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<font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big><b>In this edition:<br>
</b><b><br>
</b>Fast Internet, Fast Computers, Hot Heads, and a Black
Cat...<br>
<b><br>
</b><b>Assorted News:<br>
</b> Finally over the Singapore British Australian Flu bug.<br>
NBN Wireless (and Fibre) now available for much of
Armidale...<br>
</big></small></font><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big><br>
<b>Handy Tips:<br>
</b> Low Tech Winter Tips.</big></small></font><font
color="#000000"><br>
Make your computer four times faster?<br>
DIY Websites.<br>
<br>
<b>Other Stuff:<br>
</b>Who wants to buy an exercise bike? (or sell a
Treadmill.)<br>
Cancelled my Merchant Facilities - free swipe machine
materials to first responder!<br>
</font><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big><br>
</big></small></font><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big>
<b><br>
</b></big></small></font>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big><br>
</big></small></font><b><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big>Finally
over the Singapore British Australian Flu bug.</big></small></font></b><br>
<font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big><b> <br>
</b></big></small></font><font color="#000000">As many of you
noticed, I was off crook for a week or so with a bug that turned
me into a bit of a zombie. Back on deck now and catching up fairly
well. The family visit went very well, bar everyone getting sick!<br>
<br>
</font><b><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big>NBN
Wireless (and fibre) now available for much of Armidale...</big></small></font></b><br>
<br>
A few days ago I was going to send out an email to let you all know
that NBN is now available wirelessly in Armidale and some
surrounding areas. However before doing so I thought I better run
the text of the proposed email via Exetel in case I had any facts
wrong. They amended it (with the text in red) causing it to sound a
bit more advertorial than I intended. So, in the interest of keeping
the distinction clear, here's the email back from them, with their
edits in red :)<br>
<br>
<blockquote><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">Just
a quick note to let you know that it is now possible to get
onto the NBN</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">
Network via Fibre and Fixed Wireless connections </span><span
style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";
color: black;">in Armidale and some surrounding areas.</span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">To
see if you're in a covered area, check out <a
href="http://www.nbnco.com.au/rollout/rollout-map.html"><span
style="color:black">http://www.nbnco.com.au/rollout/rollout-map.html</span></a>
(Type in Armidale)</span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">At
this stage, I can do NBN Wireless connections via </span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">NBN’s
Retail Service Provider - </span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">Exetel
at a guaranteed 12</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">M</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">bps
down 1</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">M</span><span
style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";
color: black;">bps up speed.</span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">Two
plans available:</span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">Smaller
one: $100 to get started, $35 a month for 50GB of Internet per
month, on a 12 month contract.</span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">Larger
one: $30 to get started, $47.50 a month for 100GB of Internet
per month, on a 12 month contract.</span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"></span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">If
you are happy with these options and ready to order, NBN will
visit your premises to install hardware and carry out some
speed tests to ensure that you are eligible for the service
and the speeds mentioned, after you have submitted an order
which I am happy to assist with/can do on your behalf.</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">
If they can't get the </span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">fibre
</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">speed</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">s
mentioned on the plan</span><span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">
they won't proceed with the order. (Hooray - no more standing
on the roof for me!)</span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">If
you want, you can also get rid of your landline </span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">(“naked
service”)</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">and
keep your existing number as a VoIP service, with $5</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">.00</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">
per month minimum cost</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">which
includes 60 calls to all landlines within Australia </span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">.
This </span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">will</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">
require a special telephone or box worth about $150-$250.
Otherwise, all you might want is a WiFi router which I get for
around $50 each.</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">A</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">VoIP
service offers real value for money compared to a standard
telephone line (which normally costs $25.00 a month for line
rental (excluding any call charges which are generally 15 – 20
cents per call or per minute) with calls to local and national
numbers as low as 10 cents a call. Plus Exetel VoIP to VoIP is
free. </span><span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">Give
me a call or an email if you want more info, etc. Note that
the larger plan is only available via myself as an Exetel
agent.</span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">Disclaimer:
I'd earn about $5 a month from Exetel if you sign up with me
(Agent N040), in exchange for which I would be your first
person to contact if you had issues.</span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
(or perhaps – </span><span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:red">ordering
through an Exetel agent (myself) will give you the opportunity
to contact me directly for any technical assistance and I can
also provide on-site assistance and setup. </span><span
style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";
color: black;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span><br>
<span
style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black">Cheers,
Mike.</span><span style="color: black;"></span></font><br>
<br>
</blockquote>
I should mention that there are other plans available if you can get
fibre - see the normal ones <a
href="http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-fibre-pricing-mainland.php">here</a>,
and the agent-only ones <a
href="http://auzzie.net/files/NBN%20Agent%20Only%20Plans.jpg">here</a>.
