When the internet is down
This morning I woke up to find that our internet was completely down. We'd had a difficult evening yesterday internet wise, when the signal started playing about - it sorted itself out, and we thought no more of it.
However, when I realised that we had no connection this morning, it was a right and proper blow for me. I had two days off both yesterday and today, had three doctors appointments yesterday and left today to do some work on my websites and to do some research. To think that I could not use the day as planned, all on my own with my dog Indy in the house and nobody else to disturb us, so I could concentrate on my writing, well that was sheer disaster!!
But it brought home, fast and furious, the realisation that to do this type of job of course an internet connection is vital - in fact, a good and speedy internet connection!
Now, my signal came back on a few hours later. And I must say that we are quite blessed in this part of UK and with the supplier we use. We are rural but close enough to the Big Smoke (or London for some), and I suspect it is in the interest of providers to keep their servers, cabling and such likes all in good nick.
But it certainly made me think of how more difficult it must be for some part of this country to run this type of business - in fact, and without wanting to sound patronising, how entire countries possibly may struggle more than others with what we consider here an essential part of our every day life.
My morning did not go wasted in the end, as I decided to do chores round the house that I would have done tomorrow. But should this happen again, my plan B is going to be going to the local library, or in one of our coffee shops where they offer free internet connection.
Do you experience lack of internet connection often? And what are your plan Bs? Drop us a line in the comment section, and share your experience and your suggestions with us. And if you can, please click the green 'Like This' button below.
Giulia
P.S. I could have used my mobile hotspot internet connection on to my iPad, but that would have killed my mobile data allowance within less than an hour, with my mobile provider then starting charging me astronomically. So, not so much of a plan B there, but rather plan Z
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Hi, Giulia, you have my sympathy. Living in a rural area, of a rural Island, of a rural country that is connected to the rest of the world by one undersea cable, can have its difficulties when it comes to the internet.
Sometimes New Zealand plays leap frog and hey presto a solution appears, so when all the smartphone users complained about not getting coverage the providers upgraded the towers and built addition ones.
So now my internet connection is wireless through the cell phone system (they gave me a paper only phone number) not cheap at NZ$100 a month but at least it works.
Our library does not have any internet so no good going there except to get a book to read while the internet is down
You know the interesting thing about the responses I'm getting to this blog? It's that I get to learn all the wonderful places you all come from. And New Zeland, oooh New Zeland, just beautiful!!!
$100 a month is a lot of money, but then if there is no other choice, I suspect you have to bear the cost. More to the point, New Zelanders should now battle to have such an all around service extended to public places such as libraries.
This happens so very often in some parts of our country. Now I have moved to a new township with fiber optic cabling where internet connections are much better and faster. Improvements take place but at a price.
Oooh yes, absolutely!!
In my home country Italy, for instance, internet connection is there, but I think slower than in UK, and internet does not rule life yet. Banks are pushing for internet banking, but online grocery shopping is not much there yet.
I have to confess, as I looooove to be able to do things from the comfort of my home, I love it the UK way!!
Well in the North of the Scottish Highlands we have Fibre Optics installed. Up here BT decided to install Fibre Optics in the rural areas first and the cities last.
It has been very reliable and consistent so far, watch it come crashing down now !!!!!!!
John
We have Virgin here, John, which as I said is 99% of the times very good. When I phoned them yesterday, they even offered compensation without me asking for that!! Mind you, I'm still waiting for the text with the compensation link...
When the weather is bad my internet can go down or seem really slow. Normally I catch up on reading books or get dinner on early.
Funny you mention take weather, as we've had a very cold spell for the last 3 days. My son tells me it doesn't work like that, but I say their cables got frozen #lol
Funny you mention India, Gautam, as there are more and more members within WA that connect from your country, and I wondered how well served the country is by the internet.
Media here report that providers are working hard to increase the signal in India, with great progress made recently.
But I take you don't agree with the media's interpretation of things...
Thank you for seeing the brighter side of things, Giulia. India can be different from the rest of the world.
Can be a bit tricky. Some the richest people on earth live here, at the same time the poorest.
Money cannot buy everything, but it can easily purchase a stable internet connection. :)
Cheers.
P.S. Perhaps the media is correct. My connection, which a government owned company provided has been stable for about a year now.
Well, I wish you all the very best here Gautam, more so as you guys struggle with the infrastructures more than elsewhere.
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Internet is very important.
It's definitely becoming an essential part in managing our every day life.