u/CatDaddyTom

I'm glad to find this group. I see that I'm not the only one that has had lifelong issues with simple math. I have trouble with basic math in my head and it's caused me to do basic things way too slowly. In school I actually made it up to Calculus 111, but I went back to Calc 101 probably 4 times until I realized that engineering wasn't going to work. I could do the homework fine, and figure I could at least get a B grad on exams. Nope. I never had enough time to finish tests and usually failed. If they gave at least another 30 minutes I could have succeeded, but I usually ended up in a panic and hated when other students turned in their exams after 20 minutes.

I've been beating myself up all my life due to this "failure" and see that my stupid method of "counting dice or domino dots" isn't totally unusual.

In high school/early college, I worked in retail at at cash register. When I screwed up and the machine didn't tell me the change to give back, I would always lock up and grab a calculator or the customer would just tell me what I owed them back. Percentages? Forget it.

I'd fail a Presidential cognitive test where they ask to count backwards by 7 from 100.

I was in college back in the 1990s, but it still bothers me a lot ever since then. Interested to read other's stories here.

Hey guys. I'm wondering if anyone out there has seen something like this.

I recently moved to a new QTH in Olympia WA (returned to WA after 8 years in WI). I have my GAP Titan DX antenna up in the yard and it's all tuned nicely for most of the HF bands, I just give 40 and 17 a little tuning, otherwise run it without the tuner.

I notice this repeating tone across all the HF bands. I show it here on 20m on the 100k spread. I've been using the radio ok, mostly digital currently, but do run CW often and things have worked ok. I just have this annoying repeating mess on all bands. I turned off my computer, monitor, unplugged it, and no change.

I'm not sure if it's something in the house or outside. I've just started trying to track this down.

Has anyone seen something like this before and figured out what it is?

Thanks

73, Tom

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Is there a cheap place to get a simple haircut anymore? I see that Great Clips has now raised prices to $27. The one in Lacy seems to have a happy hour Wednesday before 2pm (at least the last and only time I've been there so far) so it was $14 which is reasonable. Does anyone know if they do that every week or just some special thing? I don't need a $50 "experience" like so many push. Just simple cut nothing more.

I miss the days of $10 guy's haircuts.

I recently moved back to WA from WI and set up my GAP Titan DX at the new QTH. Before, it would tune on 40m at a reasonable 2:1 SWR. Testing it now I find that the resonant freq is about 7.275 where it's 1:1 (or very close) and at the lower end of the band 7.00 - 7.100 (roughly) where I usually hang out on FT8/CW, the SWR is close to 3:1.

I installed the counterpoise with the 44 inches, 2 inch loop, and 11 inch dacron as mentioned in the manual. I then see this other "enhanced" manual (which is better than than the factory one), says that they shortened the wire by about 80 inches to resonate on 40 meters in the center of the band. That seems like a lot to shorten it, but if it works I'll give it a try at least.

It seems generally it should resonate below the 40m band, and bring the freq up to the 40m band, but mine is resonant at the higher end of the band. I did try changing length, but probably not enough since it didn't seem to move. I'll double check that I don't have the gray caps on backwards, but I don't think I do.

Anyone have any tips on this? 20m is totally flat and perfect tuned, and I know this could affect that band.

Thanks, 73!

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We just moved to Olympia a month ago and have been juggling Xfinity internet set up, phones, electric...and all those needed accounts.

In my work with Xfinity setting up, they keep pushing their 1 year free phone line. I'm tired of them bugging me on chat (sadly, that's how customer service is now once you get past the AI bot). We have 2 phone and an iPad (5G only). Currently we are with AT&T and paying $124/month. Sounds like they want to bump us up to $165 / month since we used to have AT&T fiber internet (this was in Wisconsin) and since we dropped the fiber the deal they gave us is expiring.

Just wondering if anyone has had good luck with any of the other cell providers? Cellcom, T-mobile, Verizon....etc? Any recommendations for 2 phones and an iPad?

I just moved to a new house and working on setting up my new ham station. I have a spot in the yard picked out that I'll probably put my GAP Titan DX vertical antenna at. I do have a couple trees that I'll fasten at least 2 of the guy support ropes to that I think I can probably have overhead enough that deer (or me mowing!) won't snag in. I'll have the antenna raised about 6 feet so the counterpoise loop is clear of snagging heads.

I did have 4 guys on it at my previous house, but might only have 3 this time - still working on where. So I may have one of them staked down on the lawn, but easily disconnecting for mowing or whatever. I do have a few deer occasionally in the yard and worry if they walk into it at night they would freak out and run or yank it down. We aren't in a super windy area (other than occasional winter storm) but still want it supported. Would attaching hanging streamers or wrap the guy in something to make it more visible would let deer know to avoid?

