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<br />I have be<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">e</font></font>n unsuccessful in trying to state something here. I wonder what I am do<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ing wrong. Being a bit inept at this sor<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">t of thing I assume th<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">at when it says in my subject line that I am repl<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ying to tclug-list D<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">i<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">gest, Vol 97, Issue 35 that it is enough.
<br /><font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I want to respond to Ch<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">uck's stateme<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">nts <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">and will do so n<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ow
<br />
<br /><font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, Ch<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">uc<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">k I agree with you. I think we in the USA have been getting scre<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">wed over<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> by the various cell phone p<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">roviders for years. I went to Ge<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">rmany in 2005 and had an eye<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">-opening experience. My f<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">rie<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">nd there told me that <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ALL incom<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ing calls on a cell phone are paid for by the caller with no excepti<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ons. It costs a lot to make those calls and conseq<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">uently they get virt<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ually NO spam calls or calls from ch<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">a<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">rities or people tr<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ying to se<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ll them windows for their houses. I thought that it was a great concept for the caller to pay for the call and too bad we don<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">t do that as well.
<br /><font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">My experie<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">nce with <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">cell <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">phones over-seas was that I knew my own phone from the USA would not work there at all and I was a bit confused by trying to use the phone system there a<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">s I was really unfamiliar w<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ith the system. Perhaps next time I am there, but I still wont bring my own phone. We are totally incompatible w<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ith th<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">eir systems I think.
<br /><font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">You talk about the GSM phon<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">es and I think you are co<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">rrect that most of the r<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">est <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">of the world <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">u<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ses that system. Why dont we al<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">so? So<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> that our phone carriers can have the<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ir way with us and bend us over as much as they want. Competition is a myth really. I come from a time (1950's) when all local calls were free within my area code and I didnt even know any<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">one outside of <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">it. We never had to <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">figure out what a area code was unless we wanted to call out of state to some relative or were in the military and mak<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ing a call ho<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">me and then had to find out what our local area code wa<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">s while sitting at a pay ph<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">one in NYC. LOL
<br />
<br /><font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I also wanted to<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> comme<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">nt once about USI <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wireless. I have used th<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">em as a way cheaper and better alternative to cable in Mpl<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">s and Quest or whatever they call themselves now. I am 73 and drop<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ped my land line over 5 <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">years ago. I had DSL which was not too bad when I first had it wi<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">th USFamily<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Net but got worse when <font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I moved ove<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">r t<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">o Qwest at t<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">he same address and t<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">he same ph<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ysical line used. I went to USI because it was cheaper an<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">d no<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> contract required. If I would only save up a bit I could save by paying by the year and get my service for ab<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">out $18.95/mo inst<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ead of $24.95. I will try to do it this year.
<br /><font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I h<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ave had few issues since they installed an outside antenna for me as I am blessed with trees and h<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">igh houses on all side<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">s of me. It is r<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">arely down now since they upgraded thi<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ngs a<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">bout 10 months</font></font> ago.
<br />It can be an issue if you ha<font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ve a lot of trees or obstacles, so</font></font> keep that in mind if you are considering it.
<br />
<br /><font size="2"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ken</font></font>
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<br />
<br /></font>------ Original Message ------
<br /> <b>Received: </b>Sat, 19 Jan 2013 12:00:21 PM CST
<br /> <b>From: </b>tclug-list-request@mn-linux.org
<br /> <b>To: </b>tclug-list@mn-linux.org
<br /> <b>Subject: </b>tclug-list Digest, Vol 97, Issue 35
<br />
<br />
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<blockquote style="padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; border-left: #1010ff 2px solid; WIDTH: 100%">
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<br />
<br /> Today's Topics:
<br />
<br /> 1. Re: ISP shopping- USI Wireless, CenturyLink? (Munir Nassar)
<br /> 2. Re: Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone (Yaron)
<br /> 3. Re: ISP shopping- USI Wireless, CenturyLink? (Munir Nassar)
<br /> 4. Re: Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone (Chuck Cole)
<br /> 5. Re: Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone (Yaron)
<br /> 6. Re: Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone (Chuck Cole)
<br />
<br />
<br /> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<br />
<br /> Message: 1
<br /> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:02:50 -0600
<br /> From: Munir Nassar <tclug@beitsahour.net>
<br /> To: TCLUG Mailing List <tclug-list@mn-linux.org>
<br /> Subject: Re: [tclug-list] ISP shopping- USI Wireless, CenturyLink?
<br /> Message-ID:
<br /> <CAMg8xas3=1dz4qYDT9t5MexWFiU_cKOE8zBz8n_uabPeKp38yQ@mail.gmail.com>
<br /> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
<br />
<br /> On Fri, Jan 18, 2013 at 1:39 PM, Andrew Dahl <droidjd@gmail.com> wrote:
<br /> >
<br /> > I recall my sister and her husband trying CenturyLink and it being
<br /> > unbearable, although we live in Woodbury where the highest rate you
<br /> > can get is 1.5Meg. Maybe their 7Meg offering would be better, if it's
<br /> > available for you.
