docj

To my knowledge, I  have never received a SPAM SD call despite the fact that we are SD residents.  All my SPAM comes from the area code where my phone is registered which happens to be 301.

As for SPAM filtering, my Pixel 6 Pro rejects ~80% of SPAM without me having to do anything.

48 minutes ago, sandsys said:

When we went full time back in 2008 I already had a T-Mobile phone and Dave had a Sprint one. We just picked which one to use as a hot spot depending on the signal each was receiving.

Most, if not all, phone plans have limits on the amount of high speed data you can use in a month before being slowed down to what is euphemistically referred to as 2G speeds.  Data-only (hotspot) plans also may have limits but they often are larger.  Using phones as hotspots also means the phone has to be where you are which can be a problem if, for example, your spouse has taken their phone and gone shopping.  We have found standalone hotspots to be more convenient.

It puzzles me why so many people I encounter seem to have a kind of "brand loyalty" to their cellular provider along the lines of "I have a [name of provider] phone so I guess I'll get a [same provider] hotspot.  There's nothing that ties these two things together; your provider isn't loyal to you so don't be so loyal to them.  Find the best plans for the places you are going to be and use them.  Currently all the major carriers have data-only plans in the range of 100GB/mo for $50-60/mo.  Be sure to investigate both prepaid and postpaid plans; they are often rather different.

19 hours ago, RV_ said:

Joel, as I said except Apple only folks, be3cause of FaceTime they usually don't know about it. We would use it too if we were all Apple fans.

All my kids and grand-kids have Android phones so Duo is our Video call of choice. Terrific quality.

My wife, my kids and my grandkids all have gone over "to the dark side" and I'm alone holding aloft a waning torch for Android! But my Pixel 6 Pro was just approved for Verizon C-Band service so I may have the last laugh (if I ever find a C-band tower!)  😁

4 hours ago, RV_ said:

Dutch, try Duo with a friend or family. It is pretty awesome quality and reliable video calling messaging etc. Android or Apple.

All my kids and grandkids have iPhones so we just use FaceTime.  My wife has an iPhone and it's easy for her with connect to on her own.

17 hours ago, Kirk W said:

That came from reading reviews as did the comment that some moisture is still contributed to the interior. Since we didn't have any type of washer/dryer when fulltime I only go by what I have read and some comments we used to hear.

I find it unfortunate that so much of the information posted about unvented combo washer/dryers is second or third hand stuff, much of which isn't true.  I know you didn't have any ill intent in this case, but it's frustrating to see people re-posting items such as "don't get an unvented combo because they dump all the water vapor into the RV" when they've never owned or operated one.  

As you noted, unvented combos are popular in both Europe and Asia where they are often built in as kitchen appliances.  If space is a at a premium and access to an outside wall isn't practical, an unvented combo can be an ideal solution.  They sure wouldn't be that popular if all the negative traits attributed to them in forum posts were actually true!  😁

On 3/17/2022 at 7:22 AM, Kirk W said:

True but, the ventless does contribute to the humidity as it doesn't get 100% of the moisture out. It isn't easy to find but most seem to remove more on the order of 90% of the moisture.

Our unvented Splendide has a gasket-sealed door and the condensed water vapor coming off the clothes is directed to the drain.  I'm not sure where you find the 10% of the water that you say is released inside the RV.  If you are speaking of the slight amount of dampness that sometimes can be found on the clothes when the drying cycle ends, we usually just turn it back on for a few minutes and the clothes then come out totally dry.

As for the slower drying times, I think many RVers fail to understand that ANY dryer running on a 15A 120V circuit will dry a given load of clothes approximately three times slower when compared to a residential dryer running on 30A 240V circuit.  I know that the drying elements in both vented and unvented Splendide combos have the same wattage.  The vented version may have a greater airflow which would result in somewhat shorter drying times. 

As for the lower drying temperature, the unvented Splendide has two heat settings, one of which is only accessible when using the Cotton wash cycle.  When we, for example, dry towels using that high heat setting they can come out almost too hot to handle.   I suspect that the lower temperature you are referring to is the temperature used for the Permanent Press cycle (or the Cotton cycle when the "low temp" button is pressed.)  We do use that when drying clothes and, I agree, I think that is better for them.

Their website clearly still states that the cancellation fee ought to have been $15 since you cancelled way in advance of your reservation date.  I realize that it's not a huge amount of money, but if you care you might want to file a complaint with the State of TN Consumer Affairs office.

From the parks' website:
 

Cancellation Policy:

Should you need to cancel a reservation, you must notify us before 12 noon 14 days prior to the reservation date in order to get everything back besides a $15 service fee. If you call after 12 pm less than 14 days prior, then you will lose the deposit completely. Any changes to your reservation must be done at least 14 days prior to your arrival date.

On 3/8/2022 at 8:19 PM, RV_ said:

The new feature Microsoft has chosen to highlight is the Windows Subsystem for Android, which allows Windows 11 users to download and install a "curated" (that means small) selection of Android apps from the Amazon Appstore.

I run Bluestacks in order to run Android games on my pc's.  Would the ability to do this through Windows 11 have any advantages over Bluestacks?  Specifically, we play Wordscapes on my wife's Dell because it has a touch screen!

1 hour ago, Blues said:

Subsidies are most prominent in Obamacare, and they do get reported on income tax returns.  And a person receiving a subsidy wouldn't receive a check or direct deposit, but instead would have a reduced health insurance premium, and it all gets sorted out on the income tax return. 