I do want the deer visiting, they seem pretty tame here and enjoy having them pass through. I just want to make sure they are safe - as well as my antenna! Any suggestions?

Not a question, but just wanted to say thanks the the Xfinity moderators here for helping with my questions. Seems that everyone (including Xfinity) is going too far down the AI hole with the automated chat. I do prefer email over chats (saves time) and calling usually is hard to understand since it often sounds like the person is in a bucket with 20 other people talking.

I'll ask questions here with Modmail going forward. Thanks.

I'm just full of Xfinity questions today. I need to do a new post due to Reddit policy rather than add to a discussion. Ok, here's my latest question:

I log in and get the "Your bill has changed – Review, Then Approve Changes" message. I look at it and it said there was a mistake in the account. It says we'll pay $183 a month (TV and 1 GB internet), up from $165. I can't figure out why.

Just moved from apartment to house and 'moved' the service, but have 2 accounts now. I chatted online with an agent and said they fixed it. I just need more clarification that our bill won't change. Any clue how on this? I really wish Xfinity would communicate through email rather than time wasting chats.

Starting a new thread since I got an automated message saying the posting was more then 5 days old that I commented on.

I was in an apartment for 1 month (got the 300 Mbs plan). Our house purchase completed, and we moved to the house and I _thought_ I had simply moved the account. I upgraded to the 1Gb / TV plan, but it's still there. There appears to be a bill also, but hasn't been charged yet (there shouldn't be). I did a 'chat' with someone and the agent told me that there would be a cancellation fee since it was a 'legacy' account? What???

I just want to cancel that other account since we just moved - across town also. I guess I'll find out in a few days if they charge us. We have only been in the house just over 2 weeks, so I haven't seen the next billing if it does show up. Also, I'm really annoyed with this "chat" stuff. I wish people would still use email. When I do talk on the phone, I can't understand half of what they say - strong accent, sounds like they are talking in a bucket, and many people talking in the background. Has anyone else has this issue (the account part - I'm just venting over 'modern' communications also).

Thanks.

Can someone at Xfinity please let me know if I'm still charged a fee or rental cost for the cable modem (or gateway as it seems to be called) each month? I did buy a modem, but will return it if the provide modem isn't charged every month. I just need to keep costs down. I do see 0.00 on modem fees, and someone at the physical store down the street said they don't charge anymore. I just want to be perfectly clear on this. Chatting with AI isn't efficient.

I see that I didn't get the latest magazine in the mail like I've received for decades. Seems that the magazine (at least a couple "test" issues?) is leaning toward downloading and reading on a screen. Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer magazines in printed from in my mailbox. I'll actually enjoy the full issue and read cover to cover.

My attention span when reading on a computer....oh look, a new cat video popped up!....just doesn't work for me. Anyone else feel the same about printed magazines? I haven't even looked at the July issue, the email notification has scrolled down my inbox. 🙁

Anyone else just as annoyed with customer service chat windows, AI support and the lack of simply emailing to customer support? We just moved from out of state and I have to update health insurance, questions about phone, internet...etc.

Seems everyone is using those stupid AI chat windows. When you do get a human on the end, they spew a lot of "thank you for your valued service..." and all that fluff. It wastes time trying to chat back and forth. Try calling and you are on hold for 45 minutes. Why is email gone? It gives a good trail of conversations for later use.

Along with faking photos and such, this is one of the things about AI that just frustrates me. Anyone else have this issue?

I moved recently and trying for about a week now to update my address for my pilot certificate. I keep getting this screen. Won't even let me get to the login. I guess I could mail in a form (I haven't tried seeing if it would download yet) or try calling them or the local FSDO. I'd much rather just do it online and be done with it.

Has anyone else had issues with this page?

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I've tried updating bank info for several days now since we moved. I updated address just fine, but the bank fails every time.

I put in the info (tried checking info and also debit card). It then says a code will be texted to confirm it, but never get a text.

I'd rather communicate through Email, but I keep getting directed to some AI chat, and I don't want to waste my time 'chatting' with an agent who thanks me for our 28 years as seller....blah blah....

Is this even possible or has everyone gone to this AI shit?

Grrrr!!!

We got an offer on our house sale and need to do the well, septic, inspection and the usual things. We do have a septic place we used before, but we never had the well tested here.

Anyone know of a good and reasonable priced inspector that can do a well check?