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Moving ISP

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Dave Plowman (News)

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Sep 3, 2012, 4:56:28 AM9/3/12
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When Argonet packed up, I moved to Pipex. Was reasonably happy with them,
but they've changed hands a few times and are now TalkTalk. Who keep on
sending me letters and emails saying they can't contact me via email...
They seem to have some fetish about viewing their online bill every month,
which is paid automatically, so those letters are simply a PITA. I've
phoned them, but they carry on. I recently for the first time got a paper
'bill' and it seems I'm being charged extra for paper billing, which I
don't want. More phone calls got nowhere.

So after a quick bit of research I'm moving to BT, as I already have a
landline phone with them which I want to keep. I'm quite close to the
exchange and they seem to promise decent speeds - although I can't say my
present connection is a problem, given the stuff I use it for. The TV is
on it and I seem to be able to 'watch it again' ok, on the rare occasion
I've used this.

I'm sure there will be no problems connecting the various PCs to the new
router - but how about my two Acorns? Will they automatically supply the
data I need to connect them?

--
*Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot.

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Brian Howlett

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Sep 3, 2012, 5:13:47 AM9/3/12
to
On 3 Sep, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> I'm sure there will be no problems connecting the various PCs to the new
> router - but how about my two Acorns? Will they automatically supply the
> data I need to connect them?

If the Acorns do DHCP, then you will have no problem connecting via
the BT Home Hub. You don't even need to enter a username or password
for your connection.
--
Brian Howlett - Email to From: address deleted unseen
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Are you the Prime Minister?" "No, but I've often been mistaken."
"What, for the Prime Minister?" "No. I've just often been mistaken..."

Dave Plowman (News)

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:16:10 AM9/3/12
to
In article <9f0957c9...@bhowlett.plus.net>,
Brian Howlett <news-s...@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:
> On 3 Sep, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> > I'm sure there will be no problems connecting the various PCs to the
> > new router - but how about my two Acorns? Will they automatically
> > supply the data I need to connect them?

> If the Acorns do DHCP, then you will have no problem connecting via
> the BT Home Hub. You don't even need to enter a username or password
> for your connection.

Will that allow ShareFS to still work, and LM98 and Uniprint, etc?

I've always used manual configuration as in the original Paul Vigay guide.
Since I've got everything working as it should I'd like to keep it that
way. But it's all a black art to me, so I'm open to suggestions. ;-)

--
*Eat well, stay fit, die anyway

M Harding

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:41:54 AM9/3/12
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In article <52c9557...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> [ . . . ]
> So after a quick bit of research I'm moving to BT, [ . . ]

> I'm sure there will be no problems connecting the various PCs to
> the new router - but how about my two Acorns? Will they
> automatically supply the data I need to connect them?

When I was using BT there was never a problem about connecting the
RISC PC or using Pluto under VRPC.

The only weird problem I had, is that BT later on demanded that I
authenticate every one of my email names, yet for some obscure reason
the page for this (using Windows XP) was blank in both Firefox and IE.
No technical adviser could sort it out over a number of days and in
desperation I migrated from BT whose contract was soon to expire.

Michael Harding
Rev. Preb. M.D. Harding ris...@mdharding.org.uk

Chris Johnson

unread,
Sep 3, 2012, 7:32:40 AM9/3/12
to
In article <52c95cb...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> I've always used manual configuration as in the original Paul Vigay
> guide. Since I've got everything working as it should I'd like to
> keep it that way. But it's all a black art to me, so I'm open to
> suggestions. ;-)

If you have done it once, then you can do it again 8-)

You simply need the details of the default network address the new
router uses, and then enter the gateway address (ie the router local
IP address) in to the network setup. If the new router uses a
different local network address range (eg 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x)
then the RISC OS machine(s) IP addresses will need to be changed into
the new range. The machine IP address and network mask are also
entered in the Boot-Configure-Network setup.

Once the network IP addresses have been set up, then ShareFS should
just work as before.

--
Chris Johnson

Chris Hughes

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Sep 3, 2012, 8:13:43 AM9/3/12
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In message <52c95cb...@davenoise.co.uk>
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <9f0957c9...@bhowlett.plus.net>,
> Brian Howlett <news-s...@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:
>> On 3 Sep, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

>>> I'm sure there will be no problems connecting the various PCs to the
>>> new router - but how about my two Acorns? Will they automatically
>>> supply the data I need to connect them?

>> If the Acorns do DHCP, then you will have no problem connecting via
>> the BT Home Hub. You don't even need to enter a username or password
>> for your connection.

> Will that allow ShareFS to still work, and LM98 and Uniprint, etc?

Probably, if they don't change IP address. I tend to use Static IP
addresses.

> I've always used manual configuration as in the original Paul Vigay guide.
> Since I've got everything working as it should I'd like to keep it that
> way. But it's all a black art to me, so I'm open to suggestions. ;-)

It should work, depends on what the IP address of the new BT Home Hub
is.

--
Chris Hughes

Dave Plowman (News)

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Sep 3, 2012, 8:37:19 AM9/3/12
to
In article <968267c9...@o2.co.uk>,
Chris Hughes <ne...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <52c95cb...@davenoise.co.uk>
> "Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> > In article <9f0957c9...@bhowlett.plus.net>,
> > Brian Howlett <news-s...@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:
> >> On 3 Sep, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> >>> I'm sure there will be no problems connecting the various PCs to the
> >>> new router - but how about my two Acorns? Will they automatically
> >>> supply the data I need to connect them?

> >> If the Acorns do DHCP, then you will have no problem connecting via
> >> the BT Home Hub. You don't even need to enter a username or password
> >> for your connection.

> > Will that allow ShareFS to still work, and LM98 and Uniprint, etc?

> Probably, if they don't change IP address. I tend to use Static IP
> addresses.

Which is what I'm using at the moment.

> > I've always used manual configuration as in the original Paul Vigay
> > guide. Since I've got everything working as it should I'd like to keep
> > it that way. But it's all a black art to me, so I'm open to
> > suggestions. ;-)

> It should work, depends on what the IP address of the new BT Home Hub
> is.

Indeed - if it uses a different 'group' I'll have to change all mine too -
but no big deal provided I know what to expect. ;-)

--
*If God dropped acid, would he see people?

Dave Plowman (News)

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Sep 3, 2012, 8:39:45 AM9/3/12
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In article <52c963c080chr...@spamcop.net>,
What I was basically asking is will BT supply all these without problems?
The reason I used Pipex originally was all this was readily available,
unlike some competitors.

--
*Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

Alan Wrigley

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Sep 3, 2012, 8:50:01 AM9/3/12
to
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <9f0957c9...@bhowlett.plus.net>,
> Brian Howlett <news-s...@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:
>
> > If the Acorns do DHCP, then you will have no problem connecting via
> > the BT Home Hub. You don't even need to enter a username or password
> > for your connection.
>
> Will that allow ShareFS to still work, and LM98 and Uniprint, etc?

I've never used DHCP so haven't a clue how it works in practice. Does it
allow lookup by host name? If so, UniPrint should work as long as you
specify the host name and not the IP address.

Alan

--
RISC OS - you know it makes cents

Dave Plowman (News)

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Sep 3, 2012, 8:43:31 AM9/3/12
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In article <52c95f1a...@mdharding.org.uk>,
M Harding <ris...@mdharding.org.uk> wrote:
> When I was using BT there was never a problem about connecting the
> RISC PC or using Pluto under VRPC.

> The only weird problem I had, is that BT later on demanded that I
> authenticate every one of my email names, yet for some obscure reason
> the page for this (using Windows XP) was blank in both Firefox and IE.
> No technical adviser could sort it out over a number of days and in
> desperation I migrated from BT whose contract was soon to expire.

Right. That doesn't fill me with confidence. ;-)

Trouble is I've got 2 RPCs, 2 PC desktops, and a TV all cabled to the
router. And two laptops on wireless. All of which (apart from the TV) I
can transfer data between easily.

I only use the one email address, but it's my own and I'm not going to
change it.

--
*Cleaned by Stevie Wonder, checked by David Blunkett*

Doug Webb

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Sep 3, 2012, 9:08:04 AM9/3/12
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In message <52c96a3...@davenoise.co.uk>
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <52c95f1a...@mdharding.org.uk>,
> M Harding <ris...@mdharding.org.uk> wrote:
>> When I was using BT there was never a problem about connecting the
>> RISC PC or using Pluto under VRPC.

>> The only weird problem I had, is that BT later on demanded that I
>> authenticate every one of my email names, yet for some obscure reason
>> the page for this (using Windows XP) was blank in both Firefox and IE.
>> No technical adviser could sort it out over a number of days and in
>> desperation I migrated from BT whose contract was soon to expire.

> Right. That doesn't fill me with confidence. ;-)

Well not had an issue with authenticating any email addresses that I
need to use to send an email from.

Just log on to your BT account and then setup authentification of the
email address you wish to send emails using.

So if bt give you an account that has x...@btinternet.com then log on
to that and then set it up so you can send an email using your
xxx@xxxnoise one.


--
See and experience the future using ARM Technology - BeagleBoard -xM,
Cortex A8 and RISC OS 5.19.

Jess

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Sep 3, 2012, 11:08:25 AM9/3/12
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In message <52c969e...@davenoise.co.uk>
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> What I was basically asking is will BT supply all these without problems?
> The reason I used Pipex originally was all this was readily available,
> unlike some competitors.

It's all down to the router.

From a Command prompt in windows type

ipconfig /all

That will give the required information.

You may need to change some numbers.

--
Jess Iyonix

Brian Howlett

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Sep 3, 2012, 1:26:11 PM9/3/12
to
On 3 Sep, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> Will that allow ShareFS to still work, and LM98 and Uniprint, etc?

> I've always used manual configuration as in the original Paul Vigay guide.
> Since I've got everything working as it should I'd like to keep it that
> way. But it's all a black art to me, so I'm open to suggestions. ;-)

Router's IP address is 192.168.1.254 and DHCP range is 192.168.1.64
upwards.

