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#81
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On Sat, 14 May 2016 12:39:52 -0700 (PDT), trader_4
wrote: On Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 2:11:22 PM UTC-4, Mark Lloyd wrote: On 05/14/2016 10:57 AM, trader_4 wrote: [snip] When the power goes out, the cellphone works for me. I'm sure people will say it's not as reliable as copper, etc, but IMO, not worth all the worrying about extreme hypothetical situations. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages. When we had a tornado last year, cell phone service was unreliable (probably overloaded and dropping calls), but was working OK in less than an hour. Wired phone was out for 5 days. In the previous major outage (hurricane Ike), wired phone was out for a couple of days. Cell worked all that time. It was the same here in NJ after Sandy. I had cell service the whole time. Landline in my specific area, I can't say, because I don't have it, but given the extent of lines down all over and that many shore towns the poles and everything were kaput, I think a lot of landline service was out. In many of those badly damaged shore towns, Verizon will not be putting copper back in, it's gone for good. What makes POTS so good here is when Sprint bought UTS, they replaced just about everything with lots of fiber and virtually all of it is in the ground. They put fiber in front of my house but Century Link never used it and now it appears to be abandoned. A "locate" only comes up with 2 services and there used to be 3. When Century Link replaced the pedestals, the installer said he never heard anything about a fiber. |
#82
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On 5/14/2016 10:56 AM, Mark Lloyd wrote:
Be careful running multiple bases concurrently. Some may not like this. I never did. The second base was to replace the first one when it failed. So, at least one handset lived without a charging cradle; or, you had the second base set up strictly as a charging cradle (hoping that it wouldn't try to talk to the handsets?) |
#83
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#86
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On Sat, 14 May 2016 18:30:34 -0700, Don Y
wrote: On 5/14/2016 5:52 PM, wrote: Century link is trying to delay a full FiOS installation here so they went through and tuned up all the copper. I get a solid 10mb on my DSL and that seems to be fast enough for anything I am doing. I think they have a way of doubling up on the pairs and getting me 20meg but I am not willing to spend more. My "central office" actually a fiber hub, is right up the road. We dumped CenturyLink when they wanted to up our rate to $60/month. "No thanks. It's not *worth* $60/month to us!" My total bill is over $200 but most of it is the bundled satellite. With the bundle they say the "phone" is only $11 plus about the same in taxes. The DSL is about $40. |
#87
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#88
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On Sat, 14 May 2016 20:22:02 -0700, Don Y
wrote: On 5/14/2016 7:01 PM, wrote: We dumped CenturyLink when they wanted to up our rate to $60/month. "No thanks. It's not *worth* $60/month to us!" My total bill is over $200 but most of it is the bundled satellite. With the bundle they say the "phone" is only $11 plus about the same in taxes. The DSL is about $40. They wanted $60 for the DSL (actually, 58, I think) -- before taxes and fees. Our current "communications" bill is just about $60 -- one cell phone, land line and internet (no CATV/dish) The dish is the real killer on my bill but my wife wants it. I have been looking at just buying HBO, Show etc as a stream but by the time I get them all, I may be back where I started. They all seem to have one show she just needs to see. I could live with broadcast, Netflix and maybe Hulu or something. |
#89
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#90
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On Sat, 14 May 2016 20:54:26 -0700, Don Y
wrote: On 5/14/2016 8:29 PM, wrote: The dish is the real killer on my bill but my wife wants it. I have been looking at just buying HBO, Show etc as a stream but by the time I get them all, I may be back where I started. They all seem to have one show she just needs to see. I could live with broadcast, Netflix and maybe Hulu or something. A friend is a Netflix junkie -- many movies each week. We tend not to have time for movies. Daylight hours we try to be outside "doing things" (chores, hiking, etc.). Nighttime hours I spend working; SWMBO paints (hobby). The TV sees most of its use as "companionship"; we bring home ~10 movies each week from the local library and let them play while we're "doing other things" -- tuning in just "in passing". E.g., tonight I'll watch most of _John from Cincinnati_. Having already seen the entire series, it is more important for me to *hear* the dialogue -- to uncover things that slipped by me previously. Last week, I "watched" the first season of Pinky & The Brain. No need to *see* the shtick, again -- the humor lies in the dialogue! (*Narf*) Tomorrow, I'll re"watch" _The Matrix_ for similar hints. After that, start on _SOAP_. I listen to TV more than watch it, hence my RF headset. I prefer PBS stuff because there are no commercials. If I want to hear a history channel show, I go to Netflix for them. This thing has enough range so I can be working anywhere in the yard and in my shop in the garage. I do have a transmitter on the roof of the screen cage tho, with a very good ground plane. I use that out in the yard and when I am walking the dog. |
#91
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#92
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The real ****er is when I'm rendering a 3D animation or something
that the machine just crunches on for a *really* long time -- it usually can't be "resumed" if the power drops out in the middle. Yeah, the power always seems to go out when I'm converting or encoding video. Like you, there's no "resume" I have to start all over again when the power comes back on. Anthony Watson www.watsondiy.com www.mountainsoftware.com |
#93
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When the power goes out, the cellphone works for me.
