tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89323262332203207322024-03-13T07:45:04.559-07:00Alternate U-verse<strong>An activity log about setting up, testing, and using AT&T's U-verse Internet/television service.</strong>Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-18313668215499281862017-03-30T12:29:00.002-07:002017-03-30T12:31:12.909-07:00Return Rip-offAT&T wants its gateway/router back. This gateway is the one installed in the Bay Area and transplanted to SoCal. The "or else" is a $150 charge:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5czYq-PZndYSqrSIh80Im7VxZevWVFsBucKObskEophKm0KX59sAHDfpiqlHEhDvqVx-Jof5b0qUEsqCMU3dFm3Wm1ZJYWeQqUtxSEtO1WUWYffJ3BlgX8l0cZQD1ClEHK7F4sNtOKBU/s1600/Uverse-return-1_2017-03-29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5czYq-PZndYSqrSIh80Im7VxZevWVFsBucKObskEophKm0KX59sAHDfpiqlHEhDvqVx-Jof5b0qUEsqCMU3dFm3Wm1ZJYWeQqUtxSEtO1WUWYffJ3BlgX8l0cZQD1ClEHK7F4sNtOKBU/s320/Uverse-return-1_2017-03-29.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fair enough. The DeathStar also wants a power cord and remote, neither of which were ever delivered or installed for Internet-only service:<br />
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A chat session with "Rose B." maybe straightens it out:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKP_0ThlP2NAbtno6QTZ-kVCM3kw405PnFRMC7SuCPy8EaR05osxb77UgTDpQ9IeYdWZDVexjBPAtc5Z2H4mL-d0bpKL9_RHaHdYUzgd_shMtc_5viIcez9snFW6Pm7o2Ut7AxfMIXQuk/s1600/Uverse-return-3_2017-03-29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKP_0ThlP2NAbtno6QTZ-kVCM3kw405PnFRMC7SuCPy8EaR05osxb77UgTDpQ9IeYdWZDVexjBPAtc5Z2H4mL-d0bpKL9_RHaHdYUzgd_shMtc_5viIcez9snFW6Pm7o2Ut7AxfMIXQuk/s400/Uverse-return-3_2017-03-29.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Hey Kids! Don't forget to factory-reset the equipment and remove all logs and passwords and who-knows-what-all the device captured.)</div>
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The rip-off part comes at the UPS Store. The UPS Store proprietor is unhappy to see a return via his business. He must spend time and energy attending the customer, generating a receipt, preparing the unit for shipment, and finally shipping it out. It's maybe five or ten minutes work. Of course UPS gets paid to ship it. The store owner?</div>
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For his efforts, AT&T pays him the princely sum of $0.01.<br />
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Yep. A penny. This amount does not cover the cost of the paper on which the receipt was printed.<br />
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Pretty skeezy, AT&T. You made thousands and thousands over nearly nine years of service. Throw the UPS guy a bone, maybe a $5 for his trouble.</div>
<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-35571444641777929402017-03-27T14:20:00.003-07:002017-03-27T14:21:49.085-07:00Trapped in LimboCalled U-verse and spoke with Edward who cancelled U-verse service Friday, 24 March. "Expect a cancellation email within four hours. If not, call 866-446-4115 to check the status of the cancellation."<br />
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No email. Now it's Monday 27 March.<br />
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"Hello, this is Derek in Nashville, how can I help you."<br />
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"Derek, I cancelled service and was told to expect an email. Is there something I need to do?"<br />
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"Let me check that for you. What's the account number?"<br />
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Numbers and secret handshakes exchanged.<br />
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"You wanted to cancel the service as of when?"<br />
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"Last Friday, March 24th. I spoke with Edward. He said he cancelled service and the system would send an email. I haven't received anything. The account still appears active."<br />
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Derek checks it out. Cheerful hold music for four minutes.<br />
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"Let me look into one more thing. Please keep holding."<br />
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"Okay, take your time."<br />
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Three minutes of cheerful hold music.<br />
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Derek returns. He's managed to cancel the account and give me a confirmation number. Great.<br />
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Checking the account management site confirms:<br />
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Good to go.</div>
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<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-48549201522342596922017-03-24T17:24:00.000-07:002017-03-27T15:18:26.079-07:00You Must Be This Human to Cancel ServiceCustomers can do everything online except cancel service. Gives the company a chance to retain or up-sell.<br />
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"'Janet" does her best. But she must hand off to her supervisor, "Edward".<br />
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Same points are explained again: faster, cheaper, phone service included. Explained how we were speaking via the new Spectrum phone line.<br />
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"When do you want to schedule cancellation?"<br />
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"What? Today. Immediately. Spectrum is already installed. It's been up and running since last night."<br />
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"Oh."<br />
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Edward is a little difficult to understand because he speaks rapidly, as does anyone who has run through the same spiel hundreds of times.<br />
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Not his first rodeo.<br />
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Eventually something gets done. Edward says to expect an email confirming cancellation in "about four hours. Call this direct number, 866-446-4115, to check status if nothing arrives."<br />
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Thanks Edward.<br />
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Since it's Friday evening, Saturday morning is a good time to check.Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-62075723556675697102017-03-24T14:04:00.000-07:002017-03-27T15:11:15.012-07:00Verify Your AccountLet's set up automatic billing with Spectrum.<br />
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After logging in the system displays<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXH8d4lNs1jK6NixX48PyZrCV5guhHq92vyu1U5CLpLfIBCfPa5QTBUaIzMs2DcNR3ILb84fPXL-QRrxhsOvhHYUq2QQhLaLDiV7AB6Dl_a6DGwUXDSa0Sv6CQipK0Hedp3lmfuvPVME/s1600/Spectrum_verify_2017-04-24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="67" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXH8d4lNs1jK6NixX48PyZrCV5guhHq92vyu1U5CLpLfIBCfPa5QTBUaIzMs2DcNR3ILb84fPXL-QRrxhsOvhHYUq2QQhLaLDiV7AB6Dl_a6DGwUXDSa0Sv6CQipK0Hedp3lmfuvPVME/s320/Spectrum_verify_2017-04-24.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Okay, where's the code?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZuPaotkob2yewEx5R3HGAJQp0uk7GGW8yu3l7SsY8GYt36f4PENoYcu42FzSd-AlY3O2LIWWl7x5us_SjE9t_CNTCmghL9nAhpnd46GAavUNGYETR-oswb-j0krRGCU0kvbJqQf0D20/s1600/Spectrum_verify2_2017-04-24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZuPaotkob2yewEx5R3HGAJQp0uk7GGW8yu3l7SsY8GYt36f4PENoYcu42FzSd-AlY3O2LIWWl7x5us_SjE9t_CNTCmghL9nAhpnd46GAavUNGYETR-oswb-j0krRGCU0kvbJqQf0D20/s320/Spectrum_verify2_2017-04-24.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Okay, what code?<br />
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There does not appear to be a four-digit confirmation code anywhere on the new documents, the web site, no where.<br />
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"Hello, this is Danisha in Colorado. How can I help you?"<br />
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Letting the customer know the service representative's location is a nice touch.<br />
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As it turns out, the magic four-digit pin is sent <i>on paper</i> to the account address of record. Nothing happens without the code: no automated bill pay, cannot see the account, nothing. Even the phone line feature set has a lock-out:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46zhuvwcTAASEzIqIRIuymftXiJLmLZ8R6eCOBmQBJxKbhP3D0oJdDzHqBgXOQk_ZWJbVAd7NrsAkijikZBrXOWNsji6km6Kg1HXAhdlDo79Q7Z0hGBk5sFBNjS8HwM0pWAl_LokChVs/s1600/Spectrum_phone_2017-03-24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46zhuvwcTAASEzIqIRIuymftXiJLmLZ8R6eCOBmQBJxKbhP3D0oJdDzHqBgXOQk_ZWJbVAd7NrsAkijikZBrXOWNsji6km6Kg1HXAhdlDo79Q7Z0hGBk5sFBNjS8HwM0pWAl_LokChVs/s400/Spectrum_phone_2017-03-24.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Call us back by the 31st if you don't get a code."<br />
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Okay.<br />
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One more thing: Spectrum charged for a modem battery backup. The installer had none and in fact said Spectrum no longer gave installation teams such batteries.<br />
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"Okay. I can reverse the charge for the battery."<br />
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"Yes please."<br />
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Reasonably decent service.<br />
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Update:<br />
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Battery price appears to have been reversed as of Monday 27 March. Very nice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64yITbEnkU-7rjAi4G2koS7yXucbPUsXL7rQG8Iml0XlYiQ0-ROXMO6Eu4k0Tel_sT1PEBmfc_D9O3wrGjJi34TWv5S1VYz9_oMfvtUk2_6OByWZRxfwX1lDPnncxoMUo9K5AH5DFxm8/s1600/Spectrum_reverse_2017-04-24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64yITbEnkU-7rjAi4G2koS7yXucbPUsXL7rQG8Iml0XlYiQ0-ROXMO6Eu4k0Tel_sT1PEBmfc_D9O3wrGjJi34TWv5S1VYz9_oMfvtUk2_6OByWZRxfwX1lDPnncxoMUo9K5AH5DFxm8/s400/Spectrum_reverse_2017-04-24.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-16795022406355068252017-03-24T08:43:00.002-07:002017-03-27T15:28:40.660-07:00Higher Speed InternetLooks like it's end of the road for AT&T U-verse.<br />
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Time-Warner Cable has renamed itself "Spectrum" and has carpet-bombed the 'Net, mail, and newspapers with promotional offers for fast, bundled services.<br />
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After an hour chat session and a five minute phone with "Rachel B" Tuesday morning March 21st, Spectrum scheduled installation Thursday afternoon 23 March. "George" from Spectrum's local contracting team arrived at 5pm and was done by 6:30pm. Up and running in about 2.5 days.<br />
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How fast is Spectrum's home service? First, U-verse speed test:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwF7GATAiu8pvteBf0JzK8U2VbODJL9IkXGJvYfnvsNBU2vW33_ZzffIVaEgp5UWElDG6aM5wZpGeR-dApV2IHOcAReHZCzFjuNbo718OpAu5FlVh5tr68xOZZ6ODH6M3tqmfLbhQwq3Y/s1600/U-verse_speedtest_2017-03-24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwF7GATAiu8pvteBf0JzK8U2VbODJL9IkXGJvYfnvsNBU2vW33_ZzffIVaEgp5UWElDG6aM5wZpGeR-dApV2IHOcAReHZCzFjuNbo718OpAu5FlVh5tr68xOZZ6ODH6M3tqmfLbhQwq3Y/s320/U-verse_speedtest_2017-03-24.png" width="214" /></a></div>
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Next, Spectrum:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFG87YZJ7O6n_enox8Z0De_15g2DzXwfUCiu82a-aOdOvQoKuiKGG3ZPk3VjOIsqe8I8K8i5dCqSFn1a8Gqt7fQQxZ5gFsN4Tz3A_0M0_T0CCdEcV_l6NIVRFJg2nRFIQCV-o2oT2Ex0/s1600/Spectrum_speedtest_2017-03-24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFG87YZJ7O6n_enox8Z0De_15g2DzXwfUCiu82a-aOdOvQoKuiKGG3ZPk3VjOIsqe8I8K8i5dCqSFn1a8Gqt7fQQxZ5gFsN4Tz3A_0M0_T0CCdEcV_l6NIVRFJg2nRFIQCV-o2oT2Ex0/s320/Spectrum_speedtest_2017-03-24.png" width="225" /></a></div>
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Tests were conducted on the same hardware. Only the network gateway changed. The 117.4 down / 11.4 up Mbps speeds shown above come through Spectrum modem <--> router's Gig-E <--> Intel NUC running Linux + Firefox.<br />
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Seems fast enough.<br />
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Let's talk price. <br />
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U-verse service cost crept up to about $62/month mid-2016. Charges jumped from $51/month June 2016 to the current price August 2016.<br />
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This price buys the U-verse "18" plan: 18-20 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up, and a monthly data cap of 1 TB. The AT&T gateway serves wireline and wireless networks in-building, no phone service. A separate hard landline costs about $30 month, most of it state fees and telecom tariffs. The land line is a bare-bones service with no long-distance.<br />
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All-in, AT&T U-verse Internet and phone line cost about $90/month.<br />
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Spectrum's promotional price is "$29.99/month for the first 12 months" for each bundled service. All-in for Internet + voice is $65/month for the first 12 months, charges to go up an additional "$20-$30 per month" thereafter, according to "Rachel B". Voice includes long distance calling in North America and U.S. territories.<br />
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Spectrum's Internet price is BYOR - Bring Your Own Router. The gateway offers services only one port. Spectrum wireless via the gateway is an additional charge. Happily, several wireless routers from various vendors are on-premise. <br />
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Even after the 12-month promotional price, Spectrum at $60/100 Mbps/month vs U-verse $60/20 Mpbs/month is 5x better.<br />
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Worth noting: AT&T will not budge on price.<br />
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Time to re-configure the network.<br />
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<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-49556672185541873902016-08-03T13:29:00.000-07:002017-03-27T13:32:45.502-07:00More Data More FunAT&T now permits a terabyte of data per month.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEHf7VRWTgQbjpcBfu-SgYqSCPYj9XHBqhyphenhyphenV_aF7PXkYkXvnTCJAtE7mB4_Om3Sx3gR3v4BE8ZLN4ibdTLkpkSWfFGZ9mCN5DTVTF9sgKyHlGxbDjhoMzIdz9iygtYY_NFXZi0HzLjmw/s1600/U-verse_service_update_2016-08-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEHf7VRWTgQbjpcBfu-SgYqSCPYj9XHBqhyphenhyphenV_aF7PXkYkXvnTCJAtE7mB4_Om3Sx3gR3v4BE8ZLN4ibdTLkpkSWfFGZ9mCN5DTVTF9sgKyHlGxbDjhoMzIdz9iygtYY_NFXZi0HzLjmw/s400/U-verse_service_update_2016-08-02.png" width="387" /></a></div>
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Mighty nice of them to remove the additional service charge if the account's usage is under the terabyte cap.</div>
<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-3308356673416284562013-10-02T21:32:00.002-07:002013-10-02T21:32:44.606-07:00Video Billed the Internet Part<div>
<span style="color: #4c1130;">Having taken an assignment and set up house in a </span><span style="color: #4c1130;">San Francisco Bay Area</span><span style="color: #4c1130;"> apartment, another U-verse account was a must. After hearing horror stories, no way ComCast and their shared coax is getting any business.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Having two services addresses on a single BAN is impossible. A completely distinct U-verse account was necessary. Consider it a double blessing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Setting up automatic bill pay worked much better this time. After punching in the CC number into the "auto-pay" feature of AT&T's U-verse customer site, nothing happened. Well, something happened. Two weeks later (mid-September), AT&T sent a paper notice stating that it would start billing by credit card next month.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Pacific Gas & Electric set up and confirmed automatic pay-by-credit-card in <i>one day</i>.