<br /> >
<br /> > Comcast recently hit me with that same increase (same promotion that
<br /> > ended even) -- If you do end up being able to successfully haggle with
<br /> > Comcast, you should let me know! :-) I attempted it the other day
<br /> > with no success, unfortunately.
<br />
<br /> that sounds legally questionable to me, even if such a fee was
<br /> disclosed but IANAL. Call and give them the choice of downgrading the
<br /> service or canceling the service altogether, of course that means that
<br /> you have to actually cancel when it comes to it, but i have a feeling
<br /> you will get a call from the service retention department very soon
<br /> afterwards.
<br />
<br /> Back in the Qworst days the trick to making them not suck was invoking
<br /> the PUC, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which does monitor
<br /> and apparently fine the utilities for infractions. You can also call
<br /> the State Attorney Generals' office to make a complaint. Mentioning
<br /> either of these options should make them more cooperative.
<br />
<br /> That said, i have been with USWest/Qwest/CenturyLink for close to ten
<br /> years now, some ups and some downs... mostly depending on service
<br /> area. i have the 7Meg service with Real-Time as my ISP and i have not
<br /> had problems since moving to this house. unfortunately i cannot get
<br /> the faster ADSL+ service without ditching Real-Time.
<br />
<br />
<br /> ------------------------------
<br />
<br /> Message: 2
<br /> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:10:05 -0600 (CST)
<br /> From: Yaron <tclug@freakzilla.com>
<br /> To: TCLUG <tclug-list@mn-linux.org>
<br /> Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone
<br /> Message-ID: <alpine.DEB.2.02.1301182103560.31413@dragon>
<br /> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
<br />
<br /> On Fri, 18 Jan 2013, Chuck Cole wrote:
<br />
<br /> > No, it's the spec that must be compatible, not just the brand. There are
<br /> > other brands of CDMA spec phones.
<br />
<br /> Phones belonging to one network in the US are not, are 100% NOT compatible
<br /> with other providers. You CANNOT switch a phone from Sprint to Verizon for
<br /> love nor money. Now perhaps there are phones that work on multiple
<br /> systems, but this is not the norm.
<br />
<br /> However, if I unlock a GSM phone, I can switch it between AT&T and
<br /> T-Mobile quite easily, and unlocked GSM phones are readily available,
<br /> because...
<br />
<br /> > The fact that 5 of 7 providers don't use GSM is a significant comparison,
<br /> > IMHO.
<br />
<br /> But go look at the rest of the world. Virtually everyone uses GSM. The US
<br /> and Japan are rare exceptions.
<br />
<br /> This is why unlocked GSM phones are standard and readily available. I can
<br /> take my phone and use it in practically any other county using a local SIM
<br /> card. This is how cellphones work just about everywhere in the world - you
<br /> buy a phone and you can take it with you between providers because they
<br /> all use the same (global) standard. In the US, carriers tend to subsidise
<br /> the phones, and therefor lock them to their own serivce. Even if the
<br /> systems are compatible it's a pain to transfer over. Though GSM makes this
<br /> significantly easier.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /> --
<br />
<br />
<br /> ------------------------------
<br />
<br /> Message: 3
<br /> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:15:44 -0600
<br /> From: Munir Nassar <tclug@beitsahour.net>
<br /> To: TCLUG Mailing List <tclug-list@mn-linux.org>
<br /> Subject: Re: [tclug-list] ISP shopping- USI Wireless, CenturyLink?
<br /> Message-ID:
<br /> <CAMg8xat7NbOBsqA=Tu8Zz-kHjQBnK6=mWs6sj1zABO_OCyB8Qg@mail.gmail.com>
<br /> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
<br />
<br /> On Fri, Jan 18, 2013 at 4:01 PM, Thomas Lunde <tlunde@gmail.com> wrote:
<br /> > I have CenturyLink & probably live near you, since I have all the tiers & am in south Minneapolis & on the same side of 35W.
<br /> >
<br /> > The CO is at 24th Ave & 33rd st. I'm about 3 blocks from there & am very happy with the speed.
<br /> >
<br /> > I do have to power cycle their modem (it was offered to buy or rent, so I bought it) every few weeks. If I don't, the connection will degrade or drop. I've been temped to use a UPS & cron to automate it but haven't bothered. Otis reliable & fast.
<br />
<br /> The problem is likely with the modem, not with the service. Offloading
<br /> PPPoE to your firewall should perform much better.
<br />
<br />
<br /> ------------------------------
<br />
<br /> Message: 4
<br /> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:59:50 -0600
<br /> From: "Chuck Cole" <cncole@earthlink.net>
<br /> To: "'TCLUG Mailing List'" <tclug-list@mn-linux.org>
<br /> Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone
<br /> Message-ID: <7E930D947FFA4470BC20B95C712A54A8@d830a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /> > -----Original Message-----
<br /> > From: tclug-list-bounces@mn-linux.org
<br /> > [mailto:tclug-list-bounces@mn-linux.org] On Behalf Of Yaron
<br /> > Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 9:10 PM
<br /> > To: TCLUG
<br /> > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone
<br /> >
<br /> > On Fri, 18 Jan 2013, Chuck Cole wrote:
<br /> >
<br /> > However, if I unlock a GSM phone, I can switch it between
<br /> > AT&T and T-Mobile quite easily, and unlocked GSM phones are
<br /> > readily available, because...
