* Reply to message in MIN_ADMIN

Hello, Daryl!

Replying to a message of Daryl Stout to Sean Dennis:

That's the same here...but the Verizon Mi-Fi is on the laptop
computer, and not the BBS computer, which I don't think has Wi-Fi capability. Both computers are running Windows 10 -- but it's 32-bit
on the BBS computer, and 64-bit on the laptop.

I am looking at getting Nomad Internet. It's 4G LTE Internet access, good in 98% of the US. They have mobile and home setups with different routers. It's $130 a month but it's incredibly fast and not throttled at all. So if I move or decide to live full time in a RV on the road, I can do that and have the same Internet access wherever I go.

I've heard nothing but good things on the Generac systems. They
aren't the only ones out there, though.

Fun fact: Siemens builds all of the Generac equipment. I used to do partial support for Generac stuff when I worked at Siemens here in Johnson City.

Another fun fact: the programmable logic controller, heavily used by industry, was invented here in Johnson City by TI a few decades ago.

No matter what time of year, Sysops have to deal with power and
internet issues. So, even if you have a generator, if the internet is external, you're out of luck.

That's why I am interested in Nomad Internet as cell towers are typically pretty resistant to weather issues though admittedly if after a disaster, the cell system gets overloaded, that might be dicey for access.

Later,
Sean

--- FleetStreet 1.27.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS Local Console * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

* Reply to message in MIN_ADMIN

Hello, Daryl!

Replying to a message of Daryl Stout to Sean Dennis:

That's true in ANY type of weather. Around here, they think they can stop just as fast on a wet, snowy, or icy pavement, as they can on
dry pavement. And, I don't know why there are speed limits, either on
the interstates or in town...it seems no one obeys them.

I live on a very narrow, windy country road that is the main access road to David Crockett Birthplace State Park (yes, that Davy Crockett; I live about a mile and a half from his birthplace). It turns into a damn interstate almost every day and people fly down this road doing 60+ MPH. I remember when Felix got out of the motorhome and decided to lay down in the road. Thankfully, the traffic saw him and stopped. I flew out there and picked him up, thankful that people were paying attention that day or I'd have lost him a lot sooner than I did.

In front of the local college (the University Of Arkansas At
Little Rock (UALR)), they have a 25 mph speed limit. I've told
several law enforcement officers that "if you drive 25 there,
you'll either be run over, or shot at"...adding "if you want
to issue speeding tickets, set up a speed trap there".

Yes, they have that problem here at ETSU (East Tennessee State University). When I went there, I couldn't tell you how many times I was nearly run over by speeding or inattentive drivers.

Later,
Sean

--- FleetStreet 1.27.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS Local Console * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

* Reply to message in MIN_ADMIN

Hello, Nelgin!

Replying to a message of Nelgin to Sean Dennis:

I think I would challenge that law.

It's not a law, per se, but a regulation set forth by the power monopoly. Many people don't realize that the power grid in the US is a giant monopoly, much like how Ma Bell was before its breakup in 1984. Yet you don't hear the government or anyone else whining about that fact.

I am considering settling in Greeneville, which is the county seat for Greene County (the county to the west of us). Property taxes are like a quarter of what they are here in Washington County. Plus there's less people and, outside of Greeneville proper, the traffic's not bad at all. The only kicker is that I have to have a good, reliable car and be willing and able to drive about 40 to 60 minutes east to Johnson City for my medical care. Thankfully, the VA is doing more and more teleconferencing for appointments.

..seems it wasn't set. It will be next time the bbs reloads the config.

Thanks for checking on that ... I know how easy it is to overlook something stupid simple and have things break ... like how I realized two years ago my system wasn't set up correctly for routing netmail within Micronet.

Later,
Sean

--- FleetStreet 1.27.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS Local Console * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

Hello Sean Dennis!

** On Wednesday 24.02.21 - 14:23, Sean Dennis wrote to Daryl Stout:

I am looking at getting Nomad Internet. It's 4G LTE
Internet access, good in 98% of the US. They have mobile
and home setups with different routers. It's $130 a month
but it's incredibly fast and not throttled at all. So if I
move or decide to live full time in a RV on the road, I can
do that and have the same Internet access wherever I go.

I think anything above $100/mo is crazy. :/

But Nomad seems to provide an interesting solution that could be
better than the Musk/Starlink solution.

For one thing, Starlink does not permit using the system at any
other location except at one physical location. Nomad allows
the account hold to move around (eg. RV, camping..)

I just got a little "congratulations! you qualify for Starlink
in your area" message.

But the pricing is incredible and turn-off for me:

" Starlink is now available for order to a limited number of
users in your coverage area. Placing your order now will hold
your place in line..

" Order Starlink

" Starlink is targeting coverage in your area in mid to late 2021. You will receive a notification once your Starlink is ready to ship.
Hardware
CA$649.00
Service
CA$129.00 /mo
Shipping & Handling
CA$65.00
Est. Tax
CA$92.82
Due Today
CA$129.00

Uh.. no thanks.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Are you guys getting weather?

No, just lousy drivers who drive too fast for rain.

This area of the country has a lot of those. :)

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * The backup's not over 'til the FAT table sings.
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Hello, August!

Replying to a message of August Abolins to Sean Dennis:

I think anything above $100/mo is crazy. :/

My parents are paying nearly that much for slow 10/2 ADSL. For what Nomad gives you for basically the same price, I'm not complaining. I know someone who is a professional streamer on Twitch that uses that for her streaming running 4K video without a single hiccup. Granted that I use the Internet as my main solution for entertainment, work, and socializing, it would be worth it to me since I have not much else to do.

For one thing, Starlink does not permit using the system at any
other location except at one physical location. Nomad allows the account hold to move around (eg. RV, camping..)

Yes, that's one thing that I -really- like.

" Starlink is targeting coverage in your area in mid to late 2021.
You will receive a notification once your Starlink is ready to ship. Hardware CA$649.00 Service CA$129.00 /mo Shipping & Handling CA$65.00 Est. Tax CA$92.82 Due Today CA$129.00

Nomad's hardwere is relatively cheap. I haven't looked at it lately but the home router was something around USD$120 and the travel router was USD$40-50 less.

Nomad is known for their great tech support which helps people set up external antennas, et cetera.

It's a way off for me to think about this but it's there when I'm ready.

Later,
Sean

--- FleetStreet 1.27.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS Local Console * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

Sean,

I am looking at getting Nomad Internet. It's 4G LTE Internet access,
good in 98% of the US. They have mobile and home setups with different routers. It's $130 a month but it's incredibly fast and not throttled
at all. So if I move or decide to live full time in a RV on the road,
I can do that and have the same Internet access wherever I go.

Interesting. I gather your BBS would be mobile with you??

Fun fact: Siemens builds all of the Generac equipment. I used to do partial support for Generac stuff when I worked at Siemens here in
Johnson City.

I saw a post where right now, Generac can't build generators fast
enough...in the wake of the 2 monster winter storms in this part of
the country last week.

Another fun fact: the programmable logic controller, heavily used by industry, was invented here in Johnson City by TI a few decades ago.

Interesting.

That's why I am interested in Nomad Internet as cell towers are
typically pretty resistant to weather issues though admittedly if after
a disaster, the cell system gets overloaded, that might be dicey for access.

The day I had the car wreck, it was light rain and 40 degrees. Both
the Verizon and T-Mobile phone had trouble getting through to 911. At
least one of the numbers made it through, then I got dropped. I was
then called back, and I told them what had happened...and they said
"We've got people on the way". They sent a fire department batallion
chief, 2 police cars, and 2 ambulances. I basically "walked away" from
the wreck, mainly because my airbags didn't deploy...but, the car got
totaled out. However, I sustained some chiropractic injuries, and have
been getting treatment. I would've finished it up this week, but the
clinic was closed all last week for the snow and ice everywhere. But,
around here, whenever there are weather issues, the cellphone networks
are the first thing to crash. It's like they "wait until the last
minute to evacuate downtown".

Daryl

... Error: Windows not found. Use Real Operating System? (Y/y)
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

Sean,

I live on a very narrow, windy country road that is the main access
road to David Crockett Birthplace State Park (yes, that Davy Crockett;
I live about a mile and a half from his birthplace). It turns into a
damn interstate almost every day and people fly down this road doing
60+ MPH. I remember when Felix got out of the motorhome and decided to lay down in the road. Thankfully, the traffic saw him and stopped. I flew out there and picked him up, thankful that people were paying attention that day or I'd have lost him a lot sooner than I did.

Now, I'll be like that cartoon with the guy in the hospital with
bandages all over his head. The doctor walks in with this huge glass
jar of musical notes, and says "Good news, Mr. Smith!! We finally got
rid of that tune that was stuck in your head". King Of The Wild
Frontier, anyone?? :P

Yes, they have that problem here at ETSU (East Tennessee State University). When I went there, I couldn't tell you how many times I
was nearly run over by speeding or inattentive drivers.

They threatened to put speed bumps on the road, but the merchants
across the street raised all sorts of grief with that idea.

Daryl

... I'm an objective person -- I object to everything.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

August,

But the pricing is incredible and turn-off for me:

Uh.. no thanks.

It's like these folks think we're loaded with money.

Daryl

... Deliver a pizza? Whoever heard of a liver pizza?
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

Mike,

Are you guys getting weather?

No, just lousy drivers who drive too fast for rain.

This area of the country has a lot of those. :)

The 130 vehicle pile-up in Fort Worth was a perfect example of
people driving too fast for conditions.

Only in America, we rush to beat:

1) The traffic lights at intersections.
2) The trains at railroad crossings.
3) The boats at draw bridges.

But, we'll stand patiently for 3 hours on a golf course.

Daryl

... I don't drink and drive, but I swig at stoplights.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.11-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

Hello Sean Dennis!

** On Wednesday 24.02.21 - 20:45, you wrote to me:

I think anything above $100/mo is crazy. :/

My parents are paying nearly that much for slow 10/2 ADSL.

Does it have to be ADSL these days? I thought DSL was the
regular thing that people can get over the copper wires to their
homes.