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Meantime, ever on the cutting edge of customer service, AT&T has sent a <i>video bil</i><i>l:</i></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">That's right. Now, a perky-voiced young robot-woman reads the bill -- with the customer's first name! -- over a full-motion, <i>action-packed</i> display of </span><span style="color: #4c1130;">monthly </span><span style="color: #4c1130;">charges just in case customers cannot scan five lines of text:</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3HVGOKMLxNJN8a9zreLGia7vUY21I0f9ezxyYpouj3xT1Cvv_Zo4sIwGapOBqq_I4jN6AlgcvfoCBljIbpdZOxsfeKvEeTciY8cgz9BqPJsMDRRPnheDdrbHoM_2ufjEunqmTWb2cNY/s1600/video-bill-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3HVGOKMLxNJN8a9zreLGia7vUY21I0f9ezxyYpouj3xT1Cvv_Zo4sIwGapOBqq_I4jN6AlgcvfoCBljIbpdZOxsfeKvEeTciY8cgz9BqPJsMDRRPnheDdrbHoM_2ufjEunqmTWb2cNY/s320/video-bill-2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #4c1130;">Here's the killer: NorCal service is $45.95/month for 18 Mb/s down, 2 Mb/s up. In SoCal, it's $53.91 for 12 Mb/s down, 2 Mb/s up. What? Time to call the Account Center to see about an adjustment.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130;">For those who don't grasp the title, a little history:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ" target="_blank">Part 1</a><span style="color: #4c1130;"> (1979)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx5tSmOY_iM" target="_blank">Part 2</a><span style="color: #4c1130;"> (2010)</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-90720980917572298212013-03-20T11:55:00.000-07:002013-03-20T12:05:26.348-07:00AT&T Unblocked<span style="color: #0c343d;">My friend Mark Gibbs took pity -- he's had his <i>Forbes</i> nodes blocked too. (If you don't read Gibbs's stuff, you should. He's funny and sharp and has been in the industry a very long time. Find him at <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/Home/mgibbs.html" target="_blank">Network World</a>, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/markgibbs/"><span id="goog_676355336"></span>Forbes<span id="goog_676355337"></span></a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/quistuipater" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.) </span><span style="color: #0c343d;"> </span><span style="color: #0c343d;"> Mark hooked me up with an internal AT&T contact.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljZa7NE87rAbxGswZlD3oxQ508xx1P8GlufpHvA0-POea4jwDvDnpBJaCMo6M5Nc5-MtFDPk3YhSo94tXkCbkNY829JN662ZQnLY4dOqWIs_ljo0t6iahXBXEGTnKUoWejAMmAlKnE-E/s1600/blockhead-happy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljZa7NE87rAbxGswZlD3oxQ508xx1P8GlufpHvA0-POea4jwDvDnpBJaCMo6M5Nc5-MtFDPk3YhSo94tXkCbkNY829JN662ZQnLY4dOqWIs_ljo0t6iahXBXEGTnKUoWejAMmAlKnE-E/s1600/blockhead-happy.png" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d;">Mark's contact forward the inquiry to a Mr. G. who works as Associate Director for Customer Appeals, AT&T Office of the President. After receiving a detailed synopsis, Mr. G. looked into it and replied the same working day (!):</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Mr.
Geiger:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What
I have learned is whenever someone comes across a situation where their IP has
been blocked then you should receive a message basically stating “The website
you are trying to reach is hosted on a server that has been compromised and was
involved in malicious activity. AT&T has blocked the IP address on our
network”. I am not sure what type of message you received, but the
easiest way to address this in the future is by calling our U-verse Care center
who is equipped to assist you with this matter. Their number is
1-800-288-2020 and if needed they can engage extra support to handle this type
of issue. We do also have directions on how to identify the vulnerability so
you as the hosting provider can contact <a href="mailto:noc@att.net">noc@att.net</a> and specify the IP address being
blocked for instructions on how to remove the vulnerability and get the block
lifted. Please let me know if this addresses your concern and should you
have any additional questions please let me know. Thank you!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;">Thank you too, Mr G, for a prompt response! Points to the AT&T and the U-verse team.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;">Alas, no message as noted above appeared. What triggered the block and what the trigger thresholds are remain unclear. <i>Why </i>is perfectly understandable: so baddies cannot circumvent them. Perhaps it was a glitch in the attack detection software? This block is the first seen in nearly five years of solid and reliable U-verse service and three years of using <a href="http://hostmonster.com/" target="_blank">HostMonster</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">The workaround is to have a small script monitor hosts and raise an alarm should they suddenly become unpingable via AT&T's network.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0c343d;">Many thank to Mark, too. I owe you lunch. We gotta go to that <a href="http://www.familiadiazrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">place I keep telling you about in Santa Paula</a>.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-67946213917558250762013-03-14T15:31:00.000-07:002013-03-20T12:07:10.107-07:00AT&T Blockheads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljnGY2oTIBn6BAvqe8uQ4H7eo1byUzUwqj5aptU2fKuGWLmB_4qNECl6akuZvQWgjy5kZe5onH7PSfWhSwE7sizZJ1bZTnNAdJQZn_5PGX3PpppzElAHxE7KeqozGwlYcgKMMvfu11Is/s1600/blockhead.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljnGY2oTIBn6BAvqe8uQ4H7eo1byUzUwqj5aptU2fKuGWLmB_4qNECl6akuZvQWgjy5kZe5onH7PSfWhSwE7sizZJ1bZTnNAdJQZn_5PGX3PpppzElAHxE7KeqozGwlYcgKMMvfu11Is/s1600/blockhead.png" /></a></div>
Yesterday about 2pm Wednesday 13 March, part of the Internet mysteriously stopped working. Connections through U-verse to a machine at <a href="http://www.hostmonster.com/" target="_blank">HostMonster</a> in Utah simply didn't connect.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Naturally this happened when integrating and testing a demo slated for 9am Thursday.</span><br />
<br />
Connect drops at first were intermittent, which adds extra fun to setting up POP3 services. Eventually, the link went down hard.<br />
<br />
Computers running over a VPN connection, however, continued to talk with the target host just fine. What was going on?<br />
<br />
S- in AT&T's India service center had no idea. After 20 minutes of Quality Chat Time, he passed along the number to AT&T ConnectTech (866-393-7577, 8am-11pm Central Time).<br />
<br />
The U-verse Residential Gateway wasn't the problem. Resetting it -- and later rebooting it -- fixed nothing.<br />
<br />
Pinging about a bit, it was clear that hosts one IP address lower (<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">*.*.*.175</span>) and one IP address higher (<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">*.*.*.177</span>) were responsive. Hmmm, what does <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">traceroute</span> say?<br />
<br />
Using the vanilla U-verse connection, AT&T appears to have blocked the host somewhere in their network:<br />
<pre></pre>
<pre>...
6 * * *
7 12.83.38.129 (12.83.38.129) 42.938 ms 44.590 ms 30.206 ms
8 ded3-g4-3-0.sfldmi.ameritech.net (151.164.40.106) 83.389 ms 79.699 ms 82.885 ms
9 * * *
10 * * *
11 * * *
...
</pre>
<pre></pre>
<pre></pre>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">traceroute</span> reports that other HostMonster machines are reachable, and the program finds the vanished host through the VPN as well. A chat session with the good folks in Provo, Utah, confirms:<br />
<br />
<pre>(7:46:43am)Christopher H.: Okay. We are aware of a block from AT&T to our servers. We have requested them to unblock us and we are currently waiting for their reply.
</pre>
<pre></pre>
<pre></pre>
Fixed. In three minutes the host became reachable intermittently and fully within an hour or so as the blocks within AT&T's network cleared.<br />
<br />
Yet, what about other U-verse customers?<br />
<br />
To recap: <span style="color: #660000;">AT&T blocked a host and didn't tell anyone.</span> It wasn't on their service website and the call center had no idea. When alerted to the block, the cloud service/hosting provider knew immediately what to do. Thank goodness for competent people here in the U.S. of A.<br />
<br />
So without any consumers knowing or being able to find out, an entire suite of sites disappeared for all AT&T customers. Vanished. Gone. Businesses, private parties, charities -- the one machine hosts dozens and dozens of 'em -- ceased to exist for a day as far as any U-verse user could tell. Those people have no recourse to recover opportunity losses, missed ad clicks, lost Girl Scout Cookie sales, etc.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;">How is that fair? </span> And when would service have returned if one particular customer hadn't dogged them for a solution?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NNZRUWr_UWI3ZpjEZvfl6kPL3sUOGGlG9keWSTD4q2-bjlXuQBkTbugS5qcpmIDqaoYdkc0ijmPQT5e50VbPaiGTddMLyxlEUlo4EO2sEmV3rXmAxI0LP5QYA6YVywNct6aexg6qYqI/s1600/screen-treat.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NNZRUWr_UWI3ZpjEZvfl6kPL3sUOGGlG9keWSTD4q2-bjlXuQBkTbugS5qcpmIDqaoYdkc0ijmPQT5e50VbPaiGTddMLyxlEUlo4EO2sEmV3rXmAxI0LP5QYA6YVywNct6aexg6qYqI/s200/screen-treat.png" width="200" /></a></div>
To be extra clear, the software being demo'd is a triage tracking system. Fire fighters and rescue workers use it as a centralized coordination point to manage mass casualty incidents (MCIs) like bus rollovers, train and airliner crashes, or building collapses in earthquakes.<br />
<br />
You may hurt people, AT&T. Let's hope not.<br />
<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-49550131884477421352013-01-23T20:08:00.000-08:002013-01-23T20:08:41.937-08:00AT&T U-verse Suffers Major Outage<p>News reports indicate that AT&T has suffered an outage affecting 1% of customers in Florida and fourteen other states.</p>
<p>AT&T's website has only scant information.</p>
<p>Of course, it's impossible to <i>see</i> that page if you're trying to get to it via U-verse. Ah well.</p>
<p>It's working fine here in eastern Ventura County, California.</p>
<p>Be interesting to know what was the cause of such a wide-spread failure.</p>
<p>News coverage:</p>
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/att-u-verse-outage-continues-for-third-day/nT453/">U-verse outage affecting 1 percent of customers</a> (23 Jan 2013) </li>
<li> <a href="http://www.fiercecable.com/story/att-blames-major-u-verse-outage-issue-server/2013-01-22">AT&T blames U-verse outage on 'issue with server'</a> (22 Jan 2013)</li>
</ul>
Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-42914336292700428512012-12-01T16:26:00.000-08:002012-12-02T07:57:59.235-08:00Torrents: the new TiVo<span style="color: #20124d;">Dear CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, et alii:</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.transmissionbt.com/" target="_blank" title="Get Transmission Bittorrent software"><img align="right" border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddWlzBiQRaBy2jzfTxMXbNHzPvnO4PKGU38WzW95wxym8-IiKE10USEQUlisONnYwYr5zn5gR3_jq2-XBP1Ao1AMKsN8QeZ_JupHb0qqLgdgRKskRejPqoQEUsPGL7lgzNIKr8Nw3GYw/s1600/transmission-bt.jpg" width="125" /></a><span style="color: #20124d;">
Please put out your shows as torrents.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">We know you have contractual obligations with cable providers, iTunes, NetFlix, Hulu, and others. Hang on for a minute and hear us out.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Torrents are the new TiVo. More importantly, torrents are the new TiVo with a near-ZERO distribution cost. Once seeded, your shows reside on 1000s of your <i>customers</i> machines. You need never build a delivery service nor ever buy bandwidth. No Amazon S3 cloud which died repeatedly, <a href="http://techblog.netflix.com/2011_04_01_archive.html" target="_blank">taking out Netflix</a>. No <a href="http://oceanstore.cs.berkeley.edu/publications/papers/pdf/dtree_iptps.pdf" target="_blank">global data center placement hassles</a> or <a href="http://gigaom.com/2011/08/08/akamai-dns-issue/" target="_blank">edge location services like Akamai</a>. No software "apps"; they're built. Shows flow from you to consumer, world-wide, for free.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Your Nielsen nerds can track who downloads and how many times so you know which programs and episodes start and stay popular. We know you read torrent tracker data; put it to work. Use it to sell commercials.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span><span style="color: #20124d;">And we <i>will</i> watch the commercials. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">We promise. Shows' writers <i>pace scripts</i> around <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5005201_write-tv-commercial.html" target="_blank">commercials</a>. We <i>need</i> those advertisements to (a) give our minds a pause from the subtleties of "Real Beverly Hills Housewives" and (b) make sense of consumer society. Without commercials, we lose track of when the <a href="http://www.taquitos.net/snack_guide/Doritos" target="_blank">latest Doritos flavor becomes available</a> or </span><span style="color: #20124d;">which movies to enqueue or what latest neato <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYhqEx7WGp4" target="_blank">iThingy to feel smug about iNstalling</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">In truth, we need the commercial breaks to go get more Doritos.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2012/11/chuck-lorre-bachelor-slams-vanity-card" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcjeF7sl6Ov0Tv7slDJBu6eO2SwPtjVC1o0FR3yuE76FzFxnft6zGvMh8XVflHYC7oJgl8jSGUJ5kKZKDoh_FIcht4BfaT8-pIADBqdtfafN8a02x8e1P5uNq-2EfKUBAuRiW8vSVDXs/s200/chuck-lorre.jpg" title=""Chuck Lorre slams 'The Bachelor'" at radaronline.com" width="100" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Torrent your product. We watch, you profit. Then you go make more episodes of "Two and a Half Men" or whatever else <a href="http://www.chucklorre.com/" target="_blank">Chuck Lorre poops onto paper this week</a>. You know we will watch anything, anywhere, anytime. It's doomed to happen. Make it so.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;">:Couch Nerds of America</span>Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-45242392690725948022011-12-15T19:13:00.000-08:002011-12-15T23:54:01.305-08:00Out of frying pans, into fires<span style="color: darkgreen;">Fox Business news reports that <a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2011/12/12/report-verizon-mulling-netflix-buy/" target="_blank">Verizon may be interested in purchasing Netflix</a>.Verizon also announced plans to <a href="http://www.bgr.com/2011/12/02/verizon-wireless-acquires-spectrum-from-comcast-others-for-3-6-billion/" target="_blank">buy wireless spectrum from ComCast, TimeWarner, and Brighthouse</a>.<br />
