Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 06:54:03 -0700
From: Fred Atkinson <fatkinson.remove-this@and-this-too.mishmash.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: How does Comcast deliver dial tone?
Message-ID: <20110310135508.96665.qmail@gal.iecc.com>
I hate to say it, but that's not unusual for Comcast.
When I lived in Atlanta, I was living in a house with
others. We had Comcast cablemodem. When I moved in, we were only
getting three hundred kilobits per second.
I spoke with the landlord and then we called Comcast.
I may have already told this story. They'd come out,
confirm that I was only getting three hundred kilobits per
second. They'd test for a while, then they'd tell us they were going
to check it 'upstream'. I discovered that was just their way of
giving up on fixing it and a polite way to vamoose.
I'd call again and ask what is going on with the 'upstream'
check. They wouldn't know anything about it and send someone else to
the house. And this process would repeat again and again.
Finally, I called the county franchise office and they
escalated it through Comcast.
So this time they sent someone who knew what he was
doing. He did something that none of the other repairman had done
(he swapped out the cablemodem).
Miraculously, that's all it took to fix it. And none of the
previous folks could figure that out. If one of them had, they
wouldn't have had to make the other trips. And we were getting calls
from the Comcast repair supervisor complaining to us about how many
times they had to come out.
When Comcast cablemodem works, it works fine. But when you
have problems, don't count on a fast resolution. You may have to
lock horns with them or escalate it through your county franchise office.
Some of the other cable companies have similar problems.
When I moved from Atlanta to New Mexico, I discovered that
Comcast was here, too. And I've used them a good bit. Fortunately,
I've not had service problems as previously described in New Mexico.
Fred
At 11:43 PM 3/9/2011, Bill Horne wrote:
>I was on a phone call with a friend who has phone service from
>Comcast, and I was reminded several times of why I dropped them: his
>voice would cut off for two or three seconds at a time, and he said
>mine would too.
>
>Does anyone know why Comcast has so many problems with their phone
>connections?
***** Moderator's Note *****
A. Because it disrupts the normal top-to-bottom flow of a written communication.
Q. Why is top-posting bad?
Bill Horne
Moderator
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:51:38 -0600
From: John Mayson <john@mayson.us>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Does FiOS support rotary phones?
Message-ID: <AANLkTik3KH7A11x7Om2=uZDDuY=F4Z84-B7rUEHC7e0v@mail.gmail.com>
On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 12:34 AM, Bill Horne <bill@horneqrm.net> wrote:
> My sister just got FiOS installed, and she has several dial-pulse (rotary)
> phones that I'm supposed to hook up.
>
> Does FiOS support rotary phones? I'd hate to find out the hard way.
Time-Warner digital phone explicitly stated they did not support
rotary phones. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but digital phone is
IP while FiOS is POTS, so a rotary should work.
According to this person it works fine: http://www.marco.org/2309733892
--
John Mayson <john@mayson.us>
Austin, Texas, USA
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 06:22:05 -0800 (PST)
From: SVU <brad.houser@gmail.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Do you know where there are Teletype machines for sale?
Message-ID: <600d56fd-1da4-4d15-9f96-135e4f494b15@a21g2000prj.googlegroups.com>
On Mar 9, 8:36 am, Bill Horne <bill.remove-t...@and-this-
too.horne.net> wrote:
> On Dec 14 2009, at 2:32 am, Bill Horne said:
>
> > I subscribe to a mailing list for Teletype users, called GREENKEYS.
>
> > One of the readers posted a request for info on whether there are any
> > Model 15 Teletypes available for purchase, and it got me wondering
> > if any of the Digest's readers have knowledge in this area.
>
> > Does anyone know of any repository of Teletype machines? I can't help
> > but wonder if some Baby Bell has a warehouse full of them, and there's
> > a fair number of users who'd be delighted to get at them.
>
> > Thanks for your time.
