So you’ve made the choice to sign up for FTTH, but you’re not sure what happens next.
Do you click “apply” and stare longingly at your phone’s Wi-Fi symbol until it says ‘connected’? Do you call Vox every day and get frustrated with our customer service department? Or do you search for our Facebook page to leave a comment and a reference number in the hopes that Postman Pat (bonus points if you know who that is) shows up at your door with box full of routers and a bag of dreams?
If you’re like us, the wait for Wi-Fi can feel like the night before Christmas. Not only do you find yourself consumed with thoughts of seamless browsing like it’s date night with Brad Pitt, but every minute feels like eternity – which can naturally become a bit frustrating.
Because of this, we’ve put together this survival guide to navigating the wait until your Fibre to the Home is connected.
Step One: Chill Out.
We don’t mean sit in the fridge or get in touch with the Jozi climate. We mean that like anything good in life, getting your Fibre going takes time (we’ve written a whole article about potential reasons behind delays here).
Entering a Fibre agreement with Vox isn’t like a Tinder date – so it’s highly unlikely that instead of your shiny new router, you meet an old guy with a receding hairline (at least we hope so), nor will we stand you up. You’re dealing with humans (although thankfully not the ones from Home Affairs) and, as such, it takes a bit of time to get you online.
Of course, if it’s six months later and that little “no connection” Dinosaur has run so much he’s basically bedridden, something probably went wrong. However, a week or two is pretty standard industry practice, so trust that we’re working on getting you running so that the T-Rex can take a break.
Step Two: Make Connections.
Home Wi-Fi has different purposes for everyone.
For some, it’s a platform to yell obscenities at ‘Noobs on Call of Duty. For others, it’s basically a peace treaty for a hyper-active two-year old with an iPad. For most, it’s purely out of necessity (let’s face it – who’s NOT connected these days?) but, with Work from Home being a thing, it’s even become an essential way to make a living.
As a temporary solution, there are a variety of options available until those five bars start flashing in your bottom right corner.
- Use your mobile hotspot.
This is usually better for emergencies only, such as when you told your line manager you’ll send your already completed project to her and, Murphy’s Law, there’s no connection come time to send.
It’s a fairly simple way to get fast connectivity to your device – if admittedly a little costly. You can also tether your smartphone or tablet but, again, this depends on the strength of your cell signal (and whether or not you’re capable of seeing your phone bill without wanting to burn down MTN).
- Find public Wi-Fi.
Working from home is cool, but as a temporary fix, you can also use a variety of libraries, coffee shops or even the gym to get those important crunch deadlines under your belt (although working behind the Stairmaster might be a bit distracting).
You’ve got to make sure the network is secure and go easy on the bottomless coffee (lest you end up emulating the dinosaur we talked about earlier), and it’s a relatively cheap, feasible solution which also allows you to stretch your legs a bit.
Or, chances are your employer will let you pop into the offices, in which case you can enjoy free connectivity AND sit in the boss’s chair for a few days. Sounds pretty win-win.
- Get a dongle.
We’re past the stage where “dongle” is still a funny word (well, kind of). With Vox Mobile Data, you can connect to the Internet wherever you are for both business and personal requirements.
A mobile and wireless solution that allows you to connect to your business and your team, you can link up to 10 Sim cards and choose between pre-paid or contract options. Monitor or manage your mobile usage (and then start with the Hot-spotting), take your connectivity with you and say goodbye to missed deadlines – it’s a great, simple and quick-fix until you’re permanently connected.
- Phone a friend/ask the audience:
Remember when the guy next door borrowed your drill and never returned it? Now’s your time to cash in. Sure, nobody likes to be “that guy”, but unless you’re next to a Dursley, chances are the people closest to you wouldn’t mind a few days of sharing the connection. There’s no harm in asking and, if they say no, you can save yourself a few cups of sugar next time they come knocking like a Jehovah’s witness.
Step Three: Get busy.
Of course, connectivity makes the world go around. But it’s not everything – and load-shedding survivors will tell you that sometimes, a little “no Internet” goes a long way.
The time spent offline gives you a great way to detach and enjoy quality time with your loved ones. If you can survive the initial withdrawals without too much bloodshed, chances are you’ll find yourself finding ample ways to pass the time.
That being said, we know that waiting for your Fibre can be a drag, which is why we commit to making the process as speedy, painless, and efficient as possible. We may not get it right every time, but we’re in the business of knowing our business, so you can rest assured that we’ll do our best to ensure your wait for Fibre doesn’t transform into The Hunger Games.
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