Remember that new desk top computer I had built for me? IT CRASHED! I just got it back from computer doctor last evening but haven't re-hooked it up yet today. I'm feeling a bit nervous! It does seem a bit strange to me that most of my electronic stuff has crashed FREQUENTLY in the past two years. Sure, some things, like the old desk top, were more than 9 years old. But the 3rd router was brand new. Router number 6, is still working and it's been over a month now! (Got my fingers crossed!) However, this last router, a Linksys, had to be taken back to Staples when first new one wouldn't work.
Why so many routers, you may be wondering? Or not. Well, let's see if I can paint ya the picture ... Belkin went down in June 2012 with the Internet service and Internet service tech hooked up an old Netgear I had when he came to repair service. In Feb. 2013, that old Netgear went down when the Internet crashed again but unlike Internet service, it never came back up so a new longer range (and more expensive) Netgear was installed. In April 2013, again, the Internet service went down and, again, the Netgear didn't come back up. We got our money back from Best Buy and went on a quest but couldn't find another router we liked as well so we tried the same Netgear but purchased it from Staples ... a mere 50 miles away from us, compared to more than 250 miles ... only to have it crash with our Internet service (yes, this was becoming a regular, annoying occurrence) in June 2013. (Yes, I thought it was interesting that this router business all began in June a year earlier AND with each subsequent Internet crash! Any ideas out there?) A new Netgear replacement ensued and within that same month of June 2013, the Internet and Netgear crashed AGAIN!
Staples issued a money card and with it the Linksys was purchased at the end of July, with a NEW protection plan ... which I normally don't purchase but started to with Netgear purchase from Staples and with all my electronic purchases, from then on, due to this nightmare, which wasn't yet over. (Is this the grand design of such plans? Do they know this stuff is trash to begin with?) As I said above, this new router had to be returned for a working one. (Yep, still have my fingers crossed!)
Oh, and that Internet service? I first signed on in February 2012 with USA Communications. Where we live, out here in the Nebraska Sandhills, we are limited on available Internet service and this was the best for the most reasonable fee and much faster than the Verizon Internet card we had. But every storm that showed up on the horizon meant no Internet service and in a few months would also mean a new router with nearly every crash. (Again, I'm hoping someone reading this blog will message me with their ideas on why!?) Well, in June this year, USA Communications was bought out by Prairie iNet. And on July 31st, SHOCK, the internet crashed with a storm BUT Linksys stayed up. On August 12th it crashed again with a pending storm. I called and vented my frustration and a tech by the name of Charles (they don't give us last names anymore) explained to me that all the upgrades would mean interrupted service periodically. Funny what a little information will do to calm a frustrated caller like me. At the time of this post the service is much improved AND the Linksys router is still working!
Life goes on amid failures and frustrations. These electronic failures have amplified my belief that nothing is forever and some things are a blip on the life screen. I won't give up! I will persevere! So, now, off to hook up the fixed (fingers crossed for this, too) desk top. A bad drive crashed the new desk top before I'd even had it a month. Will it give me near ten years like my ole Dell? Or will it be one of those blips?
If all goes well, and computers all stay up and running .... maybe I can get this blog going on a more consistent ramble. Maybe?
