Common sense...

[awarrenfells.livejournal.com]

Customer lives on a walnut tree plantation.
Customer signs up for wireless internet service....
Customer is informed that in 2 years, when trees mature, she will likely lose service, as line of sight is the only reason she is getting service, as she lives outside of our coverage area.  This is also mentioned in notes.....

2 Years Later.

Customer: "I would like to know why I can't get any signal for my internet...."

Here's your sign.

Ah... common sense, how I miss thee.

Comments

[wignersfriend.livejournal.com]

Would you have even known that without the notes?

[awarrenfells.livejournal.com]

I would have known about the trees.
I would have known she was out of area... all without notes, yes.
Google earth is my friend :)
Would I have known about her being informed of this before hand, without notes?
No.

Lucky for me, we have competent techs who take good notes of everything :)

[geekgrrl-ca.livejournal.com]

I'm soo glad not to do wireless support anymore.

[jecook]

Niiiice.

[wignersfriend.livejournal.com]

And you expect the customer to remember some comment about this not working in two years and be able to figure out these same things? I think you're being a bit of a dick. 2 years is a long time to remember some little fact that you don't need to remember on a daily basis.

[wxgeek.livejournal.com]

I think if you LIVE on a damned walnut grove plantation, and you were informed at the beginning of your service that that (a) you were out of the coverage area, and (b) the very reason your land exists would eventually consume your internet?

yeah. those are things to remember. it's not like "The neighbor's oak might grow in and you'll have problems".

Another Moose Tale. (mildly on-topic)

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

Some of our remote locations use wireless AP's and directional antennas to connect. One day, a caller told us he couldn't connect, so the tech (not me, but it was retold for days) went through the normal troubleshooting steps, verified his physical connections, checked for power, etc.

Eventually, the tech asked if anything had interrupted the line-of-sight. As in your case, trees can often grow in between the antenna and the AP in some of these locations. The fellow went outside to check, said, "Yeah, hang on." A minute or so later, the tech heard a gunshot over the phone, and the guy came back on the line and said, "Yeah, i got it fixed. Damn moose was in the way. I gotta go now, and pack this meat up."

Re: Another Moose Tale. (mildly on-topic)

[awarrenfells.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. :)

That is classic, and full of win.

[ohmyhead.livejournal.com]

I think two years is long enough for an ISP to proviiiide decent coverage for the grove person. Trees be damned. Wire that sucker up.

Re: Another Moose Tale. (mildly on-topic)

[ptstech.livejournal.com]

Excellent (and literal) example of troubleshooting.

Re: Another Moose Tale. (mildly on-topic)

[geekgrrl-ca.livejournal.com]

That seems the only safe way to move a moose. My dad's friend was driving a honda civic and made the mistake of honking at one that was blocking the road. When the moose was done my dad's friend was under the steering wheel and they had to use the jaws of life to get him out.

[syberghost.livejournal.com]

Go out there with a chainsaw and a bulldozer, knock down the appropriate trees to restore her service, then bill her for the bulldozer rental.

[awarrenfells.livejournal.com]

That would make for an interesting service ticket.

Tech: "WTF?"

[wxgeek.livejournal.com]

LMFT: "Bulldozer unavailable; improvised with gasoline and lighter."

[wxgeek.livejournal.com]

we refuse to do a buildout for one customer. ;)

[awarrenfells.livejournal.com]

Nuke it from orbit. Its the only way to be sure.

[ohmyhead.livejournal.com]