What did we do before the internet?



My DSL internet died on Thursday for no apparent reason. It's not unusual to have an outage here but after 12 hours there still wasn't a single bit or a byte coming down the pipe.  A call to the tech support helpless desk was as fruitful as watermelon patch in the Sahara.

Did you reset the modem?
 - Yep
Did you reset the computer?
 - Yep
Did you jiggle the cables?
 - Yep
Did you go to confession?
 - Yep
Well it all looks good at our end. Are you using the DSL modem we supplied?
 - Nope - it doesn't have WIFI
Ah well we're not responsible then so you need to call the manufacturer of the wireless router.
- * SIGH! *

6 hours later after taking everything apart, disconnecting, unplugging, setting everything back to factory defaults and installing a spare replacement router, upgrading firmware, hacking, reconnecting and reconfiguring I was finally back online. The worst part is I'm still not sure what the hell was wrong. Not having internet did make me realise just how completely dependent I am on the internet - Sad but true!

Tags: speedy DSL, fibertel, argentina, telefonica, cable modem, wireless router, netgear, linksys

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18 comments:

Anonymous,  October 11, 2008 5:42 pm  

I hate it when something goes wrong, and all of a sudden all works again.

While I should be grateful that all works again, I get frustrated not having found out the real cause of the problem.

While I should be enjoying all works, I can not but think of the time I will waste when all goes bad again..

P.

Baino October 11, 2008 5:49 pm  

Ah Quickie I share your pain. I'm lost without it and my ADSL was acting up last week. I found a new 'switch' and swearing profusely did the trick. It's been behaving well since Wednesday when I threatened to throw the computer on the rubbish heap! At least you can contact your provider by phone! Mine recommends logging into their website ... now that's as useful as a chocolate fireman!

Soulskier October 11, 2008 8:09 pm  

I know this all too well. We have had spotty service at times and router issues. I now have access to an inexpensive dial up account t check emails and forward skype to ring to our home line.

If the evil doers wanted to screw with us infidels, they could blow up cyber space and we would be hosed.

Megan October 12, 2008 1:07 am  

I could survive, but I sure wouldn't be happy about it!

Anonymous,  October 12, 2008 2:11 am  

That blows. Reminds me of Dec. 2006 when an undersea earthquake left most of Asia with extremely spotty service. A lot of my job depends on intertubes service. It was a very bad three weeks.

Martin October 12, 2008 8:36 am  

If I'm away somewhere out of the norm it doesn't bother me.

But if I'm at home with no internet... Oi Vey...

Anonymous,  October 12, 2008 11:16 am  

I always feel terrible if my internet connection is breaked.

I almost do everything on internet: learning,reading,writing,shopping,chatting......Oh, What did I do before the internet?

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) October 12, 2008 10:35 pm  

@ Peter: Yeah I'm worried it'll go on the fritz again - btw - Welcome and thanks for dropping in

@ Baino: web support when you can't connect - classic!

@ Living: I can dangle out the window and get someone elses WIFI in an emergency but it ain't much fun

@ Stevo: I remember hearing about that and it happened in Dubai soon after - strange

@ Megan: I could always go to an internet cafe but that means having to get dressed!

@ Xbox: Yeah - it's like toilet paper to me these days - I could just use my hand but that would be messy

@ iWalk: It's hard to imagine what we did - but I guess we managed

Elin October 13, 2008 10:40 am  

Are you with Speedy? Our current landlord switched to the dsl speedy modem just before we moved in and it goes down at least once a week, and always on a Saturday morning. We use a router for wifi, but they never ask about this, just want to know our phone number and then tell us it's a problem in the area and will be fixed soon. If you're with speedy too, I'd blame them rather than anything your end. They're a shambles and drive me bananas (I'm completely reliant on internet for work so it generally winds me up a bit...)

Broke But Still Drinking October 13, 2008 3:06 pm  

I know my bathroom magazines would not look as pristine as they do now if I returned to the days of no internet. Today's magazines no longer get splashed with urine and shower water from endless days spent on the bathroom floor. The internet has picked up a great deal of slack since its invention.

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) October 13, 2008 6:14 pm  

@ Elvin: Yes - I'm with Speedy - I had Fibertel before and they weren't much better

@ Broke:hmmm... I wonder what kind of mags your talking about?!

Soulskier October 13, 2008 9:52 pm  

Another vote for Speedy sucking. Sometimes I think they have a note on my account to mess with the gringo when he calls. Únfortunately, we have no other option here.

Elin October 14, 2008 10:17 am  

I've also experienced the joys of Fibertel in my time. The only one that has been a complete success for us is Arnet, but I think it was the more expensive than package offered by them. We're stuck with whatever we're given for the time being though, and the moment it's not-so-speedy.

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) October 14, 2008 4:44 pm  

@ Living: Not having an option must be frustrating - mind you I have options and i'm still frustrated

@ Elin: I've heard mixed reviews about Arnet also - Seems to depend how close you are to the base station for most of these services. Need to poll the neighbours next time

Anonymous,  October 16, 2008 1:50 pm  

I'm one of those people who shuts their eyes and hopes the problem goes away...

...and use a laptop in the meantime.

Can't help it if I'm spoilt.

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) October 16, 2008 10:08 pm  

@K8: High tech but dial up - you're an enigma !

PaddyInEngland October 22, 2008 5:50 am  

[Moss and Roy downloading a picture of the woman who replied to Roy's fake classified ad at "pre-broadband-speed"]

Roy: Oh, do you remember the internet at this speed? Up all night and you'll see 8 women

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) October 22, 2008 11:09 am  

@ Paddy: lol - I remember dialing into AOL on a 14.4K modem

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