The grumpy thread

[Talbot]

1 hour ago, mercedade said:

Yo @Talbot - Even later than your reply is my question! What should I use to achieve similar gains when using the shit Virgin media send out?

The same.

Any broadband provider in the UK is realistically just buying capacity from BT wholesale, so it almost doesn't matter if it's BT, Virgin, TalkTalk or any other damn provider.  The service is still provided by BT wholesale.  Much like Gas or Electricity:  You can be billed by one of a thousand different companies, but the actual gas or electricity comes down the same pipe/cable.  So unless you actually have a physically different connection to the outside world (as might be provided by a local CATV/Telephony company), you just need a decent quality router that wasn't made for 34p in fuck-knows-where.

[anonymous user]

11 hours ago, Remspoor said:

A very  minor grump in the real world. But why after cleaning does the greatness who evolved the world show me that I  did not do such a grate job of cleaning when sunshine flows in to the house.

Oh the Iron(y)

[mercedade]

10 hours ago, Talbot said:

The same.

Any broadband provider in the UK is realistically just buying capacity from BT wholesale, so it almost doesn't matter if it's BT, Virgin, TalkTalk or any other damn provider.  The service is still provided by BT wholesale.  Much like Gas or Electricity:  You can be billed by one of a thousand different companies, but the actual gas or electricity comes down the same pipe/cable.  So unless you actually have a physically different connection to the outside world (as might be provided by a local CATV/Telephony company), you just need a decent quality router that wasn't made for 34p in fuck-knows-where.

Cheers Talbot - sorry, I should have asked my question better. Because Virgin use their own infrastructure, they don't use the Bt/Openreach network at all and so have different cable-based hardware. But because I am totally clueless, I don't know how to avoid the Virgin hub (which has a co-ax style connection for broadband, rather than phone/ASDL). I wonder if it could be made to do whatever the home broadband equivalent of 'pass through' is, so that a better Wifi router could take on the burden?

[beko1987]

9 minutes ago, mercedade said:

Cheers Talbot - sorry, I should have asked my question better. Because Virgin use their own infrastructure, they don't use the Bt/Openreach network at all and so have different cable-based hardware. But because I am totally clueless, I don't know how to avoid the Virgin hub (which has a co-ax style connection for broadband, rather than phone/ASDL). I wonder if it could be made to do whatever the home broadband equivalent of 'pass through' is, so that a better Wifi router could take on the burden?

Your right up until the virgin router. If it's the same as sky and my current Huawei 3 router are, you turn off its shit bollocks WiFi and jsut have an rj45 going from it to your new WiFi making machine, then configure it up. 

In my setup, my 4g box sits in the loft as it gets decent signal up there. It's WiFi is off (it moans about it on the service page) and there's a cat5 cable snaking down through my entire house using only existing holes and previously liften floors to a 10 port gigabit switch (£15 used on ebay, nice metal net gear).

From there the network either flows wired to the pc, TV and my work laptop, or goes via one cable to a smoll tplink access point. Was sold as the thing you use in hotels to make a cat5 cable into Internet and does just that, turns the dhcp connection from the cable into magical waves! 

If you had better WiFi kit you could do all sorts, a mate spent £100 on a massive booster for his for his long garden. My (again £12 used) tplink works fine in my tiny house, and does me fine. 

If I want to admin any the 4g box still logs right onto its ip address from WiFi or lan, same with the tplink box (although it's been so long since I've touched that I can't remember the login details and would need to paperclip it). 

Follow Mr Talbots lead and open your wallet and you can be flinging 4k files or moving 10+gb around devices without the shitty (sky) router hard crashing and needing 10 minutes to cool down... 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

I've been doing something vaguely similar.  I have a powerline adapter up into my office (have a VOIP phone) directly from the fibre modem that I've split using an ethernet switch.  Then I've used an old laptop with Ubuntu installed to share a separate wireless network to the upstairs of my house as the router downstairs is in a truly dreadful location.