If you want to have static IP addresses on your network they need to
run from 192.168.1.1 up to 192.168.1.63 - these are all the "out of
the box" settings, but are configurable within the interface, however
I don't have a RISC OS browser that will log in to the router
interface - you'll need to use one of your PC browsers to configure
it.
--
Brian Howlett - Email to From: address deleted unseen
------------------------------------------------------------------
Last year I went fishing with Salvador Dali. He was using a dotted
line. He caught every other fish.

Derek.Moody

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Sep 3, 2012, 2:33:52 PM9/3/12
to
In article <52c96a3...@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman (News)
<URL:mailto:da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

re: moving to BT

> > The only weird problem I had, is that BT later on demanded that I
> > authenticate every one of my email names, yet for some obscure reason
> > the page for this (using Windows XP) was blank in both Firefox and IE.
> > No technical adviser could sort it out over a number of days and in
> > desperation I migrated from BT whose contract was soon to expire.
>
> Right. That doesn't fill me with confidence. ;-)

BT are a pita if you're trying to do anything fancy on a residential account.
The Home-Hubs are too locked down to be really useful.

> Trouble is I've got 2 RPCs, 2 PC desktops, and a TV all cabled to the
> router. And two laptops on wireless. All of which (apart from the TV) I
> can transfer data between easily.

OK, so don't change any of that.

Choose an ISP who will let you connect your existing router to their network
then just change the provider settings on the router to suit. Any ISP will
supply those. The only changes needed on the computers are to point the
email clients to the new (SMTP) sender.

One advantage is that if you supply the router the ISP will not insist on a
long minimum contract so you can move on easily if they prove unsuitable.

> I only use the one email address, but it's my own and I'm not going to
> change it.

Your new ISP, whoever they are, will insist on you using an address they
supply as a fall back for them to contact you - you can usually leave it as
a webmail account and forget about it until you need to contact support.

As you'll have seen on another thread I'm using PlusNet, try them, they're
pretty good - and if you tell them you were recommended by username derekm
they'll reward me with a massive referral fee - um, about 50p but hey, I
could buy a bag of nuts ;-)

Cheerio,

--
>> derek...@casterbridge.net

Stuart

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Sep 3, 2012, 5:05:48 PM9/3/12
to
In article <52c9557...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> So after a quick bit of research I'm moving to BT, as I already have a
> landline phone with them which I want to keep.

If it's not too late, BT don't have particularly good ratings for customer
satisfaction.

Plusnet, who, incidentally, are also part of BT have much better ratings.

--
Stuart Winsor

Only plain text for emails
http://www.asciiribbon.org



Chris Newman

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Sep 3, 2012, 5:39:25 PM9/3/12
to
In article <52c99839...@argonet.co.uk>,
Stuart <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <52c9557...@davenoise.co.uk>,
> Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> > So after a quick bit of research I'm moving to BT, as I already have a
> > landline phone with them which I want to keep.

> If it's not too late, BT don't have particularly good ratings for customer
> satisfaction.

> Plusnet, who, incidentally, are also part of BT have much better ratings.

I may need to change my ISP soon & have been looking at Which magazine and
canvassing advice amongst acquaintances. PlusNet comes out pretty well. Also
recommended by Andrew Rawnsley of R-Comp.

Cheers,

--
Chris Newman

Folderol

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Sep 3, 2012, 5:46:56 PM9/3/12
to
I've been using ukfsn for years. They are not the cheapest, and they expect
their customers to have a little grey matter between their ears, but I've found
them very reliable.

--
Will J G

Alan Wrigley

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:08:01 PM9/3/12
to
Chris Newman <cvj...@waitrose.com> wrote:

> I may need to change my ISP soon & have been looking at Which magazine and
> canvassing advice amongst acquaintances. PlusNet comes out pretty well.
> Also recommended by Andrew Rawnsley of R-Comp.

I don't recall ever hearing a bad word said about PlusNet. They even post
here sometimes IIRC. The only thing that would worry me is that they're
owned by BT.

I've been with Andrews & Arnold for ten years now. Not the cheapest but if
you want rock-solid reliability from people who know what they're doing...

I've never had cause to complain about any aspect of their service, ever.
And unlike some ISPs that grind to a halt when too many people are online at
the same time, A&A provide a good contention ratio which means my speed
seems to be pretty constant at most times.

Chris Johnson

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:02:48 PM9/3/12
to
In article <52c99839...@argonet.co.uk>,
Stuart <Spa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> Plusnet, who, incidentally, are also part of BT have much better
> ratings.

There actually seem to be quite a number of PlusNet subscribers on
the various Acorn newsgroups and maillists (including myself).

--
Chris Johnson

spampling

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:20:06 PM9/3/12
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In article <52c95f1a...@mdharding.org.uk>,
M Harding <ris...@mdharding.org.uk> wrote:
> The only weird problem I had, is that BT later on demanded that I
> authenticate every one of my email names, yet for some obscure reason
> the page for this (using Windows XP) was blank in both Firefox and IE.
> No technical adviser could sort it out over a number of days and in
> desperation I migrated from BT whose contract was soon to expire.

I wrote a front end for popstar to solve that. I suppose I could have
phoned and asked for what now exists - a working web front end.

--

Steve Pampling

spampling

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:16:14 PM9/3/12
to
In article <52c969e...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> What I was basically asking is will BT supply all these without problems?
> The reason I used Pipex originally was all this was readily available,
> unlike some competitors.

What specific configuration do you want Dave?

The PC's here use DHCP internally, the beagleboard uses DHCP, the RPC is
static, the linux beasts are DHCP and so are the internet radio devices
(the wife bought those, powered up and pushed some buttons.

Oh and the quirks of the mail setup can now be dealt with on line, but I
did a front end for popstar before they did that bit.

Oh, and the router currently in use is the one I used for argonet, pipex
and pn through to the current pains in the nether. Clearly you have more
tolerance than me and lasted longer.

--

Steve Pampling

spampling

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:21:21 PM9/3/12
to
In article <52c96a3...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> Right. That doesn't fill me with confidence. ;-)

Not difficult confiog really.

> Trouble is I've got 2 RPCs, 2 PC desktops, and a TV all cabled to the
> router. And two laptops on wireless. All of which (apart from the TV) I
> can transfer data between easily.

See my other posts.

--

Steve Pampling

spampling

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:22:53 PM9/3/12
to
In article <ant03185...@strongarm.half-baked-idea.co.uk>,
Derek.Moody
<derek...@casterbridge.net> wrote:
> Choose an ISP who will let you connect your existing router to their
> network then just change the provider settings on the router to suit.

Like BT?
The router BT supplied is currently sitting in its box behind me.

--

Steve Pampling

Derek.Moody

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Sep 3, 2012, 6:45:35 PM9/3/12
to
In article <52c99f480f...@btinternet.com>, spampling
So you are locked in for a minimum term (or pay an early termination fee) in
order to 'pay' for the bit of kit you never use..?

If you are out of the minimum period, when you leave BT, you might like to
try unlocking the home-hub; a search will provide details, difficulty
depends on version, to create a more useable spare router.

Cheerio,

--
>> derek...@casterbridge.net

spampling

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Sep 4, 2012, 3:00:17 AM9/4/12
to
In article <ant03223...@strongarm.half-baked-idea.co.uk>,
Derek.Moody <derek...@casterbridge.net> wrote:
> If you are out of the minimum period, when you leave BT,

That presupposes that the possibility of using something other than BT or a
BT reseller is likely to arise. The village is cabled by BT only and the
LLU is limited to the opal telecom setup (Talk Talk) nothing available
gives better speed (I've checked with other people in the village and they
all suffer bad or even abysmal bandwidth.

Now that the BT period (to keep the phone number I've always had, but Talk
Talk wouldn't release to anyone but back to BT) has ended I can look at
Plusnet or similar (BT by a different name)

--

Steve Pampling

M Harding

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Sep 4, 2012, 5:15:40 AM9/4/12
to
Thanks for that information, I didn't realise it was possible - I have
their original stored in the loft . .

Chris Evans

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Sep 4, 2012, 5:42:09 AM9/4/12
to
In article <52c9cea68e...@btinternet.com>, spampling
I would expect that for 99% of people 99% of the time their speed is
governed by the physical network they are connected to.
If you are on a cable network then you have no choice of ISP
All other connections will be via the BT network, so you speeed will be
goverened by BT (Unless your ISP have really screwed things up.)
Any ISP claiming they can increase our speed by swapping to them is doing
wishfull thinking (Unless you have a capped rate with your current ISP)

When changing ISPs there is one other thing to remember if you are using old
software like the Ant Suite which does not do Authenticated SMTP.
Whilst Authenticated SMTP is NOT required by Talk Talk in its many guises,
BT I belive and most other ISP do now require it.

Anyone know of any other ISP that does not require Authenticated SMTP?

Chris Evans

--
CJE Micro's / 4D 'RISC OS Specialists'
Telephone: 01903 523222 Fax: 01903 523679
ch...@cjemicros.co.uk http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/
78 Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2EN
The most beautiful thing anyone can wear, is a smile!

charles

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Sep 4, 2012, 6:24:43 AM9/4/12
to
In article <ant04090...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>, Chris Evans
<ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <52c9cea68e...@btinternet.com>, spampling
> <URL:mailto:spam....@btinternet.com> wrote:
> > In article <ant03223...@strongarm.half-baked-idea.co.uk>,
> > Derek.Moody <derek...@casterbridge.net> wrote:
> > > If you are out of the minimum period, when you leave BT,
> >
> > That presupposes that the possibility of using something other than BT
> > or a BT reseller is likely to arise. The village is cabled by BT only
> > and the LLU is limited to the opal telecom setup (Talk Talk) nothing
> > available gives better speed (I've checked with other people in the
> > village and they all suffer bad or even abysmal bandwidth.
> >
> > Now that the BT period (to keep the phone number I've always had, but
> > Talk Talk wouldn't release to anyone but back to BT) has ended I can
> > look at Plusnet or similar (BT by a different name)

> I would expect that for 99% of people 99% of the time their speed is
> governed by the physical network they are connected to. If you are on a
> cable network then you have no choice of ISP All other connections will
> be via the BT network, so you speeed will be goverened by BT (Unless your
> ISP have really screwed things up.) Any ISP claiming they can increase
> our speed by swapping to them is doing wishfull thinking (Unless you have
> a capped rate with your current ISP)

there could be a possible speed increase during busy times if they use a
different contention ratio - but the maximum speed is fixed by physics.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

Stuart

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 7:13:38 AM9/4/12
to
In article <ant04090...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>,
Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:

> When changing ISPs there is one other thing to remember if you are using
> old software like the Ant Suite which does not do Authenticated SMTP.
> Whilst Authenticated SMTP is NOT required by Talk Talk in its many
> guises, BT I belive and most other ISP do now require it.

