Lawrence "The Dreamer" Chen's Blog

Well, now that things seem to be working, I was making use of the TiVo HD last night....to the point where I didn't check any of my other recorders for content last night....

There's quite a bit of channels that I got on the Cox HD DVR, that I don't see via CableCARD....don't know if that's because Cox isn't making them all available to CableCARD subscribers or because they aren't in the lineup data from TiVo. TiVo lineup isn't very complete...there are channels it knows about, but has no program info for...so I can't schedule anything from those channels. And, there's other channels that are just missing. I had submitted the missing channel form for Fox HD, along with a link to the local lineup information...so hopefully TiVo will eventually get around to having things right.

Meanwhile, I started looking at the TiVoCasts....some of them are pretty interesting, I've downloaded just a few of them, and set up season passes to keep them coming. Checking my cacti monitor, I see that I've already downloaded >10GB of data in the last week. Wow. Probably the most downloading I've done....even more than when I set up my last new computer. Though that's probably because it wasn't a Windows computer.

Someday I'll get a new Windows computer.....only because my current one is starting to fail (had originally intended to replace it a couple of years ago, when it was 3....) And, want to get one before I can't get Windows XP anymore.

Link: http://www.wirns.com

I've had it with lack of line up updates from DNNA, and the need to call a non-tollfree number and wait on indefinite hold to fix something they should be keeping up on.

So, I looked at remapping some data to get the one channel that I'm missing out on....digital Fox.

I had stopped using WiRNS, because my ReplayTVs had stopped being able to get data from it....I figured it was probably related to having lost one of my Linux servers due to the icepocalypse. And, evidently this is so.

Now at least I'll have the option of recording Fox from digital cable....though American Idol filling up the schedule, means there's just "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"....which isn't in conflict, so is getting recorded on the DVR.

Looks like I experienced a nearly 24 hour outage of my Cox HSI service....

Wonder if my TV recordings for the period were affected....guess I'll find out when I get home from my business trip on Saturday.....

Well, I didn't want to wake up this morning...I was sore, my throat hurt, there was a productive cough, and it is kind of gloomy out. But, I wanted to check clocks at home and at work to see what changed and didn't change.

The first computer that should've updated, but didn't was my SuSE 9.3 Linux box. I had updated the zoneinfo files for DST....however, I didn't notice that the link between /etc/localtime and /usr/share/zoneinfo/US/Central had gotten severed. So the machine was still running using the old zoneinfo definition. But, zdump -v US/Central wasn't gonna tell me this.

I then check the other main computers at home and moved on to other devices. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my radio controlled clock, which I try to set all my other clocks against, was showing the correct time. I had been holding off on looking at another one of these clocks, guess it is safe to get one.

Then I check the VoIP phones....the Uniden has a local clock, so I had up date it. I drew a blank on what my Vonage number was...guess it has been a long time since I had to call it or give it out. It read an hour ahead, I guess it is still stuck on sending Eastern Time. Guess the still go by the timezone for the areacode of the number associated with it, rather than the timezone in my account profile. That's annoying.

Broadvoice doesn't seem to have updated for DST

I then updated the important clock...the clock on my coffee maker and put on coffee, and then back off to updating other clocks around home. It was also good to see that my Palm Tungsten T had updated....though hotsync'ng is a problem. DST change always seems to reset everything in my calendar...and this time was worse than usual. I blame Microsoft Outlook. Though I did run the timezone tool, though it was a bit weird...since Outlook is not my default mail client...its my calendar and contact tool. I suppose I should do something about this setup....especially since I have too many different calendars now. Plus, I haven't figured out where I'm at in my PDA replacement project. The Palm Tungsten T is pretty much only calendaring for me now....anyhoo.... The DST change also causes the backupbuddy to backup everything fresh again...which makes the first sync really long and painful.

The Blackberry sync seemed to have issues...but it was problem me trying to do it while the Palm sync was still going on. It worked fine later.

But, it was off to check my ReplayTVs and other HT devices if they had the correct time. All the ReplayTVs had the correct time, I was surprised to see that my Momitsu V880N was also right....and it was good that the Cox HD DVR was also right, because when I looked at it last night...the guide was wrong. But, the lack of new programming for the first few days might seem intentional

As usual, since I was here...I checked the lamp timer on my Samsung HLN4365W1....5255 hours. Had noticed that it seems to be having more trouble turning on that usual, but it is still working. Hopefully the spare bulb I have works, when that time comes. OTOH, I see that 50" units are now thin enough that they should fit into my stand....and 1080p might be nice. Though I'll probably wait until the spare bulb is spent....by then they should perfect LED based RPTVs Plus I might be willing to update my furniture to allow an even bigger screen

I'm sure I've missed other clocks (at home)....but I think I'm done.

Wonder if I want to wander out and see if the outside world is right....namely it has been over a week since I've done groceries....

Hmmm, the server time for this blog is off my an hour....guess I'll have to do it manually?

Look at all the empty spots....what will I fill them with....

During the holidays, I got to thinking again that I would really like someway to receive FOX HDTV (as well as any other OTA HDTV that I could get to help relieve the load on the Cox HD DVR)....

Before moving here to Manhattan, KS...some one had mentioned the Terk HDTVlp antenna as one that I might need to consider.

When I got here, I did set up on of my OTA HDTV Tuners...and try the non-amplified directional HDTV antennas (ZHDTV1) that I was previously using in Dublin, OH to receive OTA HD. It couldn't find any signal at all. Given that the nearest antenna is about ~32 miles away (CBS) and the one that I'm most interested in is ~43 miles away (FOX)...and in the opposite direction from all the rest (CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS).

