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RV_

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  1. Ting fiber to home is coming here and it will be a year or so until they do, so we are keeping our current provider which is cheaper than all available today at $15 a month unlimited with some military retired DV discounts. They have an offer for areas they are going into with fiber for unlimited lines at $10 a month which includes unlimited hotspots using Verizon towers. If you winter or own property where they are coming soon you can get that offer here: https://internet.ting.com/mobile-offer We have had their service for both of our phones and the hotspot works very well. But since we already have Internet we have not tested the limits. But our phones are both from Verizon MVNOs and we buy our phones cash. We have had the service for about a month on our two phones and they are perfect. I even asked if I could use my hotspot for my almost a TB of streaming and Internet and they said yes. They have great customer service by phone which I prefer M-F 9-5 I think. So for fulltimers without a home base this may not be an an option. We are tickled pink with them and their customer service. I paid a $9 pre-order for Ting fiber and qualified for the $10 unlimited mobile service. No other charges until our Fiber comes in and it is added to the bill. We plan to get it as soon as it is available to our house. We are free to choose another service as it is not a contract and our service will revert to their mobile fees.If we do that we will need another mobile service provider. I can' wait for the 1TBPS download and upload speeds (Synchronous)instead of our current 150MBPS speeds down and 20 MBPS upload speeds. It will make a heckuva difference in everything especially our 4k streaming.
  2. If you buy a stationary permanent dwelling be that RV park model, RV shed expansion garage where you park your RV and have expanded living space or whatever, should it be a lease or rent, or whatever where you don't actually own the property, then if they raise the rates or upkeep goes by the wayside if increased fees justified or not are charged, well then you can't move to another park without having to sell at whatever the market will bear. IMO the best way to accomplish a permanent tiny home kind of deal would be to own the property and zoning restrictions on RVs alone are prevalent in many communities. And then the property taxes may go up and up and other taxes rise.
  3. It's been exposed as a scam since 2022. Search: "Is the Alpha heater a scam" Here's one result of many. Don’t Get Duped by Viral Alpha Heater Scam – Read this- https://malwaretips.com/blogs/alpha-heater/
  4. For retirees, lots of good info and deadlines and tax info. https://www.dfas.mil/Portals/98/Documents/RetiredMilitary/Newsletter/DFAS Retiree Newsletter December 2023.pdf?ver=f4H9MXO46W-kI61eLnguCQ%3d%3d
  5. Just saw this. Text or email is better. I see those daily, not here. Backatcha on being safe and Happy Holidays for you and yours.
  6. Thanks for asking. I hope your holidays are fine and you're doing well. I am not much interested in these forums anymore, but you and my other friends here are welcome to email me at rv at rvroadie.com anytime.
  7. https://www.votervoice.net/iframes/AFSA/newsletters/359064?isInformationalBroadcast=true
  8. https://www.votervoice.net/iframes/AFSA/newsletters/358898?isInformationalBroadcast=true
  9. My problem was with Tricare For Life and Medicare and getting my prescriptions on base I paid zero co-pays so we ignored the Advantage plan offers. Here the VA counselor I used to get my Disability up from 30% to now 80% and soon to be 100% once they process my COPD active duty records that I have copies of and sent last month recommended Humana PPO. He also said I should talk to Beowolf (His name) about the Humana PPO made for TFL who is there at the counseling center Mondays from 10-2. When dealing with military retirees we all have the same TFL and Medicare even if our disability percentages are different. When I saw it was Humana I was interested enough to look and found that the old holdup was because of Medicare/TFL prescription benefit conflicts which have been resolved now. I did not believe I would save money. But the first thing after we signed up that happened was our deduction from Social security for Medicare indeed did go down $75 each. That is $150 bucks a month we were leaving on the table and started saving in the last year. They also have free memberships with Humana's Sliver sneakers to health and fitness exercise clubs like Planet Fitness the Y etc. and there are several I am choosing from now. I get free Plant Fitness and several others and I believe the local Y all close to us. Rather than read brochures I would suggest the military retirees sit down with a counselor like I finally did. However, these new PPOs are just in the last couple of years or so. Check and you may be glad you did. I have no idea about Vets without military retirement benefits. My agent has a Concierge phone number so I don't have to call or navigate the Humana website or operators on the phone. They get me my info and stay with me to connect to the department I need with little to no waiting on hold. Just my most recent experience with finding something that sounded too good to be true but was true! Of course YMMV. But until I sat down and ran the numbers with my agent Beowolf and found out I now have saved a bunch in the first year. Many may find that can offset the Medicare increases. Humana knows Tricare for us military retirees. https://seekingalpha.com/news/3920339-humana-to-remain-on-tricare-contract-in-2024-while-centene-loses-out
  10. I use Imgur. I can save a lot of my pics there free and they provide many different links for different websites. For here the Imgur "Direct" link works without having to erase the front and back parenthesis etc. into the other media box. Once I tried it I thought it was best and easiest as well as fastest for just cut and paste no fixing thee links. Here is a snip I made of the Imgur link selection then saved the Snip to my local drive and then uploaded and copied the "Direct Link" then pasted it here. Here I outlined the correct link to use here in red:
