Andi Taylor: destroyer of networks

I arrived at work this morning to be greeted by the store manager: "The network's down, and it's just us. I'm waiting a call back from I.T.".
Not a great start. I.T. say they can't even ping our router (which is actually property of BT) so we're kinda stuffed, as our own technicians can't touch it.
Needless to say, my office below was offline too. Which really means I can't do anything... All my files are stored on a remote network drive, so I had pretty much nothing. Pants.

I was spending the morning with one of the bosses to help him with a presentation and do some Excel crunching, but we couldn't do this in my office, so I ragged his MkV Golf TDi over to the Redhill branch (managed 3 wheels off the ground at one jump...) to try and work with him on his laptop out of there.

Wasn't very productive, but got some done, and at least I could access the network drive and send myself a big email of files so I could get them from home.

Spent the afternoon at home finishing Newsletters, publishing them on the Intranet (which is my own server, so I can get to it, of course!) and any other work I could manage via Webmail.

Notice just before 6pm that Caterham has returned online and apparently the problem with something in my office! Both PCs were off, so I was struggling to see how, but apparently the engineer (who I pestered earlier to try and escalate as originally it wouldn't be fixed for 24 hrs) unplugged my 3com Switch and the rest of the network came back online!?
If someone could explain how an inactive switch (as no PCs were on that were connected to it) could knock out another switch, and a Cisco router, I'd be interested to know!

VoIP - part 2

First, a cold update: I've still got it! Can't shake the damn thing. Might have to start utilising sick-days at this rate.

VoIP: I've finally got it working I'd say pretty much perfectly! It's been a mission, and a lot of learning, and no-less than 3 VoIP adapters, but we're finally here: full VoIP that is reliable (so far!) and has call quality comparable (and normally not noticable) to a normal analogue. And of course my ultimate gain: unlimited free calls.

The VoIP adapter which finally was up to the job was the Grandstream HandyTone 486. I picked up v1 of the adapter (which doesn't allow you to dial **00 on the phone to then use the analogue line as a fallback) for £25 off ebay. Since I wanted to stop using the landline, and even ignore it if it rings, in the end it is the perfect answer. If there's a power-cut, or the adapter dies, it clicks down to let the phones work on the analogue line - but that's it. You have no other access to it. The fact that the cordless phones won't work in a power-cut is a minor oversight, but hey!
I'm still using SIPDiscount who sneakily released free VoIP-In numbers (a phone number so people on a normal phone can call you) without any announcements. My first sign-up yielded an unsightly 0506 number - which although is billed as a normal 01 or 02 code, there are some mobile networks and areas of NTL which don't connect to it, as well as the end user wondering what and where the hell they're dialing! So not ideal.
But others had received normal dialing codes?
So I assumed because I'd put Redhill as the address, and they don't do Redhill dialing codes yet, I got allocated one from the 'crappy' number pool. Here's where I got sneaky! I made another account, and topped it up to allow me to get another VoIP-In number, but this time put a central London address in.
I didn't get an 0207 number (as I think they're running out of them anyway), but did get a normal-looking (and easy to remember) 0208 number! Superoib! Changed the address back to the correct one and now have an account adorned with a good number! Pity you can't release a number and try again - so I do now have an old account with some credit in and no use for it. Oh well.
The last milestone was getting the adapter, settings and my router all working in harmony. The outgoing calls was the easy bit, but making sure the incoming calls work did need some research and I think this evening I have finally cracked it. Apparently my Linksys ADSL Modem/Router is a symetric NAT Router, so you don't use the STUN proxy. There, you learn something every day! (",)

Jim'll Fix It

Had a busy Saturday getting all those 'little things' done.. sucessfully for a change.

I finally bought my Christmas present (tradition of mine since I normally always got cash so I could buy my own) and splashed out on a Logitech diNovo keyboard. Very swish (",) Has a Media Pad [pictured] which displays Winamp/WMP track information as well as MSN Logins, status changes, and even messages. All Bluetooth v2 so good range and can link your phone to it, etc... Gotta love gadgets!

Been having to drive Jen's Fiesta all week due to the wiper mech snapping on the C. The replacement mech arrived mid-week and got it fitted today. Works! And the driver's side finally wipes properly (it used to lift on the way down - very annoying!) and the replacement mech is so smooth in comparison, mine must've been dying for a while. Got the whole kit including wiper motor from a breaker's yard, delivered, for £50. Sorted. VW? No stock - awaiting from Germany, and about £60+vat excluding the motor.

