Monthly Archives: August 2004

For those who are interested

The problem seemed to be linked to the MTU setting on the router. I had the correct setting, but throttling it down to 1470 seemed to fix the problem.

Thank goodness for open source tech support, like the forums on dslreports. This problem seems to be common for people using a router to share their dsl among several computers, and who also connect to their provider via PPPoE.

Of note, this “problem” was solved back in 2001.

Did you try formatting the CD?

Okay, so the internet connection has been a little flaky here in the apartment, so after a day of disconnects from instant messaging (sorry if I seemed unresponsive, folks) and the inability to download drivers for my brand new machine, I decided to contact Earthlink’s support on the internet. I saw that there was a backbone outage scheduled for this morning, (in Minnesota) but it should have ended at 6am. After restarting my DSL modem, my router, and my computer, I decided to go with their “Get help now via chat” response option. Here’s how it went:

Earthlink Rep: Thank you for contacting EarthLink LiveChat, how may I help you today?

Me: Good afternoon. Just curious if the backbone problems listed are still affecting customers in the washington, DC area. It seems like I can only be online for about 5 minutes before I get disconnected and have to reconnect to any instant messaging, and resume any downloads.

Earthlink Rep:
Is this happening when you are using the Netscape browser?

Me: Actually, it’s happening when I use Firefox, but aim and yahoo are affected, too.

Earthlink Rep: I suggest you to contact the computer vendor as the issue seems to be with the browser you are using.

Me: And what about the instant messaging disconnects?

Earthlink Rep: I suggest that you power cycle your DSL modem once.

Earthlink Rep: This was a five step cut and paste of how to power cycle your dsl modem. If we were on the phone, I’m sure that he sould have been speaking. . . SLOWLY. . . and COHERENTLY, so that I didn’t misunderstand.

Me: Did that before I contacted you. No change.

Earthlink Rep: Is this happening only with the chats?
Earthlink Rep: I mean only with the instant messenger?

Me: They’ll appear to be online, but then I’ll be disconnected from the chat servers when I attempt any sort of communication.

Earthlink Rep: Are you able to browse the web without any pages? This is where, if we were on the phone, I would add a lengthy pause, and repeat his question. “Am I able to browse the web, without any pages? Hmmm. . . Let me think.”

Me: I’ll try cycling the power again. And I’ll check the network status every now and again. I’ll contact you guys again if it doesn’t work.

Earthlink Rep: Okay. Is there anything else that I can assist you with?

Me: No, I think that’s all. Thanks.

As you can see, I didn’t even get my original question answered. I think the battle was lost at the “Contact your computer vendor” statement.

Boku wa, "robotto"

Japan’s got government regulated zones where manufacturers can let their robots go on killing sprees test their robots in public areas.

To use a robot in public places such as streets and railway stations in tokku, all that is required is the submission of a form to the local police station.

I assume that this is so that the police know who to contact in case of “Robot Emergency.”

Other than, you know, Mazinkaiser or the Knight Sabers.

Ordered

The “New Hotness” is on its way over. I can’t wait to begin the painful building process, and the inevitable, “I can’t believe I forgot _____!” moment. Should be okay, even with a new dual layer dvd burner, I came out to just a hair over $500. I’m scrounging for parts from other machines, so the only big things were the processor and splurging for ram.