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User: ndege

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  1. The GPS device has a knife switch on the back that toggles it to use LORAN navigation.

    Mod parent ++

    LORAN was awesome!!! Wish they would have left the inland LORAN infrastructure in place. When a large CME or other unexpected astronomical event occurs, it would be nice to have ground-based electronic navigation already in place. Oh well.

  2. Re:SA meh. on New Air Force Satellites Launched To Improve GPS (techcrunch.com) · · Score: 1

    > used to be a ton of "base stations"

    I believe you are speaking of LORAN. Read more at wikipedia.

  3. Re:Property rights don't extend very far into the on New Video Shows Shot Down Drone Hovered For Only 22 Seconds · · Score: 1

    > ... allowed to TRANSITION your airspace. They are not allowed to sit there in your airspace and record what you are doing.

    [citation needed]

    It is perfectly legal in the US to slowly fly over someone's house at 400 feet in a REAL helicopter...or, hover for 22 seconds. The control of the airspace is by the FAA. No local jurisdiction over anything in the "airspace".
     

  4. Re:Wow ... on Samsung Cripples Windows Update To Prevent Incompatible Drivers · · Score: 1

    Once you said "Dell", the above statement was utterly redundant.

    Are you a Troll? Dell business equipment is some of the best equipment for cost (I am speaking of PowerEdge, Precision, and Latitude series). AND, all their drivers are available for download. Dell also publishes their service manuals to the public...so a user can disassemble/repair their own hardware if they are so inclined.

    With that said, I will concede that their consumer stuff can be flaky. I believe that the problems with the consumer stuff is poor quality control.

  5. Re:Better use of money and effort on Future Fighters Won't Need Ejection Seats · · Score: 1

    Please define "bad guys"

  6. Re:I'd love Gigabit internet on Time Warner Cable: No Consumer Demand For Gigabit Internet · · Score: 1

    Move to Chattanooga, TN (north of Atlanta), you will be pleased.

  7. Re:Econ 101 on Time Warner Cable: No Consumer Demand For Gigabit Internet · · Score: 1

    Agreed. Mod parent +1, please.

    This is also one of the issues with 4G data service. You can consume your entire monthly allotment in less than an hour with the kids talking to their grandparents using facetime on vacation. Arg...

  8. Re:They better get ready. on Time Warner Cable: No Consumer Demand For Gigabit Internet · · Score: 1

    I have epbfi. Where I live, I also have CenturyLink DSL, AT&T DSL, and Comcast Cable internet options. I have used all three. Comcast became completely unreliable with multi-hour outages multiple times every week. Had to purchase a sprint card to continue to get work done.

    In the 2 years I have had EPBfi, I have never had a single outage. I also telecommute nearly everyday to work (as a network/server engineer).

  9. Re:Translation: We Don't Have Gigabit Fiber on Time Warner Cable: No Consumer Demand For Gigabit Internet · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Well, I have 1,000Mbps in my area; the fastest internet service in the US. See this news article published in 2010 about EPBfi.

    All 100,000 customers have EPB power (this is the local electric power company in Chattanooga, TN, USA). Because of EPB's electric smartgrid, they also provide fiber to 100% of their coverage area. This means that every home/business/apartment has access to Gbit Internet and TV/phone.

    The slowest speed they currently offer is 50Mbps (for $57.99 per month), the fastest is 1000Mbps($299.99). I am on 100Mbps because it is only $12 more per month than 50Mbps.

    Oh, and there are no max bandwidth/transfer caps. You can do 1000Mbps all day long...EPBfi has the upstream bandwidth.

    I was on Comcast for 8 years. I telecommute most days; Comcast would go down for hours at a time for no apparent reason. When I would phone Comcast to report the outages, the customer service rep would say that they are upgrading the services in my area. The service person would say it as if that was the script on their screen as why the internet went down for 2 hours at 11am and again at 4pm. It got so bad over the course of a year, that I had to purchase a Sprint broadband card/account to continue to get work done as I came to just expect outages. I could not tell a client that I was having internet connectivity issues when I am doing remote-based network consulting.) ;)

    After switching to EPBfi 2 years ago, I haven't had a SINGLE service-affecting outage. They appear to have built their Internet infrastructure as solidly as they build their power distribution network.

    Feel free to read more here: https://epbfi.com/internet/

    Oh, BTW, I don't own stock in EPB or work for them....I am a customer that likes to pay for internet that works reliably.

    Here is a news article published in 2012 about Chattanooga's upgrade of all customers from 30Mbps to 50Mbps.

    It is interesting how none of the big media giants want to provide the additional speed/reliability; I guess if you can feed your customers sewage and tell them it's honey...and the customers believe it, more money goes in your pocket.

  10. Re:I am so relieved on Ban On Loud TV Commercials Takes Effect Today · · Score: 1

    When I first read the summary of TFA, I quietly said to myself, "Good. I am glad we have solved all the big problems on our planet."

    There are two things that immediately come to mind:

    1. First world "problems" aren't problems: http://youtu.be/fxyhfiCO_XQ

    2. Our perspectives and focus in life are highly myopic. For our species to survive, we must think broadly and deliberately. We need to have awe at the world around us. We need to take time to be still and listen. The latest gadgets and toys are great, but what we do with the gadgets and how we use them is far more important. The short time we are given on this earth is more important than most of us can conceive.

    What I am trying to say is that there is so much more to life than the volume of television commercials. During this time of year, take time to turn off the tap of the media giants and spend some time with your loved ones...the people who helped shape you, and the people you are helping to shape.

    Mr Rogers says it better than I can during his lifetime achievement award acceptance speech. You need to hear it if you haven't: http://youtu.be/Upm9LnuCBUM

    Here's a video to help explain this broad overview perspective that I speak of: http://vimeo.com/55073825

    Now, what was that about some new FCC legislation taking effect today?

