From lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org Sun Jun 1 18:44:11 2014 From: lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org (Lennart Sorensen) Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2014 14:44:11 -0400 Subject: Best DSL Modem? In-Reply-To: <5f369a91b76bc49d2476560dae0b15ca.squirrel-2RFepEojUI2DznVbVsZi4adLQS1dU2Lr@public.gmane.org> References: <5f369a91b76bc49d2476560dae0b15ca.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: <20140601184411.GL17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 06:42:43PM -0400, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote: > Something recently changed with our Teksavvy DSL connection (they > 'optimized it, apparently) and now the modem (Sagecom 2864) works close to > the demarkation point in the basement and at phone outlets on the first > and second floor, but not on the third floor, which is a little bit > further. I suspect the signal has gone down a bit in strength and it's not > enough for the modem. > > Unplugging phones has no effect. > > This is highly inconvenient since everything is cabled back to that modem. > Changing over to wireless or some other solution is a major disruption. > > The phone still works fine at the third floor outlet, so the connection is > basically OK. Working at 64kbit isn't the same as working at 25Mbit. > Anyone have any thoughts about a good DSL modem to try in this situation? > > Any advice appreciated. For which kind of DSL? After all VDSL2 needs different modems than ADSL2 or ADSL. Looking it up, it seems the 2864 is in fact a VDSL2 modem. When I had mine installed they ran a dedicated line from the demarc point for the modem, and put the splitter/filter by the demarc point (which means I don't need filters anywhere in the house which otherwise I would have). It also means there are no splits on the line going to the modem which tends to help the signal quality a lot. Of course I got my VDSL2 link early enough that I have a cellpipe. I should probably talk to teksavvy about switching to a sagemcom that I buy instead of paying $8 rental each month. -- Len Sorensen -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 2 00:46:29 2014 From: phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org (phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org) Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2014 20:46:29 -0400 Subject: DSL Issues: (Was: Best DSL Modem?) In-Reply-To: <20140601184411.GL17767-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys@public.gmane.org> References: <5f369a91b76bc49d2476560dae0b15ca.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> <20140601184411.GL17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> Message-ID: <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> For those who are interested in my adventures getting DSL functional again: I inspected the phone wiring at the point where it enters the house, and in my previous installations of phone lines, I had used plastic ties on one of the phone lines to tie it to a cold water pipe. That pipe is sweating copiously in the warm weather, so it could be that the combination of water and being close to a metallic surface would attenuate the DSL signal. In any case, I insulated the pipe and moved the wire away from the pipe. I moved the modem to a second floor phone outlet where it seems to work semi-reliably. I have a temporary ethernet cable up to the third floor to my working computer, and that functions reliably..at least for the moment. My existing system does not split the line where it enters the house. There are filters on all the phone outlets, an arrangement which used to work properly. There are several suggestions on the internet (including Len's comment, below) that it is better to split the POTS and ADSL lines close to the demarcation point - ie, where the phone line enters the building. That makes sense, since the added capacitance of the other phone lines would tend to attenuate the ADSL signal. So the idea is to split the signal at the demarc, and then use the second set of wires in the phone cable (yellow and black) up to a separate phone outlet that is used only as an ADSL connection. Tomorrow I'll contact Wilcom and see if I can order a suitable splitter: http://www.wilcominc.com/item.cfm?ProdID=35&result=1&stockalert=No#skus (Their webpage suggests using UPS for delivery. I will attempt to use USPS instead, since UPS charge atrocious border clearance fees.) Any other suggestions, such as a local source for the splitter, would be welcome. (The 8-Port Ethernet switch also appears to be acting up, but one technical challenge at a time..). What do people do who do not have a resident electrical engineer to sort out this stuff? Peter > On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 06:42:43PM -0400, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote: >> Something recently changed with our Teksavvy DSL connection (they >> 'optimized it, apparently) and now the modem (Sagecom 2864) works close >> to >> the demarkation point in the basement and at phone outlets on the first >> and second floor, but not on the third floor, which is a little bit >> further. I suspect the signal has gone down a bit in strength and it's >> not >> enough for the modem. >> >> Unplugging phones has no effect. >> >> This is highly inconvenient since everything is cabled back to that >> modem. >> Changing over to wireless or some other solution is a major disruption. >> >> The phone still works fine at the third floor outlet, so the connection >> is >> basically OK. > > Working at 64kbit isn't the same as working at 25Mbit. > >> Anyone have any thoughts about a good DSL modem to try in this >> situation? >> >> Any advice appreciated. > > For which kind of DSL? > > After all VDSL2 needs different modems than ADSL2 or ADSL. > > Looking it up, it seems the 2864 is in fact a VDSL2 modem. When I had > mine installed they ran a dedicated line from the demarc point for the > modem, and put the splitter/filter by the demarc point (which means I > don't need filters anywhere in the house which otherwise I would have). > It also means there are no splits on the line going to the modem which > tends to help the signal quality a lot. > > Of course I got my VDSL2 link early enough that I have a cellpipe. > I should probably talk to teksavvy about switching to a sagemcom that > I buy instead of paying $8 rental each month. > > -- > Len Sorensen > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -- Peter Hiscocks Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto http://www.syscompdesign.com USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator 647-839-0325 -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From right.maple.nut-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 2 02:37:47 2014 From: right.maple.nut-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Amos Weatherill) Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2014 22:37:47 -0400 Subject: DSL Issues: (Was: Best DSL Modem?) In-Reply-To: <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel-2RFepEojUI2DznVbVsZi4adLQS1dU2Lr@public.gmane.org> References: <5f369a91b76bc49d2476560dae0b15ca.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> <20140601184411.GL17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: Try a company called Norelco Safecam. My office buys most of our network cabling and jacks from them. On Jun 1, 2014 8:47 PM, wrote: > For those who are interested in my adventures getting DSL functional again: > > I inspected the phone wiring at the point where it enters the house, and > in my previous installations of phone lines, I had used plastic ties on > one of the phone lines to tie it to a cold water pipe. That pipe is > sweating copiously in the warm weather, so it could be that the > combination of water and being close to a metallic surface would attenuate > the DSL signal. In any case, I insulated the pipe and moved the wire away > from the pipe. > > I moved the modem to a second floor phone outlet where it seems to work > semi-reliably. I have a temporary ethernet cable up to the third floor to > my working computer, and that functions reliably..at least for the moment. > > My existing system does not split the line where it enters the house. > There are filters on all the phone outlets, an arrangement which used to > work properly. > > There are several suggestions on the internet (including Len's comment, > below) that it is better to split the POTS and ADSL lines close to the > demarcation point - ie, where the phone line enters the building. That > makes sense, since the added capacitance of the other phone lines would > tend to attenuate the ADSL signal. So the idea is to split the signal at > the demarc, and then use the second set of wires in the phone cable > (yellow and black) up to a separate phone outlet that is used only as an > ADSL connection. > > Tomorrow I'll contact Wilcom and see if I can order a suitable splitter: > > http://www.wilcominc.com/item.cfm?ProdID=35&result=1&stockalert=No#skus > > (Their webpage suggests using UPS for delivery. I will attempt to use USPS > instead, since UPS charge atrocious border clearance fees.) > > Any other suggestions, such as a local source for the splitter, would be > welcome. > > (The 8-Port Ethernet switch also appears to be acting up, but one > technical challenge at a time..). > > What do people do who do not have a resident electrical engineer to sort > out this stuff? > > Peter > > > On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 06:42:43PM -0400, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote: > >> Something recently changed with our Teksavvy DSL connection (they > >> 'optimized it, apparently) and now the modem (Sagecom 2864) works close > >> to > >> the demarkation point in the basement and at phone outlets on the first > >> and second floor, but not on the third floor, which is a little bit > >> further. I suspect the signal has gone down a bit in strength and it's > >> not > >> enough for the modem. > >> > >> Unplugging phones has no effect. > >> > >> This is highly inconvenient since everything is cabled back to that > >> modem. > >> Changing over to wireless or some other solution is a major disruption. > >> > >> The phone still works fine at the third floor outlet, so the connection > >> is > >> basically OK. > > > > Working at 64kbit isn't the same as working at 25Mbit. > > > >> Anyone have any thoughts about a good DSL modem to try in this > >> situation? > >> > >> Any advice appreciated. > > > > For which kind of DSL? > > > > After all VDSL2 needs different modems than ADSL2 or ADSL. > > > > Looking it up, it seems the 2864 is in fact a VDSL2 modem. When I had > > mine installed they ran a dedicated line from the demarc point for the > > modem, and put the splitter/filter by the demarc point (which means I > > don't need filters anywhere in the house which otherwise I would have). > > It also means there are no splits on the line going to the modem which > > tends to help the signal quality a lot. > > > > Of course I got my VDSL2 link early enough that I have a cellpipe. > > I should probably talk to teksavvy about switching to a sagemcom that > > I buy instead of paying $8 rental each month. > > > > -- > > Len Sorensen > > -- > > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > > > > > -- > Peter Hiscocks > Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto > http://www.syscompdesign.com > USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator > 647-839-0325 > > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 2 14:05:58 2014 From: lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org (Lennart Sorensen) Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 10:05:58 -0400 Subject: DSL Issues: (Was: Best DSL Modem?) In-Reply-To: <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel-2RFepEojUI2DznVbVsZi4adLQS1dU2Lr@public.gmane.org> References: <5f369a91b76bc49d2476560dae0b15ca.