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Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by Jared Greenwald

A word to the wise, make sure that they actually can port your number before you switch. I moved into a new place in Uxbridge a couple years ago. So new that they didn't even have the cable company's lines - so I just got a package through Verizon that included DirecTV and DSL. Then about 6 months later they finally attached the street hookups for our development so we could get it. They sent out reps to our houses to sell us on the services inlcuding phone. The rep swore up and down that we would be able to keep our number that we'd gotten from Verizon, so we got all signed up. When the installation day came, I was then told that I could not get my number ported and there was nothing they could do about it. I fought tooth and nail and filed complaints with every level of manager I could to figure out why. Come to find out that my town is serviced by two different high-level telephone routers and that one router is setup to process 278 exchange and the other is setup to handle 266 exchange. There is some arbitrary line in my area that if you fall on one side of the line you get 278 and the other gets 266 - totally bogus. I tried to reason with them that the phone switch in my house was just a network device and that, once on the network, they could route whatever number to it that they wanted, but the customer reps I talked to that could actually understand what I was talking about just weren't having it. I finally just accepted it and figured I'd have to just suck it up, but then I found out that the service didn't work with the phone system I had at the time (multi-cordless with base that cost like $150+). They tried to tell me to just get a new phone and I was like - so you're going to pay for that same feature set on a new set of phones for me? At this point I had already canceled all of my other services including the DSL. Another word to the wise on that front. Don't ever cancel your DSL unless you are 100% certain you don't want it. It takes a minimum of 10 days to get your new DSL connection setup, yet when you cancel your service it goes dead nearly immediately. So, if you accidentally change your mind, you have to wait 10 days to get it back on. In the end, I was able to get my original Verizon number back and get my DSL and DirecTV turned on again, but it was the most painful experience that I have gone through in quite a while. I actually still have Charter, but just for the local cable access package ($13/mo) so that I can watch the selectman's meetings and stuff like that. Just figured I'd share my experience. -Jared On 9/15/07, Stephen Daukas <scd(a)daukas.com> wrote: > We upgraded to the digital/phone/Internet package and installed only one > digital box wit the rest of the house on analog. While I can only speak > definitively about Shrewsbury Cable, I can't see how this wouldn't work > anywhere... > > Depending on the equipment the cable provider uses, one or more splitters > with the appropriate notch filters on each output, may be necessary to > separate out the unwanted packets and phone signals for each device. In > Shrewsbury's case, the gear they now use doesn't require the filters, so I > split the incoming cable using the town's original 1:3 splitter, connected > one output to an amplified splitter (Radio Shack) to provide analog to the > rest of the house (via additional splitters - everything is configured as > what's called a "home-run" to the basement), and connected each of the other > two outputs to the digital box and phone/cable modem respectively. The tech > from Shrewsbury had no problem with this configuration because if you want > independent digital signals, you need two or more digital tuners. If you > want to see what this looks like, I'll send a link to pics on picassaweb. > > Since I have finished the basement as something of a Pub, I have a little TV > mounted in a corner above the bar. I am about to split the signal from the > digital box's output, in the same way as described above for the whole > house, so that both the larger TV and the "bar TV" can be driven by the one > digital tuner - the digital box output to the TV is analog. > > There is one very important issue to remember when playing "cable guy": > Avoid putting an amplified splitter, or even a cheap splitter, in-line > between your digital (or phone) gear and the outside world! These digital > devices are bi-directional and the amplifier is essentially a capacitor that > will block all but 60Hz(+/-) and will typically not allow return signals to > pass. Sometimes, a cheap splitter's internal configuration is such that the > return signal is degraded so much that it too is essentially blocked. > (Anyone who has had trouble using BSRs to control lights or other appliances > working on some outlets in the home, but not others, is fighting a similar > issue with the circuit panel being the culprit). You can buy cable amps > that will accommodate digital devices, but a good splitter was less > expensive the last time I checked. > > And one last tidbit... As of July (?) of this year, cable providers are now > required to allow you to purchase the digital box if you don't want to pay a > monthly rental fee. I'm not sure if you can be restricted to the one being > provided by the cable provider, or if they are required to support any > digital tuner the customer may have... This could be a savings if you have > several TVs because the typical monthly fee for a digital box is ~$8/month, > or ~ 100/yr. > > Later, > Steve > > > On 9/15/07, Frank Sweetser <fs(a)wpi.edu> wrote: > > John Stoffel wrote: > > > Before we had a splitter in the analog cable, with one feed going to > > > the TV directly, the other going to the TiVo. This way we could watch > > > live TV (commercials and all!) when the TiVo was recording something > > > we wanted, but didn't want to watch at the moment. > > > > > > Now that we have digital cable, I don't think I'm going to be able to > > > do this anymore. Dammit. This is an oversight/gotcha that I didn't > > > realize. > > > > > > I'll see how much extra it will cost to get another digital set top > > > box, which I'll dedicate to my TiVo's use I think. :] I > > > dunno... maybe there's a way to do this. Anyone know for sure if the > > > Scientific Atlanta set top box has analog output of *all* channels, so > > > I can just tune up and down using the TV tunner? Even if I don't get > > > over channel 99 on there, I'd be ok with that. > > > > > > I suspect (strongly) that it doesn't work that way and that I'm > > > screwed, sorta. Not terrible actually, but annoying. > > > > Actually, it does. If you throw a splitter in, you'll find that all of > the > > analog signals are still there just as before. > > > > One thing you'll need to be aware of, though, is that depending on where > you > > put them, adding in too many splitters will now degrade the signal quality > for > > your phone as well as just your television picture, so make sure you give > the > > phone box priority. > > > > -- > > Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu | For every problem, there is a solution > that > > WPI Senior Network Engineer | is simple, elegant, and wrong. - HL > Mencken > > GPG fingerprint = 6174 1257 129E 0D21 D8D4 E8A3 8E39 29E3 E2E8 8CEC > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > -- > Stephen C. Daukas > Engineer, Geoscientist, > Environmental Analyst > ________________________________________________ > - Please, before printing, think about the environment - > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > >

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by kstratton＠fastmail.us

Could you provide more information abdout "sar"? I tried wikipedia.com, and on my system: man, info, apropos and emerge (a gentoo distribution tool) for "sar". I did not find anything I thought was relevant.... On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:18:22 -0700 (PDT), "Mike Leo" <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> said: > I learned about "sar" last night due to a server outage...check it out. > > I think it will server your purpose > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 5:42:55 PM > Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Michael Long wrote: > > Hi All, > > > > I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears > > that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. > > However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps > > aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so > > I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working > > harder than before as well. > > > > What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of > > the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid > > (MegaRAID) for the other drive. > > > > I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been > > using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come > > bundled with kde. > > > > Thanks, > > Mike > > HI Mike, > > Here's what I would try: > > a) Are you sure that the disk activity light on the case is properly > wired to your MB? Is the light constantly on, or does it flicker? > > b) unplug the network cable to insure that the disk activity isn't > caused by something on the network > > c) If you are sufficiently patient and wait, does the activity stop (say > in 5-10 minute)? > > d) What happens if you run "tail -f /var/log/messages" as root ? Lots > of messages here could cause disk activity. > > I'm sure other folks with have other ideas, but that's my 2cents, > devalued for inflation. > > HTH, > > Andy > > > - -- > Andy Stewart, Founder > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFG6wBfHl0iXDssISsRAmW4AJsF4LyFbM4xr0iZbSZX4aEFkSrh8gCfbTpP > /Cqxnygs6eR/rWTvB5/euKs= > =Gr5U > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > -- kstratton(a)fastmail.us

