Umm...I must be missing something here: you still need the hard
connection
to the outside world so how can you ssh into someone else's network
without a working network connection of your own?
Yeah.. Cox is having issues connecting to some, not all networks.. My friend has Qwest DSL and I happen to have good connectivity to him.
Along the same lines, the guy who recommended the DSL resellers: it's
still Qwest's copper that's getting resold, so while you don't have to
deal with Qwest as far as billing issues, Qwest will still need to be
dealt with if any connectivity issues between you and the DSLAM (and
maybe further) happen. I've had every type of connection except fiber
and can tell you by experience that if you REALLY need that uptime, DSL
won't give it to you any more than cable will.
The issue Cox is having now isn't a 'last mile' issue. Its how they tie into the rest of everyone's networks at certain peering points. Everyone has these issues from time to time but the amount of time this Cox issue has been happening is getting absurd.
It is definitely worth worth looking into a DSL reseller.. After the DSLAM your packets are NOT on Qwest's network so there is less chance of the local reseller doing stupid things like Bittorrent filter.. junk like that.. If they *do* try to screw with your connection... it's easier to comminicate with small ISPs as opposed to larger ones.
On the other hand, wireless, such as WiMax and Canopy, will since you
bypass wires entirely and everything is in control of the ISP you're
dealing with up to the demarc between them and the outside world (i.e.,
their own upstream). I'm not about to say that wireless isn't without
problems, but it very rarely goes totally down in my experience. I know
if I could get it here, I would.
The wireless options in Phoenix are very lacking.. unfortunately.