Tuesday, June 29. 2010
Who Pulled The Plug Out?
Sunday, June 27. 2010
No more TV recording problems
Several times, mostly on Saturday evenings, Gail has remarked "I wanted to record this but you're recording two channels already" - We have a Sky+ PVR which lets us record two channels and either watch one of the two or else view a pre-recorded program. Sometimes we get round this problem by recording two and then switching the TV to the built in Standard Definition FREEVIEW and watch a third. This of course is not always possible as we might be going out somewhere.
The problem is now solved - we have now purchased a FREEVIEW High Definition PVR. This of course takes the TV reception from the rooftop aerial but otherwise it is just like a Sky+ PVR allowing you to record two TV channels at once. We still of course have the built in Standard definition FREEVIEW and so we could record 4 programs and watch a 5th.
The big improvement though is that this PVR is High Definition - plus no monthly fees. We can now watch (and record) BBC HD, ITV1 HD and Channel 4HD. Later this year will also see the launch of BBC1 HD, a further HD channel is planned for 2011/2012. Unlike Paul's move of replacing Sky+ with Freesat, we have chosen the route of supplementing Sky+ with Freeview HD.
FOR:
1. Wider range of TV channels, some of the channels we regularly watch are not on Freesat or Freeview.
2. Extra recording abilities, we can now record up to 4 programs at a time and still watch a 5th.
3. Inclusion of the more popular HD channels (BBC and ITV) with no extra monthly cost.
AGAINST:
1. We still pay a monthly fee to Sky for the Sky+ channels.
Wednesday, June 23. 2010
Conservatory Blinds
Saturday, June 12. 2010
Goodbye 5 Week Shift Pattern, Hello modified 4 week shift pattern
The Police Force have realised that the 5 week shift pattern in the CMC is not practical, they have realised that with large overlapping shifts of a hour or more presented them with the problem of nowhere for operators to sit!
The CMC will be adopting the 4 week shift pattern previously worked at Smethwick. Whilst it is similar to the one previously worked at West Bromwich, this has a shift pattern where you always have 3 rest days together rather than the West Bromwich system of 2, 3, 4 rest days.
The hours are also slightly different and less sociable.
Earlies 0700x1500 (Police Staff only work until 1430)
Lates
1430x2230 (That puts an end to Bingo on Tuesday night after work)
Nights
2200x0700
Once again my shift group has changed with the obvious effect on my
rest day pattern and so I still do not know how things will affect my
planned mini holiday to Llandudno at the end of the year.
Geneology Site Temporarily Unavailable (Earth Web Server)
The "Earth" Web Server is being upgraded to PHP Version 5.3.2 due to some minor problems affecting the genealogy site. Until this has been completed hopefully by Sunday 13 June 2010, the Genealogy Site will display some error messages relating to the time zone. I managed to cure this on my other server "Jupiter" but simply ran out of time today due to working the afternoon shift.
EDIT 0025:13/07/2010
Upgrade complete. Server now working correctly.
Wednesday, June 09. 2010
The Return of the prodical son.
Good Bye Sky, Hello FREESAT
Neptune Hard Drive Failure
Microsoft sends out monthly updates to its Windows Operating Systems.
Neptune
(Back Bedroom) was running a Vista operating system and performing
normally when I last used it on Tuesday Night. Overnight the automated
Microsoft Updates routine kicked in, a part of which requires the
computer to shut down/restart. For some unknown reason the computer
refused to restart and appears to have developed some bad blocks on the
hard drive. Despite running the chkdsk (R) option and also using the
Vista Installation DVD to try and repair Vista, it still refused to
start up.
Neptune has 3 physical hard drives, one containing the faulty Vista installation, another has XP. I have now set the computer to start up into XP instead. It will need a few things doing such as bringing the update patches up to date, plus the installation of a Web Server.
In addition to the above there have been a few hardware changes since the XP installation was first created.Hauppauge "Nova" USB TV stick.
Cannon MP510 Scanner/Printer
Edimax Wireless Network Adapter.