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> <20140601184411.GL17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: <20140602140558.GM17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> On Sun, Jun 01, 2014 at 08:46:29PM -0400, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote: > For those who are interested in my adventures getting DSL functional again: > > I inspected the phone wiring at the point where it enters the house, and > in my previous installations of phone lines, I had used plastic ties on > one of the phone lines to tie it to a cold water pipe. That pipe is > sweating copiously in the warm weather, so it could be that the > combination of water and being close to a metallic surface would attenuate > the DSL signal. In any case, I insulated the pipe and moved the wire away > from the pipe. > > I moved the modem to a second floor phone outlet where it seems to work > semi-reliably. I have a temporary ethernet cable up to the third floor to > my working computer, and that functions reliably..at least for the moment. > > My existing system does not split the line where it enters the house. > There are filters on all the phone outlets, an arrangement which used to > work properly. > > There are several suggestions on the internet (including Len's comment, > below) that it is better to split the POTS and ADSL lines close to the > demarcation point - ie, where the phone line enters the building. That > makes sense, since the added capacitance of the other phone lines would > tend to attenuate the ADSL signal. So the idea is to split the signal at > the demarc, and then use the second set of wires in the phone cable > (yellow and black) up to a separate phone outlet that is used only as an > ADSL connection. > > Tomorrow I'll contact Wilcom and see if I can order a suitable splitter: > > http://www.wilcominc.com/item.cfm?ProdID=35&result=1&stockalert=No#skus > > (Their webpage suggests using UPS for delivery. I will attempt to use USPS > instead, since UPS charge atrocious border clearance fees.) That only mentions ADSL2+. I think this is the one that was installed for me: http://comtestnetworks.com/our-products/residential-dsl-splitters-cpe/dsl-splitter/ it does list VDSL (and mentions 30MHz, not 2MHz). > Any other suggestions, such as a local source for the splitter, would be > welcome. > > (The 8-Port Ethernet switch also appears to be acting up, but one > technical challenge at a time..). > > What do people do who do not have a resident electrical engineer to sort > out this stuff? Hmm, you pay someone or do it yourself. :) -- Len Sorensen -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 2 17:53:12 2014 From: phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org (phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org) Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 13:53:12 -0400 Subject: DSL Issues: (Was: Best DSL Modem?) In-Reply-To: References: <5f369a91b76bc49d2476560dae0b15ca.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> <20140601184411.GL17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: <7912674efbc6fe5c880db3f4cda4a921.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Thanks for the pointer. They have interesting stuff, but no DSL splitters - at least on their web page. I'm currently trying these folks, who are in Ottawa: http://comtestnetworks.com/contact-comtest-networks/ Peter > Try ahttp://comtestnetworks.com/contact-comtest-networks/ company called Norelco Safecam. > > My office buys most of our network cabling and jacks from them. > On Jun 1, 2014 8:47 PM, wrote: > >> For those who are interested in my adventures getting DSL functional >> again: >> >> I inspected the phone wiring at the point where it enters the house, and >> in my previous installations of phone lines, I had used plastic ties on >> one of the phone lines to tie it to a cold water pipe. That pipe is >> sweating copiously in the warm weather, so it could be that the >> combination of water and being close to a metallic surface would >> attenuate >> the DSL signal. In any case, I insulated the pipe and moved the wire >> away >> from the pipe. >> >> I moved the modem to a second floor phone outlet where it seems to work >> semi-reliably. I have a temporary ethernet cable up to the third floor >> to >> my working computer, and that functions reliably..at least for the >> moment. >> >> My existing system does not split the line where it enters the house. >> There are filters on all the phone outlets, an arrangement which used to >> work properly. >> >> There are several suggestions on the internet (including Len's comment, >> below) that it is better to split the POTS and ADSL lines close to the >> demarcation point - ie, where the phone line enters the building. That >> makes sense, since the added capacitance of the other phone lines would >> tend to attenuate the ADSL signal. So the idea is to split the signal at >> the demarc, and then use the second set of wires in the phone cable >> (yellow and black) up to a separate phone outlet that is used only as an >> ADSL connection. >> >> Tomorrow I'll contact Wilcom and see if I can order a suitable splitter: >> >> http://www.wilcominc.com/item.cfm?ProdID=35&result=1&stockalert=No#skus >> >> (Their webpage suggests using UPS for delivery. I will attempt to use >> USPS >> instead, since UPS charge atrocious border clearance fees.) >> >> Any other suggestions, such as a local source for the splitter, would be >> welcome. >> >> (The 8-Port Ethernet switch also appears to be acting up, but one >> technical challenge at a time..). >> >> What do people do who do not have a resident electrical engineer to sort >> out this stuff? >> >> Peter >> >> > On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 06:42:43PM -0400, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org >> wrote: >> >> Something recently changed with our Teksavvy DSL connection (they >> >> 'optimized it, apparently) and now the modem (Sagecom 2864) works >> close >> >> to >> >> the demarkation point in the basement and at phone outlets on the >> first >> >> and second floor, but not on the third floor, which is a little bit >> >> further. I suspect the signal has gone down a bit in strength and >> it's >> >> not >> >> enough for the modem. >> >> >> >> Unplugging phones has no effect. >> >> >> >> This is highly inconvenient since everything is cabled back to that >> >> modem. >> >> Changing over to wireless or some other solution is a major >> disruption. >> >> >> >> The phone still works fine at the third floor outlet, so the >> connection >> >> is >> >> basically OK. >> > >> > Working at 64kbit isn't the same as working at 25Mbit. >> > >> >> Anyone have any thoughts about a good DSL modem to try in this >> >> situation? >> >> >> >> Any advice appreciated. >> > >> > For which kind of DSL? >> > >> > After all VDSL2 needs different modems than ADSL2 or ADSL. >> > >> > Looking it up, it seems the 2864 is in fact a VDSL2 modem. When I had >> > mine installed they ran a dedicated line from the demarc point for the >> > modem, and put the splitter/filter by the demarc point (which means I >> > don't need filters anywhere in the house which otherwise I would >> have). >> > It also means there are no splits on the line going to the modem which >> > tends to help the signal quality a lot. >> > >> > Of course I got my VDSL2 link early enough that I have a cellpipe. >> > I should probably talk to teksavvy about switching to a sagemcom that >> > I buy instead of paying $8 rental each month. >> > >> > -- >> > Len Sorensen >> > -- >> > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ >> > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns >> > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists >> > >> >> >> -- >> Peter Hiscocks >> Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto >> http://www.syscompdesign.com >> USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator >> 647-839-0325 >> >> -- >> The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ >> TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns >> How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists >> > -- Peter Hiscocks Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto http://www.syscompdesign.com USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator 647-839-0325 -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From cbbrowne-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 3 17:20:23 2014 From: cbbrowne-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Christopher Browne) Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2014 13:20:23 -0400 Subject: The history of UNIX, in a git repo Message-ID: This merges together a goodly number of versions of UNIX, conspicuously NOT including Linux (as it was essentially a separate reimplementation). https://github.com/dspinellis/unix-history-repo -- When confronted by a difficult problem, solve it by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ivan.avery.frey-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Fri Jun 6 01:40:48 2014 From: ivan.avery.frey-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Ivan Avery Frey) Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 21:40:48 -0400 Subject: Inside the Apple-Samsung War Message-ID: <1402018848.27973.2.camel@HP-Envy4.local> Excellent in depth article on the Apple Samsung war: http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/06/apple-samsung-smartphone-patent-war -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Fri Jun 6 15:28:31 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2014 11:28:31 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Inside the Apple-Samsung War In-Reply-To: <1402018848.27973.2.camel-MR8vEXj1vpa44ywRPIzf9A@public.gmane.org> References: <1402018848.27973.2.camel@HP-Envy4.local> Message-ID: | From: Ivan Avery Frey | Excellent in depth article on the Apple Samsung war: | http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/06/apple-samsung-smartphone-patent-war I'm part way in and I don't like it. The article is using highly emotive language to make its case. Maybe it gets better. Many of the patents being fought over are lunacy. Rounded corners? Really? "Samsung did indeed plot to steal the iPhone?s appearance and technology" The concept of theft of IP is crazy. Except perhaps for trade secrets. Unauthorized infringement is more accurate. "Plotting" is just what companies do, except for the connotation of evil. "It was really just another page from the Samsung playbook, used many times before: When another company introduces a breakthrough technology, muscle in with less expensive versions of the same product." That's standard operating procedure in the marketplace. And "muscle in" just colours the picture. I don't actually think either Samsung or Apple are "nice" players. Both try to be bad monopolists when they can. From william.muriithi-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Fri Jun 6 16:01:13 2014 From: william.muriithi-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (William Muriithi) Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2014 12:01:13 -0400 Subject: Inside the Apple-Samsung War In-Reply-To: References: <1402018848.27973.2.camel@HP-Envy4.local> Message-ID: > I'm part way in and I don't like it. The article is using highly > emotive language to make its case. Maybe it gets better. > Nope, it wouldn't. I have read through it top to bottom and remain one sided. Petty negative on Samsung. I got a feeling the author is not anywhere objective and just didn't take it seriously. Will read through Wikipedia article about Samsung and see if some of the allegation add up. For now, I will just not take it seriously William > Many of the patents being fought over are lunacy. Rounded corners? > Really? > > " -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From me-qIX3qoPyADtH8hdXm2+x1laTQe2KTcn/ at public.gmane.org Fri Jun 6 16:28:40 2014 From: me-qIX3qoPyADtH8hdXm2+x1laTQe2KTcn/ at public.gmane.org (Myles Braithwaite) Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2014 12:28:40 -0400 Subject: Inside the Apple-Samsung War In-Reply-To: References: <1402018848.27973.2.camel@HP-Envy4.local> Message-ID: On Fri, Jun 6, 2014 at 11:28 AM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote: > Many of the patents being fought over are lunacy. Rounded corners? > Really? The "rounded corners" was a design patent[1] and not a utility patent. Apple case (which it won in the first trial) was that people were going into a store and seeing a Samsung Android phone and thinking it was an Apple iPhone. [1]: -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Fri Jun 6 22:22:52 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 18:22:52 -0400 Subject: Inside the Apple-Samsung War In-Reply-To: References: <1402018848.27973.2.camel@HP-Envy4.local> Message-ID: <53923F3C.8010404@rogers.com> On 06/06/2014 11:28 AM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote: > I don't actually think either Samsung or Apple are "nice" players. > Both try to be bad monopolists when they can. You may recall Apple borrowed the GUI from Xerox and then sued Microsoft for copying "their" stuff in Windows. I used to follow this on Groklaw and was continually amazed at the stuff Apple claimed they invented, even though it had been in use elsewhere years earlier. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Fri Jun 6 22:26:04 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 18:26:04 -0400 Subject: Inside the Apple-Samsung War In-Reply-To: References: <1402018848.27973.2.camel@HP-Envy4.local> Message-ID: <53923FFC.9060609@rogers.com> On 06/06/2014 12:28 PM, Myles Braithwaite wrote: > The "rounded corners" was a design patent[1] and not a utility patent. I bought a Novus Mathematician calculator, back in the mid '70s. It had rounded corners. Also, take a look at the Etch-a-Sketch to see rounded corners. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Sat Jun 7 15:27:03 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2014 11:27:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: war story: BIOS update without Windows Message-ID: We bought an Asus X200MA notebook from the Microsoft Store. It was a great deal (sale price $200; $300 now). It is pretty much everything that a netbook should be. Something the specs don't tell you: it seems pretty quiet. Without ever starting Windows, we installed Fedora 20, while remaining in Secure Boot mode. That went pretty well. Only oddity: at first boot after installation, the display didn't show anything. I used CTRL-ALT-F2 to get a text console, performed all updates (a whole lot!), and rebooted. All was well after that. Then I noticed that there were several releases of firmware ("BIOS") after the one installed on the machine. The only way that Asus provided for updating the firmware was a WinFlash, a program that needs to run under Windows. But we hope to never run Windows. I found flashrom. It seems pretty interesting. But it would not run under fedora on the notebook. It was not allowed to open some I/O device even though it was run as root. I wonder if that was related to Secure Boot. Detour: from the flashrom site, I learned a bit more about Intel's AMT technology (for remote management) built into many motherboards Scary. Each chipset has an ARC CPU core -- a 32-bit processor that I don't think I'd heard about before. Easy to subvert, and from then on things get bad (undetectable "Advanced Persistent Threat"). Dan Farmer thinks it is less scary that IPMI . That's very scary. I googled and found hints that you might be able to buy this notebook without Windows in India. So I asked Asus, through their India portal, about how to update the firmware. They replied that there was a feature called EZ flash in the BIOS setup screen. All I needed was a USB stick with the default FATty filesystem and the unzipped firmware file. It worked. Problem solved. Yes, I think that it is funny to buy a machine to run Linux from the Microsoft Store. I wish Linux desktops could make the touchscreen more useful. Win 8.1 is ahead of "us". -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org Sun Jun 8 21:23:22 2014 From: phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org (phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org) Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2014 17:23:22 -0400 Subject: DSL Issues: Solved In-Reply-To: <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel-2RFepEojUI2DznVbVsZi4adLQS1dU2Lr@public.gmane.org> References: <5f369a91b76bc49d2476560dae0b15ca.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> <20140601184411.GL17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: <227f3dccd623c0db8cef8cd5afdc6a63.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> For those who are following the saga of my DSL problems, the system seems to be up and running again. I split the phone system near the demarcation point (where the phone line enters the house), using a Comtest Networks CPE-01V POTS/DSL splitter. Comtest don't sell to the public, but you can obtain one through Hall Telecommunications (1.800.265.2667). They charged something like $30 including shipping by Purolator. This is the splitter suggested by Len Sorensen. I generally prefer devices with screw terminal strips. This spitter makes a punchdown connection, but that seems to work quite well. You insert the unstripped wires into the connector and then press down a tab to force the wires into insulation-displacement forks. (There's a YouTube video showing how to do this.) Then I used two conductors in CAT5 cable (obtained from Home Depot) to run up an unused chimney from the basement to the third floor. This goes to a dedicated outlet plate, which connects to the DSL modem. The phone network is now decoupled from the DSL feed at the splitter so the DSL connection should be more reliable. In any case, it appears to work. One suggestion if you're doing phone or network wiring in a building. If possible, bring each outlet back to a patch point or terminal strip, rather than daisy-chaining them together. This way, if something goes bad, you can isolate it very easily. Phone or network cable is cheap and a daisy-chained system is a nightmare to troubleshoot. Peter > For those who are interested in my adventures getting DSL functional > again: > > I inspected the phone wiring at the point where it enters the house, and > in my previous installations of phone lines, I had used plastic ties on > one of the phone lines to tie it to a cold water pipe. That pipe is > sweating copiously in the warm weather, so it could be that the > combination of water and being close to a metallic surface would attenuate > the DSL signal. In any case, I insulated the pipe and moved the wire away > from the pipe. > > I moved the modem to a second floor phone outlet where it seems to work > semi-reliably. I have a temporary ethernet cable up to the third floor to > my working computer, and that functions reliably..at least for the moment. > > My existing system does not split the line where it enters the house. > There are filters on all the phone outlets, an arrangement which used to > work properly. > > There are several suggestions on the internet (including Len's comment, > below) that it is better to split the POTS and ADSL lines close to the > demarcation point - ie, where the phone line enters the building. That > makes sense, since the added capacitance of the other phone lines would > tend to attenuate the ADSL signal. So the idea is to split the signal at > the demarc, and then use the second set of wires in the phone cable > (yellow and black) up to a separate phone outlet that is used only as an > ADSL connection. > > Tomorrow I'll contact Wilcom and see if I can order a suitable splitter: > > http://www.wilcominc.com/item.cfm?ProdID=35&result=1&stockalert=No#skus > > (Their webpage suggests using UPS for delivery. I will attempt to use USPS > instead, since UPS charge atrocious border clearance fees.) > > Any other suggestions, such as a local source for the splitter, would be > welcome. > > (The 8-Port Ethernet switch also appears to be acting up, but one > technical challenge at a time..). > > What do people do who do not have a resident electrical engineer to sort > out this stuff? > > Peter > >> On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 06:42:43PM -0400, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote: >>> Something recently changed with our Teksavvy DSL connection (they >>> 'optimized it, apparently) and now the modem (Sagecom 2864) works close >>> to >>> the demarkation point in the basement and at phone outlets on the first >>> and second floor, but not on the third floor, which is a little bit >>> further. I suspect the signal has gone down a bit in strength and it's >>> not >>> enough for the modem. >>> >>> Unplugging phones has no effect. >>> >>> This is highly inconvenient since everything is cabled back to that >>> modem. >>> Changing over to wireless or some other solution is a major disruption. >>> >>> The phone still works fine at the third floor outlet, so the connection >>> is >>> basically OK. >> >> Working at 64kbit isn't the same as working at 25Mbit. >> >>> Anyone have any thoughts about a good DSL modem to try in this >>> situation? >>> >>> Any advice appreciated. >> >> For which kind of DSL? >> >> After all VDSL2 needs different modems than ADSL2 or ADSL. >> >> Looking it up, it seems the 2864 is in fact a VDSL2 modem. When I had >> mine installed they ran a dedicated line from the demarc point for the >> modem, and put the splitter/filter by the demarc point (which means I >> don't need filters anywhere in the house which otherwise I would have). >> It also means there are no splits on the line going to the modem which >> tends to help the signal quality a lot. >> >> Of course I got my VDSL2 link early enough that I have a cellpipe. >> I should probably talk to teksavvy about switching to a sagemcom that >> I buy instead of paying $8 rental each month. >> >> -- >> Len Sorensen >> -- >> The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ >> TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns >> How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists >> > > > -- > Peter Hiscocks > Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto > http://www.syscompdesign.com > USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator > 647-839-0325 > > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -- Peter Hiscocks Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto http://www.syscompdesign.com USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator 647-839-0325 -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org Sun Jun 8 21:27:47 2014 From: phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org (phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org) Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2014 17:27:47 -0400 Subject: DSL Issues: Solved In-Reply-To: <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel-2RFepEojUI2DznVbVsZi4adLQS1dU2Lr@public.gmane.org> References: <5f369a91b76bc49d2476560dae0b15ca.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> <20140601184411.GL17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> <0f6a7b837f4877bd328973bc91ab1fcd.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: For those who are following the saga of my DSL problems, the system seems to be up and running again. I split the phone system near the demarcation point (where the phone line enters the house), using a Comtest Networks CPE-01V POTS/DSL splitter. Comtest don't sell to the public, but you can obtain one through Hall Telecommunications (1.800.265.2667). They charged something like $30 including shipping by Purolator. This is the splitter suggested by Len Sorensen. I generally prefer devices with screw terminal strips. This spitter makes a punchdown connection, but that seems to work quite well. You insert the unstripped wires into the connector and then press down a tab to force the wires into insulation-displacement forks. (There's a YouTube video showing how to do this.) Then I used two conductors in CAT5 cable (obtained from Home Depot) to run up an unused chimney from the basement to the third floor. This goes to a dedicated outlet plate, which connects to the DSL modem. The phone network is now decoupled from the DSL feed at the splitter so the DSL connection should be more reliable. In any case, it appears to work. One suggestion if you're doing phone or network wiring in a building. If possible, bring each outlet back to a patch point or terminal strip, rather than daisy-chaining them together. This way, if something goes bad, you can isolate it very easily. Phone or network cable is cheap and a daisy-chained system is a nightmare to troubleshoot. One of the things I learned from this exercise: If you use a DSL connection, then the provider (Teksavvy in this case) only provides up to the demarcation point. If your modem works at the demarc but not inside the house, you the customer are responsible for fixing that. I can picture a situation where the signal strength is marginal but sufficient at the demarc, but not any distance inside the building. I don't know how you would fix that. Maybe someone needs to make a 'DSL amplifier'. Peter > For those who are interested in my adventures