  11. No need I already did and posted this here several years back. But it would be hard to find. I did this research with the head engineer of Marshal Gas Controls and Ed was nationally known as an engineer for Propane controls and valves safety features. The following is my articles combined into one that is in-depth and long and some of the links are bad but take what you can use and leave the rest. "I can see both sides somewhat Firstly, these propane appliances are designed to be used while in transit, as evidenced by the windscreens and design. In talking with the Fire Marshals of several states, and reviewing the intended purpose and use, it appears that they all agree that it is not a significant risk to run them while on the road. They are designed for it. From the reports of the industry, the majority of fires start in Motorhome engines, with 12 volt wiring making up the bulk of the rest. I agree that the best solution is to make sure you order the three way option so the fridge can run on 12 volt while in transit, which is the safest of all options, short of not traveling with any propane at all, not even in the tanks. Anecdotal evidence ("I heard") to the contrary, I have yet to see a single "source" document that indicates an RV "flame" caused the fire. I am not saying it never happened either, only that it appears to be passed around as a fact, when in fact it may be indeed urban legend. I would also like to see some links or sources. I don't state that as a challenge, simply that in calling insurance companies and talking to the Oregon DOT supervisor, and the State fire chief, they have not a single case of an RV burning down a station, nor any accidents where the propane was a causative factor. Propane will contribute to a fire, but for those who think they are safe in the event of a fire or accident with the valves closed, bear in mind that as soon as the tank or tanks are heated externally, the pressure begins to build up in the tank. As soon as it reaches 312 PSI the pressure relief valve will vent the propane in a rush. Whether that propane tank reaches that pressure from being the point of impact in a collision, or from heating, (in a fire it most certainly will reach 312 PSI!) and with the valves tightly closed, they will vent their contents. So traveling with propane, on or off, is a hazard in a fire or collision that seems to be moot either way valves on or off. The recommended standoff distance, because of the expected secondary explosions/contributions from the propane tanks, generator tanks, vehicle tanks, and other flammables, is 1500 feet if the fire cannot be contained in the first few minutes. Gasoline poses many of the same risks stored on board. The propane burning appliances are vented and draw the air for their combustion from outside air. They do not draw air for their combustion from the inside of the RV. If there is no oxygen, there is no combustion. Regardless of the metal shields and thinking that the flame is contained, it is an "open flame" in that the gasoline vapors can ignite, if they are in a high enough concentration in the air the reefer or other propane appliance draws in from the surrounding air. Gasoline vapors will ignite in concentrations between 1.4% and 7.6% , and above (minus)-45 degrees, it's thermal flash point. However! Since gasoline vapors are much heavier than air, they tend to pool in low spots, and run along the ground. This might explain why there is little or no "source" documentation of RV reefers or hot water heaters, which are about three feet plus off the ground, being the primary ignition factor, in any fueling fire. But that IS a risk when fueling. Having said that, it is imperative to stop before approaching any gasoline fueling point, and not only turn off all open flames and spark producing items, which include the water heater, reefer, generators, engines, BUT ALSO-to run your engine for awhile if you have just descended a hill, and the tranny, brakes, exhaust brakes, and catalytic converters are hot. A dragging brake shoe or disc can also be hot enough to ignite gasoline vapors. And are much closer to where the vapors are present. Aside from the above, it is against the law in every state to have an open flame, or running engine, when fueling with, or near gasoline pumps. "Diesel only" areas are a different matter from a flammability perspective, as diesel doesn't even form vapors below 100 degrees. Thus it is not listed in the national safety code as a flammable liquid, but instead a combustible liquid. But diesel will ignite on a hot surface, so if the fill nozzle is right over a hot brake, and a spill occurred, ignition could occur, as well as from a high pressure leak in the engine compartment on a hot manifold. This discussion has generated a lot of honest debate, with some "preferences" being stated as "fact," with catastrophic and dire scenarios furnished as "proof" of one position, or ignoring the law or physical properties/design for another. Some of the assertions have been in direct contradiction of the basic physics of combustion and RV design on both sides of the discussion. Funny that Oregon came into the discussion as I answered this question several months ago, when an Oregonian unequivocally stated that it is against the law in Oregon to travel with the propane on, in Oregon. I called the Oregon DOT and confirmed that when fueling, all open flames and sources like the engine, must be turned off. However, they stated that there have been no incidents where running with the propane on, have contributed to igniting an RV fire. They also confirmed that they see no problem with running on Oregon roads with propane appliances running, as long as they are turned off before refueling with any type of fuel. The state fire Marshall confirmed this. In Oregon, there is no rule against having your propane on while traveling in their state. This is directly from Oregon NFPA Code and was confirmed with the Oregon DOT today, and through the Oregon Fire Marshall's office. The source for the information is the Oregon DOT and you can call them toll free at 1-888-ASK-ODOT to confirm for yourselves. Here is a reprint from the email I received from the Oregon DOT supervisor: "All ignition sources must be extinguished while fueling the vehicle, however there is no prohibition against having a lit reefer while in transit." Which is what we have been proposing here the whole time. The facts. Whatever your choice, extinguish all open sources of ignition before fueling, especially at islands with gasoline. The above is a synopsis of information from authoritative sources, which are listed below. My summary of the data are these: 1. Running with the propane valves on could increase the risk of the propane igniting during a travel accident, but that risk is slight, and in the "catastrophic" scenarios listed, almost equal for valves off as valves on. If a rollover or severe collision occurred, not only could the gas lines rupture, but the tank and the lines at the tank could also, not to mention the heat from a fire. Conclusion: Running with the propane on is OK, from the experts. Risk increase slight, and doing it or not is a personal choice. 