Unfortunately, we are rarely able to get a cell signal here at home. I'm not sure why as I can see the cell tower on the hill above us. Must be the topography or something. We've tried different phones and guests can't get reception with their phones either. Thankfully, phone service is the least of my concerns during a power outage. I don't call anyone anyway. Anthony Watson www.watsondiy.com www.mountainsoftware.com |
#94
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My total bill is over $200 but most of it is the bundled satellite.
With the bundle they say the "phone" is only $11 plus about the same in taxes. The DSL is about $40. I pay about $70 a month for Comcast cable (internet only). VOIP phone service from another provider is about $20 a month. I think Netflix costs me about $25 a month now (DVD and Streaming plans). Tracfone cell phones cost us under $10 a month per phone (three phones). Anthony Watson www.watsondiy.com www.mountainsoftware.com |
#95
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On 2016-05-15, HerHusband wrote:
Unfortunately, we are rarely able to get a cell signal here at home. I'm not sure why as I can see the cell tower on the hill above us. Must be the topography or something. We've tried different phones and guests can't get reception with their phones either. Lewis Black, the comedian, does an entire bit on this. Talks about how his cellphone vendor (AT&T?) is unavailable to him in downtown NYC. He complained to his vendor and they offered to sell him a "transmitter" to boost his cellphone signal. He then went on to berate sed same vendor for charging the him $200 to complete the vendor's "infrastructure". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJvHfGKm8e8 Well, I thought it was so funny, I cancelled my cellphone service. Damned if the thing doesn't work jes fine on my wifi modem. ![]() nb |
#96
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On 05/14/2016 03:39 PM, Don Y wrote:
On 5/14/2016 10:56 AM, Mark Lloyd wrote: Be careful running multiple bases concurrently. Some may not like this. I never did. The second base was to replace the first one when it failed. So, at least one handset lived without a charging cradle; or, you had the second base set up strictly as a charging cradle (hoping that it wouldn't try to talk to the handsets?) The second base was probably just a charger, I'm not sure not since a few of the handsets failed. This was a cheap phone. -- Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.us/ "Of the delights of this world, man cares most for sexual intercourse, yet he has left it out of his heaven" [Mark Twain] |
#97
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On 05/14/2016 11:41 PM, wrote:
[snip] I listen to TV more than watch it, hence my RF headset. I'm like that too. Most of my TV "watching" is while doing other things. I prefer PBS stuff because there are no commercials. There are "pledge breaks" that really are long, boring commercials. If I want to hear a history channel show, I go to Netflix for them. This thing has enough range so I can be working anywhere in the yard and in my shop in the garage. I do have a transmitter on the roof of the screen cage tho, with a very good ground plane. I use that out in the yard and when I am walking the dog. I guess you got a good one. I have a RF headset that claims 300 foot range, but is excessively noisy above 25-30 feet. -- Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.us/ "Of the delights of this world, man cares most for sexual intercourse, yet he has left it out of his heaven" [Mark Twain] |
#98
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On 05/15/2016 11:43 AM, HerHusband wrote:
[snip] Tracfone cell phones cost us under $10 a month per phone (three phones). Anthony Watson www.watsondiy.com www.mountainsoftware.com My first cell phone was a Tracfone. Unfortunately, It used AT&T wireless which works here only if I go out in the back yard and stand on one foot while holding it over the oleander plant, and then it works occasionally. Verizon and Sprint do work fine here. I never had a T-mobile phone, so don't know about it. -- Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.us/ "Of the delights of this world, man cares most for sexual intercourse, yet he has left it out of his heaven" [Mark Twain] |
#99
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On Sun, 15 May 2016 16:43:53 -0000 (UTC), HerHusband
wrote: My total bill is over $200 but most of it is the bundled satellite. With the bundle they say the "phone" is only $11 plus about the same in taxes. The DSL is about $40. I pay about $70 a month for Comcast cable (internet only). VOIP phone service from another provider is about $20 a month. I think Netflix costs me about $25 a month now (DVD and Streaming plans). Tracfone cell phones cost us under $10 a month per phone (three phones). Anthony Watson www.watsondiy.com www.mountainsoftware.com So you are paying $90 for a house phone and internet. I think mine actually comes out less than that but it is hard to tell when they bundle stuff. If you believe the top line I pay $11 for phone and $35 for DSL but I am not sure how many of those taxes and fees go where. Just deducting satellite gets me down to about $70 so that number is probably close. |
#100
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On 5/15/2016 9:33 AM, HerHusband wrote:
The real ****er is when I'm rendering a 3D animation or something that the machine just crunches on for a *really* long time -- it usually can't be "resumed" if the power drops out in the middle. Yeah, the power always seems to go out when I'm converting or encoding video. Like you, there's no "resume" I have to start all over again when the power comes back on. Exactly. And, often "Save As" only applies to the final result. So, you can't save your *settings* in case you need to restart. An example of something software vendors *should* do but are oblivious to (automatic checkpoints in potentially lengthy processes). |
#101
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On 5/15/2016 9:43 AM, HerHusband wrote:
My total bill is over $200 but most of it is the bundled satellite. With the bundle they say the "phone" is only $11 plus about the same in taxes. The DSL is about $40. I pay about $70 a month for Comcast cable (internet only). VOIP phone service from another provider is about $20 a month. I think Netflix costs me about $25 a month now (DVD and Streaming plans). Tracfone cell phones cost us under $10 a month per phone (three phones). So, you could put an extra kilobuck or more in the bank each year if you started reading books! : I'd be scared to see what that comes out to over a lifetime! : (retire at 45?) |
#102
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On 05/15/2016 10:37 AM, HerHusband wrote:
Unfortunately, we are rarely able to get a cell signal here at home. I'm not sure why as I can see the cell tower on the hill above us. Must be the topography or something. We've tried different phones and guests can't get reception with their phones either. Cell site equipment generally has the operator listed on it so take a drive up to the tower. You could also check the coverage maps at opensignal.com, sensorly.com and rootmetrics.com |
#103
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On 5/15/2016 11:02 AM, Mark Lloyd wrote:
I guess you got a good one. I have a RF headset that claims 300 foot range, but is excessively noisy above 25-30 feet. I have to find a "respectable" BT stereo headset with microphone (and "acoustically transparent" earpieces). But, BT only targets that ~30 ft range! |
#104
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On 5/15/2016 9:37 AM, HerHusband wrote:
When the power goes out, the cellphone works for me. Unfortunately, we are rarely able to get a cell signal here at home. I'm not sure why as I can see the cell tower on the hill above us. Must be the topography or something. We've tried different phones and guests can't get reception with their phones either. We have a similar problem with OTA DTV. I can *see* the towers on the mountain a few miles (as the crow flies) from here. Yet, our reception is spotty. Esp during rain/high winds (I suspect there is a tree in the sightline to the antenna). Thankfully, phone service is the least of my concerns during a power outage. I don't call anyone anyway. |
#105
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On Sun, 15 May 2016 13:02:23 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote: I guess you got a good one. I have a RF headset that claims 300 foot range, but is excessively noisy above 25-30 feet. This one works pretty good. I have 2 transmitters, one in the house and one on the roof of my screen cage. Between them I get pretty close to that 300' |
#106
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So you are paying $90 for a house phone and internet.
Comcast cable internet is crazy expensive, but I don't have any other options for broadband internet. I think mine actually comes out less than that but it is hard to tell when they bundle stuff. All I get from Comcast now is internet service. They do have a VOIP phone service I could bundle with it, but it still costs more than I can get through other providers. Anthony Watson www.watsondiy.com www.mountainsoftware.com |
#107
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So, you could put an extra kilobuck or more in the bank each year if
you started reading books! : I'd be scared to see what that comes out to over a lifetime! : (retire at 45?) Ahh... 45. I remember 45... Sort of. Well, not really at all. ![]() If I had saved all the money I've wasted repetitively on little things (soft drinks, bottles of wine, dinners out, travel, etc.) I would be a wealthy man. Still, it's better to enjoy life as it comes. I plan for retirement, but could easily die tomorrow. Make the most of every day... I'll never be 45 again. Anthony Watson www.watsondiy.com www.mountainsoftware.com |
#108
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On 5/15/2016 9:02 PM, HerHusband wrote:
So, you could put an extra kilobuck or more in the bank each year if you started reading books! : I'd be scared to see what that comes out to over a lifetime! : (retire at 45?) Ahh... 45. I remember 45... Sort of. Well, not really at all. ![]() If I had saved all the money I've wasted repetitively on little things (soft drinks, bottles of wine, dinners out, travel, etc.) I would be a wealthy man. Still, it's better to enjoy life as it comes. I plan for retirement, but could easily die tomorrow. Make the most of every day... I'll never be 45 again. Yup. When folks exclaim over some of the monies I pay for equipment, tools, etc. I just point out the "excesses" (IMO) that I see in their purchases: dress shoes, vacations, dinners, hiring out for things they can easily do themselves, etc. When they think about those and see them as NOT excesses, I tell them "I see *my* purchases the same way!" We don't plan on being a "burden" to anyone (including each other) in our old age. OTOH, we've seen our share of friends dying before they had a chance to enjoy "retirement" (or, whatever you call the portion of your life when YOU call the shots). Or, folks squander that time on activities that we consider "sad" (i.e., work your whole life to reward yourself with days of sitting in front of the TV??) |