10/2 is slow? Ha! Try 5/.8 on DSL at my shop in town.
Apparently Bell caps the max speed to 5 DL for EVERYONE in town!
even though the service I'm with can offer higher speeds. But,
at $35/mo Unlimited, I'm fine.

..Granted that I use the Internet as my main solution for
entertainment, work, and socializing, it would be worth it
to me since I have not much else to do.

Yeah.. but $1100/yr for internet seems too much for "data".

Couldn't you get by with a modest mobile/data plan? Many offer
unlimited data or quite a bit of GIGS for $60/mo at LTE speeds.
That would be half of what Nomad charges.

Nomad's hardwere is relatively cheap. I haven't looked at
it lately but the home router was something around USD$120
and the travel router was USD$40-50 less.

Basically it's just a stripped down cell phone.

Nomad is known for their great tech support which helps
people set up external antennas, et cetera.

That is good.

It's a way off for me to think about this but it's there
when I'm ready.

Hopefully they will still be in business when you get around to
wanting them.

-+- FleetStreet 1.27.1

I MISS using FleetStreet! ..and the whole reliabilty of OS/2.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

But, we'll stand patiently for 3 hours on a golf course.

Um, I wouldn't. :)

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * Okay, I pulled the pin. Now what? Where are you going?
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

August Abolins wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Does it have to be ADSL these days? I thought DSL was the
regular thing that people can get over the copper wires to their
homes.

There's several types of digital subscriber lines. ADSL is the most
common and cheapest to implement.

Yeah.. but $1100/yr for internet seems too much for "data".

That's nearly what my parents are paying now for ADSL.

Couldn't you get by with a modest mobile/data plan? Many offer
unlimited data or quite a bit of GIGS for $60/mo at LTE speeds.
That would be half of what Nomad charges.

Those plans are not truly unlimited. After about 10GB of usage, they
will knock you down to 3G speeds.

Nomad does not do that. You may not realize that the US has the most
expensive telecommunications network in the world due to monopoly and government regulation. It's a "pay to play" situation.

Nomad's hardwere is relatively cheap. I haven't looked at
it lately but the home router was something around USD$120
and the travel router was USD$40-50 less.

Basically it's just a stripped down cell phone.

A cell phone is a two-way radio at its heart. Nomad's routers are
routers with a two-way radio in them so no, they are not "stripped-down"
cell phone.

A stripped-down cell phone is a walkie-talkie. :D

Hopefully they will still be in business when you get around to
wanting them.

Their business jumped 400% because of COVID-19, et al., so they'll be
around for a bit.

I MISS using FleetStreet! ..and the whole reliabilty of OS/2.

I like ArcaOS. It's a nice melding of OS/2 and Linux as the OS is more
of a hybrid.

Later,
Sean

... A mouse is an elephant built by the Japanese.
___ MultiMail/Win v0.52

--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS // bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

Mike,

But, we'll stand patiently for 3 hours on a golf course.

Um, I wouldn't. :)

The only golf I do now is with a game on the BBS.

Daryl

... I avoid things that make me fat: scales, mirrors, photos.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

*** Quoting Daryl Stout from a message to Mike Powell ***

The only golf I do now is with a game on the BBS.

The only other golf I've done other than "mini" was on the Wii... ;)

Jay

... Dachshunds are really small crocodiles with fur.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms (618:500/23.1)

Warpslide wrote to Daryl Stout <=-

The only other golf I've done other than "mini" was on the Wii... ;)

My family has a cabin up near Lake Tahoe. No internet, no cable. Just a handful of movies on DVD and my old Wii. It's a real kick going up and
playing the old games like Wii Sports, Lego Indiana Jones and Star Wars, and some odd cooking games in Japanese that we bought on sale.

Wii golf, too.

Someday, we'll break down and get internet up there, and it won't be the
same.


... Apotheosis was the beginning before the beginning.
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

Jay,

The only golf I do now is with a game on the BBS.

The only other golf I've done other than "mini" was on the Wii... ;)

Yeah, I've heard of bowling on the Wii, but not golf.

... Dachshunds are really small crocodiles with fur.

That is so true.

There is a joke that years ago, a US president got into a
duel with an enemy country's leader, over who had the biggest
and meanest animal. They were given money to create this
creature, with the angriest disposition....and the loser would
have to pay big bucks to the winner.

Well, the enemy brought in this huge creature...think Bigfoot,
the Lochness Monster, etc., all madly on steroids.

The US brought in this long dachshund.

Well, they put the two in for battle, and the dachshund
killed and devoured the huge monster.

The enemy wanted to know what they did...and the US president
grinned, saying "we got an angry alligator and crocodile
combined, and disguised him as a dachsund". <G>

Daryl

... When told to delete cookies, I ate another OREO.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

*** Quoting Kurt Weiske from a message to Warpslide ***

My family has a cabin up near Lake Tahoe. No internet, no cable. Just
a handful of movies on DVD and my old Wii.

Someday, we'll break down and get internet up there, and it won't be
the same.

That reminds me of the place I used to like camping up in Algonquin Park.

I selected for many reasons; One it wasn't too far off of the highway, was on the water and best of all, there was NO cell phone service. It was my way of ensuring I wouldn't be bothered while on vacation.

This was before mobile data was really a thing, so no email on my phone, just calls & voicemail. Imagine my surprise one year when I heard my phone
ringing from my car & saw my office number on caller id. It was a sad
year... ;)

Seems that there aren't many spots now-a-days when you can camp at a provincial park without either LTE or even park provided wifi being
available.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/more-provincial-parks-embracing-wireless-intern et-1.1044758

Jay

... One good turn gets most of the blanket.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms (618:500/23.1)

Hello Warpslide!

** On Friday 26.02.21 - 16:10, Warpslide wrote to Kurt Weiske:

Someday, we'll break down and get internet up there, and
it won't be the same.

That reminds me of the place I used to like camping up in
Algonquin Park.

[...]

..Imagine my surprise one year when I heard my phone ringing
from my car & saw my office number on caller id. It was a
sad year... ;)

Couldn't you have just ingnored it?

Seems that there aren't many spots now-a-days when you can
camp at a provincial park without either LTE or even park
provided wifi being available.

It seems to be a movement under the alure of safety. Stuck in a
bog? Call 911.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Those plans are not truly unlimited. After about 10GB of usage, they

>will knock you down to 3G speeds.

Nomad does not do that. You may not realize that the US has the most

>expensive telecommunications network in the world due to monopoly and
>government regulation. It's a "pay to play" situation.

Anyone who thinks that has never tried to buy a decent plan in Canada.
We get a lot of USA commercials on our TV feeds up here and I drool over the prices that your networks offer for various plans.

Locally here one place offers 75 gig of 5mbps DSL (data only) for $55 /mo.

I have a Much cheaper than average cell plan which gives me unlimited Texting and calling in Canada plus 5 gig of Data at 3G speeds for $40 a month.

My Niece has a plan that gives her 800 minutes of calling in Canada, unlimited Texting and 8 gig of 4G data for about $120 a month.

---
* SLMR Rob * I can fly! I can fly! I can...oh #$%&!
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

*** Quoting August Abolins from a message to Warpslide ***

..Imagine my surprise one year when I heard my phone ringing from
my car & saw my office number on caller id. It was a sad year...

Couldn't you have just ingnored it?

That's exactly what I did, just ended up turning the phone off for the rest
of the trip. Was just sad that I could no longer use that excuse. Working
in tech I prefer to take vacations that allow me to "unplug" and not having that compulsion to constantly check my phone is a big part of that.

Seems that there aren't many spots now-a-days when you can camp at a provincial park without either LTE or even park provided wifi being available.

It seems to be a movement under the alure of safety. Stuck in a
bog? Call 911.

Yeah, I guess I can see that. It's nice to know that help is only a call away, even if *I* don't want to be reached... ;)

Jay

... I've always been a bit maturer that what I am.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms (618:500/23.1)

*** Quoting Rob Mccart from a message to SEAN DENNIS ***

I have a Much cheaper than average cell plan which gives me unlimited Texting and calling in Canada plus 5 gig of Data at 3G speeds for $40
a month.

My Niece has a plan that gives her 800 minutes of calling in Canada, unlimited Texting and 8 gig of 4G data for about $120 a month.

I got a call from Koodo out of the blue a couple of years back. They
offered me a plan to "win" me back. Unlimited Canada-wide minutes, unlimited world-wide SMS/MMS & 10GB of LTE data for $55 /mo.

I'm holding on to that as long as I can. When I upgraded my phone last year
I told them I'm only upgrading if I can keep my same plan, which they said I could.

Looking at their promotions right now they have a similar plan w/ 13GB of
data for $55 /mo but "only" province-wide calling and Canada-wise SMS.

Jay

... Confidence is the feeling you had before you knew better.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms (618:500/23.1)

Someday, we'll break down and get internet up there, and it won't be the same.

Sounds like you should hold out as long as you can before doing so.

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * Southern Serves the South
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Hello Warpslide!

** On Saturday 27.02.21 - 16:00, Warpslide wrote to August Abolins:

Couldn't you have just ingnored it?

That's exactly what I did, just ended up turning the phone
off for the rest of the trip. Was just sad that I could no
longer use that excuse. Working in tech I prefer to take
vacations that allow me to "unplug" and not having that
compulsion to constantly check my phone is a big part of
that.

It can still be a valid excuse - even in Algonquin Park. There
are black-holes of no reception.

It seems to be a movement under the alure of safety.
Stuck in a bog? Call 911.

Yeah, I guess I can see that. It's nice to know that help
is only a call away, even if *I* don't want to be reached...
;)

We may think we don't want to be reached, but we probably
appreciate making a call when there is a problem.

I took a simple hike of my backwoods property last April (Easter
weekend). Wish I had a dog with me for company - but that's
different story. Anyway.. I decided to cut through some bush
knowing what was on the other side of "the ridge". When I
emerged, I was in a totally unexpected part of my property.
Apparently, I wandered off far too much to West when I thought I
was headed South. And during that time there were a few
precarious parts where I could have slipped and hurt myself. I
imagined that had something happened to me, no one would be the
wiser until several days had passed when people expected me to
be at my shop in town.