Raided the local Pound shop - spent a whole £8! I resisted the "Excuse me, mate, how much is this?" question though... :)

And finally, I have new contact lenses. Current ones just passed 2 years old, so time to spruce 'em up. My vision has only deteriorated a little over the past few years. I now -7.5 in my right eye, and -6.75 in my left. For anyone who knows anything about dioptres - yes, I'm that short-sighted! Coupled with astigmatism and nystagmus, the ol' eyes aren't my best feature! Ah well.

Blog'd

Just trying something.... ;)

Who needs M$ Office: www.writely.com

[This entry was submitted directly from their site.]

Still ill!!

The power of the blog really proves what everyone was going on about.
Yes, I still have 'that' cold. I end up coughing so much it makes me throw up - how delightful!
Now I've made all your stomachs turn (haha!) I might as well adorn you all with a life update...

Flat is going good: got new heating controller, radiator, curtain rail in the bedroom - all thats left from the Christmas 'carnage' is the rather soiled carpet. No, I didn't have an accident - its from the exploding radiator depositing a lovely brown stain over the whole of the living room carpet.

Still no Xbox 360. I said I'd wait until I get my Media Centre working properly - which in turn is waiting for the 'committee' to finally sort out the communal aerial. Until then, Channels 1, 2, 3 and 4 it is (not even a watchable Channel 5!). It's like living in the 20th Century again.

I no longer work in a Dungeon on my own!
Not only has my office got a budget for the new financial year to be fully redocorated, I've got heaters (great, after Winter - thanks Carphone) and filters on the lights to stop me falling into a mess on the floor, drooling, from the flickering of the fluorescant lights.
And, I have a work collegue! A fellow ASA has just joined the company, called Liz, who lives round the corner from my office (so I can park outside her house in the mornings and walk in - no longer the 10-15 min walk from the other side of the town!) and she is lovely. Mother of 2, she'd better make it 3 'cos she's already looking after me. Tidied up after me, makes sure I'm ok. So sweet! And I'm the one who's supposed to be supervising her! She has already self-proclaimed herself as a trollop, so I'm fine there with my usual comments and jokes - no HR issues of sexual misconduct! (",)

Well, there you go - not bad eh.
Oh, and the Corrado decided to break its front wiper mechanism on the way to work in the pouring rain. Thanks. Got to work with no wipers (with people probably thinking I'm a right tit!) and luckily it was a clear night for the drive home. I'll get that fixed at the weekend ;)

L8rs all.

Andi Taylor: Sea-Lion impersonator extraordinaire

I've caught it.
The cold that every single person in the UK seemed to have passed to each other. The one everyone I meet says "ooh, yeah, I had that - lasted for 3 weeks!". Oh great.

At least my strain of the rhinovirus has come from a Celebrity background. I caught it from Jen, who in turn caught it from Brian Conley (who she has been working with for the past 6 weeks). So check me out with Brian's cold!

I seem to be getting through it at warp-speed to everyone else. Niagra Falls out of my nostrils has finally subsided and I'm now a walking, deep-voiced talking Sea Lion impersonator. Reminds me of an old blog post I made back in 2003. My, how my life has changed (for the better too) since then! And see, I told you I'd been doing this blog malarky a while!

Charlotte mentionned before went all quiet over Christmas but has come back to mailing me lots through the day which is good. Still interesting to find out more about her.

A belated Happy Birthday to one of the other CPW females I talk to (get me!) Louise, who invited me to a most enjoyable Chinese meal last night. Sorry I wasn't up to boogying 'til the early hours though. Needed my Night Nurse!

Best blog Friday night's antics too: Jen had her end-of-show party where they took over a pub in Dartford. Booted out the normal punters at 11pm, and had a lock-in with a quite entertaining Elvis-wig-wearing DJ (even though half the music was just a few years before I started remembering all the words! I felt young for once!) who played us through til 2am. I drank what I could (which was quite good for me) with my cold. Yet to find a red WKD to try though. After my initial two pints of lager, I stayed on the blue WKDs. I won't do the Vodka-Redbulls again....