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Internet was dropping packets like crazy (up to 50% packet loss). My ISP's tier-1 tech support didn't even know what the ping tool was.

I've worked tech support for a telco before, I know what the quality of the training is like because of the ridiculous turnover, so I get it, but geez...

Fortunately, it's all been resolved now.

reshared this

in reply to Jonathan Lamothe

This begs an ettiquette question: what is the correct response to the following conversation that doesn't involve being an asshole?

Tech: Your connection seems fine on my end.
Me: It can't be. I'm getting about 25-50% packet loss.
Tech: How do you know that?
Me: The ping tool.
Tech: What's that?

After a long pause, my response was "a very basic network diagnostic tool." That came across more condescendingly than I had intended, but I couldn't come up with a better way of saying it.

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