New modem installed!

Had a sleep-in this morning but as soon as I switched on my beloved very old telephone (without internet connection) it rang. First I didn't hear anything since the coffee machine was doing its grinding noise, and I also had two cats swirling around my legs waiting impatiently for their breakfast. Yes, we have our routines.

First step was to connect the phone to electricity, since it has a battery time equal to...well...my patience with technology.

Second step was to realize it was the person from the internet provider who called and asked how it went with the new modem. Ha, I hadn't unpacked it and the old one was disconnected. Disaster! I need my morning coffee and a cig while reading up on news and stuff on the net. I'm afraid I was a bit rude to her.

So we agreed she would call back in 15 minutes. She called back in about 3 hours, hmmm. But in the meantime I connected the new modem all by myself, tap on shoulder. Both computers connected without much problem, but the tiny little new telephone didn't cooperate. Tiny telephone, and no thick fingers, but a password as long as my arm, switching between capital letters, numbers and whatsit. But after almost having thrown out the telephone from the window (not really, I'm too cheap for that) I managed to get it right.

Then she called back again from the provider, asking if I wanted to switch to glass fiber, that thing I didn't know about before but now had found and sent the number through. The thing is, that if things work, why change it? I was told that they needed to send some gadget, but free of charge, and then I would have to do the installation again. This is when I halted and after she checked how much bandwidth I have with the current new modem, we agreed on that it's fine and more than enough for my usage. I also apologized for my rudeness this morning.

The last thing that I needed to do was to send back the 5-year-old modem (I so wonder what they are gonna use it for?), so I packed it up together with all the cabling, adapters and what-have-you in the carton box in which they sent the new one in, complete with tape around in, address and something called a "RMA-No" (Return of Modem Ancient?) and went to the post office. I was surprised to learn it only cost 7 francs. I was expecting to see some of the rebate I negotiated vanish into thin air, but for a new modem and apparently better connection, I was happy to pay.

All is well that ends well.

Modem or router?

 Yesterday my internet provider called me, saying that my current service would no longer be available. Apparently I have 10 of something now, and in the future they will offer me 50 of the same something. I don't know why, since everything is working now, but hey, if they want to give me something better who am I to refuse?

But of course there was a catch. Three more francs per month. But being as I am, I asked very politely if it wasn't worth something (something for something?) that I have been a loyal customer for 13 years always paying my bills on time. After having conferred with her manager, I not only get two months free service (which amounts to almost three years with the same price) but also a free modem/router (am I supposed to know the difference?) if I return the old one.

At the ungodly time of 8.30 am this morning the modem/router was delivered. I was rudely woken up, had to go down to the entrance and sign for it, with my hair on end and in sleeping gear. Charming!

I was also asked if I have glass fiber installed. I do remember the street outside being dug up some five-six years ago for this purpose, but I had no clue if it was "installed" in my apartment. Having asked the other three in the house, they were all as clueless as me. It was only when I talked to one who previously lived in the house I realized that I do. We all do. Have glass fiber. It's some little gadget on the electricity switch board with a number on.

I love new technique, I use it daily, but I don't want to know why and how it works. It just should! So the next big challenge is to install the new modem/router when it's activated, which they said in a letter would be in five days. Stay tuned!

Scary voice

While neighbours are away I look after their apartments. Taking in the mail, watering plants and making sure nobody broke in during the night. Yesterday I noticed that the timer on the lamp the neighbour currently away on holiday and who usually has on during the evening wasn't working, and I realized that their cleaning person had unplugged the timer during the day.

I switched on the lamp, but having a very short fuse when it comes to technical things, I didn't manage to re-set the timer. It was dark in the corner where the lamp stood and I couldn't see the tiny, little, almost invisible arrow that pointed to the time, so I left it overnight.

Early this morning I went back, bringing a torch and without any problems I managed to set the clock and plugged the lamp back in. Then I heard a voice!

First I was confused, not being able to locate where the voice came from. I knew it wasn't from my apartment, but was it from any of the other two? Nope, walking towards the sound I realized it was from their bedroom. They keep that door closed, but I opened it hesitantly and found...a radio! Jeez, I guess they have it on as a wake-up call.

Heart attack avoided!