> Anyone know of any other ISP that does not require Authenticated SMTP?

No problems connecting with Orpheus.

When I had a question recently regarding speeds, and sent them an email,
Richard phoned me back and we spent about 3/4 hour discussing internet
speeds and options and problems I was having with my LAN.

He then phoned me back again with suggestions regarding my LAN, after
speaking to his technical personnel.

I am sure they will try their best to retain connectivity for RISC OS
machines and I intend shortly to be moving to fibre with them

Chris Johnson

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 6:23:50 AM9/4/12
to
In article <ant04090...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>,
Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> Anyone know of any other ISP that does not require Authenticated
> SMTP?

Plusnet doesn't at the moment.

--
Chris Johnson

Chris Hughes

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Sep 4, 2012, 8:55:06 AM9/4/12
to
In message <52c9e5d8...@argonet.co.uk>
Orpheus are a customer of BT Wholesale and the same with the Fibre
service.



--
Chris Hughes

Chris Hughes

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Sep 4, 2012, 8:53:33 AM9/4/12
to
In message <ant04090...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>
Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <52c9cea68e...@btinternet.com>, spampling
> <URL:mailto:spam....@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> In article <ant03223...@strongarm.half-baked-idea.co.uk>,
>> Derek.Moody <derek...@casterbridge.net> wrote:
>>> If you are out of the minimum period, when you leave BT,
>>
>> That presupposes that the possibility of using something other than BT or a
>> BT reseller is likely to arise. The village is cabled by BT only and the
>> LLU is limited to the opal telecom setup (Talk Talk) nothing available
>> gives better speed (I've checked with other people in the village and they
>> all suffer bad or even abysmal bandwidth.
>>
>> Now that the BT period (to keep the phone number I've always had, but Talk
>> Talk wouldn't release to anyone but back to BT) has ended I can look at
>> Plusnet or similar (BT by a different name)

> I would expect that for 99% of people 99% of the time their speed is
> governed by the physical network they are connected to.
> If you are on a cable network then you have no choice of ISP
> All other connections will be via the BT network, so you speeed will be
> goverened by BT (Unless your ISP have really screwed things up.)
> Any ISP claiming they can increase our speed by swapping to them is doing
> wishfull thinking (Unless you have a capped rate with your current ISP)

Sorry, but this is inaccurate information.

There are 5 types of ISP's

Those using BT wholesale (probably the majority)

There is Cable provide by Virgin

There is Satellite (of most use in more difficult to access areas)

There are Mobile Broadband services

There are also LLU unbundled ISP - although they do use the Bt wires,
they have there own kit in the Exchane and since they generally use
ADSL2+ can offer faster speeds - BT Wholesale don't control the speed
of these connections since the only bit of there kit involved is the
wires. Companies like O2, BE, etc..

I have two ADSL lines here, one is a BT provide service 2Meg service
1.6meg really and they say they can't improve it.

But the O2 LLU connection I have over BT Wholesale wires is currently
running at 5Mb

> When changing ISPs there is one other thing to remember if you are using old
> software like the Ant Suite which does not do Authenticated SMTP.
> Whilst Authenticated SMTP is NOT required by Talk Talk in its many guises,
> BT I belive and most other ISP do now require it.

> Anyone know of any other ISP that does not require Authenticated SMTP?

Rumour has it, all UK ISP's will be introducing it


--
Chris Hughes

Stuart

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 11:07:44 AM9/4/12
to
In article <8122efc9...@o2.co.uk>,
Chris Hughes <ne...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> Orpheus are a customer of BT Wholesale and the same with the Fibre
> service.

Yes but it's the ISP that determines the required connection protocols not
the bit of "string" used in between.

spampling

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 12:53:11 PM9/4/12
to
In article <ant04090...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>, Chris Evans
<ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> When changing ISPs there is one other thing to remember if you are using
> old software like the Ant Suite which does not do Authenticated SMTP.

Question (long time since I looked at things like AntSuite ) is the mail
transfer in that done by Popstar?
If so, I have an answer.

--

Steve Pampling

spampling

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 3:23:48 PM9/4/12
to
In article <71feeec9...@o2.co.uk>,
Chris Hughes <ne...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> BT Wholesale don't control the speed
> of these connections since the only bit of there kit involved is the
> wires.
<snip>
The back haul is normally BT

> I have two ADSL lines here, one is a BT provide service 2Meg service
> 1.6meg really and they say they can't improve it.

Tends to be distance dependent with a component for age of install and
hence cable quality plus an allowance for the age of the exchange kit (all
exchanges are being updated so you may find a service interruption and then
a speed increase. We had a business line at work that had that scenario
(they blamed the interruption on our kit

> But the O2 LLU connection I have over BT Wholesale wires is currently
> running at 5Mb

Which eliminates the problem of distance as they will be the same length as
the wires for the BT service so the other line set is probably older cable.

> > Anyone know of any other ISP that does not require Authenticated SMTP?

> Rumour has it, all UK ISP's will be introducing it

Quite likely, it reduces the possibility of open relays

--

Steve Pampling

druck

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 4:14:00 PM9/4/12
to
On 04/09/2012 08:00, spampling wrote:
> Now that the BT period (to keep the phone number I've always had, but
> Talk Talk wouldn't release to anyone but back to BT) has ended I can
> look at Plusnet or similar (BT by a different name)

BT might own PlusNet, but they are a completely separate ISP, and
comparing my experience against BT customers, a far far better one. I
use them for both Internet and phone service now, and have no complaints.

---druck

druck

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 4:24:44 PM9/4/12
to
On 04/09/2012 20:23, spampling wrote:
> In article <71feeec9...@o2.co.uk>,
> Chris Hughes <ne...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
>> I have two ADSL lines here, one is a BT provide service 2Meg service
>> 1.6meg really and they say they can't improve it.

[Snip]

> Which eliminates the problem of distance as they will be the same length as
> the wires for the BT service so the other line set is probably older cable.

Not necessarily, at a former employer, they had 2 ADSL lines with
different speeds, and found one of them came from a different exchange
to the other. The business site was served by two exchanges, and it was
a matter of luck to which one you got hooked up to.

Cheers
---David

Chris Hughes

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 6:16:58 PM9/4/12
to
In message <52ca12b8c9...@btinternet.com>
spampling <spam....@btinternet.com> wrote:

> In article <71feeec9...@o2.co.uk>,
> Chris Hughes <ne...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
>> BT Wholesale don't control the speed
>> of these connections since the only bit of there kit involved is the
>> wires.
> <snip>
> The back haul is normally BT

>> I have two ADSL lines here, one is a BT provide service 2Meg service
>> 1.6meg really and they say they can't improve it.

> Tends to be distance dependent with a component for age of install and
> hence cable quality plus an allowance for the age of the exchange kit (all
> exchanges are being updated so you may find a service interruption and then
> a speed increase. We had a business line at work that had that scenario
> (they blamed the interruption on our kit

Its a newer line then the one used for the O2 LLU service. It was
specially installed.

>> But the O2 LLU connection I have over BT Wholesale wires is currently
>> running at 5Mb

> Which eliminates the problem of distance as they will be the same length as
> the wires for the BT service so the other line set is probably older cable.

I was initially told I would get about 4Mb by O2 and indeed I go that
on first connection and then it slowly increased to 5Mb, its now back
at around 4.5 Mb now

>>> Anyone know of any other ISP that does not require Authenticated SMTP?

>> Rumour has it, all UK ISP's will be introducing it

> Quite likely, it reduces the possibility of open relays

Agreed.

--
Chris Hughes

Chris Hughes

unread,
Sep 4, 2012, 6:19:12 PM9/4/12
to
In message <k25o2c$6c6$1...@dont-email.me>
Interesting you should mention that. Because we are actually covered
by 4 main exchanges.


--
Chris Hughes

spampling

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 2:46:03 AM9/5/12
to
In article <k25o2c$6c6$1...@dont-email.me>,
druck <ne...@druck.org.uk> wrote:
> The business site was served by two exchanges, and it was
> a matter of luck to which one you got hooked up to.

That would be nice - we actually want two lines with the capability to
expand to 100Mb feeding into our buildings with a matching setup at our
satellite site. In both cases it can be provided at a cost a little short
of the national debt.

--

Steve Pampling

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 5:15:26 AM9/5/12
to
Got my MAC from TalkTalk, so it's going ahead. (They called it a MAC code
in the email header. ;-))

I didn't want to start the usual debate about which ISP is best - I
actually found Pipex and its later owners OK in general, as I don't make
vast demands on it. BT are giving me a better deal, and all my family are
with them with no complaints. In other words I'm not willing to pay extra
for possibly things I'll not use or need.

All I really wanted was to know any gotchas when setting it up with the
Acorn side.

--
*This message has been ROT-13 encrypted twice for extra security *

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Brian Howlett

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 6:06:38 AM9/5/12
to
On 5 Sep, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> Got my MAC from TalkTalk, so it's going ahead. (They called it a MAC code
> in the email header. ;-))

> I didn't want to start the usual debate about which ISP is best - I
> actually found Pipex and its later owners OK in general, as I don't make
> vast demands on it. BT are giving me a better deal, and all my family are
> with them with no complaints. In other words I'm not willing to pay extra
> for possibly things I'll not use or need.

