plonq: (Pensive mood)
plonq ([personal profile] plonq) wrote2004-08-28 11:47 am

(no subject)

Our internet connection has been getting really sporadic again lately. I've been letting it slide all week, but last night I decided to call in with another complaint.

While I was navigating through the various menus and half-listening to the recorded messages at each layer, my brain picked out, "Blah blah blah line filters blah blah."

Hm. I've never needed those before, but didn't our problem really start in earnest after we got the new phone in the hall? Maybe it would be worth my while to buy a couple of those for the phones. I hung up from tech support and called the nearest phone outlet. After fifteen minutes of dead air while they left me on hold, the surreal conversation went something like this:

"Phone centre."
"Hi. Do you carry line filters?"
"Do you sell line filters?"
"[pause] Do you sell line filters?"
"No. Are you trying to sell us line filters?"
"No, I just want to know if you have any in stock. I need a couple."
"Yes, we have them."
"How much?"
"They're free. We give them away."

[livejournal.com profile] atara and I piled into the Plonqmobile and drove over to grab a couple of free line filters. While we were there we decided to renew our cell phone account as well (and picked up a sexy new flip phone while we were at it). So far the line filters seem to have solved the connection problem. I say "so far" because we've managed to go a day or two without a disconnect in the past. We shall see.

[identity profile] boinggoat.livejournal.com 2004-08-28 11:06 am (UTC)(link)
Ooo, what kind of cell phone didja get? I didn't know you had one.

[identity profile] atara.livejournal.com 2004-08-28 11:27 am (UTC)(link)
We got this one. It's an Audiovox 8600. It's so tiny!

[identity profile] boinggoat.livejournal.com 2004-08-28 01:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Kewl!
someday when I have much money I'll be spendy and get a thrilling cell phone. Apparently this one we just started selling takes great pictures. but I really don't like the attempt at styling, and it doesn't have a speakerphone.

[identity profile] nrasser.livejournal.com 2004-08-28 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Miau!

When I had Qwest DSL, I ran a non-filtered line to the modem and put a master filter on the line to the rest of the house. Sometimes a combination of device properties and phone line resonance will allow DSL to operate when some devices aren't filtered, but they all really should be. Your network will be much more reliable.

[identity profile] fuzzytoedcollie.livejournal.com 2004-08-29 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sitting here, trying to imagine how your phone system manages to work under a constant influx of green citrus fruit--then realized you weren't talking about lime filters--and went to wash my glasses!

*grin*