<br />
CATV is no longer where it's at. Virgin Media admitted they earn more from their Internet services than from TV in <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/16/virgin_filiing_to_sec/" target="_blank">an SEC filing</a>. Naturally: they pay content licenses to supply that service. Content cost is pushed onto the consumer, who's licensing directly from studios or indirectly from Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, or whomever.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: darkgreen;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSytNTuWm_PWAqIYYtOGcD0HhU8a1Pw3JT_AZgIQC3EPlTS9mMf7WjvNTbVmHzx2Mv7DZ63R0gFFWDlikBbORh2ItwZXi1jO9jR3E3mLWhHsyxRSChkraDcCwWek7uLbas5soXnW8kQk/s1600/Pan-Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSytNTuWm_PWAqIYYtOGcD0HhU8a1Pw3JT_AZgIQC3EPlTS9mMf7WjvNTbVmHzx2Mv7DZ63R0gFFWDlikBbORh2ItwZXi1jO9jR3E3mLWhHsyxRSChkraDcCwWek7uLbas5soXnW8kQk/s1600/Pan-Fire.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: darkgreen;">
More consumers are watching shows on <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/12/streaming-video-on-game-consoles-grows-on-xbox-ps3-wii-says-nielsen.html" target="_blank">gaming consoles and other appliances</a>. Sony is thinking about <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204323904577040433936477866.html" target="_blank">starting its own TV content service</a>. Given <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gamification/sony-security-hole-exposes-another-246-million-accounts/361" target="_blank">the break-ins on Sony's Playstation Network</a>, they may wish to harden their systems first.<br />
<br />
Interesting times.<br />
<br />
What will AT&T be doing? Probably sending yet another "Please buy our U-verse TV" letter.<br />
</span>Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-38459723324638662952011-10-22T12:28:00.000-07:002011-10-22T12:28:09.931-07:00Thank you, NBCThank you NBC for streaming <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">USC</span> v. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Notre Dame</span> today.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="none" height="200" src="http://msw.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/usc-trojan-head.gif" wdith="160" /><img border="none" height="143" src="http://www.freewebs.com/cregan32/Notre_Dame_Leprechaun.gif" width="160" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
We will watch just about any grade video and even the same crummy ad that airs one hundred eighty-five times per game (can't NBC sell ad time to more than one company?) in order to see this game. That NBC streams High-Definition video is just flat excellent.<br />
<br />
What's interesting: the costly $60 month television package from U-verse. AT&T is trying to be a cable television company, selling bundles of channels, at a flat rate. It's just like the record companies selling entire albums for $16-$20 when the customer really wanted one or two songs, then wondering why file sharing destroyed their market.<br />
<br />
We don't really want a business relationship with a cable TV provider, or, for that matter, a TV channel. We want to watch The Game, see The Movie or The Show, or hear The Music. U-verse is a means to an end. The fewer companies between the consumer and the consumed, the better.<br />
<br />
NBC gets it. At least for now.<br />
<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-89321574374011496022011-10-10T09:59:00.000-07:002011-10-10T12:14:27.938-07:00Netflix Nixes QwiksterWhat's going on, Netflix? Three weeks almost to the day later, and perhaps after Reed Hastings smoked a different bowl, Netflix nixes Qwikster:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBgH-3oJGvdCL6mJhyGOnOz96S4tmyFtZgScXfT_W-wLT9ICJFfMqXQe4wAgbSMmTXdThx3fvOenSbFU9nXK_TFmQqARvEG8Y77fl62wbkLfkfa7DW17VwvyAhWVW-_lXg7tskY88v4U/s1600/netflix-nixes-quickster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBgH-3oJGvdCL6mJhyGOnOz96S4tmyFtZgScXfT_W-wLT9ICJFfMqXQe4wAgbSMmTXdThx3fvOenSbFU9nXK_TFmQqARvEG8Y77fl62wbkLfkfa7DW17VwvyAhWVW-_lXg7tskY88v4U/s320/netflix-nixes-quickster.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Weirdly, Netflix didn't begin its backtrack with "I messed up," the preferred language for an <i>apologia</i> at the company (<a href="http://blog.netflix.com/2011/09/explanation-and-some-reflections.html" title="Reed messes up">a</a>, <a href="http://blog.netflix.com/2011_09_01_archive.html" title="Jason messes up">b</a>, <a href="http://blog.netflix.com/2011/09/hey-who-took-those-titles-from-my.html" title="Brent messes up">c</a>). And no long-winded, rambling explanation, either. The message is signed "The Netflix Team", although the<a href="http://blog.netflix.com/2011_10_10_archive.html"> official blog post</a> is singly signed "Reed".<br />
<br />
This move comes after a weekend of intermittent downtime:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMA2u9mVISmpIN2WeAY1cnRJ-6NyI3ZNXKwWuyLTS4Zvr95PHthetT8rLMdCNAuudF6fV2Z461_WfaNCOD9PgOv9IoXoub8Bn5IOnhmIYEzHJXs8tFrqsr-roY7h3cwfivdl3vkj0dlc/s1600/netflikx-down-sat-eve-9pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMA2u9mVISmpIN2WeAY1cnRJ-6NyI3ZNXKwWuyLTS4Zvr95PHthetT8rLMdCNAuudF6fV2Z461_WfaNCOD9PgOv9IoXoub8Bn5IOnhmIYEzHJXs8tFrqsr-roY7h3cwfivdl3vkj0dlc/s400/netflikx-down-sat-eve-9pm.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The we-are-betting-the-company-on-it streaming service becomes unavailable at 9pm Saturday night?<br />
<br />
At this point, investors should be wondering who on the Netflix board "messed up" by keeping these guys around.<br />
<br />
What's going on, Netflix?
<br />
<br />
<hr width="50%" />
<br />
Update: a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203499704576622674082410578.html" target="_blank" title="Netflix Nixes Qwikster - Wall Street Journal">detail article</a> from <i>The Wall Street Journal</i> at 1:40 EDT / 10:40 PDT.
<br />
<br />Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-84914886898981504282011-09-19T06:34:00.000-07:002011-09-19T11:05:33.870-07:00Netflix Meiosis<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Reed Hastings emailed a <i>mea culpa</i> about how Netflix handled last July's price changes that lost <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904060604576572322651549428.html" target="_blank">a million customers</a>. He used the message further to announce Netflix will divide itself into a DVD service, Qwikster, and a streaming service, Netflix.<br />
<br />
A great move for Netflix's cost structure, but customers lose one key service: the integration between disk and online queues. Having a movie show up in either queue is extremely helpful. Now queues require separate management. The joy of suddenly discovering a buried disk has become available on Watch Instantly is gone, too.<br />
<br />
Not good, Mr. Hastings.<br />
<br />
HD streaming works poorly due to Silverlight's janky integration. Streaming videos have been hanging, off and on, on the LG Blu-Ray player. And many of the transfers to the streaming service are, to put it mildly, crude. Black and white movies are often so compressed they're unwatchable (Murnau's <i><a href="http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Nosferatu_Original_Version/812752">Nosferatu</a></i>, for example).<br />
<br />
Could it get worse? Well, the new service's name, Qwikster, sounds like <a href="http://techland.time.com/2011/09/19/qwikster-not-to-be-confused-with-quixtar-quickstar-kwikster-quickster-kwik-star-quik-star-or-kickstar/">Amway's multi-level marketing scam Quixtar</a>. Customers are unamused:
<ul>
<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/240211/netflix_splits_in_two_adds_video_games_upsets_users_further.html" target="_blank">Upsets Users Further</a> - PC World<br />
<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/19/scitech/main20108168.shtml" target="_blank">"Quickstupid"</a> - CBS News<br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904106704576579903892361530.html?mod=googlenews_wsj" target="_blank">Comments at WSJ's article site</a> - Wall Street Journal (may require subscription)<br />
</ul>
Ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for Reed.<br />
<br />
</span>
<hr width="50%"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Reed Hastings, Co-Founder and CEO of Netflix
[mailto:info@netflix.com] <br />
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 19, 2011 12:04 AM<br /><b></b>
<b>Subject:</b> An Explanation and Some Reflections<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Karl,<br />
<br />
I messed up. I owe you an explanation.<br />
<br />
It is clear from the feedback over the past two months that many members
felt we lacked respect and humility in the way we announced the
separation of DVD and streaming and the price changes. That was certainly
not our intent, and I offer my sincere apology. Let me explain what we
are doing.<br />
<br />
For the past five years, my greatest fear at Netflix has been that we
wouldn't make the leap from success in DVDs to success in streaming. Most
companies that are great at something – like AOL dialup or Borders
bookstores – do not become great at new things people want (streaming for
us). So we moved quickly into streaming, but I should have personally
given you a full explanation of why we are splitting the services and
thereby increasing prices. It wouldn’t have changed the price increase,
but it would have been the right thing to do.<br />
<br />
So here is what we are doing and why.<br />
<br />
Many members love our DVD service, as I do, because nearly every movie
ever made is published on DVD. DVD is a great option for those who want
the huge and comprehensive selection of movies.<br />
<br />
I also love our streaming service because it is integrated into my TV,
and I can watch anytime I want. The benefits of our streaming service are
really quite different from the benefits of DVD by mail. We need to focus
on rapid improvement as streaming technology and the market evolves,
without maintaining compatibility with our DVD by mail service.<br />
<br />
So we realized that streaming and DVD by mail are really becoming two
different businesses, with very different cost structures, that need to
be marketed differently, and we need to let each grow and operate
independently.<br />
<br />
It’s hard to write this after over 10 years of mailing DVDs with pride,
but we think it is necessary: In a few weeks, we will rename our DVD by
mail service to “Qwikster”. We chose the name Qwikster because it refers
to quick delivery. We will keep the name “Netflix” for streaming.<br />
<br />
Qwikster will be the same website and DVD service that everyone is used
to. It is just a new name, and DVD members will go to qwikster.com to
access their DVD queues and choose movies. One improvement we will make
at launch is to add a video games upgrade option, similar to our upgrade
option for Blu-ray, for those who want to rent Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360
games. Members have been asking for video games for many years, but now
that DVD by mail has its own team, we are finally getting it done. Other
improvements will follow. A negative of the renaming and separation is
that the Qwikster.com and Netflix.com websites will not be integrated.<br />
<br />
There are no pricing changes (we’re done with that!). If you subscribe to
both services you will have two entries on your credit card statement,
one for Qwikster and one for Netflix. The total will be the same as your
current charges. We will let you know in a few weeks when the
Qwikster.com website is up and ready.<br />
<br />
For me the Netflix red envelope has always been a source of joy. The new
envelope is still that lovely red, but now it will have a Qwikster logo.
I know that logo will grow on me over time, but still, it is hard. I
imagine it will be similar for many of you.<br />
<br />
I want to acknowledge and thank you for sticking with us, and to
apologize again to those members, both current and former, who felt we
treated them thoughtlessly.<br />
<br />
Both the Qwikster and Netflix teams will work hard to regain your trust.