<br /> >
<br /> > > The fact that 5 of 7 providers don't use GSM is a significant
<br /> > > comparison, IMHO.
<br /> >
<br /> > But go look at the rest of the world. Virtually everyone uses
<br /> > GSM. The US and Japan are rare exceptions.
<br />
<br /> I live in the USA. Have little need to look at the rest of the world,
<br /> especially now. I can get good used CDMA phones easily. Had only terribly
<br /> bad experiences from carriers using GSM, so try to avoid them, and don't
<br /> need the minority GSM from a really bad provider. My VOIP provider software
<br /> works from a computer anywhere in the world when I have an internet
<br /> connection, and is the same as my home phone. My CDMA works in many places
<br /> and via WiFi in others. Don't need GSM headaches again.
<br />
<br /> Your liking the "minority spec" doesn't make it a great choice for everybody
<br /> else.
<br />
<br />
<br /> Chuck
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /> ------------------------------
<br />
<br /> Message: 5
<br /> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:16:44 -0600 (CST)
<br /> From: Yaron <tclug@freakzilla.com>
<br /> To: TCLUG <tclug-list@mn-linux.org>
<br /> Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone
<br /> Message-ID: <alpine.DEB.2.02.1301182212110.31413@dragon>
<br /> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
<br />
<br /> On Fri, 18 Jan 2013, Chuck Cole wrote:
<br />
<br /> > I live in the USA. Have little need to look at the rest of the world,
<br /> ...
<br /> > Your liking the "minority spec" doesn't make it a great choice for everybody
<br /> > else.
<br />
<br /> Wow. Again, CDMA is by FAR the "minority" spec, worldwide. Most US
<br /> carriers never bothered upgrading their infrastructure, although they ARE
<br /> working on it. And when they switch, you'll be the one who has to change
<br /> phones.
<br />
<br /> Either way, though, most cell carriers in the US treat people fairly
<br /> horribly. The aforementioned phone-locking, for one. Charging for
<br /> incomming SMS/MMS and phonecalls is also something that doesn't happen
<br /> other places.
<br />
<br /> I'm glad you're happy with your phone and service, and I'm not at all
<br /> trying to get you to switch or anything. Nowhere in the conversation was
<br /> anything like that mentioned. But when you say GSM is the minority and
<br /> that you can switch CDMA phones between providers, sorry but that's just
<br /> not true.
<br />
<br />
<br /> --
<br />
<br />
<br /> ------------------------------
<br />
<br /> Message: 6
<br /> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:02:42 -0600
<br /> From: "Chuck Cole" <cncole@earthlink.net>
<br /> To: "'TCLUG Mailing List'" <tclug-list@mn-linux.org>
<br /> Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone
<br /> Message-ID: <5D7F99E081B344CE8697A2A8244325F3@d830a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /> > -----Original Message-----
<br /> > From: tclug-list-bounces@mn-linux.org
<br /> > [mailto:tclug-list-bounces@mn-linux.org] On Behalf Of Yaron
<br /> > Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 10:17 PM
<br /> > To: TCLUG
<br /> > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Subject: Re: Ubuntu Phone
<br /> >
<br /> > On Fri, 18 Jan 2013, Chuck Cole wrote:
<br /> >
<br /> > > I live in the USA. Have little need to look at the rest of
<br /> > the world,
<br /> > ...
<br /> > > Your liking the "minority spec" doesn't make it a great choice for
<br /> > > everybody else.
<br /> >
<br /> > Wow. Again, CDMA is by FAR the "minority" spec, worldwide.
<br /> > Most US carriers never bothered upgrading their
<br /> > infrastructure, although they ARE working on it. And when
<br /> > they switch, you'll be the one who has to change phones.
<br /> >
<br /> > Either way, though, most cell carriers in the US treat people
<br /> > fairly horribly. The aforementioned phone-locking, for one.
<br /> > Charging for incomming SMS/MMS and phonecalls is also
<br /> > something that doesn't happen other places.
<br /> >
<br /> > I'm glad you're happy with your phone and service, and I'm
<br /> > not at all trying to get you to switch or anything. Nowhere
<br /> > in the conversation was anything like that mentioned. But
<br /> > when you say GSM is the minority and that you can switch CDMA
<br /> > phones between providers, sorry but that's just not true.
<br />
<br /> The fact that 5 of 7 US providers use CDMA is indeed true, and THAT defines
<br /> a kind of majority, as I stated before... As I also stated, worldwide
<br /> doesn't matter much for citizens and services here. That's all I stated
<br /> about majority.
<br />
<br /> Nuf sed. Enjoy your whatever.
<br />
<br />
<br /> Chuck
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /> ------------------------------
<br />
<br /> _______________________________________________
<br /> TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
<br /> tclug-list@mn-linux.org
<br /> http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list
<br />
<br /> End of tclug-list Digest, Vol 97, Issue 35
<br /> ******************************************
<br />
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