alltel.net · Domains · Slashdot Mirror

Re:[AC]Just because you don't get TV channels by everphilski · 2008-01-30 08:57 · Score: 2, Interesting · on TV White Space & The Future of Wireless Broadband

PSK31 uses 31hz of bandwidth.

The formula for CW bandwidth is the bits per second (BPS) times a shape factor, K. CW speed is generally in words per minute, the word "PARIS" is the general word benchmark, 5 letters with 50 bits of information. 50/60 = 0.83 bits/second.

With a shape factor K=4, at 10 WPM (relatively slow), the signal width is about 40hz, wider than PSK31. At 25wpm (what I personally find comfortable) it's about 100hz. More experienced practitioners can speak even faster :)

The shape factor is a function of the wave modulating the carrier ... and in reality could be much higher, or possibly a bit lower.

(this information can be found a number of places, including here)

Re:maybe, maybe not by JimXugle · 2006-07-24 16:03 · Score: 0 · on True Unlimited Broadband in the UK?

Lucky You. I may be in the coverage area for a 6MBit/384Kbit DSL Line... if I'm lucky. The cable modem sevice around here is disgustingly unreliable, so I'm pretty much stuck with DSL. Windstream's Acceptable Use Policy nor their terms and conditions say anything about maximim data transfer. Which is good, because I'm big into the bittorrent.

Re:maybe, maybe not by JimXugle · 2006-07-24 16:03 · Score: 0 · on True Unlimited Broadband in the UK?

Lucky You. I may be in the coverage area for a 6MBit/384Kbit DSL Line... if I'm lucky. The cable modem sevice around here is disgustingly unreliable, so I'm pretty much stuck with DSL. Windstream's Acceptable Use Policy nor their terms and conditions say anything about maximim data transfer. Which is good, because I'm big into the bittorrent.

Re:Other competitors? by DavidTC · 2005-08-07 02:37 · Score: 1 · on FCC Reclassifies DSL, Drops Common Carrier Rules

Even if the local phone carrier and the local cable carrier are effectively monopolies, they're still in competition with each other, right?

Unless they're the the same company.

Screwed up family tree? by Pan+T.+Hose · 2004-11-17 07:12 · Score: 0, Offtopic · on Netscape Reborn?

Netscape, the company, begot Mozilla, the Browser.
Mozilla, the browser begot Netscape, the Browser.
Mozilla, the browser, begot Firefox, the Browser.
Firefox, the browser, begot Netscape the Browser.
Man, that's one screwed up family tree :>

Screwed up family tree? You haven't read "--All You Zombies--" by Robert A. Heinlein, have you? Now, that is one screwed up family tree. (You can find the full text on Google or buy The Fantasies of Robert A. Heinlein.)

A "Can't Do" Attitude at NASA by mhollis · 2004-07-14 12:57 · Score: 1 · on NASA Urged to Reconsider Shuttle Mission to HST

NASA is trying to fund lots of things and its priorities have shifted in accordance with its history and funding.

Back in the 1960s Congress funded NASA programs because it was "necessary" to beat the Soviets in technology. And the Space Race was the technology showcase that the Soviets chose for us (they were the first in Space with both unmanned and manned vehicles). Congressional candidates translated that into politics: If you did not vote for NASA funding, you were "soft on Communism."

By the time of the moon landings, the rhetoric had changed from "red scare" and "red baiting" to The Great Society, basic human rights and whether or not one was for or against the war in Vietnam. Detante was in vogue because Nixon was winning the "unfought wars" against China and Russia with his trips there.

NASA's attitudes changed from an assumption that funding would always be there, which encouraged a "can do" attitude, to wondering how to save programs and which programs to save. NASA negotiated with people who wanted launch vehicles and found it had competition -- not from the Soviets, who were still unacceptable to the West but from the newly-minted European corporation, largely funded by those governments in Western Europe who needed access to Clarke orbit for geostationary communication satellites.

NASA's first proposal, which I remember from my World Book Encyclopedia, was to build a reusable manned vehicle that it could fit atop a Saturn rocket engine. NASA would use the Saturn V (which was used to launch the moon missions as well as Skylab) to construct an outpost in low Earth orbit and use these reusable vehicles to transfer men and cargo to a space station. The space station would, in turn, be a waypoint for launches to the moon and beyond.

But NASA had problems getting customers to buy into its new concept, because its reusable launch vehicle, or "shuttle" was too small. The military insisted that its cargo bay be of a certain size, so that they could launch large spy satellites. NASA, fearing that all satellite launches would go to Arianespace, kowtowed to the US military and built our present shuttle system. The delay in changing the program cost them ten years and billions of dollars. It cost them most of their "can do" managers. It also cost them support in Congress and among the American people. With no regular launches, media started asking NASA the questions previously reserved for congressmen and the President: "Is this a good use of taxpayer money?"

