[Les.]

A follower here, not a leader. How about Dynatron? They made a few long low wide things. Most of the setmakers (Ferguson, HMV, Marconi (all the same lot), Murphy and of course Pye/Philips.

I bought my first Stereo gram in 1967, a German NordMende. It knocked spots of all the British sets I compared it with in the local shops. Early days of Radio Stoke, and some of the others would not pull it in. After about 12 months I bought a retro-fit stereo decoder for it. Back then, and for the previous 15+ years, British sets were built down to a price, German sets were generally built up to a specification.

I have had more TVs and radios by NordMende since then (not counting all the Grundig CTVs I bought, reconditioned and sold on from 1980 to 1990.

Les.

[Les.]

WoF, thanks, I thought it may be that. At least 1600kbps is better than the 55kbps I was down to a couple of weeks ago.

I have an old Lenovo here with faulty wireless card and which, given a chance will KILL its battery. However, with a network cable, and a cheapo Win 7 Ultimate, I can watch F1 on Ch4  when no alternative. I wonder if that USB WiFi card will work with that? I looked at the install info, which I had already seen had  a few sections on windows install, and a few more on MACOs install. I also noticed, using a magnifying glass, that it also referred to linux, just one phrase.

Anyway, I went thro the windows install, and after about 15 mins (yes, that slow), I had a completed install. After its restart, it found the adaptor, I gave it my WiFi password, and it worked.

OK, it does have a linux folder on the CD, so time to try again on my main shuttle. Oh dear!. No simple to follow series of terminal commands, but pages of stuff way over my head. I remember reading about “Compile” etc, but never made any sense of it, and everything else I have installed in the last almost 10 years has been done thro either simple terminal commands, but normally via the synaptic package manager.

My mind went back 10 years to another Wifi card, also realtek I think, which a Unix pal got working for me. Each kernel upgrade would kill it, but he taught me how to get it running again. (He left the island about 8 years ago unfortunately). I don’t want that rigmarole again.

If package manager won’t deal with it, I am “out of here”. OK, it will be better with the Win 7 machine than draping network cable around the floor (think SWMBO) on the few occasions I need Windoze.

I had also found another Wifi USB stick that works with the Pi, also 802.11N,  so I thought I would try that. Zilch with Mint, but it does work with Windoze. Pop it back in the Pi, and forget the whole episode.

Les.

[Les.]

Last week I decided on the dongle route, so ordered this one thro Ebay:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-Band-600Mbps-USB-WiFi-Dongle-Wireless-LAN-Adapter-802-11ac-a-b-g-n5-2-4Ghz/143007027382?hash=item214be210b6:g:894AAOSwLNxcCIEg&frcectupt=true

It arrived, so I stuck it in this afternoon. No WiFi, nothing. The listing declares it to work for various Windows, ditto MACOs and Linux.

I went and dug out the one in the spare “pi” – worked perfectly. Something will be on its way back very soon. Incidentally, ALL our PCs approach 12-13 Mbps on speedtest now.

 

General comments on the following please.

This morning there was a linux kernel upgrade, so I watched the progress bar, knowing it would be more than 2 seconds. It showed speeds of around 1600kb/s (1.6Mbps) fairly consistently. Once complete, I did a download speed test, and recorded the same 37, 13, 0.7 figures as previously reported with this dual antenna card. Is that ratio  of 1:10 between a file download like the kernel and a speedtest download typical.

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

B***er, just lost message, my fault.

Anyway, Richard, not that exclusive, I am in there too. In 1954 i built my first crystal set, and the first thing I heard (light Prog) was Eartha Kitt, singing I love Paris.The following year I built a one valve radio on which I could listen to RL in bed at night. Sunday night esp for the Top 20. Regular HB advert.

JayCeeDee, no post codes, not created back then. I bought my first house in 1966, and sold it in 1971. On one of those occasions, my solicitor asked for my full address. I duly gave it, ending with the post code. “We don’t bother with those” was his reply. Well, be it 1966 or 1971, post codes well out then, but had not been out for long. You don’t get far without one today!

Les.

[Les.]

And the whole bleeding shambles is because we (read THEY) think arts degrees are tops, and science degrees are sh*te. I have realised that for maybe 60 years. At our school, the “fifth” *  year was dived into V Modern, V Science,  and V Remove.

* Most of the Modern and Science stream were in fact FOURTH year, as there was no  IV A, with the previous A stream going direct to upper IV A. Probably a very good idea, but it was a High School. No Comprehensives then,just “Secondary modern” and Grammar (High) schools.

I was of course a dropout (V Remove) finishing on 16th birthday rather than going on to “Lower VI General” and hence “A” levels.

Instead, I went directly to work (Lab ass in ceramic research). 10 years later I had a wider experience probably than 99% of the school pupils I left behind. I wonder how many have repaired motor cycles, colour TVs, lay a brick, understand gas, oil and electricity (practical and theoretical),  AND still ride a ‘bike around the TT course.

Maybe life aint so bad  in spite of the politicians.

Les.

[Les.]