I think it was Ashley Judd (actress) who was recently in the
news after she took a serious tumble in Africa a few days ago
and shattered a leg after tripping over a fallen tree. Although
she may not have wanted to receive calls from a casting agent
during her hike, the was probably assured that help would meet
them once they got out of the jungle in that makeshift
stretcher.

I had my Blackberry with me as I used it to take some pictures.
I tested cell coverage and it was good. But all that while I
was thinking that I am glad that I am not one of those people
that feels the need to be reached by phone all the time.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello Warpslide!

** On Saturday 27.02.21 - 16:10, Warpslide wrote to Rob Mccart:

I got a call from Koodo out of the blue a couple of years
back. They offered me a plan to "win" me back. Unlimited
Canada-wide minutes, unlimited world-wide SMS/MMS & 10GB of
LTE data for $55 /mo.

That's pretty good. It's 1.5GB more than this one at a bit less
for $50 with luckymobile.ca

Unlimited Calls Canada-wide & to the US
Unlimited Canada-wide & International Texts
8GB Data at 3G speeds
8.5GB when you register for Automatic Top-Up

Also included: Unlimited Incoming Calls & Texts from
Canadian, US & International numbers, call display,
voicemail, call waiting and 3-way calling.

The "unlimited incoming calls from US and International" sounds
generous. ;) That's not what Koodo is offering though.

I'm with Lucky's $40/mo offering which is:

Unlimited Canada-wide calls
Unlimited Canada-wide & International texts
4.5GB Data at 3G speeds + 500 MB of bonus data every month with Automatic Top-Up
Unlimited additional data at reduced speeds of up to 128
Kbps for email, light browsing and messaging once you have
exceeded your allotted 3G data.

Also included: Unlimited Incoming Calls & Texts from
Canadian, US & International numbers, call display,
voicemail, call waiting and 3-way calling.

Looking at their promotions right now they have a similar
plan w/ 13GB of data for $55 /mo but "only" province-wide
calling and Canada-wise SMS.

There's the rub. Do you need up to 13GB data and sacrifice
inter-provincial and US calling/text?

At this very moment, I only have 480MB left (out of my original
5GB) and 8 days to go before my next pay-cycle begins with a new
5GB available. :( When the data gets down so low near the
end of my pay-cycle, it's hard to do even modest website
maintenace for the various charities that I help out with.

Freedom mobile might be the next best option: 10GB+ data and
unlimited everything else starting at $60/mo


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Rob Mccart wrote to SEAN DENNIS <=-

I have a Much cheaper than average cell plan which gives me unlimited Texting and calling in Canada plus 5 gig of Data at 3G speeds for $40 a month.

Public mobile? That's who I'm with but I pay $35 a month and get 5.5gigs
at 3g, and I have an extra gig sitting there in the bank from a promotion
if I ever go over.

I find 3g is fast enough, I mainly use the data when I'm at the
trailer for down/uploading bluewave packets. lol

My Niece has a plan that gives her 800 minutes of calling in Canada, unlimited Texting and 8 gig of 4G data for about $120 a month.

It's insane what they charge isn't it?

Shawn

... Diplomacy: The art of saying "nice doggy" until you find a rock.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

August Abolins wrote to Warpslide <=-

Freedom mobile might be the next best option: 10GB+ data and
unlimited everything else starting at $60/mo

My trailer is 1 klm past their network range. Every time my
kid comes she complains she has to turn her data off as she's
on roaming. (Because you know... why visit your parents when
you can look at your phone) ;)

Shawn

... TV Truth: People sit on only one side of the dinner table.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

Hello Tiny!

** On Sunday 28.02.21 - 12:46, Tiny wrote to Rob Mccart:

I have a Much cheaper than average cell plan which gives
me unlimited Texting and calling in Canada plus 5 gig of
Data at 3G speeds for $40 a month.

Public mobile? That's who I'm with but I pay $35 a month
and get 5.5gigs at 3g, and I have an extra gig sitting
there in the bank from a promotion if I ever go over.

I'm with Luckymobile.ca The pricing and GB is about the same.
I can connect with "LTE" but the signal is lower and I still
only get 3G speed.

I'd rather see the signal lever higher, so I force the
connection to 3G.

I find 3g is fast enough, I mainly use the data when I'm at the
trailer for down/uploading bluewave packets. lol

Even when I am throttled down (usually that is no higher than
100Kbps) it's still more than adequite for fetching and
delivering packets and even the odd direct telnet session with a
BBS.

My Niece has a plan that gives her 800 minutes of calling in Canada,
unlimited Texting and 8 gig of 4G data for about $120 a month.

It's insane what they charge isn't it?

As evil as that may be, it's probably an indicator where to
invest in stocks if one has the propensity for that proclivity.

:D
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

I think it was Ashley Judd (actress) who was recently in the
news after she took a serious tumble in Africa a few days ago
and shattered a leg after tripping over a fallen tree. Although
she may not have wanted to receive calls from a casting agent
during her hike, the was probably assured that help would meet
them once they got out of the jungle in that makeshift
stretcher.

It was Ms. Judd.

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large values of 2.
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Mike Powell wrote to KURT WEISKE <=-

Someday, we'll break down and get internet up there, and it won't be the same.

Sounds like you should hold out as long as you can before doing so.

We've held out this long... The last time I went up, I brought an eval
Tmobile 5G hotspot from work and I was able to get just enough coverage for phone and text. Not enough for social networks or streaming.


... Take away the important parts
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

Hello Kurt Weiske!

** On Sunday 28.02.21 - 07:23, Kurt Weiske wrote to Mike Powell:

Someday, we'll break down and get internet up there, and it
won't be the same.

Sounds like you should hold out as long as you can before doing so.

We've held out this long... The last time I went up, I
brought an eval Tmobile 5G hotspot from work and I was able
to get just enough coverage for phone and text. Not enough
for social networks or streaming.

I use a Blackberry phone as my primarily mobile data device.

I found out that I can get a stronger signal when I force my
Blackberry to the lessor 3G with my service.

My service supports LTE connections, but depending on where I
am, the signal is often lower.

But when I limit or force the connections to 3G max, I get full
bars.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello, Rob!

Replying to a message of Rob Mccart to SEAN DENNIS:

Anyone who thinks that has never tried to buy a decent plan in Canada.

I am not talking about purchase price. I am talking about the amount in taxes one pays monthly. Canada's telecommunications system is taxed at about a third less than the US.

Only the rental car tax and the gas tax is higher in the US. There's over 300 different tax types applied to telecommunications in the US!

How things got that way is out of scope for this venue but a good web search can help. It's really complicated and convulted, much like the US Tax Code.

Later,
Sean

--- FleetStreet 1.27.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS Local Console * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

On 28 Feb 21 10:03:00, August Abolins said the following to Tiny:

I'm with Luckymobile.ca The pricing and GB is about the same.
I can connect with "LTE" but the signal is lower and I still
only get 3G speed.

I'm on Lucky as well... for quite awhile now.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (618:500/24)

Hello Nick!

** On Sunday 28.02.21 - 17:16, you wrote:

I'm with Luckymobile.ca The pricing and GB is about the
same. I can connect with "LTE" but the signal is lower and
I still only get 3G speed.

I'm on Lucky as well... for quite awhile now.

I had never heard of them until a fellow came into the store and
the topic about mobile data came up.

I also had no idea that all 3 major phone companies had these
near-equivalent "discount" services:

Bell = LuckyMobile
Rogers = Chatr
Telus = PublicMobile

As it turned out, I was getting disappointed with Roger's
service which was then still with the Stick (USB) and its
maximum HPSA+ connections. I was paying $40/mo and 5GB too. So..
it seemed to be a no brainer to get Lucky's $10 sim card, and
give it a try with the lowest plan just to test my old Blackbery
with it.

I am glad I moved over.

I had great joy tearing the Stick apart and trashing it.

The Stick was the best/only option for getting my laptop
connected to the internet back in 2009. Rogers had a good run
with me as customer for 10 years. And.. it seems that
Luckymobile came into being about a year before that.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Tiny wrote to August Abolins <=-

My trailer is 1 klm past their network range. Every time my
kid comes she complains she has to turn her data off as she's
on roaming. (Because you know... why visit your parents when
you can look at your phone) ;)

If I could get away with it, I'd still just carry a pager.

Later,
Sean

... Lost interest? It's so bad I've lost apathy.
___ MultiMail/Win v0.52

--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS // bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

Re: Power outage
By: August Abolins to Kurt Weiske on Sun Feb 28 2021 12:27 pm

Hello Kurt Weiske!

** On Sunday 28.02.21 - 07:23, Kurt Weiske wrote to Mike Powell:

Someday, we'll break down and get internet up there, and it
won't be the same.

Sounds like you should hold out as long as you can before doing so.

We've held out this long... The last time I went up, I
brought an eval Tmobile 5G hotspot from work and I was able
to get just enough coverage for phone and text. Not enough
for social networks or streaming.

I use a Blackberry phone as my primarily mobile data device.

I found out that I can get a stronger signal when I force my
Blackberry to the lessor 3G with my service.

My service supports LTE connections, but depending on where I
am, the signal is often lower.

But when I limit or force the connections to 3G max, I get full
bars.

--
../|ug

That happens often.

There are also battery savings when you switch to a lesser network for many carriers. Since the network is more solid, your
device needs to resend less information due to signal loss.

Which is the reason I used 2G a whole lot even when 4G was available in my area.

--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (618:250/24)

August Abolins wrote to Tiny <=-

I'm with Luckymobile.ca The pricing and GB is about the same.
I can connect with "LTE" but the signal is lower and I still
only get 3G speed.

Same thing. Probably the exact same network too. LOL

I'd rather see the signal lever higher, so I force the
connection to 3G.

I do that when I'm in the woods. In the city I get a faster
LTE response... I did read a bit about it but I lost interest
and just do what works for me.