> All I really wanted was to know any gotchas when setting it up with the
> Acorn side.

There may be a simpler answer, depending on whether your existing
router is locked down to TalkTalk or not.

If it isn't, once your BT service goes live you just need to log in to
your existing router and change the broadband username/password to
something along the lines of firstname...@btbroadband.com for
the username, and Any0ldRubb1sh for the password. No other
configuration changes should be necessary, unless any of the settings
that follow are different...

VPI - 0
VCI - 38
Encapsulation - PPPoA (PPP over ATM)
Multiplexing - VC-Mux or VC Based

Assuming this works, your existing network settings will do just fine,
TYVM.

Only gotcha is that if you need tech support, they will probably ask
you to connect up the BT Home Hub, so don't flog it on any well-known
auction sites...
--
Brian Howlett - email to From: address deleted unseen
----------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not telling you who I work for - in any case, there's no way
anything posted (or mailed!) by me can be attributed to them....

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 6:16:44 AM9/5/12
to
In article <0c8c63ca...@bhowlett.plus.net>,
Brian Howlett <news-s...@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:
> > All I really wanted was to know any gotchas when setting it up with the
> > Acorn side.

> There may be a simpler answer, depending on whether your existing
> router is locked down to TalkTalk or not.

No. It's a wireless Billion bought from CJE, IIRC. Can be accessed using
Fresco.

> If it isn't, once your BT service goes live you just need to log in to
> your existing router and change the broadband username/password to
> something along the lines of firstname...@btbroadband.com for
> the username, and Any0ldRubb1sh for the password. No other
> configuration changes should be necessary, unless any of the settings
> that follow are different...

> VPI - 0
> VCI - 38
> Encapsulation - PPPoA (PPP over ATM)
> Multiplexing - VC-Mux or VC Based

> Assuming this works, your existing network settings will do just fine,
> TYVM.

> Only gotcha is that if you need tech support, they will probably ask
> you to connect up the BT Home Hub, so don't flog it on any well-known
> auction sites...

I was hoping the home hub, being several years newer, might have a better
performance? Are you saying it can't be set to what I want? And can my existing router work with fibre? (I've not seen how it's done)

--
*A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good *

Doug Webb

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 6:47:04 AM9/5/12
to
In message <52ca647...@davenoise.co.uk>
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

[snip]

>> .

> I was hoping the home hub, being several years newer, might have a better
> performance? Are you saying it can't be set to what I want? And can
> my existing router work with fibre? (I've not seen how it's done)

Depends on what you want to do.

Things like DHCP pool IP addressing rages can be changed as well as
Wireless channels etc and also port forwarding.

These can be found via

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/hub/c/346,1887

e.g for changing the IP ranges given out from default 192.1.168. xx to
something else

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9011/~/how-do-i-change-the-dhcp-settings-of-the-bt-home-hub%3F


o alter the LAN settings of the BT Home Hub 3

� Go to http://bthomehub.home
� Click on Settings.
� Log in with your username and password.
� Click on Advanced Settings
� Click on Continue to advanced settings
� Click on Home Network
� Click on IP Addresses
� Click on the Enabled No option under DHCP Server
� Select the range required or Configure manually
� Make the required changes to the DHCP settings
� Under Hub IP Gateway Address you can amend the IP address/subnet
mask that you want the BT Home Hub to use
� Once you have successfully added an IP add


or download the Hub3 manual which gives details details

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/32813/~/bt-home-hub-3


--
See and experience the future using ARM Technology - BeagleBoard -xM,
Cortex A8 and RISC OS 5.19.

Chris Hughes

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 7:11:33 AM9/5/12
to
In message <52ca647...@davenoise.co.uk>
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <0c8c63ca...@bhowlett.plus.net>,
> Brian Howlett <news-s...@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:

[snip]

>> Only gotcha is that if you need tech support, they will probably ask
>> you to connect up the BT Home Hub, so don't flog it on any well-known
>> auction sites...

> I was hoping the home hub, being several years newer, might have a better
> performance? Are you saying it can't be set to what I want? And can
> my existing router work with fibre? (I've not seen how it's done)

IIRC, for Fibre you actually get two boxes, one is as it enters your
property to provide the fibre connection, and then the Home hub for
your internal network, wireless and ethernet. Home hub is also
connected to the Fibre interface box (in many ways its the same sort
of setup as Cable Broadband).

My brother has BT Infinity and that what he tells me happened to him.

You should be able to login to the Home Hub, but probably only from
Windows/Mac/Linux.

--
Chris Hughes

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 8:06:28 AM9/5/12
to
In article <ba3f67ca52...@doug.j.webb.btinternet.com>,
Doug Webb <doug....@btinternet.com> wrote:
> > I was hoping the home hub, being several years newer, might have a better
> > performance? Are you saying it can't be set to what I want? And can
> > my existing router work with fibre? (I've not seen how it's done)

> Depends on what you want to do.

> Things like DHCP pool IP addressing rages can be changed as well as
> Wireless channels etc and also port forwarding.

[snip useful information to save space]

My thoughts were I'd need fixed IP addresses since that's what I was told
to do before - and my RPCs haven't changed (much) since then.

I use ShareFS between them, and LanMan98 to share files between the PCs
and them. Uniprint for printing. I don't use the PCs for email or news, so
will want Pluto/POPstar/NewsHound to continue working. I also have my own
domain for email and will need to continue with that. If I can get into
the BT router to configure it (in much the same way as I can do with the
current one) I expect things will be ok - with the help of all of you
here. I was sort of worried that it simply came with a CD for Windows and
if that didn't do things - tough.

--
*If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?

Jeremy Nicoll - news posts

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 8:14:04 AM9/5/12
to
spampling <spam....@btinternet.com> wrote:

>Question (long time since I looked at things like AntSuite ) is the mail
>transfer in that done by Popstar?

No; ANTsuite runs an SMTP server, so email is pushed to your system from the
ISP/mail-provider's servers. It also means that mails between local users
are 'delivered' without actually leaving your system.

It was because I used to use ANTsuite for mail transport that I originally
made 'my' version of AntiSpam so that it fetched mail via POP3 but created
the fetched files in the format that the ANTsuite would have done, so they
could be injected into the Suite's SMTP delivery queue.

--
Jeremy C B Nicoll - my opinions are my own.

Email sent to my from-address will be deleted. Instead, please reply
to newsre...@wingsandbeaks.org.uk replacing "aaa" by "284".

Chris Evans

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 8:10:57 AM9/5/12
to
In article <71feeec9...@o2.co.uk>, Chris Hughes
<URL:mailto:ne...@noonehere.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <ant04090...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>
> Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > In article <52c9cea68e...@btinternet.com>, spampling
> > <URL:mailto:spam....@btinternet.com> wrote:
> >> In article <ant03223...@strongarm.half-baked-idea.co.uk>,
> >> Derek.Moody <derek...@casterbridge.net> wrote:
> >>> If you are out of the minimum period, when you leave BT,
> >>
> >> That presupposes that the possibility of using something other than BT or a
> >> BT reseller is likely to arise. The village is cabled by BT only and the
> >> LLU is limited to the opal telecom setup (Talk Talk) nothing available
> >> gives better speed (I've checked with other people in the village and they
> >> all suffer bad or even abysmal bandwidth.
> >>
> >> Now that the BT period (to keep the phone number I've always had, but Talk
> >> Talk wouldn't release to anyone but back to BT) has ended I can look at
> >> Plusnet or similar (BT by a different name)
>
> > I would expect that for 99% of people 99% of the time their speed is
> > governed by the physical network they are connected to.
> > If you are on a cable network then you have no choice of ISP
> > All other connections will be via the BT network, so you speeed will be
> > goverened by BT (Unless your ISP have really screwed things up.)
> > Any ISP claiming they can increase our speed by swapping to them is doing
> > wishfull thinking (Unless you have a capped rate with your current ISP)
>
> Sorry, but this is inaccurate information.

Simplistic yes!

But your type 4 & 5 both use BT cableing to get from your house to the
exchange!

> There are 5 types of ISP's
>
> Those using BT wholesale (probably the majority)
>
> There is Cable provide by Virgin
>
> There is Satellite (of most use in more difficult to access areas)
>
> There are Mobile Broadband services
>
> There are also LLU unbundled ISP - although they do use the Bt wires,
> they have there own kit in the Exchane and since they generally use
> ADSL2+ can offer faster speeds - BT Wholesale don't control the speed
> of these connections since the only bit of there kit involved is the
> wires. Companies like O2, BE, etc..
>
> I have two ADSL lines here, one is a BT provide service 2Meg service
> 1.6meg really and they say they can't improve it.
>
> But the O2 LLU connection I have over BT Wholesale wires is currently
> running at 5Mb

Unusual! As the limiting factor when that slow surely must be the cableing
from your house to the exchange which BT Openreach? is responsible for.
I suspect that connection to the LLU line may use more recent cableing to
the area/road connection box from the exchange.

So it sounds like a bit of a lottery, if you order a new line they you would
probably be wired into the more recent cabling but could be connected up
with the old!

But I suspect just changing ISPs will almost certainly use the same wire to
connect to you exchange!

Given the above it does make it very difficult for ISP to quote the speed
you will probably get!

> > When changing ISPs there is one other thing to remember if you are using old
> > software like the Ant Suite which does not do Authenticated SMTP.
> > Whilst Authenticated SMTP is NOT required by Talk Talk in its many guises,
> > BT I belive and most other ISP do now require it.
>
> > Anyone know of any other ISP that does not require Authenticated SMTP?
>
> Rumour has it, all UK ISP's will be introducing it
>
>


Peter Young

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 8:33:14 AM9/5/12
to
On 5 Sep 2012 "Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> Got my MAC from TalkTalk, so it's going ahead. (They called it a MAC code
> in the email header. ;-))

That's what is called RAS Syndrome: Redundant Acronym Syndrome
Syndrome. :-)

With best wishes,

Peter.