Richard, I started work and tech college in 1957, and of course we had the English Electric here in N. Staffs. Whilst signing on for my course, I saw, there in the main college foyer all the big posters around telling us about the” English Electric – Leo – Marconi” computers, and i imagine they were signing on students for their Kidsgrove factory about 5 miles north. Yes, I knew Lyons were the leaders, but EARLY fifties? Maybe, Mr Google would no doubt know.

Les.

[Les.]

Edp, only this morning, at our motor bike breakfast club, we were discussing this, and I started to think about the very point you ask. In the past we may well have had the most competent  and dedicated officials in many departments, especially air flight safety. However, whilst sometimes it has made total sense, privatizing or semi-privatizing has dealt a serious blow to some sectors. I still think we are reasonably OK on nuclear safety. Big business and money do screw things up somewhat.

Of course we were at the forefront of aircraft design for so long, then the likes of Harold W gave most of it away.

Winston did not help with our wartime computer expertise, just destroying so much once the job was finished.

Les.

[Les.]

Dave, just by chance I was putting away the spare hardware that came with the card reader when I spotted my spare Ras Pi. There was its USB wifi dongle. I could use that. But the one with the antenna you linked to makes more sense, so I will decide whether to go with that or a card such as your example. One or the other.

This afternoon, after meeting a planning officer, I looked at my emails. There was one returned by the postmaster, the one I sent to MT on Sunday. I resent my original message to MT, together with the postmaster’s message, suggesting that illustrated my complaint. I may as well get a free router if they wish to donate one!

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

Ed, I have never tried hibernate, but because I sometime use “Simplescreenrecorder” to record an online event  whilst  I am out, my settings  ensure no sleeping or K/B locking at anytime.

Actually I have been shutting down (but NOT recently) maybe 4 times daily for at least the last dozen years with no problems until the recent events. I think I will avoid hibernate at least for now, rather than get different problems.

WoF, I won’t be doing anything on this PC for now, but when I go over to the other one (2 weeks probably), I will do a few cmos checks before the full boot process. If I spot anything, and at any rate after a few days, a new battery will be installed.

No need to take photos, I can handle cmos settings, done hundreds in the past when I built PCs. Just MOST software stuff goes over my head. No interest unless it hits me in the face.

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

WoF, sounds a bit of a long shot, but it would certainly fit the facts.  A good reason for no boot if the SSD is “gone AWOL2 in CMOS.

If this current setup continues to behave for at least a couple of weeks, I will move SSD back to the other shuttle, and fit a new lithium battery. I will start looking at CMOS if anything shows, perhaps before the battery fitting.

It would be most instructive to get a definite answer.

Thanks, Les.

[Les.]

I have just looked on Ebay for a Wifi card. It MUST be PCI, not PCI-E. I have spotted one only with similar spec to my dual antenna job, and a few of the 54Mb/s models. Is that dual antenna card the best thing I can get in PCI format. All the 2.4/5GHz one that I saw were PCI-E.

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

Today, loads to do (planning) so I had a bad migraine, did little until late afternoon.

However, printer missing (Oh!, no WiFi on my PC. It needs a PC reboot. A Linux update, Sooo Slooow.

Did a bit of work, but after tea time to get stuck in.

Out with both Wifi cards.

Single antenna version:-   (No mfgs name)  2.4GHz/54Mbps. PCI adaptor. 802.11g

Dual antenna version:-   LBLink  300Mbps.  Wireless N.  PCI Adaptor. BL-LW04-A2.

Fit the dual antenna card.

38ms,  13.40Mb/s.   0.72Mb/s.

Well, that is one part of the answer. It does not explain the regular dropouts previously, or Tamara’s complaints, but mine should be a bit better. I think I will order a new card for second PC.

NOTHING is ever straightforward with a PC, is it ——

I recently got a USB connected card reader, so fitted that whilst changing cards.

When I switched on, it failed to boot. RATS (those reading my other thread will understand). Switch off, open up, and investigate. It seems I dislodged the  SSD’s power lead. Refit, covers on, works OK. PHEW!!!

What a day, but at least some answers, but not off MT.

Les.

[Les.]

Dave, thanks for info, will investigate.

Last night, regular no connection so I rebooted router.

Rather surprisingly no reply from MT yet, by email or ‘phone yet.

However I have found something out this morning, though if I had does some stuff in a different order, I would have learned more.

I opened a pdf to print off one page, to find no connection to router (me or printer?). Ah, not “fan” signal strength display on mine. Does not want to connect, so reboot my PC. Fan now showing. Perhaps I should check router itself, so I log in. A firmware update available. (I did check a while ago, nothing then). Current one is V1.0.0.102. Click update, and SLOWLY things seem to happen, but eventually it disconnected apparently due to slow speed, though it could be rebooting itself. Out with cable connection to router, but it now shows the same firmware, but no update available. Log out of router, shut down and restart PC. Log in to router, it now has the V1.0.0.108, so that is OK.