We know it will not be overnight. Actions speak louder than words. But
words help people to understand actions.<br />
<br />
Respectfully yours,<br />
<br />
-Reed Hastings, Co-Founder and CEO, Netflix<br />
<br />
p.s. I have a slightly longer explanation along with a video posted on <a href="http://blog.netflix.com/2011/09/explanation-and-some-reflections.html?lnktrk=EMP&g=C68C7E446D37152D71038E310CB991B20AC0315E&lkid=netflixBlog">our
blog</a>, where you can also post comments.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-12508970246737064312011-09-17T15:00:00.000-07:002011-09-17T15:28:00.111-07:00How's that Bandwidth Cap Workin' Out for Ya?<span style="color: #351c75;">The <a href="http://alternate-u-verse.blogspot.com/2011/05/tools-to-track-at-gateway-usage.html">little data collection tool</a></span><span style="color: #351c75;"> has been up and running since last Spring. Have we approached our bandwidth "cap" yet?<br />
<br />
Nope. Not even close.<br />
<br />
Over all, after three months of continuous use since June, including seeing all four seasons (52 hours) of <a href="http://www.amctv.com/shows/mad-men"><i>Mad Men</i></a> and having the data-happy kids home, total consumption is just now bumping up against AT&T's 250GB monthly limit. Total bytes consumed after three months: 232,538,256,086. That's in line with the earlier estimates of about 70-80GB/month from last Spring.<br />
<br />
The modem's data counts were reset June 15, which explains the funky numbers there (the daily usage algorithm computes the difference between samples, then sums). Errors rates edged up, especially in mid-July, but nothing visible to the users.<br />
<br />
If AT&T offered roll-over gigabytes, I'd take 'em. Too bad they cannot be resold.<br />
<br />
Time to Skype the kid in Edinburgh.</span><br />
<br />
<pre>
+------------+-----------+-------------+---------+----------+------+
| Day | Sent/Recv | Bytes | GB | Packets | Errs |
+------------+-----------+-------------+---------+----------+------+
| 2011-04-14 | Receive | 471170071 | 0.4712 | 1248297 | 0 |
| 2011-04-14 | Transmit | 261420116 | 0.2614 | 564405 | 0 |
| 2011-04-14 | Total | 732590187 | 0.7326 | 1812702 | 0 |
| 2011-04-15 | Receive | 770363944 | 0.7704 | 1006855 | 0 |
| 2011-04-15 | Transmit | 71026822 | 0.0710 | 520748 | 0 |
| 2011-04-15 | Total | 841390766 | 0.8414 | 1527603 | 0 |
| 2011-04-16 | Receive | 609502238 | 0.6095 | 722370 | 1 |
| 2011-04-16 | Transmit | 57294972 | 0.0573 | 361775 | 0 |
| 2011-04-16 | Total | 666797210 | 0.6668 | 1084145 | 1 |
| 2011-04-17 | Receive | 318645844 | 0.3186 | 291616 | 2 |
| 2011-04-17 | Transmit | 39332970 | 0.0393 | 175203 | 0 |
| 2011-04-17 | Total | 357978814 | 0.3580 | 466819 | 2 |
| 2011-04-18 | Receive | 299281224 | 0.2993 | 666078 | 0 |
| 2011-04-18 | Transmit | 58786871 | 0.0588 | 353637 | 0 |
| 2011-04-18 | Total | 358068095 | 0.3581 | 1019715 | 0 |
| 2011-04-19 | Receive | 886435986 | 0.8864 | 1560230 | 0 |
| 2011-04-19 | Transmit | 711104440 | 0.7111 | 994422 | 0 |
| 2011-04-19 | Total | 1597540426 | 1.5975 | 2554652 | 0 |
| 2011-04-20 | Receive | 699685659 | 0.6997 | 637560 | 0 |
| 2011-04-20 | Transmit | 56879398 | 0.0569 | 337293 | 0 |
| 2011-04-20 | Total | 756565057 | 0.7566 | 974853 | 0 |
| 2011-04-21 | Receive | 455349013 | 0.4553 | 602567 | 1 |
| 2011-04-21 | Transmit | 86789917 | 0.0868 | 324296 | 0 |
| 2011-04-21 | Total | 542138930 | 0.5421 | 926863 | 1 |
| 2011-04-22 | Receive | 440903082 | 0.4409 | 770886 | 0 |
| 2011-04-22 | Transmit | 61319206 | 0.0613 | 396483 | 0 |
| 2011-04-22 | Total | 502222288 | 0.5022 | 1167369 | 0 |
| 2011-04-23 | Receive | 128387865 | 0.1284 | 202243 | 0 |
| 2011-04-23 | Transmit | 32450548 | 0.0325 | 115669 | 0 |
| 2011-04-23 | Total | 160838413 | 0.1608 | 317912 | 0 |
| 2011-04-24 | Receive | 357397478 | 0.3574 | 391484 | 0 |
| 2011-04-24 | Transmit | 45117822 | 0.0451 | 224438 | 0 |
| 2011-04-24 | Total | 402515300 | 0.4025 | 615922 | 0 |
| 2011-04-25 | Receive | 460476990 | 0.4605 | 508043 | 0 |
| 2011-04-25 | Transmit | 64078588 | 0.0641 | 302462 | 0 |
| 2011-04-25 | Total | 524555578 | 0.5246 | 810505 | 0 |
| 2011-04-26 | Receive | 868455813 | 0.8685 | 910591 | 0 |
| 2011-04-26 | Transmit | 74527520 | 0.0745 | 460094 | 0 |
| 2011-04-26 | Total | 942983333 | 0.9430 | 1370685 | 0 |
| 2011-04-27 | Receive | 286835580 | 0.2868 | 348551 | 0 |
| 2011-04-27 | Transmit | 48691431 | 0.0487 | 206843 | 0 |
| 2011-04-27 | Total | 335527011 | 0.3355 | 555394 | 0 |
| 2011-04-28 | Receive | 759490405 | 0.7595 | 771587 | 0 |
| 2011-04-28 | Transmit | 64131207 | 0.0641 | 390037 | 0 |
| 2011-04-28 | Total | 823621612 | 0.8236 | 1161624 | 0 |
| 2011-04-29 | Receive | 1855420924 | 1.8554 | 2576866 | 1 |
| 2011-04-29 | Transmit | 417368072 | 0.4174 | 1150840 | 0 |
| 2011-04-29 | Total | 2272788996 | 2.2728 | 3727706 | 1 |
| 2011-04-30 | Receive | 2854764859 | 2.8548 | 2329114 | 0 |
| 2011-04-30 | Transmit | 140898052 | 0.1409 | 1331942 | 0 |
| 2011-04-30 | Total | 2995662911 | 2.9957 | 3661056 | 0 |
| 2011-05-01 | Receive | 583554982 | 0.5836 | 646801 | 0 |
| 2011-05-01 | Transmit | 47077335 | 0.0471 | 293666 | 0 |
| 2011-05-01 | Total | 630632317 | 0.6306 | 940467 | 0 |
| 2011-05-02 | Receive | 466536624 | 0.4665 | 662741 | 1 |
| 2011-05-02 | Transmit | 66079056 | 0.0661 | 387335 | 0 |
| 2011-05-02 | Total | 532615680 | 0.5326 | 1050076 | 1 |
| 2011-05-03 | Receive | 378680686 | 0.3787 | 569635 | 0 |
| 2011-05-03 | Transmit | 63654531 | 0.0637 | 351607 | 0 |
| 2011-05-03 | Total | 442335217 | 0.4423 | 921242 | 0 |
| 2011-05-04 | Receive | 1592164459 | 1.5922 | 1320459 | 0 |
| 2011-05-04 | Transmit | 83777493 | 0.0838 | 730119 | 0 |
| 2011-05-04 | Total | 1675941952 | 1.6759 | 2050578 | 0 |
| 2011-05-05 | Receive | 396790572 | 0.3968 | 546411 | 0 |
| 2011-05-05 | Transmit | 49274151 | 0.0493 | 296962 | 0 |
| 2011-05-05 | Total | 446064723 | 0.4461 | 843373 | 0 |
| 2011-05-06 | Receive | 1434557508 | 1.4346 | 1295653 | 0 |
| 2011-05-06 | Transmit | 101443496 | 0.1014 | 732327 | 0 |
| 2011-05-06 | Total | 1536001004 | 1.5360 | 2027980 | 0 |
| 2011-05-07 | Receive | 282229840 | 0.2822 | 406471 | 0 |
| 2011-05-07 | Transmit | 41005616 | 0.0410 | 235368 | 0 |
| 2011-05-07 | Total | 323235456 | 0.3232 | 641839 | 0 |
| 2011-05-08 | Receive | 361199286 | 0.3612 | 619845 | 1 |
| 2011-05-08 | Transmit | 62766368 | 0.0628 | 344972 | 0 |
| 2011-05-08 | Total | 423965654 | 0.4240 | 964817 | 1 |
| 2011-05-09 | Receive | 341532108 | 0.3415 | 635683 | 1 |
| 2011-05-09 | Transmit | 73219745 | 0.0732 | 341123 | 0 |
| 2011-05-09 | Total | 414751853 | 0.4148 | 976806 | 1 |
| 2011-05-10 | Receive | 432701189 | 0.4327 | 717430 | 0 |
| 2011-05-10 | Transmit | 72765336 | 0.0728 | 407560 | 0 |
| 2011-05-10 | Total | 505466525 | 0.5055 | 1124990 | 0 |
| 2011-05-11 | Receive | 845331724 | 0.8453 | 1061510 | 0 |
| 2011-05-11 | Transmit | 81638180 | 0.0816 | 546953 | 0 |
| 2011-05-11 | Total | 926969904 | 0.9270 | 1608463 | 0 |
| 2011-05-12 | Receive | 560908774 | 0.5609 | 801810 | 0 |
| 2011-05-12 | Transmit | 63134964 | 0.0631 | 408543 | 0 |
| 2011-05-12 | Total | 624043738 | 0.6240 | 1210353 | 0 |
| 2011-05-13 | Receive | 546820346 | 0.5468 | 643467 | 0 |
| 2011-05-13 | Transmit | 54640805 | 0.0546 | 355298 | 0 |
| 2011-05-13 | Total | 601461151 | 0.6015 | 998765 | 0 |
| 2011-05-14 | Receive | 149149633 | 0.1491 | 101316 | 0 |
| 2011-05-14 | Transmit | 22674813 | 0.0227 | 62761 | 0 |
| 2011-05-14 | Total | 171824446 | 0.1718 | 164077 | 0 |
| 2011-05-15 | Receive | 93382326 | 0.0934 | 201339 | 1 |
| 2011-05-15 | Transmit | 64047076 | 0.0640 | 141985 | 0 |
| 2011-05-15 | Total | 157429402 | 0.1574 | 343324 | 1 |
| 2011-05-16 | Receive | 2379626549 | 2.3796 | 2210588 | 0 |
| 2011-05-16 | Transmit | 144663032 | 0.1447 | 1176819 | 0 |
| 2011-05-16 | Total | 2524289581 | 2.5243 | 3387407 | 0 |
| 2011-05-17 | Receive | 673030053 | 0.6730 | 1706669 | 0 |
| 2011-05-17 | Transmit | 350926239 | 0.3509 | 764458 | 0 |
| 2011-05-17 | Total | 1023956292 | 1.0240 | 2471127 | 0 |
| 2011-05-18 | Receive | 2032934178 | 2.0329 | 2469678 | 1 |
| 2011-05-18 | Transmit | 189400169 | 0.1894 | 1541877 | 0 |
| 2011-05-18 | Total | 2222334347 | 2.2223 | 4011555 | 1 |
| 2011-05-19 | Receive | 4104686610 | 4.1047 | 3324064 | 1 |
| 2011-05-19 | Transmit | 175923287 | 0.1759 | 1808105 | 0 |
| 2011-05-19 | Total | 4280609897 | 4.2806 | 5132169 | 1 |
| 2011-05-20 | Receive | 1450063962 | 1.4501 | 1305519 | 0 |
| 2011-05-20 | Transmit | 97461276 | 0.0975 | 689472 | 0 |
| 2011-05-20 | Total | 1547525238 | 1.5475 | 1994991 | 0 |
| 2011-05-21 | Receive | 1414399265 | 1.4144 | 1320779 | 0 |
| 2011-05-21 | Transmit | 90965248 | 0.0910 | 690815 | 0 |
| 2011-05-21 | Total | 1505364513 | 1.5054 | 2011594 | 0 |
| 2011-05-22 | Receive | 4780218166 | 4.7802 | 3665725 | 1 |
| 2011-05-22 | Transmit | 202910155 | 0.2029 | 2138268 | 1 |
| 2011-05-22 | Total | 4983128321 | 4.9831 | 5803993 | 2 |
| 2011-05-23 | Receive | 976935372 | 0.9769 | 983515 | 1 |
| 2011-05-23 | Transmit | 82334527 | 0.0823 | 536075 | 0 |
| 2011-05-23 | Total | 1059269899 | 1.0593 | 1519590 | 1 |
| 2011-05-24 | Receive | 2637804453 | 2.6378 | 2632852 | 1 |
| 2011-05-24 | Transmit | 221401402 | 0.2214 | 1721072 | 0 |
| 2011-05-24 | Total | 2859205855 | 2.8592 | 4353924 | 1 |
| 2011-05-25 | Receive | 891655984 | 0.8917 | 963312 | 0 |
| 2011-05-25 | Transmit | 89785313 | 0.0898 | 559208 | 0 |
| 2011-05-25 | Total | 981441297 | 0.9814 | 1522520 | 0 |
| 2011-05-26 | Receive | 2216154272 | 2.2162 | 1758582 | 1 |
| 2011-05-26 | Transmit | 92903364 | 0.0929 | 855350 | 0 |
| 2011-05-26 | Total | 2309057636 | 2.3091 | 2613932 | 1 |
| 2011-05-27 | Receive | 4075890763 | 4.0759 | 3212220 | 0 |
| 2011-05-27 | Transmit | 198678032 | 0.1987 | 1989356 | 0 |
| 2011-05-27 | Total | 4274568795 | 4.2746 | 5201576 | 0 |
| 2011-05-28 | Receive | 2343819157 | 2.3438 | 1965761 | 0 |
| 2011-05-28 | Transmit | 132977014 | 0.1330 | 1096609 | 0 |
| 2011-05-28 | Total | 2476796171 | 2.4768 | 3062370 | 0 |
| 2011-05-29 | Receive | 2314403635 | 2.3144 | 2509887 | 3 |
| 2011-05-29 | Transmit | 331383134 | 0.3314 | 1216661 | 0 |
| 2011-05-29 | Total | 2645786769 | 2.6458 | 3726548 | 3 |
| 2011-05-30 | Receive | 6322985993 | 6.3230 | 5131655 | 1 |
| 2011-05-30 | Transmit | 415216398 | 0.4152 | 2896723 | 0 |
| 2011-05-30 | Total | 6738202391 | 6.7382 | 8028378 | 1 |
| 2011-05-31 | Receive | 725025552 | 0.7250 | 1326666 | 0 |
| 2011-05-31 | Transmit | 152411272 | 0.1524 | 857189 | 0 |
| 2011-05-31 | Total | 877436824 | 0.8774 | 2183855 | 0 |
| 2011-06-01 | Receive | 594546924 | 0.5945 | 742196 | 0 |
| 2011-06-01 | Transmit | 68555369 | 0.0686 | 426392 | 0 |
| 2011-06-01 | Total | 663102293 | 0.6631 | 1168588 | 0 |
| 2011-06-02 | Receive | 2469528472 | 2.4695 | 2940411 | 2 |
| 2011-06-02 | Transmit | 352639658 | 0.3526 | 1338015 | 0 |
| 2011-06-02 | Total | 2822168130 | 2.8222 | 4278426 | 2 |
| 2011-06-03 | Receive | 5974894368 | 5.9749 | 5013740 | 0 |
| 2011-06-03 | Transmit | 420068493 | 0.4201 | 2785938 | 0 |
| 2011-06-03 | Total | 6394962861 | 6.3950 | 7799678 | 0 |
| 2011-06-04 | Receive | 155373333 | 0.1554 | 302439 | 0 |
| 2011-06-04 | Transmit | 42884151 | 0.0429 | 161493 | 0 |
| 2011-06-04 | Total | 198257484 | 0.1983 | 463932 | 0 |
| 2011-06-05 | Receive | 660211496 | 0.6602 | 1740578 | 0 |
| 2011-06-05 | Transmit | 321523979 | 0.3215 | 663521 | 0 |
| 2011-06-05 | Total | 981735475 | 0.9817 | 2404099 | 0 |
| 2011-06-06 | Receive | 2607284252 | 2.6073 | 5061103 | 0 |
| 2011-06-06 | Transmit | 853621492 | 0.8536 | 1978341 | 0 |
| 2011-06-06 | Total | 3460905744 | 3.4609 | 7039444 | 0 |
| 2011-06-07 | Receive | 936541155 | 0.9365 | 999774 | 2 |
| 2011-06-07 | Transmit | 75305536 | 0.0753 | 530449 | 0 |
| 2011-06-07 | Total | 1011846691 | 1.0118 | 1530223 | 2 |
| 2011-06-08 | Receive | 2207812468 | 2.2078 | 2012026 | 1 |
| 2011-06-08 | Transmit | 133046854 | 0.1330 | 1014339 | 0 |
| 2011-06-08 | Total | 2340859322 | 2.3409 | 3026365 | 1 |
| 2011-06-09 | Receive | 3830780367 | 3.8308 | 3047265 | 1 |
| 2011-06-09 | Transmit | 185121842 | 0.1851 | 1680558 | 0 |
| 2011-06-09 | Total | 4015902209 | 4.0159 | 4727823 | 1 |
| 2011-06-10 | Receive | 623743123 | 0.6237 | 949928 | 0 |
| 2011-06-10 | Transmit | 116345435 | 0.1163 | 599908 | 0 |
| 2011-06-10 | Total | 740088558 | 0.7401 | 1549836 | 0 |
| 2011-06-11 | Receive | 786699365 | 0.7867 | 1104639 | 1 |
| 2011-06-11 | Transmit | 137098497 | 0.1371 | 813190 | 0 |
| 2011-06-11 | Total | 923797862 | 0.9238 | 1917829 | 1 |
| 2011-06-12 | Receive | 383916197 | 0.3839 | 601228 | 0 |
| 2011-06-12 | Transmit | 118259985 | 0.1183 | 500213 | 0 |
| 2011-06-12 | Total | 502176182 | 0.5022 | 1101441 | 0 |
| 2011-06-13 | Receive | 1114791807 | 1.1148 | 1354618 | 1 |
| 2011-06-13 | Transmit | 138792339 | 0.1388 | 866702 | 0 |
| 2011-06-13 | Total | 1253584146 | 1.2536 | 2221320 | 1 |
| 2011-06-14 | Receive | 3265190799 | 3.2652 | 2581598 | 0 |
| 2011-06-14 | Transmit | 209718771 | 0.2097 | 1590595 | 0 |
| 2011-06-14 | Total | 3474909570 | 3.4749 | 4172193 | 0 |
| 2011-06-15 | Receive | -92998001206 | -92.9980 | -97459182 | -28 |
| 2011-06-15 | Transmit | -9900724263 | -9.9007 | -53251544 | -1 |
| 2011-06-15 | Total | -102898725469 | -102.8987 | -150710726 | -29 |
| 2011-06-16 | Receive | 5723908823 | 5.7239 | 7736825 | 0 |
| 2011-06-16 | Transmit | 325807401 | 0.3258 | 3872121 | 0 |
| 2011-06-16 | Total | 6049716224 | 6.0497 | 11608946 | 0 |
| 2011-06-17 | Receive | 5200115751 | 5.2001 | 3792438 | 1 |
| 2011-06-17 | Transmit | 168510661 | 0.1685 | 1874516 | 0 |
| 2011-06-17 | Total | 5368626412 | 5.3686 | 5666954 | 1 |
| 2011-06-18 | Receive | 3270159067 | 3.2702 | 3349431 | 29 |
| 2011-06-18 | Transmit | 200763088 | 0.2008 | 1793335 | 0 |
| 2011-06-18 | Total | 3470922155 | 3.4709 | 5142766 | 29 |
| 2011-06-19 | Receive | 6382320497 | 6.3823 | 5948692 | 9 |
| 2011-06-19 | Transmit | 423905328 | 0.4239 | 3330541 | 0 |
| 2011-06-19 | Total | 6806225825 | 6.8062 | 9279233 | 9 |
| 2011-06-20 | Receive | 8349723564 | 8.3497 | 6615993 | 0 |
| 2011-06-20 | Transmit | 477064185 | 0.4771 | 3439896 | 0 |
| 2011-06-20 | Total | 8826787749 | 8.8268 | 10055889 | 0 |
| 2011-06-21 | Receive | 5611640141 | 5.6116 | 5287476 | 0 |
| 2011-06-21 | Transmit | 568072369 | 0.5681 | 3567625 | 0 |
| 2011-06-21 | Total | 6179712510 | 6.1797 | 8855101 | 0 |
| 2011-06-22 | Receive | 2980748351 | 2.9807 | 3285052 | 1 |
| 2011-06-22 | Transmit | 355201614 | 0.3552 | 2134189 | 0 |
| 2011-06-22 | Total | 3335949965 | 3.3359 | 5419241 | 1 |
| 2011-06-23 | Receive | 3435278212 | 3.4353 | 3628334 | 6 |
| 2011-06-23 | Transmit | 333904759 | 0.3339 | 2165429 | 0 |
| 2011-06-23 | Total | 3769182971 | 3.7692 | 5793763 | 6 |
| 2011-06-24 | Receive | 2072971970 | 2.0730 | 3282077 | 1 |
| 2011-06-24 | Transmit | 506285065 | 0.5063 | 1800085 | 0 |
| 2011-06-24 | Total | 2579257035 | 2.5793 | 5082162 | 1 |
| 2011-06-25 | Receive | 8129031738 | 8.1290 | 5878996 | 3 |
| 2011-06-25 | Transmit | 234805275 | 0.2348 | 2689597 | 0 |
| 2011-06-25 | Total | 8363837013 | 8.3638 | 8568593 | 3 |
| 2011-06-26 | Receive | 3045475924 | 3.0455 | 3689885 | 2 |
| 2011-06-26 | Transmit | 276812343 | 0.2768 | 1790949 | 0 |
| 2011-06-26 | Total | 3322288267 | 3.3223 | 5480834 | 2 |
| 2011-06-27 | Receive | 721125535 | 0.7211 | 956923 | 23 |
| 2011-06-27 | Transmit | 109249097 | 0.1092 | 582623 | 0 |
| 2011-06-27 | Total | 830374632 | 0.8304 | 1539546 | 23 |
| 2011-06-28 | Receive | 788535373 | 0.7885 | 777109 | 15 |
| 2011-06-28 | Transmit | 86830543 | 0.0868 | 478285 | 0 |
| 2011-06-28 | Total | 875365916 | 0.8754 | 1255394 | 15 |
| 2011-06-29 | Receive | 790936158 | 0.7909 | 1392278 | 0 |
| 2011-06-29 | Transmit | 129831967 | 0.1298 | 760536 | 0 |
| 2011-06-29 | Total | 920768125 | 0.9208 | 2152814 | 0 |
| 2011-06-30 | Receive | 1326352552 | 1.3264 | 2104991 | 0 |
| 2011-06-30 | Transmit | 358078011 | 0.3581 | 1184090 | 0 |
| 2011-06-30 | Total | 1684430563 | 1.6844 | 3289081 | 0 |
| 2011-07-01 | Receive | 2629445051 | 2.6294 | 2987908 | 0 |
| 2011-07-01 | Transmit | 370164743 | 0.3702 | 1520398 | 0 |
| 2011-07-01 | Total | 2999609794 | 2.9996 | 4508306 | 0 |
| 2011-07-02 | Receive | 2261218271 | 2.2612 | 2038245 | 5 |
| 2011-07-02 | Transmit | 120561486 | 0.1206 | 1106775 | 0 |
| 2011-07-02 | Total | 2381779757 | 2.3818 | 3145020 | 5 |
| 2011-07-03 | Receive | 1840180305 | 1.8402 | 1429764 | 4 |
| 2011-07-03 | Transmit | 99755596 | 0.0998 | 855587 | 0 |
| 2011-07-03 | Total | 1939935901 | 1.9399 | 2285351 | 4 |
| 2011-07-04 | Receive | 1877483837 | 1.8775 | 1392425 | 3 |
| 2011-07-04 | Transmit | 99123493 | 0.0991 | 901234 | 0 |
| 2011-07-04 | Total | 1976607330 | 1.9766 | 2293659 | 3 |
| 2011-07-05 | Receive | 605773194 | 0.6058 | 618025 | 3 |
| 2011-07-05 | Transmit | 65156051 | 0.0652 | 374268 | 0 |
| 2011-07-05 | Total | 670929245 | 0.6709 | 992293 | 3 |
| 2011-07-06 | Receive | 990220247 | 0.9902 | 943383 | 3 |
| 2011-07-06 | Transmit | 98368458 | 0.0984 | 524176 | 0 |
| 2011-07-06 | Total | 1088588705 | 1.0886 | 1467559 | 3 |
| 2011-07-07 | Receive | 637788696 | 0.6378 | 604984 | 8 |
| 2011-07-07 | Transmit | 70563460 | 0.0706 | 366477 | 0 |
| 2011-07-07 | Total | 708352156 | 0.7084 | 971461 | 8 |
| 2011-07-08 | Receive | 632332606 | 0.6323 | 987840 | 6 |
| 2011-07-08 | Transmit | 142186237 | 0.1422 | 528685 | 0 |
| 2011-07-08 | Total | 774518843 | 0.7745 | 1516525 | 6 |
| 2011-07-09 | Receive | 1888480814 | 1.8885 | 3102276 | 1 |
| 2011-07-09 | Transmit | 122808848 | 0.1228 | 1491531 | 0 |
| 2011-07-09 | Total | 2011289662 | 2.0113 | 4593807 | 1 |
| 2011-07-10 | Receive | 461261336 | 0.4613 | 378301 | 11 |
| 2011-07-10 | Transmit | 57106060 | 0.0571 | 270502 | 0 |
| 2011-07-10 | Total | 518367396 | 0.5184 | 648803 | 11 |
| 2011-07-11 | Receive | 1667017805 | 1.6670 | 1878446 | 1 |
| 2011-07-11 | Transmit | 236779306 | 0.2368 | 876780 | 0 |
| 2011-07-11 | Total | 1903797111 | 1.9038 | 2755226 | 1 |
| 2011-07-12 | Receive | 2869493033 | 2.8695 | 2690224 | 1 |
| 2011-07-12 | Transmit | 310209151 | 0.3102 | 1364634 | 0 |
| 2011-07-12 | Total | 3179702184 | 3.1797 | 4054858 | 1 |
| 2011-07-13 | Receive | 1510743171 | 1.5107 | 1280494 | 1 |
| 2011-07-13 | Transmit | 95356137 | 0.0954 | 707794 | 0 |
| 2011-07-13 | Total | 1606099308 | 1.6061 | 1988288 | 1 |
| 2011-07-14 | Receive | 3909301058 | 3.9093 | 3242306 | 3 |
| 2011-07-14 | Transmit | 200267050 | 0.2003 | 1742219 | 0 |
| 2011-07-14 | Total | 4109568108 | 4.1096 | 4984525 | 3 |
| 2011-07-15 | Receive | 1101124010 | 1.1011 | 1707290 | 1 |
| 2011-07-15 | Transmit | 128239376 | 0.1282 | 905200 | 0 |
| 2011-07-15 | Total | 1229363386 | 1.2294 | 2612490 | 1 |
| 2011-07-16 | Receive | 924301768 | 0.9243 | 707526 | 13 |
| 2011-07-16 | Transmit | 71613521 | 0.0716 | 431655 | 0 |
| 2011-07-16 | Total | 995915289 | 0.9959 | 1139181 | 13 |
| 2011-07-17 | Receive | 872840157 | 0.8728 | 692016 | 17 |
| 2011-07-17 | Transmit | 68637329 | 0.0686 | 410986 | 0 |
| 2011-07-17 | Total | 941477486 | 0.9415 | 1103002 | 17 |
| 2011-07-18 | Receive | 3568522650 | 3.5685 | 2700190 | 162 |
| 2011-07-18 | Transmit | 181515165 | 0.1815 | 1697305 | 0 |
| 2011-07-18 | Total | 3750037815 | 3.7500 | 4397495 | 162 |
| 2011-07-19 | Receive | 2680054918 | 2.6801 | 2074781 | 51 |
| 2011-07-19 | Transmit | 138207003 | 0.1382 | 1229564 | 0 |
| 2011-07-19 | Total | 2818261921 | 2.8183 | 3304345 | 51 |
| 2011-07-20 | Receive | 2928145939 | 2.9281 | 1990120 | 0 |
| 2011-07-20 | Transmit | 108226973 | 0.1082 | 1057555 | 0 |
| 2011-07-20 | Total | 3036372912 | 3.0364 | 3047675 | 0 |
| 2011-07-21 | Receive | 3934606849 | 3.9346 | 4520747 | 0 |
| 2011-07-21 | Transmit | 791669079 | 0.7917 | 2277325 | 0 |
| 2011-07-21 | Total | 4726275928 | 4.7263 | 6798072 | 0 |
| 2011-07-22 | Receive | 2821444657 | 2.8214 | 3649478 | 0 |
| 2011-07-22 | Transmit | 700587217 | 0.7006 | 1630443 | 0 |
| 2011-07-22 | Total | 3522031874 | 3.5220 | 5279921 | 0 |
| 2011-07-23 | Receive | 893183781 | 0.8932 | 665612 | 52 |
| 2011-07-23 | Transmit | 61995740 | 0.0620 | 392750 | 0 |
| 2011-07-23 | Total | 955179521 | 0.9552 | 1058362 | 52 |
| 2011-07-24 | Receive | 4063309904 | 4.0633 | 2788596 | 87 |
| 2011-07-24 | Transmit | 150249493 | 0.1502 | 1563191 | 0 |
| 2011-07-24 | Total | 4213559397 | 4.2136 | 4351787 | 87 |
| 2011-07-25 | Receive | 987791892 | 0.9878 | 2134555 | 1 |
| 2011-07-25 | Transmit | 514704481 | 0.5147 | 865275 | 0 |
| 2011-07-25 | Total | 1502496373 | 1.5025 | 2999830 | 1 |
| 2011-07-26 | Receive | 1429098749 | 1.4291 | 1108657 | 2 |
| 2011-07-26 | Transmit | 67395816 | 0.0674 | 536775 | 0 |
| 2011-07-26 | Total | 1496494565 | 1.4965 | 1645432 | 2 |
| 2011-07-27 | Receive | 5496760711 | 5.4968 | 8766738 | 1 |
| 2011-07-27 | Transmit | 333703674 | 0.3337 | 4210759 | 0 |
| 2011-07-27 | Total | 5830464385 | 5.8305 | 12977497 | 1 |
| 2011-07-28 | Receive | 838129202 | 0.8381 | 913319 | 0 |