getting DSL functional > again: > > I inspected the phone wiring at the point where it enters the house, and > in my previous installations of phone lines, I had used plastic ties on > one of the phone lines to tie it to a cold water pipe. That pipe is > sweating copiously in the warm weather, so it could be that the > combination of water and being close to a metallic surface would attenuate > the DSL signal. In any case, I insulated the pipe and moved the wire away > from the pipe. > > I moved the modem to a second floor phone outlet where it seems to work > semi-reliably. I have a temporary ethernet cable up to the third floor to > my working computer, and that functions reliably..at least for the moment. > > My existing system does not split the line where it enters the house. > There are filters on all the phone outlets, an arrangement which used to > work properly. > > There are several suggestions on the internet (including Len's comment, > below) that it is better to split the POTS and ADSL lines close to the > demarcation point - ie, where the phone line enters the building. That > makes sense, since the added capacitance of the other phone lines would > tend to attenuate the ADSL signal. So the idea is to split the signal at > the demarc, and then use the second set of wires in the phone cable > (yellow and black) up to a separate phone outlet that is used only as an > ADSL connection. > > Tomorrow I'll contact Wilcom and see if I can order a suitable splitter: > > http://www.wilcominc.com/item.cfm?ProdID=35&result=1&stockalert=No#skus > > (Their webpage suggests using UPS for delivery. I will attempt to use USPS > instead, since UPS charge atrocious border clearance fees.) > > Any other suggestions, such as a local source for the splitter, would be > welcome. > > (The 8-Port Ethernet switch also appears to be acting up, but one > technical challenge at a time..). > > What do people do who do not have a resident electrical engineer to sort > out this stuff? > > Peter > >> On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 06:42:43PM -0400, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote: >>> Something recently changed with our Teksavvy DSL connection (they >>> 'optimized it, apparently) and now the modem (Sagecom 2864) works close >>> to >>> the demarkation point in the basement and at phone outlets on the first >>> and second floor, but not on the third floor, which is a little bit >>> further. I suspect the signal has gone down a bit in strength and it's >>> not >>> enough for the modem. >>> >>> Unplugging phones has no effect. >>> >>> This is highly inconvenient since everything is cabled back to that >>> modem. >>> Changing over to wireless or some other solution is a major disruption. >>> >>> The phone still works fine at the third floor outlet, so the connection >>> is >>> basically OK. >> >> Working at 64kbit isn't the same as working at 25Mbit. >> >>> Anyone have any thoughts about a good DSL modem to try in this >>> situation? >>> >>> Any advice appreciated. >> >> For which kind of DSL? >> >> After all VDSL2 needs different modems than ADSL2 or ADSL. >> >> Looking it up, it seems the 2864 is in fact a VDSL2 modem. When I had >> mine installed they ran a dedicated line from the demarc point for the >> modem, and put the splitter/filter by the demarc point (which means I >> don't need filters anywhere in the house which otherwise I would have). >> It also means there are no splits on the line going to the modem which >> tends to help the signal quality a lot. >> >> Of course I got my VDSL2 link early enough that I have a cellpipe. >> I should probably talk to teksavvy about switching to a sagemcom that >> I buy instead of paying $8 rental each month. >> >> -- >> Len Sorensen >> -- >> The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ >> TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns >> How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists >> > > > -- > Peter Hiscocks > Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto > http://www.syscompdesign.com > USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator > 647-839-0325 > > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -- Peter Hiscocks Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto http://www.syscompdesign.com USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator 647-839-0325 -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Sun Jun 8 21:41:34 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2014 17:41:34 -0400 (EDT) Subject: 20ish years old: Gray's survey of Computer Industry Laws Message-ID: I just came across this (perhaps again -- my memory is imperfect). Still interesting. I was looking for a citation for "departmental computer" which seemed to be an important term in the 1980s but is very hard to find on the web. I was editting the "mainframe" entry in wikipedia. BTW, the last law covered was Grosch's Law. I met him when he moved to Toronto about a decade ago. Only half of his law is presented. He not only said that twice the money gets you four times the computing, he said that you only got twice as much actual effective work as a result. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Sun Jun 8 22:06:14 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 18:06:14 -0400 Subject: 20ish years old: Gray's survey of Computer Industry Laws In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5394DE56.2040700@rogers.com> On 06/08/2014 05:41 PM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote: > I was looking for a citation for "departmental computer" which seemed to > be an important term in the 1980s but is very hard to find on the web. I > was editting the "mainframe" entry in wikipedia. Perhaps they were referring to minicomputers, which were common back in the 80s. They'd often be assigned a specific task and be used by a department, such as accounting. This compared with the previous practice of everyone using terminals connected to a mainframe. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 9 05:17:35 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 01:17:35 -0400 (EDT) Subject: 20ish years old: Gray's survey of Computer Industry Laws In-Reply-To: <5394DE56.2040700-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA@public.gmane.org> References: <5394DE56.2040700@rogers.com> Message-ID: [warning: old guy telling ancient history.] | From: James Knott | Perhaps they were referring to minicomputers, which were common back in | the 80s. They'd often be assigned a specific task and be used by a | department, such as accounting. This compared with the previous | practice of everyone using terminals connected to a mainframe. All these terms "mainframe", "minicomputer", "workstation", "microcomputer", "departmental computer" were all descriptive, connotative, and especially cultural. This all relates the Clayton Christensen's Innovator's Dilemma. Each "band" of computing grew in capability and sophistication quite quickly and as the bands overlapped, markets were created and destroyed. The PDP-8 minicomputer I used in 1968 was not more powerful than the Altair microcomputer of 1974. But the culture of the minicomputer had advanced to the PDP-11/45 (introduced at about the same date) and could run UNIX (I first saw it running in 1974). So the microcomputer could displace the mini from it's original niche but the mini was starting to displace smaller conventional computers. (Personal annecdote: I was always interested in having my own computer. But I didn't buy a microcomputer early because they were so useless for my purposes compared with the UNIX machines I used. I was able to buy my own UNIX machine in 1983.) The VAX was a big success as a computer sold for business applications, something earlier minicomputers were mostly technically capable of but not culturally capable of. It was a breakthrough computer. It was a big fat target -- many manufacturers tried to get into that niche. The big barrier to entry wasn't hardware. It was partly software: through a lot of work DEC had made VMS suitable for business. The HP 3000 and the IBM System/38 were other minicomputers that were successful in business in that era. To a technical user, the only respectable one of those was the VAX. Almost all University Computer Science departments got a VAX to run 4.xBSD. The small competitors hoped that UNIX would get them a cheap entry to the VAX's space. It mostly didn't work out that way: there wasn't enough time between the reign of the VAX and the predicted reign of OS/2. A main architect of VMS transferred to Microsoft and his product was Windows NT (Dave Cutler). Somehow DEC supported / agreed / signed off on this. DEC tried to segue from VAX to Alpha (via OpenVMS and Windows NT) but did a swan-dive. The trajectory reminds me of Blackberry. Both companies had worthy products but execution details caused horrible results. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 9 11:53:07 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 07:53:07 -0400 Subject: 20ish years old: Gray's survey of Computer Industry Laws In-Reply-To: References: <5394DE56.2040700@rogers.com> Message-ID: <5395A023.2020506@rogers.com> On 06/09/2014 01:17 AM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote: > (Personal annecdote: I was always interested in having my own > computer. But I didn't buy a microcomputer early because they were so > useless for my purposes compared with the UNIX machines I used. I was > able to buy my own UNIX machine in 1983.) My first computer was an IMSAI 8080, a better quality clone of the Altair, which I bought in Nov. 1976. I later worked on the PDP-8i and Data General Nova 800 computers. My IMSAI could have provided similar or better performance. > > The VAX was a big success as a computer sold for business > applications, something earlier minicomputers were mostly technically > capable of but not culturally capable of. It was a breakthrough > computer. >From 1977 to 1989, I was a computer tech, working on minicomputers, including the VAX 11/780. I also worked on the Collins C8500 system, which was a mil spec version of an IBM mainframe. I realized it was time to move into another area when the Intel 386 was announced and said to be as powerful as the CPU in the VAX. To me, that was the death knell for minicomputers. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 9 16:54:06 2014 From: lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org (Lennart Sorensen) Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 12:54:06 -0400 Subject: 20ish years old: Gray's survey of Computer Industry Laws In-Reply-To: References: <5394DE56.2040700@rogers.com> Message-ID: <20140609165406.GP17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> On Mon, Jun 09, 2014 at 01:17:35AM -0400, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote: > DEC tried to segue from VAX to Alpha (via OpenVMS and Windows NT) but > did a swan-dive. The trajectory reminds me of Blackberry. Both > companies had worthy products but execution details caused horrible > results. Perhaps if they had priced it sanely. But they seemed to worried about hurting the sale of the VAX (never mind everyone else was happy to hurt the sale of the VAX for them). -- Len Sorensen -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From qwerty172-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 10 18:08:53 2014 From: qwerty172-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Bill Thanis) Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 14:08:53 -0400 Subject: Contract Opportunity Message-ID: Hi. A friend of mine (who owns a small software company) is looking for a programmer: The body of what he sent is below: If anyone is interested, send me an email at qwerty172-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org and I will hook you guys up. Bill -------------------- Hi Bill, Do you know anyone who can program in php, objective c, JavaScript and html5? Its for an app we have been working with a client, halted and now restarted but we don't have resources for because of dedicating to other projects. