Yeah, and I mean it.

Ok, so maybe it’s not their fault at times, but I really wish they knew more than the manuals they are given access to.

Was trying to configure an ADSL modem connection for a friend, but the event didn’t go as well as I hoped. Well, to be fair, the modem sucks as well. It managed to detect the ADSL connection, but was too dumb to authenticate itself over the network. Without an internet connection and Google or even a decent manual, I couldn’t really figure out any of the incoherent settings in the modem.

After a while, I figure out what the problem is. It’s a DNS error so the connection settings are preventing the modem from connecting to the ISP. Ok, found the problem, now for the solution. Without my trusty troubleshooting tool called the Internet, I could only call tech support. Formalities aside (the account belong to a girl, so obviously I’m not the owner of the account), I tried to get the tech dude to give me proper ADSL configuration settings. He repeated the obvious stuff, but that did not help me. I wanted specific modem settings, the one provided by the lousy CD that came with the ISP gave very basic details that didn’t really help. Here’s where I get pissed off. I told him it was a DNS error, hello, modem configuration problem and the guy has the blardy nerve to tell me to go check my Internet Explorer settings!

lol: Okie, maybe I’ve lost you on the technical aspect of things. My lament is that the tech guy knows mothing more than the general problems that customers would have. And since this particular model of ADSL modem was not on their list, they couldn’t provide any support for it. Like the saying goes, give a person a fish, you feed him for a day, teach a person to fish, you feed him for life. The sad thing here is that nobody I talked to understood the fundamentals of how an ADSL connection works, hence nobody was able to tell me which settings were important to look at.

Been scouring the net for some information on generic ADSL connections. May have found a solution for my friend, and will go back to her place tomorrow to hopefully figure things out. The worse case scenario would be for her to get another modem and ditch the piece of junk she currently owns.

Okie, maybe tech support guys aren’t that bad. Just needed to rant and get this out of my system.