2022 September eBytes
Tom Upgrades from 40 Mbps to Gigabit Internet Service by Tom Kreuzer
Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, or Linux: Which Operating System Is Best?
You Can Get Free Wi-Fi Anywhere. Here's How
PSA: Stop Using In-App Browsers Now
The ultimate Windows troubleshooting trick
40 Years of PCMag: An Illustrated Guide
Cast Away: How to Connect Your Android Phone to Your TV
Save on Your Monthly Internet Bill by Using Your Own Modem and Router
18 Google Drive Tips You Can't Afford to Miss
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Tom Upgrades from 40 Mbps to Gigabit Internet Service by Tom Kreuzer
Back in 2016 I upgraded to fiber service with 40 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up from CenturyLink.. I paid $30 a month for 3 years then paid $45 for the last 2 years. At the time I didn’t have a need for any faster speed, so why pay more. I could have gotten 1 Gbps service for $65 a month, but saved over $1,700 going with the slower less expensive speed for the last six years.
I now have more devices and needs that can use the faster speed and decided to upgrade to gigabit speed, 1 Gbps, that is really a max of 940 Mbps up and 940 Mbps down. I pay a flat $65 a month (requires paperless statements and auto bill pay) and I have my own WiFi router and don’t lease a router from CenturyLink. I went online to upgrade to confirm the cost and it said my current fiber modem didn’t need to be upgraded, but I did need to schedule a day for the free installation. I was not sure why the install was needed, but I don’t run CenturyLink. I picked a day (8 AM to 4 PM) that I would be home a week later.
Then the barrage of messages started from CenturyLink with emails, text messages, and even phone calls about the installation. I received about ten messages in the days before and had to confirm the date three times. At 8 AM the day of the service they sent a message that it would be some time between 8-12. I got on my desktop which has an Ethernet from my WiFi router and ran a speed check to see if anything had changed yet. Great, it showed 940 Mbps up and 940 Mbps down. I then checked my old smartphone and WiFi and it showed 243 Mbps down and 206 Mbps down. Looked like everything was working, still not sure what the install would do. At 11 AM I got a message that they were running late and it would be between 12-4 PM, bummer, but what can I do? At 11:15 I got a text that Jack, my tech guy, was on his way and would be at my house in 30 minutes.
Jack pulls up to my house and I can see him go to the back and pull out a box and come to my door. Jack said he was here to upgrade the modem. I told Jack about my speed test and he asked to see my old modem. After seeing my old modem he said it didn't need to be replaced and he didn’t have anything else to test or change. He left after his 2 minute “Install”. What a waste of my and his time. I did turn off my WiFi and then the modem and brought both back up to make sure everything was reset and proceeded to check some of my other devices.
In my network the fiber modem feeds the WiFi router located in the center of my house. You can read about my recent upgrade of the WiFi router to an Archer AX21 for $65 in the June 2022 eByte. From the WiFi router I have two Ethernets that go to my den for my desktop and laptop. Two other Ethernets go to my living room TV and an Apple TV box for streaming. All other devices connect by WiFi. At present I have about 20 devices connected that include smartPhone, tablets, laptop, security cameras, TVs, stream boxes, Alexa smart devices (voice and video), smart plugs, printer, roko box, and others. My devices varied widely on the max speed they were able to achieve due to factors I list below. I could see each of their max speed on one of my WiFi router Admin pages. See first Image from router at bottom of page:
First a couple of basics about Internet speed. Speed is measured in bits per second which are a single value of 0 or 1 and shown with a lowercase “b” as Mbps “Mega bits per second”. It takes 8 bits to make a byte to represent a single character and is shown with an uppercase “B”.letter as MB or “Mega byte”. When I had 40 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up Internet, to upload a 1.5 GB video like a PCC Meeting to YouTube took me about 45 minutes or 2,700 seconds. The same 1.5 GB using 940 Mbps Internet now takes me 13 seconds. I like this.
On my desktop PC I notice very little change for most of the things I do that use the internet. Reading eMail, Facebook, Google Doc, Google Sheet, YouTube, Bank & Brokerage sites, and most everything else were a little faster, but not much. Only when I download podcasts, upload or download videos/photos, move files or from the cloud, that is when the faster speed is great.
There are many factors that affect Internet speed between two points:
The further the server is from you, the longer it takes to send and receive packets. Someone in Japan working with a server in St Paul is much slower than someone in St Paul working on a server in St Paul.
Ethernet is always much faster than WiFi.
WiFi security adds overhead. Encryption. 802.11x standards.
Old WiFi routers, like PCs, are slower.
All data sent and received on the Internet is broken and then assembled into 100s or 1000s of packets. A packet has three parts: the packet header, payload and trailer. Each packet is sent and a response must be checked that everything is OK before another is sent. If a problem is detected, the sender does a resend. Old DSL phone lines were especially bad.
Number of Internet switches between point A and B in both ISPs and the public Internet.
Load on the server. One server used by 1,000 people is a lot slower than only 1 person on the server.
Max network card in any server between point A and B. Many older or cheaper devices use network chips that have a max speed of 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps.