2. That the reefer and other appliances are indeed open flames and could ignite the gasoline vapors. And, since it is against the law to have any open flame, they must be turned off before refueling. The law does not state that there are exceptions for people that disagree, or know that gasoline vapors are heavier than air. As in all cases, some will disregard, and maybe even get caught, perhaps even be the one case we finally hear about. That decision is the same as drinking and driving. If caught, not much room to complain. Turn em off when refueling. 3. That most people are unaware of the real hazards for ignition of gasoline vapors, which are more than likely to have been responsible for any ignitions they have heard about or seen. These include hot brakes, catalytic converters, hot trannys and exhaust systems, that have not even been mentioned here, except briefly and accurately. 4. Since the original question was about a way to run the reefer from another source for safety, and since most folks will not discard a perfectly good reefer and spend $1500.00 or more for a three-way reefer, can it be done. Well, not from the inverter, but for all those that want the ultimate in safety, and not worry about shutting down the propane, in researching this answer I did find one possible solution. It is a switch that shuts down all propane when you switch off the ignition, and can be activated manually as well. Might be good or junk, I don't know, as I haven't tried one, nor can call them today, but just as a possible good compromise, worth looking into if only for an interesting compromise device for under 100 bucks. If my conclusions are not what you wanted to hear, please read the below sources, and perhaps some of them will become clearer. For those that want to have no safety risks, driving multiple tons of rig down the road is also a bigger risk than not. However, for those interested in real fire and refueling safety, the below may add a few items to your refueling and travel checklists. Article on other fire safety hazards you might not have considered http://www.rvaa.com/articles/safe_fuel_pump.php3 Recommendation for turning off all propane appliances before fueling, did you know you need to fully open the propane valves for the excess flow valve of your tank/s to be operable? http://www.rvaa.com/articles/propane2.php3 More fire safety for RVs and diesel Vs gasoline vapor points http://www.wbcci.org/html/body_maintenance_tips.html Maybe a 94 dollar solution? http://www.lslproducts.com/FOPage.html Gasoline vapor flash point and concentrations http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/ehs/handbook/flammabl/firetech.htm Gasoline heavier than air and pools in low spots as well as running along the ground to ignition sources. Diesel fuel needs above 100 degrees to even produce vapor. http://www.eig.com/ssus/ssu9706.html Propane 101 revisited So why all the tales of accidents and propane lines spewing? Actually it was true at one time, but times have changed along with the equipment. Prior to 1977 the majority of connections between the regulators and the propane containers (pigtail) in RVs were made of copper tubing, and were wound in a coil to take up excess tubing creating the "pigtail" coil appearance, from which they got their name. Copper, being malleable, when strained to breaking will many times reduce the inside diameter of copper tubing, either from stretching, or bending. This can restrict the flow to the point that excess flow check valves, which reduces the pressure in the propane line in case of a break or leak in the line, might not detect excess gas flow. Thus full pressure flow could occur. In 1977 the code was changed mandating that the connections, or pigtails, between the propane container and the regulator be made of rubber and then thermoplastic tubing, which would not change diameter in a mechanical "accident," and would activate the excess flow valves reliably when torn apart. It is important at this point to clarify terms. A tank is not a cylinder and vice versa. A propane cylinder, is a removable container like used in 5th wheels, TTs, and BBQs. It is not permanently mounted. A Tank refers to a permanently mounted propane container, like in a motorhome. My fiver uses a cylinder; your motorhome uses a tank. Here is the very important distinction. A tank has a permanent connection to the Motorhome's propane system, and has an extra fitting for it to be connected to at fill stations. The connection between the tank and the MH's propane system is never disconnected, except by a professional technician in most cases. With removable cylinders, the owner, a non-professional disconnects the cylinders, whenever a fill is needed. Thus the new valve design, and extra safety features, to prevent accidents by the end user while removed, during filling, and during removal and reinstallation of the pigtail from/to the cylinder. The MH tank is an ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) design and does not require the new OPD (Overfill Protection Device) valves because it already has a check valve and overfill protection, albeit a different design than cylinders. The trailer cylinders are DOT (Dept. Of Transportation) and have additional safeguards in the OPD and the pigtails because, as said earlier, they are disconnected completely on a regular basis by the user. These are in the 4-40 pound capacities. (Usually 30 pounds on fivers, and 20-pound cylinders on some TTs.) Several changes have been mandated for DOT cylinders since the pigtail mandate. In 1998 it was mandated that hand screw on Acme nuts be used on the pigtails in place of the older POL (Named after the company that designed them, the Prest-O-Lite Company) connectors. The Acme nut is the part that screws into the cylinder, and takes the place of the older brass POL connectors that screwed into the cylinder valve with a reverse thread requiring a wrench to tighten and seal. The Acme nut is the new Green one that screws onto the OPD's outside thread, uses a normal right hand twist to tighten, and which also tightens to seal by hand only, not requiring a wrench. This is significant because two safety features are built into the Acme nut itself. First, Acme nuts contain a thermal bushing, which will melt in a