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00:00 - 09:0009:00 - 00:00

12:01 AM
@JourneymanGeek ;)
 
I'm aware of that user and he's strange
He's asked great questions on another site
but has been, well... problematic here
 
it is x-mas your drunk, your brain doesnt work, your computer doesnt work, and just dont post a question on SU till tomorrow ok :-)
 
Well anyway. I'm off to bed to sleep off the excess food from today ...
 
Wierdly, same guy has had awesome questions elsewhere
 
@JourneymanGeek it's always strange when that happens.
 
12:09 AM
yup
 
 
1 hour later…
1:16 AM
"USB 3.0 devices, ports and cables have been proven to interfere with Bluetooth devices due to the electronic noise they release falling over the same operating band as Bluetooth. The close proximity of Bluetooth and USB 3.0 devices can result in a drop in throughput or complete connection loss of the Bluetooth device/s connected to a computer.["\
from the wiki the source for this claim is in this PDF usb.org/developers/whitepapers/327216.pdf
 
1:39 AM
thought this was funny. from: wired.com/2015/08/… Geeks BT remote controlled skateboard fails to control when in a high radio traffic area.
geek then proceeds to see if he can hack other peoples electric digital skateboards.
Makes a hack that will control the skateboard (because communication is not encrypted) and calls the hack/program FacePlant :-)
 
1:55 AM
@Psycogeek Huh. So USB 3.0 signalling can generate broadband noise that interferes with 2.4 GHz wireless devices? That's new...
 
It's been known a while. Very short range tho.
 
like what doesnt interfere with something. I had video cameras that would crap out the video, probably somewhere between the sencor and the processing unit, from FRS radio interferance.
I have one interferance problem with my phone, i dont even remember what it is. cause like what we got in there? BT , Wi-Fi that can run in 2 possible bands, the Cell which can be 2 bands, the GPS reciever, and scrawney little internal antennas guarenteed to be less than 6inches from eachother. Plus NRF thing the super close rf
add in noisey power converters for charging, outgoing HTML , and OTG USB, plus the regular computer signaling, the things are a virtual miracle.
OOps Outgoing HDMI
@bwDraco Hey, how many miles do you live from B&H photo? assuming you live in newyork somewhere?
 
2:48 AM
Well, I'll be
I actually need a floppy drive
 
Bloop
I don't know what day it is or what timezone I'm in
BUT HELLO
 
HELLO
 
EHLO
@qasdfdsaq GMT +8 1059am Its boxing day.
 
Boxing day? Jesus christ I mist have skipped Christmas
Guess thats what happens when you spend 20 hours travelling... you skip a day :-P
 
3:04 AM
;p
preeeetty much
and I can't sleep on planes
 
Me neither, except by accident
I managed to accidentally sleep for about 30 minutes while waiting for food though
(Yeah I ran the sleep tracker on my smartwatch while on the plane, interesting stats)
The low oxygen pressure does actually fuck with your heartrate
On the plus side, as somebody who hates christmas, finding out you skipped it by accident ain't bad at all
I think my glasses are in Sydney :-/
Also your avatar has changed and I can't figure out what it is
 
3:28 AM
>_>
Its a dog
 
Ah I see, bigger image makes it clearer
Why do they call shops "shoppes" in singapore?
 
3:51 AM
Only in the touristy areas ;p
 
Happy Christmas people !
I think I am a day late tho
 
@HackToHell :D
Hmm someone downvoted me without leaving an explanation
I shall have to cry about this somehow
What's the customary way of kicking up a fuss when you've been downvoted?
 
4:10 AM
End of test. >7PB written.
 
@qasdfdsaq on RA?
You link it here
At worst, someone will pedantically tell you where you went wrong
At best, someone will upvote.
If you overdo it, someone will yhell at you.
Bonus points if its someone elses question.
(Yes, yhell should be a word.)
 
5:00 AM
RA?
 
Root Access?
 