--
Peter \ / zfc Ta \ Prestbury, Cheltenham, Glos. GL52
and \/ __ __ \ England.
family / / \ | | |\ | / _ \ http://pnyoung.orpheusweb.co.uk
/ \__/ \_/ | \| \__/ \______________ pny...@ormail.co.uk

Chris Hughes

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 9:12:32 AM9/5/12
to
In message <ant05125...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>
Mobile Broadband does not use BT wires at all !!

While its true the LLU one will use the existing BT line from house to
exchange, the rest of it on the LLU network, not BT.

>> There are 5 types of ISP's
>>
>> Those using BT wholesale (probably the majority)
>>
>> There is Cable provide by Virgin
>>
>> There is Satellite (of most use in more difficult to access areas)
>>
>> There are Mobile Broadband services
>>
>> There are also LLU unbundled ISP - although they do use the Bt wires,
>> they have there own kit in the Exchane and since they generally use
>> ADSL2+ can offer faster speeds - BT Wholesale don't control the speed
>> of these connections since the only bit of there kit involved is the
>> wires. Companies like O2, BE, etc..
>>
>> I have two ADSL lines here, one is a BT provide service 2Meg service
>> 1.6meg really and they say they can't improve it.
>>
>> But the O2 LLU connection I have over BT Wholesale wires is currently
>> running at 5Mb

> Unusual! As the limiting factor when that slow surely must be the cableing
> from your house to the exchange which BT Openreach? is responsible for.
> I suspect that connection to the LLU line may use more recent cableing to
> the area/road connection box from the exchange.

Since the slow BT connection *is* a new line!

And its not unusual at all, its more like ADSL2 as against ADSL2+

> So it sounds like a bit of a lottery, if you order a new line they you would
> probably be wired into the more recent cabling but could be connected up
> with the old!

That is entirely possible, you can also be sent via other exchanges
that have spare circuits but your phone one is on your local exchange.

At one time at work, I had access to some interesting BT systems (well
BT OPenreach/Wholesale) and we could see that some of our numbers were
in fact being routed through other exchanges due to capacity issues).

Also if you move property in the same exchange area and keep your
phone number they simply re-route the number via changing settings via
a computer terminal. That saves BT money....

> But I suspect just changing ISPs will almost certainly use the same wire to
> connect to you exchange!

Yep, I was with Demon before O2 on the same number and Demon was
usually around 2Mb, soon as I changed the difference was amazing.


--
Chris Hughes

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 9:19:01 AM9/5/12
to
Just to clarify, do they install a fibre link to my house? Think Virgin
does - I have their cabling in this street. Or is it just so far and use
the existing cable?

--
*Be more or less specific *

Brian Howlett

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 1:12:35 PM9/5/12
to
On 5 Sep, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> Just to clarify, do they install a fibre link to my house? Think
> Virgin does - I have their cabling in this street. Or is it just so
> far and use the existing cable?

BT Infinity is largely FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) although they are
also trialing FTTP (Fibre to the Premises).

In the first case they run fibre from the exchange to the PCP/cabinet,
where your existing phone cable runs along its original route and is
connected at the cabinet to the fibre link.

FTTP is a full installation of fibre to your property.

John Sandford

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 3:45:39 PM9/5/12
to
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> Just to clarify, do they install a fibre link to my house? Think Virgin
> does - I have their cabling in this street. Or is it just so far and use
> the existing cable?
>
Virgin use fibre to the cabinet, the broadband and tv is a coaxial cable
from cabinet to the house not fibre.

John

--
John Sandford
Home

Jim Nagel

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 5:15:15 PM9/5/12
to
I've been using BT broadband and its Home Hub for about a year now
with no problems. The switchover from my previous ISP was painless.

Doug Webb's list is excellent. He knows what he is talking about --
he works for BT, if I remember aright.


Dave Plowman (News) wrote on 5 Sep:
> My thoughts were I'd need fixed IP addresses since that's what I was told
> to do before - and my RPCs haven't changed (much) since then.

The BT Home Hub, as I found on my maiden voyage with it, uses the
range 192.168.1.xx by default and gives itself xx=254, which was a bit
unexpected -- different from my previous router. That's the IP
address you need to specify as "gateway" in your RiscOS networking
dialogue.

Doug explained how you can change this default range. I didn't know
at the time or I would have done so. (10.0.0.xx seems tidier.)
In the event, however, I found that the Hub handed out IP addresses
to each machine that were different from the ones I used before. Its
web interface gives a nice display of what's connected. It lets you
say "ALWAYS use this address" if you want, so I did that and revised
my RiscOS Hosts file accordingly.

One gotcha I learned the hard way with my first networking experience
some years ago: don't use xx=0 or xx=255 because these have special
meanings


> I use ShareFS between them, and LanMan98 to share files between the PCs
> and them. Uniprint for printing. I don't use the PCs for email or news, so
> will want Pluto/POPstar/NewsHound to continue working. I also have my own
> domain for email and will need to continue with that. If I can get into
> the BT router to configure it (in much the same way as I can do with the
> current one) I expect things will be ok - with the help of all of you
> here. I was sort of worried that it simply came with a CD for Windows and
> if that didn't do things - tough.

You'll be fine with all that stuff. There's no "CD for Windows"
scenario. You can look at the Hub's web display with a RiscOS browser
in a rudimentary way but for some features you'll need to browse with
your PC.


When I first began using BT broadband, they phoned with an offer of a
free month's subscription with their "any sort of IT help any time"
service (after which it's �10 a month). I made use of this -- they
were quite helpful with some fairly obscure questions I asked (which
didn't have to be about BT broadband) and used VNC to tweak things in
Windows that would have taken me a lot of hunting. But I didn't have
enough questions to make it worth paying after the beginning.

--
Jim Nagel www.archivemag.co.uk

Jim Nagel

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 5:36:57 PM9/5/12
to
M Harding wrote on 3 Sep:
> The only weird problem I had, is that BT later on demanded that I
> authenticate every one of my email names ...

Haven't had that problem here (and I use many different email aliases
for specific purposes).

But reminds me to mention that if you use Netfetch (or Hermes) it's
worth configuring more than one SMTP server. You might have several
that you are entitled to use: the one at your ISP for sure, but if
you have a web domain hosted somewhere, that host probably offers SMTP
service too. Configure each of them ready for use, so that if your
usual one goes down you can simply select an alternative from the
dropdown menu in "Netsurf choices > Account > SMTP server".

--
Jim Nagel www.archivemag.co.uk

Steve Fryatt

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 6:14:16 PM9/5/12
to
On 5 Sep, Jim Nagel wrote in message
<c4c2a0c...@nails.abbeypress.net>:

> The BT Home Hub, as I found on my maiden voyage with it, uses the range
> 192.168.1.xx by default and gives itself xx=254, which was a bit
> unexpected -- different from my previous router. That's the IP address
> you need to specify as "gateway" in your RiscOS networking dialogue.
>
> Doug explained how you can change this default range. I didn't know at
> the time or I would have done so. (10.0.0.xx seems tidier.)
> In the event, however, I found that the Hub handed out IP addresses
> to each machine that were different from the ones I used before. Its web
> interface gives a nice display of what's connected. It lets you say
> "ALWAYS use this address" if you want, so I did that and revised my RiscOS
> Hosts file accordingly.
>
> One gotcha I learned the hard way with my first networking experience some
> years ago: don't use xx=0 or xx=255 because these have special meanings

I've plugged this somewhere else recently, but the three articles on
Networking at the bottom of http://www.wrocc.org.uk/howto/ cover this kind
of thing in some detail. These went on to be three of the twelve articles
that formed The WROCC Guide to Networking:

http://www.wrocc.org.uk/newsletter/network.shtml

--
Steve Fryatt - Leeds, England

http://www.stevefryatt.org.uk/

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 6:47:59 PM9/5/12
to
In article <mpro.m9w6w2000...@thesandfords.me.uk>,
John Sandford <li...@thesandfords.me.uk> wrote:
> > Just to clarify, do they install a fibre link to my house? Think
> > Virgin does - I have their cabling in this street. Or is it just so
> > far and use the existing cable?
> >
> Virgin use fibre to the cabinet, the broadband and tv is a coaxial cable
> from cabinet to the house not fibre.

Right. I obviously can't tell the difference between fibre and co-ax. ;-)

--
*The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach *

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 6:49:53 PM9/5/12
to
In article <c4c2a0c...@nails.abbeypress.net>,
Jim Nagel <jimne...@abbeypress.co.uk> wrote:
> I've been using BT broadband and its Home Hub for about a year now
> with no problems. The switchover from my previous ISP was painless.

> Doug Webb's list is excellent. He knows what he is talking about --
> he works for BT, if I remember aright.

[snip]

Thanks Jim - most helpful.

--
*It is wrong to ever split an infinitive *

spampling

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 12:50:14 PM9/5/12
to
In article <52ca752...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> Just to clarify, do they install a fibre link to my house? Think Virgin
> does - I have their cabling in this street. Or is it just so far and use
> the existing cable?

That depends. In some exchanges the fibre used is BT Openreach installed,
wholesale managed, Virgin marketed and providing a service to Virgin
customers to link into Virgin equipment.
Others it may be Virgin kit and cable all the way to your premises.

--

Steve Pampling

spampling

unread,
Sep 5, 2012, 12:51:25 PM9/5/12
to
In article <52ca5ed...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> All I really wanted was to know any gotchas when setting it up with the
> Acorn side.

Possibly the mail smtp authentication - but there are answers.

--

Steve Pampling

spampling

unread,
Sep 6, 2012, 3:02:56 AM9/6/12
to
> (10.0.0.xx seems tidier.)

