This will be my last post about OTE (On The Exodus) and our shoddy ADSL connection because it’s on the way out of our lives.

We again had no online access this past week like so many weeks before, but OTE continues to make promises it hasn’t kept. These empty promises have cost me precious money and work opportunities I can no longer afford to lose, with no apology, no compensation and absolutely no change in service for the past 6 months we’ve lived in this supposedly “good” area.

I am hopeful this Vodafone wireless solution is more reliable. It’s the same price and a lot more convenient for the same speed, so it’s already gotten my attention…and respect.

Related posts

“Somewhere between tragedy and comedy“
“Just another day in Hellas“
“OTE: Miracle on Thiseos Street“
“Communications blackout“
“The magic of DSL in Greece“

OTE has been unable to diagnose and resolve the specific issue with our ADSL connection, namely because it is intermittent and (of course) works perfectly when the technician performs testing.

We sometimes can’t get online even though we have a full signal, or we can get online but only between certain hours — usually between 1:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. — or we can get online but the connection drops unexpectedly and causes me to lose everything I’ve written. It’s not possible to use Internet at work except in short intervals, and there aren’t many wifi hotspots in this area.

Adding to technological tantrums, Google-related applications such as Gmail and Blogger will not allow me to log in whenever I want. And when I am allowed to log in, it takes a minimum of 20-30 times no matter what browser or settings I use.

Since moving I’ve also gone back to simpler times, which I’d like to point out is not less stressful or less expensive. We have no TV, due to our fairly expensive antenna snapping in two with increased exposure to the elements, and our proximity to mountains gives us few options in terms of radio stations. We huddle for heat despite paying a lot for petrol, our lights dim a lot for reasons unknown, and I am also iPod-less for technical reasons. I often forget this is considered to be one of the “better” areas of Athens.

These are not complaints. To me, it’s just another day in Hellas. LOL

I’m hoping to see you later with a final post for January, but if I don’t, at least you’ll know why.

Related posts

“OTE: Miracle on Thiseos Street“
“Communications blackout“
“The magic of DSL in Greece“

Getting a new phone line or stathero in Greece used to take a year or several months in the not-so-distant past and has improved slightly to 30 to 90 days in big cities, where it is considered easier than say a village or remote area.

But do you know anyone who got ADSL and a phone line from OTE in 3 days?

Now you do — us.

So you’re thinking:
a) Are you an OTE employee?
b) Who did you bribe?
c) Is this another urban legend?
d) You’re full of cr@p!

I’m not an OTE employee, in fact the only one I know had to wait 2 weeks for his line. I bribed no one and wouldn’t know how to pull that off, even if I was willing to go against my principles to partake. And readers know that this site is about straight talk and real life stories, not rumors and fairy tales.

A week before our move, my fiancé called his connection at OTE and let her know we were moving, set our disconnection date for Friday at the old house and asked her to hook us up at the new house ASAP. Apparently, that’s exactly what happened.

Monday morning, our old connection was cut and a new signal was working at the new house, although we couldn’t get online because “the gate” hadn’t been opened. Tuesday we were informed that technicians would show up at our house between 8:00 and 14:00 on Thursday, and today at noon they came and “opened the gate” to give us access. Telos.

With all of the horror stories about OTE taking forever, I can’t help but wonder if my fiancé agreed to trade our first-born child and therefore don’t feel comfortable to break out in a happy dance.

I humbly and very gratefully call it a miracle on Thiseos Street.*

Related posts

“Communications blackout“
“The magic of DSL in Greece“
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Photo from ote.gr

* Title is Greek spin of “Miracle on 34th Street,” a holiday classic.

Thanks to the excellent service we receive from OTE, my entire municipality had no telephone or Internet service for 24 hours after a grid caught fire. No apologies and no credit to our bill, as usual.

I’ll post something significant tomorrow (assuming another grid won’t catch fire) since our connection has returned, my research is done, and I’m now in coding hell.

P.S. Mel, we may be looking at a switch

Related posts

“OTE: Miracle on Thiseos Street“
“Just another day in Hellas“
“OTE: On the Exodus“