Open letter to all computer users

[Lock load]

Snl - Nick Burns With Jennifer Aniston - Your Companys Computer Guy on Vimeo

These old SNL skits still crack me up.

 

[hornadylnl]

Yes, I do.

We had 2 Trekkie looking types hook a computer up to it and spoke some geekese that I didn't understand. They recommended adding a second antenna and we did. It didn't help.

 

[Bunnykid68]

We had 2 Trekkie looking types hook a computer up to it and spoke some geekese that I didn't understand. They recommended adding a second antenna and we did. It didn't help.

They were speaking Klingon

 

[Scutter01]

We had 2 Trekkie looking types hook a computer up to it and spoke some geekese that I didn't understand. They recommended adding a second antenna and we did. It didn't help.

Wireless is an art. Even just antenna design is a nightmare. You can do all the right math and build an antenna that is 100% by the book and it still won't work as expected. It's practically voodoo. Packet radio has so many variables that it's extremely hard to get it right.

 

[hornadylnl]

Wireless is an art. Even just antenna design is a nightmare. You can do all the right math and build an antenna that is 100% by the book and it still won't work as expected. It's practically voodoo. Packet radio has so many variables that it's extremely hard to get it right.

We use wireless as little as possible. This is on a machine that has 2 servo drives that have 2 sync with 2 other servo drives in another machine to feed a coil. We can't run wire because the machine travels in a T pattern. It moves offline to load a coil then back online, travels north about 10' and then back south about 60'. There's no practical way to festoon it.

 

[KLB]

We use wireless as little as possible. This is on a machine that has 2 servo drives that have 2 sync with 2 other servo drives in another machine to feed a coil. We can't run wire because the machine travels in a T pattern. It moves offline to load a coil then back online, travels north about 10' and then back south about 60'. There's no practical way to festoon it.

Any kind of electrical equipment can cause interference. If it is really intermittent it will be pretty hard to narrow down. If you can monitor it closely you might be able to see where it is when it drops and see what is around.

 

[Scutter01]

Any kind of electrical equipment can cause interference. If it is really intermittent it will be pretty hard to narrow down. If you can monitor it closely you might be able to see where it is when it drops and see what is around.

Pfft. A steel I-beam can cause interference. Wireless in a machine shop is a major PITA.

 

[KLB]

Pfft. A steel I-beam can cause interference. Wireless in a machine shop is a major PITA.

Well, anything in the line of sight could, but since it is sporadic I am guessing electrical.

Is there a microwave nearby?

 

[Steelman]

Damn Scutter! I had no idea you worked with end-users! Can I buy you a beer? Or hand money to someone you would rather have a beer with?

 

[restonlane]

Note to self: Never get into the tech support business...

 

[Scutter01]

Well, anything in the line of sight could

It doesn't even have to be line-of-sight. Steel I-beams cause all sorts of weird RF reflections when you're trying to design an overlapping WiFi mesh. But yeah, I'd be leaning more towards RF interference from electrical systems, microwave ovens, or even cordless phones.

 

[hornadylnl]

Well, anything in the line of sight could, but since it is sporadic I am guessing electrical.

Is there a microwave nearby?

No, there's a big roof top air conditioner overhead. I wondered if rf was causing interference but even with the ac off, it still does it. Seems to be worse when it's hot out.

 

[Scutter01]

No, there's a big roof top air conditioner overhead. I wondered if rf was causing interference but even with the ac off, it still does it. Seems to be worse when it's hot out.

There's really no way to know beyond speculation without doing a site survey and examining the current equipment. It could be something as simple as a flaky power supply on the wireless equipment.

 

[hornadylnl]

There's really no way to know beyond speculation without doing a site survey and examining the current equipment. It could be something as simple as a flaky power supply on the wireless equipment.

You do service calls to Lafayette?

 

[perry]

Note to self: Never get into the tech support business...

Probably a good note. I played with computers as a kid and took jobs to pay the bills but I've been slowly worn down. Wish I had learned something else. Everyone I know in the business gets tired of it.

 

[dswilson]

Hey Scutter, at his point I have ordered 5 Tabs from this pc. I have the cupholder out and a cup in it yet it has failed to deliver a soft drink. is this something you can fix? It's really hot out as you know and i could use a cool refreshing tab.

 

[Mackey]

Sorry that it sounds like you've had a bad week... but that was actually funny to read.
"Take your porn DVD out of your laptop before handing it to me for service unless you're offering it to me as a tribute"
Cracked me up.

 

[Sylvain]

Maybe the guy who left a porn DVD thought it was how he had to pay the nerd who fixed his computer.

 

[hornadylnl]

Maybe the guy who left a porn DVD thought it was how he had to pay the nerd who fixed his computer.

Scutter and Spas are probably watching it now.

 

[Sylvain]

Scutter and Spas are probably watching it now.

He was probably going to insert one of his own (you know to make sure the computer was reading DVDs) and was surprised to find one already in it.