The Vent and Rant Thread

[silverraven]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I'm considering buying a wearable fitness monitor - heart rate, step counter etc, I installed an app on my new (first) smartphone, I quite like having it but I don't like having to carry the damn phone. I am looking at the Fitbit Charge 2, JB have it at a reduced price.

Any other suggestions

BR

I just got the Fitbit Flex 2, so not sure if it is the same as the Charge 2. But, I only have to have my wrist near my cell phone once a day to sync. I don't carry my cell phone on me all the time either. If I am really curious about the length of a specific walk I will sync before I leave and when I get back from my walk I will sync with my phone just to see exactly how far that path was. Then I jot that down so I know from then on. So now I know in my neighborhood how far a 1 mile, 2 mile, 3 mile, etc circuit is.
S

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

Hopefully it'll be cold where you are.

No such luck here. It's reported that today will be the warmest and windiest New Year's Eve in a long time. Wind and fireworks don't go well together. Luckily, there is a chance of rain, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that.

I just have to make a quick trip to the supermarket later and after that I'll retreat with my headphones on and Kindle in hand. Though I have to admit that during the night it wasn't too bad in comparison to other years. probably because it rained...

We are at -4C feels like -12C. 25 and 10 F.
So yes, we are cold.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by silverraven

I just got the Fitbit Flex 2, so not sure if it is the same as the Charge 2. But, I only have to have my wrist near my cell phone once a day to sync. I don't carry my cell phone on me all the time either. If I am really curious about the length of a specific walk I will sync before I leave and when I get back from my walk I will sync with my phone just to see exactly how far that path was. Then I jot that down so I know from then on. So now I know in my neighborhood how far a 1 mile, 2 mile, 3 mile, etc circuit is.
S

Thanks - Charge 2 has a display which appeals, Flex 2 is water proof which means I wont lose it at the pool, and its cheaper - decisions, decisions

BR

[silverraven]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Thanks - Charge 2 has a display which appeals, Flex 2 is water proof which means I wont lose it at the pool, and its cheaper - decisions, decisions

BR

I also got this set of different colored bands for my Flex 2 so I can match outfits. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Cause I NEEDED them!
S

[Breathinlady]

I also hope it stays cold here in Indiana right now its 8 F or -13 C tonight at midnight it is supposed to be 4 F or -15.5 C. I don't mind the fireworks as much as IDIOTS firing off guns! That scares the heck out of me...somehow the idiots do not realize the bullets coming down are as quick as going up! Can I say DANGER, DANGER! Hope everyone here has a great New Year.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Hitch

100mbps? ONE HUNDRED mbps? Oh.....man, I'd be happy with 100, never mind 10x faster. I have..10. 10mbps, and realistically, that means 8-9.5, on great days, and the upload...well. We all know the realities of upload.

My first broadband was DSL from what later became Verizon. Cable modem service wasn't available where I was, so it was DSL or nothing. It was 640K up/90K down. And I had fun confirming I could get it over my existing phone line. My building had renovated a while previous and run new electric and plumbing (which it badly needed). In the process, they blocked access to the box in the hall where a telco installer would need to connect to run a second line, so I couldn't get one if it was required. As it happened, a simple splitter jack was all that was required, with a line running to the phone and another to the DSL modem.

But I was an early adopter, and it showed. It took three months from placement of order to working install, and lots of back and forth with Customer Care before it worked. Bell Atlantic screwed up everything that could be screwed up in filling the order, starting with incorrectly entering the credit card number I gave them for billing. (They sent a couple of emails about not being able to bill the CC to the email address I couldn't access because service wasn't up and running. )

There was a lot more, but eventually I was up and running. Compared to access via a 56K modem, it was "Wow! Speed!" It had quirks, like using PPPoE, and I had to log in with ID and password to access the network.

My cable co. recalled that I had inquired about cable modem service, and dropped me a note when it became available. I could get 2mbit down/384K up for the same price as DSL, and pick up a self install kit for $99 across the street from where my office was located. Sold! I got the kit, brought it home, set it up, and was online and running in 15 minutes. And there was no need to log in - the fact that I connected at all indicated I was an authorized user.