| 2011-07-28 | Transmit | 90020648 | 0.0900 | 525815 | 0 |
| 2011-07-28 | Total | 928149850 | 0.9281 | 1439134 | 0 |
| 2011-07-29 | Receive | 926031986 | 0.9260 | 908226 | 0 |
| 2011-07-29 | Transmit | 124908219 | 0.1249 | 491135 | 0 |
| 2011-07-29 | Total | 1050940205 | 1.0509 | 1399361 | 0 |
| 2011-07-30 | Receive | 231158786 | 0.2312 | 270937 | 0 |
| 2011-07-30 | Transmit | 43590750 | 0.0436 | 186143 | 0 |
| 2011-07-30 | Total | 274749536 | 0.2747 | 457080 | 0 |
| 2011-07-31 | Receive | 1800843077 | 1.8008 | 2777891 | 3 |
| 2011-07-31 | Transmit | 233670347 | 0.2337 | 1431828 | 0 |
| 2011-07-31 | Total | 2034513424 | 2.0345 | 4209719 | 3 |
| 2011-08-01 | Receive | 2016592313 | 2.0166 | 2960231 | 0 |
| 2011-08-01 | Transmit | 534671920 | 0.5347 | 1377636 | 0 |
| 2011-08-01 | Total | 2551264233 | 2.5513 | 4337867 | 0 |
| 2011-08-02 | Receive | 1056874638 | 1.0569 | 1106370 | 2 |
| 2011-08-02 | Transmit | 149844506 | 0.1498 | 676857 | 0 |
| 2011-08-02 | Total | 1206719144 | 1.2067 | 1783227 | 2 |
| 2011-08-03 | Receive | 1659426102 | 1.6594 | 2721676 | 0 |
| 2011-08-03 | Transmit | 137623478 | 0.1376 | 1368894 | 0 |
| 2011-08-03 | Total | 1797049580 | 1.7970 | 4090570 | 0 |
| 2011-08-04 | Receive | 1106070912 | 1.1061 | 3087377 | 0 |
| 2011-08-04 | Transmit | 702969101 | 0.7030 | 1140014 | 0 |
| 2011-08-04 | Total | 1809040013 | 1.8090 | 4227391 | 0 |
| 2011-08-05 | Receive | 943610821 | 0.9436 | 1788328 | 1 |
| 2011-08-05 | Transmit | 435036742 | 0.4350 | 848073 | 0 |
| 2011-08-05 | Total | 1378647563 | 1.3786 | 2636401 | 1 |
| 2011-08-06 | Receive | 646944191 | 0.6469 | 610900 | 2 |
| 2011-08-06 | Transmit | 74835371 | 0.0748 | 410277 | 0 |
| 2011-08-06 | Total | 721779562 | 0.7218 | 1021177 | 2 |
| 2011-08-07 | Receive | 1784618022 | 1.7846 | 2479891 | 0 |
| 2011-08-07 | Transmit | 536457005 | 0.5365 | 1165568 | 0 |
| 2011-08-07 | Total | 2321075027 | 2.3211 | 3645459 | 0 |
| 2011-08-08 | Receive | 3806554815 | 3.8066 | 2765982 | 1 |
| 2011-08-08 | Transmit | 174963610 | 0.1750 | 1621766 | 1 |
| 2011-08-08 | Total | 3981518425 | 3.9815 | 4387748 | 2 |
| 2011-08-09 | Receive | 905912517 | 0.9059 | 1892055 | 1 |
| 2011-08-09 | Transmit | 442711376 | 0.4427 | 865625 | 0 |
| 2011-08-09 | Total | 1348623893 | 1.3486 | 2757680 | 1 |
| 2011-08-10 | Receive | 1585582052 | 1.5856 | 1424769 | 2 |
| 2011-08-10 | Transmit | 152460644 | 0.1525 | 885845 | 0 |
| 2011-08-10 | Total | 1738042696 | 1.7380 | 2310614 | 2 |
| 2011-08-11 | Receive | 7039128736 | 7.0391 | 5646839 | 101 |
| 2011-08-11 | Transmit | 479728524 | 0.4797 | 3188151 | 0 |
| 2011-08-11 | Total | 7518857260 | 7.5189 | 8834990 | 101 |
| 2011-08-12 | Receive | 1792431871 | 1.7924 | 1482253 | 42 |
| 2011-08-12 | Transmit | 127641196 | 0.1276 | 842204 | 0 |
| 2011-08-12 | Total | 1920073067 | 1.9201 | 2324457 | 42 |
| 2011-08-13 | Receive | 4494370165 | 4.4944 | 3148459 | 349 |
| 2011-08-13 | Transmit | 168401028 | 0.1684 | 1655950 | 0 |
| 2011-08-13 | Total | 4662771193 | 4.6628 | 4804409 | 349 |
| 2011-08-14 | Receive | 1560601073 | 1.5606 | 1225993 | 198 |
| 2011-08-14 | Transmit | 113276345 | 0.1133 | 759473 | 0 |
| 2011-08-14 | Total | 1673877418 | 1.6739 | 1985466 | 198 |
| 2011-08-15 | Receive | 3769998239 | 3.7700 | 2950148 | 0 |
| 2011-08-15 | Transmit | 234329077 | 0.2343 | 1675558 | 0 |
| 2011-08-15 | Total | 4004327316 | 4.0043 | 4625706 | 0 |
| 2011-08-16 | Receive | 4088529569 | 4.0885 | 4561372 | 0 |
| 2011-08-16 | Transmit | 716528676 | 0.7165 | 2234684 | 0 |
| 2011-08-16 | Total | 4805058245 | 4.8051 | 6796056 | 0 |
| 2011-08-17 | Receive | 5343535908 | 5.3435 | 3787114 | 2 |
| 2011-08-17 | Transmit | 224251630 | 0.2243 | 2132896 | 0 |
| 2011-08-17 | Total | 5567787538 | 5.5678 | 5920010 | 2 |
| 2011-08-18 | Receive | 243530853 | 0.2435 | 179487 | 0 |
| 2011-08-18 | Transmit | 34408939 | 0.0344 | 118773 | 0 |
| 2011-08-18 | Total | 277939792 | 0.2779 | 298260 | 0 |
| 2011-08-19 | Receive | 589310381 | 0.5893 | 427862 | 2 |
| 2011-08-19 | Transmit | 50753817 | 0.0508 | 253786 | 0 |
| 2011-08-19 | Total | 640064198 | 0.6401 | 681648 | 2 |
| 2011-08-20 | Receive | 32923561 | 0.0329 | 6806 | 0 |
| 2011-08-20 | Transmit | 19972705 | 0.0200 | 6237 | 0 |
| 2011-08-20 | Total | 52896266 | 0.0529 | 13043 | 0 |
| 2011-08-21 | Receive | 205666762 | 0.2057 | 130632 | 3 |
| 2011-08-21 | Transmit | 25567361 | 0.0256 | 77535 | 0 |
| 2011-08-21 | Total | 231234123 | 0.2312 | 208167 | 3 |
| 2011-08-22 | Receive | 2703438994 | 2.7034 | 1815396 | 0 |
| 2011-08-22 | Transmit | 94163050 | 0.0942 | 992943 | 0 |
| 2011-08-22 | Total | 2797602044 | 2.7976 | 2808339 | 0 |
| 2011-08-23 | Receive | 3206544363 | 3.2065 | 4222622 | 4 |
| 2011-08-23 | Transmit | 694236904 | 0.6942 | 1658571 | 0 |
| 2011-08-23 | Total | 3900781267 | 3.9008 | 5881193 | 4 |
| 2011-08-24 | Receive | 4369418721 | 4.3694 | 4511874 | 0 |
| 2011-08-24 | Transmit | 597327234 | 0.5973 | 2016812 | 0 |
| 2011-08-24 | Total | 4966745955 | 4.9667 | 6528686 | 0 |
| 2011-08-25 | Receive | 1862263094 | 1.8623 | 1283914 | 2 |
| 2011-08-25 | Transmit | 80126220 | 0.0801 | 664046 | 0 |
| 2011-08-25 | Total | 1942389314 | 1.9424 | 1947960 | 2 |
| 2011-08-26 | Receive | 1930046051 | 1.9300 | 2952951 | 4 |
| 2011-08-26 | Transmit | 629930929 | 0.6299 | 1323355 | 0 |
| 2011-08-26 | Total | 2559976980 | 2.5600 | 4276306 | 4 |
| 2011-08-27 | Receive | 3487391964 | 3.4874 | 2590762 | 2 |
| 2011-08-27 | Transmit | 118643743 | 0.1186 | 1040842 | 0 |
| 2011-08-27 | Total | 3606035707 | 3.6060 | 3631604 | 2 |
| 2011-08-28 | Receive | 6374862454 | 6.3749 | 4650362 | 7 |
| 2011-08-28 | Transmit | 224998861 | 0.2250 | 2047233 | 0 |
| 2011-08-28 | Total | 6599861315 | 6.5999 | 6697595 | 7 |
| 2011-08-29 | Receive | 2045060966 | 2.0451 | 1682391 | 31 |
| 2011-08-29 | Transmit | 118337189 | 0.1183 | 954348 | 0 |
| 2011-08-29 | Total | 2163398155 | 2.1634 | 2636739 | 31 |
| 2011-08-30 | Receive | 1790315124 | 1.7903 | 1323050 | 1 |
| 2011-08-30 | Transmit | 103126837 | 0.1031 | 800246 | 0 |
| 2011-08-30 | Total | 1893441961 | 1.8934 | 2123296 | 1 |
| 2011-08-31 | Receive | 835972390 | 0.8360 | 1541554 | 7 |
| 2011-08-31 | Transmit | 320712361 | 0.3207 | 686240 | 0 |
| 2011-08-31 | Total | 1156684751 | 1.1567 | 2227794 | 7 |
| 2011-09-01 | Receive | 1139305589 | 1.1393 | 1045590 | 1 |
| 2011-09-01 | Transmit | 109318963 | 0.1093 | 591485 | 0 |
| 2011-09-01 | Total | 1248624552 | 1.2486 | 1637075 | 1 |
| 2011-09-02 | Receive | 400115674 | 0.4001 | 408318 | 13 |
| 2011-09-02 | Transmit | 64854630 | 0.0649 | 290484 | 0 |
| 2011-09-02 | Total | 464970304 | 0.4650 | 698802 | 13 |
| 2011-09-03 | Receive | 2726249536 | 2.7262 | 1992253 | 0 |
| 2011-09-03 | Transmit | 128145805 | 0.1281 | 1152191 | 0 |
| 2011-09-03 | Total | 2854395341 | 2.8544 | 3144444 | 0 |
| 2011-09-04 | Receive | 344673882 | 0.3447 | 303428 | 40 |
| 2011-09-04 | Transmit | 45351619 | 0.0454 | 203921 | 0 |
| 2011-09-04 | Total | 390025501 | 0.3900 | 507349 | 40 |
| 2011-09-05 | Receive | 1053740019 | 1.0537 | 922447 | 0 |
| 2011-09-05 | Transmit | 94691927 | 0.0947 | 596347 | 0 |
| 2011-09-05 | Total | 1148431946 | 1.1484 | 1518794 | 0 |
| 2011-09-06 | Receive | 3532241262 | 3.5322 | 2901976 | 8 |
| 2011-09-06 | Transmit | 288154631 | 0.2882 | 1520270 | 0 |
| 2011-09-06 | Total | 3820395893 | 3.8204 | 4422246 | 8 |
| 2011-09-07 | Receive | 1546434215 | 1.5464 | 1475258 | 7 |
| 2011-09-07 | Transmit | 208543768 | 0.2085 | 801533 | 0 |
| 2011-09-07 | Total | 1754977983 | 1.7550 | 2276791 | 7 |
| 2011-09-08 | Receive | 1142354754 | 1.1424 | 2880549 | 1 |
| 2011-09-08 | Transmit | 748491554 | 0.7485 | 1096897 | 0 |
| 2011-09-08 | Total | 1890846308 | 1.8908 | 3977446 | 1 |
| 2011-09-09 | Receive | 3633872035 | 3.6339 | 2673631 | 16 |
| 2011-09-09 | Transmit | 168029675 | 0.1680 | 1481651 | 0 |
| 2011-09-09 | Total | 3801901710 | 3.8019 | 4155282 | 16 |
| 2011-09-10 | Receive | 2374897163 | 2.3749 | 1930240 | 1 |
| 2011-09-10 | Transmit | 186882755 | 0.1869 | 1003724 | 0 |
| 2011-09-10 | Total | 2561779918 | 2.5618 | 2933964 | 1 |
| 2011-09-11 | Receive | 1662981932 | 1.6630 | 1250880 | 34 |
| 2011-09-11 | Transmit | 100433318 | 0.1004 | 750217 | 0 |
| 2011-09-11 | Total | 1763415250 | 1.7634 | 2001097 | 34 |
| 2011-09-12 | Receive | 1755062761 | 1.7551 | 3008319 | 1 |
| 2011-09-12 | Transmit | 698461257 | 0.6985 | 1202578 | 0 |
| 2011-09-12 | Total | 2453524018 | 2.4535 | 4210897 | 1 |
| 2011-09-13 | Receive | 1735864509 | 1.7359 | 1410841 | 0 |
| 2011-09-13 | Transmit | 120299112 | 0.1203 | 765968 | 0 |
| 2011-09-13 | Total | 1856163621 | 1.8562 | 2176809 | 0 |
| 2011-09-14 | Receive | 498933506 | 0.4989 | 391880 | 2 |
| 2011-09-14 | Transmit | 38212096 | 0.0382 | 229673 | 0 |
| 2011-09-14 | Total | 537145602 | 0.5371 | 621553 | 2 |
| 2011-09-15 | Receive | 1376901526 | 1.3769 | 2693687 | 1 |
| 2011-09-15 | Transmit | 568779473 | 0.5688 | 1044554 | 0 |
| 2011-09-15 | Total | 1945680999 | 1.9457 | 3738241 | 1 |
| 2011-09-16 | Receive | 1689788026 | 1.6898 | 2852183 | 0 |
| 2011-09-16 | Transmit | 572547284 | 0.5725 | 1149765 | 0 |
| 2011-09-16 | Total | 2262335310 | 2.2623 | 4001948 | 0 |
| 2011-09-17 | Receive | 6810476 | 0.0068 | 12253 | 0 |
| 2011-09-17 | Transmit | 1323791 | 0.0013 | 5206 | 0 |
| 2011-09-17 | Total | 8134267 | 0.0081 | 17459 | 0 |
| NULL | Total |232538256086 |232.5383 |321445111 | 1419 |
+------------+-----------+-------------+---------+----------+------+
</pre>
Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-8127442543262614382011-06-26T22:14:00.000-07:002011-09-17T22:21:03.207-07:00Blu-Ray User Plays Blues CluesBlu-Ray disks came as a gift and necessitated adding a Blu-Ray player.<br />
<br />
They're inexpensive. A simple LG BD630 Blu-Ray player from Amazon runs about $80. This device has built-in Netflix service. Activate the unit with Netflix's magic device code and it happily streams video.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/i/tim/2010/10/27/Logitech_Revue_GUI_289_e_440x330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="80" width="110" src="http://reviews.cnet.com/i/tim/2010/10/27/Logitech_Revue_GUI_289_e_440x330.jpg" /></a></div>The interface is far simpler and more restricted than the browser-based version. Big, squishy icons and a presumption that the only input device is the player's remote. No way to enter text except through a pick-a-letter matrix. Responsiveness is sluggish, about 300 msec between click and action.