Even when I am throttled down (usually that is no higher than
100Kbps) it's still more than adequite for fetching and
delivering packets and even the odd direct telnet session with a
BBS.

Perfect. In the woods other then offline mail it's just whatever
small bit of data one uses on the phone anyway. email, sometimes to
look something up and even streaming livexlive at times.

Shawn

... Any safety factor set as a result of practical experience will be exceeded

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

Sean Dennis wrote to Tiny <=-

If I could get away with it, I'd still just carry a pager.

There are times I feel like that myself. I keep saying I want
a flip phone again, but then I realize it wouldn't work for me
anymore, as I do use the phone for some banking etc.

Shawn

... Tag line thievery's fun ...On to the next Geraldo!

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

August Abolins wrote to Nick Andre <=-

As it turned out, I was getting disappointed with Roger's
service which was then still with the Stick (USB) and its
maximum HPSA+ connections. I was paying $40/mo and 5GB too. So..
it seemed to be a no brainer to get Lucky's $10 sim card, and
give it a try with the lowest plan just to test my old Blackbery
with it.

I bought a bell hotspot device for the woods the year I lived
there for 5.5 months. So...3 years ago. About 3 months in I
switched my phone service to public mobile and with the 5.5 gigs
on the phone I promptly cancelled bell and the device has been
in the shed ever since.

Shawn

... Seminar for Women: How To Close The Top On The Toothpaste.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

There are times I feel like that myself. I keep saying I want
a flip phone again, but then I realize it wouldn't work for me
anymore, as I do use the phone for some banking etc.

Yeah, same here. I do use the phone for other things, such as texting and like you, banking and a few other apps that are awfully handy to have. I just hate all the damn spam calls I get constantly. You don't get that with a pager.

Once I settle down and I get a landline, I may get a pager to give everyone else except a few close friends and family for which I'll have a cell phone with a low-minute plan.

I hate being in contact constantly these days.

Later,
Sean


--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS // bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

Hello Tiny!

** On Monday 01.03.21 - 13:36, Tiny wrote to August Abolins:

I bought a bell hotspot device for the woods the year I
lived there for 5.5 months. So...3 years ago. About 3
months in I switched my phone service to public mobile and
with the 5.5 gigs on the phone I promptly cancelled bell
and the device has been in the shed ever since.

PublicMobile = Telus. Right?

When I realized that Luckymobile was the ticket for me, I gave
Rogers the required 30-day advance notice that I would like to
cancel and not renew any service with them. BUT, they cancelled
1 day early! I lost the last day of usage that I was entitled
to. I had about 1GB of data usage left on the Rogers Stick when
that happened. Pissed me off royally. That's when I decided to
pick apart the Stick, smash it and throw it away.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello Tiny!

** On Monday 01.03.21 - 12:45, you wrote to me:

I'm with Luckymobile.ca The pricing and GB is about the
same. I can connect with "LTE" but the signal is lower and
I still only get 3G speed.

Same thing. Probably the exact same network too. LOL

It's a complex knot of leased towers and shared frequencies.

Even when I am throttled down (usually that is no higher
than 100Kbps) it's still more than adequite for fetching
and delivering packets and even the odd direct telnet
session with a BBS.

Perfect. In the woods other then offline mail it's just
whatever small bit of data one uses on the phone anyway.
email, sometimes to look something up and even streaming
livexlive at times.

If Livexlive is just audio.. then that's still not too bad!

I've never tried Spotify when I had entered the throttled down
point. Will have to give it a try. Usually I can see that
Spotify usually pulls in the whole track and can play the rest
of the piece even when the connection is gone. That has gotten
me into overage sooner when I just want to hear one track - it
usually starts pulling in the other tracks on an album in
advance before the current piece is finished.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello Sean Dennis!

** On Monday 01.03.21 - 09:18, Sean Dennis wrote to Tiny:

..I do use the phone for other things, such as texting and
like you, banking and a few other apps that are awfully
handy to have. I just hate all the damn spam calls I get
constantly. You don't get that with a pager.

http://jollyrogertelephone.com/ Only $12/yr.


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello August,

Monday March 01 2021 09:53, you wrote to me:

http://jollyrogertelephone.com/ Only $12/yr.

If I had an income, maybe.

Later,
Sean

--- GoldED/2 3.0.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS // bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

*** Quoting Warpslide from a message to August Abolins ***

Hey! They support Canada now!

Last I looked at this it was US & Oz only.

Ok, so this is still the case. You can now sign up in Canada but you have to forward your number to a US based number. I only have calls included to Canada, so as neat as this is, it's not worth paying $0.60 /min on top of the US$12 /year.

Jay

... File not found. Should I fake it? (Y/N)

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23.1)

*** Quoting August Abolins from a message to Sean Dennis ***

http://jollyrogertelephone.com/ Only $12/yr.

Hey! They support Canada now!

Last I looked at this it was US & Oz only.

I just hate how some websites call our postal codes "zipcodes" and our provinces "State". It's ZED not ZEE!! *takes a deep breath*

Jay

... He who dies with the most TAGLINES wins!

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23.1)

I got a call from Koodo out of the blue a couple of years
back. They offered me a plan to "win" me back. Unlimited
Canada-wide minutes, unlimited world-wide SMS/MMS & 10GB of
LTE data for $55 /mo.

That's pretty good. It's 1.5GB more than this one at a bit less

>for $50 with luckymobile.ca

Unlimited Calls Canada-wide & to the US

> Unlimited Canada-wide & International Texts
> 8GB Data at 3G speeds
> 8.5GB when you register for Automatic Top-Up

Also included: Unlimited Incoming Calls & Texts from

> Canadian, US & International numbers, call display,
> voicemail, call waiting and 3-way calling.

I was going to say your numbers were a bit off but I just checked and their plans have changed since I signed up about 2 years ago, some changes to the better and some not as good.

That $50 plan used to have 6 gig of data with two separate bonuses bumping
you to 8.5 gig.

Their $40 Canada Wide & 5 gig plan I believe hasn't changed, which is the
one I am on.

Near as I can tell if you make no changes and use automatic top-up they leave you with the original plan you had from the start.
---
* SLMR Rob * ... and then my wife started cross-posting herself...
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Hello Warpslide!

** On Monday 01.03.21 - 14:09, Warpslide wrote to August Abolins:

Hey! They support Canada now!
Last I looked at this it was US & Oz only.

Ok, so this is still the case. You can now sign up in
Canada but you have to forward your number to a US based
number. I only have calls included to Canada, so as neat as
this is, it's not worth paying $0.60 /min on top of the
US$12 /year.

Canada *is* supported but I thought they simply charged you LD
when you forward your Canadian phone number to one of theirs in
the US. I would do it, but I don't have any of the special
features like caller-id or forwarding on my landline. My LD
rate is about 3.5cents/min with Yak. Meanwhile, most of the
time I just ignore the phone when it rings! :)

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

August,

http://jollyrogertelephone.com/ Only $12/yr.

I looked at that, but have other irons to consider first.

Daryl

... Roger, Roger. What's Our Vector, Victor??
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

*** Quoting August Abolins from a message to Warpslide ***

Canada *is* supported but I thought they simply charged you LD when
you forward your Canadian phone number to one of theirs in the US.
I would do it, but Idon't have any of the special features like caller-id or forwarding on my landline. My LD rate is about 3.5cents/min with Yak.

Yeah, they don't have robot numbers in Canada for some reason. They *do*
have robot numbers in Oz & NZ. If I could forward my number to a Canadian number it might actually be economical. I *could* spend an extra $10 /mo on my cell plan for 1000 minutes of US long distance, but that's an extra $120 /year just to piss off a telemarketer.

... Most self-made men worship their creators.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23.1)

Hello Warpslide!

** On Monday 01.03.21 - 20:25, Warpslide wrote to August Abolins:

Yeah, they don't have robot numbers in Canada for some
reason. They *do* have robot numbers in Oz & NZ. If I
could forward my number to a Canadian number it might
actually be economical. I *could* spend an extra $10 /mo on
my cell plan for 1000 minutes of US long distance, but
that's an extra $120 /year just to piss off a telemarketer.

My Yak example pertained to landline.

Is your example with Publicmobile?

With my cell and Luckymobile, calls to US are free. So, I
should be able to route incoming calls to one of Jolly Roger's
numbers for no additional cost. $12/yr would be for some
inexpensive entertainment - but I don't have telemarker issues
with the cell.

I currently don't use my cell as a phone at all - and no one
knows the number. The cell is primarily for mobile data.
Therefore, I don't have an issue with telemarkers with the cell.
If an unknown caller rings, I would let it go to vmail - but no
one has used that option.

However.. I keep getting the automated calls on my landline
phone at the shop from a "google specialist" telling me that my
website isn't registered. Three calls in two weeks.

Last week, I got a very unusual call claiming to be from Google
itself. The voice was a bot (a darn good one that). What tipped
me off that it was automated was that I answered is such a way
as to force the caller to start at the beginning - and the
message sounded exactly the same. One of the first questions it
asked me was for my name, but I asked "Who wants to know? What's
YOUR name?" The voice bot hesitated, and just went right to the
beginning. I just answered the same way, again. Then..
eventually the caller hung up on me!
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

*** Quoting August Abolins from a message to Warpslide ***

My Yak example pertained to landline.
Is your example with Publicmobile?

I'm with Koodo.

With my cell and Luckymobile, calls to US are free. So, I should
be able to route incoming calls to one of Jolly Roger's numbers for
no additional cost.

$12/yr would be for some inexpensive entertainment - but I don't have telemarker issues with the cell.

I don't really have issues with telemarketers either, Koodo offers something called "call control" which requires a caller to press a random digit before they can get through. My "landline" (a voip number) did have issues but I just setup an allowlist of people who can get through and everyone else goes directly to voicemail without ringing.

Jay

... What is the Latin for office automation?

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23.1)

Sean Dennis wrote to Tiny <=-

have. I just hate all the damn spam calls I get constantly. You
don't get that with a pager.

I don't get many... When I do get them I either ignore it or if I
feel like having fun with the scammers I play with them either
insulting them or hitting on them. Both make them mad as a hatter.