Slow or maxed out CPU on device from source A to destination B.
VPN overhead to encrypt and decrypt data.
Firewall and Anti-Virus scanning done at both ends.
Other people/devices on your home network. With Xfinity you share the bandwidth with other people/devices in your neighborhood.
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Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, or Linux: Which Operating System Is Best?
We compare the top desktop operating systems based on availability, interface design, and ease of use, plus the apps and games you can run on them.
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You Can Get Free Wi-Fi Anywhere. Here's How
Here's a few easy tips to help you get online anywhere in the world.
https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/the-trick-to-finding-free-wi-fi-anywhere-in-the-world
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PSA: Stop Using In-App Browsers Now
TikTok's in-app browser is a privacy nightmare, but it's not the only one to watch out for. Beware of other popular app browsers that could be recording everything you type.
https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/psa-stop-using-in-app-browsers-now
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The ultimate Windows troubleshooting trick
If you're bumping into annoying Windows problems, the solution might be easier than you think. Skip the clean install and try an in-place Windows repair installation. It's fast and easy, and the results can be nearly miraculous.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-ultimate-windows-troubleshooting-trick
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40 Years of PCMag: An Illustrated Guide
We had a milestone birthday this year, and what a long, strange...yeah. Let's just get to reliving four decades of ups and downs in the personal computer industry and our coverage of them.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/40-years-of-pcmag-an-illustrated-guide
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Cast Away: How to Connect Your Android Phone to Your TV
On smart TVs and those without Wi-Fi, you can stream your Android phone or tablet screen to the TV through screen mirroring, Google Cast, a third-party app, or linking it with a cable.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/connect-your-android-phone-to-your-tv
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Save on Your Monthly Internet Bill by Using Your Own Modem and Router
You might be paying your ISP an equipment fee each month. Here's an easy way to get around that cost.
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18 Google Drive Tips You Can't Afford to Miss
Google's online storage service is a stellar file repository and syncing tool to begin with, but with these top tips, you'll be amazed to find out what it can do for you.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/google-drive-tips-tricks
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Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
The 5 best laptop deals you can shop right now - Like most tech products, laptop prices have jumped to record highs. If you're in the market for a new laptop, we found some great deals for portable computing powerhouses that can save you up to $700.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-laptop-deals
Is Your Printer Offline? 6 Tricks to Get It Connected to Wi-Fi - Is your printer refusing to connect to the internet? Before you toss it, give these fixes a try.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/printer-wont-connect-to-wi-fi-try-these-fixes
Zorin OS puts on a masterclass for what a desktop operating system should be - There's one Linux distribution to rule them all, and it's not the one you think it is.
How to Download YouTube Videos - YouTubers upload hundreds of hours of footage every minute. What if you want to download it? In some circles, that's considered a big no-no, but you have your reasons, right?
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-download-youtube-videos
13 Tips to Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection - Have a full house working, gaming, streaming, and news binging, all at the same time? If you're experiencing lags, the problem might be on your end. Before you call your ISP, try these easy router tips to get back online.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/12-tips-to-troubleshoot-your-internet-connection
The Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2022 - These days, your wireless router not only connects you to the internet, but often your job, too. Here's what you need to build the best home Wi-Fi network, along with reviews of our top-rated routers for a range of needs and budgets.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-wireless-routers
Best Chromebook: 8 Models Starting at Under $300 - These Chromebooks let you experience the best of Google's Chrome OS.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/best-chromebook
How to Factory Reset a MacBook, Windows Laptop or Chromebook to Sell or Give Away - Before you part with your laptop, make sure to wipe any trace of your data from it, and make it feel as new as possible.
How to Pass On Your Passwords After You Die - No one lives forever. These are the top-rated password managers that let you create a secure credential inheritance plan for your loved ones.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/9-password-managers-with-digital-legacy-options
Buggy Computer Hardware? How to Update Your Drivers in Windows - If you're dealing with a glitchy peripheral, you may need to replace its drivers. Here's how to update device drivers in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/update-drivers-in-windows
How to Fix the Most Annoying Things in Windows - Windows 10 and Windows 11 are great OSes, but both have...issues. Here's how to fix some of the more irritating quirks with Microsoft's ubiquitous operating systems.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-fix-the-most-annoying-things-in-windows-10
The MyHeritage Photo Features: What They Are & How to Use Them - From MyHeritage In Color™ to Deep Nostalgia™ and DeepStory, MyHeritage has changed the way people everywhere engage with old family photos. This MyHeritage Knowledge Base article provides a detailed overview of every one of the MyHeritage photo tools and gives step-by-step instructions for using them to bring your photos to life.
https://education.myheritage.com/article/myheritage-photo-features
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Ask a Question - Send any Tips & Downloads, Ask a Question, For Sale, or articles to: TheMiningPCC@gmail.com
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Q. From a PCC Member - I am currently paying $1.99 a month for 100 GB of storage on Google Drive. How can I get down to the free 15 GB and not pay anything?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. This is the site to see and manage what you have on Google:
https://one.google.com/storage/management
Member Responds - I deleted a whole lot of old emails and then went onto the Google site and found more to delete. I now am using 17% of my allotted 100GB of storage space. Does this allow me to cancel my plan which is $2/mo?
