>Howdy,
>
>I'm finding myself in something of an odd position.
>
>1. My current location at home cannot provide me (yet) with DSL as their are some fiber optic lines between my home and the switch. DSL 'pings' apparently when run over fiber and therefore is rendered unstable and useless.

Same problem I have.

>2. There is also copper between me and the switch and therefore I cannot get a true 56KB since the higher speed requires fiber.

Ditto.

>3. I'm currently planning on building a new home that ostensibly has DSL available but my buddy who lives across the street from me at the new location told me the other day that we're 18,000 feet from the switch and DSL only goes to around 15,000.

I'm about 2700' "out of range", too. That's for a VDSL service, maximum range 4600', I'm at 7300'. I'm 31000' from the CO for DSL.

>Hmmm... Sounds like things are being run by the Army. <g> What's the definition of Catch 22? <g>
>
>Soo... Looking around it appears I can get Hughes DirecPC for a few hundred dollars and get around 400KB speeds.
>
>Anyone have any suggestions or experience here?

No experience with DirectPC, but I've not heard good things about it. I believe that the 400KB is download only and Phone line for upload. I had done some research on other sattelite systems and there are some in the works that should be coming online in 2002-2003 with even higher than DSL speeds (about 2-5MB). But that doesn't do either one of us much good now. Right now, I'm reduced to bugging USWEST to install a USLAM halfway between me and the current box as a repeater, which would allow me 1MB access (VDSL). They say they'll do it, but they won't give me a time frame. Too much "other" things going on in Phoenix, and they're only allowed to have so many "open trenches" or something like that. Sigh, it's really starting to get me P.O.'ed, especially since it took them about 2 years to finally explain to me why I couldn't get their regular DSL service. (see point 1 & 3 above)