Once I settle down and I get a landline, I may get a pager to give

Landlines are where the scam calls come even faster. Don't do that.

I hate being in contact constantly these days.

You can shut the phone off and throw it deep into a glovebox too ya know?

Shawn

... To my embarrassment, I was born in bed with a lady!

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

August Abolins wrote to Tiny <=-

PublicMobile = Telus. Right?

Yes, my first iphone was locked to telus (back when that was a
thing) and by going with public I could keep using it, but it
also ended up being a great choice so...

cancel and not renew any service with them. BUT, they cancelled
1 day early! I lost the last day of usage that I was entitled
to. I had about 1GB of data usage left on the Rogers Stick when

That's why I hate Robbers. They always play with their customers
that way.

pick apart the Stick, smash it and throw it away.

Don't blame you. We used them at work for the taxi system but
back in May they switched us over to tablets for everything.
Even the meters are on tablets now.

Shawn

... Famous last words: "You and what army?"

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

August Abolins wrote to Tiny <=-

If Livexlive is just audio.. then that's still not too bad!

Seems to be compressed somehow. (The old slacker radio) I've had
the basic membership for years as I do enjoy it.

Shawn

... To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

August Abolins wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

http://jollyrogertelephone.com/ Only $12/yr.

LOL thanks for helping me waste an hour listening
to some of the calls. LOL

Shawn

... A police state is a wonderful thing - if you're the police.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

http://jollyrogertelephone.com/ Only $12/yr.

If I had an income, maybe.

I'm just totally impressed that this fellow created this anti-
spam service for the phone. It is both functional and
entertaining. It wasn't long when spam calls started to increase
that I was thinking that there *has* to be a way to block
unwanted calls.

I had an uncle who seemed to enjoy getting unwanted calls (surveys/polls/telemarketters). When a call came in he'd listen
to the intro spiel, and then he'd say something like "Ah, zat's
very inzeresting. Virst, letz me tell you aboutz my grandzmother
in zee ol' kountry in Latvia.." ..and he'd just keep talking,
until they hang up.

He was his own Jolly Roger Telephone.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello Warpslide!

I don't really have issues with telemarketers either, Koodo
offers something called "call control" which requires a
caller to press a random digit before they can get through.

I like that! So simple. I think there were boxes that we
could buy at one time with simple features like that and attach
them to the landline.

My "landline" (a voip number) did have issues but I just
setup an allowlist of people who can get through and
everyone else goes directly to voicemail without ringing.

Yes.. Voip is the key to start getting blocking/routing features
built-in. I have two landlines coming into the house. $35/mo
each. I am still reluctant to change them to 100% Voip only.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

*** Quoting August Abolins from a message to Warpslide ***

Yes.. Voip is the key to start getting blocking/routing features
built-in. I have two landlines coming into the house. $35/mo
each. I am still reluctant to change them to 100% Voip only.

I've never looked back. The only reason we still have a "landline" is for
our alarm system. I use voip.ms and pay $0.85 /mo for the phone number and $0.009 per minute no matter if it's inbound or outbound.

They charge in US$ and I think I load $15 every 3 or 4 months depending on usage and whether I'm playing around with a toll free phone number or a
number from another country.

I have the cable modem and the ATA plugged into battery backup so if the
power goes out the alarm system can still dial out. I don't use it for anything else, I just make & receive the few calls I do use on my cell.


Jay

... WARNING! Removal of this tagline prohibited by law!

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23.1)

Hello Warpslide!

Yes.. Voip is the key to start getting blocking/routing
features ..still reluctant to change them to 100% Voip
only.

I've never looked back. The only reason we still have a
"landline" is for our alarm system. I use voip.ms and pay
$0.85 /mo for the phone number and $0.009 per minute no
matter if it's inbound or outbound.

Which Voip service are you using?

They charge in US$ and I think I load $15 every 3 or 4 months..

That's a whole lot less than 2x$35/mo :/

I have the cable modem and the ATA plugged into battery
backup so if the power goes out the alarm system can still
dial out. I don't use it for anything else, I just make &
receive the few calls I do use on my cell.

I thought that maybe the dry-loop lines (intended for digital)
were still powered somehow? The only thing incase power goes
out would be to have a UPS running the voip/phone equipment in
the house?

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

I have a Much cheaper than average cell plan which gives me unlimited Texting and calling in Canada plus 5 gig of Data at 3G speeds for $40 a month.

Public mobile? That's who I'm with but I pay $35 a month and get 5.5gigs

> at 3g, and I have an extra gig sitting there in the bank from a promotion
> if I ever go over.

Mine is with Lucky. Lucky is Bell and Public Mobile is Telus which we don't
get very good reception from where I am. I took a quick look at the site and their main offer was 2 + .5 gig for $35, about the same as the Lucky $35 plan. Not sure how you got up to 5.5 gig but maybe some other promotion earlier?

I find 3g is fast enough, I mainly use the data when I'm at the

> trailer for down/uploading bluewave packets. lol

Yes, I find 3G works fairly well with everything I do a lot of. High Def streaming doesn't run as smoothly as it could but one thing I found was, standing beside someone who has a 4G plan, both of us running a speed test at the same time, I got better data speeds at 3G than he got at 4G so you can't always believe their claims. My best DL speed was 3.6 Mbps and best upload
was 3.1 Mbps, although the average was more like 3.0 and 2.6.
(That was at Fast.com)

---
* SLMR Rob * Consciousness: That annoying time between naps
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Re: looking at getting Nomad
By: August Abolins to Sean Dennis on Tue Mar 02 2021 08:13 am

http://jollyrogertelephone.com/ Only $12/yr.

If I had an income, maybe.

I'm just totally impressed that this fellow created this anti-
spam service for the phone. It is both functional and
entertaining. It wasn't long when spam calls started to increase
that I was thinking that there *has* to be a way to block
unwanted calls.

I had an uncle who seemed to enjoy getting unwanted calls (surveys/polls/telemarketters).
When a call came in he'd listen
to the intro spiel, and then he'd say something like "Ah, zat's
very inzeresting. Virst, letz me tell you aboutz my grandzmother
in zee ol' kountry in Latvia.." ..and he'd just keep talking,
until they hang up.

He was his own Jolly Roger Telephone.

--
../|ug

Sounds fun to me.

It seems like such service is not available in Spain.

I usully just hang up the minute I realize the call comes from a call center, or as soon as I
get a call from somebody with a South American accent in a line where I expect none. Sorry, but
all the South Americans that call my personal line are telemarketers.

Telemarketers are specially sucky when they call phones that are supposed to be used as
emergency lines, because they hog the line. You have to hang asap.


--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (618:250/24)

*** Quoting August Abolins from a message to Warpslide ***

Which Voip service are you using?

I use https://voip.ms - They're a DIY voip service, so you buy (or port your existing) phone numbers and then hook your own ATA up to the service:

Like this one:
https://ibb.co/h8kfdnQ

Their phone numbers also support SMS & MMS if you're into that sort of thing.

I thought that maybe the dry-loop lines (intended for digital) were still powered somehow? The only thing incase power goes out would
be to have a UPS running the voip/phone equipment in the house?

Correct, you'd still need to make sure your both your cable/DSL modem and ATA have power for the service to work, so I have them plugged into a UPS which gives them power for ~30 minutes. The alarm system has its own battery that lasts much longer than that, but our power outages are few & far between and don't generally last that long.


Jay

... If only I could be respected without having to be respectable.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23)

Tiny wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

There are times I feel like that myself. I keep saying I want
a flip phone again, but then I realize it wouldn't work for me
anymore, as I do use the phone for some banking etc.

I liked the fact that the person on the other end of the communication had
to be involved. Now people feel like they can email at any hour of the day
and the "support clock" starts ticking as soon as they hit send.

With a pager, I'd call them back, explain the situation and set expectations before things started.

That relied on pay phones being everywhere - and me being young enough not
to be freaked out by the hygenic aspects of pay phones. :)

I'd thought about going to a feature phone to see what it's like, revisit speaking to people instead of texting/emailing, but the killer app for me is maps. I'd need to go back to a Thomas' Guide, those spiral-bound map books I used to keep in the car.


... Discover the recipes you are using and abandon them
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

Warpslide wrote to August Abolins <=-

I just hate how some websites call our postal codes "zipcodes" and our provinces "State". It's ZED not ZEE!! *takes a deep breath*

If I referred to zedipcodes, people would look at me funny.


... Discover the recipes you are using and abandon them
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

August Abolins wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

http://jollyrogertelephone.com/ Only $12/yr.

I'm just totally impressed that this fellow created this anti-
spam service for the phone. It is both functional and
entertaining. It wasn't long when spam calls started to increase
that I was thinking that there *has* to be a way to block
unwanted calls.

Google's Android phone app now tells me if there's the call is a SPAM risk
or a possible telemarketer. Once you receive a call for the first time it
asks you if you want to block it.

Not as much fun as tying up the line and making the telemarketer
theoretically pay for the call, but with SIP trunks that's pretty much a red herring these days.


... Discover your formulas and abandon them
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

Telemarketers are specially sucky when they call phones that are
supposed to be used as emergency lines, because they hog the line. You have to hang asap.

I've heard of 2 ways to get rid of them...when you answer the phone.

1) Able's Abortion Agency -- you rape 'em, we scrape 'em, no fetus can
beat us.

2) Lieutent Johnson -- phone line fraud division. This conversation is
being recorded.

In both cases, <CLICK!>.

A former Sysop (he died of brain cancer awhile back) was about to
"get intimate and frisky" with his wife, and one of these calls came
in. Not to waste a good lovemaking session, they pulled out all the
stops, and it sounded like a very hot porn line.

The telemarketer was so embarrassed, that he hung up. <G>

Daryl

... Did you hear about the woman who backed into a fan? Disaster!
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

Rob Mccart wrote to TINY <=-

Mine is with Lucky. Lucky is Bell and Public Mobile is Telus which we don't get very good reception from where I am. I took a quick look at

Wow. I've never had an issue with reception, even in Al Park I had
signal. That's why I stick with Telus / Bell.

the site and their main offer was 2 + .5 gig for $35, about the same as the Lucky $35 plan. Not sure how you got up to 5.5 gig but maybe some other promotion earlier?

