June 1, 2018
Dear Everyone:
Back when I was working, I used to think of all the things I would do
once I was retired
and had plenty of time for them.
Like reading all those favorite books again, but this time in
order. I’ve already
completed the entire
Dorothy L.
Sayers series of
Lord Peter
Wimsey novels. And I’m
diligently working my way through
Anne McCaffrey’s
Dragonriders of Pern books, although skipping about a bit on the
chronology, as did the author.
Can Tom Clancy be
far behind?
Back when I was working, viewing just about any movie I might want to
see again was simply a matter of finding out if the studio had converted
it to VHS or
DVD.
So, of course, I made a mental list of movies to watch, once I
was retired and had all the time in the world.
But something happened while I was whiling away the time, waiting
to be retired. Movies are
now available online. Lots
of them.
In the meantime…
I’ve been a Comcast
customer for over 20 years.
I know this because I recently realized that I’ve lived in
San Ramon
since 1997 and have been using Comcast since before that.
I’ve lived in my current
condominium for
over nine years. And I
recently realized that I’ve been retired for over seven years.
Time flies when you don’t keep a gun to its head.
I’ve been doing a bit of research about Comcast’s much-advertised “X1”
system. Basically, it’s a
“super” cable box that let’s a customer view a plethora of programming,
including all kinds of professional sports, should one be inclined.
It also avails the customer of a bewildering array of
long-forgotten movies as well as more recently released offerings,
should one be inclined to watch at home instead of braving the parking
lot at the local cinema.
What particularly drew me to the X1 was the idea that I could record
something in the living room, on the “master” box.
Then, should I want, I could watch the same recording in the
bedroom, or even in the kitchen, which doesn’t have a cable outlet.
A few weeks ago, after my meeting with my financial advisor, “Percy”, I
stopped at the local Comcast office to find out more about the X1,
specifically how much more it would cost than my current rental of two
DVR cable boxes. The “Home
Solutions Consultant”, “Antonio”, was more than happy to demonstrate the
remote control, which lets the user speak the name of a network show,
movie, or sports event. But
when “Antonio” asked me to name my favorite actress, I could only think
of stage performers at the
Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
X1 doesn’t go that far.
Nevertheless, “Antonio”, assured me that I could certainly have an
“extension” in the kitchen if I wanted it.
He also insisted on placing me in a “package” for about $50 less
per month than I was already paying, for the first year.
Then he checked me out with a new
modem, a “master” box
and two much smaller boxes that he assured me would be able to
coordinate with the “master” box.
I had 30 days in which to return the old equipment.
I actually waited until the following week to attempt to hook up the new
“master” box in the living room.
I disconnected the
coaxial cable
from the back of the old
cable box
and attached it to the new box.
Then I disconnected the
HDMI cable from the
back of the old cable box and attached it to the new box.
Then I crossed my fingers and turned everything on.
Needless to say, nothing worked.
I tried calling Comcast to see if they could send a signal to the
new box to tell it to wake up and start working.
Two hours later, I had an appointment with a technician.
Comcast assured me that I would not be charged for the technician
and would get a credit on my bill for the two days that I would be
without service. In fact, I
received several emails later, informing me of the credit to my account.
Two days later, the technician, “Sparky” arrived, complete with plastic
booties to put on over his shoes.
In next to no time, “Sparky” determined that the real problem was
probably in the wiring leading to the condo.
He quickly got things going with the “master” box.
He also informed me that “Antonio” had supplied me with the wrong type
of secondary boxes. The ones
I had would not be able to get the TV signal in the kitchen.
However, “Sparky” had just the right kind of boxes in his van and
quickly got things set up correctly.
And he worked with his dispatcher to make sure that my account
was properly associated with them.
Three cheers for “Sparky”.
Two days ago, I hauled all the old equipment back to the Comcast office.
Yesterday I made a giant vat of homemade spaghetti sauce in the kitchen
while watching a TV show that I had recorded last weekend.
And, for just $3.99, I can watch
Darby O’Gill and the Little People in the living room, the
bedroom and/or the kitchen, anytime I want.
Isn’t modern technology wonderful?
Love, as always,
Pete
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