>
> Well, here we go again: I was doing Spring cleaning yesterday, and I
> came across a couple of treasures that I had thought were lost. In
> that spirit, I'm repeating my 2009 request for information: does
> anyone know of any old Teletype machines that are being
> stored/sold/given away?
>
> It doesn't matter what model: 14, 15, 19, 28, whatever: someone is
> looking for it.
>
> Bill Horne
I found one on Craigslist in Phoenix, but you will have to pick it up
locally.
You can search the various locales by using Crazedlist.org.
Brad Houser
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 06:27:22 -0800 (PST)
From: SVU <brad.houser@gmail.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Does FiOS support rotary phones?
Message-ID: <75dd370b-0d67-4c33-bef2-60330eb3bff8@j35g2000prb.googlegroups.com>
On Mar 9, 10:34 pm, Bill Horne <b...@horneQRM.net> wrote:
> My sister just got FiOS installed, and she has several dial-pulse
> (rotary) phones that I'm supposed to hook up.
>
> Does FiOS support rotary phones? I'd hate to find out the hard way.
>
> Bill
Based on some quick googling, the answer is yes, assuming you request
a POTS line. (Probably not if it is a VOIP line.)
Brad Houser
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:38:25 -0500
From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Does FiOS support rotary phones?
Message-ID: <20110310163825.GA14280@telecom.csail.mit.edu>
On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 06:27:22AM -0800, SVU wrote:
> On Mar 9, 10:34 pm, Bill Horne <b...@horneQRM.net> wrote:
> > My sister just got FiOS installed, and she has several dial-pulse
> > (rotary) phones that I'm supposed to hook up.
> >
> > Does FiOS support rotary phones? I'd hate to find out the hard way.
>
> Based on some quick googling, the answer is yes, assuming you request
> a POTS line. (Probably not if it is a VOIP line.)
I don't know which kind she got: the dial tone comes out of the FiOS
box, if that's a help. In other words, _everything_ is being delivered
via FiOS.
Bill
--
"Proud and alone, cold as a stone
I'm afraid to believe the things I feel
I can cry with the best I can laugh with the rest
But I'm never sure when it's real"
- Jackson Browne
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:54:35 +0000 (UTC)
From: "Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: How does Comcast deliver dial tone?
Message-ID: <ilas7r$3gb$7@news.albasani.net>
Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> wrote:
>I was on a phone call with a friend who has phone service from Comcast,
>and I was reminded several times of why I dropped them: his voice would
>cut off for two or three seconds at a time, and he said mine would too.
>Does anyone know why Comcast has so many problems with their phone
>connections?
Sunspots.
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 02:05:48 -0500
From: danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: cell phone query re: Cuba
Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.64.1103100159260.18209@panix5.panix.com>
There's a political/criminal case going on in Cuba right
now where a US citizen, Alan Gross, is charged with
some pretty scary (in regards to potential punishment)
crimes against the State.
Basically they're accusing him of working for an arm of
the US gov't to encourage rebellion.
Leaving aside all the politics there's a point I'm having
trouble understanding.
One claim is that he was distributing cell phones to
the community there.
Anyone know how that could possibly work? There's no way
a handheld cell phone would reach any "Western" (as in US
or carribean island) towers. And even if they were frequency
and format compatable with whatever Cuba's using, they'd need
to have accounts established with the carrier.
Any ideas? Thanks
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:10:42 -0600
From: John Mayson <john@mayson.us>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: cell phone query re: Cuba
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=MYY-wx2CxCQU79zYbKG_P69RFS3kahqmVj1BV@mail.gmail.com>
On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 1:05 AM, danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com> wrote:
> Anyone know how that could possibly work? There's no way
> a handheld cell phone would reach any "Western" (as in US
> or carribean island) towers. And even if they were frequency
> and format compatable with whatever Cuba's using, they'd need
> to have accounts established with the carrier.