Must have been, it's been 3 years since I switched to them and can't
remember. I've been happy saving money and having a great service
though. :)

speed test at the same time, I got better data speeds at 3G than he got
at 4G so you can't always believe their claims. My best DL speed was
3.6 Mbps and best upload was 3.1 Mbps, although the average was more
like 3.0 and 2.6. (That was at Fast.com)

Wow I've never checked speeds because... well honestly I've never
needed too. As I mentioned to August sometimes I need to set the
phone to 3G mode but most of the time I just leave it alone and it
works.

Shawn


--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

Kurt Weiske wrote to Tiny <=-

revisit speaking to people instead of texting/emailing, but the killer
app for me is maps. I'd need to go back to a Thomas' Guide, those spiral-bound map books I used to keep in the car.

I still use an old GPS when working but if I need a new street
yes maps is the answer.

Things like that... I would miss in no time if I went to a
flip phone.

Shawn

... *Real* sysops disconnect the speakers.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

*** Quoting Kurt Weiske from a message to Warpslide ***

If I referred to zedipcodes, people would look at me funny.

LOL, this made me chuckle.

Jay

... A closed mouth gathers no foot.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23)

*** Quoting Tiny from a message to Kurt Weiske ***

... *Real* sysops disconnect the speakers.

This reminds me of a story. Back when I was running my original board up in Bracebridge it was on a Pentium 166 with Front Door & Telegard.

Back then when I would get a netmail message, Front Door would chime every so often to let you know you had netmail. The sound came through the speaker attached to the motherboard.

I went away for a weekend (camping I think) and someone sent me a netmail message. When I got home I noticed that the computer had been switched off, which of course means the BBS was down.

After asking around my Mom said: "Oh, yeah, your computer had the hiccups
and I was tired of listening to it, so I just switched it off."

After that, I disconnected the PC speaker.


Jay

... I may not be totally perfect, but parts of me are excellent.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23)

I currently don't use my cell as a phone at all - and no one

>knows the number. The cell is primarily for mobile data.
>Therefore, I don't have an issue with telemarkers with the cell.
>If an unknown caller rings, I would let it go to vmail - but no
>one has used that option.

I use my cell phone the same way, it's for data and to have a phone with me when away from home but it's almost always turned off. I've never gotten a
call from anyone I wasn't expecting a call from in the past 2 years.
I could use it more and dump my land line but I'm so far out in the boonies that my land line is fairly cheap, just under $30, so I'm putting up with the extra cost for now. For 'talking on the phone' at home I prefer the land line over the cell phone.

---
* SLMR Rob * I think, therefore I am... I think
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Hello Sean!

** On Thursday 25.02.21 - 16:01, you wrote to me:

Nomad's hardwere is relatively cheap. I haven't looked at
it lately but the home router was something around USD$120
and the travel router was USD$40-50 less.

Basically it's just a stripped down cell phone.

A cell phone is a two-way radio at its heart. Nomad's
routers are routers with a two-way radio in them so no,
they are not "stripped-down" cell phone.

I meant stripped-down in the sense that you can't use the box as
a cellphone outright (no keypad). But in another sense, it *is*
a cell radio device with home-routing capability built in.

A stripped-down cell phone is a walkie-talkie. :D

Yes.. noted. Not unlike ham radio too - the grand world-wide
party line.

I like ArcaOS. It's a nice melding of OS/2 and Linux as
the OS is more of a hybrid.

I wish them well, but they're demographic seems to be the geek.

Also...come 2038, all the 16 bit and even 32 bit programs they
boast supporting so easily (which seems to be its key
versatility) with OS/2 will be moot.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Warpslide wrote to Tiny <=-

After asking around my Mom said: "Oh, yeah, your computer had the
hiccups and I was tired of listening to it, so I just switched it off."

Laugh that sounds about right.

After that, I disconnected the PC speaker.

I think mine were always disconnected, I hated the beeper.

Shawn

... RAM = Rarely Adequate Memory

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

Hello August,

Wednesday March 03 2021 22:57, you wrote to me:

I wish them well, but they're demographic seems to be the geek.

What you may not realize that the US government still uses OS/2 in mission-critical areas. I know that the Department of Defense, the US Treasury, and the Department of Energy all still use OS/2. There are a lot of private businesses using OS/2 still including banks.

There is plenty of money to be made.

Also...come 2038, all the 16 bit and even 32 bit programs they
boast supporting so easily (which seems to be its key
versatility) with OS/2 will be moot.

There's a workaround for that from what I'm told but I am not familiar of what it is.

Later,
Sean

--- GoldED/2 3.0.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS // bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

Sean Dennis wrote to August Abolins <=-

What you may not realize that the US government still uses OS/2 in mission-critical areas. I know that the Department of Defense, the US Treasury, and the Department of Energy all still use OS/2. There are a lot of private businesses using OS/2 still including banks.

There is plenty of money to be made.

I wonder how many Octel voicemail servers are left running? Back in 2000- 2010, a ton of small business PBXes used Octel's products, many of which ran on OS/2. Problem was that telecom people weren't server people back then, so they'd stick a mission-critical piece of the PBX on a beige desktop PC with
a single ATA drive and single power supply. Maybe, they'd stick a tape drive on there if they were thinking clearly.

I suppose they're long gone, but a couple of proper servers are still
running.





... Would anyone want it?
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

*** Quoting Kurt Weiske from a message to Sean Dennis ***

Problem was that telecom people weren't server people back then, so
they'd stick a mission-critical piece of the PBX on a beige desktop
PC with a single ATA drive and single power supply. Maybe, they'd
stick a tape drive on there if they were thinking clearly.

I suppose they're long gone, but a couple of proper servers are still running.

The phone system at my last job is a Toshiba CIX670. It's a modular system that takes various cards for certain functions. Want some more extension?
Add in a digital extension card. Need a fax machine? Add in an analogue extension card. Need voicemail? Add in the voicemail card.

The voicemail card was interesting, it's basically a tiny x86 PC running Windows XP embedded. The OS and voicemail files are stored on a 2.5"
spinning hard drive. And of course it's networked, so you can get your voicemail messages emailed to you as an attachment.

It's still running to this day, I'm surprised that little hard drive hasn't given up the ghost.

Jay

... Whatever it is, it won't work.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23)

On 05 Mar 21 07:34:00, Kurt Weiske said the following to Sean Dennis:

I wonder how many Octel voicemail servers are left running? Back in 2000- 2010, a ton of small business PBXes used Octel's products, many of which ra on OS/2. Problem was that telecom people weren't server people back then, s they'd stick a mission-critical piece of the PBX on a beige desktop PC with a single ATA drive and single power supply. Maybe, they'd stick a tape driv on there if they were thinking clearly.

I have a client that still has a production Intertel Axxess system with a CPS and VPU unit... on Pentium 3's with ISA interface cards, IDE drives and Windows 2000, which itself was an upgrade from Windows NT 4.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (618:500/24)

speed test at the same time, I got better data speeds at 3G than he got
at 4G so you can't always believe their claims. My best DL speed was
3.6 Mbps and best upload was 3.1 Mbps, although the average was more
like 3.0 and 2.6. (That was at Fast.com)

Wow I've never checked speeds because... well honestly I've never

> needed to. As I mentioned to August sometimes I need to set the
> phone to 3G mode but most of the time I just leave it alone and it
> works.

Yes, I saw comments on that but didn't realize you had an option to choose between 3G and 4G. I assumed the phone just used the best available where it was situated.

Maybe, along those lines, I find when my phone is On and waiting for use or using Data I may be getting 2 or 2 bars but as soon as I phone out it will often jump to the full 5 bars, suggesting the data hookup is a less 'solid' connection than the 4G/LTE Voice connection is.
---
* SLMR Rob * Psychoceramics: The study of crackpots
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Hello Rob Mccart!

** On Friday 05.03.21 - 00:25, Rob Mccart wrote to TINY:

speed test at the same time, I got better data speeds at
3G than he got at 4G..

As I mentioned to August sometimes I need to set the

phone to 3G mode but most of the time I just leave it
alone and it works.

Yes, I saw comments on that but didn't realize you had an
option to choose between 3G and 4G.

Depends on the device. I thought I could help a friend to
reduce their 4G LTE phone down to 3G for a better signal, but I
couldn't find the option in their modest Alcatel flip-phone.

I assumed the phone just used the best available where it
was situated.

Again, depends on the phone. My Blackberry is very versatile and
allows a variety of options.

Maybe, along those lines, I find when my phone is On and
waiting for use or using Data I may be getting 2 or 2 bars
but as soon as I phone out it will often jump to the full 5
bars, suggesting the data hookup is a less 'solid'
connection than the 4G/LTE Voice connection is. -+-

I notice a jump higher on the bars when I would want to start a
call too. That's probably because the phone is coming out of
standby or the radio puts out more power at that point?

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Warpslide wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

The phone system at my last job is a Toshiba CIX670. It's a modular system that takes various cards for certain functions. Want some more extension? Add in a digital extension card. Need a fax machine? Add
in an analogue extension card. Need voicemail? Add in the voicemail card.

I never managed Toshiba systems, but always wanted to. Yeah, the key-system sized PBXes were intentionally easier to manage (like the Norstar systems
form Nortel where you could program each phone from the phone set...)

The voicemail card was interesting, it's basically a tiny x86 PC
running Windows XP embedded. The OS and voicemail files are stored on
a 2.5" spinning hard drive. And of course it's networked, so you can
get your voicemail messages emailed to you as an attachment.

It's still running to this day, I'm surprised that little hard drive hasn't given up the ghost.

Nortel's Call Pilot system ran on Windows NT 3.5 Embedded. Since it wasn't directly tied to anything public-facing, I suppose it was alright.

It's a dying industry, but needed - there are people who can support those
who have garages full of spare parts. Won't get any new customers, but loyal customers until they finally switch.