NASA administrators and PR people started talking about spinoffs from their scientific endeavors to answer many of these questions and even initiated the publication of a magazine in 1996 to help convince the public and corporations that NASA programs are relevant.

Then came the shuttle program. It was over budget, very, very late and hugely popular, until the launches became routine. And what made them routine was a consistent refusal, within top level managers to see that space flight is more dangerous than flying in a private plane. Also, there was no funding for a place for the shuttle to get to as before the first shuttle launched, Skylab fell from the sky. By the time of the Challenger accident in 1986, upper level managers were no longer listening to the scientists assembling and handling the equipment And I would argue that the recommendations in management behavior didn't change.

Nowadays, NASA is infected with a "can't do" attitude as the Columbia tragedy grounds NASA and the facts are reported that managers felt it was best to risk the lives of the astronauts and the shuttle because they

Nothin' but jokes by eclectro · 2004-02-19 01:04 · Score: 4, Funny · on Morse Code Enters The 21st Century

from all you whippersnappers. You don't know nuthin'

We were talking across the world and making friends with strangers before Al Gore was a twinkle in his father's eye, and we were doing it for free. Not only did we invent 133t speak, we but we refined it .

We had to deal with inteference from the neighbor's electronic organ, changing band conditions, sloppy handkeying, line interference, nests on the antennas, having to make our own equipment, the massive russian woodpeckers equipment problems that we had to fix ourselves, and having to log our operations.

And we were grateful

NA7E

Sounds like a good idea... by Zeekamotay · 2002-05-29 08:39 · Score: 1 · on George Lucas May Be Completely Evil

... for me to poop on!

bandwidth, 911 by andyring · 2002-04-16 09:14 · Score: 1 · on VoIP for the Masses!

A few issues here. As far as bandwidth goes, VoIP does not take very much. My office has a VoIP phone system from Intertel, we've had it about a year, and it works quite well. Granted, thus far everything is over DSL. It takes about 16k for a phone call, and voice quality is impressive.

Secondly, I'd imagine 911 would work, much as it does on a cell phone, but you're never quite sure what 911 center it will be routed to, and as of yet, there's no E911 (allowing a dispatcher to see your address, etc.). But, there are easy ways around that as well. Simply look up the number for the police dispatch and call that, in larger cities it's manned 24/7, and I'd imagine they can send out units or transfer you right to the local 911 dispatcher.

Personally, as soon as my local ISP is able to offer service via cable (sometime later this year, I've heard, instead of AOL TimeWarner exclusively), I will ditch DSL and phone service entirely, ridding myself of another monopoly, and likely saving a few $ in the end.

Re:Vibration Isn't Always Bad by Metrollica · 2002-02-02 12:54 · Score: 0, Offtopic · on Vibrating Controller Alert

There is a better link here.

Those crazy Japanese... by Hard_Code · 2002-01-31 05:16 · Score: 4, Funny · on Artwork from Ancient Atari History

I wonder how they brainstormed *this* up:

Boon Ga Boon Ga

I would Just like a job by arakon · 2001-06-04 13:12 · Score: 1 · on Employers Who Hold Back Their Employees?

Its a valid point, companies like hiring out of other companies pre-trained stock... saves them the effort of training. Which really pisses me off.

I just got out of school and I have seen next to zero companies willing to take on anyone with less than 2 years experience in the industry (game industry for me). Which puts me further in a jam; how does one get experience and learn more about the job if no one hires them? Hell at this point I'd almost work for peanuts. Its times like these that really make me regret leaving programing to persue game art.

A similar thing happened in the Animation industry back in the 60's and 70s.... all the studios put off hiring new talent (disney, WB, etc.) and as a result when all the old experienced animators retired in the 80s there was no one to take their place. Hence we ended up with shitty animation in the 80s, (aka the Black Cauldron). History does repeat it self. I am sure almost every IT field out there will soon start running into this problem.

Its a lot easier for investors to trust money to someone who has been in buisness than a new guy despite his creds.

end /. rant
home

Finally... a story where this is *not* offtopic... by Anonymous Coward · 2000-05-19 20:38 · Score: 5 · on Oxford Yanks Student Page Over Spoof DeCSS

and I'm asleep at the keyboard. Doh!

Oh well... here it is.
Add your own, and spread this far and wide:

This announcement brought to you by the DeCSS Polar Bear.

Time for Slashdot to take a stand... by Anonymous Coward · 2000-04-05 03:12 · Score: 4 · on MPAA Files Another Injunction Against 2600

The following is a list of all the mirrors from the 2600 site.

Slashdot Mirror

Domain: alltel.net

Comments · 14