You can check if you address is covered for fibre <a
href="http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-fibre-tas-sq.php">here.</a>
Note that the NBN Wireless plans are 'fixed wireless' which means an
aerial on your roof, as opposed to 'mobile broadband' that you get
with Telstra and Optus.<br>
<br>
The main advantage of NBN Wireless over Optus or Telstra's wireless
is likely to be the guaranteed speed. <font color="#000000"><br>
<br>
If you can't get the NBN Wirelessly or via Fibre, you will
eventually be able to get it via Satellite, but I don't know when
that will be happening.<br>
</font><br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><b><font color="#000000"><br>
</font><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big>Low Tech
Winter Tips.</big></small></font></b><font color="#000000"><br>
</font><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big><br>
Now that the cooler weather is almost upon us, I'll revise a
couple of ways of saving money at home on heating. They are a
little unconventional, but then so am I ;-)<br>
<br>
<b><i>1 - Crack out the bubble wrap.</i><br>
<br>
</b>OK I've covered this one before. By simply spraying your
windows with a mist of water then applying some bubble wrap to
the inside, you create a poor man's version of double glazing.
This also means you don't have to be so fussy about closing up
the curtains, so you can enjoy the natural light. <a
href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-slGbJCSC7rE/T65FhcouKYI/AAAAAAAAFt8/TIk98dbd3WA/s800/Bubblewrap%2520Windows.32.jpg">Example
here</a>. Note that the bubble side faces the glass.<br>
<br>
<b><i>2 - Make Your Own Sunlight?</i><br>
<br>
</b>As you might recall I'm a big fan of <a
href="http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_1200w-halogen-heater_4010.aspx">Halogen
heaters</a> since they radiate heat towards you rather than
trying to heat an entire room, and use half the power of a fan
heater on high. </big></small></font><font color="#000000"
face="Arial"><small><big>This year I am trying a new trick for
keeping warm cheaply. </big></small></font>An Outdoor Halogen
Work Light!<br>
<br>
As you can see in the <a
href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vyQozxMnVwo/T65HzTn-3HI/AAAAAAAAFuM/HAJbMt114DI/s800/Halogen%2520Cat.45.jpg">example
picture here</a> - I've positioned a 500 watt work light above the
couch where I mostly relax, watch TV, type up daily accounts, and
write these newsletters. This provides a bright amount of light as
you'd expect, but also radiates a pleasant warmth, which you can see
Prado (the black cat) taking full advantage of. Naturally you'll
want to make sure the light is not too close to anything flammable.
<br>
<br>
It might also clash with your home decor!<font color="#000000"
face="Arial"><br>
<br>
<b>Make your computer four times faster?<br>
<br>
</b>Well, four times faster is a little subjective; but probably
realistic. <br>
<br>
Inside your computer is probably a part called a hard drive.
