Job Discussion Forums

[canadianturkey]

I have done a search and haven't found any answers yet. Hopefully someone can help me or at least clear this up.

I have Yahoo BB and have had some big problems so far. I have only had it for about a month. It will work great for about 3 or 4 days, then it will lose the connection (I can see and hear it through the modem) for about a minute, then reconnect, then lose it again, sometimes every minute, sometimes every 5 or ten minutes. This will go on all day or all night, then it will be fine again for a couple days. It's doing it right now!!
It's driving me nuts. Cuts out on my phone calls too (when using IP).

So, as far as I know, Yahoo BB does not have any sort of English support. Is this true??

What can I do??? I know nothing about computers!!!
thanks

[BenJ]

as far as you know?? Have you even TRIED ringing up? I have personally spoken to english-speaking yahoobb support when I had a modem resetting issue.

Open your instruction manual, find the number, ring up and say "eigo ga wakarimasuka?" and they'll connect you to someone.

[canadianturkey]

Yeah, I already tried that. I called the support network and asked for English, no luck.
I say "as far as I know" because often times companies will have more than one phone number for different types of services/support. AS FAR AS I KNOW, Yahoo BB does not have an"English Support" telephone number or website.
Guess you caught Yahoo BB on a good day, when there was English speaking staff around.

[bearcat]

Yahoo BB is only as good as the distance from the NTT switch station. If you are far you're gonna have bad speed and other connectivity issues.

You might be better off with a different service.

[Billy Chaka]

I don't know about Yahoo BB, but I assume it's DSL. I worked in DSL support in the U.S.A., and you'd be shocked at how many problems the following simple procedure fixed:

1. Turn off computer, DSL modem, and router/hardware firewall (if one is being used).
2. Wait 20 seconds.
3. Turn on DSL modem.
4. Wait until you have sync (usually this is indicated by a flashing light turning solid on the DSL modem).
5. Turn on router/hardware firewall (if one is being used) and wait until all lights are solid.
6. Turn on computer.
7. Make your connection, if necessary. (If you're using a router, this won't be necessary, as the router makes the connection. Also, you won't have to make a connection if using the DHCP protocol. If using the PPPoE protocol, you will have to use a dialer or Windows XP to make a connection. Anyway, all this is probably irrelevant to you. If you had to use a dialer to make a connection in the past, do it now. If not, don't worry about it.)

If you're still having problems, it could be a software firewall on your computer that's causing the problem. Disable firewall and repeat steps above. Also, if you are using a router/hardware firewall, a lot of times these are the cause of the problem. Take router out of picture, make connection without router, and see if you still have the problem. If not, the router is causing the problem, in which case Yahoo BB support won't be able to help you. You'll either need to call the manufacturer of the router, or if you think you have a bad router, buy a new one or not use one.

[Gordon]

Go to this site, it is really helpful.

http://www.bbapply.com/

[BenJ]

if you had tried, then I apologise for my (written) tone of voice!

[canadianturkey]

Gordon - Thanks for the link - That site is very informative!! It seems as though many people are experiencing the same problem as me, and that it may have to do with the recent upgrade in service (speed?). I have also discovered that I am slightly further than 4km's away from the switch station, which may not be helping. The site said that you should be closer than 4 km's, or switch to "Reach" service.

Billy Chaka - I am going to try your advice right now. I don't have a router, and I don't know what a firewall is, so I assume I don't have one of those either. My Modem is labeled in Japanese, so not sure what each light is for, but there are only two (the top one and third from the top) that are ever light up solidly. Others blink on and off randomly, one never lights up. I have read on the above mentioned site from Gordon that people have turned everything off for hours at a time and have still had no luck. We'll see, worth a try.

Thanks so much!!! I will let you know how it goes, if you hear of any other solutions let me know

[Glenski]

The computer geeks at http://forum.japantoday.com seem quite informed and friendly to those of us that are unfamiliar with such things.

[JimDunlop2]

I have a solution for you -- albeit a bit more radical one. Give up on those yahoos that don't/can't give you English tech support.... Switch over to NTT (FLET'S) ADSL and subscribe to ASAHI-Net.

You will get exclusive English tech support from A to Z. No, I don't work for them, but I highly recommend this to my friends who aren't fluent in Nihongo. If you have a problem, All you need to do is ring up Asahi's English support number. If they cannot help you at their level, they will refer you up to NTT, where you will also speak with an English-speaking operator.... (At Asahi, you'll likely speak to a native-speaker, whereas NTT will probably be a fairly fluent Nihon-jin). Smooth sailing all the way. In fact, even the entire sign-up procedure can be in English (it was for me), and you don't need to live in the greater Tokyo area.

As a side note, I ALWAYS get harrassed by the YahooBB pushers with modem-bags everywhere I go! They've gotten a LITTLE bit smarter and now most of their street reps speak some degree of English. Whenever they talk to me, I politely ask them two questions. 1. Can you offer me a minimum of 24MBit service for the same price I'm paying at NTT? (And I give them the price); 2. Has YahooBB acquired any English technical support/information yet since the last time I talked to you guys? Without exception (if the reps are honest) the answer to both questions is "no" so I politely thank them and tell them they may get my service some day, but not until at least those two criteria are met.

As an aside, I get discounted ADSL service (24Mbit for the price of 12MBit) because I signed up with NTT for MyLine (long distance). Makes no diff. to me anyway, as the only LD calls I make are through Brastel pre-paid and I get 9yen/min. Can't beat that too easily.

If you need/want any more info on any of this, frop me a line. I'd be glad to help. (I used to be an ADSL tech-support technician for the 2nd largest Telcom in Canada before I came to Japan, so when I arrived here I did some homework before I signed up with a company).

Good luck!

JD

P.S. I think I may know what your problem is with the connection... I don't want to get into it here and now, but again... If you want you can drop me a line.