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tlug-neil-8agRmHhQ+n2CxnSzwYWP7Q at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 10 18:21:19 2014 From: tlug-neil-8agRmHhQ+n2CxnSzwYWP7Q at public.gmane.org (Neil Watson) Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 14:21:19 -0400 Subject: Free to good home Message-ID: <20140610182119.GA111647@ettin.watson-wilson.ca> Free to good home: Tyan Motherboard (see description at URL): https://www.flickr.com/photos/55355514 at N04/9940087296/in/set-72157635892272644/ And Learning Perl, 2nd edition Programming Perl, 3rd edition SCO UNIX in a nutshell -- Neil Watson Linux/UNIX Consultant http://watson-wilson.ca -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From qwerty172-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 10 18:33:36 2014 From: qwerty172-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Bill Thanis) Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 14:33:36 -0400 Subject: Free to good home In-Reply-To: <20140610182119.GA111647-ajb9/b42oWj7qFZT6RBq9oSPOIov7LNK@public.gmane.org> References: <20140610182119.GA111647@ettin.watson-wilson.ca> Message-ID: I'll grab it. I need to upgrade a dead motherboard. Bill On Tue, Jun 10, 2014 at 2:21 PM, Neil Watson wrote: > Free to good home: > > Tyan Motherboard (see description at URL): > https://www.flickr.com/photos/55355514 at N04/9940087296/in/ > set-72157635892272644/ > > And > Learning Perl, 2nd edition > Programming Perl, 3rd edition > SCO UNIX in a nutshell > > -- > Neil Watson > Linux/UNIX Consultant > http://watson-wilson.ca > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Wed Jun 11 18:36:34 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:36:34 -0400 (EDT) Subject: IETF 90 is in Toronto next month Message-ID: If you want to make internet standards or see how they are made. Early-Bird registration is US$650. Student registration is US$150. (Actually, a lot of the work is done on mailing lists.) I'm intending to go. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From mike.kallies-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 16 12:25:58 2014 From: mike.kallies-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Mike Kallies) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 08:25:58 -0400 Subject: Cable Modems Message-ID: Hypothetical Question. I have this "friend" who is a subscriber to an alternative cable provider for Internet access. About 10 months ago, this cable provider told him that his recent Internet problems were because his Motorola Surfboard modem was no longer supported. Not only this, they added that it was likely the *cause* of his problem and they couldn't help him unless he replaced it. The next day, the modem began working just fine, and he thought it would be the end of the story. 10 months later, with strange upstream packet loss problems, and not wanting to shell out full price for a "supported" modem, which would probably make no difference, he grabbed an SMC modem with DOCSIS 3.0 off Craigslist. Plugging it in... he found that his Internet connection was a lot faster... ... 4-8x faster than he paid for. ... and from a different ISP! This raises a few questions: 1. How is the modem linked to the ISP? 2. Why is he getting free-ish Internet from this third party provider? 3. Does the seemingly repaired packet loss issue with the SMC modem mean that the cable problem *was* the modem? Thanks, Mike -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 16 16:44:31 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 12:44:31 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Cable Modems In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: | From: Mike Kallies | About 10 months ago, this cable provider told him that his recent | Internet problems were because his Motorola Surfboard modem was no | longer supported. Not only this, they added that it was likely the | *cause* of his problem and they couldn't help him unless he replaced | it. I think that there are several modems called "Motorola Surfboard". Which one do you mean? I am too lazy to look up the details, but I think my Motorola SurfBoard 5100 is DOCSIS 2.0. In any case, it is slower than current modems -- it supports fewer streams or some buzzword like that. In theory, to replace this modem, I have to buy it from Rogers. They refuse to "provision" modems from another source, even of the same brand. And Rogers charges more for that modem than Hookbag.ca, for example. Techsavvy will support and provision specific models of 3rd party modems, I understand. And this is on the very same last mile. Some are models that Rogers won't sell. Once you've gotten that done, you can use it on Rogers, with Rogers as your ISP. Note: just buying from Techsavvy isn't enough, you have to also have gotten it working under Techsavvy. This doesn't make sense to me so there must be something I don't understand or got wrong. Perhaps it is some part of provisioning that matters (firmware update?). Rogers wouldn't sell me one without WiFi when I last checked (a while ago). I want one without WiFi -- that should be cheaper and simpler. | 10 months later, with strange upstream packet loss problems, and not | wanting to shell out full price for a "supported" modem, which would | probably make no difference, he grabbed an SMC modem with DOCSIS 3.0 | off Craigslist. | | Plugging it in... he found that his Internet connection was a lot faster... | | ... 4-8x faster than he paid for. | ... and from a different ISP! | | | This raises a few questions: | 1. How is the modem linked to the ISP? By some kind of serial number (think of MAC)? Registered with Rogers infrastructure? That's part of what is covered by the term "provisioning". | 2. Why is he getting free-ish Internet from this third party provider? The old owner is being billed for it? Even if he doesn't pay? Beware: the old "owner" might not have actually owned the modem. Then the ISP might come after you to get it back (the system knows where you are). Or they might just blacklist the serial number. Again, I'm making some of this up. | 3. Does the seemingly repaired packet loss issue with the SMC modem | mean that the cable problem *was* the modem? Who knows. It sure is evidence, but it isn't proof (in my mind). -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From adb-SACILpcuo74 at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 17 12:18:01 2014 From: adb-SACILpcuo74 at public.gmane.org (Anthony de Boer) Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:18:01 -0400 Subject: Cable Modems In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20140617121801.GE12293@adb.ca> Mike Kallies wrote: > Hypothetical Question. > > I have this "friend" who is a subscriber to an alternative cable > provider for Internet access. > > About 10 months ago, this cable provider told him that his recent > Internet problems were because his Motorola Surfboard modem was no > longer supported. Not only this, they added that it was likely the > *cause* of his problem and they couldn't help him unless he replaced > it. > > The next day, the modem began working just fine, and he thought it > would be the end of the story. > > 10 months later, with strange upstream packet loss problems, and not > wanting to shell out full price for a "supported" modem, which would > probably make no difference, he grabbed an SMC modem with DOCSIS 3.0 > off Craigslist. > > Plugging it in... he found that his Internet connection was a lot faster... > > ... 4-8x faster than he paid for. > ... and from a different ISP! Almost certainly the modem was still configured to the seller's account with his ISP. Depending on whether a second connection knocks off the other one he may already be opening a ticket. > > This raises a few questions: > 1. How is the modem linked to the ISP? Modem's ID and/or account info programmed into it. They may still own it, depending on the contract between them and the seller. So it might even be stolen goods. > 2. Why is he getting free-ish Internet from this third party provider? Seller's account. > 3. Does the seemingly repaired packet loss issue with the SMC modem > mean that the cable problem *was* the modem? Could be, but the multiple providers have their own connections between the cable infrastructure and the Internet, and it's quite possible the old ISP was saturated there. It's happened before. -- Anthony de Boer -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From mike.kallies-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 17 13:45:55 2014 From: mike.kallies-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Mike Kallies) Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 09:45:55 -0400 Subject: Cable Modems In-Reply-To: <20140617121801.GE12293-SACILpcuo74@public.gmane.org> References: <20140617121801.GE12293@adb.ca> Message-ID: The modem got bumped last night. The old one has been put back and is working as before. I know we've got some ISP guys lurking here. I was rather hoping that somebody on the list knew DOCSIS well enough to explain how this could work. Given that the modems seem to operate on MAC broadcasts to reach provider equipment, I have no idea what happens if multiple providers commission the modem. So it's good that it's bumped. Occam's razor... probably a slack provider, or a late decommissioning. Next step will be to call Teksavvy about provisioning this modem. If there are any problems which require a Rogers tech, we'll go DSL Mike On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 8:18 AM, Anthony de Boer wrote: > Mike Kallies wrote: >> Hypothetical Question. >> >> I have this "friend" who is a subscriber to an alternative cable >> provider for Internet access. >> >> About 10 months ago, this cable provider told him that his recent >> Internet problems were because his Motorola Surfboard modem was no >> longer supported. Not only this, they added that it was likely the >> *cause* of his problem and they couldn't help him unless he replaced >> it. >> >> The next day, the modem began working just fine, and he thought it >> would be the end of the story. >> >> 10 months later, with strange upstream packet loss problems, and not >> wanting to shell out full price for a "supported" modem, which would >> probably make no difference, he grabbed an SMC modem with DOCSIS 3.0 >> off Craigslist. >> >> Plugging it in... he found that his Internet connection was a lot faster... >> >> ... 4-8x faster than he paid for. >> ... and from a different ISP! > > Almost certainly the modem was still configured to the seller's account > with his ISP. Depending on whether a second connection knocks off the > other one he may already be opening a ticket. > >> >> This raises a few questions: >> 1. How is the modem linked to the ISP? > > Modem's ID and/or account info programmed into it. > > They may still own it, depending on the contract between them and the > seller. So it might even be stolen goods. > >> 2. Why is he getting free-ish Internet from this third party provider? > > Seller's account. > >> 3. Does the seemingly repaired packet loss issue with the SMC modem >> mean that the cable problem *was* the modem? > > Could be, but the multiple providers have their own connections between > the cable infrastructure and the Internet, and it's quite possible the > old ISP was saturated there. It's happened before. > > -- > Anthony de Boer > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 17 20:28:14 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 16:28:14 -0400 Subject: HP's The Machine kicks Microsoft to the curb in favor of Linux - TechRepublic Message-ID: <53A0A4DE.1000700@rogers.com> Interesting http://www.techrepublic.com/article/hps-the-machine-kicks-microsoft-to-the-curb-in-favor-of-linux/#ftag=RSS56d97e7 BTW, last week I picked up a refurb HP computer to be my new firewall. It's already up & running openSUSE 13.1, though not yet configured to be a firewall. This article makes me feel better about buying a HP box. ;-) Incidentally, the specs for this computer say Linux is a supported OS and it's also certified for Red Hat. