Comments for Christopher's web site

Comment on An experiment: buying new tyres online by MJB

MJB — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:12:32 +0000

I don't think there was anything particularly unusual about the order apart from having to have an N2 coding on the replacements to match what I currently have fitted. The chap who handled the order knew what I needed and why so it was pretty smooth all the way. I guess there'll be awkward spec sometimes tho but surely that'd apply to all of the dealers?
Wasn't really any lead time at all either. I ordered on the Wednesday and required them replacing over the course of the next week. They fitted them at my office the next morning. I wasn't expecting an specific time slot but to be fair they booked it for 11.30 and were there on the dot.
Without any other mobile to compare to (which I suppose I should for that purpose!) I would have to give a good 9/10! Only omitting the 1 to avoid looking like a plug!!

Comment on An experiment: buying new tyres online by Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:33:04 +0000

Sounds promising M J, I'll have to check them out when I get my rears replaced. What were their lead times like from placing the order to the fitting? Did you order unusual or hard-to-source tyres? I had "issues" with my car (Mk. 4 Fiesta) and finding someone who could supply the Michelins I wanted in the suitable rim and width dimensions.

Comment on An experiment: buying new tyres online by M J Bricknell

M J Bricknell — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:26:45 +0000

No. I have asked. They are a franchised business but they don't use any other company to fulfill thier work - which is a big tick in my box. I used them to replace two tyres on my 997 in Milton Keynes. First thing I noticed was the quality of the vehicle that turned up. really high tech and very clean. John was the fitter/franchisee and both knew his stuff as well as taking proper care with my prided wheels.
Overall great experience as my first crack at a mobile service. Hometyre does have the look of being a little pricey an offering but don't be decieved, the price was well within the mix.

Comment on Photos: inside a Virgin Media cable street cabinet by Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:36:51 +0000

The coloured labels by the tap points denote attenuation levels; the longer the line to a customer's premises the more attenuation the line will have, simple physics unfortunately. I think they likely have the rows clearly labelled simply for service engineers to quickly understand patch panel layout. A short line with too powerful a signal being sent down it has the potential to cause damage to the CPE (i.e., cable modem) or induce crosstalk. DOCSIS3 (i.e., their 50 MB and 100 MB services) are far less susceptible to this problem (but I still don't rule it out affecting DOCSIS3 connections). Jonbxx on AVForums explained it pretty well in 2007:

It's more to do with the quality of the signal. A cable engineer explained to me that the output power from the green box in the street is set so it's OK for the furthest cabled property from the box. Nearer properties have their signals attenuated in the green box [street cab / dist. box -- Chris] to compensate for the shorter lengths of cable used. Sometimes, the signal can still be a little high at the end of the cable in your house so they put an attenuator on your cable which is what you have there. It's easier to sort the levels at your box than running backwards and forwards from the street cabinet, adjusting levels.

If you want an excellent technical primer on power levels and SNR on the VM cable network, read this on the community forums: http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Up-to-100Mb-broadband/POWER-LEVELS-amp-SNR-A-TECHNICAL-PRIMER-Nov-2011/td-p/846181. Also useful to read up: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/33681678-11dbmv-ds-power-level-s.html http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Fibre-optic-broadband-cable/Using-a-non-Virgin-Media-cable-modem-possible/td-p/10066/page/4 Also of note, discussion about FPAs (Forward Path Attenuators, basically power sinks): http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12/33683997-forward-path-attenuators.html. Also if you're reading threads and notice cryptic references to SID or SBD / CAB areas, BOMs etc. these are all industry-specific acronyms; see this thread for an explanation.

Comment on Photos: inside a Virgin Media cable street cabinet by keith

keith — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:21:02 +0000

could anyone tell me what the colour code sections meen!! 29dB 22dB 18dB,, ect ect
we have one outside the house , i have the same thing as my friend next door , yet he is in a differant colour code ????? what is it for PLEASE HELP

Comment on Chinese domain name prospecting scam - it's back by Erika

Erika — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:06:03 +0000

Thank you for this article. I received this email from them (below) and got suspicious because I couldn't find any website related to the email (leo@dish-network.net.cn) "Dear President, We are the department of Asian Domain Registration Service in china. I have something to confirm with you. We formally received an application on Dec.21th, 2011 that a company which self-styled "Wayi Holdings Co.,Ltd" were applying to register "(my domain)" as their Net Brand and following domain names:" A list of domains... Afterour initial checking, we have found the name were similar to your company's, so we need to check with you whether your company has authorized that company to register these names. If you have authorized this, we will finish the registration at once. If you have not, please let us know within 7 workdays, so that we will handle this issue better. Out of the time limit we will unconditionally finish the registration for "Wayi Holdings Co.,Ltd". Best Regards, Leo Pan Registration Dept. Tel: (+86) 551-5223174 || Fax: (+86) 551-5223175 Address:10/F,Jindi International Building,No.588 MaAnshan South Road,Baohe District,Hefei.China

Comment on Chinese domain name prospecting scam - it's back by Tony Varela

Tony Varela — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:22:12 +0000

This was an email I just received.

Dear Sir,
Sorry to trouble you!

We are a trademark intellectual property service organization. On December 12, 2011, a company named "Skeen Holdings Ltd." submitted a domain registration application to us, applying for registering some domain names similar to the "goflightinc.com".

When auditing, we found that you are the owner of "goflightinc.com", so we inform you about this issue. Did you consign them to submit the application? If not, I doubt that they may have other purpose. Could you confirm by return in time? So that we can promptly and effectively deal with this matter.

Best Regards,
Jason Long
Audit Supervisor

Web: http://www.url-center.com
Tel: 00852-30697-756
Fax: 00852-30696-940
Mail: Jl@sknetservice.com

Thanks for posting this. I will delete the email now.

Comment on Chinese domain name prospecting scam - it's back by paul barthaud

paul barthaud — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:20:25 +0000

...and another for the same scam under Wali received today 4.11.11. From "Leo".
leo@dish-network.net.
Many thanks to Chris and others for bothering to flag this problem.

Comment on My thoughts on BBC Click's mobile mast debate by Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:23:58 +0000

I think the problem with many is they're stuck in the mentality of TV masts -- one humongous eyesore on the hill 20 miles away and that's pretty much it. The day I come up with a system for an inverse harmonic return path with some kind of as-yet-undeveloped transmitter, I'll share the patent spoils with all the commenters

Comment on My thoughts on BBC Click's mobile mast debate by Derek

Derek — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:53:09 +0000

Chris & commenters:

Thank you for posting a little island of sanity out there in the www! Every time I hear someone complaining about a mast, they *always* include that old chestnut "it's a radiation risk". And 9 times out of 10, a brief laymans' explanation of the inverse square law will result in one or more of the following reactions: blank looks / ridicule / refusal to believe what I'm saying (i.e. I'm wrong) / accusations that I work for the mobile phone company. Sometimes it seems the people with the loudest voices that are paid the most attention are too often the ones with the least knowledge...