Yes, it’s the end, and I wish I could say it’s a happy one. But unfortunately, it’s not. A return trip to the electronics store, the assistance of an interpreter and another US$250 couldn’t cure the wireless obstacles I faced in sharing my connection with my co-workers.

I know throwing money at a problem doesn’t make it go away. In fact, I’m usually a proponent of the exact opposite behavior. This time, though it seemed like a good idea: to try the biggest, fattest, most daring router they had in stock. But even the dreaded Corega WLBARAGND, a router that’s as big as a book and looks like a cross between Darth Vader and a peacock — can’t penetrate the walls of this building. It might have a, b, g and even Draft n compatibility, it might have triple antennas for three-axis transmission, it might even have 300Mbps transmit speeds over wireless … but it can’t punch through the 1970s-era construction materials that make up my humble abode.

Oh well. At least now I know I live in fallout-shelter-quality accommodations.

But that’s as far as I’m willing to go. If it had worked, it would have been worth the cost — the price probably would have been split between five people, as would the monthly bill — and I can return the router for a refund. So all in all, I didn’t really lose anything. I’m just back to where I was in February, before I started this little adventure

If I decide I still want wireless access in my own house (and maybe for the one person who lives above me) I’ll make another trip to the store and start from scratch. I am a little addicted to it — I can position my music machine across the room and stream audio off the Internet — but right now I’m a little weary of wireless, if you can believe that. 😕