The shuttle hasn't done any commercial launches since the Challenger explosion. The shuttle program now has absolutely nothing to do with communications satellites or the internet. I'm not even saying it did at one time, I just haven't done the research to see if there was ever any kind of tenuous relationship.
By the way, I also doubt if you do much surfing that takes satellite hops, unless you're dependent on HughesNet or DirectWay.
While I agree with you, you're correct in believing that this tiered concept certainly won't go over well on Slashdot. In fact, the concept of paying for anything usually tanks here, whether stated directly, or through the thinly veiled arguments of many here regarding P2P or DRM.
Why is the word Monopoly tossed around Slashdot like nobody knows what the fuck it means conceptually? Furthermore, has anyone on this site ever realized that there's a big difference between a monopoly and an illegal monopoly?
Can I assume you never, ever, ever, talk on a cell phone while driving? If so, would you care to explain to me the difference between your behavior and theirs?
I haven't been into a SciFi show since ST:TNG, and looking back at it's content now, I probably wouldn't watch that if it were on currently. Anyway, I have to say that Battlestar Galactica is one of the most well done television shows I've seen in years, let alone a good SciFi show.
You couldn't be more wrong. BPL is passed around transformers with either Wi-Fi boxes on either side, or inductive couplers on each side of the transformer.
What is it that gets into people to post authoritative messages on subjects that they know nothing about on Slashdot?
I agree as well with your sentiment, although not in the necessity of buying Monster cables. Other good cables can be had for much less. If the poster's first thoughts turn to a sound system, I'd think they might be interested, or eventually interested in things like SACD, DVD-A, or maybe integrating satellite. While satellite isn't very high fidelity, it shares in common with the others that there's no pure digital interface that I know of. I think DVD-A might have recently got one, but I'm sure SACD hasn't anyway.
However if you've just got a bunch of 128k ripped mp3s, do whatever you want, they already sound bad, and I'm sure Bose sells some garbage-time wireless solution that'd be perfect for you.
That's not a problem for them, that's a problem for you. They make loads of money on sequels and incremental editions of sports games. They're not charities, and not incorporated for your enjoyment. They're companies formed to make a profit. Until you can demonstrate that this poses a problem for them, your agrument is not valid.
As far as I understand it, there isn't room for a 1080p signal on the 6mhz channel that a broadcaster gets. More likely, the only 1080p source you'd ever get would be from something in your living room like a computer, console, or maybe future HD-DVD player. I might be mistaken however.
I use CallVantage. I've read many reviews that compare to Vonage and other competitors. A good portion of the reviews have said that they think CallVantage is less prone to distortion than competing services. I believe it is in part because the TA has to sit directly behind the cable modem and priortizes the packets. Apparently a recent firmware revision lets the TA sit behind routers, but I haven't moved mine. I don't know if this negates the positive audio qualities that reviews have cited.
sharkman, let's imagine the scenario you've brought up. The problem with your logic is that internet would be the last thing affected. If BPL was used to provide VoIP, as AT&T is planning to do an end run around the ILECs, then you have your local and long distance problem solved. Besides, like I said, every government agency that has submitted FCC comments has expressed that with the right planning and technical solutions BPL won't destroy the HF bands. It was just my opionion that BPL for the masses would be more beneficial for society as a whole than preserving the HF bands if BPL would destroy them, but it won't. This is why I'm urging people to educate themselves instead of listen to me or you, both of who are biased at different ends of the spectrum. Here are some quotes from the NTIA BPL phase 2 study. Look it up yourself.
"Our BPL study of more than 10 million signal samples shows that solutions exist to all identified BPL technical issues"
"Gallagher says the NTIA's Phase 2 study has determined that BPL aggregation (ie, total emissions from multiple BPL systems) and ionospheric propagation "is not a potential near-term problem." The agency predicts that millions of BPL devices can be deployed under the rules the FCC is expected to adopt--probably later this year--before ionospheric propagation and aggregate BPL emissions become an interference issue."
200 Mbps will be eaten up? How do you suppose that? HDTV takes ~19.8 Mbps, and the rest of what I've described takes significantly less. Ambient's DS2 chipset equipment is 10-40x faster than DSL and cable modems per house. Look up the press release yourself. Beter yet go to ConEd's rollout in Westchester County, NY and see it in action. I don't see my cable co giving me more than 3mbps, and BPL is symmetrical, so it's better for VoIP and uploading. If that's your definition of horrible, than count me in. Besides BPL is meant to introduce competition to the Coax line into your house and benefit consumers. Fiber is certainly better, but the power grid is already into 99.9% of homes. What % is fiber now? I thought so. How much will it cost to run into old neighborhoods? Lots. I'm quite comfortable with my investment, thank you.
