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Help Desk

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 14 2014 08:19 AM

Can't find the old Help Desk thread. Anyone know what an adequate internet upload speed is? I suspect Time Warner Cable is screwing me on that while giving me OK download speed (I pay for "standard" service offering 15 Mbps and I test around 16.25; they don;t say what the standard upload speed is but I often have trouble streaming (like now, I'm testing at 1.11-1.16 ish). Doesn't appear to be nearly "standard" to me. Here's the test I used: http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/resid ... -test.html

TransMonk Jun 14 2014 08:56 AM Re: Help Desk

I'm with AT&T U-verse. I tested at 11.21 down and .77 up at the site you provided...so you're doing better than me. But I don't have issues streaming. I took the test at a separate site (www.speedtest.net) and scored 11.18 up and .76 down. Doesn't streaming come in via download instead of upload...maybe it's something else? I'm certainly no expert on these things,tho.

d'Kong76 Jun 14 2014 09:18 AM Re: Help Desk

This is a very reputable site: http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 14 2014 09:38 AM Re: Help Desk

TransMonk wrote: I'm with AT&T U-verse. I tested at 11.21 down and .77 up at the site you provided...so you're doing better than me. But I don't have issues streaming. I took the test at a separate site (http://www.speedtest.net) and scored 11.18 up and .76 down. Doesn't streaming come in via download instead of upload...maybe it's something else? I'm certainly no expert on these things,tho. Yeah maybe it is. Technically, the issue I'm having is Sonos losing connectivity to Rdio

d'Kong76 Jun 14 2014 10:52 AM Re: Help Desk

My download is pretty fast 11.5, my upload suxx. I'll have to test it later on the wired computer.

Fman99 Jun 14 2014 08:50 PM Re: Help Desk

I pay FIOS for the mid-tier internet and I get about 26-27 Mbps down and about 4-5 Mpbs up. Not too bad.

Ceetar Jun 15 2014 07:50 AM Re: Help Desk

I'm with AT&T U-verse. I tested at 11.21 down and .77 up at the site you provided...so you're doing better than me. But I don't have issues streaming. I took the test at a separate site (http://www.speedtest.net) and scored 11.18 up and .76 down. Doesn't streaming come in via download instead of upload...maybe it's something else? I'm certainly no expert on these things,tho. yeah. those are bad numbers. No experience with U-verse specifically. I get 58 down, 40 up with FIOS at home. (Not sure which 'tier' I have, but not Quantum) I get 4.65/3.99up on 4g on my phone. And that's actually a low reading. I've gotten as high as 15/5 with it. It's not just total speed either for streaming though, the connection needs to be somewhat steady. There is a buffer but if you're streaming faster than you're downloading as a rate over time it won't matter. Or if there are other things downloading/uploading elsewhere on your network while you're streaming.

TransMonk Jun 15 2014 08:05 AM Re: Help Desk

Yeah, I purchased my plan several years ago and it is very possible that AT&T offers more that I am just not paying for. It may be time to upgrade...but still, I stream music all day and video nearly every evening without issues.

d'Kong76 Jun 15 2014 09:25 AM Re: Help Desk

As suspected, my wired speed is significantly higher on Dolanvision. I need to switch to Fios, been lazy about it, it's phenomenally better/cheaper in this area on many levels.

Rockin' Doc Jun 18 2014 08:25 PM Re: Help Desk

My internet service isn't too bad. My download speed was 17.29 and the upload speed was 1.58. Overall, my biggest problem is that my computer is pretty old (7-8 years old). I should probably update it in the near future.

metirish Jun 18 2014 08:50 PM Re: Help Desk

I had FiOS at the old place, now stuck with DolanVision(nice one Kase), there is no comparison, FiOS way faster.....thankfully the Co Op has approved FiOS for the building , so will have it soon....

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 18 2014 09:31 PM Re: Help Desk

I actually think my sonos problem was a software update that didn;t properly update. Still, TWC is a bitch and still the only game in town for where I live.

Edgy MD Jun 20 2014 08:44 AM Re: Help Desk

I've never been a Mac person. Always with me, when culture zigs, I gotta zag. Sometimes that makes me a free spirit. With PCs, I zag right into the snakepit. The performance of my HP at work has been abysmal, and I've finally been ready to bail, and I've been soliciting a new computer, all ready and shit to go MacMacMac, but organizational realignment has me getting the runaround. IT refers me to HR, HR back to IT. Finally I got sick of it, and reiterate my request while cc-ing the hotshot young director of marketing that comes to us from MLB and Unicef. IT has the gall to ask me to fill out a purchasing request. Late last night, young hotshot sends me an e-mail Edgy. Forget the below Pick out a Mac within reason for you to be able to do your job Bill against the budget as approved by me. I'm sure it can come out of open salary we are currently saving on Now, I can nitpick about how he became a hotshot marketing director without using periods at the end of his paragraphs, but I'm psyched because I'm finally getting some traction and a blank check to go with it. But, what do I know about Macs? Not much, to be honest. So, help me out. You're in my shoes. I'll be doing some graphic work and I have to be able to have enough operating power to keep multiple applications open at once Dreamweaver/Photoshop/Acrobat/Outlook. That sort of multi-pronged nonsense that freezes me up in the PC world. I also maintain an online library of (mostly PDF) resources that I back up on my drive, so I needs the memory. So I'm thinking a 15" Macbook with an external hard drive and monitor. What should I ask for?

