AT&T…..At It Again!!!
Now that we’ve relocated, it’s opened up a whole new adventure with AT&T and their wonderful service. I wish! Unfortunately, because we are somewhat remote, we have no other option that AT&T.
I have a desktop computer and also a laptop. I require wireless internet on my laptop so that I can actually use it in a room other than where my desktop is. I might be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that the purpose of a laptop is that it’s mobile.
I called AT&T and they said they would send a wireless router right out and that I would receive it within a day or two. Of course, not only do I get to pay through the nose for their services, but they’ll be tacking $100 on my bill.
I have to say, that I did receive the router within two business days. Not bad. The installation went smooth, but to be fair I had the same router at my former residence so I was familiar with the process.
I also was aware that although my router was connected in a room at one end of my former home, an excellent wireless connection was available anywhere in the house as well as outside and across the street. However, although I had an excellent connection on my laptop if it was in the same room as the router, it has low connectivity as soon as I leave the room.
My first phone call to technical support….90 minutes. Of course, the conversation began with the usual AT&T antics. After I already gave my phone number associated with the account, the zip code related to the account and whatever other information they deem necessary to secure my account, I finally explained the situation.
I further explained that I had a connection so that set up was not necessary on my desktop computer. The technician ran the tests from his end to confirm that I had the connection that I had just finished telling him I had.
He suggested going into another room with my laptop. Now, of course, this should be a simple process, but anyone who owns or has ever owned a Dell laptop knows that the batteries refuse to hold a charge pretty soon after you buy one. So, the simple step of relocating my laptop entailed unplugging the power cord from under my desk and running to a new location before it shut down on me. Never-the-less I unplugged and ran only to find that I had low connectivity, just as I had said.
Well, for the balance of the 90 minute phone call, following the technicians instructions, I changed the settings on my desktop and laptop numerous times while unplugging, running and replugging my laptop back and forth more times than I can tell you. The conclusion: the AT&T tech screwed up both my computers to the point where I insisted he get me back to where I was when I initiated the phone call and I not so politely told him that I was done with him and that I wanted a technician to come out to the house and fix my problem. At this point he told me that there would be a fee for that. Let me get this straight. I should pay AT&T $100 for a router and in addition I should pay someone to set it up when it’s not working properly?
I gave up for the day!
The following day, I tried again with another technician who all along told me that wireless connectivity might not work more than 20 feet from the router. I explained the situation in my previous residence to no avail.
I gave up again!
Two hours later, I spent an additional 30 minutes on the phone with yet another technician and insisted that they send me a new router. Ah, success!
Two days later, I received the new router, installed it and checked my laptop in the other room. The connection seemed a bit better. I decided I was tired of arguing and that I would deal with this router.
You would think that would be enough aggravation! Not so!
Upon returning to my desktop I tried connecting to my browser. If it loaded at all, it would take an eternity to bring up another site and in most cases was timed out. Another call to AT&T!
After one hour on the phone, the technician claimed that it was a problem with the settings in my computer. He said that it could have been a virus or another problem, but that the router was fine. Of course, I explained that I had no difficulties browsing before I installed the new router.
For the next three days, any time I could stomach facing my computer again, I tried changing settings, researching fixes (on my laptop which could browse), and asking every computer person I know if they had any ideas. By the end of three days, I was in the same boat.
Out of desperation, I unplugged the router, re-installed the first router and to my extreme pleasure……my browsers were browsing again. After, verbalizing a few choice words to the air around me, I packed up the second router from AT&T and sent it back.
A word to the wise: Only out of desperation should you call an AT&T technician. When you do, prepare yourself for the run-around and possibly more problems than you started with. Research, troubleshoot and don’t go running to a service center with your computer just on the say so of an AT&T technician. And, by all means, if you can find a different company to service your needs…..don’t use AT&T.