[95 quid Peugeot]

Fucking speed cameras.

I haven't had a ticket for 40 years, i do drive like miss daisy, and averaged 20-40k miles a year over the 40 years.

Done 3 times in the last week ffs

[Fumbler]

Unless you have cable Internet, I highly, highly recommend using a PC as a router if you know your stuff. We have literally burned through several routers with all the computer usage in the house, but ever since using Untangle and later using ClearOS on some hardware I've had laying around, we've had next to no problems. At the same time my brother and I ran Cat5E cables around the house and configured all of our baked routers into wireless access points, meaning we have full WiFi and Ethernet throughout the house. Winners all-round.

[New POD]

13 hours ago, Remspoor said:

A very  minor grump in the real world. But why after cleaning does the greatness who evolved the world show me that I  did not do such a grate job of cleaning when sunshine flows in to the house.

They call it spring cleaning for a reason.  

There's no point I cleaning in the winter as you can't see the dirt until the sun shines 

Don't think of it as dirt.  You are sharing your space with incey wincey  who will capture nasty flies.  Like an environmentally friendly can of fly spray. 

[New POD]

13 hours ago, cobblers said:

I had to turn down some steady lucrative work because I'd have to use "hot tools" (a soldering iron in the back of a van!) on site. Steady maintenance of some obscure access barriers on british steel plants across the country. It added 3k to my business insurance!

I'm thinking you need a different insurance broker, or need to ask the client for more money. 

[mitsisigma01]

10 minutes ago, 95 quid Peugeot said:

Fucking speed cameras.

I haven't had a ticket for 40 years, i do drive like miss daisy, and averaged 20-40k miles a year over the 40 years.

Done 3 times in the last week ffs

Fixed, mobile, same one, much over,.... 

[Talbot]

31 minutes ago, 95 quid Peugeot said:

Fucking speed cameras.  Done 3 times in the last week ffs

On the assumption that your licence is clean at the moment at that at least one of the alledged offences was below the +10%+9mph threshold, you'll be able to keep that to 6 points and a Speed awareness course.

I did read a while back that there was a very slight loophole that could be exploited if you got two offences in close sucession, whereby the declaration you have to make to be able to take a speed awareness course states that you have not taken one in the last 3 years.  Which of course is true.  The fact that you book two courses and then take two courses (from different providers) is irrelevant.  At the point of accepting the course, you'd not done one before.*

*this is not legal, or even sensible advise.  Just because I've read about it doesn't mean it's even possible.

[danthecapriman]

I thought I’d got a speeding fine just after Xmas, first few days after being on holiday and back to work driving to a job. 40mph limit dual carriageway up a hill so I stepped on it a bit to get up the hill, didn’t notice the mobile camera van in the layby until very late and I must have been doing nearly 50mph. Obviously I did see it and slowed but it must have been too late, so I thought.

Spent the next few weeks worrying about it but nothing ever came through. No idea why as I was convinced I’d fucked up. Must have either not been in operation or my actual speed was just under the limits?? 
Ive already done one awareness course about a year and a half ago so it would have been a fine and points that time. Bloody glad I got away with it though.

[Talbot]

11 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

I must have been doing nearly 50mph.

Indicated 48mph on a speedo is likely 45/46mph in the real world as most speedometers are designed to over-read by about 5kph.  The threshold to start action is recommended at +10%+2, which in a 40 limit is 46mph.  You possibly just scraped through a few thousanths of a MPH below the threshold.

Or the camera operator was on a break/playing candy crush/nipped out for a piss.  Who knows.  Either way, once 14 days have passed, if nothing has been sent to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle, you can forget about it.

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, Talbot said:

Indicated 48mph on a speedo is likely 45/46mph in the real world as most speedometers are designed to over-read by about 5kph.  The threshold to start action is recommended at +10%+2, which in a 40 limit is 46mph.  You possibly just scraped through a few thousanths of a MPH below the threshold.

