Life Experience - Friday, October 2, 2009 22:00 - 0 Comments

Install a wireless router for your family then email them instructions how to fix it themselves

One challenge I faced time and again was the lack of reliable Internet access at the homes of my parents or in-laws. Usually I piggybacked on their neighbor’s wireless connection but it wasn’t always on and wasn’t very fast. For years I tried explaining the benefits of high-speed Internet to my family but always met with skepticism, doubt and fear of change. Each time I recommended Comcast and each time I was given the same response.

On principle my father in-law defiantly stated he would never sign up for Comcast (again) after having a disagreement with them about erroneous charges. My parents resisted because they had the Dish Network, the only provider who transmits Israeli television in the US.

The breakthrough with my father in-law came after I explained how I work most weekends and their lack of Internet access prevented us visiting more often. The breakthrough with my parents came after I described the wonders of modern technology. They had been using a 9-year old modem from Earthlink’s heyday and a 20″ Sony Trinitron they purchased in 2001.

As soon as my in-laws switched to Comcast I set them up with my spare Linksys WRT54GS wireless router running DD-WRT firmware. DD-WRT is fast, stable, and very secure. My brother bought my parents an Airport Express and now we’ve got that up and running after some initial hiccups.

Finally, after years of frustration I can enjoy high-speed wireless Internet at the homes of my parents and in-laws.

Of course you have to take the good with the bad and one important lesson I learned in the process: If you’re the one who recommended it, you’re the one who gets called when something goes wrong with it. I’ve already gotten technical support questions from my in-laws and so hoping to avoid this with my parents as well I crafted a lengthy email with detailed instructions.

The following details are specific to Comcast and OSX but with a few changes they can be modified to fit your family and setup too!

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