I kept the DSL line as a high speed backup for a while, and had two network connections and email addresses. This mightily confused the firewall I was running, and it reached a point where I couldn't get email from either address because the firewall appeared to think the respective email servers were trying to talk to each other through my machine and blocked both. A new firewall fixed that.

My cable co was trying to fend off the telco and DSL service, and my bandwidth steadily increased with no change in my charges. I discovered it had increased when things seemed to be moving faster and speed tests indicated higher bandwidth. I continued to benefit when the cable co was trying to fend off Verizon and FIOS. FIOS wasn't available where I was, but they didn't know that, so more bandwidth.

Most recently, they were doing upgrades across their network to roll out higher speeds. I had a Turbo account, with 20mbit down/2mbit up, and the jump from that was the 100mbit tier. I had top get a new cable modem that they supplied, but it worked fine.

As mentioned, I'll be going for FIOS when it's available to my building, but lower costs overall are the reason. The nature of FIOS makes symmetrical speeds the norm, and I'll have equal upload and download bandwidth. I don't actually need the high speed upload, but it comes with the service. If I were running a server and allowing others to connect to me, it would be useful, because the upload bandwidth is what would get used. I have no plans to do that.

I live in a major metropolitan area, and I sometimes have to remind myself that things I take for granted, like everything I need on a day to day basis being within 5 or ten minutes walking distance isn't universal.

Neither is broadband. I was amused by a report that French telecom company Altice, which has been trying to expand into the US market, has cancelled plans to build out their network in France. The French government has made fast broadband a national priority and will be funding the infrastructure. Since the financial markets have been looking askance at the enormous level of debt Altice has assumed as part of their ambitious expansion, I'm sure Altice was delighted to piggy back on the government's efforts instead of spending yet more money to do it themselves.

I do not expect the US government to emulate the French, and am simply grateful I live in a place where there is actual competition in this area.
______
Dennis

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by silverraven

I also got this set of different colored bands for my Flex 2 so I can match outfits. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Cause I NEEDED them!
S

Pssst - I only wear black, white, grey, and navy; no prizes for guessing why

I see the Charge 2 has a heart rate monitor. Mine is given to stopping, it would be interesting to see what happens when the 'pacemaker' kicks in. My cardiologist might want some downloads

Last time I saw him he greeted me with, "Sorry for the wait, I've been reviewing your records, Mr ---. Your heart has a very interesting history." I think he might have meant, "I thought you'd be dead by now."

BR

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

My first broadband was DSL from what later became Verizon. Cable modem service wasn't available where I was, so it was DSL or nothing. It was 640K up/90K down. And I had fun confirming I could get it over my existing phone line. My building had renovated a while previous and run new electric and plumbing (which it badly needed). In the process, they blocked access to the box in the hall where a telco installer would need to connect to run a second line, so I couldn't get one if it was required. As it happened, a simple splitter jack was all that was required, with a line running to the phone and another to the DSL modem.

Ours was with the first ISP here in Phoenix, AZ; an outfit called Primenet. We were customer #18. (#0000018, actually).

But I was an early adopter, and it showed

.

As were we, but, in reality, you can only go as fast as is available. We, too, started with the 640up. Ah, the olden days, eh?

There was a lot more, but eventually I was up and running. Compared to access via a 56K modem, it was "Wow! Speed!" It had quirks, like using PPPoE, and I had to log in with ID and password to access the network.

I still remember dialing 'em up, the old phone modems. Gosh. Seems like yesterday.

My cable co. recalled that I had inquired about cable modem service, and dropped me a note when it became available. I could get 2mbit down/384K up for the same price as DSL, and pick up a self install kit for $99 across the street from where my office was located. Sold! I got the kit, brought it home, set it up, and was online and running in 15 minutes. And there was no need to log in - the fact that I connected at all indicated I was an authorized user.