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by Frank Sweetser

John Stoffel wrote: > Before we had a splitter in the analog cable, with one feed going to > the TV directly, the other going to the TiVo. This way we could watch > live TV (commercials and all!) when the TiVo was recording something > we wanted, but didn't want to watch at the moment. > > Now that we have digital cable, I don't think I'm going to be able to > do this anymore. Dammit. This is an oversight/gotcha that I didn't > realize. > > I'll see how much extra it will cost to get another digital set top > box, which I'll dedicate to my TiVo's use I think. :] I > dunno... maybe there's a way to do this. Anyone know for sure if the > Scientific Atlanta set top box has analog output of *all* channels, so > I can just tune up and down using the TV tunner? Even if I don't get > over channel 99 on there, I'd be ok with that. > > I suspect (strongly) that it doesn't work that way and that I'm > screwed, sorta. Not terrible actually, but annoying. Actually, it does. If you throw a splitter in, you'll find that all of the analog signals are still there just as before. One thing you'll need to be aware of, though, is that depending on where you put them, adding in too many splitters will now degrade the signal quality for your phone as well as just your television picture, so make sure you give the phone box priority. -- Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu | For every problem, there is a solution that WPI Senior Network Engineer | is simple, elegant, and wrong. - HL Mencken GPG fingerprint = 6174 1257 129E 0D21 D8D4 E8A3 8E39 29E3 E2E8 8CEC

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by Stephen Daukas

We upgraded to the digital/phone/Internet package and installed only one digital box wit the rest of the house on analog. While I can only speak definitively about Shrewsbury Cable, I can't see how this wouldn't work anywhere... Depending on the equipment the cable provider uses, one or more splitters with the appropriate notch filters on each output, may be necessary to separate out the unwanted packets and phone signals for each device. In Shrewsbury's case, the gear they now use doesn't require the filters, so I split the incoming cable using the town's original 1:3 splitter, connected one output to an amplified splitter (Radio Shack) to provide analog to the rest of the house (via additional splitters - everything is configured as what's called a "home-run" to the basement), and connected each of the other two outputs to the digital box and phone/cable modem respectively. The tech from Shrewsbury had no problem with this configuration because if you want independent digital signals, you need two or more digital tuners. If you want to see what this looks like, I'll send a link to pics on picassaweb. Since I have finished the basement as something of a Pub, I have a little TV mounted in a corner above the bar. I am about to split the signal from the digital box's output, in the same way as described above for the whole house, so that both the larger TV and the "bar TV" can be driven by the one digital tuner - the digital box output to the TV is analog. There is one very important issue to remember when playing "cable guy": Avoid putting an amplified splitter, or even a cheap splitter, in-line between your digital (or phone) gear and the outside world! These digital devices are bi-directional and the amplifier is essentially a capacitor that will block all but 60Hz(+/-) and will typically not allow return signals to pass. Sometimes, a cheap splitter's internal configuration is such that the return signal is degraded so much that it too is essentially blocked. (Anyone who has had trouble using BSRs to control lights or other appliances working on some outlets in the home, but not others, is fighting a similar issue with the circuit panel being the culprit). You can buy cable amps that will accommodate digital devices, but a good splitter was less expensive the last time I checked. And one last tidbit... As of July (?) of this year, cable providers are now required to allow you to purchase the digital box if you don't want to pay a monthly rental fee. I'm not sure if you can be restricted to the one being provided by the cable provider, or if they are required to support any digital tuner the customer may have... This could be a savings if you have several TVs because the typical monthly fee for a digital box is ~$8/month, or ~ 100/yr. Later, Steve On 9/15/07, Frank Sweetser <fs(a)wpi.edu> wrote: > > John Stoffel wrote: > > Before we had a splitter in the analog cable, with one feed going to > > the TV directly, the other going to the TiVo. This way we could watch > > live TV (commercials and all!) when the TiVo was recording something > > we wanted, but didn't want to watch at the moment. > > > > Now that we have digital cable, I don't think I'm going to be able to > > do this anymore. Dammit. This is an oversight/gotcha that I didn't > > realize. > > > > I'll see how much extra it will cost to get another digital set top > > box, which I'll dedicate to my TiVo's use I think. :] I > > dunno... maybe there's a way to do this. Anyone know for sure if the > > Scientific Atlanta set top box has analog output of *all* channels, so > > I can just tune up and down using the TV tunner? Even if I don't get > > over channel 99 on there, I'd be ok with that. > > > > I suspect (strongly) that it doesn't work that way and that I'm > > screwed, sorta. Not terrible actually, but annoying. > > Actually, it does. If you throw a splitter in, you'll find that all of > the > analog signals are still there just as before. > > One thing you'll need to be aware of, though, is that depending on where > you > put them, adding in too many splitters will now degrade the signal quality > for > your phone as well as just your television picture, so make sure you give > the > phone box priority. > > -- > Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu | For every problem, there is a solution > that > WPI Senior Network Engineer | is simple, elegant, and wrong. - HL > Mencken > GPG fingerprint = 6174 1257 129E 0D21 D8D4 E8A3 8E39 29E3 E2E8 8CEC > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > -- Stephen C. Daukas Engineer, Geoscientist, Environmental Analyst ________________________________________________ - Please, before printing, think about the environment -