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From davecramer-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Wed Jun 18 00:28:58 2014 From: davecramer-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Dave Cramer) Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:28:58 -0400 Subject: rogers plans Message-ID: Is it me or can you not buy a simple data plan from rogers anymore? The seem to only have share everything plans or 500 MB plans Dave Cramer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Wed Jun 18 02:21:46 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 22:21:46 -0400 (EDT) Subject: HP's The Machine kicks Microsoft to the curb in favor of Linux - TechRepublic In-Reply-To: <53A0A4DE.1000700-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA@public.gmane.org> References: <53A0A4DE.1000700@rogers.com> Message-ID: | From: James Knott | Interesting | http://www.techrepublic.com/article/hps-the-machine-kicks-microsoft-to-the-curb-in-favor-of-linux/#ftag=RSS56d97e7 Everything I easily find from googling is a puff piece. Who knows what the heck will come of this, if anything? I would not be excited that it runs Linux: almost everything does. Including the last HP earth-shaker -- they killed that less than two months after first sales (the HP TouchPad with WebOS). The Itanium, which everyone now reviles, started as an HP project. I actually give them credit for that one, up to a point. It was an interesting technology. Sadly, its biggest accomplishment was to kill or weaken all RISC architectures in the marketplace. >From reading some of the puff pieces, they are claiming to innovate on many levels at once. That's not likely to work out well. I would love to be wrong: The Machine might actually be interesting. | BTW, last week I picked up a refurb HP computer to be my new firewall. | It's already up & running openSUSE 13.1, though not yet configured to be | a firewall. | This article makes me feel better about buying a HP box. ;-) HP has a long and honourable history. But that got washed away in recent years due to the forces in the PC world. As an example, they sold off their instrument business, the one that was their foundation. Their consumer PCs are generally getting cheaper and nastier. I know because I have bought a sequence of them. I'm one of the bad guys: I often consider price when I buy. | Incidentally, the specs for this computer say Linux is a supported OS | and it's also certified for Red Hat. That means you got a busness machine or server. Those are generally better built than the consumer machines. They cost (new) significantly more than consumer machines. I'm still running Compaq business desktops from the previous millenium as gateways. Reliable, but not energy efficent. If you are only running a firewall, I would guess that a wireless router with the right third-party firmware would have some advantages. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From waltdnes-SLHPyeZ9y/tg9hUCZPvPmw at public.gmane.org Wed Jun 18 03:01:04 2014 From: waltdnes-SLHPyeZ9y/tg9hUCZPvPmw at public.gmane.org (Walter Dnes) Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 23:01:04 -0400 Subject: rogers plans In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <20140618030104.GA2397@waltdnes.org> On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 08:28:58PM -0400, Dave Cramer wrote > Is it me or can you not buy a simple data plan from rogers anymore? > > The seem to only have share everything plans or 500 MB plans It's a question of semantics. The way I read the webpage... http://www.rogers.com/web/content/share-everything you start with a batch of data and 1 device. Step 3 is "Add up to 9 more devices (optional)". They also say "Share 1 pool of data across multiple devices - keep it for yourself or share with friends and family". The way that I read it, for any data plan above 500 megs, you have the ***OPTION*** of sharing the data over multiple devices. But it's not required. -- Walter Dnes I don't run "desktop environments"; I run useful applications -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From william.muriithi-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Wed Jun 18 09:10:04 2014 From: william.muriithi-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (William Muriithi) Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 05:10:04 -0400 Subject: HP's The Machine kicks Microsoft to the curb in favor of Linux - TechRepublic In-Reply-To: References: <53A0A4DE.1000700@rogers.com> Message-ID: > The Itanium, which everyone now reviles, started as an HP project. I > actually give them credit for that one, up to a point. It was an > interesting technology. Sadly, its biggest accomplishment was to > kill or weaken all RISC architectures in the marketplace. > In my opinion, seemed like they were only interested in forcing a more expensive CPU to the market. Though it was an interesting technology, it never did better in performance against x86/x86-64. Was petty ambitious that they expected it to sell even after pricing it horribly against x86. > | This article makes me feel better about buying a HP box. ;-) > > HP has a long and honourable history. But that got washed away in > recent years due to the forces in the PC world. As an example, they > sold off their instrument business, the one that was their foundation. That's all thanks to Carly Fiorina. It was her who put HP properly in PC market. I suspect if they didn't have her leadership, they would be far less exposed to the dying PC market. Now, its too late to get away from PC industry and will have to shrink with it. Its amazing the damage one bad leader can do to a company. ' > > Their consumer PCs are generally getting cheaper and nastier. I know > because I have bought a sequence of them. I'm one of the bad guys: I > often consider price when I buy. > > | Incidentally, the specs for this computer say Linux is a supported OS > | and it's also certified for Red Hat. > > That means you got a busness machine or server. Those are generally > better built than the consumer machines. They cost (new) > significantly more than consumer machines. > > I'm still running Compaq business desktops from the previous millenium > as gateways. Reliable, but not energy efficent. > > If you are only running a firewall, I would guess that a wireless > router with the right third-party firmware would have some advantages. +1, its wasteful energy wise to run a full PC just for firewall. A cheap Asus router would do the same job better after installing tomato firmware. > -- William -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ivan.avery.frey-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Wed Jun 18 15:22:00 2014 From: ivan.avery.frey-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Ivan Avery Frey) Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 11:22:00 -0400 Subject: 2 Finger Tap on Touchpad Message-ID: <1403104920.20666.3.camel@HP-Envy4.local> I was playing with a friend's MacBook Air. A right mouse button click is emulated by a 2 finger tap on the touchpad. I tried this on my laptop running Debian Unstable and Gnome and it worked. Funny thing is there's nothing in my settings where I can enable or disable this feature. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org Wed Jun 18 15:41:26 2014 From: lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org (Lennart Sorensen) Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 11:41:26 -0400 Subject: HP's The Machine kicks Microsoft to the curb in favor of Linux - TechRepublic In-Reply-To: References: <53A0A4DE.1000700@rogers.com> Message-ID: <20140618154126.GQ17767@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> On Wed, Jun 18, 2014 at 05:10:04AM -0400, William Muriithi wrote: > In my opinion, seemed like they were only interested in forcing a more > expensive CPU to the market. Though it was an interesting technology, it > never did better in performance against x86/x86-64. Was petty ambitious > that they expected it to sell even after pricing it horribly against x86. Well developing the PARISC line themselves was also expensive (and the HPUX workstations back in the 90s cost a fortune to buy). > That's all thanks to Carly Fiorina. It was her who put HP properly in PC > market. I suspect if they didn't have her leadership, they would be far > less exposed to the dying PC market. Now, its too late to get away from PC > industry and will have to shrink with it. Its amazing the damage one bad > leader can do to a company. ' Did she do anything good for HP? > +1, its wasteful energy wise to run a full PC just for firewall. A cheap > Asus router would do the same job better after installing tomato firmware. Certainly more power efficient. -- Len Sorensen -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From waltdnes-SLHPyeZ9y/tg9hUCZPvPmw at public.gmane.org Sun Jun 22 18:33:52 2014 From: waltdnes-SLHPyeZ9y/tg9hUCZPvPmw at public.gmane.org (Walter Dnes) Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:33:52 -0400 Subject: Separate instances of Firefox require separate profiles Message-ID: <20140622183352.GA2957@waltdnes.org> I finally figured out how to run separate instances of Firefox, as ***COMPLETELY SEPARATE PROCESSES***. Namely, that you need ***A SEPARATE PROFILE FOR EACH INSTANCE***. Let's start with 2 profiles "trusted" and "20140622". From the command line, I execute the following commands... firefox -new-instance -P trusted & firefox -new-instance -P 20140622 & ps -ef | grep firefox kill -3 2827 ps -ef | grep firefox You won't need the "&" if you launch from a desktop or window-manager launcher. Ignore the "g_slice_set_config: assertion" warning for now. Here's the screen capture from xterm... ####################################################################### [d531][waltdnes][~] firefox -new-instance -P trusted & [2] 2827 [1] Done firefox -new-instance [d531][waltdnes][~] (process:2827): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_slice_set_config: assertion 'sys_page_size == 0' failed firefox -new-instance -P 20140622 & [3] 2860 [d531][waltdnes][~] (process:2860): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_slice_set_config: assertion 'sys_page_size == 0' failed ps -ef | grep firefox waltdnes 2827 2740 2 13:31 pts/7 00:00:00 firefox -new-instance -P trusted waltdnes 2860 2740 6 13:31 pts/7 00:00:01 firefox -new-instance -P 20140622 waltdnes 2902 2740 0 13:32 pts/7 00:00:00 grep --color=auto firefox [d531][waltdnes][~] kill -3 2827 [d531][waltdnes][~] ps -ef | grep firefox waltdnes 2860 2740 0 13:31 pts/7 00:00:01 firefox -new-instance -P 20140622 waltdnes 2919 2740 0 13:33 pts/7 00:00:00 grep --color=auto firefox [2]- Quit firefox -new-instance -P trusted ####################################################################### In the above example, I launched 2 instances of Firefox, and verified their existance by running "ps -ef | grep firefox". Then I killed one of the instances, and verified its killing, and that the other one was still present, with "ps -ef | grep firefox". So if you have some sites that you visit regularly, you can have a separate profile for each one. This has some advantages... 1) You can have totally different customized setups (including different add-ons) for each site. 2) Third-party cookies left by trackers when you're on site A using profile A, will not be readable by the same third-party when you're on site B, using profile B, making tracking you more difficult and less reliable... one... two... three... aaaaawwwwwww. 3) If you have a whole bunch of websites open, and one of them crashes Firefox, or hangs it so you need to kill it, you don't end up taking down all your browsers. -- Walter Dnes I don't run "desktop environments"; I run useful applications -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 04:04:06 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:04:06 -0400 (EDT) Subject: HP's The Machine kicks Microsoft to the curb in favor of Linux - TechRepublic (fwd) Message-ID: This didn't go through for some reason. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: D. Hugh Redelmeier To: tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4 at public.gmane.org Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 11:47:24 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: [TLUG]: HP's The Machine kicks Microsoft to the curb in favor of Linux - TechRepublic | From: William Muriithi | > The Itanium, which everyone now reviles, started as an HP project. I | > actually give them credit for that one, up to a point. It was an | > interesting technology. Sadly, its biggest accomplishment was to | > kill or weaken all RISC architectures in the marketplace. | | In my opinion, seemed like they were only interested in forcing a more | expensive CPU to the market. Though it was an interesting technology, it | never did better in performance against x86/x86-64. Was petty ambitious | that they expected it to sell even after pricing it horribly against x86. You need to break down "they". HP's goals and Intel's goals appeared to be different. And goals evolved. In the beginning, it was an HP project to replace their PA-RISC architecture with a big new idea: VLIW. They decided that they could not do the whole job, including fabrication, and partnered with Intel. Intel was always #1 in process engineering (making silicon fast). Intel appeared to have a different goals: to (eventually) replace x86 with something in which they could keep out other suppliers (AMD, NatSemi, ...). And to have a seriously performant entry in the workstation and server races. Besides, x86 was crufty. Extending an architecture too many times is difficult. The rule of thumb is that you can do it once well (see Bell and Newell). 