Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Charter Cable + Belkin Router = :-(

I haven't been posting lately because I have been having maddening internet problems. I have a cable modem plus a router that I use to get internet on my Apple laptop. For more than a week I have started the day with service but then lose it after about two hours and can't get it back.

At first I thought it was the spotty cable "service" because it frequently goes out anyway without explanation. If you can actually get to a person instead of a recording they often just say "we know" and "we're working to restore service." A-holes. We pay more than 100 bucks a month for cable and internet and that's the best they can do.

Now I know it's the freaking router. Sleyed figured that out. It's a good thing too because I know I don't have the patience to deal with this kind of crap. He called multiple companies, sat on hold for HOURS, and updates the router firmware only to find out the new file wouldn't unzip. Eventually he got through to a guy in Pakistan, India, or who knows where who walked him through the update.

Well what do know? Now my laptop won't pick up the router signal at all. Sleyed figured out how to monkey with the software, firmware, or whatever it is from our desktop (which hooks directly to the cable modem) so that my laptop can find the signal. I thought that was a once and for all fix but this morning I found out that wasn't the case at all. Now, every single time I want to use the internet from my laptop - which is every FREAKING day! - the numbers have to be fixed or reset or whatever he does at the Belkin site.

Fortunately this only has to be done if I shut my laptop off. It can still find the router when I wake it up after putting it to sleep. Unfortunately Sleyed only had time to fix the problem - not teach me how to do whatever he does to make it all work. So guess what we get to do tonight...

Still - that is not a solution. I don't want to have to monkey around with starting up another computer to be able to use mine to connect to the internet every freaking time I want to go online on my computer where all of my files are. Pain in the ass is what that would be. Hopefully Sleyed can figure out a permanent solution.

What's doubly frustrating is that I have no clue how to solve these kinds of technology problems on my own.

4 comments:

Alasdair said...

Whatever I do at the Belkin site? Ahh, did I tell you that Belkin is Portuguese for Hot Girl-on-Girl Action?

Dagnabbit, these technological troubles get me down, too.

B said...

I Left Right Right
CA1 CA1 CA1
156.5106703 305.2283792 60.46196305 157.9294879
208.1424745 358.0221753 64.29029731 202.7344312
161.5332178 292.4481524 61.0918988 165.8965201
167.4748941 356.686951 60.3807356 166.6495452
157.6432712 521.9947221 69.76988867 154.7710615
155.6554732 401.3110962 65.60390397 155.5480048



182.4729833 282.0051214 56.55314648 180.8311856
217.6255874 154.5108496 51.37830508 218.9142527
221.0027219 126.8298551 51.74104093 217.3564909
179.95723 366.1720009 58.95033172 180.9512053
185.7160576 235.5907745 54.28510033 186.304592



120.626113 359.5394403 59.06106438 128.0599222
167.8560658 410.7057337 69.83344096 167.7338824
186.8409249 244.8117985 55.87010848 184.8981212
219.4587359 180.9360663 53.25828547 221.3478222
200.6075728 134.4263012 50.46448949 198.5493315

Left Right Right
CA1 CA1 CA1
156.5106703 305.2283792 60.46196305 157.9294879
208.1424745 358.0221753 64.29029731 202.7344312
161.5332178 292.4481524 61.0918988 165.8965201
167.4748941 356.686951 60.3807356 166.6495452
157.6432712 521.9947221 69.76988867 154.7710615
155.6554732 401.3110962 65.60390397 155.5480048



182.4729833 282.0051214 56.55314648 180.8311856
217.6255874 154.5108496 51.37830508 218.9142527
221.0027219 126.8298551 51.74104093 217.3564909
179.95723 366.1720009 58.95033172 180.9512053
185.7160576 235.5907745 54.28510033 186.304592



120.626113 359.5394403 59.06106438 128.0599222
167.8560658 410.7057337 69.83344096 167.7338824
186.8409249 244.8117985 55.87010848 184.8981212
219.4587359 180.9360663 53.25828547 221.3478222
200.6075728 134.4263012 50.46448949 198.5493315

I sympathize, I am in the same boat. I tried to hook up my laptop to our wireless at home, but E couldn't find the key or password to let me in, so I'm left with out service. With out the wireless, I can't access the free virtual desktop that has the programs I need for my data. So much for doing that at home. I will probably try to fix it but not until later!

Field Notes said...

B, that's some fantastic computer speak you've got at the front of your comment :-) I don't know how you managed to do that but it made me roll over in laughter!

Field Notes said...

Well, I don't think Charter is worth what we pay for it... but the problem seems to be Belkin. We ditched the router and switched to an Airport. That fixed the problem though we still have to go in and reset things.

I think customers would be happier if there were more choices in cable providers. As I see it, Charter has a monopoly and they are taking advantage of it, but that's another issue.