240 General: New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Similar thing is called "WiFi Calling" on EE Alan but if his phone line is out of action, i would think the broadband is also down, hence any VoIP services wouldn't work.

Some of the latest Android phones support WiFi Calling, others don't. Mine doesn't but it's about 4-5 years old now and given how often my broadband drops out at the best of times, wouldn't be any good for me.

As i get a very poor mobile signal at home, if i need to make a call at home, i use the landline, if i'm away from home, it's not normally a problem as long as i'm 1/4 mile or more from home!

That reminds me of when we lived in Norfolk: 1 Mb/s internet speed (maybe), the connection would drop out at least twice a week and have to go outside to make a cell phone call. It was quiet and very pretty though :-)

[Othen]

PS. I've just noticed: I have been promoted again and am now a 'Master Member'. I am very flattered - I have gained far more from this forum than I have put in, so thank you chaps.

Stay safe,

Alan

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

That reminds me of when we lived in Norfolk: 1 Mb/s internet speed (maybe), the connection would drop out at least twice a week and have to go outside to make a cell phone call. It was quiet and very pretty though :-)

Only two dropouts a week? Wow, i wish! Multiple dropouts daily, some are even predictable.

On the upside, i can get download speed of 37Mb on a good day and upload of 7.5Mb which sounds brilliant until you realise it often takes several minutes to actually connect and hold that connection!

After todays wet stuff dropping out of the sky, i know i'll have even more trouble than usual in a few days time once it soaks down to the cable level underground.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Only two dropouts a week? Wow, i wish! Multiple dropouts daily, some are even predictable.

On the upside, i can get download speed of 37Mb on a good day and upload of 7.5Mb which sounds brilliant until you realise it often takes several minutes to actually connect and hold that connection!

After todays wet stuff dropping out of the sky, i know i'll have even more trouble than usual in a few days time once it soaks down to the cable level underground.

That is odd - your broadband speed is exactly the same as here in Corby - I wonder why it is so unstable? In Norfolk the slow speed was due to the cabinet being 8 km away - and the bit between being copper wire. It was sort of stable though, the only thing that really got affected by the connection dropping out once or twice a week was the C/H thermostat.

What a world we live in, all this was beyond our imagination 30 years ago.

Stay safe.

[Clifford Pope]

Originally Posted by Othen

PS. I've just noticed: I have been promoted again and am now a 'Master Member'. I am very flattered

I discovered a while back that you can change your rank to anything you like - I can't remember how - profile I suppose.

I picked mine as the opening words onlookers to a problem who are itching to have their say often use by introduction:
"I'm not an expert, but .... "
Not always helpful.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Clifford Pope

I discovered a while back that you can change your rank to anything you like - I can't remember how - profile I suppose.

I picked mine as the opening words onlookers to a problem who are itching to have their say often use by introduction:
"I'm not an expert, but .... "
Not always helpful.

... but I didn't have any part in this change - it must happen automatically, perhaps depending on the time one has been contributing to the forum?

Stay safe,

:-)

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

That is odd - your broadband speed is exactly the same as here in Corby - I wonder why it is so unstable? In Norfolk the slow speed was due to the cabinet being 8 km away - and the bit between being copper wire. It was sort of stable though, the only thing that really got affected by the connection dropping out once or twice a week was the C/H thermostat.

What a world we live in, all this was beyond our imagination 30 years ago.

Stay safe.

The cables from the roadside cabinet (DP) are aluminium buried underground and in the region of 50 years old. Back then, PVC wasn't as stable or durable as it is these days and 50 years of natural earth movement aided and abetted by worms, moles and any other underground creatures have all helped damage the cable. The PVC insulation has obviously broken down and gone porous, the aluminium wires are no doubt corroded so there will be an interaction whenever they get wet.
Since i've been here (7 years+) they've dug the pavement up at least twice outside the front of mine, once to repair the phone cables to me (but i'm certain there are other breaks in it as well) and again to fix someone elses broadband.

Rumour has it that they're installing full FTTP (Fibre To The Premises) throughout the village, i've yet to see any evidence mine will be anytime soon though!

Originally Posted by Othen

... but I didn't have any part in this change - it must happen automatically, perhaps depending on the time one has been contributing to the forum?

Stay safe,

:-)

As i understand things, there are preset points based on the quantity of your posts Alan, a bit like the different coloured stars they use on ebay for feedback. As you reach each "milestone" your status is upgraded from "New Member" to "Junior Member" to "Master Member" and so on.
I think some ranks are only available to fully paid-up, card-carrying, VOC Members but not sure if that is correct or what those ranks are.
I think "Master Member" comes at 1000 posts but i could be wrong. Doubtless there is an explanation somewhere on the forum but no idea where.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Othen

... but I didn't have any part in this change - it must happen automatically, perhaps depending on the time one has been contributing to the forum?

Stay safe,

:-)

It does happen automatically, Alan, but is not, I think, a function of time. It is based on the number of qualifying posts made irrespective of time, hence some are promoted more quickly than others and some not at all.

As Clifford rightly said, there is also a facilty whereby one can change this once one has reached a certain level.

Regards, John.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The cables from the roadside cabinet (DP) are aluminium buried underground and in the region of 50 years old. Back then, PVC wasn't as stable or durable as it is these days and 50 years of natural earth movement aided and abetted by worms, moles and any other underground creatures have all helped damage the cable. The PVC insulation has obviously broken down and gone porous, the aluminium wires are no doubt corroded so there will be an interaction whenever they get wet.
Since i've been here (7 years+) they've dug the pavement up at least twice outside the front of mine, once to repair the phone cables to me (but i'm certain there are other breaks in it as well) and again to fix someone elses broadband.

Rumour has it that they're installing full FTTP (Fibre To The Premises) throughout the village, i've yet to see any evidence mine will be anytime soon though!

As i understand things, there are preset points based on the quantity of your posts Alan, a bit like the different coloured stars they use on ebay for feedback. As you reach each "milestone" your status is upgraded from "New Member" to "Junior Member" to "Master Member" and so on.
I think some ranks are only available to fully paid-up, card-carrying, VOC Members but not sure if that is correct or what those ranks are.
I think "Master Member" comes at 1000 posts but i could be wrong. Doubtless there is an explanation somewhere on the forum but no idea where.

Our expectations for internet speeds increase so quickly Dave, it doesn't seem that long ago (but it must have been about 25 years) that NTL came and installed a second telephone line (it was free as well) so I could hook up a 22.5 kB/s dial up modem. Now we get a bit disappointed if it is not at least 1000 times as fast!

Stay safe,

Alan

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

As i understand things, there are preset points based on the quantity of your posts Alan, a bit like the different coloured stars they use on ebay for feedback. As you reach each "milestone" your status is upgraded from "New Member" to "Junior Member" to "Master Member" and so on.
I think some ranks are only available to fully paid-up, card-carrying, VOC Members but not sure if that is correct or what those ranks are.
I think "Master Member" comes at 1000 posts but i could be wrong. Doubtless there is an explanation somewhere on the forum but no idea where.

I don't think there are 'exclusive' ranks as such, 'L.S.', but VOC members can have their names highlighted in blue upon application. I found that one of the benefits this confers is a greater capacity for private messages (Up to 500 from 100).

Regards, John.