I do a Wifi speedtest, and get similar readings to yesterday. Now I can print, so when I go to collect print from by Tamara’s Lenovo, I will do a speed test on that. Ping 62ms (slow?), D/L 13.5Mb/s, U/L 0.72Mb/s.

So, just MY PC bad right now.

I don’t know if the .102 to .108 firmware helps wifi or not, but I think I will change the card over to the two antenna version from the other PC, and see if that makes any difference. If so, it may be better to replace the card, or perhaps the £7 extension antenna.

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

Dave, thanks for that. The card in this M/C is the single antenna, so £7 seems OK, AND the directional aspect must be good.

The one in my other shuttle, from which I just interchanged the SSD is the dual one.

I am going to wait before purchase. MT have always used Netgear routers, but since all the fixed line hardware is Openreach stuff they buy in, it is possible they now use the rubbish you mention, but other than use of Openreach stuff, they no longer have any connection with BT.

WoF, Android phone? What is that?, I have a very basic Samsung, which I believe can do texting, unlike me.

Actually, I do have a cheapo Chinee android tablet, but would that do what you say?

Les.

[Les.]

WoF, We will discount the TWO fault for now (I hope).

No, I don’t think a WiFi card likely as a cause, I list it as one of four blocks to be suspect.

Bios system. A 10 year old Shuttle (well, two of them), model SN78SH7. Athlon 11 cpu, 4Gb ram. Onboard graphics but not used (will not handle current Mint distro) but GT620 (my original shuttle) and GT720 in the other (From which I have just transferred the SSD.

It will always boot from CD/DVD when asked. The SSD that could not be seen was the one which I returned and for which got an identical replacement.

Since fitting the replacement SSD, it has always been accessible from an “Install load” (Boot DVD).

I know this is becoming a very long thread, but I think I have covered ALL points over the last 50+ (HOW many?)posts.

But thanks for your interest.

Les.

[Les.]

Dave, After I rang MT  was when I tried a cable link from router to my PC. I had got a “number” from MT, so emailed them the cable speed. No answer so far. However, from what the chap said,  they will confirm poor router and hopefully replace it FOC. They will probably ask for a 12 month contract extension, but since it is almost a monopoly, that is hardly a problem.

However, I won’t expect a significant improvement (pessimist), so that was why I asked about antennas. These are the screw in type, and I wonder if a half metre extension, if available, would help. Since my shuttle more or less faces the router, the wifi card is behind and hidden by the case. It could perch on top of monitor, in “view” of the router.

Not that that helps Tamara upstairs. That would mean considering “Mains feed”, I guess with one sender and two receivers?

The printer upstairs never has problems accepting data, but then I guess it can “take its time”.

Cheers, Les.

[Les.]

WoF, to clarify a bit. It is NOT a case of only cold start failures. Under normal circumstances, my PC gets turned on and off about 4 times daily. However, not wanting all the aggro of what COULD follow a failure to boot, I now leave it on all day.

Around Christmas/New Year, when it failed to boot and the SSD could not be mounted from an install desktop (i.e., a live session from volatile memory), I lost some very important photos of on going construction, which I  needed to get past the Building control department. (Meeting Tues morning, fingers crossed). So, NOT a cold start issue.

Of course that does NOT mean it is not a PSU fault.

So far a few days only since I changed the SSD to my original shuttle. Thinking in terms of BLOCKS of stuff, the differences now are motherboard (inc RAM and CPU), Power supply, Graphics card (GT620 now, GT720) and WiFi cards. Clearly the M/B, the PSU and the Graphics card COULD be the problem. What about the WiFi, COULD it be the cause?

If it stays good, I will change all these , one at a time, as I do want isolate the cause if it isn’t the SSD.

Les.

[Les.]

The deed is done. SSD put into the other machine, my original, same 4GB Ram,GT620 card, different WiFi card, slightly slower CPU but otherwise identical.

Booted no problem, required WiFi password entering.

I WILL however now install all those programmes I held back on (but not Kodi for now) and see if that is cured, or if it is the SSD again.

Fingers crossed, Les.

[Les.]

Ed, Yes, I have been chewing the thing over today, and the logical thing is to move this SSD to the other machine.

If it won’t boot (because of the graphics card for example), then that leaves me with another fresh reinstall.

I have also been looking at another SSD, It seems there are a few in the just sub £30 bracket (but I will ignore the Kingston on principle) even including a WD “Green”. Then a few around £40, with some crazy way high prices.

Just one fail in the other machine, and It will go back once more to supplier, with a new one ordered as well.

Les.

[Les.]

Ed, NOT overheating. Until a couple of months ago, I used to switch PC on and off up to 4 times a day, but after that first failure to boot, when I identified that the SSD “was not present”, I have been leaving it on all day. Only if I have done a re-start has it crashed when hot, every other time has necessarily been first thing in the morning, as today.

In the next few days, time permitting, I will get the other shuttle and fit this SSD. Because of the different graphics card, it may refuse to boot, in which case I will do another full reinstall, since that part is generally simple and quick.

Otherwise, I am quite stuck for ideas. If it screws up then, the only common factor will be the SSD.

Les.

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