Sorry, but Obamacare subsidies are not taxable:

Q. If I get an Obamacare subsidy in the exchange, is the subsidy amount considered income?

A.  No. The subsidies (both premium assistance tax credits and cost-sharing) are not considered income and are not taxed.

https://www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/if-i-get-an-obamacare-subsidy-in-the-exchange-is-the-subsidy-amount-considered-income/#:~:text=No.,made health coverage more affordable.

On 2/20/2022 at 8:41 AM, lappir said:

A similar situation occurred last year when I had my taxes filed. I get a letter saying I didn't report the "Subsidy" amount I received from the "Trump" administration. I told my tax preparer I did not receive a check or direct deposit. How do I fight it. She said I should just ignore since I would have to pay her more than the subsidy payment to prove I didn't get it. 

With all due respect there must have been a misunderstanding.  None of the stimulus checks mailed out during the Trump administration were considered taxable income.

https://www.cnbc.com/select/will-stimulus-check-be-taxed/

5 minutes ago, Blues said:

 I can't square that with the "where the work is performed" standard.  This was a national company with several employees in that position, so I assume they knew what they were doing; I'm just trying to figure out how, now that I've learned about the rules.

I don't know if the NYTimes will let you see this post, but your issue is discussed in detail here:  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/18/opinion/taxes-remote-work.html

Some CC services are turned on through the Options key rather than the approach you described.  At least that's what I have found to be the case with my Roku.

The Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock tells the story of the gliders and their pilots who were trained to ferry materials silently behind enemy lines.  A portion of what is now Lubbock's airport was used as the training center. Silent Wings Museum

8 minutes ago, LindaH said:

The order verification email that I received from the USPS after I ordered the tests said a shipping verification email would be sent when they were mailed.

Yup;  I got the same email, but I never received a shipping notice.

8 minutes ago, LindaH said:

Haven't even received a shipping verification yet.  Good thing they're free.

I don't recall ever receiving a shipping notice; they simply showed up in the mail one day.

1 hour ago, LindaH said:

We received our COVID test kits supplied by the state, but we're still waiting for the ones from the US government that I ordered back on 1/18.

We ordered ours the first day they were available and they came about a week ago.

The National Musical Instrument Museum in Vermillion SD.

10 hours ago, usbusin said:

So what type of cell phone will be required to use this "sub 6 GHz 5G"?  Must it be 5G or will a 4G phone work?

I believe the sub 6 GHz band will be exclusively 5G.  Some of today's newer phones are being equipped to receive "sub 6" signals.  I believe my Pixel 6 Pro can.

54 minutes ago, usbusin said:

  From what I have read, 5G has a range of 1500 feet.  Therefore I don't see how it would work here. 

With all due respect, you are speaking about only one segment of the overall "space" of 5G service.  Yes, millimeter wave 5G has a very short range and is primarily suited for urban environments. 

But most of the 5G service that has already been introduced nationwide has NOT been millimeter wave 5G.  Most of the 5G we have today shares the frequency spectrum with the 4G system and has range that is similar to that of 4G.  

And most of the 5G focus over the next several years will be what is sometimes known as "sub 6 GHz 5G" which uses wavelengths shorter than 4G broadcasts but much, much longer than those used for millimeter wave 5G.

The bottom line is that it is impossible to know what capabilities a tower has just on the basis of where it is physically located.  As I said previously, I seriously doubt that anyone would erect a new tower these days without giving it the capability of broadcasting a 5G signal of one form or another.

6 hours ago, usbusin said:

We have a new cell tower going up in our neighborhood (going to be a pine tree).  Can anyone tell me if it is 4G or 5G?

You have to assume that any new tower these days will be a combination of 4G and 5G signals.

8 hours ago, Kirk W said:

And they do nothing to support smart phones, as far as I know.   😏

Right.  The previous comment that the Starlink ground stations form some kind of cellular system is simply incorrect.

38 minutes ago, agesilaus said:

Starlink is reportedly running up to 150 MB/sec but is pricey and has a long wait list. $500 for the antenna and $100/mo. And it runs on a cell system linked to earth stations which you may or may not be able to connect to.

Starlink download speeds do appear to vary by location and time of day but, at our home base in coastal TX, mine typically are about ~250Mbps.  FWIW the service has been extremely reliable; it averages less than one minute of unavailability per day.  Latency times are in the 30-40 msec range. 

Starlink's earth stations serve to connect the satellite system to the "internet backbone".  The ground stations don't constitute another cell system.    They are invisible as far as users are concerned and uplink speeds are in the 30-40 Mbps range.

3 hours ago, GlennWest said:

Had a 5g phone for a few months. Have not seen 5g yet

We've been seeing 4G/LTE speeds approaching 100 Mbps on Verizon in more and more places.  With speeds like that I don't care if it's 5G or not!

36 minutes ago, Kirk W said:

5G Conspiracy Theorists Are Embracing New Wireless Technology Called 5G  PC Magazine

SOMETHING IN THE AIR    The Atlantic

5 New Conspiracy Theories That Science Proved Wrong    News Week

Thanks to Kirk for posting the article I forgot to provide a link to.

3 hours ago, FlyFishn said:

Without going on a tangent too far that may have unwanted ruffled feathers - there are some nefarious purposes intermingled with 5G that I believe will be shut down.

The "5G conspiracy theory" machine has been going full tilt for several years.  Here's an article that examines and disposes of several of the leading 5G conspiracy theories: