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<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>These questions are almost
on-topic since they deal with techie parts of how we choose to connect
sometimes... :-)</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>1) do cable modems have very
different sensitivity or dynamic range specs? </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>Problem: My old linksys BEFCMU10
(no version number) occasionally suffers from too low a signal and I must either
wait until Charter's signal rises some, or remove the power splitter allowing my
TV and cable modem each to get signal. The cable modem is normally
attached after two two-port splitters, and removing one is enough to get
adequate signal level on "bad days at Charter". Both spillters are pretty
new and adequate.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>Questions:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>1a) Charter says they can read
what my modem "sees" as signal level. That would account for all path
losses (if true). Can I read this somehow so I could tell whether the
Charter signal is marginal?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>1b) Is this old Linksys cable
modem known to have problems?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>1c) Is the Motorola Surfboard
SB5100 any better? I have one of those also, but have never used this
one. The SB5120 is current for Comcast.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>2) Roughly how big is a "cell"
for cell phones? Actually a hard question to ask because I'm curious about
the "effective size" of a cell in the midst of a planned cell coverage, and the
criteria of size is the approximate point where the phone makes a logical switch
from one cell to the next as one signal fades but hasn't dropped out, but the
next is stronger.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>3) An ad for the
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>Verizon Razr phone sez
GPS, video, & music </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>3a) does it actually have storage
for offline videos and music or just keep web links for these things?
Seems like too much memory is needed.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>3b) Is it a full and independent
GPS or a partial implementation (like a Winmodem) using some unique cell network
data?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4>ie, if I had such a phone and
took it to the Boundary Waters where there is no signal, can I play stored
videos and music and use the GPS or some or all of that dead when out of
range?</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P><SPAN class=711144018-24072006><FONT
size=4>Chuck</P></FONT></SPAN></BODY></HTML>