Comments for Mecworks http://blog.mecworks.com Technology, Linux, Photography, Science, Cycling, Outdoor Activities and other interests. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:50:50 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 Comment on GMRS J-Pole Antenna by estefan2020 http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/#comment-4772 estefan2020 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:50:50 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/#comment-4772 I have not tried this, but you could try using magnetic wire (has a non conductive coating around it) and place it in the middle of the original spiral antenna. using the largest gague that will fit inside the spiral. I have not tried this, but you could try using magnetic wire (has a non conductive coating around it) and place it in the middle of the original spiral antenna. using the largest gague that will fit inside the spiral.

]]> Comment on GMRS J-Pole Antenna by estefan2020 http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/#comment-4771 estefan2020 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:24:56 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/#comment-4771 You can google" 70cm colinear antenna" and use 465.13125Mhz and build a 6ft backpack antenna, for hiking, though murs radios will handle terrain much better You can google” 70cm colinear antenna” and use 465.13125Mhz and build a 6ft backpack antenna, for hiking, though murs radios will handle terrain much better

]]> Comment on GMRS J-Pole Antenna by estefan2020 http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/#comment-4770 estefan2020 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:17:19 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/#comment-4770 you can Google "j-pole calculator" and enter 465.13125Mhz which is between the highest channel 14 and the lowest channel 15. Use cable lmr-400 or lmr-600 to connect which is ultra low loss cable. though I have to admit, purchasing murs 5 channel radios will give you much better distance, as it uses lower frequency even at 2 watts, the range will be considerably better. you can Google “j-pole calculator” and enter 465.13125Mhz which is between the highest channel 14 and the lowest channel 15. Use cable lmr-400 or lmr-600 to connect which is ultra low loss cable. though I have to admit, purchasing murs 5 channel radios will give you much better distance, as it uses lower frequency even at 2 watts, the range will be considerably better.

]]> Comment on GMRS J-Pole Antenna by Joseph http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/#comment-4762 Joseph Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:18:58 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2005/02/27/gmrs-j-pole/#comment-4762 Have any of the people trying to improve FRS reception tried taping a 6" piece of 14 gauge wire to the back of the radio so that it starts at the antenna base and extends below the radio case. This is called a "tiger tail" and has been used successfully by amateur radio operators for years. Most users claim the device should be electrically connected to the antenna, but one commercial unit no longer in production was just stuck to the case and presumably inductively coupled to the antenna much like a counterpoise. I just wonder if anyone has tried this and perfomred any controlled radio range tests? I don't know if this violates the FCC regulation against modifying a FRS antenna since you aren't changing the radio as built. Joseph Have any of the people trying to improve FRS reception tried taping a 6″ piece of 14 gauge wire to the back of the radio so that it starts at the antenna base and extends below the radio case. This is called a “tiger tail” and has been used successfully by amateur radio operators for years. Most users claim the device should be electrically connected to the antenna, but one commercial unit no longer in production was just stuck to the case and presumably inductively coupled to the antenna much like a counterpoise. I just wonder if anyone has tried this and perfomred any controlled radio range tests? I don’t know if this violates the FCC regulation against modifying a FRS antenna since you aren’t changing the radio as built.

Joseph

]]> Comment on Updating your Verizon Preferred Roaming List (PRL) by site admin http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/04/28/updating-your-verizon-preferred-roaming-list-prl/#comment-4759 site admin Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:32:25 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=188#comment-4759 Nope. Nope.

]]> Comment on Updating your Verizon Preferred Roaming List (PRL) by magon http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/04/28/updating-your-verizon-preferred-roaming-list-prl/#comment-4757 magon Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:57:17 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=188#comment-4757 Used 228 said numbe no longer valid - do you have another one Used 228 said numbe no longer valid – do you have another one

