[Rant] Internet providers know how to suck!

[Turanil]

Well, four days without Internet access!

So friday it begins: no internet access. Since I had clients to visit (ahem... in fact going to the 2004 Car Show in Paris, then to the restaurant with friends), I hadn't the time to look a way to fix that.

Then, saturday and sunday, I try everything I can think of to fix the problem. Nothing works. However, as I am no Internet or computer expert, I am not really surprised at my total failure. Yet, not being able to access the Enworld forums really sucks. Strangely however, I noticed it gave me more time to create new NPCs for my d20 NPCs threads (see links below: a dozen new stat-blocks added!). Well...

Monday and tuesday I call the hotline of both the DSL modem, and the Internet provider. The internet provider tells me the line is okay , the problem can only come from the modem . The modem technical assistance tells me that maybe the modem has a problem, but I must test it somewhere else to see if it really has a problem or if it is the internet line. They will accept to change the modem only once this is done. Yet, as I still trust the Internet provider (I don't know why), I call the modem technical assistance next day lying to them I made the test (nobody I know has time to lose making modem tests, and they live far from me anyway), and it's the modem that doesn't work (which I believe). So they tell me: We send you an email for the exchange procedure I ask them if per chance they wouldn't be making a fool of me!

Anyway, yesterday night I went to a friend's, to get the email so I can return the modem for exchange. Then, this morning, right before sending the modem, I nonetheless give it one more try: everything runs perfect!!!! I am on Enworld back again! So, it was the internet line that had a problem! Of course, the Internet provider would never admit this, rejecting the fault on my modem.

I have emailed them to tell I was really disatisfied, and now that I am thinking about it, I could also phone them to scream my anger at the poor sob who will be there to answer my call. I don't want to change of provider yet, since i would have to change of email adress. But next time...

 

[GlassJaw]

Who is your provider? I haven't heard too many positive things about DSL. Get cable.

 

[Turanil]

Provider is in France, I didn't mention it, since I thought nobody would care (only other French here is Gez, I don't think he would care about the info though). Provider is Tiscali.

If things still go wrong the same, I will change to Free, who is like cable, with 5 mb instead of 512 kb of bandwith (or whatnot).

 

[tarchon]

Who is your provider? I haven't heard too many positive things about DSL. Get cable.

It's funny how people always say this about either DSL or cable, when they're basically the same thing on different wires. If I have trouble with my DSL, it usually turns out to be a loose ethernet cable. I can only think of one provider-originated service interruption in the year and a half I've had it.

 

[GlassJaw]

when they're basically the same thing on different wires

LOL!!! But it's those wires that make all the difference.

Overall, you will get better speeds with cable. The "wires" and cable infrastructure support faster speeds. The early fear about the bandwidth sharing limitation of cable is largely gone. In many areas, cable companies are actually increasing the speed of their networks.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

and cable is now 150% faster than dial up!

 

[Mercule]

Who is your provider? I haven't heard too many positive things about DSL. Get cable.

Heh heh. I think it's all a matter of perspective, or maybe predisposition. I've been busy converting my local friends from cable to DSL. So far, no one has complained about the speed.

Of course, part of the impetus behind the switch was that the cable companies (multiple providers) couldn't seem to keep their service up for more than 48 hours without a crash of some sort. Even if you do get better speed from a functional cable line, the speed on a dead line sucks. I can leave my DSL up 24x7 (and do) with no problem.

Also, there are different speeds of DSL. Mine is rated at 1.4 or 1.5. It gets much better performance than I can even get at work -- and I work at an avionics company, they don't skimp on tech.

Not knocking cable. Just saying that DSL is a) better than it was 2 years ago, and b) much better than most cable fans would have you believe.

 

[drothgery]

I guess I just have a higher opinion of AOL/Time-Warner's competence as an ISP than SBC's (or at least the parts that used to be Pacific Bell).

 

[Dimwhit]

I recently switched from Cable to DSL. They both run great--never a problem with either. But I get DSL for about half the price of cable for basically the same speeds (a little slower on the download, a little faster on the upload).

So I'm a dsl man, now.

 

[Zappo]

I use DSL and I don't want to get cable 'cause I don't have the wires in my house (actually, I'm not even sure that there's a provide offering it here). But I wouldn't anyway. My DSL is cheap, 640k, and can stay up for weeks at a time.

The only complain I would make is that I'd really like them to warn me of prolonged downtimes due to maintenance. They aren't doing it much now, but a couple years back they would go down for hours without warning, and when I called they said it was maintenance. Rather irritating if it happens when you really need access.

I think I'm lucky; other people using my same provider had much worse problems.