Posts by Charles Smith

Openreach nudges another 112 exchange areas toward full fiber

I've been chasing BT full fibre since 2014; finally in June 2026 its been made available. I booked a service install within a couple of days and full fibre is now in and working. However as a temporary measure in 2015 I took on a G.Fast Broadband from Openreach (via Zen Internet). This package had a mandatory analogue phone service associated, which I didn't want, but had to take it to get the speed of the G.Fast Broadband Internet.

BT, via Zen, have upped the cost of that unwanted voice line to £29/month ex-VAT, with the G.Fast price on top at £40/month. We were paying for a voice service whilst BT-Openreach couldn't provide an alternative. We've been punished by BT-Openreach with punitive fees for voice (unwanted) owing to their flaky roll-out of full fibre.

Openreach turns up the heat to force laggards off legacy copper lines

I Wish Openreach would Get Off the Pot

My business is based in a small East Midlands town of 15,000 yet still no "Full Fibre" to our office. We're not difficult to access, we're mid-town on the edge of the A6 main road. We currently have a GFAST service running at about 300/50 mbps, being 50 metres from the street cabinet and 400 metres from the exchange. BT Openreach have been give UK Gov't money to rollout in the area yet still cannot give a date when they'll rollout full fibre. Now they're talking about turning off copper, which presumably includes GFAST.

Currently getting a BT Openreach engineer for problems on GFAST line problems is a bit of a problem, as GFAST engineers are an endangered species who don't carry that "modem" on their van.

I've last week had confirmation from BT Openreach that they have no rollout planned for 2026 or 2027. Sad to think that they were given a complete telephone network for the whole country and now only have plans for 80% of the population/businesses. They've even had tax payer money to upgrade their infrastructure, and those upgrades are not leased to BT, the ownership is handed over with nothing in return.

BT fiber rollout passes 17 million homes, altnet challenge grows

I know when OpenReach will install fibre.

Openreach's build date for Fibre on our road has been flickering on and off like dodgy fluorescent tube light for the past few years.

However 1 day before Virgin Media install FTTP in our house, scheduled for next month, I'll expect to see an OpenReach van in the street close to our house hurriedly unwinding a cable reel.

Microsoft talks up 'significant capital investments' in AI as sector reacts to DeepSeek

Re: This

I wish Microsoft would put some effort/investment into getting rid of CoPilot. It is even worse than that damned paperclip.

The US government wants developers to stop using C and C++

Warmer coding

One of my systems, written in compiled Cobol, running on a PC (Intel 486) with 512 KB of memory served the trading activities of 100+ Foreign exchange traders. As things have progressed with "modern" languages the processor power, memory sizes have all bloated morphing into racks of servers consuming more power and generating more heat. Now the Officialdom wants programming to migrate to even less efficient programming methods, that require even more processing power to operate.

Maybe we can get AI to do the task of migrating the C and C++ to some form of modern grossero coding. :-)

CrowdStrike file update bricks Windows machines around the world

Can easily be fixed, visit each PC with a WIN 11 pre-loaded hard disk (of the correct type). Install disk, and recover data from remote back up. Press Go. Simples!!

What do you mean that you're working from home? Your bandwidth is only 10 MBPS? ....

We never agreed to only buy HP ink, say printer owners

I won't accept compensation from HP

I used to buy HP products when they were well designed and engineered, even though they were a bit pricier than alternatives. Now that the suits, marketers and bean counters control the castle I refuse to buy their products and their associated nasty tricks. So I won't be eligible for, or indeed want, any compo from HP.

Claims emerge that Citrix has doubled price of month-to-month partner licenses

Suffering

Partners dissolved in sneak attack of Citrix Acid.

Attacks on UK fiber networks mount: Operators beg govt to step in

Taste own medicine

The teleco's need to improve their security to deter, detect and identify the offenders. Once identified, those offenders should be sentenced to 12 months on a telecoms help desk.

BOFH: I get locked out, but I get in again

ChatGPT

The BOFH is known to chat.openai.com Who allowed that mistake?

HP print rental service seeks more users to become subscription addicts

New York Bookmakers 1900

The HP print subscription system is the reason I never buy or recommend HP printers. It's a bit like the money making schemes of the private enterprise bookmakers in 1900 New York of Italian origin.

UK public sector could save £20B by swerving mega-projects and more, claims chief auditor

Civil Service Project Meeting

As Chairman of this progress meeting I now call on our suppliers Project Director to report on project progress.

Capitsu: "We've started our planned activities. There are some questions that may require Variation Notices to be signed off."

Chair: "So, it's all going to schedule?"

Capitsu: "There's no recorded delays and activities are in progress."