Good luck with your tesla coil, but I'm sure you won't enjoy prison. I'd bet it's a federal offense to damage the power grid these days.
I'm disappointed that the FCC even cares about HAM radio operators. FEMA, NTIA, and the Department of Homeland Security have all filed with the FCC proposals 03-104 and 04-37 in favor of BPL if reasonable precautions are taken. These are the govenment agencies HAMs have been saying will be crippled if BPL is deployed. Nowhere in their replies do they spew the doomsday scenarios that HAMs are putting forward to scare people regarding BPL. HAMs love to overstate how critical they are to the communications infrastructure in emergency situations. Nothing I've read yet in reference to emergency situations can replace the following benefits in my mind:
BPL can be used by power companies to provide
-Intelligent Demand Side Management
-Load Switching/Balancing
-Fault Locations
-Peak Shaving
-Power Quality Monitoring
-Real-Time Pricing
For consumers it can provide
-Video on Demand
-Content
-Alarm Monitoring
-Smart Appliances
-Broadband
-InternetTelephony
DS2, a BPL chipset maker has 200mbps chipsets that are working in the field now with a company working with ConEd called Ambient. My point is, even if the HAMs were completely deprived of their use of the HF spectrum (which by every government agency's accounts they won't be), I strongly believe that the benefits of a smarter power grid combined with a third major competitor for broadband outweigh the loss.
I am very biased however as I'm heavily invested in Ambient, so take that into account when you read my reply. But look at the FCC replies for yourself to make up your mind before you believe either me or HAM users.
Go to
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi
type in 04-37 or 03-104 in proceeding and educate yourself more about the issue.
Another competitor is on the way, BPL. Consolidated Edison is rolling out BPL in Westchester County outside of NYC with a company called Ambient. Ambient uses 200 Mbs DS2 chipsets and Earthlink is tabbed to be the ISP. My point is, even if BPL isn't in many areas yet, the competition will increase the rollout speed in many areas. The AARL is trying to stall BPL, but their attempts have been futile as it has the support of the FCC and NTIA now.
Slashdot Mirror
The shuttle hasn't done any commercial launches since the Challenger explosion. The shuttle program now has absolutely nothing to do with communications satellites or the internet. I'm not even saying it did at one time, I just haven't done the research to see if there was ever any kind of tenuous relationship. By the way, I also doubt if you do much surfing that takes satellite hops, unless you're dependent on HughesNet or DirectWay.
While I agree with you, you're correct in believing that this tiered concept certainly won't go over well on Slashdot. In fact, the concept of paying for anything usually tanks here, whether stated directly, or through the thinly veiled arguments of many here regarding P2P or DRM.
Why is the word Monopoly tossed around Slashdot like nobody knows what the fuck it means conceptually? Furthermore, has anyone on this site ever realized that there's a big difference between a monopoly and an illegal monopoly?
Can I assume you never, ever, ever, talk on a cell phone while driving? If so, would you care to explain to me the difference between your behavior and theirs?
AMEN BROTHER!
It'll work but it'll be 480i. I think HD is fantastic, but nobody will cry for blood. They probably won't even realize it's not 1080.
I haven't been into a SciFi show since ST:TNG, and looking back at it's content now, I probably wouldn't watch that if it were on currently. Anyway, I have to say that Battlestar Galactica is one of the most well done television shows I've seen in years, let alone a good SciFi show.
You couldn't be more wrong. BPL is passed around transformers with either Wi-Fi boxes on either side, or inductive couplers on each side of the transformer. What is it that gets into people to post authoritative messages on subjects that they know nothing about on Slashdot?
I agree as well with your sentiment, although not in the necessity of buying Monster cables. Other good cables can be had for much less. If the poster's first thoughts turn to a sound system, I'd think they might be interested, or eventually interested in things like SACD, DVD-A, or maybe integrating satellite. While satellite isn't very high fidelity, it shares in common with the others that there's no pure digital interface that I know of. I think DVD-A might have recently got one, but I'm sure SACD hasn't anyway. However if you've just got a bunch of 128k ripped mp3s, do whatever you want, they already sound bad, and I'm sure Bose sells some garbage-time wireless solution that'd be perfect for you.
That's not a problem for them, that's a problem for you. They make loads of money on sequels and incremental editions of sports games. They're not charities, and not incorporated for your enjoyment. They're companies formed to make a profit. Until you can demonstrate that this poses a problem for them, your agrument is not valid.
