For the past month, our IP, KyivStar, has been quite terrible and even worse in the new year. We have a wireless receiver with a router sending WiFi to our computers and cell phones. Service has been touch and go as we live in a valley, 5 km from signal source but it has never been this bad. Our next door neighbour has the same set up and no service either. We hear people in town are having the same problem.
Customer Service cannot get their tech people to even return calls so I suspect they are tearing their hair out tying to solve the problem and are tired of being pestered.
But at midnight, it works. Last night I was downloading stuff at speeds unheard of. but in daylight, nothing. And tonight it is also working. Wonder of wonders. Sorry, it is not the Russians. Ukraine is perfectly capable of screwing things up on their own
I can download email to my phone but cannot open any of the headlines to the articles. I am not going to stay up late to read WaPo or anything else. And I am writing this post to explain I am not staying up late to write on my blog which may be hit and miss for a while. I am not Heather Cox Richardson who often posts her Letters from an American which summarize and comment on the day's political news at 3:00 am Maine time. When storms haven't cut her electricity.
The benefit to me is that I have cut back on my news consumption and am reading for pleasure. Since January 3I, have read seven John LeCarre novels and am into my eighth one.
I do not like not knowing everything that is going on but do keep up with anything to do with Russia and Ukraine. By the way, Russia has moved attack and transport helicopters and attack fighter jets to the Ukrainian border. I wish we had a couple thousand SAMs eg Stingers and another 10,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles.
Wish us luck.
Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteThank you. We try.
DeleteIt appears your cloud has a silver lining after all.
ReplyDeleteYes, it really has. I needed a break from politics. I was merely a spectator anyhow.
DeleteEvery time I see an update on CBC about Ukraine's situation, I think of you and your family over there. I hope you have evac plans in place -- take care!
ReplyDeleteI expect they will stop at the Dnipro River if they launch a full scale invasion. If they had half a million soldiers at the border, maybe all. And a million Poland and the Baltics should worry. Taking half Ukraine will be easy. Holding it another thing. Ukraine has no desire to be back under Muscovys heel.
DeleteDefinitely wishing you and your country bucketloads of luck. And I hear you on lack of internet making time of often MUCH more pleasurable things.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes poor internet has its advantages.
DeleteOur internet speed goes wonky in the evening too and we live in urban Canada.. This is often heralded by some choice words about Canada's internet providers' market exclusivity. We say if we only had a neighbour who wore shorts and cowboy boots with socks up to his knees we could ask him for advice.
ReplyDeleteYour problem is lack of bandwidth for the surge in users in the evening. Solution is political. Our problem I don't know but we have lots of choice in IPs. My phone and our internet cost $10 per month. Internet is working to night though not fast. WE'lll see if I can post a reply
DeleteI hope your internet becomes more reliable. In the meantime, enjoy those spy novels!
ReplyDeleteWe are looking at cable as a possibility. It is only 4 blocks away and we have 7 potential subscribers lined up. We'll see. Our neighbour who has the same problems we do is looking into it. I sure am enjoying reading again.
DeleteOut of idle curiosity, just how much difference would it make to ordinary Ukrainians to have a corrupt government in Moscow running things instead of a corrupt government in Kyev? A quick Google search indicated Ukraine isn't quite as awful as Russia when it comes to government chicanery, but not by much.
ReplyDeleteNan, I could ask you the same question. My guess is that by the end of 2025 you will know the answer.
DeleteFor us, it is hope. Our politicians and courts are venal, owned by our oligarchs but we still can vote them out. We still have independent media though not much and we can still express an opinion without being arrested for extremism. There is a vast difference between living in Ukraine and living in Russia. Like living in Canada vs living in USA.
The news is just scary no matter where I look, but I'd rather limit my own reading of it instead of being limited from reading anything by lack of an internet connection.
ReplyDeleteI worry about you and Tanya and your family over there. If sh*t happens, I hope you'll get through it okay. You're much braver than I - if I were in your situation, I'd be fleeing for Canada as fast as I could go.
Some of us have to be driven from our beloved news. I am enjoying the interlude.
DeleteAs to brave, when they call for volunteers, a hero is the first person out the back door. (John LeCarre)
Boy! I hope things get settle soon. I recall short time ago we here in North Idaho was having internet issues. We all have came depended on net.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
@!We are so dependent on internet for everything it seems. The least used part of my phone is the actual telephone. Only phone calls I get are wrong numbers because UkrPoshta still has this number listed on their website. But mid-afternoon my time, it is working good so maybe they have fixed the problem.
DeleteI feel concern for you and for all in the Ukraine every time the News comes on. I do Hope all your Lifelines to the outside World stay on and remain functional!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dawn. Things are pretty calm here. We'll face things as they come.
DeleteI've been thinking about you every time I watch the News about the escalation in troubles there. I had heard they were evacuating Americans, are you staying or leaving? It doesn't look good my Friend, be Safe and Well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dawn. Contact your congress people and tell them to support Biden. He is on the right track
Deletethe news is scaring the crap out of me...afraid that bad internet service could be the worse of your problem...love you all...
ReplyDeleteIf we can get a wood burning stove, we will survive as we will lose all utilities
DeleteThinking of you with immense concern.
ReplyDeletethank you, EC
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