Not really, the 10. range is intended to be used as /8 (old class A) with
rather large numbers of hosts in the subnet.
192.168. is intended for use as a set of 192.168.x,y /24 (old class C)
ranges with just 254 host addresses.
Some (slightly naff) network equipment ignores the mask setting you give
and applies the natural mask - which causes problems.

--

Steve Pampling

cfe...@freeremoveuk.com.invalid

unread,
Sep 6, 2012, 5:06:11 AM9/6/12
to
In message <gemini.m9rybd00cge1d01d0.spamhater@keepyourfilthyspamtoyou
rself.co.uk>
Alan Wrigley <spam...@keepyourfilthyspamtoyourself.co.uk>
wrote:

> "Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>> In article <9f0957c9...@bhowlett.plus.net>,
>> Brian Howlett <news-s...@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> If the Acorns do DHCP, then you will have no problem connecting via
>>> the BT Home Hub. You don't even need to enter a username or password
>>> for your connection.
>>
>> Will that allow ShareFS to still work, and LM98 and Uniprint, etc?

> I've never used DHCP so haven't a clue how it works in practice. Does it
> allow lookup by host name? If so, UniPrint should work as long as you
> specify the host name and not the IP address.


Has anyone done a setup procedure with DHCP using RISCOS?



--
Colin Ferris Cornwall UK

cfe...@freeremoveuk.com.invalid

unread,
Sep 6, 2012, 5:10:17 AM9/6/12
to
In message <52caa94...@davenoise.co.uk>
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <mpro.m9w6w2000...@thesandfords.me.uk>,
> John Sandford <li...@thesandfords.me.uk> wrote:
>>> Just to clarify, do they install a fibre link to my house? Think
>>> Virgin does - I have their cabling in this street. Or is it just so
>>> far and use the existing cable?
>>>
>> Virgin use fibre to the cabinet, the broadband and tv is a coaxial cable
>> from cabinet to the house not fibre.

> Right. I obviously can't tell the difference between fibre and co-ax. ;-)

What does a fibre cable look like - 1 glass tube or multiple tubes-
surrounded by a protective outer?

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 6, 2012, 5:23:22 AM9/6/12
to
In article <8e39e2ca5...@cferris.freeuk.com>,
<cfe...@freeRemoveuk.com.invalid> wrote:
> > Right. I obviously can't tell the difference between fibre and co-ax. ;-)

> What does a fibre cable look like - 1 glass tube or multiple tubes-
> surrounded by a protective outer?

The stuff I've seen is pretty similar to co-ax from the outside, ie round.
But then some twisted pair is round too. So I'd say the only way to be
sure is to strip it back, if there's nothing labelled on the outside.

--
*Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional

Tim Hill

unread,
Sep 9, 2012, 7:25:17 AM9/9/12
to
In article <2af870ca5...@pnyoung.ormail.co.uk>, Peter Young
<pny...@ormail.co.uk> wrote:
> On 5 Sep 2012 "Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

> > Got my MAC from TalkTalk, so it's going ahead. (They called it a MAC
> > code in the email header. ;-))

> That's what is called RAS Syndrome: Redundant Acronym Syndrome
> Syndrome. :-)

Shh. Trying to do some PAT Testing.

Then off to the bank to use my 'Personal Identification PIN Number'.

--
from Tim Hill who welcomes incoming email to tim at timil dot com.
* Share in a better energy supplier: http://tjrh.eu/coopnrg
* Share in cheaper ethical telecoms: http://tjrh.eu/phone
* Have a genuine & spam-proof address for Usenet http://www.invalid.org.uk/

... "Wisely and slow; they stumble who run fast" Rom & Jul, Act ii, Sc.3

Alan Wrigley

unread,
Sep 9, 2012, 7:41:10 AM9/9/12
to
Tim Hill <t...@invalid.org.uk> wrote:

> In article <2af870ca5...@pnyoung.ormail.co.uk>, Peter Young
> <pny...@ormail.co.uk> wrote:
> > On 5 Sep 2012 "Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > > Got my MAC from TalkTalk, so it's going ahead. (They called it a MAC
> > > code in the email header. ;-))
>
> > That's what is called RAS Syndrome: Redundant Acronym Syndrome
> > Syndrome. :-)
>
> Shh. Trying to do some PAT Testing.
>
> Then off to the bank to use my 'Personal Identification PIN Number'.

Then back home to your RISC computer.

Alan

--
RISC OS - you know it makes cents

Tim Hill

unread,
Sep 9, 2012, 8:12:17 AM9/9/12
to
In article
<gemini.ma2z4l0094...@keepyourfilthyspamtoyourself.co.uk>,
It's an ARM machine.

--
from Tim Hill who welcomes incoming email to tim at timil dot com.
* Share in a better energy supplier: http://tjrh.eu/coopnrg
* Share in cheaper ethical telecoms: http://tjrh.eu/phone
* Have a genuine & spam-proof address for Usenet http://www.invalid.org.uk/

... "She looked yesternight fairer than ever I saw her look, or any woman else" Troilus & C, Act i, Sc.1
Message has been deleted

Bryn Evans

unread,
Sep 9, 2012, 3:11:37 PM9/9/12
to
In a mad moment - Chris Hughes mumbled :
If BT has provided "Fibre to the Cabinet" in your area, then your
existing Router will not notice or require any change.
The only difference will be the received speed you get.
Mine went from 2mbits to 12/13 Mbits.

I am with PlusNet and can recomend them.

--
|)����[
|)ryn [vans mail to - Bryn...@bryork.freeuk.com




Brian Howlett

unread,
Sep 9, 2012, 4:12:57 PM9/9/12
to
On 9 Sep, Bryn Evans wrote:

> If BT has provided "Fibre to the Cabinet" in your area, then your
> existing Router will not notice or require any change. The only
> difference will be the received speed you get. Mine went from 2mbits
> to 12/13 Mbits.

FTTC does require new kit, which will be installed by an Openreach
engineer. You're thinking of ADSL2+.

ADSL Max does up to 8Mb down. ADSL 2+ does up to 20Mb down. FTTC does
up to 40Mb down, or up to 80Mb down on VDSL 2.

> I am with PlusNet and can recomend them.

Ditto...
--
Brian Howlett - Email to From: address deleted unseen
------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't it strange that the same people that laugh at gypsy fortune
tellers take economists seriously?

Alan Dawes

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 5:17:57 AM9/10/12
to
In article <a666aacc...@bhowlett.plus.net>,
Brian Howlett <news-s...@brianhowlett.me.uk> wrote:
> Reply-To: Br...@brianhowlett.me.uk

> On 9 Sep, Bryn Evans wrote:

> > If BT has provided "Fibre to the Cabinet" in your area, then your
> > existing Router will not notice or require any change. The only
> > difference will be the received speed you get. Mine went from 2mbits
> > to 12/13 Mbits.

> FTTC does require new kit, which will be installed by an Openreach
> engineer. You're thinking of ADSL2+.

I think you may be talking about something different. In my area (Ilford)
the worn out copper cabling from the exchange to the local boxes was
causing problems so BT has replaced this by fibre optic cable (ie "fibre
to the box") any interfacing between the fibre optic cable and the copper
to the houses is done in the box - the only thing that users notice is
much faster speeds (11/12 Mbits in my case) no new equipment or contract
required. In my area BT are also installing fibre optic to the telegraph
pole which I believe will require new equipment but will give a very much
faster speed at a higher tarif.

Alan

--
alan....@argonet.co.uk
alan....@riscos.org
Using an Acorn RiscPC

Felicity S.

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 12:50:47 PM9/10/12
to
Tim Hill wrote:

> Alan Wrigley wrote:
>> Tim Hill wrote:
>>> Peter Young wrote:
>>>> Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

>>>>> Got my MAC from TalkTalk, so it's going ahead. (They called it a
>>>>> MAC code in the email header. ;-))

>>>> That's what is called RAS Syndrome: Redundant Acronym Syndrome
>>>> Syndrome. :-)

>>> Shh. Trying to do some PAT Testing.

>>> Then off to the bank to use my 'Personal Identification PIN Number'.

>> Then back home to your RISC computer.

> It's an ARM machine.

There's a *big* list of these on the office wall, from which the less
obscure are: ABM missile, ABS system, alternating AC current, ATM machine,
CCT television, DAB digital radio, EMP pulse, mega FLOPS per second, GPS
system, GUI interface, HIV virus, ISBN number, ISO standard, ITN news,
KFC chicken nuggets, LCD display, LPG gas, MIDI interface, OPEC country,
RAM memory, RNLI lifeboat, RPG game, SALT talks, SAT test, SCSI interface,
SCUBA gear, VAT tax, and VIP people.

But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which simply
goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)


Fliss

--
He said: This is ridiculous, she offered me a ride! I thought you're my friend?
She said: You're my friend with a small F, my friend with a big F is your wife.
He said: If you want to hurt my wife, then screw you! And that's with a big F.

Paul Oates

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 12:39:17 PM9/10/12
to
In message <52ccf24548...@argonet.co.uk>
If you sign up for BT infinity then you will have two boxes, a modem
and a router (BT's Home Hub). What you end up with is Fibre to the
Cabinet (FTTC) and copper to the premises. An Openreach engineer will
bring and fit the modem because that and the line is supplied by BT
Wholesale; BT Retail will send you the Home Hub. With Infinity 1 you
can get up to 40Mbs downstream, and 10Mbs upstream, with a usage limit
of 40GB per month. With Infinity 2 the monthly limit is removed and
max speeds double. The speeds depend on your distance from the
cabinet.

Fibre to the Premises is currently available only in very limited
areas, and again there will be two boxes, one to terminate the fibre,
the other a router.

One downside of fibre is that if you have an intermittent fault, it
can be difficult to find the cause. Mine is now working at full speed,
but it took a while to get there.

--
Paul Oates
oate...@btinternet.com

Folderol

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 3:56:43 PM9/10/12
to
On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:50:47 BST
"Felicity S." <Fl...@rdsqurrl.com> wrote:

> But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which simply
> goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)

Warning Pedant!