fire, and prevent the escape of gasses from the tank. When it melts, it allows the new OPD spring activated shut off valve, which will only allow the flow of gas if a fitting is attached, to pop out and completely shut the flow down. They also have an improved excess flow check valve, compared to the valve in the old POL fitting-more on that later. The new Acme nut also adds an O-ring to further help prevent leaks at the connection. With the advent of the requirement for all 4 to 40 pound DOT cylinders to change over to OPD valves in 2001, the safety features, in addition to the spring loaded shut off valve, have been further enhanced by insuring that the cylinders cannot be filled over 80% of capacity. This allows for vapor expansion, without building up excessive pressures from overfilling, and venting by way of the pressure relief valve. The old overfill device was a tube that connected to a bleeder valve that was observed during filling for liquid emission which indicated 80%. But if the person filling it did not shut off the propane it could overfill anyway. They used a scale for weight to fill also. Now DOT cylinders have an automatic stop fill valve built into the OPD valve. The ASME Tanks for MHs did not require a change in valve on the tank because they already had sufficient check valves for excess flow, should there be a leak or sudden break in a line. And for more than 17 years, ASME tanks have used automatic stop fill valves to limit filling to 80%. Why so long before DOT cylinders? Because you can't remove them to verify the fill by weight! More importantly, since the connection between the tank and the MHs system is not broken, there is no need for the spring-loaded valve that the DOT cylinders had added with the new OPD valve. That valve prevents the gas from coming out of the cylinder unless there is a tight connection made from the POL or Acme nut depressing the valve. In other words, you can turn on the valve of the DOT cylinder, and no gas would come out unless there was a connector depressing the inside valve. Not necessary for MH connections that are never removed. Thus they were exempted from the OPD changeover rules. Now to the new style excess flow check valve on the Acme nut that connects to the DOT cylinder's OPD valve. It is really a simple device. Inside the Acme nut, there is a ball bearing check valve that almost shuts off momentarily when full pressure is released by opening the cylinder valve. You should hear a click at that point. It doesn't shut down completely, as that would negate its ability to detect leaks and excess flow from a leak or major line break, and no gas could flow. It closes just enough to allow a bypass of gas that is very slight, about 10 cubic feet or less per hour (cf/hour) flow, as opposed to the max flow of 200 cf/hour. The bypass gas goes into the propane system, and if there are no leaks or broken pipes, it backs up and builds pressure in the gas lines in the RV. When it equalizes on both sides of the valve, the valve opens to allow full pressure up to about a max of 200 cf/hour at 100 psi. Then if you were standing there, you would hear a second click. Using all of your propane appliances should not exceed 100cf/hour. If there is a leak or a broken pipe, the pressure can't build up and the excess flow valve doesn't open up all the way thus limiting the gas output to about 10 cf/hour, or less. It is important to note that propane, like gasoline vapor, has narrow ignition requirements as far as air fuel mixture is concerned. So if you lit the leak (Don't try this at home!) it would show a flame at the leak in the air, but the concentration is too high in the line for it to ignite. In other words the fire can't run up the line to the cylinder or tank to ignite it. Want to see it in action? Watch your gas range work. Why doesn't the flame travel up the tube it comes out of to the burner? Same thing. In fact, it is pretty difficult to actually blow up a propane tank or cylinder. What does occur when the pressure relief valve blows, which occurs at 312 psi in ASME tanks, and 375psi in DOT cylinders, is that the gas is vented and makes a lot of noise. I have had one overfilled tank vent and it really got my attention! But there was no flame or problem, as it dissipated outside very quickly. Should there be a fire or source of ignition when it vents, it won't explode either, instead it makes a torch. It does not ignite inside the gas line and run up it to the tank or cylinder and "explode." The only exception to that, is if it is punctured and ignited simultaneously, and then the same external ignition occurs only more rapidly. Or, if a leak is allowed to build up inside an enclosed space like our RVs, and then is ignited, there is one heck of a fire. But oxygen must be present in the right mixture within the ignition range, which is fairly narrow. The important thing is that with the garlic odorant (Ethyl Mercaption) that is added, you would smell it in most cases of a small leak or break, with time to take appropriate action. It can be smelled by the human nose and your detectors at about 1/5th of the lower limit of combustibility or about 1/2 % propane to air. (Propane combusts at 2.15% gas to air to 9.6% gas to air - not above and not below.) Since most RVs have propane detectors near the floor now, they would alert long before the levels reach dangerous concentrations, if they are in good working order. An interesting side note is that there are two types of pigtail connector designs to attach to a DOT Cylinder. Appropriately called Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is the Acme nut on the pigtail and the OPD valve on the cylinder. Type 2 is a quick-disconnect (QD,) which requires the type 2 OPD Valve that matches it on the DOT cylinder. What makes the Type 2 different from a plain quick disconnect, aside from needing the valve that matches on the cylinder, is that the Type 2 QD has all the safety items built into the pigtail end as the Type 1. This includes the excess flow check valve, and the thermal bushing. For some reason, unknown to the industry, when the new code was formulated, RVs were left out of approval for the Type 2 valve and pigtail design for a quick disconnect at the cylinder. It is important to note that this part of the code limits only the main connection from cylinder to pigtail to regulator to a Type 1 in RVs. It is acceptable to use a plain propane approved QD for a tap in the line after the regulator in an RV, for example to run a line to a BBQ grill or Catalytic heater. In summary, while some people have