Tom Responds - 17% of 100GB would be 17GB. Most people get 15GB of free storage. Some people, like me who have an old account, get 17GB for free. Looks like you have to delete more.
Note sure if you have permanently deleted items or just deleted them and they will go away in 30 days? Not sure what you did.
At the site https://one.google.com/storage you should see the breakdown of exactly what you are using. Maybe you have lots of text messages with attachments from a phone backup? Maybe photos and videos? Maybe you still have lots of emails? Maybe you backed up your hard drive to Google Drive? Below is my usage. See what you are using and start deleting. See second Image from router at bottom of page:
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Q. From Tom Kreuzer - My phone reported today that I had finally been converted/upgraded with changes they started doing back in May 2022 and just got to my account. The changes had to do with WiFi calling not using the Republic App and instead using WiFi calling that is built into many phones. Also, the voice message service would be fixed and I would have to set it up after the change.
I did the setup of the voice message service and gave it a quick check and the voice messages were showing in my Phone app and I could easily see and hear them. Great.
I then looked at how to make sure the WiFi calling was turned on. I could not locate any option on my Moto G Stylus after several Google searches, so I called the Republic support number. I was told that the old “My Choice Talk & Text” with 1 GB of data did not support WiFi calling. I could change to the new “Only what you need” plan with 1GB of data for $19.99 a month. This plan would require a new SIM card and then I could transfer my old phone number to the new SIM. I had read that the change would likely fix the VOIP 2 factor issue, so it sounded good. When I said go for it, he asked the model of my phone. I told him a Moto G Stylus model XT2043-4. He said they do not support my phone for the new plan and that I could purchase a new phone. I told him I would wait to buy a new phone and change plans then if I stay with Republic.
Bottom line is that I no longer have WiFi calling and that my MMS text messages (pictures, audio, or video) will be using part of my 1 GB data when they would have used WiFi before. One step forward and one step back.
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Q. From a PCC Member - My CDs I converted/ripped to digital music have never played successfully on my smartphones, ever. They only play correctly on my Sansa mp3 player. I never solved that problem. It skips on my smartphone, and also skips on my laptop with the Apple or Windows music player. I tossed my CD's a long ago, so I can't re-rip them.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Your music problem - Sounds like it is the format and quality that you converted your CDs when you ripped them. If the file is large or a format that takes longer to read, decode, and play, you end up with skips and buffering when playing on slow devices. Below is file info from iTunes doing a "File\Song Info" and open the File tab. I save and recommend creating MP3s at 128 kbps and sample rate of 44.100 kHz. This produces MP3s that are about 1 MB per minute in size and high quality and should play on anything. You can use software like Audacity to read and convert from one format and quality to another since you do not have the CD to re-rip. It even can do bulk conversions. See third Image from router at bottom of page:
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Q. From Tom Kreuzer - 3M Club Dues Info on who to contact to be removed. This is not the 3M PCC Club dues. Info from the August 3M Club Newsletter.
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Hello 3M Club of St. Paul members!
The Board of Directors has been in discussions over the past 18 months over the decision to increase the member dues. The board is composed of current and retired 3M employees who volunteer to serve in their positions, and our ability to provide the programming we do is funded primarily through our membership dues. We would like to inform you at this time about an increase that will occur in January 2023. The current rate is $25/year for 3M employees and $0 for retirees. We have voted to increase dues to $50/year and $25/year for retirees.
The board did not enter into this decision easily and has weighed the pros and cons of enacting such an increase. We feel that it is fiscally responsible of us due to the following increased costs:
• a full-time administrative support position (which is needed for tax reporting purposes being a 501(c)(7) entity);
• increased costs of offerings;
• providing membership management software for clubs and activities to better engage with our
members;
• discounts across the United States through PerkSpot;
• opportunities to participate in dozens of affinity clubs
• opportunities to attend major professional sporting events and concerts
• adding U of Minnesota athletic ticketing opportunities;
• additional programming such as golf tournament, family events, etc.
Membership dues for the 3M Club of St. Paul have not been increased in decades. The pandemic has certainly impacted 3Mers from connecting outside of their work groups, hindering the possibility of networking, and we hope that our organization is able to continue to provide these opportunities for you, your family and friends so we can help to build a 3M community we all can be proud to be a part of.
More details on how we will take dues for retirees, when payments will be needed, etc. will be coming in the next few months as we work as a Board to determine these changes. Please watch the newsletter on all details as we move forward with these changes.
The deadline to request to remove your name from automatic renewal of your 3M Club of St. Paul membership is October 31. We do hope you see the value in our activities and choose to continue your membership with us. Please reach out to Laura Griffin Boyle or Curtis Christensen if you want to be removed as a 3M Club Member.
Laura Griffin Boyle - Member Services Coordinator – legriffinboyle.cw@mmm.com
Curtis Christensen - Membership Chair, Target Center (Concerts) - cchristensen2@mmm.com
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