Cuba does have a cell phone carrier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETECSA
http://www.etecsa.cu/
Several years ago the US and/or Cuba (I forget the details) allowed
sending cell phones to Cuba. I found a link to the article about
this, but the link had expired. Perhaps someone else can elaborate.
But you're right. Distributing handsets doesn't do a whole lot of
good with the state-owned network doesn't allow access. But then
again, this is Cuba we're talking about.
--
John Mayson <john@mayson.us>
Austin, Texas, USA
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:50:35 -0600
From: Dave Garland <dave.garland@wizinfo.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: cell phone query re: Cuba
Message-ID: <ilbv5p$utn$1@news.eternal-september.org>
On 3/10/2011 1:05 AM, danny burstein wrote:
> There's a political/criminal case going on in Cuba right
> now where a US citizen, Alan Gross, is charged with
> some pretty scary (in regards to potential punishment)
> crimes against the State.
>
> Basically they're accusing him of working for an arm of
> the US gov't to encourage rebellion.
>
> Leaving aside all the politics there's a point I'm having
> trouble understanding.
>
> One claim is that he was distributing cell phones to
> the community there.
>
> Anyone know how that could possibly work? There's no way
> a handheld cell phone would reach any "Western" (as in US
> or carribean island) towers. And even if they were frequency
> and format compatable with whatever Cuba's using, they'd need
> to have accounts established with the carrier.
It does not seem clear exactly what the hardware was that he had.
Various reports said:
> Sophisticated satellite communications equipment (Raúl Castro quoted in
> the Washington post)
>
> Cell phones, laptops and other communications equipment (per Marc Lacey and
> Ginger Thompson, NY Times)
>
> BGAN Satellite ground stations (Elsa Claro, El Progresso)
Apparently Cuba uses GSM900, but you are correct that one would need
to purchase access from the local cellco, and it does not seem like
the government would feel threatened by that (since like other
national governments, they can tap that system). There are reports
that previously Gross had set up satellite communications systems in
Iraq and Afghanistan, which would probably pique the Cuban
government's interest. It sounds like cell phones (unless maybe one
calls a satellite phone a "cell phone") are really not at the heart of
the matter, but rather perhaps direct satellite internet access not
going through the approved ISPs.
But the trial is secret, so who knows.
Dave
Date: 10 Mar 2011 17:18:48 -0000
From: John Levine <johnl@iecc.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: cell phone query re: Cuba
Message-ID: <20110310171848.34569.qmail@joyce.lan>
>One claim is that he was distributing cell phones to
>the community there.
>
>Anyone know how that could possibly work?
Cuba has normal GSM phone service, which (in theory) anyone
can use who has enough hard currency to pay for it:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/28/cuba_mobile_phones/
R's,
John
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:26:45 -0500
From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Some Teletype and other teleprinters for sale on Craigslist
Message-ID: <4D794215.8040704@horne.net>
My previous inquiry has generated a number of leads to teleprinters
available on Craigslist: there may be others, but these are what I have
now.
It looks like spring cleaning is turning up lots of machines. The usual
disclaimers apply: I'm not involved with any of these.
[Moderator snip - the links that were in the original will expire
quickly, and have been deleted in this archive. Just do a search for
"teletype" on Craigslist.]
Bill Horne
--
"Maybe you'll get a replacement; there's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels, who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits like you
On the ground"
- Elton John
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:16:19 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: iPad 2: Thin, Not Picture Perfect
Message-ID: <p0624085dc99f4220959a@[10.0.1.3]>
iPad 2: Thin, Not Picture Perfect
March 9, 2011
by Walter S. Mossberg
Just as most of its competitors are rolling out their first
multitouch tablets to compete with its game-changing iPad, Apple on
Friday will start selling a second-generation model, the iPad 2.
The new iPad 2 is about a third thinner and over 10% lighter, yet
speedier and more powerful than the original version, which sold a
whopping 15 million units in its first nine months and, for many
users, challenged their laptops as a digital tool. And it costs the
same as the original.