The cable service here was Cox, and while we never tried it, my understanding has been that it's been pretty awful for those who have it.

My cable co was trying to fend off the telco and DSL service, and my bandwidth steadily increased with no change in my charges. I discovered it had increased when things seemed to be moving faster and speed tests indicated higher bandwidth. I continued to benefit when the cable co was trying to fend off Verizon and FIOS. FIOS wasn't available where I was, but they didn't know that, so more bandwidth.

You're a lucky dog, dude. ;-)

Most recently, they were doing upgrades across their network to roll out higher speeds. I had a Turbo account, with 20mbit down/2mbit up, and the jump from that was the 100mbit tier. I had top get a new cable modem that they supplied, but it worked fine.

I hate you, just so you know. :-)

As mentioned, I'll be going for FIOS when it's available to my building, but lower costs overall are the reason. The nature of FIOS makes symmetrical speeds the norm, and I'll have equal upload and download bandwidth. I don't actually need the high speed upload, but it comes with the service. If I were running a server and allowing others to connect to me, it would be useful, because the upload bandwidth is what would get used. I have no plans to do that.

I'd love FIOS. It would be...heavenly.

I live in a major metropolitan area, and I sometimes have to remind myself that things I take for granted, like everything I need on a day to day basis being within 5 or ten minutes walking distance isn't universal.

Indeed. I'm in--well, on the fringes of--a major metropolitan area, but for whatever reason, we don't have the endless number of ISP, etc., choices here that you have in NYC, but that's hardly surprising. Moreover, as I've mentioned before, we're in the mountainous foothills to the north of Phoenix, and the options are even more limited here.

I do not expect the US government to emulate the French, and am simply grateful I live in a place where there is actual competition in this area.
______
Dennis

Yeah. Wish I had some more options here. The only actual "alternative" is satellite, and those are dogs, IMHO. (We have that at the house in Wyoming, and while it's fine if you're on vacation and not doing much, for business it's hopeless. I could blow through a month's allotment of bandwidth in less than 8 working hours.)


Hitch

[issybird]

Perhaps you could take the internet discussion to the technical thread, please?

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Breathinlady

I also hope it stays cold here in Indiana right now its 8 F or -13 C tonight at midnight it is supposed to be 4 F or -15.5 C. I don't mind the fireworks as much as IDIOTS firing off guns! That scares the heck out of me...somehow the idiots do not realize the bullets coming down are as quick as going up! Can I say DANGER, DANGER! Hope everyone here has a great New Year.

Intermittent fireworks somewhere in my neighborhood started about 8 pm. Hope they use them all up by midnight. Fortunately I don't have neighbors shooting guns!

[Cinisajoy]

So far a very quiet New Year's Eve.

[Hemmi]

We're at 23 below zero right now. High of the day was 13 below zero. I hope no one's crazy enough to try shooting off fireworks. Doubt I'll be awake at midnight anyway.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Hemmi

We're at 23 below zero right now. High of the day was 13 below zero. I hope no one's crazy enough to try shooting off fireworks. Doubt I'll be awake at midnight anyway.

Thanks for making me feel warm.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by silverraven

I just got the Fitbit Flex 2, . . .

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I see the Charge 2 has a heart rate monitor. Mine is given to stopping, it would be interesting to see what happens when the 'pacemaker' kicks in. My cardiologist might want some downloads

I went for the Charge 2, for reasons previously stated, display, heart rate monitor, etc. Setup and operations very simple. Look at it and the display comes on, tap the display and it cycles through heart rate, calories burnt, distance, etc and back to step count.

Be interesting to see how long a battery charge lasts, unfortunately can't charge it if I'm wearing it.

BR

[silverraven]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Pssst - I only wear black, white, grey, and navy; no prizes for guessing why
BR

I was going to guess male, but if you are like two of my sons we could toss color blind in the mix too! Black, grey, white, brown, dark green and dark blue are about it for them! Oh, and khaki pants. At least clothes shopping was easy for them.
S