We received a barrage of phone calls and faxes from a client in Japan late last night regarding missing files that we had sent by email nearly 12 hours earlier.
It took until nearly midnight to resolve the problem, which initially was caused by problems with Shaw's mail server in handling file attachments, and was later exacerbated by a total loss of Shaw Internet connectivity.
It appears the problem began when Shaw's mail server would time out when uploading email with attachments. I've heard of other Shaw users complain about this issue recently. The bottom line was that our client in Japan did not receive our translations on time.
By the time we learned of the problem by telephone and fax, Shaw was down completely. Rebooting the cable modem, rebooting computers, nothing helped. Our Shaw connection was out for several hours.
I finally tried using my laptop to dial up using the ATT Business Internet account that we occasionally use on the road. I had trouble getting connected, and eventually got a message that my password had been revoked, however the dialup program allowed me to access only the ATT site so that I could re-enter my credit card number and set a new password. No explanation why the password had been revoked, however I had not used the account in seven or eight months.
Internet at last, at a blazing 26.6 kbps! I got the files to our client, and went to bed frazzled.
The ATT backup (after the revoked password issue was solved) saved our bacon.
Recently Telus has been badgering us to switch to ADSL, which is finally available in our complex after nearly four years of waiting though we're just a few miles from the Telus head office. I was tempted to get it in addition to Shaw for backup, but backed out after reconsidering the $30/month cost.
Then again, that would be a small price to pay to ensure our business has Internet access 24/7.... Hmm.... But would we really have 24/7 access? I've heard of problems with Telus, too. Sigh.
For the occasional Shaw problem, the ATT barebones dialup account for $12/month will probably do.
UPDATE: I heard from Shaw on Thursday, March 23, that its mail server had been added to the SORBS spam-blocking list in error, and that Shaw is trying to correct this as soon as possible.
Posted by Paul at March 20, 2006 08:39 AM