I am using BSNL's modem one a rental basis, and the day before yesterday, the modem's power adapter gave up on me! It refused to turn on the modem.
Now, what's the first thing you would think? Yes, take the thing and run to your telephone exchange to get it replaced because it's their modem and you still have warranty because you are still paying for it. That is what I also thought but sadly, that's where things took a turn for the bad.
As soon as the I took the modem and the adapter to the exchange, the officer in-charge plugged the modem with another adapter and voila! It turned on which again confirmed that the adapter I had was faulty. Now, you would think they are going to replace it for you. Atleast that's what I thought! But the officer told me that they don't have any stock and that there were a lot of adapters that were sent to Gujrat to get repaired, and she told me as soon as those adapter come, she'll give me one. And guess how long that is going to take? 3 months!!! The officer in-charge is asking me to wait for 3 months without a broadband connection!! Hell, I can't stay 3 hours without it!! It ticked me off, and I asked her if me buying another adapter would void the modem warranty to which she replied she wouldn't recommend me to do that, but if I'm willing, I can go get one.
Now, you would think, ok, hell with the replacement, I'll just go get a new adapter for 150~200 bucks. Again, atleast that's what I thought and voila, I was wrong again!! I searched my entire town in all the electrictronics shops for a replacement adapter, and hell, they ain't got one of the similar type!! I even went to the nearest city and no one has it!!
Now, you would think that not getting one is impossible!! but trust me, the adapter that the modem needs is not the one you would normally find in electronics shops. The adapter the modem uses is a 9V AC 1000mA. First of all, you don't get an AC to AC adapter normally in electronic shops. You can find a million varieties of AC to DC adapters. And on top of that, this adapter need 1000mA of power! Even if you found and AC to AC adapter, they aren't anymore powerful than 500mA. You just can't find one!! Even if you found one, it is not easily accessible! Finally I ran out of choice and the only option was to repair the bloody thing!! And thankfully one of the shop keepers directed me to a very remote location, you can't even call that place a town, on going there, there is this one place where a couple of electronic geeks repair anything possible! And thankfully once again, they promised to repair my adapter but they said it would take 3 days!! I begged them and tried to make them understand the importance of the adapter and finally agreed to repair it within a day for 110 bucks!
So, I went again to the remote place today and finally got the adapter back and got online and I'm writing this post!
The moral of the story is: DON"T GET A BSNL MODEM!! Looking back at my posts, I certainly did support the modems they supply because they are considerably good quality but lack of support and BSNL's ignorance has promted me to take an alternative route!! So, when you get a modem/router make sure the accessories are easily available in the market no matter which brand it is! I've even told the guy to make me another adapter just in case this one gives up again! Atleast it's just a matter of 110bucks than 3 days or 3 months without a connection to the outside world!!
it might differ for other models.