Or the camera operator was on a break/playing candy crush/nipped out for a piss.  Who knows.  Either way, once 14 days have passed, if nothing has been sent to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle, you can forget about it.

When I had to go on the speed awareness course I was in my Volvo near home, 30mph limit and I came round a bend behind some other cars all doing the same speed. Spotted the scamera van and got busted at 36. Funny really as I tried to drive as close as possible to the back of the car in front to try and hide my number plate but it obviously didn’t work! 
It did cross my mind briefly to go home and swap the US headlights on mine back to the EU style originals and contest the ticket as ‘clearly not my car officers’! Might have just dug myself a bigger hole doing that though.

[Talbot]

By the time you'd spotted it and had tried to mask your number plate, they would have already got you.  Bear in mind it's a continuous recording, so they can blip the speed of the car without being able to see the plate, then get the plate afterwards once you're much closer to the van.  I had exactly that with mine a while back.

Also, bear in mind that the optical zoom on the cameras they use is astonishing.  They can pip your speed at over a KM away.  9 times out of 10, as soon as you've spotted the van, they've pinged you.  There's one location they love to park in down in saltdean/peacehaven where the line-of-sight means the camera pings you at well over a KM away, and you can't even see the SCamera van from where you are.

[gm]

I'm on the lookout for a mk1 Honda CR-V and spotted a really good looking car on Wednesday - I messaged straight away but was too late, it had sold

The same car reappeared for sale today from a dodgy looking location, the seller has 15 other adverts for various old bangers and cars for breaking and the cr-v now has a mysterious check engine light - I'll bet my bollocks that he's weighed in the catalyst for omg£££ and is now punting it on feigning ignorance.

So annoying, the original seller was a right nice chap and the car was just what I was looking for.

Anyone near York bored and fancy a look ?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/132707368776874/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks&tracking={"qid"%3A"6941515162945112777"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"101415829878646478"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"{\"target_id\"%3A101415829878646478%2C\"target_type\"%3A6%2C\"primary_position\"%3A0%2C\"ranking_signature\"%3A5310456676132847616%2C\"commerce_channel\"%3A501%2C\"value\"%3A0%2C\"upsell_type\"%3A21%2C\"grouping_info\"%3Anull}"}

I messaged the new seller asking if he knew why the check engine light was on and if the catalyst had been removed ? the surly response was "not sure". well, thanks for that  

[Tadhg Tiogar]

One week later, and the battery is unable to hold the charge. Reading was 9.3v before another jump start, so that's likely fecked now.

At least the alternator works properly. 

Immediately after switch-off, the meter reads 12.83v:

...then dropped steadily to 12.49v over the next two minutes. Will check again later in the evening, but expect to be 12v or under by then.

[Ghosty]

Speeding ticket for 36 in a 30. 

Mercifully that's in speed awareness course territory. 

[Minimad5]

Day off to crack on with Cambelt change.

Started raining.

Snapped bolt.

Cambelt cover bolts rounded off and all crusty. Fawk.

Managed to remove snapped bolt from alternator, but fear I may need to buy a new cambelt cover, as access to remove said bolts is poor (Anyone got an Ej25 cover for sale ??)

Sacked it off for now, as my flat cap was piss wet & I needed a wee.

[Remspoor]

On 3/18/2021 at 10:55 PM, Remspoor said:

A very  minor grump in the real world. But why after cleaning does the greatness who evolved the world show me that I  did not do such a grate job of cleaning when sunshine flows in to the house.

I cas nit spill... I goings to the noutie step.

[twosmoke300]

On 3/19/2021 at 11:49 PM, gm said:

I'm on the lookout for a mk1 Honda CR-V and spotted a really good looking car on Wednesday - I messaged straight away but was too late, it had sold

The same car reappeared for sale today from a dodgy looking location, the seller has 15 other adverts for various old bangers and cars for breaking and the cr-v now has a mysterious check engine light - I'll bet my bollocks that he's weighed in the catalyst for omg£££ and is now punting it on feigning ignorance.