8008 -> 8080 -> 8086 -> 80286 -> i386 was already pushing it. Worse was the historical baggage from the IPM PC and PC/AT. Remember, EFI came out of the Itanium project. Look how long it has taken to land. I have a lot of respect for some amazing folks who worked on Itanium in the early days (Muchnick (HP), Fisher (ex-Multiflow), Rau (ex-Cydrome), etc). Compiler technology was crucial. Many ambitious projects fail. Some have the goalposts adjusted. Failing fast is often a blessing. The Itanium has suffered from an extremely long failure -- 20+ years! -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From davecramer-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 14:04:25 2014 From: davecramer-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Dave Cramer) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:04:25 -0400 Subject: looking for an inspiron 8500 or some other Dell of similar vintage In-Reply-To: <538327FA.1040403-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> References: <538283B8.5010509@alteeve.ca> <538327FA.1040403@gmail.com> Message-ID: I just went on Creaton's site and they don't list one ??? Dave Cramer On 26 May 2014 07:39, Stewart C. Russell wrote: > On 14-05-25 07:58 PM, Digimer wrote: > > > > If you just need reliable serial, I've gotten a couple of Antaira USB to > > serial adapters and they work in Linux flawlessly. This one: > > > > > http://www.antaira.com/products/industrial-usb/usb-to-serial/1-port/uts-1110a?pid=4509 > > Yep, it has an FTDI chipset, so will likely work with any operating > system. The cheaper and ubiquitous (and heavily pirated) PL2303 designs > are dodgy or non-functional under OS X or Windows 8. > > Creatron (newly moved west along College to just past Augusta) has > Sabrent FTDI adapters, too. > > Minor FTDI-and-me fun fact: Thirty years ago, back in Glasgow, I was > part of a bunch of assorted oiks who used to play Dungeons and Dragons. > We weren't very good, or very dedicated. One of this group of > half-hearted gamers is now very very senior at FTDI. So yeah, D&D can be > beneficial for life skills ? > > cheers, > Stewart > > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From anthony-P5WJPa9AKEcsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 15:32:41 2014 From: anthony-P5WJPa9AKEcsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org (Anthony Verevkin) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 11:32:41 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? Message-ID: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> Hi, I remember back in the days when we've been replacing coax Ethernet with Cat5, there was tons of that coax cable lying useless in the corner. It's no good for TV, as it's 50 Ohm, and TV cable needs to be 75 Ohm. But 50 Ohm is the right cable for radio antenna cable, including Amateur radio. I got my ham license recently and would really appreciate if somebody still had some old unwanted coax cable to give away. All my sources are long at the dumpster. :( Thank you and 73 :) Anthony -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From davecramer-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 16:06:33 2014 From: davecramer-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Dave Cramer) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:06:33 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> Message-ID: I might actually have some. I'll look around before Wed. Dave Cramer On 23 June 2014 11:32, Anthony Verevkin wrote: > Hi, > > I remember back in the days when we've been replacing coax Ethernet with > Cat5, there was tons of that coax cable lying useless in the corner. It's > no good for TV, as it's 50 Ohm, and TV cable needs to be 75 Ohm. But 50 Ohm > is the right cable for radio antenna cable, including Amateur radio. I got > my ham license recently and would really appreciate if somebody still had > some old unwanted coax cable to give away. All my sources are long at the > dumpster. :( > > Thank you and 73 :) Anthony > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 16:29:59 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:29:59 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> Message-ID: <53A85607.3030108@rogers.com> On 06/23/2014 11:32 AM, Anthony Verevkin wrote: > I remember back in the days when we've been replacing coax Ethernet with Cat5, there was tons of that coax cable lying useless in the corner. It's no good for TV, as it's 50 Ohm, and TV cable needs to be 75 Ohm. But 50 Ohm is the right cable for radio antenna cable, including Amateur radio. I got my ham license recently and would really appreciate if somebody still had some old unwanted coax cable to give away. All my sources are long at the dumpster. :( The problem with cable that old is it deteriorates with time. I haven't seen coax Ethernet since the mid '90s, so that's pushing 20 years. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From kevin-4dS5u2o1hCn3fQ9qLvQP4Q at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 17:27:01 2014 From: kevin-4dS5u2o1hCn3fQ9qLvQP4Q at public.gmane.org (Kevin Cozens) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:27:01 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> Message-ID: <53A86365.7020603@ve3syb.ca> On 14-06-23 11:32 AM, Anthony Verevkin wrote: > I got my ham license recently and would really appreciate if somebody > still had some old unwanted coax cable to give away. What part of the world do you call home? What sort of length would be ideal for your current needs? -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're | powerful!" #include | --Chris Hardwick -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 17:35:29 2014 From: hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (D. Hugh Redelmeier) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:35:29 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <53A85607.3030108-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA@public.gmane.org> References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> <53A85607.3030108@rogers.com> Message-ID: | From: James Knott | The problem with cable that old is it deteriorates with time. I haven't | seen coax Ethernet since the mid '90s, so that's pushing 20 years. Really? That's scary. What about coax built into a house? Does that mean you have to plan on replacing it every decade or two? I think that we have video coax (cable TV) that is 30-something. I'm not sure that it is 100% healthy, but it seems to work. I know that the technology is obsolete, but I didn't know that it deteriorated on that timescale. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From anthony-P5WJPa9AKEcsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 17:36:34 2014 From: anthony-P5WJPa9AKEcsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org (Anthony Verevkin) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:36:34 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <53A86365.7020603-4dS5u2o1hCn3fQ9qLvQP4Q@public.gmane.org> References: <53A86365.7020603@ve3syb.ca> Message-ID: <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> Hi Kevin, I'm in Mississauga. And any length from 3m upwards would do. And I don't need much, really. Probably a few 20m pieces is what I am looking for. Thanks, Anthony ----- Original Message ----- From: Kevin Cozens To: tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4 at public.gmane.org Sent: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:27:01 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: [TLUG]: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? On 14-06-23 11:32 AM, Anthony Verevkin wrote: > I got my ham license recently and would really appreciate if somebody > still had some old unwanted coax cable to give away. What part of the world do you call home? What sort of length would be ideal for your current needs? -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're | powerful!" #include | --Chris Hardwick -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From anthony-P5WJPa9AKEcsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 18:06:10 2014 From: anthony-P5WJPa9AKEcsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org (Anthony Verevkin) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:06:10 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: | From: James Knott | The problem with cable that old is it deteriorates with time. I haven't | seen coax Ethernet since the mid '90s, so that's pushing 20 years. I don't think that would be the issue if the cable was kept at home, indoors. It's the sun and the moisture that would destroy the cable (or virtually anything). Regards, Anthony -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From scruss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 18:38:40 2014 From: scruss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Stewart Russell) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:38:40 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> References: <53A86365.7020603@ve3syb.ca> <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> Message-ID: Anthony, old Ethernet coax likely won't be outdoor-rated, and certainly won't be direct-bury. You might also get some fearsome attenuation on VHF/UHF. I haven't regretted buying cables from Bob Morton: http://www.mapleleafcom.com/ - radio coax is huge and chunky compared to the noodly stuff that used to hang out the back of our PCs. Cheers/73 Stewart/VA3PID. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From john.moniz-rieW9WUcm8FFJ04o6PK0Fg at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 18:38:49 2014 From: john.moniz-rieW9WUcm8FFJ04o6PK0Fg at public.gmane.org (John Moniz) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:38:49 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> References: <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> Message-ID: I'm getting situations where I'm not seeing the original post, but see replies (not sure if I am catching all replies but haven't noticed any missing). In this case, I didn't get Anthony's initial post, but received 5 replies, including the one reply from the original poster Anthony. Anyone else noticing something similar? John. On 06/23/2014 01:36 PM, Anthony Verevkin wrote: > Hi Kevin, > > I'm in Mississauga. And any length from 3m upwards would do. And I don't need much, really. Probably a few 20m pieces is what I am looking for. > > Thanks, > Anthony > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Kevin Cozens > To: tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4 at public.gmane.org > Sent: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:27:01 -0400 (EDT) > Subject: Re: [TLUG]: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? > > On 14-06-23 11:32 AM, Anthony Verevkin wrote: >> I got my ham license recently and would really appreciate if somebody >> still had some old unwanted coax cable to give away. > What part of the world do you call home? What sort of length would be ideal > for your current needs? > -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 19:39:43 2014 From: phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org (phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:39:43 -0400 Subject: Coax Deterioration: Was: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <654e2bbbba82302e0bdc9d97fdf9538a.squirrel-2RFepEojUI2DznVbVsZi4adLQS1dU2Lr@public.gmane.org> References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> <53A85607.3030108@rogers.com> <654e2bbbba82302e0bdc9d97fdf9538a.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: <3eaf3042adaa8c5cffb2af1849fefe84.