experienced propane leaks and breaks in the lines, there are safety devices that you never see, and most folks are unaware of, that stop or limit the flow in a mechanical leak, fire, or breakage. With today's built in safety systems, propane detectors, and the final back up, our own noses, it is much safer to use and live with propane than ever before. Should you have a sudden low-pressure condition in your RV appliances, it may be that the excess flow check valve has kicked in and is telling you that you have a leak or break in the line because it would not equalize. Of course to test that, all you have to do is turn the propane off at the cylinder or tank, wait a few minutes and turn it back on to full. If it then equalizes and runs OK, it just had a piece of trash or contaminant that temporarily hung up the excess flow check valve. That click you hear is the check valve operating when you first open the cylinder valve all the way. It is possible to turn it on so slowly that you won't hear it, but in most cases you will with the new equipment. If you plan to run your fridge on the road, and still have the old design pigtails and valves on your DOT cylinders, you might want to consider changing over for maximum safety. (Yes, in some states like Louisiana, you can still fill non-OPD DOT cylinders.) Now that you know how the check valves work, you know that it is very important to keep the inside of the cylinder valve clean, to avoid getting grit and road grime from fouling them and possibly getting into the excess flow check valve when reconnecting. Looking at the valves that are exposed when transporting your DOT cylinders for refilling, it is very important to use the plastic plugs for the old style valves, and the caps supplied with the OPD valves on the cylinders when transporting them to and from the refueling station, to keep contaminants out of your safety devices. Also keep them upright at all times. This keeps them from possibly leaking liquid propane. I use an old plastic milk crate for transporting that keeps them upright and stable enough not to fall over with reasonable driving. The 20, 30, and 40-pound cylinders all fit in them snugly. For the taller tanks, an additional strap or bungee cord might be necessary. None of these precautions or items will make it safe to have an open flame (propane appliance running) while refueling with any fuel, especially around gasoline vapors. Also remember that it is not necessary to turn off the propane before fueling, assuming your system is in good shape with no leaks, but to turn the propane appliances off electrically, by using the on/off switches inside. With the electronic igniters used today, should one go into auto ignite mode, either by design or malfunction, that could ignite gasoline fumes as well as the flame. If it makes you feel more secure to shut the propane valves off as well, that is fine. Just remember that the excess flow check valve insures no leaks, if the fridge was operating properly at the time of shut off. I have not even gone into all of the propane and ignition safety devices that cut off the gas supply at the appliance for under and over pressures, and failure of ignition etc. Every one of them has those built in as well. Also remember that all propane appliances generate CO, or Carbon monoxide. That is why they vent their combustion products to the outside, and draw their air for combustion from the outside. They must be sealed from the inside compartment or we would all have CO inside. Should there be a leak outside on the road, the outside vents would probably keep it from reaching any concentrations that would ignite. And the gas should not be able to get inside. If there is a leak inside, it should not be able to be ignited by the appliance flame outside. Any leak is dangerous and should be dealt with immediately by turning off the propane at the source and shutting down any electrical devices that might create a spark. Understanding all of the above should make it plain why I said the risk in running a reefer on the road is not one of catastrophic danger. And why I say that there is only a slight increase in risk, which is negligible from a fire standpoint based on propane ignitions causing less than 1/10th of one percent of all fires. The chance of a fire from your engine leaking fuel, or an electrical fire, are magnitudes greater. But we start our engines and use our electrical systems. Again, running the reefer on the road does not include while refueling. Choosing not to run your propane while in transit is a personal preference made with all the facts in hand. Not running it while in transit does add some extra measure of safety. Which is rational, and may make for peace of mind for many folks. But running it or not is not the big risk, or lack thereof, many make it out to be. Whatever decision makes your travel and comfort levels best, is the right one for you. Can mechanical devices fail? Of course! Which ones fail most often has been covered. I would like to thank the kind folks at Marshall Gas Controls for spending so much of their valuable time with me to provide the history, facts, and figures used in this article. And for finally getting this RVr to understand how that excess flow valve and thermal bushing work. ©Derek Gore / RV Roadie 1998-2023 Safe Travels!
  12. https://www.votervoice.net/iframes/AFSA/newsletters/355289?isInformationalBroadcast=true
  13. https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2023/09/update-chrome-now-google-patches-critical-vulnerability-which-is-exploited-in-the-wild?utm_source=blueshift&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=b2c_pro_oth_20230918_septemberweeklynewsletter_v3_169473576028&utm_content=Chrome_logo
  14. Not me but I love those rigs. I almost bought a used one back in 2016 or so. when they first came out. We are between rigs now and look forward to any posts you do about them. Welcome back!
  15. " . . . the Polestar brand, which is produced by Volvo, a company purchased by the Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, according to Capital.com. The vehicles are built in China but are exported to the U.S. (and other countries) for sale. The Polestar 3 is set to get produced in the company’s Volvo plant in South Carolina in the near future, though." https://www.motorbiscuit.com/can-you-buy-chinese-electric-cars-in-united-states/#:~:text=Well%2C technically%2C the answer is no%3B there aren’t,automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group%2C according to Capital.com. So EVs made in China are already sold in the US.
