hoping to get some answers (some of which you may have answered hundreds of times already).
Since we have the bonded Fusion service, that means we have two hard-line POTS circuits, both of which we use, and both of which we will want to keep. However, it appears the fiber service only offers one VOIP voice line. How is this normally handled?
I currently have static IP with my Fusion service (it's a teensy-weensy /29), and I have a registered DNS name pointing at it. No matter where I am, I can 'ssh' in to the machines sitting on my desk and check on stuff. I am informed that static IP is not available at all on the fiber service. I find this astonishing. Is this because of the shortage of IPv4 addresses? How do you meet this need with businesses?
Keep in mind I'm an existing, happy customer, but it looks like I might lose some critical functionality if I switch completely over to fiber. Realistically, what are my options here? Should I convert only one line to fiber and keep the other copper line running as plain DSL/POTS? How have you transitioned other customers in the same or similar situation?
Also:
- How many hard lines can the ONT drive ring voltage on? More than one (i.e. will I have to unplug phones)?
- What happens to the voice service during a power outage? Does the ONT have its own battery backup, or will I have to get a UPS for it?
- I have a pfSense box at the end of my DSL line that runs all my firewalling and NAT (the Zyxel modem is configured as a dumb bridge; thank you Sonic tech support). Based on what I've read so far, it looks like I can keep this setup by just plugging the pfSense box directly into the ONT, and eschewing the usual home router. Is this correct?
- Have you considered bonded fiber? (Only half kidding.)