I've been testing an iPad 2 for about a week and I like it a lot.
While it's evolutionary rather than revolutionary like the first
model, the changes Apple has made are generally pleasing and
positive, and the device worked very well for me.
Its improvements, including front and rear cameras, outweigh the few
drawbacks and feature omissions I found. For most average, nontechie
users, I would recommend it over the handful of tablet competitors
I've tested so far, especially given that the entry price remains
attractive.
Dozens of tablet competitors are coming this year and I haven't had a
chance to test them. But the iPad 2, in my view, offers an excellent
balance of size, functionality and price, and keeps Apple ahead in
the tablet race, at least for now.
However, unless you are desperate for the cameras or feel you are
laboring under the greater bulk of the original model, I don't advise
that iPad owners race to get the new version.
The first iPad, which can be upgraded to Apple's latest iOS operating
system, is selling for $399 while supplies last.
...
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20110309/ipad-2-thin-not-picture-perfect/
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:16:19 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: A 'Pear' Gives Apple Devices an Easy Way to Control TVs
Message-ID: <p0624085fc99f43bcf624@[10.0.1.3]>
Personal Technology from The Wall Street Journal
A 'Pear' Gives Apple Devices an Easy Way to Control TVs
March 2, 2011
by Walter S. Mossberg
Watching television in the digital home today too often becomes a
process of juggling multiple remote controls, trying to remember
which "input" on the TV matches which set-top box you use, and
peering at a long listing of channels that resembles a spreadsheet.
There are universal remotes, some with built-in touch screens, like
Logitech's successful Harmony line, but these can get costly and
complicated. And there are various apps that turn your iPhone into a
universal remote, but they require plugging into the phone small
hardware modules that are easy to lose.
This week, I've been testing a different approach to solving the
complex TV-remote problem. Like some competitors, the Peel universal
control uses a device you may already own-an iPhone or iPod Touch
(even older models). But it doesn't require plugging any hardware
into the device, or cables into the TV.
Instead of lists of channels, it presents you with pictures and
summaries of the shows that are on, grouped by genre. You don't have
to know what channel they're on-you just click "Watch on TV" and it
takes you to the show. While it can control various devices-like DVD
players or Apple TVs-it doesn't require you to recall which input
each is on. It switches TV inputs automatically and presents an
appropriate virtual remote for each device, controlled by touch and
gesture on your iPhone's or iPod Touch's screen.
...
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20110302/a-pear-gives-apple-devices-an-easy-way-to-control-tvs/
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:37:13 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Handhelds on Planes A Bigger Problem Than You Think
Message-ID: <p06240862c99f47e1ef3a@[10.0.1.3]>
Christine Negroni
March 9, 2011
Handhelds on Planes A Bigger Problem Than You Think
So what would you think if you were the B777 pilot who's radio
communication with air traffic control was interrupted by a
passenger's cell phone call? Or if you were the captain in command
of a B747 that unexpectedly lost autopilot after takeoff and did not
get it back until 4, count 'em four passengers turned off their
portable electronic devices?
Well I'm guessing that these pilots would probably be leading the
chorus of voices calling for some drastic change in the practically
unenforced policy restricting the use of portable electronic devices
on airplanes.
Now I am reporting that the problem of electro-magnetic interference
affecting commercial flights is much bigger than previously suspected.
...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-negroni/handhelds-on-planes-a-big_b_833853.html
***** Moderator's Note *****
Fellow Amateurs Radio Licensees, repeat after me: "We told you so"!
Every ham operator I know has agreed with me that the antideluvian
aircraft communications and navigation system is not able to handle
interference from near-field transmitters.
Let's hope that someone in Washington gets the word, before we have
burnt bodies on the ground to prove my point!
Bill Horne
Moderator
TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly to telecom-
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