themetfairy Jun 20 2014 10:40 AM Re: Help Desk

Before making the purchase, go somewhere and try out a Mac. I personally find Macs and the Safari browser nonintuitive; I was on a friend's yesterday and was ready to pull my hair out. Your mileage may differ, but make sure that you'd be able to adjust to it before making the purchase.

Edgy MD Jun 20 2014 11:01 AM Re: Help Desk

Thanks. I bought one for my wife about 18 months ago, and I agree they are counter-intuitive compared to what I'm used to. She saves files and I can't find them. Magic folders. I'm nonethless willing to trade going back to kindergarten with regards to re-developing my instincts in exchange for operating speed. I figure the time lost on re-learning will easily be made up for.

Ceetar Jun 20 2014 11:14 AM Re: Help Desk

I'm not convinced your getting any operating speed advantage Mac over Other, but why a MacBOOK? Do you typically move this computer around? Because if not, laptop is never going to be as powerful.

Edgy MD Jun 20 2014 11:18 AM Re: Help Desk

Yeah, I like to travel with my thang.

TransMonk Jun 20 2014 11:28 AM Re: Help Desk

I've decided that my next home PC will be a Mac. I'm ready to step up my home recording studio and a Mac is really the way to go for that. But, I'm still a long way off due to the $$$.

Ceetar Jun 20 2014 11:30 AM Re: Help Desk

Not that I'm knocking peripherals, but I always find that sorta stuff more hassle than it's worth sometimes. The web says a 15in Macbook already comes with up to a TB of storage so not sure you'd actually need an external HD.

d'Kong76 Jul 15 2014 11:55 AM Re: Help Desk

Have to wait ten days, but I switched to Fios this morning. I had to call Dolanvision for a box issue that they couldn't re- solve and she said she needed to schedule an appointment. It felt so good to tell her no need, I'm leaving after more than 25 years with your company. I had to get a jab in, so I told her that I hope they treat their employees better than their life long customers but all that got me was some dead air. So long, Chuckie!! See ya at the parade in 2016!

d'Kong76 Jul 15 2014 12:00 PM Re: Help Desk

Oh, and I unplugged the HDMI cable and plugged it back in on the box and move it to another port on the TV and it's working so at least I have use of it for now. Either the cable is going or the port is iffy but luckily there are a lot of ports.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 15 2014 12:11 PM Re: Help Desk

The headphone jack on my phone won't accept headphones fully (blasting with air can and tape on the end of a paper clip cannot free jam). Phone is still under warranty so Samsung will fix it but it means going without a phone for weeks(?) maybe (Sprint will temporarily activate another device but seems a PITA in itself (find one, charge one, use it etc). What's best option when this happens?

Ceetar Jul 15 2014 12:24 PM Re: Help Desk

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The headphone jack on my phone won't accept headphones fully (blasting with air can and tape on the end of a paper clip cannot free jam). Phone is still under warranty so Samsung will fix it but it means going without a phone for weeks(?) maybe (Sprint will temporarily activate another device but seems a PITA in itself (find one, charge one, use it etc). What's best option when this happens? No experience with Sprint (really no experience with phone warranties) but there's no crappy store you can go into and have them fix it while you muck around the mall or something? I've got my old phone for use in that case though.

metirish Jul 15 2014 12:25 PM Re: Help Desk

d'Kong76 wrote: Have to wait ten days, but I switched to Fios this morning. I had to call Dolanvision for a box issue that they couldn't re- solve and she said she needed to schedule an appointment. It felt so good to tell her no need, I'm leaving after more than 25 years with your company. I had to get a jab in, so I told her that I hope they treat their employees better than their life long customers but all that got me was some dead air. So long, Chuckie!! See ya at the parade in 2016! Good for you , you are going to love the menu interface and the speed at which you can change channels etc. Sounds like a small deal but after I had to go back to Dolan I called them up to see if channel changing taking 6 plus seconds was the norm and was told anything up tp 10 is fine....wtf???...FiOS you can sit on that remote and fly through the channels .DolanVision might not have updated how their menu looks in 15 years...and there website?, holy fuck, it's stuck int he 90's

Ceetar Jul 15 2014 12:26 PM Re: Help Desk

d'Kong76 wrote: Have to wait ten days, but I switched to Fios this morning. I'm happy with Fios over Optimum though it's got it's own issues. Aren't they advertising like 8 recording at once now or something? I should see if I can 'upgrade'.

d'Kong76 Jul 15 2014 01:04 PM Re: Help Desk

Yeah they have Quantum now - pause and rewind live tv and record like a dozen things at once and 200 hours of HD storage. I didn't plunge in quite that far this round.