Oh
You can downvote in RA?
Or moan about it in RA?
P.S. @Bob I've figured out the odd 3G speeds. They're using absurdly overdriven indoor microsites.
2
A: RAM running at a lower frequency

qasdfdsaqMost likely it's 666Mhz (1333MT/s). Some processors are not capable of 800Mhz (1600MT/s). The 2nd gen i3 processors in the Vostro 2520 (and most other 2nd Gen core i CPUs) do not support 1600MT/s, only 1333MT/s. An example, the i3 2328M from a Vostro 2520: http://ark.intel.com/products/70927/In...

And the microsites are 3G only but have higher reselection priority over external 4G masts
 
5:14 AM
Mobile service in skyscrapers is a funny thing. I guess I don't have a lot of experience with it cause there are no skyscrapers where I live
 
5:29 AM
what https://t.co/CI2Y966Oyl
@qasdfdsaq its prolly the area you're in
Super high density, high rise blocks.
 
@JourneymanGeek High-rise blocks in general are weird
All the normal rules about RF propagation, frequency planning, cell co-ordination, etc. are completely counter-productive in high rises
 
(kids pups these days. Nothing wrong with whining at a human to go)
@qasdfdsaq We're kinda short of land ;p
 
But it seems in Singapore in general every network's RF transmission planning goes like this:
Turn it up to 11
 
only cause they don't go up to 12.
 
The UK is far more nuanced
They set it to 6 in some places, 3 in others, etc. depending on the expected return path propagation from a handset
Basically they try to balance transmit power with receive power, so the handset sees zero signal around the same time as the tower becomes unable to receive from the handset
In singapore it's turn it up to 11 everywhere
UK
Mast signal ===============> Handset
           <===============  Handset signal
Singapore:
Mast signal  ===============================================> Handset
SORRY I CAN'T HEAR YOU                             |<======== Handset signal
And if that doesn't make sense it looked fine on my screen! :-<
 
5:50 AM
I've never noticed that.
well the signal always being turned up to 11 maybe
 
You probably don't spend much time staring at the RF amp mode and EC/IO readings in your phone debug menu :-P
!!/xkcd pizza ingredients
 
Bob
@JourneymanGeek 502 Command not implemented
 
Man, that latency
 
5:53 AM
I know right, so much lag on this side of the planet
Now I see why nobody from Australasia plays STO.
People in the EU and US moan about the lag. Here it's an order of magnitude worse
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq Ah. That would explain it.
@qasdfdsaq ha. I haven't tried yet, but I could certainly see that happening if they don't have local servers
 
They have US servers and an EU proxy.
Most "lag" you get in the US is server-based (i.e. server load)
 
Bob
Speaking of which, there's this train station in the CBD here (Wynyard). Underground.
Peak times, if you're connected to 3G/4G you might get calls, but no data.
If you try to reconnect, you get on 2G with GPRS speeds at best.
Off-peak, it's fine.
 
Heh.
 
Bob
Pretty sure it's a single microcell or even picocell in there.
 
5:56 AM
It's not a capacity issue here, it overdrive transmit power on the node-B's
 
Bob
Trying to support > 500 people.
 
If you angle your phone right that you can get a signal back to the station, you get about 16Mbps on a single 3G cell and 31Mbps on dual-cell mode. That's about the highest I've ever seen.
EC/IO indicates cell load is basically zero. Because nobody can communicate with it -_-
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq Must be nice :P
 
Soon as I step out onto the balcony I see more normal interference levels.
 
Bob
FPSes are basically local servers only.
 
5:58 AM
Some aren't too bad with latency up to 100-150ms
 
Bob
I tried CoD4 with US servers a few years ago (local were inactive by then). That was ... painful.
200-300ms ping on a good day.
 
Lol.
They need new transpacific fibre.
Singapore to UK seems OK, around 180ms right now. But the WiFi is ironically a lot more useable today, despite much higher congestion and latency
 
Bob
MMORPGs tend to be better - they don't really rely much on fast reactions.
 
Most MMORPGs also have servers that impose a 500-1000ms delay anyway, either for game balance or just because slow tickrate
 
Bob
Runescape/Maplestory back in ... 2006-08 was decent, despite having no local servers afaik
@qasdfdsaq That makes sense.
We did end up being the first ones kicked out when there was heavy load :P
 
6:01 AM
Heh
Admittedly when I say "most mmorpgs" I mean both the only two I've played
God my bluetooth speakers suck.
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq There's three major lines from AU, IIRC
Going over the pacific we have PPC-1 and SSC.
About 3 Tbit/s each.
Then there's SEA-WE-ME 3 going north from Perth, 480 Gbit/s.
 