  11. Re:sometime it's just stupidity on Ban On Loud TV Commercials Takes Effect Today · · Score: 1

    Well played.

  12. Re:Keyboards no, $750 RAID cards yes on Ask Slashdot: Old Technology Coexisting With New? · · Score: 1
  13. Re:Keyboards no, $750 RAID cards yes on Ask Slashdot: Old Technology Coexisting With New? · · Score: 1

    I like the buckling spring feel. I use the Unicomp Classic 104 and have been very happy with it for 8-10 years now.

  14. Re:So noone on EPB Fiber tried there test then. on The Fastest ISPs In the US · · Score: 1

    The cool thing is that 100% of the greater Chattanooga, TN area has been wired with fiber to the home...for use with their automated meter reading stuff. Even the smallest country home miles away from any other network service has fiber connectivity now. Even this remote farmhouse can sign up and actually get 1000Mb/s service.

  15. Re:So noone on EPB Fiber tried there test then. on The Fastest ISPs In the US · · Score: 1

    So, I am on EPBfi.com and purchased their 50Mbps service. As of 30 seconds ago, I am getting 81.74Mb/s down and 55.36 Mb/s up with 6ms ping. See: http://www.speedtest.net/result/2216317275.png

  16. Re:Brace yourselves on Windows 8 Is Ready · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Win 2008 can run headless. Here is now to do it.

    The more interesting thing is that Microsoft now requires all server apps be able to run without a GUI. There was also a /. story about it.

    BTW, nice 4 digit /. UID. :)

  17. Re:Who cares? on Stolen NASA Laptop Had Space Station Control Code · · Score: 1

    I wish I could mod this comment +5

  18. Re:Is this one in East Texas? on Candidates Sued By Patent Troll For Using Facebook · · Score: 1

    And you have to pay a $1,000 fine for playing Frisbee or football on the beach.

    bad information: See: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/football-and-frisbee-beach-furor-la-county-reels.html

  19. Re:My phone has a camera on Rearview Car Cameras Likely Mandated By 2014 · · Score: 1

    Second most useful thing I've ever learned...

    Which begs the question: So, what is _the_ most useful thing you ever learned?

  20. Re:Supremacy Clause on State Legislatures Attempt To Limit TSA Searches · · Score: 1

    If you really want to know, look at:

    http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations/

    Specifically, here: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title14/14tab_02.tpl

    http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/

    Basically, for general aviation, you don't need to file a flight plan or anything. You go out to your plane, get in and fly...like your car. If you are at an airport with an operational tower, you will need to get clearance and authorization for when to take off, but it is still your decision where you go, and when. As soon as you leave the airport's airspace with VFR flight, you can fly however you want.

  21. Re:Supremacy Clause on State Legislatures Attempt To Limit TSA Searches · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The same situation occurred back in the day with Montana's [lack of posted] speed limit.

    Its all about the federal income tax pulling from the pockets of [state] citiziens, then giving the funds back to the states if they play by the Federal "rules".

    This is how the highway system has worked for years.

    However, if taxes were decreased at a federal level and increased at the state level, the states would then be able to pay for their own roadwork without Federal involvement. But, how would that help Federal control?

  22. Re:Bandwidth used is 4k video on Almost 1 In 3 US Warplanes Is a Drone · · Score: 1

    Agreed. It is all about the design requirements. :)

    Thanks for the clarification.

  23. Bandwidth used is 4k video on Almost 1 In 3 US Warplanes Is a Drone · · Score: 1

    Wondering about the 500M per sec?

    Take a look a the numbers for 4k video.

    Now, be sure to keep in mind that on such an aircraft, there is at least one visual light spectrum camera, and at least one high resolution thermal camera.

    If I were the one laying out the specs for this bird, I might want to look a direction other than just facing forward. Maybe a couple of cameras? The 500Mb or 500MB doesn't seem unreasonable when trying to pull all that data from the aircraft real-time; even compressed.

    The telemetry data is small by comparison, but what is the refresh rate of said telemetry data? 30Hz? 50Hz? And, how much telmetry data is being sent? Keep in mind all the other data...even including the most basic lat/long, heading, airspeed (IAS via multiple pitot tubes), engine data (temperatures at different points, fuel flows, pressures, etc).

    Here is a photo of the flightdeck/cockpit of a Boeing 777. Check out the cockpit of a C130 at night. Now, if instead of pushing all those sensor systems to a flightdeck on board, what if all that data has to be sent to the other side of the world?

    Another [maybe flamebait] commenter suggested that the drone pilots operate in theater. From what I have read, the Airforce pilots the drones from Las Vegas; "just minutes from the slot machines."

      <rant> What makes so many slashdoters completely underestimate the complexity of such a system? The average /. crowd these days seem to be quite egotistical to assume that they could "do it better". </rant>

  24. Re:And there was much rejoicing !! on AT&T Officially Ends Plans To Acquire T-Mobile USA · · Score: 1

    End the coverage debate: http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx

    There is a lot of area that isn't covered, but most sections of interstate are covered.

  25. Re:You are doing it wrong on Adobe Ends Development of Flash On Mobile Browsers · · Score: 1

    So many [stupid] websites have code in the site that, as soon as you visit, a pop-up with a message something to the effect of, "Welcome Apple iPhone user! We have an app for our website, why don't you use that instead!" then, tiny text to actually attempt to view the site. Not only that, but often, the website then attempts to give me a mobile "optimized" version of the website. Dang it! I don't want an optimized version with limited functionality.

    To solve this, I have installed and use the Terra web browser on my iPad2 as it can masquerade as different versions of IE or Safari. Much of the time, I run in "IE" mode so that websites don't suspect I am running through the ipad; then I always see the "real" site.