  16. The chicken tarriff won't stop EVs from being sold here. in fact one Chinese EV is already being sold here with many more, brands about to open factories here and compete. Excerpt: Are there Chinese electric cars in the United States? China entered the automotive market decades after the U.S. when internal combustion engines were the primary power source. The sizeable Asian country was limited to selling cars on Chinese soil. But, now that they’ve dipped into EV technology, opportunities to expand to American markets and other countries are opening up. Are they selling any electric cars in the United States currently, though? Well, technically, the answer is no; there aren’t any Chinese automakers directly selling electric vehicles on American soil. However, there is the Polestar brand, which is produced by Volvo, a company purchased by the Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, according to Capital.com. The vehicles are built in China but are exported to the U.S. (and other countries) for sale. The Polestar 3 is set to get produced in the company’s Volvo plant in South Carolina in the near future, though. There’s also the BYD Auto company that builds electric buses out of a Lancaster, CA plant, but those are marketed commercially instead of residentially." Source: https://www.motorbiscuit.com/can-you-buy-chinese-electric-cars-in-united-states/#:~:text=Well%2C technically%2C the answer is no%3B there aren’t,automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group%2C according to Capital.com. That is exactly what GM did with the bolt. LG designed it, built it in modules, then sent the modules to the US for final assembly at the GM Orion plant. But that was Korean, same/same for an import. The rest are coming fast despite the Chicken tax: "Currently, there are two main reasons why we don’t see too many Chinese automakers producing vehicles for the North American market. The first is an old concept called the “chicken tax.” This fee is imposed on certain companies for goods imported to the United States. The tariff came about in the 1960s when other countries imposed a tax on U.S. chicken sold in European markets. Upset over the price increase, Lyndon Johnson decided to get back by increasing tariffs by 25% on certain goods, including light pickup trucks. To this day, it’s still being implemented, despite some changes made to it over the years, according to The Washington Post. Another more recent issue stems from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. While in the past, many EV sales came with a federal tax credit for consumers as an incentive to buy electric, this new act by U.S. officials changed which electric vehicles qualify for those incentives. Nowadays, the credit is only for EVs produced in North America, which eliminates foreign markets like China, Russia, and Iran, to name a few. Will Chinese companies sell on the North American market? Despite the issues from trade tariffs and the elimination of the federal tax credit, some Chinese automakers plan to expand into the American market. To get around the increased costs, some of these companies plan to move manufacturing plants onto U.S. soil, so the cars are produced locally instead of in a Chinese plant. Nio, one Chinese automaker, currently sells vehicles in Norway, but there are plans to reach the North American market soon. The company planned to begin with gasoline-powered cars and then move to EVs shortly after that. XPeng is another Chinese-based company that sells vehicles. However, it focuses its sales on Norway and will move on to Sweden and the Netherlands. No immediate plans were made for the American market, but with other Chinese automakers moving west, it’s likely it will soon follow. China makes plenty of sales in the domestic and European markets, but due to some limitations, selling on U.S. soil has been pretty elusive. However, that’s about to change in the next few years, as some China automakers are making plans to move operations to the United States." Same source: https://www.motorbiscuit.com/can-you-buy-chinese-electric-cars-in-united-states/#:~:text=Well%2C technically%2C the answer is no%3B there aren’t,automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group%2C according to Capital.com. The GM Bolt got around the Chicken tax too. They were designed and built in a jouint venture in Korea by LG: https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/lg-bolt-ev-parts/ https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/lg-bolt-ev-parts/
  17. Good for you. Your needs are being met as we speak by all EV manufacturers. There you go again, telling someone in Colorado who drives my EV here since January 2020 in the extreme cold, even the 2021 freeze and every winter that my car has cold issues it does not. I will add a few YouTubes about this at the bottom but the short answer to your totally wrong assertion that Tesla vehicles cannot charge in extreme cold I will demonstrate in two pics. The first shows that some of the coldest places on earth have the highest adoption rate per capita in the world of EVs. If they could not charge do you think Scandinavia, (Norway, Sweden, Finland, all north of Siberia, would not have been told by the first EV owner to not buy them? 😂 One Tesla owner saw that guy post his freaked out video claiming his Tesla would not charge in the cold so he made the following video to prove they do. It is as easy as shifting into drive, see the car will not drive until you do that. This next video is 20 minutes long! But I include it for new Tesla owners who do not know to precondition their Teslas on the way to the Supercharger if parked outside in extreme cold, which can also be done around the block a few times. I park my Tesla and Forester in our garage and never leave them out because of hail here. I have my charger in the garage and even during the extreme cold of 2021 deep freeze no preconditioning was necessary, and it drove around town on errands as normal range not noticeably impacted. So here is a video test showing noobs what likely happened to his Tesla - operator error most likely and less likely but also possible his Tesla broke, not because of cold. I Deep Froze My Tesla And Immediately Plugged It Into A Supercharger To See What Happens I never had that happen so I did not know until long after the 2021 deep freeze about pre-conditioning if parked all day outside. I include it for new Tesla owners who do not know to precondition their Teslas on the way to the Supercharger which can also be done around the block a few times if you charge at home like I do. This is only for extreme cold. Many will stop watching when the Tesla does not charge. This done on purpose to prove they do charge and run fine in the cold. But a few minutes before you get in the car you open the App on your phone and select precondition while you are making your morning coffee. Again, if you charge at home like I do, no need. This is only for extreme cold no home charger and not parked in the garage. Many will stop watching when the Tesla does not charge. This test was done done on purpose to prove they do charge and run fine in the cold. But a few minutes before you get in the car you open the App on your phone and select precondition while you are making your morning coffee. The following is only for current Tesla owners wondering who have not driven in extreme cold, or NEVER PARKED OUTSIDE IN EXTREME COLD, and those looking at EVs who want facts not myths. If you hate EVs and/or me for writing about the biggest transition in transportation and energy since the horse to gasoline car transition no problem. I get to drive mine not just read. I also rode in a piper cub and took over steering and made a turn in one but not alone and only for a few minutes like test drive. But I cannot fly and would not base how flying is on that alone. Charging in OUTSIDE COLD FROM A COLD CAR NOT DRIVEN IS EASY! It is one click in the app to precondition, it heats the battery pack in just a short drive to one, and then acts normally. Knowing this folks who drive to charge a couple of times a month. That way you don't have to get a fright thinking it will not charge in extreme cold. No biggie. Kind of like plugging in a diesel truck block heater when cold is expected unless it is kept in a garage. Mine and all new Teslas have the Octapump: I hope that helps. Much easier than learning to operate an RV black tank.