]]> Comment on US Bank Sucks! by darcy http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/08/05/usbank-sucks/#comment-4755 darcy Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:38:43 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=214#comment-4755 Ya worst bank ever their so called great customer service is terrible, the guy that heped me today was very rude. They charged me 5 overdraft fees when I only overdrafted 3 times and each one is $33 which is rediculously high if you ask me. So now im out almost $200 that I needed to pay for school in two weeks so thanks so much USBank for not allowing me to pay my tuition on time which will also cause me late fees. From now on im not keeping money in my account so to bad for them now they get to lose money from me not paying my bills online through them. Ya worst bank ever their so called great customer service is terrible, the guy that heped me today was very rude. They charged me 5 overdraft fees when I only overdrafted 3 times and each one is $33 which is rediculously high if you ask me. So now im out almost $200 that I needed to pay for school in two weeks so thanks so much USBank for not allowing me to pay my tuition on time which will also cause me late fees. From now on im not keeping money in my account so to bad for them now they get to lose money from me not paying my bills online through them.

]]> Comment on 4×8 plywood sheet 1″ and 1/2″ graph paper by wilford http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/09/11/4x8-plywood-sheet-1-and-12-graph-paper/#comment-4751 wilford Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:32:15 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=220#comment-4751 thank you thank you

]]> Comment on Salt Lake Linux Users Group August meeting – 2011-08-24: Metasploit and OpenSource in Network Security by Pat Farrell http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2011/08/22/salt-lake-linux-users-group-august-meeting-2011-08-24-metasploit-and-opensource-in-network-security/#comment-4302 Pat Farrell Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:52:01 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=872#comment-4302 I am trying to join sllug.org, and attend your next meeting. The site does not load properly. Can you forward the info for your September meeting? Or other contact info? Thanks! pf I am trying to join sllug.org, and attend your next meeting. The site does not load properly. Can you forward the info for your September meeting?
Or other contact info?
Thanks!
pf

]]> Comment on Salt Lake Linux Users Group August meeting – 2011-08-24: Metasploit and OpenSource in Network Security by Luke http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2011/08/22/salt-lake-linux-users-group-august-meeting-2011-08-24-metasploit-and-opensource-in-network-security/#comment-4295 Luke Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:40:16 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=872#comment-4295 This is definitely one I wish I could go to. This is definitely one I wish I could go to.

]]> Comment on US Bank Sucks! by GinaO http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/08/05/usbank-sucks/#comment-4293 GinaO Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:14:21 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=214#comment-4293 US Bank is the absolute worst, least ethical and predatory bank I have ever had the displeasure of having an account with. A lot of fees are hidden and exorbitant. Most of their staff gives misinformation which costs the customer and which they will not rectify. You could end up in real trouble if you are not constantly checking up on the bank and your account. I closed my account in June 2011 because I noticed they had been charging high fees after buying out CalNational and I had some overdraft fees with no overdraft. Also, they no longer had free checking. They started charging for all checking accounts if certain criteria were not met. When I initially asked to close my checking, I was told I had to wait for the account to be closed because a $10.00 charge which had been made a week ago had still not been paid by the bank! It usually takes two business days at most for charges to clear. I believe they held payment of the outstanding charge to force me to incur the next month’s fee for keeping the account open. After I closed my account, I was sent a letter for a $20.00 fee on .23cents of overdraft I was never informed of when I closed my account. I asked if I owed any money, was told no and sent a check for the balance left in my checking. I called about the fee and was told to disregard. I received a second letter with $40.00 in overdraft fees recently for that same .23cents. I called to clear up the situation and asked the fees be waived since they had given me incorrect information. I was told nothing could be done and if I didn't pay it, more fees would be incurred. Stay away from this bank if you want a sound mind and your money safe. US Bank is the absolute worst, least ethical and predatory bank I have ever had the displeasure of having an account with. A lot of fees are hidden and exorbitant. Most of their staff gives misinformation which costs the customer and which they will not rectify. You could end up in real trouble if you are not constantly checking up on the bank and your account.

I closed my account in June 2011 because I noticed they had been charging high fees after buying out CalNational and I had some overdraft fees with no overdraft. Also, they no longer had free checking. They started charging for all checking accounts if certain criteria were not met.

When I initially asked to close my checking, I was told I had to wait for the account to be closed because a $10.00 charge which had been made a week ago had still not been paid by the bank! It usually takes two business days at most for charges to clear. I believe they held payment of the outstanding charge to force me to incur the next month’s fee for keeping the account open.