OK that's about 10 key changes in the last ten minutes from my bluetooth speakers. ARGH
 
Bob
Singtel is involved with two of them :P
 
It's not so much the bandwidth that's the issue, at least when it's not overloaded. More an issue of latency
 
Bob
SEA-WE-ME 3 goes through Singapore, actually. But it's something like 25ms from Sydney to Perth, add another 25ms to Singapore (guessing), and then the rather circular route means we usually end up going over the pacific even for European destinations.
 
6:05 AM
Lol the soundblaster "Roar" has a "Tera-Bass" button.
 
ahh creative.
 
Because Mega Bass and Giga Bass wasn't enough
 
ugh. SEA WE ME.
 
I had a map on my computer somewhere of global academic fibre interconnects
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq Yea, but most of our packets go over the high-bandwidth cables anyway so I'm ignoring the dozens of older/smaller ones.
 
6:07 AM
(used to break a lot, and it had a bad effect on the shitty VPN my last job relied on)
 
They listed actual latencies between each landing point
 
Bob
I can't test them anyway.
 
This isn't it, but it's interesting nonetheless
 
@qasdfdsaq I have no idea how creative is managing short of patent licencing.
 
Bob
Hm... actually I have no idea which route I go through to Singapore...
  5    15 ms    15 ms    15 ms  syd-sot-ken-int1-be-10.tpgi.com.au [203.219.35.3
]
  6   209 ms   209 ms   208 ms  ix-2-3-1-0.tcore2.TV2-Tokyo.as6453.net [116.0.88
.21]
  7     *        *      259 ms  if-6-2.tcore1.SVW-Singapore.as6453.net [180.87.1
2.109]
  8   258 ms   258 ms   259 ms  if-11-2.thar1.SVQ-Singapore.as6453.net [180.87.9
8.37]
  9   175 ms   173 ms   181 ms  180.87.98.50
 10   173 ms   173 ms   176 ms  202-150-221-172.rev.ne.com.sg [202.150.221.172]
 
6:07 AM
Seems like Australia has direct links to west coast US :-/
@JourneymanGeek Me neither, but I like that they're still around
 
They basically do a lot of cool, innovative stuff. Then Release shitty mediocre products.
 
Bob
> Tata Communications
 
> Creative Technology has been synonymous with PC-related audio for much of its 35-year existence. The Sound Blaster range of cards were the primary solution for improving the audio experience on your computer, but recent advances for integrated high-definition sound have curtailed the use of add-in cards.

The company has since looked at new ways to forge products that rely on its audio expertise, with PC speakers, USB cards, audio players and ear/headphones continuing the tradition. Realising that Bluetooth speakers have become fertile ground since the mass uptake of smartphones, Creative
Apparently their portable speakers are decent
Also some high-end gaming motherboards have Creative chips onboard
 
@qasdfdsaq I wonder if their HQ still has the outlet store
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq If you can give me a test IP, I'll trace it. I can't remember if I go through NZ first.
PPC-1 is owned by the same parent company as my ISP. Goes to Guam.
 
6:09 AM
@qasdfdsaq their soundcards have these lovely control pods.
 
I haven't a clue, I don't think I connect to anything in California
Apple.com?
 
I don't want the soundcard, its not needed, I love the pods.
 
Nah, akamaiedge
@JourneymanGeek lol
I have a rather clunky pod on mine (X-Fi Elite Pro)
It's less a pod than a full on audio console
 
the new ones are lovely.
 
Bob
Hm... where the hell can I find a californian IP address o.O
 
6:10 AM
OK it's getting REALLY annoying when my speakers make a key change IN THE MIDDLE OF A SINGLE WORD
Caltech?
But yeah, these speakers are ... BLEURGH.
 
Bob
apple.com goes through XO
 
In stead of cutting out when there's a signal interruption, it stretches the last frame of audio to cover it.
 
