Internet Through Treacle
Every now and then my ISP (originally called Blueyonder - now Virgin Internet) goes AWOL. My routine download speeds of around 4-6Mb/s drops to a 100kb link. And this on a cable connection. Very frustrating, and not conducive to writing long prosy posts.
I used to get worked up about this, and start fiddling with the router & cable modem for a day or so, before giving in and calling their “help desk” (Ha!), only to spend 45 minutes on a premium rate phone line to have some illiterate (who’s only doing their job - I’ve nothing against illiterates per se) try to make it sound like it’s nothing to do with the ISP. Then a day or so later, the problem magically resolves itself.
So I sit and wait, watching pages load like in the good old days when I had a 14.4 modem, connected to the telephone socket via two yoghourt pots and a soggy length of string. Its funny how you don’t realise how much you rely on technology ’till it suddenly ain’t there any more!
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 12/18/2007
- Total Time: 1:05:00.00
- Distance: 5 miles
- Average Pace: 12:59.22/mile
This reminds me of our connectivity going out in a wind storm last week. It was only out for a couple of hours, but I found myself laughing at our frustration. “Why don’t you look up online to find out why the internet’s out” I found myself saying to Bob, who manages all things internet in our household. He heard the tongue in my cheek, and we both started laughing heartily at the joke. It is amazing how much we’ve come to demand of being online 24:7.
My mom still has to unravel a phone cord from 2 rooms away to connect her computer to the internet. She knows she can buy faster connections, but in her world that isn’t a priority. She laughs when I visit and get frustrated with her “system”. And, I do get frustrated!
Sounds like my similar problems with Comcast. Luckily there’s one tech at the local shop that knows what’s going on. But it takes 20 calls and hours of wasted time to get to him.