<br />
<br />
Most maddening: hovering over a title to get additional info causes the system to hang while it waits for Netflix's servers to fulfill the request. Eventually (3-10 secs), the movie's details fill in. No matter; really, when "Watch Now" works great via computer.
<br />
<br />
The major point of contention, however, is that the entertainment system has been rewired <i>again</i>, which was deemed Confusing by She Who Must Be Obeyed:<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtDTD_RxaAqIJ0ts-7KKzTvt2XhR6qhCIF-QKLz9QjFrLYaTXEBk1BZ1WXOAk1YpsvPgRQwEYRJTu71bTVgJmlveyRQ6UVUjG5Vj0WsS1Y0SoTItLF1K_cp8hmTCl3l6FSP1E367eosQ/s1600/home-entertainment-network.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtDTD_RxaAqIJ0ts-7KKzTvt2XhR6qhCIF-QKLz9QjFrLYaTXEBk1BZ1WXOAk1YpsvPgRQwEYRJTu71bTVgJmlveyRQ6UVUjG5Vj0WsS1Y0SoTItLF1K_cp8hmTCl3l6FSP1E367eosQ/s320/home-entertainment-network.png" /></a></div>
Even though it's simpler, it necessitated adding another fix:<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe9uxsYIpSCT8sgCen5dPRlYs0epcXfEQuXwggQe9HO_EiAPT5gjxk9ixSN3nFu2IfmrnDfs8yO1ayPldH4HNqc5Ay_tKkaTOI6YhyphenhyphenfxmsjZEaX9K-3CPxasRpSeaurpW_NRHwcoJG8c/s1600/tv-bluray-patch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe9uxsYIpSCT8sgCen5dPRlYs0epcXfEQuXwggQe9HO_EiAPT5gjxk9ixSN3nFu2IfmrnDfs8yO1ayPldH4HNqc5Ay_tKkaTOI6YhyphenhyphenfxmsjZEaX9K-3CPxasRpSeaurpW_NRHwcoJG8c/s320/tv-bluray-patch.jpg" /></a></div>
Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-57822759709008821192011-05-02T17:14:00.000-07:002011-05-02T17:44:44.346-07:00Tools to Track AT&T Gateway Usage<div style="color: darkgreen;"><a href="http://gigaom.com/author/jroettgers/">Janko Roettgers</a> has a <a href="http://gigaom.com/broadband/att-caps-bandwidth-meter-survey/">survey article on GigaOm</a> today that asks AT&T customers whether they can see their usage using an AT&T website. About 45% (n=37) of those surveyed answered they are unable to see usage stats.<br />
<br />
AT&T U-verse users can view their usage in their own Residential Gateway. The usage statistics page is at <a href="http://192.168.1.254/xslt?PAGE=C_1_0" target="_blank">http://192.168.1.254./xslt?PAGE=C_1_0</a> - scroll down to the "Traffic Statistics" section.<br />
<br />
The administrative control page (login required) permits resetting the stats. Reset the stats monthly, on the billing cycle day, to make it easy to track usage against AT&T billing.<br />
<br />
Note these capabilities are found on a 2WIRE 3800-series gateway. Other AT&T routers, especially DSL boxes, have different equipment which may or may not have a statistics page.<br />
<br />
For those who wish to monitor their stats on their RG, at <a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BwrOtnY6cR33ODhiYzE1NWYtY2Q1ZS00Zjk1LWE2ZjUtNTVkY2JmNzM1ZWMy&hl=en">this link are RG Statistics Logging Scripts</a> and instructions to set up monitoring using a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">cron</span> job. The zip file contains installation instructions (Ubuntu/Debian Linux). A small SQL script, also included, produces a usage report.<br />
<br />
A sample report for data gathered since March 14 is below.</div><pre><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;">
+------------+------------+-------------+---------+----------+--------+
| Day | Sent/Recvd | Bytes | GB | Packets | Errors |
+------------+------------+-------------+---------+----------+--------+
| 2011-04-14 | Receive | 471170071 | 0.4712 | 1248297 | 0 |
| 2011-04-14 | Transmit | 261420116 | 0.2614 | 564405 | 0 |
| 2011-04-14 | Total | 732590187 | 0.7326 | 1812702 | 0 |
| 2011-04-15 | Receive | 770363944 | 0.7704 | 1006855 | 0 |
| 2011-04-15 | Transmit | 71026822 | 0.0710 | 520748 | 0 |
| 2011-04-15 | Total | 841390766 | 0.8414 | 1527603 | 0 |
| 2011-04-16 | Receive | 609502238 | 0.6095 | 722370 | 1 |
| 2011-04-16 | Transmit | 57294972 | 0.0573 | 361775 | 0 |
| 2011-04-16 | Total | 666797210 | 0.6668 | 1084145 | 1 |
| 2011-04-17 | Receive | 318645844 | 0.3186 | 291616 | 2 |
| 2011-04-17 | Transmit | 39332970 | 0.0393 | 175203 | 0 |
| 2011-04-17 | Total | 357978814 | 0.3580 | 466819 | 2 |
| 2011-04-18 | Receive | 299281224 | 0.2993 | 666078 | 0 |
| 2011-04-18 | Transmit | 58786871 | 0.0588 | 353637 | 0 |
| 2011-04-18 | Total | 358068095 | 0.3581 | 1019715 | 0 |
| 2011-04-19 | Receive | 886435986 | 0.8864 | 1560230 | 0 |
| 2011-04-19 | Transmit | 711104440 | 0.7111 | 994422 | 0 |
| 2011-04-19 | Total | 1597540426 | 1.5975 | 2554652 | 0 |
| 2011-04-20 | Receive | 699685659 | 0.6997 | 637560 | 0 |
| 2011-04-20 | Transmit | 56879398 | 0.0569 | 337293 | 0 |
| 2011-04-20 | Total | 756565057 | 0.7566 | 974853 | 0 |
| 2011-04-21 | Receive | 455349013 | 0.4553 | 602567 | 1 |
| 2011-04-21 | Transmit | 86789917 | 0.0868 | 324296 | 0 |
| 2011-04-21 | Total | 542138930 | 0.5421 | 926863 | 1 |
| 2011-04-22 | Receive | 440903082 | 0.4409 | 770886 | 0 |
| 2011-04-22 | Transmit | 61319206 | 0.0613 | 396483 | 0 |
| 2011-04-22 | Total | 502222288 | 0.5022 | 1167369 | 0 |
| 2011-04-23 | Receive | 128387865 | 0.1284 | 202243 | 0 |
| 2011-04-23 | Transmit | 32450548 | 0.0325 | 115669 | 0 |
| 2011-04-23 | Total | 160838413 | 0.1608 | 317912 | 0 |
| 2011-04-24 | Receive | 357397478 | 0.3574 | 391484 | 0 |
| 2011-04-24 | Transmit | 45117822 | 0.0451 | 224438 | 0 |
| 2011-04-24 | Total | 402515300 | 0.4025 | 615922 | 0 |
| 2011-04-25 | Receive | 460476990 | 0.4605 | 508043 | 0 |
| 2011-04-25 | Transmit | 64078588 | 0.0641 | 302462 | 0 |
| 2011-04-25 | Total | 524555578 | 0.5246 | 810505 | 0 |
| 2011-04-26 | Receive | 868455813 | 0.8685 | 910591 | 0 |
| 2011-04-26 | Transmit | 74527520 | 0.0745 | 460094 | 0 |
| 2011-04-26 | Total | 942983333 | 0.9430 | 1370685 | 0 |
| 2011-04-27 | Receive | 286835580 | 0.2868 | 348551 | 0 |
| 2011-04-27 | Transmit | 48691431 | 0.0487 | 206843 | 0 |
| 2011-04-27 | Total | 335527011 | 0.3355 | 555394 | 0 |
| 2011-04-28 | Receive | 759490405 | 0.7595 | 771587 | 0 |
| 2011-04-28 | Transmit | 64131207 | 0.0641 | 390037 | 0 |
| 2011-04-28 | Total | 823621612 | 0.8236 | 1161624 | 0 |
| 2011-04-29 | Receive | 1855420924 | 1.8554 | 2576866 | 1 |
| 2011-04-29 | Transmit | 417368072 | 0.4174 | 1150840 | 0 |
| 2011-04-29 | Total | 2272788996 | 2.2728 | 3727706 | 1 |
| 2011-04-30 | Receive | 2854764859 | 2.8548 | 2329114 | 0 |
| 2011-04-30 | Transmit | 140898052 | 0.1409 | 1331942 | 0 |
| 2011-04-30 | Total | 2995662911 | 2.9957 | 3661056 | 0 |
| 2011-05-01 | Receive | 583554982 | 0.5836 | 646801 | 0 |
| 2011-05-01 | Transmit | 47077335 | 0.0471 | 293666 | 0 |
| 2011-05-01 | Total | 630632317 | 0.6306 | 940467 | 0 |
| 2011-05-02 | Receive | 1536599 | 0.0015 | 733 | 0 |
| 2011-05-02 | Transmit | 920571 | 0.0009 | 755 | 0 |
| 2011-05-02 | Total | 2457170 | 0.0025 | 1488 | 0 |
| NULL | Total | 15446874414 | 15.4469 | 24697480 | 5 |
+------------+------------+-------------+---------+----------+--------+
</span></pre><br />
<div style="color: darkgreen;">For the last few months, usage on this RG has ranged between 85 and 150 GB/month. Usage reflects heavy net surfing. Netflix / Amazon / YouTube video consumption is about 1 to 2 hours daily.<br />
</div>Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-2988531247289357292011-03-27T17:21:00.000-07:002011-03-31T21:13:06.697-07:00AT&T Overestimates Usage %4700<div style="color: #880000">Karl Bode at <a href="http://www.dslreports.com/" target="_blank">DSL Reports</a> writes that AT&T's billing rates are wildy inaccurate -- to the tune of 4700%. That is, AT&T has overestimate U-verse and DSL usage <i>47-fold</i>.<br />
<br />
Working backwards from the new 250 GB/month cap which goes into affect 2 May 2011, AT&T would start billing overages when users had consumed only 5.3 GB in a month.<br />
<br />
See the full article <a href="http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Users-Already-Complaining-About-Inaccurate-Meters-113314" target="_blank" title="AT&T Users Already Complaining About Inaccurate Meters">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Time to start keeping track in order to dispute usage come billing time.<br />
</div>Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-49503473992608100362011-03-14T12:14:00.000-07:002011-03-16T11:41:08.351-07:00Well, That Was Fun While It LastedAT&T has decided to cap usage. Usage caps deploy May 2nd, 2011.<br />
<br />
Engadget reports in <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/13/atandt-will-cap-dsl-u-verse-internet-and-impose-overage-fees" target="_blank">"AT&T will cap DSL and U-Verse internet, impose overage fees"</a>, that DSL and U-verse usage caps are 150 GB/month and 250 GB/month, respectively. Each additional 50 GB/month costs $10.<br />
<br />
AT&T has yet to notify customers, which supposedly happens this week. No notice appears on the U-verse page or in AT&T email.<br />
<br />
Total usage has been 87,468,308,057 bytes since the Residential Gateway modem last had its logs reset. Since today (14 March - Pi Day!) is the start of a new billing cycle, time to reset and see how much actually passes through.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="150" width="150" style="float:right; margin-left: 1em;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqiQO5N38BRXP-O8FWhzvCKfGJpK4eozp-mORCckhXpDqxK7KXWi22XhaSy8ezUN_SF6jl_BDkIj55a-fClZMk7jQD450ISP6b9vUd8N-g_SNM4gX9YJOoCezl6-WzBXoA3_2JcDePig/s320/doubletap.jpg" />Usage caps bring up an additional point: does "usage" discount advertising? Simple tests with AdBlock Plus show that 20-25% of a commercially-supported web page comprises ad data. Likewise the streaming ads injected in movies and television programs, although streaming ads are proportionately smaller.<br />
<br />
Getting charged for ads seems like a double-tap.<br />
<br />
<i>(Update 3/16)</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2ibBiv8CX0hPpGtZcykeatj4K0hPuq4RdtAqQMymtRtIS4MQIGY4yHUMiBwsR28a0QCTAzb1M08U9qCi-17V8xYqURdnTXuECL7SC3UzfXwNJGyDBN4_OT41Zl2Fw0ceFZmgcAHRcjg/s1600/RG-traffic-stats-Mar14-16.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="170" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2ibBiv8CX0hPpGtZcykeatj4K0hPuq4RdtAqQMymtRtIS4MQIGY4yHUMiBwsR28a0QCTAzb1M08U9qCi-17V8xYqURdnTXuECL7SC3UzfXwNJGyDBN4_OT41Zl2Fw0ceFZmgcAHRcjg/s200/RG-traffic-stats-Mar14-16.png" /></a></div>After a mid-day Monday March 14 reset of the Residential Gateway's transmission statistics, measured traffic (sent + received bytes) for ordinary 'Net usage appears to be about 2.25 GB/day. "Ordinary" usage includes watching streaming video from Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, Skype/Google voice phone calls, DropBox, and quotidian web surfing and emailing for three users on seven computers.<br />
<br />
Extrapolating, that's about 70GB/month, or 28% of the 250GB cap AT&T plans to set.Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-86484129982936372732011-02-22T22:54:00.000-08:002011-02-23T11:52:04.545-08:00Amazons on AmazonAmazon has begun offering a limited catalog of streaming movies as a premium to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/prime">Amazon Prime</a> subscribers. Chose the Amazon Instant Video -- it's the top entry on the search pull-down -- and select "Prime Eligible".<br />
<br />
Naturally the stuff in the "free" catalog is uneven. The brilliant "Bronson" plays opposite the unwatchably inane "Hudson Hawk".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Helvetica/dp/B002RIOGI0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1298490239&sr=1-1" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkGrpwz8sEtFpdTMO0e7kqoYEKfMdPt7CWzsHGN3eWwl8eNUiriFIaHtu06EnjBVFyn_-924fSDTwf7_ZfKo6CYEy8LCisKnrnthFcmKEIjiVaCEGH8UwKs1p856Uc1D2GaDDqksinwc/s200/helvetica.jpg" /></a></div>Quality of transfers appears good for recent films ("<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0847817/">Helvetica</a>") and dreadful B-movie transfers have charmingly preserved all their dust and scratches ("<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070140/">War Goddess</a>", originally "Le guerriere dal seno nudo"). Transmission was clear and jitter-free, with few "jaggies" or other compression artifacts. Quality, even for junk, appears better than the crummy viewing delivered through Netflix's Starz Play.<br />
<br />
One huge bonus: since Amazon owns <a href="http://www.imdb.com/">IMDB</a>, movie details and background info are far better than Netflix.<br />
<br />