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Charter Telephone reviews, boylston?

by John Stoffel

Well, just to give some feedback here, we got Charter Phone and Digital TV installed here today. Didn't touch our Internet setup at all, I was connected to home all during the install. Phone is fine so far, seems better than Verizon in my street, so that's good. The big gotcha is the move from Analog to Digital cable. Before we had a splitter in the analog cable, with one feed going to the TV directly, the other going to the TiVo. This way we could watch live TV (commercials and all!) when the TiVo was recording something we wanted, but didn't want to watch at the moment. Now that we have digital cable, I don't think I'm going to be able to do this anymore. Dammit. This is an oversight/gotcha that I didn't realize. I'll see how much extra it will cost to get another digital set top box, which I'll dedicate to my TiVo's use I think. :] I dunno... maybe there's a way to do this. Anyone know for sure if the Scientific Atlanta set top box has analog output of *all* channels, so I can just tune up and down using the TV tunner? Even if I don't get over channel 99 on there, I'd be ok with that. I suspect (strongly) that it doesn't work that way and that I'm screwed, sorta. Not terrible actually, but annoying. John

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by Michael Long

Thanks to all who responded. The flashing light turned out to be showing network activity. I had switch ports on the motherboard and this one has an indicator light on the front of the box. <dope slaps self> On Ubuntu sar comes packaged as atsar. I will be looking at that further as time permits. It looks real interesting. That suggestion along with vmstat has set me down some useful paths via google. I will say that I really like ubuntu dapper as a server. Add vmware to it and it will allow me to shutdown some systems and simplify my life. For a desktop OpenSuse 10.2 is quite nice. I am not meaning to start any distro wars; I'm just saying... Peace, Mike Leo wrote: > I learned about "sar" last night due to a server outage...check it out. > > I think it will server your purpose > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> > To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> > Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 5:42:55 PM > Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics > > Michael Long wrote: >> Hi All, > >> I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears >> that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. >> However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps >> aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so >> I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working >> harder than before as well. > >> What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of >> the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid >> (MegaRAID) for the other drive. > >> I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been >> using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come >> bundled with kde. > >> Thanks, >> Mike > > HI Mike, > > Here's what I would try: > > a) Are you sure that the disk activity light on the case is properly > wired to your MB? Is the light constantly on, or does it flicker? > > b) unplug the network cable to insure that the disk activity isn't > caused by something on the network > > c) If you are sufficiently patient and wait, does the activity stop (say > in 5-10 minute)? > > d) What happens if you run "tail -f /var/log/messages" as root ? Lots > of messages here could cause disk activity. > > I'm sure other folks with have other ideas, but that's my 2cents, > devalued for inflation. > > HTH, > > Andy > > _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Sept. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by Mike Leo