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> > >> The problem with cable that old is it deteriorates with time. > > Plastics deteriorate when exposed to ultraviolet, but I'm not aware of any > mechanism that would cause coax to deteriorate. Do you have examples or > pointers to sources that collaborate this? ^^^^^^^^^^^ corroborate, Pete Maybe 'confirm' would have been safer ;). > > Peter > > > -- > Peter Hiscocks > Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto > http://www.syscompdesign.com > USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator > 647-839-0325 > > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -- Peter Hiscocks Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto http://www.syscompdesign.com USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator 647-839-0325 -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 19:20:51 2014 From: phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org (phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:20:51 -0400 Subject: Coax Deterioration: Was: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <53A85607.3030108-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA@public.gmane.org> References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> <53A85607.3030108@rogers.com> Message-ID: <654e2bbbba82302e0bdc9d97fdf9538a.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> > The problem with cable that old is it deteriorates with time. Plastics deteriorate when exposed to ultraviolet, but I'm not aware of any mechanism that would cause coax to deteriorate. Do you have examples or pointers to sources that collaborate this? Peter -- Peter Hiscocks Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto http://www.syscompdesign.com USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator 647-839-0325 -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From kevin-4dS5u2o1hCn3fQ9qLvQP4Q at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 23 19:55:51 2014 From: kevin-4dS5u2o1hCn3fQ9qLvQP4Q at public.gmane.org (Kevin Cozens) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:55:51 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: References: <53A86365.7020603@ve3syb.ca> <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> Message-ID: <53A88647.1090109@ve3syb.ca> On 14-06-23 02:38 PM, Stewart Russell wrote: > Anthony, old Ethernet coax likely won't be outdoor-rated, and certainly > won't be direct-bury. You might also get some fearsome attenuation on VHF/UHF. The power handling capabilities of Ethernet coax would not be very high. It could limit you to the QRP end of allowed power out. -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're | powerful!" #include | --Chris Hardwick -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 00:59:08 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 20:59:08 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> <53A85607.3030108@rogers.com> Message-ID: <53A8CD5C.2020403@rogers.com> On 06/23/2014 01:35 PM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote: > I know that the technology is obsolete, but I didn't know that it > deteriorated on that timescale. The problem is the plasticizer that makes the plastic flexible evaporates over time. This means the cable can become brittle and break. I have to toss a litter basket I bought over 40 years ago, because the side cracked when I picked it up. They just don't make 'em like they used to. ;-) And yes, you may have to replace that TV cable sometime though, as it doesn't move much, it will last longer than something that's always flexing. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 01:00:36 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 21:00:36 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <53A8CDB4.5070004@rogers.com> On 06/23/2014 02:06 PM, Anthony Verevkin wrote: > I don't think that would be the issue if the cable was kept at home, indoors. It's the sun and the moisture that would destroy the cable (or virtually anything). I've seen thing that have been kept for years in a closet become brittle. Take a look at some cable ties that have been in place for a couple of decades for examples. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 01:01:47 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 21:01:47 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: References: <53A86365.7020603@ve3syb.ca> <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> Message-ID: <53A8CDFB.4000802@rogers.com> On 06/23/2014 02:38 PM, Stewart Russell wrote: > > Anthony, old Ethernet coax likely won't be outdoor-rated, and > certainly won't be direct-bury. You might also get some fearsome > attenuation on VHF/UHF. > It would be an interesting experiment to compare the loss in that old cable with new. It's likely much higher. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 01:02:47 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 21:02:47 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: References: <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> Message-ID: <53A8CE37.6070503@rogers.com> On 06/23/2014 02:38 PM, John Moniz wrote: > I'm getting situations where I'm not seeing the original post, but see > replies (not sure if I am catching all replies but haven't noticed any > missing). > > In this case, I didn't get Anthony's initial post, but received 5 > replies, including the one reply from the original poster Anthony. > > Anyone else noticing something similar? Not that I've noticed. Let me know if you don't get this message. ;-) -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 01:04:33 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 21:04:33 -0400 Subject: Coax Deterioration: Was: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <654e2bbbba82302e0bdc9d97fdf9538a.squirrel-2RFepEojUI2DznVbVsZi4adLQS1dU2Lr@public.gmane.org> References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> <53A85607.3030108@rogers.com> <654e2bbbba82302e0bdc9d97fdf9538a.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: <53A8CEA1.6010202@rogers.com> On 06/23/2014 03:20 PM, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote: >> The problem with cable that old is it deteriorates with time. > Plastics deteriorate when exposed to ultraviolet, but I'm not aware of any > mechanism that would cause coax to deteriorate. Do you have examples or > pointers to sources that collaborate this? Well, there's the litter basket I mentioned a couple of posts back. The plastic is now brittle enough to break when I picked it up. It's only 40 odd years old though. The problem is the plasticizers evaporate over time. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 01:05:19 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 21:05:19 -0400 Subject: Coax Deterioration: Was: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <3eaf3042adaa8c5cffb2af1849fefe84.squirrel-2RFepEojUI2DznVbVsZi4adLQS1dU2Lr@public.gmane.org> References: <4241313a-5bec-403a-ac95-d17dcdc086b2@zimbra> <53A85607.3030108@rogers.com> <654e2bbbba82302e0bdc9d97fdf9538a.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> <3eaf3042adaa8c5cffb2af1849fefe84.squirrel@webmail.ee.ryerson.ca> Message-ID: <53A8CECF.3030409@rogers.com> On 06/23/2014 03:39 PM, phiscock-g851W1bGYuGnS0EtXVNi6w at public.gmane.org wrote: > Maybe 'confirm' would have been safer ;). Check the litter basket in my bedroom for an example. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 01:07:01 2014 From: james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org (James Knott) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 21:07:01 -0400 Subject: Anyone still has coax ethernet cable? In-Reply-To: <53A88647.1090109-4dS5u2o1hCn3fQ9qLvQP4Q@public.gmane.org> References: <53A86365.7020603@ve3syb.ca> <041faee8-a934-41a6-b444-c716d295b21c@zimbra> <53A88647.1090109@ve3syb.ca> Message-ID: <53A8CF35.9010100@rogers.com> On 06/23/2014 03:55 PM, Kevin Cozens wrote: > The power handling capabilities of Ethernet coax would not be very > high. It could limit you to the QRP end of allowed power out. I used to run a couple of hundred watts at HF with it and up to 40W at 440 MHz. Loss is a bigger concern. -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From scruss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 02:57:11 2014 From: scruss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Stewart C. Russell) Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 22:57:11 -0400 Subject: looking for an inspiron 8500 or some other Dell of similar vintage In-Reply-To: References: <538283B8.5010509@alteeve.ca> <538327FA.1040403@gmail.com> Message-ID: <53A8E907.2030406@gmail.com> On 14-06-23 10:04 AM, Dave Cramer wrote: > I just went on Creaton's site and they don't list one ??? Creatron's website is always a subset of their stock. Not merely have they moved their downtown store, but they've just opened a store at Pharmacy & Sheppard. Stewart -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From davecramer-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Tue Jun 24 10:06:12 2014 From: davecramer-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Dave Cramer) Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 06:06:12 -0400 Subject: looking for an inspiron 8500 or some other Dell of similar vintage In-Reply-To: <53A8E907.2030406-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org> References: <538283B8.5010509@alteeve.ca> <538327FA.1040403@gmail.com> <53A8E907.2030406@gmail.com> Message-ID: Newegg had one on their site. so it's all good. Thanks Dave Cramer On 23 June 2014 22:57, Stewart C. Russell wrote: > On 14-06-23 10:04 AM, Dave Cramer wrote: > > I just went on Creaton's site and they don't list one ??? > > Creatron's website is always a subset of their stock. > > Not merely have they moved their downtown store, but they've just opened > a store at Pharmacy & Sheppard. > > Stewart > > -- > The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ > TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns > How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bjonkman-w5ExpX8uLjYAvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Thu Jun 26 00:03:11 2014 From: bjonkman-w5ExpX8uLjYAvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Bob Jonkman) Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 20:03:11 -0400 Subject: Ubuntu Hours in Guelph and Toronto Message-ID: <53AB633F.1020301@sobac.com> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Good News, Everybodeee! Over the past two days there have sprung up two Ubuntu Hours in Guelph and Toronto. Must be all the rain... *What*: Ubuntu Hour Guelph *When*: Thursday, 25 June 2014, 7:00pm *Where*: Pennywhistle Pub, 2 Quebec Street, Guelph, Ontario *Map*: http://osm.org/go/ZXn8~Jfx--?m= *LoCoPortal*: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ubuntu-ca/2836/detail/ That's tomorrow, so clear your schedules! Ubuntu 14.04 disks may be available if we can sort out delivery/pickup logistics. *What*: Toronto Ubuntu Hour *When*: Monday, 30 June 2014, 7:00pm *Where*: Alio Lounge, 108 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario *Map*: http://osm.org/go/ZX6BtMGw--?m= *LoCoPortal*: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ubuntu-ca/2835/detail/ That's after the weekend, before a holiday. Who's up for an extra-long weekend? Ubuntu 14.04 disks will be available for sure. - --Bob. - -- Bob Jonkman Phone: +1-519-669-0388 SOBAC Microcomputer Services http://sobac.com/sobac/ http://bob.jonkman.ca/blogs/ http://sn.jonkman.ca/bobjonkman/ Software --- Office & Business Automation --- Consulting GnuPG Fngrprnt:04F7 742B 8F54 C40A E115 26C2 B912 89B0 D2CC E5EA -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Ensure confidentiality, authenticity, non-repudiability iEYEARECAAYFAlOrYzMACgkQuRKJsNLM5erGTACgq745203ZIZcQNSpyk3qxSDzl 5xQAoMMPchYr+XvLQqfEb0Rokf99Wv83 =9afU -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists From aruna.hewapathirane-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org Mon Jun 30 10:42:31 2014 From: aruna.hewapathirane-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Aruna Hewapathirane) Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 06:42:31 -0400 Subject: Ubuntu Hour Toronto Message-ID: Hi Everybodeee ! *What* : Toronto Ubuntu Hour *When* : Monday, 30 June 2014, 7:00pm *Where* : Alio Lounge, 108 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario *Map* : http://osm.org/go/ZX6BtMGw--?m= *LoCoPortal* : http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/ubuntu-ca/2835/detail/ See you all this evening. Ubuntu 14.04 disks available ! Aruna -- The Toronto Linux Users Group. Meetings: http://gtalug.org/ TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists