Comments on: One of Those Weeks

By: Patrick Teague

Patrick Teague — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:23:51 +0000

I recently moved & got Cox Cable (again)… My first night was spent talking to the stupid automated scripts. After a certain point I couldn’t take it anymore & started calling the automated script names – “You’re a moron!” is apparently a trigger word. It decided it couldn’t handle my response & so quickly delegated my call to a service rep.

My problem wasn’t anything the automated script could have helped me with… I could ping google with no problem. The issue is they have a stupid redirect on port 80 the first time you connect & it wouldn’t let me past there. The service rep checked some things & figured out that my cable modem (which I had used a year ago with Cox in a different town) wasn’t set up for the new location. Giving him the MAC address on the modem & reseting it fixed the issue.

By: Nathanael

Nathanael — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:36:52 +0000

Geez Eric, freaked me out there for a minute when the first two words I read were “child” and “died” !! :-s

By: Dale Cruse

Dale Cruse — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:10:53 +0000

I switched to Verizon’s FiOS and LOVE it. You know the speed jump from dialup to broadband? Well, imagine that jump up from broadband to FiOS.

By: Keith Burgin

Keith Burgin — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 03:56:57 +0000

I’ve dealt with Earthlink professionally many times. Their customer service invented the term “suck”.

I have cable, and very little trouble with it. I also do not have cable tv service, only the high-speed inter-thingy. Dump them if you get the chance. Try the cable – run a speed test at various times of the day or go to DSLreports.com and check for your area.

Just a suggestion.

By: Dave Vogt

Dave Vogt — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:09:52 +0000

Sorry to hear you’re having a rough week. Sorrier still to hear that Time Warner services your area. They are the provider where I’m from, and while the TV service is great, I don’t really think they understand the whole “internet” thing.

Leeching wireless from neighbors is my favorite option, but it’s easier in a college town and an apartment complex.

By: Peter Foti

Peter Foti — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:51:17 +0000

You might look into Verizon’s FiOS service as an alternative to DSL or Cable. I know 3 people that have switched over and love it (thinking of moving from cable myself).
http://www22.verizon.com/content/ConsumerFios

By: Brendan Cullen

Brendan Cullen — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:42:35 +0000

For what it’s worth, I’m on the East Side with Time Warner cable, and really haven’t experienced any serious downtime in the past 12-13 months or so that I’ve had it that wasn’t fixed with a modem reboot. And you should see the ancient cable modem prototype beta they set me up with.

They do however, never show up on the first appointment scheduled for installation which usually takes at least a 2 weeks wait (in the last 2 places I’ve lived anyway)

Of course now by saying this, my internet will no doubt be down when I get home tonight….

By: Conánn FitzPatrick

Conánn FitzPatrick — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:03:27 +0000

Last time I had to switch DSL companies it took over four weeks. While there were several moments of severe stress, it was amazing how much work I was able to do and how many books I read. One of the most relaxed months I have ever had.

By: Dennis D.

Dennis D. — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 08:31:22 +0000

Geez, we folks here in Good Old Europe ® should reconsider what we complain about and what not. I know the US have a higher DSL/Broadband Internet proportion than we have (at least that’s true for 2005) but from what you say… Well, we’re complaining about call centres where we aren’t heard (but if you know how to do it you can still be heard). We’re complaining about a day offline when we switch DSL providers. We’re thinking a reliable ADSL2 connection is annoying if the negotiated downstream bandwith drops to 15MBit/s from time to time (though it’s hard to find two download servers which will utilize the line). Today I’m going to meditate on living in Good Old Europe ®. Good night, and good luck. Hope it’s going to get better soon.

By: Jahnoth

Jahnoth — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 01:42:50 +0000

Howdy, Eric.

As I’m also a Northeast Ohio resident, wanted to let you know that Time Warner is a hell of a lot less hassle than Earthlink ever was. I did DSL, with Earthlink, a few years ago. I was finally so frustrated with various issues I had with them, including a modem that literally burned itself out and had to be replaced, which took two weeks as I recall, my wife and I decided to go with cable. Adelphia at the time, and no major frustration since. We also do just the modem and not the TV, and it’s quite good.

There have been a few hiccups here and there, but nothing nearly so frustrating as DSL was to me.

Also, we ditched the phone line completely and we do VoIP via Vonage, and that also is a service well worth it. I hate SBC, or whatever it is nowadays. Hope this helps.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:57:28 +0000

Sorry Kathy… I was thinking K, my fingers thought C.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:56:33 +0000

I second and third Derek and Cathy.

If only your Internet was working when you woke up and you could have read a blog post with the phrase “like being nibbled to death by ducks”, you would be feeling a whole lot better now. Thanks for sharing the love with us, it’s a true skill to make people happy even when you feel really crappy.

Hope you feel better soon and all gets fixed up.

By: ed cordero

ed cordero — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 21:55:34 +0000

here’s what i do when i’m getting sick. i sit down with a bag of tostitos rounds are good and a small bowl of the really hot salsa (habanero or “hot”—no mild stuff). i eat as much of this as i can, refilling the salsa a few times. works like a charm, at least in my experience. and it’s tasty, too!

By: pauldwaite

pauldwaite — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 21:05:38 +0000

> “he accumulation of annoyances is rather like being nibbled to death by ducks”

But… how would you know?

How would *anyone* know?

Please don’t tell me it happened.

Oh, for crying out loud.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 19:51:40 +0000

LOL “Nibbled to death by ducks.” Indeed! Some days it’s better just to head back to bed with a trashy novel, pull up the covers and forget there ever was a thing called the Internet. (I recommend chicken soup.)