After I closed my account, I was sent a letter for a $20.00 fee on .23cents of overdraft I was never informed of when I closed my account. I asked if I owed any money, was told no and sent a check for the balance left in my checking. I called about the fee and was told to disregard. I received a second letter with $40.00 in overdraft fees recently for that same .23cents. I called to clear up the situation and asked the fees be waived since they had given me incorrect information. I was told nothing could be done and if I didn’t pay it, more fees would be incurred. Stay away from this bank if you want a sound mind and your money safe.

]]> Comment on Cutlist software for Linux? by Randal http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/04/26/cutlist-software-for-linux/#comment-4290 Randal Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:03:12 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=187#comment-4290 Did you ever find one? Did you ever try the other two under Wine and write up what you found as limitations? (heard can't print under Wine with Cutlist Plus, but haven't tried) Did you ever find one? Did you ever try the other two under Wine and write up what you found as limitations? (heard can’t print under Wine with Cutlist Plus, but haven’t tried)

]]> Comment on US Bank Sucks! by bank victim http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/08/05/usbank-sucks/#comment-4288 bank victim Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:22:12 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=214#comment-4288 My story isn't quite as expensive only because I'm keeping a sharp eye out for lying bankers. I was cashing a check when a U.S. Bank teller said that if I let her simply compare my current VISA card to the one offered by U.S. Bank, she'd pay me $10. I let her. She told me that the terms were exactly the same except that U.S. Bank would allow me to get %1 of my charges back in cash each month. Sound too good to be true, so I asked her point blank "Is there ANY kind of fee or other expense involved with this VISA the rewards program or ANYTHING else attached to this account?" She replied "Absolutely not." So I let her put in the application for a U.S. Bank VISA. I asked for the $10 she had promised. "Oh, that comes in the mail in a few weeks." Hmmmm. Something odd about that, but nothing I could pin down. So, weeks later I get a card from U.S. Bank. It's a "rewards" card with $10 in the balance. Prominently displayed on a sticker pasted across the front of the card is the announcement that a monthly administrative fee will be assessed on my account. If I use the card (thereby claiming my string-free $10) it will be assumed that I agree with those terms. WHAT!!!??? There's not supposed to be ANY fee at ANY time according to the teller. I contact U.S. Bank customer service and am told "There's no annual fee on the VISA." That's NOT what I'm discussing! They refuse to answer directly. They refuse to admit their employee lied about fees. Before this I didn't have any reason to suspect them of dishonesty, but now I feel as though they're just a thinly veiled nest of frauds. My story isn’t quite as expensive only because I’m keeping a sharp eye out for lying bankers. I was cashing a check when a U.S. Bank teller said that if I let her simply compare my current VISA card to the one offered by U.S. Bank, she’d pay me $10. I let her. She told me that the terms were exactly the same except that U.S. Bank would allow me to get %1 of my charges back in cash each month. Sound too good to be true, so I asked her point blank “Is there ANY kind of fee or other expense involved with this VISA the rewards program or ANYTHING else attached to this account?” She replied “Absolutely not.” So I let her put in the application for a U.S. Bank VISA. I asked for the $10 she had promised. “Oh, that comes in the mail in a few weeks.” Hmmmm. Something odd about that, but nothing I could pin down. So, weeks later I get a card from U.S. Bank. It’s a “rewards” card with $10 in the balance. Prominently displayed on a sticker pasted across the front of the card is the announcement that a monthly administrative fee will be assessed on my account. If I use the card (thereby claiming my string-free $10) it will be assumed that I agree with those terms. WHAT!!!??? There’s not supposed to be ANY fee at ANY time according to the teller. I contact U.S. Bank customer service and am told “There’s no annual fee on the VISA.” That’s NOT what I’m discussing! They refuse to answer directly. They refuse to admit their employee lied about fees. Before this I didn’t have any reason to suspect them of dishonesty, but now I feel as though they’re just a thinly veiled nest of frauds.