... but you fell into the trap that catches a lot of people. MOT test

Ministry Of Transport test :)


So a garage that offers MOT's is actually correct and one with MOTs is not.

--
Will J G

Alan Wrigley

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 5:05:17 PM9/10/12
to
Folderol <fold...@ukfsn.org> wrote:

> On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:50:47 BST
> "Felicity S." <Fl...@rdsqurrl.com> wrote:
>
> > But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which simply
> > goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)
>
> Warning Pedant!
>
> ... but you fell into the trap that catches a lot of people.

And you fell into an even bigger trap...

Peter Young

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 5:20:30 PM9/10/12
to
<applause>

Peter.

--
Peter \ / zfc Ta \ Prestbury, Cheltenham, Glos. GL52
and \/ __ __ \ England.
family / / \ | | |\ | / _ \ http://pnyoung.orpheusweb.co.uk
/ \__/ \_/ | \| \__/ \______________ pny...@ormail.co.uk

Tony Moore

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 6:23:17 PM9/10/12
to
MOT's, and MOTs, suggest several Ministries of Transport, sans testing.
Surely, if the garage is offering Ministry of Transport Tests, it should
be contracted to MOTTs?

Incidentally, Sir Ernest Gowers, in The Complete Plain Words (p172),
says that

Whether an apostrophe should be used to denote the plural of a word
or symbol that does not ordinarily make a plural depends on whether
the plural is readily recognisable as such. Unless the reader really
needs help it should not be thrust upon him. It is clearly justified
with single letters: 'there are two o's in wooly'; 'mind your p's and
q's'. Otherwise it is rarely called for. It should not be used with
contractions (e.g. MPs) ...

This, I suppose, would be the justification for CJE Micro's.

Tony



Felicity S.

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 6:47:27 PM9/10/12
to
Folderol wrote:

> Felicity S. wrote:

>> But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which simply
>> goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)

> Warning Pedant!

Sadly, you missed this Warning Pendant... ;)


> ... but you fell into the trap that catches a lot of people. MOT test

> Ministry Of Transport test :)

WWWWWhhhhhhhhhhooooooooooooooooooooooooosssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhh!!!! :)


Fliss

--
He said: The prehistoric creature the Pleiosaur lived in what environment?
He said: Fossil collector Mary Anning discovered Pleiosaurs lived in the sea.
He said: The British scientist Mary Anning is best known for collecting what?

Folderol

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 2:13:48 AM9/11/12
to
On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 22:23:17 GMT
Tony Moore <old_c...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> On 10 Sep 2012, Folderol <fold...@ukfsn.org> wrote:
> > On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:50:47 BST "Felicity S." <Fl...@rdsqurrl.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which
> > > simply goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)
> >
> > Warning Pedant!
> >
> > ... but you fell into the trap that catches a lot of people. MOT test
> >
> > Ministry Of Transport test :)
> >
> > So a garage that offers MOT's is actually correct and one with MOTs is
> > not.
>
> MOT's, and MOTs, suggest several Ministries of Transport, sans testing.
> Surely, if the garage is offering Ministry of Transport Tests, it should
> be contracted to MOTTs?

The apostrophe indicates a missing word 'test'.

--
Will J G

Folderol

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 2:14:48 AM9/11/12
to
On Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:47:27 BST
"Felicity S." <Fl...@rdsqurrl.com> wrote:

> Folderol wrote:
>
> > Felicity S. wrote:
>
> >> But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which simply
> >> goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)
>
> > Warning Pedant!
>
> Sadly, you missed this Warning Pendant... ;)

Quite right, and thereby hangs the extreme danger of pedantry :?

--
Will J G

David Holden

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 2:47:51 AM9/11/12
to

On 10-Sep-2012, "Felicity S." <Fl...@rdsqurrl.com> wrote:

> There's a *big* list of these on the office wall, from which the less
> obscure are: ABM missile, ABS system, alternating AC current, ATM machine,
> CCT television, DAB digital radio, EMP pulse, mega FLOPS per second, GPS
> system, GUI interface, HIV virus, ISBN number, ISO standard, ITN news,
> KFC chicken nuggets, LCD display, LPG gas, MIDI interface, OPEC country,
> RAM memory, RNLI lifeboat, RPG game, SALT talks, SAT test, SCSI interface,
> SCUBA gear, VAT tax, and VIP people.
>
> But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which simply
> goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)

Someone beat me to MOT, but -
PDF = Portable Document Format
GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education
WAP = Wireless Application Protocol
GPS = Global Positioning by Satellite

I don't see the problem with RNLI lifeboat. How else would you describe the
boat? And what else would you call an ISO standard? You can't
(grammatically) call is 'an ISO', there's only one of those. The same with
OPEC country.

Also many of the others, despite apparently containing double words, are
correct. eg. with things like 'KFC chicken nuggets' or 'ITN news' the
initials are the name of a company and form an entity in themselves so it is
grammatically necessary to add the 'extra' word.

So sometimes it's not so silly. For example, what do you call the person who
tests a PAT?

--
David Holden - APDL - <http://www.apdl.co.uk>

spampling

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 2:54:32 AM9/11/12
to
In article <d0ac1ac...@btinternet.com>,
Paul Oates <oate...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> One downside of fibre is that if you have an intermittent fault, it
> can be difficult to find the cause.

Fibre faults are limited to the transceiver at each end and the fibre
itself. OTDR can locate physical fibre faults to within a metre on short
runs (normal exchange to home length[1])

[1] Yes, some folks live in the boonies and the runs count as medium.

--

Steve Pampling

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 5:28:34 AM9/11/12
to
In article <ab854n...@mid.individual.net>,
David Holden <Spa...@apdl.co.uk> wrote:
> So sometimes it's not so silly. For example, what do you call the person
> who tests a PAT?

Not quite clear what you mean? The the person who conducts the PAT? If so
a PAT tester would be fine. If you mean the equipment, I'd guess it would
be covered by an engineer checking calibration. But then there's also the
person who conducts the exam the tester has to pass.

--
*It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.

Jeremy Nicoll - news posts

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 7:31:20 AM9/11/12
to
Folderol <fold...@ukfsn.org> wrote:

[of MOT's vv MOTs]

> The apostrophe indicates a missing word 'test'.

It absolutely does not. I can't understand why you would think that.

It represents the missing letters of the word that starts with "T", so
"ransport". (As the ' in "CJE Micro's" represents, CJE claims,
"computer".)

I've never understood why in this usage people think it necessary to mark
the missing letters of just one word. Surely, M'O'T' or M'O'T's are then
the correct forms... Since these just look stupid, I tend to think "MOT's"
is also unnecessary.

--
Jeremy C B Nicoll - my opinions are my own.

Email sent to my from-address will be deleted. Instead, please reply
to newsre...@wingsandbeaks.org.uk replacing "aaa" by "284".

Theo Markettos

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 8:14:53 AM9/11/12
to
Alan Wrigley <spam...@keepyourfilthyspamtoyourself.co.uk> wrote:
> I've never used DHCP so haven't a clue how it works in practice. Does it
> allow lookup by host name? If so, UniPrint should work as long as you
> specify the host name and not the IP address.

AIUI (which is fairly limited) there are two ways of doing DHCP:

1. "Gimme an IP address and maybe tell me my hostname"
2. "Gimme an IP address, my name is 'fred'"

I have a very vague recollection that ROL's DHCP client does one and RO5's
does the other, but could be wrong.

In the second case, the router is probably also doing DNS so can pass the
name and IP it handed out to the DNS server, so that 'fred' looks up to the
correct IP.

In the first case, the router can inform the client of the
hostname already found in the DNS, but you probably haven't got that set up
so there's no name assigned.


What I do is pseudo-static IP. Teach the router the MAC address of each
client and create a mapping of that to a fixed IP. That means DHCP always
hands out the same IP each time when on my network, but if I take the
machine somewhere else it gets assigned whatever the foreign DHCP wants to
give it. That means it still works, but just has a random IP.

Theo

Graham Thurlwell

unread,
Sep 10, 2012, 2:28:05 PM9/10/12
to
On the 10 Sep 2012, "Felicity S." <Fl...@rdsqurrl.com> wrote:

<snip>

> But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which simply
> goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)

Hmm. General Certificate of Secondary Education exam, Ministry of
Transport test, Portable Document Format file and Wireless Application
Protocol phone?

--
Jades' First Encounters Site - http://www.jades.org/ffe.htm
The best Frontier: First Encounters site on the Web.

nos...@jades.org /is/ a real email address!

Bryn Evans

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 11:14:22 AM9/11/12
to
In a mad moment - David Holden mumbled :


> So sometimes it's not so silly. For example, what do you call the person who
> tests a PAT?

Mrs Pat ?

Russell Hafter News

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 11:46:05 AM9/11/12
to
In article <ant04090...@client.cjemicros.co.uk>, Chris
Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:

> Anyone know of any other ISP that does not require
> Authenticated SMTP?

Phone Coop certainly, at least on my account.

And, I believe, Orpheus.

When I did some tests back in 2009, Orpheus did not even
seem capable of doing SMTP Authentication.

--
Russell
http://www.russell-hafter-holidays.co.uk
Russell Hafter Holidays E-mail to enquiries at our domain
Need a hotel? <http://www.hrs.com/?client=en__blue&customerId=416873103>

Russell Hafter News

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 11:57:15 AM9/11/12
to
In article <6dbfa2c...@nails.abbeypress.net>,
Jim Nagel <jimne...@abbeypress.co.uk> wrote:
> M Harding wrote on 3 Sep:
> > The only weird problem I had, is that BT later on
> > demanded that I authenticate every one of my email names
> > ...

> Haven't had that problem here (and I use many different
> email aliases for specific purposes).

> But reminds me to mention that if you use Netfetch (or
> Hermes) it's worth configuring more than one SMTP server.
> You might have several that you are entitled to use: the
> one at your ISP for sure, but if you have a web domain
> hosted somewhere, that host probably offers SMTP service
> too. Configure each of them ready for use, so that if
> your usual one goes down you can simply select an
> alternative from the dropdown menu in "Netsurf choices >
> Account > SMTP server".

