Tech

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Dreaming of a Satellite Dish

I’ve had problems with the internet service at Pacific Border since I got here, problems that have grown exponentially. I’m now on what amounts to a dial up connection in terms of speed and service reliability. It is very painful! Since internet is not included in the cost of the rent here, I spoke up before rent was due in February and was grateful to receive free service for February. The hosts here are great! (Have I mentioned recently how happy I am to be here?)

The owners were surprised to hear me complain because they claim to be known for their superior internet service… although Mac users report problems with it. Nothing was done about that since Mac users only account for perhaps 6% of their business and the problem must be at their end.

Hmm…

Well, it’s taken a lot of investigating, but the solution to the mystery turned out to be the network encryption key. They use the older WEP-style encryption key, which Macs do not like for security reasons. The solution to make the network function properly for Macs would benefit all users: upgrade encryption to WPA-style. Which they claim to be in the process of doing, but haven’t until now because most of their PC users tend to be using archaic technology. By archaic, I mean the latest junk that Bill Gates throws out, which is light years behind what Steve Jobs has been putting out for several decades now. Just call me a Mac-elitist. *ducks* 😀

Hopefully, the upgrade will happen soon (I was told that it would be within the week) and I’ll be able to get back to my regular online schedule. My inbox is backed up to the moon and I have a dozen unfinished posts waiting for publication. Oh, 20th century internet I have not missed thee.

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Don’t Forget About Starting Batteries in Cold Weather

My house batteries have been handling this cold snap without blinking (knocks on wood), but my coach battery went from 100% charge to 60% overnight. 60%, I discovered, isn’t enough to crank the engine. For the first time, I pulled out my trusty charger and used it to trickle charge (at 2A) the starting battery. This took less than 10 minutes. I’ll do this once a day until the cold snap passes. How nice it was to have the tool to do this! My neighbours have been boosting their trucks to get them going each day and I know this is not good for a battery.

The car started fine this morning and I have the option of trickle charging it, too, should I have an issue with it at some point.

The charger has a 100A ‘jump start’ mode for boosting using the charger rather than another vehicle, but I can’t use it for obvious reasons! In a pinch, I could use the 15A ‘fast charge’ mode, but trickle charging is definitely the better battery maintenance option.

There is so much to think about!

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Propane Usage

I filled my propane tank today (thankfully, the place in Oliver, two blocks away, was open!). Exactly 44 hours elapsed between the time when I plugged in the tank on Saturday and the time when I did so today. In that time, I used 20lbs of propane, or 2/3s of a tank. Based on that usage, I would have made it to tomorrow morning on my tank. I have been using an average of .5lbs of propane per hour, or 12lbs per 24 hours. I’ll fill up again Wednesday morning and do the math again. My power usage is also apparently through the roof, but what can I do? I feel like I’m trying to survive an ice age in a cardboard box!!!

At least, there is a wonderful bright sun out there and it’s making a significant difference in the comfort level in here.

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Rub a Dub Dub

Like every single park I’ve been to since hitting the road, this one had has a rule page with one entry that stands out: NO WASHING RV.

That’s all well and good and understandable, but Miranda was getting to be extremely filthy and embarrassing looking and I hadn’t had any luck finding an RV wash place.

So, I asked here if I could wash the dirtiest parts of her with a rag and bucket and was told that this is fine. I was even offered a ladder! I went out and got a bottle of car cleaner with wax in it. I started with her rear because it was turning black. What a difference the wash made! I then started on her sides but realised that there was no way I could wash her entirely by hand in one afternoon. Her sides weren’t that bad, actually, and only really in need of a wash from the tops of the compartments down. So, I did only that part. I washed the cab completely, also. The only thing I didn’t manage to wash, and this bugs me, is the bug-encrusted overhead cab. I just could not find a good angle to access it. And, yes, I tried using a mop; it just didn’t have enough scrubbing power. Still, Miranda looks much better than she did a couple of hours ago! I did the same thing with Pommette.

I can’t believe what a difference this location is to my last. I’m in almost full sun here and I had to crank open a couple of windows. All of last week, I had to run the heat throughout the day to maintain a constant temperature. This will make a huge difference in the winter.

Finally, I discovered I have another perk here: phone access. Once I get a long enough phone cord, I’ll be able to receive calls on a regular phone at absolutely no charge. For outgoing calls, I’ll need to compare the rates to that of my cell, but I’m sure they’ll be better. I’m glad I had the foresight to bring my cordless phones and answering machine with me!

When I add it all up–good internet access, unmetred electricity, unlimited incoming phone calls on top of the site with running water and sewer–I’m going to be willing to work quite a few hours for this park without feeling that I’m being exploited. Heck, just the internet is a huge thing. I had thought that I’d have to get online on my own this winter and estimates put that bill at close to 100$ per month. So, I don’t want to hear anyone say that I’m volunteering too many hours! I’ll keep track of those hours in the beginning, but I’m not going to be a clock watcher.

Now, if I can only get paying work. The supermarket won’t have a position for me just yet and probably not before November. I dropped off another resumé today, this time at Home Hardware, and made a list of places to visit on Monday. I’m not concerned yet. If I haven’t had any nibbles in the next week, then I’ll expand the search to Osoyoos and then to Penticton if I get really desperate. But I’d really love to find something in Oliver, so that I can be walking (or even biking) distance to work. Penticton would be quite a commute and I would be spending a fortune on gas.

Well, all that scrubbing sure worked up an appetite, so I’m off to make a yummy dinner. 🙂

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Occam’s Razor

Well, Croft resolved my electrical issue for me through some of my own Googling.

Turns out I could have solved this problem myself on Thursday evening in about 10 seconds without even going outside.

The problem I was experiencing is that none of my 12V appliances–furnace blower, fridge, lights, or water pump–were working. The battery was good, but no power was going out. Everything had worked fine until late afternoon on Thursday. I couldn’t fathom what had happened in that time to kill my electrical system.

The first thing I suspected was a loose connection. I thought that maybe I hadn’t wrenched the main connector enough because I didn’t have much room to work. So, I went out and bought a teeny wrench. It didn’t help.

I then went and bought a battery terminal cleaning tool and some special gel. They didn’t help.

We blamed the cables. We blamed the converter. I ran I don’t know how many tests with my multimeter. I triple checked my fuses. I quadruple checked my breakers.

Then I did some Googling and found reference to a battery turn off switch.

Croft asked me if that switch could possibly be the great big yellow button on the dash board I’ve referred to a few times.

Indeed. When it’s pulled out, the 12V system works fine. When it gets hit by someone’s knee because it’s at a silly height and location, it shuts off the 12V system.

WHO DESIGNS THESE THINGS?!

I’m choosing to laugh even though I am profoundly embarrassed.

But the upshot of this is that my battery job was good!