Bob
No idea which cable that is
  5    16 ms    16 ms    21 ms  syd-sot-ken-wgw1-be-20.tpgi.com.au [203.219.35.7
4]
  6    18 ms    24 ms    22 ms  syd-sot-ken-int1-be-10.tpgi.com.au [203.219.35.3
]
  7   177 ms   187 ms   178 ms  216.156.100.157.ptr.us.xo.net [216.156.100.157]

  8   177 ms   179 ms   179 ms  vb2002.rar3.sanjose-ca.us.xo.net [207.88.13.150]

  9   175 ms   176 ms   177 ms  207.88.14.226.ptr.us.xo.net [207.88.14.226]
 10   177 ms   177 ms   177 ms  216.156.84.186.ptr.us.xo.net [216.156.84.186]
 11   197 ms   197 ms   198 ms  17.0.132.95
 
Then speeds up subsequent frames to make back up to realtime
Which is fine in movies, but for music... bleurgh
> C:\Users\Administrator>tracert -w 1 caltech.edu

Tracing route to caltech.edu [131.215.239.141]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * 123 ms 1 ms 182.16.234.2
2 2 ms 2 ms 1 ms 195.10.43.1
3 5 ms 4 ms 5 ms ge-5-0-7-xcr1.sng.cw.net [203.169.57.193]
4 172 ms * 172 ms ae2-xcr2.sgs.cw.net [195.2.24.166]
5 * 333 ms * xe-0-1-0-xcr1.tyo.cw.net [195.2.10.69]
6 80 ms 79 ms 77 ms ae0-xcr1.mry.cw.net [195.2.30.141]
7 183 ms * 180 ms ae6-xcr1.pal.cw.net [195.2.30.49]
Seems to be over the Pacific
 
Bob
ooh NTT
 
6:13 AM
@qasdfdsaq In my experience creative speakers were good for one thing. Lots of bass, cheap.
But they no longer own cambridge audio. And their tech was what made their subwoofers crazy bassy
 
Bob
  5    15 ms    15 ms    23 ms  syd-sot-ken-int2-be-20.tpgi.com.au [203.219.35.6
8]
  6   176 ms   177 ms   181 ms  ge5-0-5d0.cir1.seattle7-wa.us.xo.net [216.156.10
0.37]
  7   179 ms   179 ms   183 ms  vb2002.rar3.sanjose-ca.us.xo.net [207.88.13.150]

  8   181 ms   187 ms   184 ms  207.88.13.234.ptr.us.xo.net [207.88.13.234]
  9   176 ms   187 ms   176 ms  paix-px1--xo.cenic.net [198.32.251.209]
 10   174 ms   174 ms   174 ms  dc-lax-agg6--svl-agg4-100ge.cenic.net [137.164.1
1.0]
 11   173 ms   175 ms   174 ms  dc-lax-agg1--lax-agg6-10ge.cenic.net [137.164.46
 
@JourneymanGeek The reviews about the Roar say it's not cheap, but the sound quality is good
I have a set of non-bluetooth AAA-battery powered set of Creative portables from 10 years ago, they weren't bad
 
@qasdfdsaq in the past
 
Bob
Weird how there's only a single hop between TPG and Seattle.
 
But when I looked for the Roar, I found a Roar Pro which I know nothing about
The desktop/PC speaker sets were decent at the high end.
(I only had the top of the range Soundworks. They won awards for audio quality)
 
Bob
6:14 AM
Seriously might be PPC-1.
@qasdfdsaq They're not even available here. I've only seen JBC, Logitech, Sony and, of course, Beats.
 
Gah
 
@Bob well, creative is based here so....
 
So the Roar is $150, the Roar Pro is $250.
 
@Bob beats ain't audio
 
The only difference? It supports AptX-low latency.
Creative is based in Singapore?
Oooh so I might actually be able to buy it
O-0
 
6:16 AM
@qasdfdsaq yup
 
Bob
@JourneymanGeek It's still everywhere. Unfortunately.
 
Bob
Well, there's the fancy stuff like ... Nakamichi? o.O
 
Now I see what happened
OH LOL
 
Nakamichi is still around?
 