And you can do it with POPStar too, though it is a bit of a
hack and so it takes me about 10 s to switch.

I have posted the trick here before, and could do so again
if there is interest.

spampling

unread,
Sep 11, 2012, 3:03:53 PM9/11/12
to
In article <17p*pR...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>, Theo Markettos
<theom...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> What I do is pseudo-static IP. Teach the router the MAC address of each
> client and create a mapping of that to a fixed IP.

Address reservation. You enter the MAC and the name of the device as an
entry to the DHCP server (in this case based in the router) if the router
maintains a name server service e.g. DNS then you can reference by name.

The best bit about reservations is that when the address renews, as it does
at half the lease interval, the name server details etc held by the DHCP
server are passed on to the client and any new settings come into force.
Simply nailing in a manual static to a machine means you need to manual
change the details if anything changes.

> That means DHCP
> always hands out the same IP each time when on my network,

Many client machines tend to request the IP they had at last boot time and
in the case of windows it doesn't do a release on shutdown anyway (MS
breaking the DHCP rfc)

--

Steve Pampling

spampling

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Sep 11, 2012, 3:39:49 PM9/11/12
to
In article <52cd9aa9...@walkingingermany.invalid>,
Russell Hafter News <see...@walkingingermany.invalid> wrote:
> And you can do it with POPStar too, though it is a bit of a
> hack and so it takes me about 10 s to switch.

Much quicker if you write a bit of BASIC to sort the mail into appropriate
directories (which it creates from the details in the envelope files) and
then switches from user to user to post any content in the directory
structure created.
Being BASIC I see no reason it wouldn't work on all machines including the
new tranche.

> I have posted the trick here before, and could do so again
> if there is interest.

I've mentioned the BASIC app before, no surge of interest yet.

--

Steve Pampling

Felicity S.

unread,
Sep 12, 2012, 12:55:46 PM9/12/12
to
Graham Thurlwell wrote:

> Felicity S. wrote:

> <snip>

>> But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which
>> simply goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)

> Hmm. General Certificate of Secondary Education exam, Ministry of
> Transport test, Portable Document Format file and Wireless Application
> Protocol phone?

That's right, and well done for using the authoritative Adobe Acrobat
definition for PDF, not the often seen "Page Description Format".


Fliss

--
He said: If you'll just hop in the chair, for me...
She said: Got her. Repeat engagement. Had her filed away. Shall we go?
He said: I'm obsolete. This must be what old people feel like. And Blockbuster.

Felicity S.

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Sep 12, 2012, 12:58:14 PM9/12/12
to
David Holden wrote:

> Felicity S. wrote:

>> There's a *big* list of these on the office wall, from which the less
>> obscure are: ABM missile, ABS system, alternating AC current, ATM
>> machine, CCT television, DAB digital radio, EMP pulse, mega FLOPS per
>> second, GPS system, GUI interface, HIV virus, ISBN number, ISO
>> standard, ITN news, KFC chicken nuggets, LCD display, LPG gas, MIDI
>> interface, OPEC country, RAM memory, RNLI lifeboat, RPG game, SALT
>> talks, SAT test, SCSI interface, SCUBA gear, VAT tax, and VIP people.

>> But actually I prefer the little list added to the bottom, which simply
>> goes: GCSE exam, MOT test, PDF file, and WAP phone. ;)

> Someone beat me to MOT, but -
> PDF = Portable Document Format
> GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education
> WAP = Wireless Application Protocol

Yep.


> GPS = Global Positioning by Satellite

Oh, that's rather interesting, since everything from AcronymFinder.com to
the US Coast Guard Navigation Center says "Global Positioning System".


> I don't see the problem with RNLI lifeboat. How else would you describe
> the boat? And what else would you call an ISO standard? You can't
> (grammatically) call is 'an ISO', there's only one of those. The same
> with OPEC country.

I don't think there's anything *wrong* with saying those like that, and
only a pedant would insist on saying PI number - it's just when they're
pronounced fully, those repeating words make them sound silly.

Funnily enough, the worst of these to my ears has *no* repeating
words - Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus gear. :)


> Also many of the others, despite apparently containing double words, are
> correct. eg. with things like 'KFC chicken nuggets' or 'ITN news' the
> initials are the name of a company and form an entity in themselves so it
> is grammatically necessary to add the 'extra' word.

As we all know, but Kentucky Fried Chicken chicken nuggets is still silly.


Fliss

--
He said: You gotta fight fire with fire, spread around a raunchy nickname
for her. What's that girl's name again? He said: Regina Tucker.
He said: Don't worry. We'll think of something.

Jeremy Nicoll - news posts

unread,
Sep 12, 2012, 2:32:26 PM9/12/12
to
"Felicity S." <Fl...@rdsqurrl.com> wrote:

> As we all know, but Kentucky Fried Chicken chicken nuggets is still silly.

But not if you say it as if it had been written

I had some "Kentucky Fried Chicken" chicken nuggets.

After all, saying

I had some "Kentucky Fried Chicken" pork pancakes.

would be sensible.

Felicity S.

unread,
Sep 12, 2012, 6:38:55 PM9/12/12
to
Jeremy wrote:

> Felicity S. wrote:

>> Kentucky Fried Chicken chicken nuggets is still silly.

> But not if you say it as if it had been written

> I had some "Kentucky Fried Chicken" chicken nuggets.

Nah. Silly.


> After all, saying

> I had some "Kentucky Fried Chicken" pork pancakes.

> would be sensible.

Which kinda proves the point.


Fliss

--
She said: You're waiting for a prostitute? A lot of people masturbate, I hear.
He said: No, sometimes a man needs to feel something other than his own touch.
She said: Then try switching hands - it's like being with a clumsy stranger.

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 21, 2012, 9:44:38 AM9/21/12
to
Well, BT arrived today within the appointed times, and the very pleasant
chap was fast and efficient.

Strange thing is my laptop worked via the wireless connection straight
away, without entering any code. But my phone demanded it. After I'd
changed the WLAN name, the laptop demanded the password.

The other four machines are cabled to the router and both RPCs are working
fine including news and email which was a surprise. And also positively
whizzing along.

Both the cabled PCs are dead at the moment. ;-)

--
*Go the extra mile. It makes your boss look like an incompetent slacker *

Dave Plowman (News)

unread,
Sep 21, 2012, 10:40:59 AM9/21/12
to
In article <52d2b4e...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> Both the cabled PCs are dead at the moment. ;-)

Entered their names in the router setup page and everything seems just
fine. Amazing how the likes of me panics over nothing. ;-)

--
*Pentium wise, pen and paper foolish *

spampling

unread,
Sep 21, 2012, 2:28:16 PM9/21/12
to
In article <52d2b4e...@davenoise.co.uk>,
Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> Strange thing is my laptop worked via the wireless connection straight
> away, without entering any code.

Ah, you now have the ability to use ANY BT hotspot anyware for your network
access.
Basically your "homehub" has been setup as BT expect with the free access
for other BT customers to use turned ON.

It's a reduced bandwidth and you don't notice the use. You've saved them
installing a freespot in that area.

Of course should you change the setup of your laptop to connect via YOUR
secure connection, using the details the engineer provided (but didn't put
into your laptop you will find things faster,

--

Steve Pampling

Dave Plowman (News)

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Sep 22, 2012, 4:43:43 AM9/22/12
to
In article <52d2ced917...@btinternet.com>,
spampling <spam....@btinternet.com> wrote:
> In article <52d2b4e...@davenoise.co.uk>,
> Dave Plowman (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> > Strange thing is my laptop worked via the wireless connection straight
> > away, without entering any code.

> Ah, you now have the ability to use ANY BT hotspot anyware for your
> network access.

Right. But doesn't a device which can make use of this need some code or
whatever entered? I've got at least 6 BT systems showing on the laptop,
and it didn't seem to want to connect to any of those before.

> Basically your "homehub" has been setup as BT expect
> with the free access for other BT customers to use turned ON.

Looking at the setup pages, it appears to be turned off. The engineer may
have done that after I commented on the laptop working right away.

> It's a reduced bandwidth and you don't notice the use. You've saved them
> installing a freespot in that area.

> Of course should you change the setup of your laptop to connect via YOUR
> secure connection, using the details the engineer provided (but didn't
> put into your laptop you will find things faster,

I did the speed test. 48.7 MB download, 7.5 MB upload. On paper that's a
huge improvement on before. But in practice I've not noticed much
difference yet. But I don't much download films, etc.

--
*Funny, I don't remember being absent minded.

NedA

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Sep 22, 2012, 5:10:51 AM9/22/12
to
In article <52d2ced917...@btinternet.com>,
spampling <spam....@btinternet.com> wrote:
> In article <52d2b4e...@davenoise.co.uk>, Dave Plowman
> (News) <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
> > Strange thing is my laptop worked via the wireless
> > connection straight away, without entering any code.

> Ah, you now have the ability to use ANY BT hotspot anyware
> for your network access. Basically your "homehub" has been
> setup as BT expect with the free access for other BT
> customers to use turned ON.

> It's a reduced bandwidth and you don't notice the use.
> You've saved them installing a freespot in that area.

[Snip]

What BT have done is to use two ways of accessing your WiFi,
one private, one open. They have teamed up with Fon
www.fon.com to create a UK wide open WiFi network if you are a
BT customer. There are other Fon partners worldwide and a map
of "spots".

However if you are not with BT you can still access open WiFi
by getting a Fonera access point and adding that to your home
setup which gives you access to any worldwide Fon spot (such
as the BT ones). I have one here.

BT also dont tell you that in the UK that BT get any revenue
non BT users generate rather than the person sharing thier
bandwidth who would get the revenue in most other countries!

Fon is available all devices such as mobile phones that access
WiFi.

--
besters
Ned
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