So, what's out there? Amazon's streaming service holds about 35,000+ movies and 6,200+ television programs. "Prime Eligible" winnows that down to 1,700+ films and 480+ shows. The Prime catalog is great is you want to see<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hercules-and-The-Captive-Woman/dp/B000Y8DBYU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1298490571&sr=1-1" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin: 0 2em 1em 0;"><img border="0" height="200" width="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fmXPWLPInij_QFvgIUnQBxzu-j95VLYBUqXLLz65HBX_roGyxXcy3qZbKfZv-0jIs4lS9p-egjyaUyu8x0UAvdfXuNWpQMQkQZYj4pDxjwkQ0DuWowa72iMjacbSScxeyOHbC74Cnq0/s200/hercules.jpg" /></a><br />
<ul><li>Dr. Who,</li>
<li>Classic oaters starring Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers, et al,</li>
<li>WW II action flix,</li>
<li>Mr. Rodgers (nattily raising one sweater-clad limb in a stiff-arm salute), and</li>
<li>apparently every cheesy "Hercules" movie ever made starring Richard Harrison, Gordon Mitchell and Yes! Ahhhnold Schwarzenegger in "Hercules in New York".</li>
</ul><br />
Choices abound, cable cutters. Go forth and graze. To reiterate<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059892647319586.html"> Joe Queenan's Sandra Bullock rule</a>, if it's under $2, we'll take a look.<br />
<div><br />
</div>Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-57881477811410094212011-01-15T16:55:00.000-08:002011-01-15T16:55:42.109-08:00The U-verse BoysTwo more lads from AT&T dropped by today. Nice lads, dressed like grunge Mormons: black slacks; pressed long-sleeve shirts with AT&T badges; white athletic shoes (they were walking the neighborhood); no ties.<br />
<br />
A new sales pitch. They were unaware the premises was already running U-verse. The lady of the house had answered the door and required rescue.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Sorry, we have U-verse. We love the Internet but we're not interested in TV.</span><br />
<br />
Blue-shirt sales guy: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Have you heard about the new shows and channel line-up, U420 it's got ...</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Not interested. Just converted to watching shows purely over the Internet. Line-up is duplicative. AT&T charges more for U200 Latino, but it's clear why. There's a blog about this; you should read it.</span><br />
<br />
Yellow-shirt sales guy: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Have you heard about the fiber service to your house ...</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">No, U-verse is fiber to the node, not the the home, like Verizon. (Blue shirt sales guy agrees.) Look, just last week brought a new HD-capable micro PC in order to watch TV. Read all about it at [this] blog.</span><br />
<br />
Yellow-shirt: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Really? What's the address. </span> Blue-shirt writes it down.<br />
<br />
Discussion about bit rates and how easy it was to upgrade speeds. Discussion of Verizon's astounding high-speed bit rates.<br />
<br />
Blue shirt: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">We have a higher speed than , we can get you 25 Mb/s ...</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Nope. Residential Gateway says the max rate here is about 20 Mb/s. House is at the end of the run from the node. It took the installers all day to get the rate up to that. When it's working faster it will get looked at.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Oh.</span><br />
<br />
More chit-chat, good-byes, and they move on the next house.<br />
<br />
Good luck guys.Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-70674450897725481932011-01-09T23:12:00.000-08:002011-01-10T13:53:23.737-08:00New HardwareVideo fidelity on the ancient (Anno Domini 2003) Dell 2400 has been somewhat ... janky. A little hardware upgrade is in order.<br />
<br />
First, the replacement device <u>must</u> be a full computer. Roku boxen or other purpose-built devices have limited lifespans and lead no afterlives as re-purposed devices (the Dell 2400's fate: add disks, become file server). Forget a TV with the logic built in; that's just a really expensive laptop.<br />
<br />
Second, the box must be cheap. Apple Mac Mini for $700? Seriously? No. Apple TV for $99, tethered to the iTunes mothership and $3/video? No. <i>Hell</i> no.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKBOXYP2tVUYjSPmA6NJmV8Y0395ldB10l6vpHIMZHYHyPrsDn73Ql5iwHbQBJo9E8_kI2o8mU5SVvY4770frqTSBYiSkE0nugrFPzRK1rSkzF_qi-X1cFcPndajBi7Wu11Mt1vYZFpQ/s1600/zboxhd-id11-image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKBOXYP2tVUYjSPmA6NJmV8Y0395ldB10l6vpHIMZHYHyPrsDn73Ql5iwHbQBJo9E8_kI2o8mU5SVvY4770frqTSBYiSkE0nugrFPzRK1rSkzF_qi-X1cFcPndajBi7Wu11Mt1vYZFpQ/s200/zboxhd-id11-image1.jpg" width="200" /></a>After spec'ing costs for fully silent, i.e. fanless, hardware, it turns out the low cost and quiet operation of micro-formfactor machines wins. Separate PC components cannot compete with prices of these all-in-one, bare-bones units, and <i>slightly</i> back-level-but-still-capable is always cheaper. Best part of commodity parts: they're easy to replace and they get cheaper over time.<br />
<br />
Device of choice: a <a href="http://www.zotacusa.com/products/mini-pcs/zbox">Zotac ZBOX HD</a>. The naked processor+graphics unit requires memory, disk, keyboard, mouse, and OS, but these commodities are cheap or free. A recycled copy of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit helps lower costs, too. Microsoft Windows™ is alas necessary as CBS refuses to stream to Linux platforms and watching <a href="http://www.cbs.com/primetime/big_bang_theory/">The Big Bang Theory</a> is really, <i>really</i> important.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAON1eWCUTuoWUvL9_QjpCer-_ILDDmecwlE9OCKQpu727n-jha0-5NeKxhGUUu_mIobnotSysKBSK5FRsmIbA0CNrhT2Z__JWRrFiL2LeiSPQJ5oxv532bv2E8QLcAyLhZygsUj4jFKU/s1600/0109111327-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAON1eWCUTuoWUvL9_QjpCer-_ILDDmecwlE9OCKQpu727n-jha0-5NeKxhGUUu_mIobnotSysKBSK5FRsmIbA0CNrhT2Z__JWRrFiL2LeiSPQJ5oxv532bv2E8QLcAyLhZygsUj4jFKU/s200/0109111327-00.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The box is clean and opinion on the 'Net is happy. The device appears to have tidy engineering. Most of the case is empty space awaiting the customer's hard disk and memory stick. The unit has ports a-plenty: 6 USB, one HDMI, one DVI/VGA (with adapter), one external SATA, one wired ethernet, one 802.11 b/g/n wireless net, a card slot, microphone, audio, and an SPDIF plug (who uses this anymore?).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljFCQ02qSTRbWs7UJJIr0Hs7R1uv8YnfVqokbmHWXC814SyHVKJiXu29KDYsqnNIQ0NYJKJAQI-6brZR8516CNBGpChWPBAbQEu6OGsk7z2ARsSd3s9qaJ7gQmGtLVNepuErv9qcfJy4/s1600/0109111229-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljFCQ02qSTRbWs7UJJIr0Hs7R1uv8YnfVqokbmHWXC814SyHVKJiXu29KDYsqnNIQ0NYJKJAQI-6brZR8516CNBGpChWPBAbQEu6OGsk7z2ARsSd3s9qaJ7gQmGtLVNepuErv9qcfJy4/s200/0109111229-00.jpg" width="200" /></a>Box set-up was annoying because loading the OS required copying it to a USB stick. For absolutely no good reason, the <a href="http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/how_install_windows_7_usb_key">Windows 7 64-bit tool to build bootable USB sticks</a>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">bootsect</span>, won't run under Windows 7 32-bit. After loading the OS, the usual four- to six-hour cycle of applying Windows updates, installing drivers, anti-virus software, Microsoft Office 2007, and updating everything <i>again </i>ensued. The Zotac folks have some recent BIOS updates, too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM464L4zDb5DXhtJLsHtD6Ve6lCKTpuht3g18ZgUgipi8CWmRXShADvZZoyYJdy5jIKFGPWpn050lOwgbZ2zojfFA3a0FkPoxzVTFIiEuqCchDXWcwTlWDALBpMpk0UMMi2s33wUPW2-0/s1600/0109112122-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM464L4zDb5DXhtJLsHtD6Ve6lCKTpuht3g18ZgUgipi8CWmRXShADvZZoyYJdy5jIKFGPWpn050lOwgbZ2zojfFA3a0FkPoxzVTFIiEuqCchDXWcwTlWDALBpMpk0UMMi2s33wUPW2-0/s200/0109112122-01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Once installed, the unit nestles into very little space in the entertainment cabinet. The supplied stand lets heat escape its top. The box comes with a mount to fit it on the back of the television but then the on/off button would be out of reach.<br />
<br />
Video streaming from CBS (for aforementioned reason), FOX ("Glee!") and especially from ESPN (fooootballl - the computer's final parts arrived Saturday late; getting it running Sunday for Oregon/Auburn's BCS championship game Monday was <i>important</i>), while better than the poor, overmatched Dell 2400, remains merely "adequate". Tests show the image jitter is a function of watching streaming video in HD. Internet jankiness, while ignorable when watching on small screens,stil appears on big displays. For $60/month and the freedom from Time Warner, it's worth suffering.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY8lgS7hiCty0gU8jSp_j9-buzSw3gzKoX95HdQHmMxXQBpume29xwy5NXdyZgYOJsFSyFLqz5wbOzL-m2BPaSNyA_nt3Y6iSBg_zSMk3hXaEDY6OMwdznHKJTIL5GopAodkbKBN0m-Q/s1600/0109112124-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY8lgS7hiCty0gU8jSp_j9-buzSw3gzKoX95HdQHmMxXQBpume29xwy5NXdyZgYOJsFSyFLqz5wbOzL-m2BPaSNyA_nt3Y6iSBg_zSMk3hXaEDY6OMwdznHKJTIL5GopAodkbKBN0m-Q/s200/0109112124-02.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Movies, however, look fine. The streaming engine and most of the transfers for Netflix are good enough to watch just about anything. Even junk. Joe Queenan's point about the<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059892647319586.html"> Bullock Algorithm</a> is well taken: at $2 or less, we'll watch it. At $3 ... meh, not so much.Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-71284389471628005012011-01-05T07:08:00.000-08:002011-01-05T09:44:04.744-08:00New U-verse TV PricesAT&T is raising some U-verse TV prices 1 February.<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">From: A message from AT&T</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Received: 01/04/2011 2:16 PM</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Thank you for choosing AT&T U-verse. We hope you're enjoying the tremendous value of your services. We've worked hard in 2010 to provide you with the best entertainment experience. We've added more TV programming and innovative features, including U-verse Mobile, U-verse Online and My Multiview, which lets you watch four channels at the same time. And U-verse will just keep getting better in 2011.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Effective February 1, 2011, the monthly price for some U-verse TV packages will be increasing. U-family will continue to be $54, U100 will be $59, U200 be $69, U200 Latino will be $79, U300 will be $84, and U450 will be $117. If you are paying a monthly high-speed Internet equipment fee for the Residential Gateway, the monthly price will be $4. If you are on a current U-verse TV pricing promotion, the promotional benefit will continue until the applicable promotion ends or expires</span>.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://media.katu.com/images/070224_univision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="80" width="105" src="http://media.katu.com/images/070224_univision.jpg" /></a>Interesting that the Spanish-language channels have a $10/month surcharge, probably paid directly to Telmundo, Univision, etc. "¡Aye! ¡Mis telenovellas!" Since they are available over-the-air in this market, they ought to be freely carried. Their regular programming is nearly the same as English-language popular TV, with such keen news exposés as "¿El Rey del Pop homicidio o suicidio?"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://u.univision.com/contentroot/uol/art/images/deportes/mas/2005/08/050901_RD_Alba_phe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="336" width="250" src="http://u.univision.com/contentroot/uol/art/images/deportes/mas/2005/08/050901_RD_Alba_phe.jpg" /></a> Wait. Nevermind; please take ten bucks.<br />
</div>Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8932326233220320732.post-16435427495761640252011-01-03T17:58:00.000-08:002011-01-03T19:20:55.697-08:00Time-Warner Cable OFF, Game ON<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;">TWC turned off cable television service today. It had been working over the weekend.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;">Its dearth became apparent when firing up Stanford/VT Orange Bowl game at 5pm. No signal.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;">ESPN.com, however, is cheerfully streaming the game. In high-definition.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;">Game ON.</span>Karl Geigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06564843269189109178noreply@blogger.com0