6:17 AM
FU microsoft Paint
 
I also had a Creative standalone MP3 player 12 years ago
Back when they were basically the best iPod competitor around
That's better. I wonder what it'd be like watching that light show from the Infinity pool on the roof, since that's where the lights are attache
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq Is that just further back from your last photo?
 
6:20 AM
@Bob Yeah. That was me walking towards the spot I took the last one from
 
I don't remember that big white space...
 
@JourneymanGeek lol
I supposedly deleted that one already. And swore at MSPaint
Seriously though, an extra $100 just for AptX low latency? RUMAD?
 
Nope
Its still there
 
Bob
Oh yea. What was your old and new watch, @qasdfdsaq?
 
Wait, it's an extra $250.
WTF
@JourneymanGeek First image I deleted of imgur. Second one should be fine
@Bob Microsoft Band 2, and Microsoft Band 2
 
Bob
6:24 AM
Oh :P
 
Yeah I bought a second one at the airport, cause I left mine on the fridge at home
 
@qasdfdsaq oh, rly?
 
Bob
How long does the battery last for you?
 
5 mins ago, by qasdfdsaq
user image
@Bob 2 days-ish
 
I mean for the deletion.
 
6:25 AM
Yeah, it's deleted in my account
Meh. Maybe it takes a while. CDNs and caching and whatever
 
oh. SE uploads are seperate.
Unless you just linkled it
 
Linked
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq Hm.
$200... I guess that's about average now.
 
Usually has 10-20% left at the end of a second day
It's overpriced for a smartwatch that's pretending to not be a smartwatch
 
Bob
I have a Pebble, which doesn't have nearly as many features (heartrate, barometer, UV, etc.). But it does get at least 5 days on a charge, which is nice.
I still forget to charge it -_-
 
6:27 AM
> The Creative Store

Permanently closed
Dammit!
 
Sad
but not too suprised
 
@Bob My Up band did 7+ days, so only had to charge it once a week, easy enough to remember to do at the weekend
 
Bob
It's also annoyingly bulky.
 
Is there Amazon in Singapore?
Maybe I can get it same-day shipped to my hotel pool
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq MS Band only splash resistant? Urk.
 
6:29 AM
@Bob Yep. That's why... I bought a second one
Cause I took it off to wash the dishes, because it's only IP56 or something
 
Bob
Yea, with how many times I've forgotten to take this off while doing water-y things, I should probably stick with this :P
 
No use in a pool or shower. My up 3 was waterproof
 
@qasdfdsaq no one day shipping.
 
Bob
Pebble is 5 Atm. Pebble Time is 30m IIRC.
 
We typically use the US store
 
Bob
6:30 AM
So pretty much no day-to-day water activity will damage it, but long-term submersion and swimming (dynamic pressure) are not recommended.
 
Hmm, so any major electronics retailers in SG?
Like Best Buy or PC World or the likes?
 
Bob
Best Buy is an electronics retailer?
 
@Bob Yeah
TBH that's the same with the band
@Bob Uh yeah, it's like... where everyone gets all their electronics in the US, unless it's online where they go to Newegg
 
@qasdfdsaq challenger for IT stuff, Mustafa Center for erm, every damned thing almost.
 
God dammit the Creative store would have been just across the bridge from me too -_-
 
6:32 AM
@qasdfdsaq I didn't even know there was one there 0_0
And creative MIGHT do next day delivery
 
rofl
Please note that we do not delivery to P.O. Boxes, hotels, motels or the restricted areas listed below.
 
:-(
 
Someone tried to do a order to... a military base?
 
Then again I could get it delivered to my friend's place, and pick it up from there
 
6:34 AM
Islands you need a boat to?
 
She owes me anyway cause I imported vodka for her
 
Morning.
 
Pulau Ubin you need a boat to
 
6:35 AM
Is Mustafa Centre a shopping centre or a particular shop?
I wanna be able to check online if they have it first.
Oh wow 24 hours
DAMMIT 4 days is not enough for Singapore. I might just stay till Jan
 
"Changi Prison Complex Cluster A"
@qasdfdsaq Yes
Its sort of a hypermarket, but kinda scruffy
 
Bob
...how about cluster b?
 
@Bob its on the list
 
I was thinking the same thing
Ah, damn
 
Bob
C?
 
6:38 AM
I don't think it exists
 
Bob
Still, wonder why that had to specify that
 
Its a big list...
 
Oh sweet, the speakers I want are one of the only two Creative products NOT sold out at Challenger
 
Oh, you can't trust challenger's webpage for what's not in stock.
Try the one in funan center.
 
Hmm seems to be online order only, doesn't say much about store stock
Also wants a passport number to guest-checkout
Jeez.
 
Bob
6:40 AM
O.o
 
My nearest one is at City Hall
Which is next to Funan Digitalife Mall
 
That's the big one
 
Which sounds like what you said
Sweet.
 
Its in funan digitalife mall.
 
But it does mean I have to get out of my cosy hotel-issue dressing gown and buy some shoes
I've been walking about in disposable hotel-issue slippers all day. And feeling stupid
 
6:41 AM
0_0
Daisos are nice for cheap emergency flipflops.
 
Bob
Lol daiso
 
Mm only a block or two further than city hall, that should come in handy. Thansk
I hear Bugis is good for cheapo shopping too.
 
Bob
Daiso is where I bought a tiny umbrella with a hole in it -_-
 
You have Daiso in Australia?
Never heard of it
 
Daiso's a japanese chain, everything's 2 dollars and they sell crazy wierd shit sometimes
 
6:49 AM
Oh free Uber ride
Vs. 30 minute walk withotu shoes. Hmm
 
> Self-collection is only available at Challenger Funan DigitaLife Mall. Please allow 1 day for us to pack your order.
Just gave my passport details to some random Singaporean website which could all have been set up as a hoax by JmG to steal my details
What chances are there the first thing JmG suggested is the one place that has what I want, AND nothing else, AND only in the colour I wanted right after I mention it, rigght? :-P
 
Bob
@qasdfdsaq we have a few. I've seen two in the cbd and one closer to home
 
@qasdfdsaq I know the country well? ;p
 
Or it's all a hoax. A set-up. A trap
 
7:00 AM
I'd be spending a LOT of time doing that then ;p
 
It all just seems a little TOO convenient
Nah, you'd just have to have a ready-to-go phishing site set up, and add the one item I mentioned wanting
 
and proof that the actual physical store (chain!) exists
would be more profitable selling people magic rocks.
 
@JourneymanGeek well i dont know that yet
only that the website claims it does
could be a fake website for a real chain too. my doctors had something like that
 
0_0
meh, I can't be arsed to prove reality to you ;p
 
7:25 AM
reality? what#s that
I thought I was boarding a VR simulator
Like those thrill rides at fairgrounds on stilts that give you a 3D display and wobble you around
I figured the Boeing 777-300ER was just a bigger version of that
Maybe I should try out this Uber business.
Huh. Uber app on my phone can scan my credit card with OCR
 
7:54 AM
Y'know Singapore actually seems a kinda nice place to live
Except for the lack of seasons
 
WHich can be a good thing.
 
8:37 AM
So as much as the mobile service in my hotel room stinks, I get 65Mbps LTE in the underground
Full LTE coverage in the metro :-/
 
oh, yeah
they're pretty proud of that
 
UK has basically zero underground coverage. Germany has some 3G but mostly 2G. New York had mostly 3G but this place is 4G'd through the roof. Literally.
 
They have microcells everywhere
and I think they are shared
 
Though you're lucky if you get 10Mbps on 4G in NYC
Yeah there's micros but also it seems the tunnels have single stream leaky feeders
 
leaky feeders?
 
8:44 AM
Yeah
Damn the metro is nice and clean. And there's even signs to tell people how to be polite.
Not sure if they're for the locals or foreigners.
I can't get used to the walk/stand on the left thing though. Even in the UK we stand on the right.
 
Locals ;p
It's part of the grand experiment of mass social engineering.
 
Lol
Oh wow this digital mall is so full of shinies
He and they have that laptop I wanted to buy in the UK but was only available in Singapore.
In fact they have EVERYTHING
 
8:59 AM
Lol. Meh. I prefer SLS personally. Except for laptop type things. For peripherals try CH computer. They're a floor down from challenger. Also most of the OEM stores there are the same company.
 
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