  18. Just like what the usual suspects here called vaporware back in 2003 right here on these forums and continue today. You guys keep naysaying and I'll keep driving them. Which of you have even dared to test drive one? That seems to be a no no for anti EVrs. So the talk isn't even grounded in experience when there are plenty to test drive free. 😵😉
  19. You really should look first. They had the best pics. If you remember when Detroit turned out pretty poor vehicles in the 60s and 70s. The VW debuted the VW Bug for $1900.00 here and we saw our first Toyotas about the same time. The Germans and Japanese beat us at our own game. We are behind again this time with poorly designed over priced EVs. I just tried to buy a different brand EV for the last six months from Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, Volvo, Toyota, and even looked at the few PHEVs and they had poor range and acceleration, were unavailable, and amazingly had almost no storage compared to my Y. No one is trying to get you to buy anything. But the world is transitioning to EVs and renewable energy. That is a fact. Facts remain facts despite your not liking them. We are hoping the new batteries are out fourth quarter so I can trade both cars in for two new Tesla Model Ys. One would be a Cybertruck but the waiting list is far too long. Remember the debut of the Cybertruck and HDT? remember the smaller truck between the Cyber and the Tesla HDT? It is becoming a concept being worked up by aftermarket manufacturers and with so many it looks like development may not be too far away. https://www.the-sun.com/motors/6870301/tesla-semi-motorhome-design-revealed/ Air Taxis? "Society may be getting one step closer to the flying commuter vehicles made famous in the animated series "The Jetsons," as Ohio just announced that hundreds of flying taxis will be built at a facility in the state. The company Joby Aviation Inc. was selected to build an electric air taxi manufacturing site at Dayton International Airport, Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Ohio Department of Development director Lydia Mihalik, JobsOhio president & CEO J.P. Nauseef announced on Monday." https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/hundreds-of-flying-taxis-to-be-built-in-ohio-governor-announces/ar-AA1gUVO8 Have a great week guys. I sure will with everything going on.
  20. Lol! Nice try guys, here's from 2023 Guess they are being made. Tell me why they won't meet US standards with some non vapor facts. You do know you are predictable. Kirk you should remember these same comments about Tesla when I posted about them and later their stock. GM isn't in that partnership for just talk. Oh for those of us with EVs the Lightship is pressing on: Here's the latest: https://lightshiprv.com/l1 https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/16/tesla-supplier-catl-unveils-battery-that-can-add-up-to-400km-of-range-in-10-minutes/
  21. We would stop in Chanute Kansas every year on our way out for any chassis or heavy slide repairs. We are fortunate in that every base had a wood shop and auto repair shop for our RAM truck, and we took advantage. when we burned a bearing in Washington on the way back from Alaska in 1999, we used a Les Schwab for the new axle, brake sets and hubs. they did an excellent job. but I would not have done that at home although we had the tools and compressor. On the road we had a Ryobi battery tool set as we could use them on the side of the road. Spare flair it connectors, and my electrical repair tools and connectors, fuses etc. One tackle box for them and a three drawer tool box for hand tools.