... Remove ambiguities and convert to specifics
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

Nick Andre wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

I have a client that still has a production Intertel Axxess system with
a CPS and VPU unit... on Pentium 3's with ISA interface cards, IDE
drives and Windows 2000, which itself was an upgrade from Windows NT 4.

Those are so old that I remember them! One of the first PBXes that used DSPs for voice processing. Never bought one, but did do some shopping around for small PBXes for clients and ran into them.


... Remove ambiguities and convert to specifics
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (618:300/1)

*** Quoting Kurt Weiske from a message to Warpslide ***

It's a dying industry, but needed - there are people who can support
those who have garages full of spare parts. Won't get any new
customers, but loyal customers until they finally switch.

I used to work at a company that sold & serviced phone systems. They had a "nortel guy" to service existing installs but we mainly sold Toshiba & Panasonic systems. The company let people "trade in" their old systems for credit towards a new one. Those traded in systems became parts for some of the ancient systems still in use.

That company is no longer in business, but I'm sure that stockroom full of parts is still out there somewhere.

Jay

... I want to be what I was when I started to be what I am now.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23)

On 06 Mar 21 07:58:00, Kurt Weiske said the following to Nick Andre:

I have a client that still has a production Intertel Axxess system wit a CPS and VPU unit... on Pentium 3's with ISA interface cards, IDE drives and Windows 2000, which itself was an upgrade from Windows NT 4

Those are so old that I remember them! One of the first PBXes that used DSP for voice processing. Never bought one, but did do some shopping around for small PBXes for clients and ran into them.

Correct. The DSP's in my client's systems are definately not Dialogic, it's some other brand. Brooktrout? Likely spelling it wrong.

I've noticed on Ebay that Intertel also apparently made those voicemail systems-on-a-card.... a complete PC on a KSU cabinet card even with the hard drive and connections for monitor, keyboard, mouse etc.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (618:500/24)

Maybe, along those lines, I find when my phone is On and
waiting for use or using Data I may be getting 2 or 3 bars
but as soon as I phone out it will often jump to the full 5
bars, suggesting the data hookup is a less 'solid'
connection than the 4G/LTE Voice connection is. -+-

I notice a jump higher on the bars when I would want to start a

>call too. That's probably because the phone is coming out of
>standby or the radio puts out more power at that point?

I know if I do something with Data the bars stay the same, and when I go to make a call I have generally Just booted up the phone since I rarely have it sitting on standby. I use it primarily for Data or as more of an Emergency phone when away from home than to be constantly available..
I'm 'available' enough with 2 land lines. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * Beware of Geeks bearing GIFS
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

On 3/1/2021 1:36 PM, Tiny wrote to August Abolins:

I bought a bell hotspot device for the woods the year I lived
there for 5.5 months. So...3 years ago. About 3 months in I
switched my phone service to public mobile and with the 5.5 gigs
on the phone I promptly cancelled bell and the device has been
in the shed ever since.

Ok, which carrier are you with to get 5.5GB worth of data transfer? (If I
am reading this message correctly.)

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: MicroNet: Omicrn Theta * Southaven MS * winserver.org (618:100/14)

On 3/1/2021 9:18 AM, Sean Dennis wrote to Tiny:

I hate being in contact constantly these days.

No kidding! Although sometimes I appreciate being in constant contact
from time to time.

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: MicroNet: Omicrn Theta * Southaven MS * winserver.org (618:100/14)

ROBERT WOLFE wrote to Tiny <=-

switched my phone service to public mobile and with the 5.5 gigs
on the phone I promptly cancelled bell and the device has been

Ok, which carrier are you with to get 5.5GB worth of data transfer?
(If I am reading this message correctly.)

Public Mobile.

Shawn

... I*love~my$computer,;It's%made in Taiwa~##$ `(#;

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

Hello Tiny,

Wednesday March 10 2021 08:56, you wrote to ROBERT WOLFE:

Public Mobile.

I read that as "Pubic Mobile". I then thought they might be a bunch of ... well, you know. <G>

Later,
Sean

--- GoldED/2 3.0.1
* Origin: Outpost BBS // bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

Sean,

Public Mobile.

I read that as "Pubic Mobile". I then thought they might be a bunch of ... well, you know. <G>

ROFLMBO!! I hate to admit it, but I did the same thing when I first read
it. :P

Daryl

... Do you, Sysop, take this BBS, to be your wedded spouse??
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (618:250/33)

Sean Dennis wrote to Tiny <=-

Public Mobile.

I read that as "Pubic Mobile". I then thought they might be a bunch of ... well, you know. <G>

Laugh. No publilc.

Shawn

... It requires a very unusual mind to make an analysis of the obvious.

--- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
* Origin: Tiny's BBS - telnet://tinysbbs.com:3023 (618:500/32)

Hello Sean!

** On Thursday 04.03.21 - 14:22, you wrote to me:

What you may not realize that the US government still uses
OS/2 in mission-critical areas. I know that the Department
of Defense, the US Treasury, and the Department of Energy
all still use OS/2. There are a lot of private businesses
using OS/2 still including banks.

What constitutes "mission critical" in gov't? The IRS? :/

According to just some recent findings by Krebs, the US gov't
has had no end of problems with several of their "benefits"
application rollouts. But maybe that was Windoze-based. :D

I read that many bank machines in Canada employed embedded OS/2
systems. Not sure what the gambit is now.

There is plenty of money to be made.

The maintenance and adjustments to programs are sure to be
required.

Also...come 2038, all the 16 bit and even 32 bit programs
they boast supporting so easily (which seems to be its key
versatility) with OS/2 will be moot.

There's a workaround for that from what I'm told but I am
not familiar of what it is.

The workaround is probably to only use apps that do not rely on
dates whatsover. ???


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello Rob Mccart!

** On Wednesday 03.03.21 - 00:50, Rob Mccart wrote to AUGUST ABOLINS:

I currently don't use my cell as a phone at all - and no
one knows the number. The cell is primarily for mobile
data. Therefore, I don't have an issue with telemarkers
with the cell. If an unknown caller rings, I would let it
go to vmail - but no one has used that option.

I use my cell phone the same way, it's for data and to have
a phone with me when away from home but it's almost always
turned off. I've never gotten a call from anyone I wasn't
expecting a call from in the past 2 years. I could use it
more and dump my land line but I'm so far out in the
boonies that my land line is fairly cheap, just under $30,
so I'm putting up with the extra cost for now. For 'talking
on the phone' at home I prefer the land line over the cell
phone.

Under $30 USD? Mine is about $35 CDN after tax.

Recently I got a SIM card in the mail from the phone company
offering to "convert" my land-line phone number to a cell
service. The minimum monthly would be $60 CDN (plus a one-time
activation fee of $45) All I would have to do was slip the
card into my existing phone, send a special text message, and
xPOOFx, I'd be ready to use my existing landline number with the
phone. Oh.. plus they throw in about 10GB of mobile data. Not
sure if that is a great idea.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello Warpslide!

** On Wednesday 03.03.21 - 10:14, Warpslide wrote to Tiny:

This reminds me of a story...

Back then when I would get a netmail message, Front Door
would chime every so often to let you know you had
netmail...

I went away for a weekend...

After asking around my Mom said: "Oh, yeah, your computer
had the hiccups and I was tired of listening to it, so I
just switched it off."

I'm surprised that your Mom wasn't familiar with the sounds of
the PC doing the same thing when you were at home and ask you
about the noises.

After that, I disconnected the PC speaker.

I think I unplugged my PC speaker from every one that I ever
operated too.

The "net stop beep" command is a first thing I execute on my
laptop after a clean boot up.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello Rob Mccart!

** On Tuesday 02.03.21 - 00:52, Rob Mccart wrote to TINY:

..I find 3G works fairly well with everything I do a lot
of. High Def streaming doesn't run as smoothly as it could
but one thing I found was, standing beside someone who has
a 4G plan, both of us running a speed test at the same
time, I got better data speeds at 3G than he got at 4G so
you can't always believe their claims. My best DL speed was
3.6 Mbps and best upload was 3.1 Mbps, although the average
was more like 3.0 and 2.6. (That was at Fast.com)

Getting 3.1Mbps DL here with 4G/3G/2G manually (LTE *not*
selected):

https://kolico.ca/files/bb_IMG_20210321_214355.png

...and I rarely get anything greater than 2 Mbps UL.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

*** Quoting August Abolins from a message to Warpslide ***

I'm surprised that your Mom wasn't familiar with the sounds of the
PC doing the same thing when you were at home and ask you about the noises.

I didn't really get a lot of netmail back then, really only when I did something with Areafix/Allfix. I don't remember what that particular netmail was anymore. Just murphay's law that I'd get one when away from the house.

I'm pretty sure I've gotten more netmail from real humans this time around in BBSing than I ever did back then.

Jay

... The word 'meaningful' when used today is nearly always meaningless.

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Northern Realms | 289-424-5180 | bbs.nrbbs.net (618:500/23)

August Abolins wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

The workaround is probably to only use apps that do not rely on
dates whatsover. ???

It depends on what language the program is written in. If it's C,
just use a time library that uses an 8-byte time instead of 4-byte.

For Pascal, it might be different depending on what flavor of Pascal
you use. Free Pascal relies on the OS to handle time and date and
stores it accordingly.

I seriously doubt by 2038 I will still be running a BBS but that's
only 17 years away. I've been running a BBS for 25 years so what's
another 17 years? I will probably have to switch to Linux then since
I doubt IBM will allow OS/2 to be ported to 64 bit.

-- Sean

... Star Wars: a very long time ago but somehow still in the future.
___ MultiMail/Win v0.52

--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS // bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (618:618/10)

I could use it
more and dump my land line but I'm so far out in the
boonies that my land line is fairly cheap, just under $30,
so I'm putting up with the extra cost for now. For 'talking
on the phone' at home I prefer the land line over the cell
phone.

Under $30 USD? Mine is about $35 CDN after tax.

