Tuesday, October 06, 2009


CST


Where's my DSL installation kit?

I'm walking around my neighborhood at night, looking for the box that didn't arrive at my door. I had signed up for the faster internet connection because I want to save time. For years I had tolerated a poky dial-up connection, a blazing 48 Kbps.

But thanks to that poky dial-up connection, I found out that the box had been delivered earlier in the day, according to the UPS tracking site. I assume it was dropped off at the wrong address. No sign of it in the neighborhood, at least in the dim lighting.

A phone call to UPS after my useless neighborhood search. I find out the package was delivered to my building but to the wrong apartment number. This pisses me off because I had the DSL service company repeat back to me on the phone my address when I placed the order.

The wrong apartment has a separate entrance way that I had assumed was always locked. The package isn't outside that entrance way. Someone might have grabbed it.

By chance I bump into the building manager in the hallway – this is around 12:30 AM, he's also a night owl – and I explain the situation to him. He tells me that the entrance way to that section isn't locked. Guess where the package has been hiding.

I get the package, carefully read the directions, and hook everything up. But unlike a simple dial-up connection, the DSL kit is a somewhat involved set-up with filters that have to be placed in the right spot. I make sure to follow the diagram, double-checking each line and filter.

This takes some time because I have two telephone outlets behind furniture. Everything seems ready to go; I try to connect via DSL. Nothing.

Eventually I locate the problem – a loose connection. Then I screw around with some other niggling tech problems.

Time saved with locating my kit and getting it up and running – five hours.

So how much time am I saving now with DSL?

Last night I tried to leave a comment at someone's Blogspot site. Suddenly the link to that site disappears. I soon discover that any site associated with Blogger.com won't open up, even though other sites will. Again and again I try to figure out the problem. I'm getting pissed; besides leaving the comment I also want to post on my Blogspot site.

After going in circles, driving myself crazy, I finally find a way to link back up with Blogspot sites. I close the DSL and hook up with poky dial-up. While slow, the dial-up works.

Computers always save me time. Like with the DVD burner I use to back up my files. It gets hung up in the middle of a burn and sits there, chugging, chugging, the message on the screen saying that the 2 GB of data will be finished in “57 hours, ten minutes...”

So in case you've been wondering why I don't post that much, it's because of all of the free time bestowed upon me by computers. I have so much free time I don't know what to do with it.

CST: the big lie.


6 comments:

X. Dell said...

Hmm. I wouldn't know why Blogger gives your machine the fits. Sice I have broadband, I'll check.

X. Dell said...

As far as your problem accessing blogger, it was probably some temporary glitch. You might want to see if you can open up other Google sites (e.g., GMail).

I haven't really heard of this problem before, but I hope you can resolve it. It can keep down your blood pressure.

Ray Palm (Ray X) said...

X. Dell:

ThanX for checking. The problem resolved itself after a while. According to one of my friends, he has seen the same problem using a broadband cable connection. Sometimes the network you are using might have a hang-up in its system and certain sites won't go through, a node problem or whatever.

Another reason why I hate computers, trying to fix a problem. Is it operator error on my part, I'm doing something wrong? Is it the computer I'm using, a software or physical problem? Maybe a virus nailed my machine. Could it be the line from my computer going into the ISP network? Or is it the ISP service that has the problem? Or is it the site I'm trying to reach that is screwed up?

With all those factors to consider, it does drive one nuts.

(Note: When I use the term "computers" I'm referring to everything from the hardware to the software to the Internet.)

X. Dell said...

In my experience, hardware and user errors are usually in the minority. I almost always look for system and setting errors first.

Doug said...

Computers suck.

And because they're how I make a living, I feel as though I have the expertise to confirm that.

Just don't tell the rest of the I.T. community I let you in on that secret.

Oh wait. You knew that already.

Ray Palm (Ray X) said...

Doug:

You forgot a key word in your first statement:

Computers suck TIME.

If you're lucky, they will save more time than suck it up.