I learned about "sar" last night due to a server outage...check it out. I think it will server your purpose ----- Original Message ---- From: Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> To: Worcester Linux Users Group <wlug(a)mail.wlug.org> Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 5:42:55 PM Subject: Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Michael Long wrote: > Hi All, > > I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears > that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. > However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps > aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so > I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working > harder than before as well. > > What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of > the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid > (MegaRAID) for the other drive. > > I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been > using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come > bundled with kde. > > Thanks, > Mike HI Mike, Here's what I would try: a) Are you sure that the disk activity light on the case is properly wired to your MB? Is the light constantly on, or does it flicker? b) unplug the network cable to insure that the disk activity isn't caused by something on the network c) If you are sufficiently patient and wait, does the activity stop (say in 5-10 minute)? d) What happens if you run "tail -f /var/log/messages" as root ? Lots of messages here could cause disk activity. I'm sure other folks with have other ideas, but that's my 2cents, devalued for inflation. HTH, Andy - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFG6wBfHl0iXDssISsRAmW4AJsF4LyFbM4xr0iZbSZX4aEFkSrh8gCfbTpP /Cqxnygs6eR/rWTvB5/euKs= =Gr5U -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Sept. 14, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by Jeff Moyer

Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> writes: > Michael Long wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears >> that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. >> However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps >> aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so >> I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working >> harder than before as well. >> >> What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of >> the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid >> (MegaRAID) for the other drive. >> >> I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been >> using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come >> bundled with kde. >> >> Thanks, >> Mike > > HI Mike, > > Here's what I would try: > > a) Are you sure that the disk activity light on the case is properly > wired to your MB? Is the light constantly on, or does it flicker? > > b) unplug the network cable to insure that the disk activity isn't > caused by something on the network > > c) If you are sufficiently patient and wait, does the activity stop (say > in 5-10 minute)? > > d) What happens if you run "tail -f /var/log/messages" as root ? Lots > of messages here could cause disk activity. > > I'm sure other folks with have other ideas, but that's my 2cents, > devalued for inflation. vmstat 1 check the block in/out swap in/out columns. blktrace can be used to get the source of I/Os. -Jeff

Sept. 14, 2007

Re: [Wlug] System diagnostics

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Michael Long wrote: > Hi All, > > I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears > that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. > However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps > aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so > I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working > harder than before as well. > > What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of > the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid > (MegaRAID) for the other drive. > > I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been > using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come > bundled with kde. > > Thanks, > Mike HI Mike, Here's what I would try: a) Are you sure that the disk activity light on the case is properly wired to your MB? Is the light constantly on, or does it flicker? b) unplug the network cable to insure that the disk activity isn't caused by something on the network c) If you are sufficiently patient and wait, does the activity stop (say in 5-10 minute)? d) What happens if you run "tail -f /var/log/messages" as root ? Lots of messages here could cause disk activity. I'm sure other folks with have other ideas, but that's my 2cents, devalued for inflation. HTH, Andy - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFG6wBfHl0iXDssISsRAmW4AJsF4LyFbM4xr0iZbSZX4aEFkSrh8gCfbTpP /Cqxnygs6eR/rWTvB5/euKs= =Gr5U -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Sept. 14, 2007

System diagnostics

by Michael Long

Hi All, I just install Ubuntu 6.06 lts. With the box up and running it appears that there is disk activity because the light on the case is active. However running top shows the box is basically idle (CPU < 1%) and "ps aux" shows nothing unusual. I do not claim to be a sys admin however so I may not be interpreting things correctly. The fans seem to be working harder than before as well. What command line tools should I be looking at determine the health of the machine and drives. The os is on an IDE drive and I have a raid (MegaRAID) for the other drive. I know this is a bit vague but I am not sure where to start. I have been using opensuse but now I do not have x or the other tools that come bundled with kde. Thanks, Mike

Sept. 14, 2007