Last Friday, in an effort to chase down why my computer has been getting 'stuck' trying to access sites (particularly secure sites like the Uni - grrrr), I contacted the Apple technical support (91 days after purchase - I bet you can't guess when the free support ran out?!?) - went through everything possible with them until they decided it couldn't be the computer - could I check these few things out with my ISP?
Then much time with my ISP, wherein she couldn't work out what was happening, decided to do a factory reset of the modem, and killed it. After the shops were shut.
It seems that it has been dying by inches, flicking in and out of operational status without the lights indicating it at all. Definitely a case of "the lights are on, but nobody's home." This explains why the fault has been intermittent, and also why things that are bigger to load are more likely to fail. It also explains why my computer had been telling me on odd occasions that I wasn't connected to the internet, then reneging and saying that everything was fine, when I hadn't done a thing.
Saturday morning led me to the main street where I bought a new modem, which didn't work. The didn't work part didn't become obvious until after midday, when the shops are shut. (Yes, you big city dwellers, many shops in regional places shut at noon on a Saturday, and don't reopen until Monday morning. I know, it's a hard world, but we survive.)
So Monday morning, took the modem back, got a refund and the sad news that they don't stock ADSL1 modems anymore, so I couldn't get one.
So off to my favourite computer shop, where they told me that ADSL2+ modems SHOULD work for ADSL1 lines, so I bought another modem and headed home to consult the technical support line for my ISP to get it working.
Monday afternoon and evening I had glorious, effortless, and super-speedy access to the web. Ahhhh! Lovely!
Tuesday morning I turned the computer on, only to find that the new modem was giving me a terrible red light that indicated that I WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET!!!!! ARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! NOT AGAAAAAIN!?!
After turning everything off, checking all the connections, then restarting it only to find that the red light was still on, I was at the end of patience with anything electrical or technological, and about to join the Amish.
With heart sinking, I rang the number for my ISP, to get a recorded message that, "some customers in Queensland may be experiencing lack of connection at this time, we are working to...."
The chance that my relief was out of proportion with the situation?
3 comments:
I've been wondering where you were! I am so internet-dependent now that I might actually go insane if my access were denied. (I know that sounds a lot like an addiction, but I swear it's just a healthy enthusiasm...)
Fortunately, I have a smartphone AND a dongle for my laptop, so there's very little chance I'd ever be completely disconnected.
I cannot imagine your frustration! Having a husband who fixes internet when things go wrong, I fear I may have become addicted ... sorry, 'healthily enthusiastic.'
I am relieved to hear that in some areas the shops shut at midday on Saturday and stay that way until Monday morning. That feels like the way it should be. (But that's easy for me to say.)
Laughed at the recorded message. What a relief! Hope it's all good now.
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