So annoying, the original seller was a right nice chap and the car was just what I was looking for.

Anyone near York bored and fancy a look ?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/132707368776874/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks&tracking={"qid"%3A"6941515162945112777"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"101415829878646478"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"{\"target_id\"%3A101415829878646478%2C\"target_type\"%3A6%2C\"primary_position\"%3A0%2C\"ranking_signature\"%3A5310456676132847616%2C\"commerce_channel\"%3A501%2C\"value\"%3A0%2C\"upsell_type\"%3A21%2C\"grouping_info\"%3Anull}"}

I messaged the new seller asking if he knew why the check engine light was on and if the catalyst had been removed ? the surly response was "not sure". well, thanks for that  

I reckon you are right there ! Worth serious coin now and being a 2001 model mk1 it may have a post cat oxygen sensor so would ping up a MIL if the cats been taken out or even a cheapy one fitted

[BorniteIdentity]

7 minutes ago, twosmoke300 said:

I reckon you are right there ! Worth serious coin now and being a 2001 model mk1 it may have a post cat oxygen sensor so would ping up a MIL if the cats been taken out or even a cheapy one fitted

Almost certainly. This is the absolute heartache I’m having with my 1999 Avensis - there is a downstream sensor that isn’t easily fooled by a cheap cat or a missing one.  Toyota now don’t have ANY genuine ones left.

 

[DVee8]

60 miles this morning around Newcastle,tynemouth, returning home via the Tyne Tunnel.

Those that don't know the TT is a tunnel under the river Tyne, it's a toll tunnel.

I have an account TT2, with my car,Mrs V8's car and the Fiat 500 all registered to the account, there is more that enought funds on the account.

So we decided to drive throught the tunnel this morning(Ben's first drive through).

You drive to the pre paid booth that have barriers on, these are now in the upright possition to speed progress through, cameras recognise the plate and your account is debited.

Except today my accound wasn't debited,we drove home checking the app, but no.

Getting home I spend 25mins on hold, to be told Ben didn't come to a full stop at the booth, the TT website says 5 mph.

I have to pay the £60 reduced to £30 fine and then appeal against the fine. fuck great.

Taken from the a car for a 17 year old in the moden section cos i'm naffed off

[omegod]

3 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Almost certainly. This is the absolute heartache I’m having with my 1999 Avensis - there is a downstream sensor that isn’t easily fooled by a cheap cat or a missing one.  Toyota now don’t have ANY genuine ones left.

 

I think with Honda's you can buy a spacer for the post cat lambda, haven't a clue how it works but seem's it's worked for many people when using pattern cats, may be worth looking into

[Pieman]

Like most people I know, I recorded the Car SOS Metro 6R4 episode onto our Tivo box to watch at a time when either one of my parents or my sister isn't in front of the TV (about 18 hours a day).

This morning, I overhear my dad saying he's deleted it off there because he thought the box had recorded it itself and that it was "junk" so he cleared it out along with some other programmes to free up space.  I watch maybe one TV programme every two months while they spend their lives sat in front of the thing.

[Rusty_Rocket]

1 minute ago, Pieman said:

Like most people I know, I recorded the Car SOS Metro 6R4 episode onto our Tivo box to watch at a time when either one of my parents or my sister isn't in front of the TV (about 18 hours a day).

This morning, I overhear my dad saying he's deleted it off there because he thought the box had recorded it itself and that it was "junk" so he cleared it out along with some other programmes to free up space.  I watch maybe one TV programme every two months while they spend their lives sat in front of the thing.

 

[Pieman]

Thanks for that, but it's not the programme being deleted that upset me - it's the principal of the thing, they didn't even ask or consider me.

[High Jetter]

Harsh. Have you pointed out to him the facts as relayed to us?

[Pieman]

If I do that I get my head bitten off.

[PhilA]

Bloody metric system.