Well, I finally scored an HDTVlp antenna...and set it up today. It didn't pan out....the only station I can pull in is WIBW-DT, which is the CBS stations that is ~32 miles away. I tried various orientations of the antenna, but it only affected how well it would receive CBS....

Now I'm trying to decide if I'll take the chance and buy another amplified antenna.... Perhaps something a bit more directional.

Meanwhile, I'm also trying to decide if I'll use the fact that I can at least get CBS....and take the load off of my Cox HD DVR some. It'll likely be to record HD content that I don't currently record using the HD DVR or content that I'm willing to sacrifice....

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Though it doesn't show up on Zap2it yet, and my HD-DVR says "Temporarily not available" for it (but it is saying that for all the 'basic' HD channels)....OTOH, when I tune to it on the HD Converter...it is bring up HBO-HD instead.

The HD-DVR, on the other hand, is saying that I'm not subscribed when I tune to HBO-HD...but I am subscribed, because it works on the HD Converter (I'm subscribed to 3 out of 4 of the premiums...only because of the pricing bundles....it was the same price to get 3, as it would be to get just Showtime. Though I'm still questioning the move, since the only reason I got Showtime....was for "Dead Like Me"....though I later did watch some of "Huff". But, now I'm just paying for it....)

Can't say that it (FOX-HD) shows up on the Cox site....it says it is part of the HD lineup (but then adds a disclaimer that not all channels are available in all areas). And, asking the site to show the actual TV listings for my area...it is using Zap2It as the provider.

I was just thinking that I it was going to suck with out Fox in HD....even though at my old location, it was only OTA...but having just watched the season premiere of Bones....it is harder than I expected to not be watching it in HD.

Oh well...for some reason I'm really tired already.....

Well, I managed to get a person on the phone at FedEx and eventually convinced the person to move me up the chain to get the delivery matter properly resolved.

Interesting that delivery status/exception gives "Topeka, KS" as location, but after getting the delivery to happen....they show the successful delivery in "Manhattan, KS". Kind of a big difference there.

Anyways, it was the HD DVR that I ordered from Cox. Interesting that having it delivered, really does mean having it delivered....

Hooked it up, and that's about it. It won't let me watch anything above basic services, even though I'm paying for almost everything. No guide data, etc. either. Hopefully, its just because I received the box sooner than they said I was scheduled to receive it.

The other cable box seems to work fine, and all I did was hook this box to the unused output of the 4-way splitter that is on my end of the service.

Though maybe I wonder if I should check the cable box....not like I've looked at its menus since I hooked it up to my ReplayTV.... Okay, there is data on that box....

I had started the quest to research what cordless phone I would get to replace my current 5.8Ghz one, since it doesn't get along with the Amphony 1520.

I had kind of narrowed it down to a 2.4Ghz phone that I had come across on eBay, a Uniden DCT646-3. Well, I bought it.

At first I was questing for a 900MHz phone...but there doesn't seem to be much (or any) in the way of *NEW* digital (DSS) 900Mhz phones. Making it even harder to find one with the features that I would want. Namely handset speaker phone, multi-handset capable or included, VMWI, CID.

I know that 2.4GHz and WiFi don't get along...but consensus is that WiFi doesn't prevent a 2.4Ghz phone from working and the 2.4GHz phone only causes performance degradation to the WiFi. And, in the congested 2.4GHz that is life in a condo, near apartments, near a major university....it is kind of something I'm stuck with. Plus it is still my plan at some point to replace the bridge portion of my WiFi network with something else.

Like the phone demarc is in the room where the DSL modem is, and the condo is wired with CAT5....so maybe I'll put the DSL modem directly on the incoming line? And, use the condo's CAT5 for networking. Though my Living Room is laid out wrong for this to really work right now...and no plans to move the main computer to the other bedroom. But, if I did move the computer, than it could be a definite possibility. Or the condo's CAT5 would only link the Living Room to the 'computer' room. And, I would keep WiFi for the stuff in the LivingRoom. On the basis that they are close enough to cope....plus I still want WiFi for my DPH-540 and my laptop(s).

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When I got out of the shower this morning....I guess I was in there a lot longer than I thought. I found it was after 8am.

Remembering that when I had email customer support regarding an order for blank checks I made last month, that I hadn't received. The response was to call them and then asked me to fill out a survey on the helpfulness of their response.

Well, since I was home during the window (I haven't yet gotten around to trying the now working phone in my cubicle at work )....I called and all they did was look up the info confirm my address and offer to send me another book of checks. Hopefully these will materialize, etc.

Meanwhile, I since I was hope and using the phone....I thought I would give Cox a call, since it had been more than 24 hours since they promised that I would get a response within 24 hours. (digging through my email backlog....1000+ of manually filtered emails [meaning spam and date sensitive material, removed]) I saw that I had previously gotten a response email from them, also promising a response within 24 hours....but no actual response (since that's among the date sensitive stuff I look for, though not so much the received receipt...)

Anyways....after getting a hold of a person...I had to keep repeating that I wanted an HD-DVR and not to take anyway any of the stuff I'm already paying them for. Finally, he accepted that I really did want to add an HD-DVR to my current subscription and not remove stuff.

And, not because I had threatened to do so in a previous blog entry. He didn't seem to understand why a single guy with a single TV could possibly want to watch so much stuff. Though I'm starting to wonder if I can still watch all this stuff. But, I suppose if I spent less time at work or doing work from home....I would be able to resume my habit.

Plus the new fall season is starting to pile on....

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