Ceetar Jul 15 2014 01:09 PM Re: Help Desk

d'Kong76 wrote: Yeah they have Quantum now - pause and rewind live tv and record like a dozen things at once and 200 hours of HD storage. I didn't plunge in quite that far this round. Verizon just takes all my money at this point. I think Quantum is the only thing I don't have. It only comes into play occasoinally, last night two things were recording so I had to switch to the CRT tv in the bedroom to watch the Derby.

Frayed Knot Jul 15 2014 01:32 PM Re: Help Desk

I've occasionally run into times when I wish my standard FioS would allow more than two simultaneous recordings, but I'd be just fine if they simply allowed three. I can't see paying extra for super-duper service just so I can record a dozen things at once; hell, I don't think I watch twelve different things in the same week much less at over-lapping time-slots. Of course large families may see it otherwise and that's shirley who they're aiming at (although I believe my bro-in-law and his three teenagers manage to survive just fine with "only" two) and the fact that the step up from two jumps to twelve (or ten, or whatever that top level brags about) allows them to make it sound so exotic and jack up the price beyond just what offering the ability to record 3 or 4 would do.

Ceetar Jul 15 2014 01:38 PM Re: Help Desk

Frayed Knot wrote: I've occasionally run into times when I wish my standard FioS would allow more than two simultaneous recordings, but I'd be just fine if they simply allowed three. I can't see paying extra for super-duper service just so I can record a dozen things at once; hell, I don't think I watch twelve different things in the same week much less at over-lapping time-slots. Of course large families may see it otherwise and that's shirley who they're aiming at (although I believe my bro-in-law and his three teenagers manage to survive just fine with "only" two) and the fact that the step up from two jumps to twelve (or ten, or whatever that top level brags about) allows them to make it sound so exotic and jack up the price beyond just what offering the ability to record 3 or 4 would do. I just looked briefly and it was about $10 more a month for Quantum/6recordings (plus other goodies like pause/rewind on all TVs instead of just the main one) but I'm actually looking to cut money from my bill at this point, not add it.

d'Kong76 Jul 25 2014 04:06 PM Re: Help Desk

Got Fios'd today! I haven't had WGN in at least fifteen years, afternoon Cubbies! Was scrolling through the guide and found NESN and got a twinge of wood until I find I ain't authorized to that.

cooby Jul 25 2014 05:26 PM Re: Help Desk

d'Kong76 wrote: Was scrolling through the guide and found NESN !and got a twinge of wood . Hahaha! Thank you for the laugh, Kase!

d'Kong76 Jul 25 2014 07:57 PM Re: Help Desk

Maybe I'll upgrade next month!!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 23 2014 09:22 AM Re: Help Desk

I'm baffled and at the end of my rope wrt home wifi. Junked one Belkin 2 years back, got another, now that one suxxxx (not to mention the recent worldwide belkin outage). My upload speed is 54 Mps when connected directly to the cable, drops to 2.2 something thru Wifi, and always crapping out now. I thought the fact that our douchebag neighbors were stealing my signal was to blame, but redoubled security once I caught 'em and speed still an issue. Don't wanna pay TWC for a router, mainly because to get the service is an extra 5 bucks a month plus an $80 "installation" fee, so intend to buy a new router this afternoon. I hear Asus is a good brand. Who says no?

Ceetar Oct 23 2014 09:25 AM Re: Help Desk

routers are demon spawn. I'm just using Verizon's cause it's easier. I'd probably just get a cheap one expecting to have to get another cheap one in 6-12 months.

d'Kong76 Oct 23 2014 09:32 AM Re: Help Desk

I happy so far with the wireless router provided by Verizon so far. It has enough ports so it supports a network printer and a network hard drive, and the wireless signal works throughout the house well and my phone stays connected outside to it (most days). Is Fios not available in your hood, JCL?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 23 2014 09:36 AM Re: Help Desk

FIOS wants in, but they're not here yet. I wouldn't think the deal for equipment leasing is any better between them tho.

d'Kong76 Oct 23 2014 09:42 AM Re: Help Desk

It's not anything really additional, if you want internet that's the box that you get and it's serves multiple purposes. With cable, I had a cable modem (theirs) and then I had to buy a router (firewall) and a wireless access point.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 23 2014 06:06 PM Re: Help Desk