As far as I understand it, there isn't room for a 1080p signal on the 6mhz channel that a broadcaster gets. More likely, the only 1080p source you'd ever get would be from something in your living room like a computer, console, or maybe future HD-DVD player. I might be mistaken however.
estimates put BPL at about $150-200 per house passed. That's not staggeringly expensive.
I use CallVantage. I've read many reviews that compare to Vonage and other competitors. A good portion of the reviews have said that they think CallVantage is less prone to distortion than competing services. I believe it is in part because the TA has to sit directly behind the cable modem and priortizes the packets. Apparently a recent firmware revision lets the TA sit behind routers, but I haven't moved mine. I don't know if this negates the positive audio qualities that reviews have cited.
sharkman, let's imagine the scenario you've brought up. The problem with your logic is that internet would be the last thing affected. If BPL was used to provide VoIP, as AT&T is planning to do an end run around the ILECs, then you have your local and long distance problem solved. Besides, like I said, every government agency that has submitted FCC comments has expressed that with the right planning and technical solutions BPL won't destroy the HF bands. It was just my opionion that BPL for the masses would be more beneficial for society as a whole than preserving the HF bands if BPL would destroy them, but it won't. This is why I'm urging people to educate themselves instead of listen to me or you, both of who are biased at different ends of the spectrum. Here are some quotes from the NTIA BPL phase 2 study. Look it up yourself. "Our BPL study of more than 10 million signal samples shows that solutions exist to all identified BPL technical issues" "Gallagher says the NTIA's Phase 2 study has determined that BPL aggregation (ie, total emissions from multiple BPL systems) and ionospheric propagation "is not a potential near-term problem." The agency predicts that millions of BPL devices can be deployed under the rules the FCC is expected to adopt--probably later this year--before ionospheric propagation and aggregate BPL emissions become an interference issue."
200 Mbps will be eaten up? How do you suppose that? HDTV takes ~19.8 Mbps, and the rest of what I've described takes significantly less. Ambient's DS2 chipset equipment is 10-40x faster than DSL and cable modems per house. Look up the press release yourself. Beter yet go to ConEd's rollout in Westchester County, NY and see it in action. I don't see my cable co giving me more than 3mbps, and BPL is symmetrical, so it's better for VoIP and uploading. If that's your definition of horrible, than count me in. Besides BPL is meant to introduce competition to the Coax line into your house and benefit consumers. Fiber is certainly better, but the power grid is already into 99.9% of homes. What % is fiber now? I thought so. How much will it cost to run into old neighborhoods? Lots. I'm quite comfortable with my investment, thank you. Good luck with your tesla coil, but I'm sure you won't enjoy prison. I'd bet it's a federal offense to damage the power grid these days.
I'm disappointed that the FCC even cares about HAM radio operators. FEMA, NTIA, and the Department of Homeland Security have all filed with the FCC proposals 03-104 and 04-37 in favor of BPL if reasonable precautions are taken. These are the govenment agencies HAMs have been saying will be crippled if BPL is deployed. Nowhere in their replies do they spew the doomsday scenarios that HAMs are putting forward to scare people regarding BPL. HAMs love to overstate how critical they are to the communications infrastructure in emergency situations. Nothing I've read yet in reference to emergency situations can replace the following benefits in my mind: BPL can be used by power companies to provide -Intelligent Demand Side Management -Load Switching/Balancing -Fault Locations -Peak Shaving -Power Quality Monitoring -Real-Time Pricing For consumers it can provide -Video on Demand -Content -Alarm Monitoring -Smart Appliances -Broadband -InternetTelephony DS2, a BPL chipset maker has 200mbps chipsets that are working in the field now with a company working with ConEd called Ambient. My point is, even if the HAMs were completely deprived of their use of the HF spectrum (which by every government agency's accounts they won't be), I strongly believe that the benefits of a smarter power grid combined with a third major competitor for broadband outweigh the loss. I am very biased however as I'm heavily invested in Ambient, so take that into account when you read my reply. But look at the FCC replies for yourself to make up your mind before you believe either me or HAM users. Go to http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi type in 04-37 or 03-104 in proceeding and educate yourself more about the issue.
Another competitor is on the way, BPL. Consolidated Edison is rolling out BPL in Westchester County outside of NYC with a company called Ambient. Ambient uses 200 Mbs DS2 chipsets and Earthlink is tabbed to be the ISP. My point is, even if BPL isn't in many areas yet, the competition will increase the rollout speed in many areas. The AARL is trying to stall BPL, but their attempts have been futile as it has the support of the FCC and NTIA now.