Hello new cable box...

Instalments three and four of "The Cable Story" really got tucked as quick mentions into other posts. But now I think we're on part 5... or part V (looks better) and I think this is the final chapter in the tale.

Some 12 days ago, when Rogier moved out, the digital cable went with him. Although of course it wasn't supposed to. 11 days ago I called them up and they said wait 48 hours and it will be back. 7 days ago I called them again and told them it wasn't back. They made an appointment to send a technician today. Then 4 days ago the cable came back! Where it had gone, I never found out, but clearly it had had a rough time while away.

My cable was back, but either broken or hungover. The signal kept cutting out, and some features weren't working.

Rather than call the cable company, I remained quiet and let the technician arrive today. He was surprised to see the system working. But as soon as he started poking he found problems. Rather than diagnose them, he swapped the converter box. It's new and shiny (even shinier than the old one) and seems to actually work.

There was a moment of uncertainty as to whether I should be charged for the "installation" service but apparently the quality of my coffee swayed the issue. I got my cable, and no bill.

And this brings me to the greater point. It's something that I learned in the corporate world years ago, and that life always confirms for me. You can call, you can complain, you can email, you can wait on hold and you can shout. But nothing gets you further in life than simply offering a cup of coffee.

It's all about your tools...

Having the right tool for the job can make things much easier. And using the wrong tool can make life difficult. Or in my case, can make breathing difficult.

Last week I bought the hardware I needed to mount my TV and stereo. My decision to stop using the ten euro hand drill I own and to rent a good one was critical. The professional drill went through the concrete wall "like butter". So easy, so simple. It could have all gone so quickly.

But vacuum cleaners are more complicated beasts than they let on. Indeed I do most of my vacuuming without ever looking at the vacuum. So I had already picked up three holes worth of concrete dust when I noticed; everything going into the hose was subsequently being thrown straight out the back.

The plume of fine dust was momentarily hilarious. The moment was a short one. Apparently if the bag isn't mounted properly into the vacuum, what goes in comes out. But what went in was a discrete pile. What came out was a room filling cloud.

Yet it was all a success! The hard work I expected the holes would give became the cleanup instead. But given the results... could I really complain?!?

And just to keep it all feeling like Christmas, the cable TV works again! Yesterday I called and made a technician's appointment for Thursday. Today I woke up and it was working. Huh? Okay. I suppose the decoder liked how it looks and decided to play the part.

There's still lots of cleaning and arranging to do today. Christmas will be three scuba divers sitting here, watching movies, and eating. So if I'm to host guests, I'd best get on with it. In the mean time though, I just couldn't help but share my latest creation. A work in progress still... but my latest pride and joy.

Oh what a beautiful morning!

A white Christmas in Holland? December 21st will do. Yesterday I awoke to trees covered in ice. Last night a true and proper snowfall blanketted everything else. Isn't it beautiful?

And today is the last work day. Five-day weekend!

Let's just hope the fools at the cable company don't go on vacation before turning my service back on.

Happiness is Engineering

What do you give an engineer who has everything? You give him (or her) a problem to solve.

I became a very happy telecommunications engineer today when my new Internet and telephone hardware arrived! And I'm even happier to report, it works!!!

As usual (believe it or not) I started with the instructions. They're always in Dutch, but these days there's little I don't understand. And this time, as normal, they confirmed my idea on how the system should be set up.

Due to the lack of a key, currently carried by Rogier, I couldn't get into the main source of the cable feed. Ooops. So I worked around the issue and hoped. Untangling the cables that make up my old computer network was more than half the battle. Then a few quick connections, resetting a router, a few WEP keys, and a total system reboot later... I had Internet!

Technically I'm not supposed to. Firstly, I haven't received or signed those papers to transfer my cable service. Next, I really shouldn't be able to use this modem properly the way it is connected. But it's working with 6Mbps down and 1.5Mbps up. Tested and working as advertised. Lastly, the instructions explained how to activate my service with a user name and password from a different letter that I haven't received. So I really thought I was just taking apart my network, playing with the new equipment, and putting the original system back together for another few days. But instead, the system never prompted me to activate. It just worked.

I'm using my new Internet connection right now! Initial Skype tests say that voice quality is nicely improved. And at www.speedtest.net I got my highest numbers ever.

Isn't technology great!?!

Rabbit Rabbit

Rabbit rabbit, in digital glory! Or is that digital TV I'm thinking of? Yes, yes I think it is.

"We" got a notice on Thursday that my hardware from the cable company had arrived and needed to be picked up at the local post office. Trouble is, the notice was in Rogier's name. He's the one moving out, not the one ordering more cable services.

So Ro picked up a big huge box this morning, then called UPC Cable to verify he wasn't paying for it. The helpful lady on the other end suggested the following:
1) Take the box that's just arrived from the post office and return it to UPC.
2) A cable technician will come out to disconnect the service.
3) Wait for UPC to receive the box, then "send an identical unit" back in my name, which I'll have to go to the post office to pick up.
4) UPC then sends a technician out to reconnect their service for me.
5) Once all connected & in my name, UPC will send me the telephone and Internet boxes.

I got passed the phone and had this explained. I asked, can't you just move the service from Rogier's name to mine? After much stalling and delay, the lady admitted it was possible. BUT! It requires a form... for me to sign!

I explained to her that receiving a letter and returning it was much simpler than returning and receiving large boxes. You could hear the gears turning as she thought through this. And turn well they did, for now the processes is:
1) Receive envelope and sign a form.
2) Watch digital TV while I wait to be sent the telephone and Internet boxes.

Some days I wonder.

Plans for the "Big" Move

In less than four weeks, I'm moving. Okay, not far. Not, for example, as far as "all the way out of the apartment". I am moving across the hall... from one bedroom to another. (To the BIG bedroom.) And for this there is a surprising amount of stuff to do.

On his way out, Rogier is taking his phone number with him. Indeed the whole phone contract. And with the phone line, goes the ADSL (Internet service) which he's also planning to use at his new place. Lastly, the cable is in his name, and so scheduled to be disconnected.

I'm also going to need to buy some furniture and some home items. The dish towels are his. The couch is his. Rogier will certainly be taking his table and chairs with him. And so on and so forth. What I refuse to live without for a week or a day is access to my telephone, TV, and Internet. Uhm, No!

But we live in a beautiful world. Instead of three bills, I have arranged for these three critical services to be delivered by my local cable TV company. A "Triple Play Bundle", as it's known in the industry. So I'll be able to connect one box to one cable and from there connect my computer, telephone, and TV. Isn't technology wonderful?!?

And now the question... will these services be activated in just the four weeks that remain? Having placed my order through a website interface, I have no "installation date", no email confirmation, and no clue what to expect next. So will technology be wonderful to me? Will a box arrive by mail and work as soon as I plug it into the wall? Or have I just started down a fool's path by putting all my trust in a single company? Let's see.