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: FIOS wants in, but they're not here yet. I wouldn't think the deal for equipment leasing is any better between them tho. It isn't. And-- though this isn't a hardware thing-- the more popular Fios gets in your neighborhood, the more... um... complicated your access gets.

d'Kong76 Oct 23 2014 07:24 PM Re: Help Desk

Verizon's been great for us. And they fucked up on a promo that I called them on (and thousands others, I'm told) and they gave me a $20 credit/month for the life of my two year contract and even retro'd for two months that had already elapsed. I'm not rooting for the phone company by any means. They all suck stump. Cell service is the same. Sit five guys at a table and say I have xxxxx for cell service and two will tell you they suck and why.

themetfairy Oct 23 2014 07:42 PM Re: Help Desk

I love FiOS. We used to have Comcast. I greeted FiOS as a liberator. That was almost five years ago, and I'm still giddy to have Comcast out of my life.

Fman99 Oct 23 2014 09:02 PM Re: Help Desk

I love and hate FIOS. The Internet is peppy. The DVR content from one room is accessible from the rest of the house. Tons of HD channels. Reliable. However. I spend $200 a month (includes TV, internet and a land line) and that includes no premium movie channels. And for all of that, I don't get any of the WPIX Mets games, so I miss 25 games per year as a result of the fact that I live in a "local" market to NYC. Time Warner carries those games here in Syracuse. FIOS, not so much. Unlike Time Warner, also, they have no local presence, no local coverage of events (TW has a news station here in town), and could give a fuck about my missed games.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 23 2014 10:34 PM Re: Help Desk

Just to update yous all, new router zooming along at 54 mpbs. For now anyway.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 24 2014 12:13 AM Re: Help Desk

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: FIOS wants in, but they're not here yet. I wouldn't think the deal for equipment leasing is any better between them tho. It isn't. And-- though this isn't a hardware thing-- the more popular Fios gets in your neighborhood, the more... um... complicated your access gets. To clarify... the more popular FIOs gets in your urban neighborhood (like mine, and JCL's), the cloggier internet access gets.

d'Kong76 Oct 24 2014 06:04 AM Re: Help Desk

Fman99 wrote: I spend $200 a month (includes TV, internet and a land line) and that includes no premium movie channels. That's one of the reasons we fled Dolanvision. Had to agree to a 2 year contract but bill is ~$130/month and they threw in a 30 channel HBO/Showtime package. Blacking out WPIX in your neck of the woods is insane.

Ceetar Oct 24 2014 07:49 AM Re: Help Desk

Have had both Optimum and Fios in Jersey. When I moved to the house last year I thought about switching back to Optimum figuring the flip-flopping would net me the most 'new customer' promos and what not ,but it turned out not to be the case. Between that and the 4-phone family plan I sometimes wonder if I should just have my company pay Verizon directly. My speeds on Fios are blazing and I don't even have Quantum. the DVR is behind now though, it only lets you record two things at once (And you can't watch on-demand or tv while that's happening) so that causes problems especially since tv stations are evil about not conforming to half hour blocks to help force conflicts (This is something TIVO always did better, it wouldn't cancel a show for a 1-minute conflict, it'd just shorten it) I've also had some router issues, in terms of security and streaming stuff from my computer to my playstation.

d'Kong76 Oct 24 2014 10:23 AM Re: Help Desk

What type of security issues have you had?

Ceetar Oct 24 2014 11:18 AM Re: Help Desk

d'Kong76 wrote: What type of security issues have you had? I had various problems with recognizing the computer as a media server, and then with refreshing/and actually serving the files to the playstation. These went away when I switched homes and got a new router, but they've returned to some extent. Not playing well with each other.

d'Kong76 Oct 24 2014 11:45 AM Re: Help Desk

Oh, ok... more compatibility issues, etc. I thought maybe it was something more sinister :+).

Ceetar Oct 24 2014 11:50 AM Re: Help Desk

d'Kong76 wrote: Oh, ok... more compatibility issues, etc. I thought maybe it was something more sinister :+). Like someone hacking through and loading up my computer with porn?

d'Kong76 Oct 24 2014 11:53 AM Re: Help Desk

Or stealing it!

d'Kong76 Oct 25 2014 03:28 PM Re: Help Desk

Is Google Hangouts really impossible to remove from your Android phone? Not a fan of it, not at all.

Ceetar Oct 26 2014 05:55 PM Re: Help Desk

d'Kong76 wrote: Is Google Hangouts really impossible to remove from your Android phone? Not a fan of it, not at all. application manager-all-hangouts-turn off? no? Anyway, what's not to like? voip calls/videos, messaging, whee.