Technology

As best as I can remember we have been on AT&T for phone, cell phone, internet and cable TV off and on for nearly 20 years. Due to rising monthly rates, our retirement and reduced income, we slashed our technology bills as often as we could. About two years ago we arrive at the latest point of equilibrium: Consumer Cellular through AARP for our cell phones, AT&T for our speedy internet, and AT&T for cable TV. We dumped the land line phone service to save $30 per month. We had a succession of cable TV providers including Dish Network (twice!), SBC Global, and Comcast. Finally in exasperation – the trees continued to grow and interfere with our dish reception – we returned to AT&T.

We got wireless service within the house so we could take our lap tops anywhere. The speed was super good. The TV signal was strong, uninterrupted and affordable. Then the problems began.

First, the wireless receiver on the living room flat screen started to cut out. It froze the picture and pixilated frequently. We rebooted the system frequently. Finally we asked for a service call. They said the receiver was faulty and installed a new one.

After a few months the pixilation and frozen picture began again. This time AT&T sent out a technician to test the cable service outside our home; they ordered a boost in the signal (don’t ask me the how and why!) but the problem continued. They sent a new receiver box and we installed it. Problem solved.

Or so we thought. The same problem of frozen picture and pixilation returned and we called. Three calls to tech support were placed. Each call lasted approximately one hour – this on our cell phone minutes plan! Finally, they sent a new receiver box. We installed it; well we tried but it wouldn't boot. So another call to tech support. They sent a two-man team this time, spent 5 minutes in the house, pushed a red reset button on the main modem, smiled, apologized and left.

Within a few hours frozen picture and pixilation re-occurred. We put up with it. We cannot bear calling tech support again. Besides at our ages we cannot understand them. Too bad; they sound nice! And oh so patient!

So then we called Comcast and asked for a super saver plan for senior citizens. As a gay household we can do without the sports stations, but do appreciate HGTV, DYI and the art channels. And the news stations minus Fox!

We haven’t signed on the dotted line yet but we understand the cost of the various programs, the speed of the promised new internet connection and when the bill will rise after the 12-month trial basis. Even then the rates will be cheaper than AT&T!

I just want to say this about the situation: businesses wishing to serve older markets need to make their terms and language understandable; rates need to be cheap so we can continue to connect to the world and participate even though we sit at home a lot; we have good ideas to share but find the costs increasingly prohibitive to share them; also, and finally, the services themselves need to be simplified. It would be fantastic if all services were wireless so cables and outlets need not run throughout the home.

We continue with our Consumer Cellular cell phone service. They are terrific, reasonably priced and easy to understand. We can only hope that Comcast will demonstrate that they have improved since we were last with them and that their rates don’t escalate quickly!

Meanwhile we did learn that the A in AT&T stands for ‘arrogant’. Too bad. Maybe one day they will learn better.

February 15, 2013