The tangle
Behind my computer desks lies a labyrinth of cords. Like a huge colonial pit of intertwined snakes, it is the dark corner of my room where no one ever dares set foot. You just wouldn’t risk it. The desks remain atop the black, slithering masses, containing them within a cheap wood casing purchased from Officeworks (on special, $49).
Once I had Evel Knievel come visit me and even he said there was no way on Earth that he’d dare go near cordville - let alone attempt a jump over it.
So the reputation of ScottyB’s wireathon is second to none. All those who have entered have never been heard from again. Tales of their torments still circulate around campfires and on urban myth websites all over the Internet.
Recently, Layer 3 Internet technologies are being decommissioned - meaning our age old access plan (512k Unlimited, No data cap!) had to be changed.
I was sad for two reasons. Firstly, I could see no real point and secondly, I’ll lose my unlimited data cap. No shaping has kept me going for many a month - now I’ve had to consolidate to a capped plan. So I went all out and selected the 8mbps plan. With an 18GB data cap (works out the same monthly access fee as what I was paying before on the 512k!). Could be dangerous.
Now I can (theoretically) download stuff sixteen times faster - but I’m capped to 18GB of downloads…
Anyway - the parcel arrived in the post today and while I can’t install the new router yet as the rollover hasn’t been carried out, I could unpack and setup.
Back when I first signed up for Broadband, they provided us with an inline filter - probably the cheapest one they could find. No connectors, no plugs - just a solid, contained ‘as-is’ unit. One that wouldn’t plug into the wall socket. So I needed to buy an adaptor to plug it in. Because my phone also required an adaptor - and upon bringing the new filter adaptor home, I realised that both adaptors wouldn’t fit into the wall socket. So I needed to buy another adaptor to adapt the adaptors.
When all was said and done, I had a 4 tiered hulk hanging out of the wall socket, telephone wires everywhere and another connector because one of the adaptors had the wrong sized hole in it. It was all very reminiscent of the lights scene in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, where Chevy Chase has forgotten to turn the mass of double-adaptors on at the wall.
While the electronic pathways of it all was completely mind boggling, it worked - and that’s all that mattered. So for over 4 years it remained that way.
Until today.
Enclosed in the packaging, along with the new NetComm router, was an inline filter. With provision for wall socket, phone/fax and modem connections. Bravo.
I am aware that these have been available for quite some time, but I’ve never felt the need to change over - after all - my setup worked fine. Why change something when it obviously operates faultlessly? Even if it does contribute significantly to the giant pile of wires behind my desk…
Speaking of which, I still had to unravel and replace the required components. No easy task, I assure you.
Packing my bags, a supply of water, food, rope, climbing gear, a hard hat and suitable protective clothing, I embarked on the long and arduous journey into the Temple of Doom.
I found layers of dust that dated back to the 16th century. Screws and bits of plastic of unknown origin. The darkness consumed me - it was thick and enveloped me like a tiny cave system. All around me the feel of the cables and wires, like leeches on my skin. Then I found it.
The connector I had been looking for. With a ’snap’ it was unclipped and I was backing out of that horrible place.
Never to return - at least not for another 4 cable-lighter years.
