And, after three, new DVD players I have narrowed it down to UV.

Prior to UV it worked fine. The technician that installed our UV equip. did not connect our DVD player. After about a week, we hooked it up, but it only played the picture. No sound. Just a humming noise, with the sound barely audible in the background. So, we get a new DVD player and it does the same exact thing. Finally, yes another, third DVD player, and it too does the exact same thing.

Here is what really sucks. The tech didn't hook up the DVD player just like he didn't return to permanently 'hide' the black cables running down the side of our house. For now, on this topic I will refrain regarding the cables, but I am irritated due to the phone call I just made to AT&T. When the representative heard what the problem was, and how the DVD worked fine until UV, he offered no help whatsoever…he transferred me to a fee-based connect tech idiot who could not speak English, and only knew how to ask for my credit card number.

I am beyond pissed. I only allowed the tech from AT&T UV to leave here that day because he promised to make sure everything was working properly. Well, its not. The DVD worked fine when he arrived, and hasn't since he left!

Tech support is useless. Does anyone know of a solution?

I may have a few answers here for you.  I see three separate problems here so I will handle this with three solutions:

1. Your DVD player – I think the dvd player may not be fully connected to the tv.  It's not your UV installer's job to connect all of your electronics, only your Uverse.  Theoretically it's up to the customer to hook up their own appliances (DVD players, Blu ray players, VCR's, game consols, etc.).  Look at how the dvd player is connected, are all of the necessary cables connected?  Perhaps one of the connections on the back of your TV is broken, try an alternate method of connection. Maybe the cable itself is bad, try using another one.  I would postulate that the technician actually disconnected the dvd player in order to use the connection for Uverse.

2.That big black cable running along the side of your house that you didnt want to complain about – That is a new drop line.  It was necessary to replace it in order to get the service working.  It may be your technician's job to install a new one when your old one doesnt work or if you never had one in the first place.  It is NOT his job to bury it.  at&t uses contractors to bury their drop lines.  Your technician was supposed to put in a ticket to have that dropline buried.  Sometimes the contractor takes longer to get the job done than was first thought.  Perhaps the contractor just dropped the ball (it has been known to happen).  Also, if the contractor cannot get access to all of the necessary parts of your house (like parts located behind fences or gates) because you are not home at the time, it will not get done. I would suggest you call in and insist that someone come out and bury your dropline, they will at least have a reasonable place to start.

3. Tech support – Uverse tech support exists only to support your Uverse service.  That's it, that's all, the whole enchilada, nothing more.  Once the support agent realized you were calling about your DVD player, he rightly transferred you to the appropriate support agent.  If you couldn't understand the agent, you could have demanded another one.  The fact that it's paid support is also correct.  Uverse tech support is ONLY FOR UVERSE, not your privately owned appliances.  If your car broke down, would you expect at&t to give you tech support on it?  I think not.  Its the same with YOUR dvd player.  Please dont get me wrong here, I am not criticizing you.  I am only trying clarify the issue. 

If you feel that at&t is somehow responsible for your dvd problems, please call in to 1-800-att-2020 and file a claim for the damages.  I am sure that when they find out how dissatisfied you are, they will be happy to help you any way they can.