]]> Comment on US Bank Sucks! by PO'ed http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/08/05/usbank-sucks/#comment-4287 PO'ed Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:16:19 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=214#comment-4287 Your comment/Users/scottholland/Desktop/ban It really is disgusting what is going on. I got into trouble back in May and had to get on a payment plan with USBANK. This last month marked the last payment. 1 week prior to the last payment being due, I received a letter saying that the payment was late and that they had closed my account. ? The account was not closed and I called to see what was going on. After almost an HOUR they figured out what happened and offered to let me pay the remainder off the following week. NOPE. The second I got off the phone they took the money from the account and overdrew it. Talking to branch managers did nothing and they refused to refund the overdraft fees. Last year an ATM shorted me $100.00. The ATM owner denied any fault, USBANK said "too bad". Fuck them. Your comment/Users/scottholland/Desktop/ban
It really is disgusting what is going on. I got into trouble back in May and had to get on a payment plan with USBANK. This last month marked the last payment. 1 week prior to the last payment being due, I received a letter saying that the payment was late and that they had closed my account. ? The account was not closed and I called to see what was going on. After almost an HOUR they figured out what happened and offered to let me pay the remainder off the following week. NOPE. The second I got off the phone they took the money from the account and overdrew it. Talking to branch managers did nothing and they refused to refund the overdraft fees.
Last year an ATM shorted me $100.00. The ATM owner denied any fault, USBANK said “too bad”. Fuck them.

]]> Comment on US Bank Sucks! by Julie Nordman http://blog.mecworks.com/articles/2006/08/05/usbank-sucks/#comment-4285 Julie Nordman Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:20:43 +0000 http://blog.mecworks.com/?p=214#comment-4285 US Bank is horrible~ Montgomery City Mo. We have a Mortgage, Home Equity, Truck Loan, We just switched our chase balance because they had a lower interest rate at Us Blood-suckers. Well they charged us a transfer fee of $400 dollars, then they turn around and start charging us 6.95 a month for our checking account which was free. We don't even open the Online bank statement. Its 8.95 if they send it to your house. We are so mad, they already swendled us with Bait and Switch for the home equity in 2008. The not so nice city woman/skally wag, ran the truck loan credit first, then said our home equity would be a higher interest rate because the truck loan was on there. What an idiot, we wanted the truck included on the H-Eq. I have asked over and over to stop it with all the hidden fees, we closed our savings account that was another 3.00 a month they are not getting. Then my 2 CD's I went to another bank. Just to prove a point. I also told them if they didnt stop charging us for a free account then when we open a business loan they certainly will never get our business. It doesn't do any good to complain, at least on my part. We will just keep quietly paying the blood suckers until 2013, then we will never ever bank with them again. May be if they would listen to customers instead of all there backstabbing ways, they wouldn't lose business. Fed up, they will lose a whole lotta money from us in a few years. We hate USBank, hopefully they will go under for being so greedy... US Bank is horrible~ Montgomery City Mo. We have a Mortgage, Home Equity, Truck Loan, We just switched our chase balance because they had a lower interest rate at Us Blood-suckers. Well they charged us a transfer fee of $400 dollars, then they turn around and start charging us 6.95 a month for our checking account which was free. We don’t even open the Online bank statement. Its 8.95 if they send it to your house. We are so mad, they already swendled us with Bait and Switch for the home equity in 2008. The not so nice city woman/skally wag, ran the truck loan credit first, then said our home equity would be a higher interest rate because the truck loan was on there. What an idiot, we wanted the truck included on the H-Eq. I have asked over and over to stop it with all the hidden fees, we closed our savings account that was another 3.00 a month they are not getting. Then my 2 CD’s I went to another bank. Just to prove a point. I also told them if they didnt stop charging us for a free account then when we open a business loan they certainly will never get our business. It doesn’t do any good to complain, at least on my part. We will just keep quietly paying the blood suckers until 2013, then we will never ever bank with them again. May be if they would listen to customers instead of all there backstabbing ways, they wouldn’t lose business. Fed up, they will lose a whole lotta money from us in a few years. We hate USBank, hopefully they will go under for being so greedy…

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