Sorry, I'm located in Canada although I access the BBS system through an American supplier so it may appear I'm American.
My monthly landline is $29.66 +tax Cdn. I find mine is about $8 cheaper than the average, mostly because the lines and boxes in my area are so old. Back when I had Dial-up the best I could get was about 26k instead of 52k.
(You never get the supposed maximum 56k on dial-up.)

Recently I got a SIM card in the mail from the phone company

>offering to "convert" my land-line phone number to a cell
>service. The minimum monthly would be $60 CDN (plus a one-time
>activation fee of $45) All I would have to do was slip the
>card into my existing phone, send a special text message, and
>xPOOFx, I'd be ready to use my existing landline number with the
>phone. Oh.. plus they throw in about 10GB of mobile data. Not
>sure if that is a great idea.

That sounds slightly pricey to me..

What I am getting lately are offers from Bell at $40 Cdn with unlimited Canada wide talk and text plus 6 gig of data, usually with the option of a medium decent phone ($450?) for an extra $10 a month over 2 years.
(Other offers have been the same but with 8 gig of data for $50 a month.)

To be honest, I'd be almost tempted to take the deal if not for that $45 activation fee. After all, it would give me an extra gig of Data and at 4G speed instead of 3G speed.. But as discussed elsewhere the actual speed increase in use is probably hardly noticable.

I think it's more that I am already a Bell customer through Lucky, and I got rooked into paying $45 activatiom when I got that SIM card, so I sort of
resent the idea of paying it again rather than any problem affording it.
---
* SLMR Rob * Optimism is a sign of inexperience
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

What I am getting lately are offers from Bell at $40 Cdn with unlimited Canada wide talk and text plus 6 gig of data, usually with the option of
a medium decent phone ($450?) for an extra $10 a month over 2 years. (Other offers have been the same but with 8 gig of data for $50 a month.)

do not take Fibe phone will not work with modem diaLUP

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/02/01 (Windows/32)
* Origin: SpaceSST BBS (618:500/30)

SEAN DENNIS wrote to AUGUST ABOLINS <=-

I seriously doubt by 2038 I will still be running a BBS but that's
only 17 years away. I've been running a BBS for 25 years so what's

Right! But, I can tell you 20 years ago I never would have thought I'd
still be running a BBS on real hardware under OS/2.

another 17 years? I will probably have to switch to Linux then since
I doubt IBM will allow OS/2 to be ported to 64 bit.

The only BBS I've run under linux is my Mystic Pi setup, so I won't be
ever switching to linux. If I still alive in 17 years and I haven't
used up the old hardware I have in storage, I'll probably still be
running on OS/2 and Telegard :P

Kev

--- Telegard/2/QWK v3.09.g2-sp4/mL
* Origin: Razor's Domain/2 BBS (618:200/1)

Hello Rob!

** On Tuesday 23.03.21 - 00:46, you wrote to me:

Under $30 USD? Mine is about $35 CDN after tax.

Sorry, I'm located in Canada although I access the BBS
system through an American supplier so it may appear I'm
American. My monthly landline is $29.66 +tax Cdn. I find
mine is about $8 cheaper than the average, mostly because
the lines and boxes in my area are so old. Back when I had
Dial-up the best I could get was about 26k instead of 52k.
(You never get the supposed maximum 56k on dial-up.)

OK.. then we are fellow Canadian neighbours (Ontariariaons),
despite my point node appearing that I might be located in KY.

LOL

Reviewing one of my phone bills, my base before taxes is $29.66
as well.

When I operated a BBS here, I've had consistent success reaching
33k consistently when I needed to poll some out of province
nodes. Provincial incoming and outgoing calls often reached the
50k+ level. But, over time, the landlines deteriorated -
especially during Spring weather.

What I am getting lately are offers from Bell..

To be honest, I'd be almost tempted to take the deal if not
for that $45 activation fee.

I'm with you with that stoic attitude too! The activation fee
is so arbitrary and unnecessary considering that you would be a
long-time user after that!

Take a look at what Chatr (Rogers) and PublicMobile (Telus) have
to offer. They operate much the same as Lucky, *and* you can
"register" the SIM card yourself. You might be able to squeeze
out an extra GB or two with them.

After all, it would give me an extra gig of Data and at 4G
speed instead of 3G speed.. But as discussed elsewhere the
actual speed increase in use is probably hardly noticable.

Not sure where you are located, but in my area of Ontario, my
Blackberry registers LTE if I allow it. But I purposefully keep
my connections at 4G/3G - I get a higher signal level with
those. So.. Lucky has 4G, but it operates at 3G speed.

I think it's more that I am already a Bell customer through
Lucky, and I got rooked into paying $45 activatiom when I
got that SIM card, so I sort of resent the idea of paying
it again rather than any problem affording it. -+-

Well.. you could think of the $45 fee to be the cost of that
extra 1GB spread out over the course of your membership.

But, I think you might like the privilege of activating an
account all by yourself should you try Chatr or Public.


--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

OK.. then we are fellow Canadian neighbours (Ontariariaons),
despite my point node appearing that I might be located in KY.

LOL

Yes, you are both actually interfacing with this network, and Dovenet, on
the same BBS. :)

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * I was a tall person before I used PKZIP...!
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Sorry, I'm located in Canada although I access the BBS
system through an American supplier so it may appear I'm
American.

OK.. then we are fellow Canadian neighbours (Ontariariaons),

I think you missed an 'ari' in there.. B)

despite my point node appearing that I might be located in KY.

I hear we are using exactly the Same node.. (Thanks Mike..) B)

Reviewing one of my phone bills, my base before taxes is $29.66

>as well.

When I operated a BBS here, I've had consistent success reaching

>33k consistently when I needed to poll some out of province
>nodes. Provincial incoming and outgoing calls often reached the
>50k+ level. But, over time, the landlines deteriorated -
>especially during Spring weather.

Yes, although my 26k limit wasn't a connection quality issue, it was the fact that the orignal Bell Box was designed to use Party Lines, 4 users per line, and later they went to 2 users hidden from each other so you couldn't tell but it cut the data transmission rate in half under all conditions.
I don't miss downloading 32 gig program updates at 6.5 gig per hour..

Take a look at what Chatr (Rogers) and PublicMobile (Telus) have

>to offer. They operate much the same as Lucky, *and* you can
>"register" the SIM card yourself. You might be able to squeeze
>out an extra GB or two with them.

Is their data at 4G speeds?

Not sure where you are located, but in my area of Ontario, my

>Blackberry registers LTE if I allow it. But I purposefully keep
>my connections at 4G/3G - I get a higher signal level with
>those. So.. Lucky has 4G, but it operates at 3G speed.

Yes, is shows LTE but the data speed is just throttled back I suppose.
I don't think my phone supports dropping LTE, but things generally work fairly well as they are.

I'm on the shores of Georgian Bay near Parry Sound, although I spend the
winter in town these days. Chopping holes in the ice to get water and hauling groceries in by sled in my snow shoes got a little tired after doing it for about 12 years.. B)
---
* SLMR Rob * As a computer I find your faith in technology amusing
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Hello Rob!

** On Thursday 25.03.21 - 00:56, you wrote to me:

OK.. then we are fellow Canadian neighbours (Ontariariaons),

I think you missed an 'ari' in there.. B)

:D ..ah! so you are familiar with the term. :D

...the orignal Bell Box was designed to use Party Lines, 4 users
per line, and later they went to 2 users hidden from each other so you couldn't tell but it cut the data transmission rate in half under all conditions.

Then you indeed have (had) much older boxes to deal with. Here,
it was party line with a total of 3 or 4 house-holds
(distinctive rings for each) from about 1973-1976. Then, we got
our own 2-pair cable strung to the house after that.

I don't miss downloading 32 gig program updates at 6.5 gig
per hour..

6.5 GB in an hour over dial up? That's amazing! Perhaps you
meant MB, not GB.

I found fetching a 4 minute song (mp3) averaged at about 15 to
20 minutes each - 4MB. So, that would be about 12-15MB in an
hour.

Take a look at what Chatr (Rogers) and PublicMobile (Telus) have

to offer.

Is their data at 4G speeds?

Both services have FAQs. Maybe it has answers.

https://www.chatrwireless.com/web/content/faq/data_services

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-help/articles/ differences-between-3g-and-4g-lte

They probably have area maps that you can check for coverage for
your area.

I'm on the shores of Georgian Bay near Parry Sound,
although I spend the winter in town these days. Chopping
holes in the ice to get water and hauling groceries in by
sled in my snow shoes got a little tired after doing it for
about 12 years.. B)

My family used to conduct lamprey trapping not far from the
Perry Sound area in the Saugine River.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.49
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

OK.. then we are fellow Canadian neighbours (Ontariariaons),

I think you missed an 'ari' in there.. B)

:D ..ah! so you are familiar with the term. :D

Not even sure when that came out.. Probably just as well it's not still in common use.. B)

...the orignal Bell Box was designed to use Party Lines, 4 users
per line, and later they went to 2 users hidden from each other so you couldn't tell but it cut the data transmission rate in half under all conditions.

Then you indeed have (had) much older boxes to deal with. Here,

>it was party line with a total of 3 or 4 house-holds
>(distinctive rings for each) from about 1973-1976. Then, we got
>our own 2-pair cable strung to the house after that.

I bought in 1980 but didn't move up here full time until 1986 and needed a phone then so the equipment was old even by that time. There were 4 households on a line with 2 distinct rings as they were somehow able to hide one side of the line from the other and 2 people could use their phone at the same time, although it wasn't 'perfect' as you could often hear someone quietly talking
in the background if you were paying attention. It also wasn't until a few years after I got here that, on local calls, we had to dial more than 4
digits. These days a local call requires 10 digits..

I don't miss downloading 32 gig program updates at 6.5 gig
per hour..

6.5 GB in an hour over dial up? That's amazing! Perhaps you

>meant MB, not GB.

Darn.. Yes, my bad. I meant Megabytes. We get warped with the size of things these days compared to the old days..

I remember when a 10 MEGAbyte hard drive was Huge..
Who'd ever need anything bigger than that ? B)

---
* SLMR Rob * Girl Guide cookies don't taste at all like Girl Guides
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)