Journey to the Land of Broadband!

Ever since I started blogging those dark lonely nights in May. I've been using my old dial-up modem to connect to the internet. Believe me the speed on that thing was slower than a tortoise on razors! I could not get much done every night apart from a post once in a while. Whenever I tried to visit any other blogs it would take literally ages to do and when I got there and wanted to tried to leave a commet it'd just go blank. It was oh so frustrating!

So this went on for all those months. I had been planning on changing my old PC too for ages. That trusty old faithful thing should really have been mothballed but I was so out of touch with the world of IT that I didn't really know what to get. So I looked around for a good system and also for a good deal.

So as my daughter like to sing "A hunting we will go" for a new PC that is. I finally found a Dell system and an offer I couldn't refuse. I won't go into details but it's superfast and has a ton of memory too. The best feature was the 20" widescreen that came with the package. (me being me and never satisfied opted for the 22" screen and was in for a shock when I opened the box)

Madre Dios it was huge , almost twice the size of my old faithful! Woo hoo!! Anyway I was so excited to order it but I still had my old dialup system. I had been trying to get broadband for a while too but because I still had my old system procastinated as usual. Once the new system arrived I was spurred to get my broadband service and tried to go online but was advised that I should go to the outlet for faster service. So I went on a Saturday...it was also the day before their promotion ended. Procastination!!!!! So went there bright and early to to my dismay the outlet was closed. But they told me over the phone that'd be open I kept repeating to my wife as we drove home!! Arrgghhh. So nevermiond, I decided to log on and register online...afterall it was a broadband service provider wasn't it. So I did! Successfully I thought.

I then waited...and waited...and waited some more. Now I've been warned before about the "service" of this broadband provider and it made me wonder. If this was the service before I even received it what ws it going to be like when I did. I decided to call a few days later and enquire about my application and to my dismay they said that they had no record of
my registration. I asked for their supervisor and waited for so long that I hung up...I was mad as hell! I had missed on the great package because of thier ineffiencies. If you advertise that the package is available until the 30th of September then you should be able to receive applications until the last day, right!

By then my new system had arrived. I removed my trusty old faithful PC for the last time. Then I unpacked the new system and carefully removed the components from their boxes and placed them where I wanted them. Then wifey and me set it up. She used to work with computers before so I was not going to waste her expertise. Besides all the wiring had to fit in tiny slots that my large fingers were not too fond of! It looks great I must say! But alas still no broadband...so I rummaged for the old dialup modem and tried to log on. Couldn't get a signal! I was preplexed. Stumped even!

Tried again the next day...and the day after! Finally on Saturday called Dell helpline. They were very professional and so helpful...not forgetting to mention polite. So this is how that conversation went.

Me: I'm having problems using my modem.
DELL: Okay sir please try this and please try that. Okay now lets try to install your software again.
Me: Uhuh...No...err.no sitll can't...nope...what was that...no that didn't work either.
DELL: Sir is your modem plugged in to the right place...
Me: Yes
DELL: Sir is your modem plugged in this place...
Me: Yes...
DELL: Sir that is the network slot for your broadband...for your dialup there is a slot below for the line...
Me: (DOH! red faced already) Err...but I tried the other place and it wouldn't fit.
DELL: Sir please try to turn the jack around...
Me: (DOH Again) Ohhh...no wonder...I tried to do it the other way...(I guess I must have had DOOFUS written in large bold letters on my comment card back at DELL HQ)

I really wished I had the powers of a Genie King and could wish away the embarassment LOL

After several tries...it still didn't work properly (managed to get in once but that was it) so they actually did a conference call with my dial-up service provider to try to fix the problem! Still no go! They said they'd look into it and call back on Monday! Me wasn't happy cause got no internet over the weekend...but what could i do. My beautiful new toy was a lame duck!

I called my good buddy Nick to come over...we've fixed many a problem together in the past and I had more confidence in us than in DELL (even with their great service). So my trusty buddy comes and we still can't get fully connected after trying! I'm totally frustrated by now. We make an evening out of it and have some garlic bread and wine to drown my sorrows. LOL

On Sunday night I finally managed to get hooked up after deleting all previous connections and starting from scratch. I was happy but was clocking 28.8 kbs. But that was normal for me at home so I didn't care. The next day we were off so I decided to try other service providers. We went to a mall that we knew for sure had another service provider.

My luck was running thin because I went to the first one and they didn't have a line in my area. they directed me to another service provided...but this one also didn't have service in my area...although they keep advertising about their great service...it's like putting the cart before the horse...no service don't advertise so much until you do! So there I was again...with no broadband service!

We roamed around the mall and even asked information if they had any others and they said no. So we went to the supermarket to get a few items. After that as I waited for wifey who had to go for a pit stop...i wondered when I'd get my broadband service. I decided to walk over to the restrooms and I saw her smiling gleefully. I was wondering what she was up to.

Wifey: You saw it ah?
Me: "Yes"...but we were on different pages...I was thinking of the roasted meat they usually sell at Chinese New year but were now selling for Hari Raya albeit the halal version.
Wifey: No, the Broadband counter...
Me: Broadband counter?
Wifey: You walked past it.
Me: No lah...where got?
Wifey: There...
Me: (DOH! AGAIN!) I didn't see it lah...

So we see the guy (Ali) and he said he has still got the package I wanted (although it expired a week earlier) but that I'd have to sign up before 2.30 pm...it was 1:30 pm!! I wasn't too sure and though it might be a sales ploy but hety he was giving me my broadband service at the special promotion price I wanted....woo hoo. The guy even fixed everything for me and told me all I had to do was wait a couple of days and then could log in. I had finally done it...got my broadband! But the story doesn't end...That night as I was watching tv the guy calls...

Broadband guy: Mr. Adrian you left you IC in the shop...
Me: (DOH to the power of 4) Okay okay...thanks for calling...I'll pick it up tomorrow...

So the next day I pick it up and I see the signs advertising the offer are no longer there, so he was telling the truth and not up to salesman type tricks. Good!

The following day...I get a strong signal and am now able to use my broadband. Or so I thought, because I try logging on but keep getting error messages. I try and try repeatedly but still the same. I try the CD too that came with it but that doesn't work either. So I call the broadband guy.
Me: Ali...I can't get into my broadband lah...I've tried everything but can't get it...
Broadband guy: Did you activate your account?
Me: (DOH!!!!!!! for the last time I tell ya!) Oh yes ah...I have to activate my account...okay thanks I'll give them a call now.

Ten minutes later I finally get broadband at home! LOL The first song I hear is from my blog and it's Bing singing "White Christmas" (remember I love Christmas) One of my favs...my daughter and wifey come over to inspect the noise and we play her little computer game called "Purble Place" on the PC.

Call me crazy, call me doofus, call me sentimental...I don't care I was happy!