#109
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On 5/16/2016 12:40 AM, Don Y wrote:
Yup. When folks exclaim over some of the monies I pay for equipment, tools, etc. I just point out the "excesses" (IMO) that I see in their purchases: dress shoes, vacations, dinners, hiring out for things they can easily do themselves, etc. When they think about those and see them as NOT excesses, I tell them "I see *my* purchases the same way!" We don't plan on being a "burden" to anyone (including each other) in our old age. OTOH, we've seen our share of friends dying before they had a chance to enjoy "retirement" (or, whatever you call the portion of your life when YOU call the shots). Or, folks squander that time on activities that we consider "sad" (i.e., work your whole life to reward yourself with days of sitting in front of the TV??) I've known a couple people over the years, long enough to see how they spend money. I've come to the conclusion that each person has some hard and fast rules. And some strong rules. Often, the hard and fast rules make no sense to me. One former friend totally refused $10 gas money so I could take him to a store out of town to save $75 or so. Aparently, "RULE: NEVER GIVE FRIENDS MONEY" was louder than "save $75". -- .. Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus .. www.lds.org .. .. |
#110
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Per Stormin Mormon:
I've known a couple people over the years, long enough to see how they spend money. I've come to the conclusion that each person has some hard and fast rules. And some strong rules. Often, the hard and fast rules make no sense to me. One rule that stuck with me was "Never spend more than 33% of your gross income". Stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii, working the swing shift, and hitch-hiking into Waikiki every morning to go surfing on different occasions I happened to get rides with two different old guys. The first one was selling stainless steel cookware door-to-door and driving a clapped out old car - because he needed the money to eat. His story was that, when he was young, he always had a new car, was always ready to throw his money around for a good time.... and now he was 65 and living hand-to-mouth. The second guy had been a bartender all his life. He was a good 10 years older than the first guy - driving a new rental car, and staying at one of the top hotels in Waikiki. His story was: "Every dollar I ever earned, I divided into thirds: one third for Uncle Sugar (i.e. taxes), one-third for me (to be spend), and one-third for the bank (savings)..... I'm not what anybody would call rich, but the world is my oyster." Needless-to-say, the second made an impression. I never managed to fully live up to the 33% rule, but came pretty close - and I have to say the guy was definitely on to something. -- Pete Cresswell |
#111
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On 5/16/2016 11:48 AM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
One rule that stuck with me was "Never spend more than 33% of your gross income". I never managed to fully live up to the 33% rule, but came pretty close - and I have to say the guy was definitely on to something. What people "value" seems to vary, greatly. Also, those "values" typically change over time. I tend not to "want much". OTOH, I've always been able to buy whatever it is that I wanted (as long as I wasn't being unrealistic in my desires). One observation that hit home when I was younger was how much "kids" (apparently) cost! A guy I worked with was excited to be *finally* purchasing a new microwave oven (back when microwave ovens were $500 appliances). I couldn't understand his excitement: first, a microwave oven is just "functional"... it's not a "toy" of any kind (to get excited over); second, the fact that his comments suggested he had been PLANNING this purchase, for some time. I.e., that he didn't just go out and BUY one when he decided he needed/wanted it! I knew he made roughly the same pay as me. And, their income should have been roughly comparable to mine. So, why wouldn't he be able to just buy what he wanted, when he wanted it? (no, not a substance abuser so what could be soaking up all of his income?) Then, realized the key difference was that they had kids and we didn't! ("Wow! Could kids make THAT big a difference in lifestyle??") [Of course, his wife might have been a clothes horse or they may have had some unusual medical needs -- youth doesn't guarantee freedom from health issues...] |
#112
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On Sun, 15 May 2016 12:55:09 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote: On 05/14/2016 03:39 PM, Don Y wrote: On 5/14/2016 10:56 AM, Mark Lloyd wrote: Be careful running multiple bases concurrently. Some may not like this. I never did. The second base was to replace the first one when it failed. So, at least one handset lived without a charging cradle; or, you had the second base set up strictly as a charging cradle (hoping that it wouldn't try to talk to the handsets?) The second base was probably just a charger, I'm not sure not since a few of the handsets failed. This was a cheap phone. I almost left one of mine outside all night, with rain scheduled for tomorrow morning. I had to get out bed at 2AM to get it, and now 2 hours later, I'm still up. At least it didn't have any dew on it. |
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