w.atching the w.orld unw.ind

Today's lyric:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I'm wet and I'm cold, but thank God I ain't old
I should have split home at fifteen
Why didn't I ever say what I mean?
There's a story that the grass is so green,
What did I see? Where have I been?"

The Who: "Sea and sand"
From the album: "Quadrophenia"

It's Bruv's 47th today - not that he'll read this, as his Internet connection's still buggered (technical description). Bit like mine, last night, when I feared the worstas the dreaded flashing orange light on the wireless hub was on when I got in.

But this morning, all seemed well?

Though I still cannot comment on anyone's blog who uses Haloscan (therefore including my own) as work's firewall seems to have disabled Javascript support? So I can read, but not touch. Sorry.

Bruv's favourite track on Quadrophenia is "Sea and sand" - so it's up there, just for him.

Happy Birthday, matey.

Labels: Broadband

I haven't had Broadband long enough to prove this, but it seems that whenever the temperature is really hot (as it was Sunday/Monday) the wireless signal just seems to drop out? No matter how close to the hub/router I move the laptop?

Anyone got anything to support/refute this theory?

Mrs.D. blames the asthmaferrics, though why an iron lung should interfere with the gubbins is anyone's guess.

Breaking (kitten) news...

The Ginger Whinger (or, our cream Burmese, as she's more properly known) has been found. She disappeared around midnight on Sunday through a barely-ajar window and was located up a tree in the gardens of The Big House across the road from us this morning.

The local wildlife are going to be pigsick. The foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and bats, which have been dining off the enticing baitfood left out to lure her back, will no longer get free nourishment to support them during their traversing of our manor.

Tough, guys.

No purr, no beurre.

Labels: Broadband

This is not really a rant against BT. Just a chronological record for the trial...

Individually, I've had nothing but courteous help and advice, Collectively, it's just not joined up communication?

I rang the Broadband Helpline last Monday (so, a week ago today). "We are very busy and your call is in the queue. Please hold the line to speak to an operator."

"Hi - I've lost my Internet connection and there's a sonar ping-like noise on the landline. I've checked the physical connections and re-set the hub via the Hub Manager software."

"We'll test your line. Yes, there's a fault. Give us 48 hours and ring back if it's not fixed"

So I rang on Wednesday. "It's been fixed" they said. No, it hasn't (or I wouldn't be 'phoning, now, would I?)

"Another 24 hours?"

So I rang on Thursday. "Ah, sorry, this is an offline job and you need to 'phone this number." "No, sorry, we can't put you through to save you queueing again. Sorry."

Several different 0800 queues later - "We are very busy and your call is in the queue. Please hold the line to speak to an operator" (and after replacing the filter, as suggested), an engineer called round.

"Nope, it's not your landline, I suspect it's your BT hub."

"No shit, Sherlock."

"Hello BT Broadband Helpline. (Yes, the one where I started.) I've been told....."

"We'll send you another hub. I've generated a Fault Reference Number. You need to 'phone this number. It's this one if you bought the original hub on-line and this one if over the 'phone."

"We are very busy and your call is in the queue. Please hold the line to speak to an operator."

"It looks like your original hub was billed to your telephone?"

"Yes, I 'came back' to BT when we ordered the broadband (on-line) so that everything was BT and I'd only have to make one call to one company."

"Ah, I'm really sorry but I'm not authorised to release the hub because of the way you paid for the original. Sorry, but you need to phone..."

"We are very busy and your call is in the queue. Please hold the line to speak to an operator. You can always report a problem on-line (no, I CAN'T, because my link is broken) or ring this number (what, the one I'm ringing RIGHT NOW?)". Click.

What? What happened to the promise of an operator?

So I chose a completely inappropriately-named option.

"Ah, no, this is the repair department. Sorry. You need to 'phone..."

"But I've just come from there?"

"No, you can't have done. They don't open on Saturdays."

"Would you please ring and establish that they are in fact open, because I'VE JUST COME FROM THERE?"

"Ah, yes, you're right. But they only open 8:00 'til 8:00 and it's now 8:09."

"I know what the time is, because I've been in more queues than Sainsbury's for THE PAST TWO HOURS."

So I lost the will to live and fcuked off to the Goodwood Fesival of Speed. (Pix later)

And got home for Mrs.D. to advise that the hub's fixed itself.

I'm sure I've got a loaded revolver lying around somewhere...

Labels: Broadband

An absolutely boring weekend, involving further relocation of diverse flatpacks from ground floor to first, followed by more assemblage and screwage and swearage.

Only 'livened up' by another hour-plus conversation with the truly excellent (and very patient) BT Broadband Helpdesk, trying to hook up a second wireless laptop to the hub.

Anyone (or anything) that tells you Broadband installation is a doddle should be immediately strangled. I reckon it's taken me six hours so far, and the second computer is still not talking to us!

Labels: Broadband