Inside it is a disk spinning around at somewhere between 5400 and
7200 RPM. There is also a head that reads and writes the
information. It's works a bit like a super-fast record player. As
a result, they have a speed limit typically around 80 MB per
second. (Pretend it's a car speed limit if that's easier!) <br>
<br>
They also slow down to about 5-10MB per second when you ask them
to do two things at once - which happens quite a lot inside a
computer with all those updates going on in the background, virus
scanners, etc (Just like driving around town in a car, lots of
distractions.)<br>
<br>
You can now buy a thing called a Solid State Drive. It basically
performs the job of a hard drive, but with a more-or-less constant
speed limit close to 500MB per second. (Or 500km/h if you're still
thinking about cars! Always on the freeway...) It does this by
replacing the spinning disk with stuff similar to what you find in
memory sticks and thumb drives.<br>
<br>
Now, they're still relatively new tech at this stage, and are
priced to match; but if you have a computer or laptop less than
about 6 years old that is starting to slow down; it could be the
best thing you can now buy for it to speed it up. <a
href="http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/products/1773/?page=1">Here
are some example prices and sizes</a>.<br>
<br>
It usually takes about 30-60 minutes to install, depending on how
much stuff there is to copy from your old hard drive onto it.<br>
<br>
Those technically minded might be wondering about CPUs. Well,
roughly speaking CPUs are for 'thinking' whereas hard drives are
for 'doing.' An SSD won't make your computer 'think' any faster,
but it will be much faster at 'doing' anything that involves
moving data back and forth on the drive. Looking at the Internet
mostly involves a fair bit of both. If you want to know when your
computer is 'doing' stuff as opposed to 'thinking' - look at the
hard drive light. When it's on, it's busy (mostly waiting) for the
hard drive to do stuff. (The hard drive light is the one that's
flashing all the time, although some new laptops have done away
with it; and apple chucked theirs away in the '80s.)<br>
<br>
<b>DIY Websites.<br>
<br>
</b>As many of you know, I offer <a
href="http://auzzie.net/hosting/">web hosting</a> from $4 a
month, and basic web page creation services. While the simplest
website system I offer is probably WordPress, and I am moderately
proficient in Joomla, you might also like to check out a
competitor called <a href="http://www.squarespace.com/">SquareSpace</a>.
Their rates start at $8 per month, and you can have a two week
free trial with no money down to see if their system is any good
for you. Their website building system is simple to use, and for a
beginner who wants to do it all themselves could perhaps be better
than what I have to offer.<br>
<br>
</font><br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><br>
<b>Exercise Bike for Sale.<br>
<br>
</b>Now this might be a tough one. It seems to me everybody has an
unwanted exercise bike hiding in their sheds or out on the verandah.
(I've even got a horrible old one locked up in the back, back shed -
grabs on each rotation.) But, I'm looking to upgrade to a treadmill
and there ain't enough space in the house. (Unless I chuck out
something that isn't mine...) <br>
<br>
So, feel free to make an offer on this <a
href="https://plus.google.com/photos/116830952460629218664/albums/5741625954125548401">good
Exercise Bike</a>. It's probably got about 50km on the clock so
it's still a baby. (Hey - I take the dog for a run every night on
the real one - don't judge me! hehe.) And if you have an electric
treadmill to sell let me know.<br>
<br>
<b><font color="#000000">Cancelled my Merchant Facilities - free
swipe machine materials to first responder!</font></b><br>
<br>
Well, 10 years or so ago, the Commonwealth Bank set up a service for
me so I could take payments via Credit Card. However, I'd be lucky
if I did one or two a month, so to save on the fees and hassle of
having to hand write every transaction, I have cancelled the
service. <br>
<br>
As a result, I have about 50 debit vouchers, 50 merchant summaries,
a few merchant envelopes and 20 credit vouchers free to anybody who
wants them.<br>
<br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><br>
Well, another newsletter done. Business is going pretty well at the
moment.<br>
<br>
<font color="#000000" face="Arial"><small><big> <br>
</big></small></font><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica,
Arial, sans-serif"><b>Old Editions<br>
</b>You can find old editions of this newsletter on the CCC Blog.
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://auzzie.net/cccblog/">http://auzzie.net/cccblog/</a><br>
<br>
You can also subscribe or unsubscribe at <a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://auzzie.net/mailman/listinfo/ccc-news_auzzie.net">http://auzzie.net/mailman/listinfo/ccc-news_auzzie.net</a></font><font
color="#000000"><br>
</font><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><b><br>
</b></font>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><font color="#000000"><br>
Michael Kean<br>
<b>Proprietor, Cool Country Consulting.</b><br>
Trading Hours: 10am to 8pm weekdays.<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://coolhelp.com.au/">http://coolhelp.com.au/</a><br>
Tel: 02 6775 0239 Fax: 02 8212 9582 Mob: 0427 644 825<br>
Chat contacts: WLM: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:michael@auzzie.net">michael@auzzie.net</a> Skype:
cccons</font><br>
<br>
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