Technology, Blggfft!

We have Inifity cable from Comcast. We’ve been customers before of Comcast but several times in the past either the technology has gone bust or the pricing goes on a tear that is totally beyond us.

The current situation is: we have good TV support (technology) but not choice; you only get so much for $110/month. Along with that comes Wi-Fi so we can get another TV in the bedroom to work via netflix streamer. And we have high speed internet with this deal, and the wi-fi connects our phones with the internet as well. Our phone service is with another provider.

So far the package sounds reasonable. For retirees in their 70’s living on a fixed income (Social Security only) [you don’t want to know how this came to be….] the cost of $110/mo is high. Very high.

Now turn to the fact the system goes out with no warning. We are watching TV one moment and the next we are confronted with an error message on the screen blocking out the picture. The TV is still working, but channel selection is frozen; no wi-fi; no internet; no nothing. We go through the motions of what the error message instructs us to do to no avail. Being elderly we do this process three times to be certain we are doing it correctly.

Then we call Comcast. Nice people, great voices, and fast attention to what we are saying. However, their routine does not fix the problem. So they report their intention of sending a repair person to our home to check things out. If the problem is in our condo or building, it is at our expense; if it is in their system, it is at their expense. I can recount this to you because we have been through this drill three times, maybe four in the past 5 weeks or so.

The first time the repairman didn’t have to come because overnight the system either reset itself, they reset it remotely, or magically the system fixed itself in the dark of night. Regardless, we were delighted and went about our business after calling them to cancel the repair visit.

Another week goes by and the same thing happens. Over dinner the system returns to operating just fine. Cancel the repair visit. Again in another week, the same thing happens, we don’t bother calling, we go to bed early and surprise, surprise, the system is up and working the next morning.

Bear in mind I do about 35 hours a week of volunteer coaching and mentoring for SCORE. That is heavily reliant on internet connections. I also write a daily blog and publish it on the internet. Other volunteer tasks are accomplished over the internet and email as well. We are retired, not dead. So we are active and in the modern age we are connected with technology.

This afternoon as the news hour approaches, the TV goes through this same scenario. The conversations are pleasant enough with Comcast but the results are disappointing. This is Friday and they are making an appointment for mid day Sunday. Nice, huh?

We have found a way to power our laptops via hot spot wi-fi with our cell phones. That keeps me publishing and current with emails. Not much more, however without constantly charging the phones.

It makes one wonder just how reliant we are on technology and delicate electronic systems. I think $110 each month automatically withdrawn from my checking account should get me better service than this. I also think we deserve some rebates for the disruption. While we are at it, if our country cares about itself and its people, and especially about elderly folks staying connected and productive, I think there should be a large discount for elderly cable customers. I think the $110/mo should be $60/mo and allow full access to desired channels that they really want to watch rather than forcing us to take 200 channels that we only watch 8 of.

Of course, for $60 I still expect the system to work almost flawlessly. That would be a good start on a higher road, don’t you think?

[Update: the repairman came on Sunday afternoon as scheduled. He found our system working fine, their system working fine but a fault in the cable that comes up from the utility level of our building to our condo. The cable must have a split or fracture in it that allows the signal to come and go. They set an appointment for another repairman to come Monday to replace that cable. He did not come. We called on Tuesday and another appointment was set for this Friday. So far the service has not gone down on its own free will! That's a blessing. But an end is in sight on this problem; hopefully.]

September 21, 2017