  22. IN short the LastPass breach netted the criminals your emails and other info and access to the vaults. The new threat is they cannot crack the vaults for all your passwords easily unless they can fool you. Since they have your email address if you were a customer during the breach, it is a testament that even though they have your vaults they cannot access those. But they have your password thus the phishing emails out now.into giving them your code. Excerpt: "The consequences of last year's LastPass breach continue to be felt, with the latest insult to users coming in the form of a highly convincing phishing email. Although the "unauthorized party" that compromised LastPass users' data was able to steal password vaults, it's likely that they are having a hard time cracking them open. LastPass's own assessment was that "it would be extremely difficult to attempt to brute force guess master passwords for those customers who follow our password best practices." Brute force guessing techniques may be successful for some weak passwords, but it's an approach that quickly runs out of steam. The frequency with which passwords are uncovered diminishes exponentially, and the cost per password increases in the same way. So while some passwords will be so strong they are effectively uncrackable, many weaker ones are likely to be safe simply because they're too costly to uncover. However, there is another, far easier way for criminals to get at LastPass users' passwords, without cracking them: They can simply ask. They can do this becasue alongside the password vaults that were stolen, criminals also made off with customers' email addresses, as well as "basic customer account information", company names, end-user names, billing addresses, telephone numbers, and IP addresses. Armed with this data, attackers can send targeted phishing emails that attempt to steal the passwords needed to unlock the stolen password vaults. The LastPass phishing email we received was convincing, familiar, and executed with high production values. However, as convincing as it was, the email could not avoid the two red flags that allow anyone to spot almost any scam: A demand for personal information and an attempt to hurry the victim. The email lure tells users to verify their personal data or face losing deactivation of "certain features" on 26 September. The full email reads: Verification of your personal data Warning: Some of your contact information is out of date, it must be verified in order to maintain full access to your LastPass account. LastPass is based on two fundamentaI principIes: the security and confidentiaIity of your personaI data. For us, data security is paramount. LastPass takes payment security and the trust our customers pIace in us very seriousIy. When you use LastPass , we make every effort to protect your personaI information and that reIated to your payments. To avoid the deactivation of certain features of your LastPass account, log in before September 26, 2023 to confirm your account information. Although we spotted quickly that the "From" address of the email was registered in Thailand and didn't appear to be related to LastPass, we suspect many won't. Unfortunately, the old advice to watch out for strange addresses, complicated URLs, and to not click on links is being undermined by a vast army of legitimate companies using mailing systems that do all three. The email's 'Confirm my information' link uses a complicated URL format that likely contains a unique ID, which redirects to the phishing site itself. Like the email, the site is an almost pixel-perfect copy of the real thing. (The only giveaways in the design were 'Create an account' and 'Forgot password' buttons that don't do anything.) Again, while some users might be put off by the Slovakian domain name, it looks neat enough and somewhat official. Filling in the username and password causes the page to reload, this time with a request for a two-factor authentication (2FA) code—allowing us to remind you once again that while code-based 2FA is a solid defence against all kinds of password attacks, it is no defence against phishing. (For that you need 2FA based on FIDO2, such as hardware keys.) Having fed the criminals some useless information, we checked the site's Slovakian domain name and discovered that it had been created just a few days before on September 2, 2023, via the Russian registrar webnames.ru—a veritable bunting of fluttering red flags. Thankfully, while this phish was convincing and difficult to spot, our standard phishing advice still applies, and would have kept you safe. Source with more related links: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2023/09/nasty-lastpass-phish?utm_source=blueshift&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=b2c_pro_oth_20230918_septemberweeklynewsletter_v3_169473576028&utm_content=Last_Pass
  23. BIG NEWS Upgrading your iPhone? Read this first Upgrading your iPhone? Read this first Has all this iPhone 15 talk left you thinking about an upgrade? Here are some tips to consider when transferring from your old phone to your new one. What teenagers face growing up online: Lock and Code podcast What teenagers face growing up online: Lock and Code podcast Children have always inherited some of their identities from their parents, but the transfer of online identity poses unique risks. In this week’s podcast, host David Ruiz revisits his conversation with a teenager about the hardest parts of growing up online. Watch out, this LastPass email with "Important information about your account" is a phish Watch out, this LastPass email with "Important information about your account" is a phish We caught a nasty phish this week, likely looking to feed on victims of last year's LastPass breach. Update your Chrome: Google patches critical vulnerability Update your Chrome: Google patches critical vulnerability Chrome users are being urged to patch a critical vulnerability for which an exploit is available and being used by cybercriminals.
  24. Intel has a new System on a Chip processor line called the N 100 series. I was unaware of them until I saw this micro computer called the Morefine M8s. I did not believe the specs at first but the reviews bore them out. So I bought one with the 12th gen N-100 SoC, 16GB of RAM, and the 512GB M.2 SSD and 4k graphics output for $179.99. As well it has built in Bluetooth and WiFi 6! Our home Internet is WiFi6 It lived up to the hype and then some IMO. This thing has a new Intel line I think is replacing the Pentium line but so much more advanced and well thought out. It uses a System on a Chip (SoC) that combines the CPU, graphics, and controller functions on a single piece of silicon. So here is the link to where I found the best prices and security – Amazon. Morefine N100 system link When I bought it a couple of weeks ago it was more out of curiosity and as a tech toy, and maybe it would be a good Home theater unit. I am bowled over. This thing is tiny with a silent fan, much faster than I expected, and unless you are a gamer (It runs some games) or doing a lot of heavy lifting with your computers. This is fast enough for me and will do anything I need daily. It is a desktop system that for RVrs I envision as a mounted on the back of TVs to save space and using wireless all in one keyboards and track pads like the Logitech K400 which I have. I was concerned with its use of single instead of dual channel RAM and that the only upgrades are for the SSD. As well there is no USB C port for data, the one in the is is the power supply connector, but all the USB A ports are USB 3.2. However, the build quality is excellent as well as easy to mount as it came with a back of monitor/TV bracket and the mounting VESA screws as well that fit mine. I had never heard of Morefine but took a chance based on many reviews. I have never owned aa system that had two Ethernet Ports and have no idea what use they could be. (I am sure someone will pipe up with uses) YMMV but micro systems have come a long way since my last one. Here are pics of mine: Below shows it is smaller than a normal mouse. I already installed the mounting bracket on the bottom. Below: It fits in the palm of my hand, and I do not have large hands. I mounted it on the back of a Viewsonic 28" full HD W-LED VA2855smh monitor that uses an MVA panel. Below: The picture is stunning, even in FHD. I am trying it on my 4k TV and my quad HD (2k) 32" main monitor next. I also used a Bose Soundlink mini II for the sound hooked up with a 3.5mm audio cable. The Bose is black but is visible under the monitor in the pic. As well the mini keyboard/trackpad. It runs cooler than any of my systems as measured by Speccy: https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy/download I have been using Speccy free for ten years or so. Love it. Any questions?
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