John Deere tractors get connectivity boost with Starlink deal

Hi, I'm Alexa

Good morning Farmer Brown, I'm Alexa. Customer support have noticed you've not changed your hydraulic oil on schedule. But not to worry I've ordered the required amount for you. Our delivery driver will arrive tomorrow, if you're not in we'll leave the oil with a neighbour. Unfortunately that means your credit level on this tractor is too low to start your engine. Please tap the card reader by the steering wheel with a valid credit card of your choosing, and we'll be on our way to the fields.

How governments become addicted to suppliers like Fujitsu

Sir Humphrey Appleby

"Minister, you asked me to produce a paper on reducing the burden of Civil Service pensions."

"Yes Sir Humphrey, and you are a year late."

"I much regret that Minister, but we had to weigh the pro's and con's to produce a balanced solution. It entailed much research."

"So, you had lunch at Club, Sir Humphey?"

"Quite Minister, but the answer is brilliantly simple. Even you could grasp it. We merely transfer the Civil Service personnel to an external organisation. They'll take on the pensions responsibility."

"Won't that be expensive Sir Humphrey?"

"Oh no Minister, my contacts have assured me that it will not increase costs of current services."

".and nothing can go wrong?"

"Oh no Minister. We retain the services of those transferred out, and the Supplier provides additional technical experience."

Official: Hewlett Packard Enterprise wants to swallow Juniper Networks in $14B deal

Business as usual

Usual business model. Buy the name. Strip the assets, lose the technical staff. Sell the empty shell to eastern asia. The sue some poor sucker for the losses.

HP customers claim firmware update rendered third-party ink verboten

This time they can't blame ...

This time the great destroyer of good computer supplies companies won't be able to lay the blame for poor figures on a UK software company. The overpaid and greedy executives are heading for a Budweiser moment as the bad news exceeds their marketing capabilities. I steer clear of the two letter company as it repeatedly tries subscription lock-ins. I'd not allow their printers in-house even if they had a negative price.

22 million Brits suffer broadband outage blues and are paying a premium for it

Ridiculous outage

Our broadband was out for a whole week in June this year. It's ridiculous that Openreach didn't armour it's FTTC street cabinet to resist a laden 24 ton skip lorry.

Freecycle gives users the gift of a security breach notice

Spammed

I've already had a couple of spam/hack emails linked to my freecycle email address. Always use different password for any login.

Twitter will lose 32 million users by end of 2024, Insider Intelligence predicts

Employment prospects

I keep getting messages from a guy called Winston Smith. He's recently become available and is looking for a job.

IBM sues Micro Focus, claims it copied Big Blue mainframe software

History strikes back

CICS? Wasn't that the navigation software on Noah's Ark?

EU reaches agreement on satellite comms project: Opens Iris

Can't see the woods for the trees

As Elon say's; if you want to use SkyNet cut down the trees in your garden. This is just another way to avoid laying fibre to deliver Internet. The problem arises when Russia/China/USA decides to take out the LEO satellite network and triggers a Kessler Syndrome event.

Evernote's fall from grace is complete, with sale to Italian app maker

Revenge of the Lotus Eaters

Aww, I quite like it. Hopefully it does not go the way of Lotus Agenda. Sorry for the history lesson folks. ;-)

Windows 11 runs on fewer than 1 in 6 PCs

Windows 11 chose not to accept me.

Microsoft decided that my perfectly good Intel hearted PC was not good enough for their Win 11 product. Apparently to regain their favour I have to buy a new PC.

I've always supported the view that developers should be forced to test their latest release on five year old PCs.

SpaceX: 5G expansion could kill US Starlink broadband

Re: 56k

OMG I can still hear that dial tone warble of a 56K modem. Please stop.

Range?

5G is essentially an urban network technology with the need for many masts given its limited range and poor penetration of structures. Starlink is more of a rural network needing few if any ground masts, more suited to open landscape. In effect they are complimentary technologies rather than competing.

Start your engines: Windows 11 ready for broad deployment

Bedroom Door

I've been needing a brick to prop open my bedroom door. Thanks Microshaft.

French court pulls SpaceX's Starlink license

Bitter orange

I was once on the receiving end of opposition from a bitter orange in a telecommunications project. Very nasty, fortunately I'd developed a good customer relationship and he saw the rotten fruit for what it was. It seems like Elon is suffering a pelting on a larger scale. No doubt the Third Estate living in the Bocage will get used to 700ms.

Equinix cuts $705m check for Chilean, Peruvian datacenters

Connected?

Energy for Datacenters? Possibly. Resilient multi-route high capacity data comms?

Germany advises citizens to uninstall Kaspersky antivirus

Ivan walks in the same tracks as his Grandfather

I used to use Kaspersky on my PCs at home and in my small business. I liked the software and its performance, though at times it was a resource hog. At one point I worked in Moscow in a building across the street from the Kaspersky offices. However when Putin invaded the Crimea and also visited Salisbury I decided that Russia was still the USSR but in fashionable clothing. Despite the protestations of the executives at Kaspersky I was always reminded that an assault rifle loaded with 7.62 rounds can be decisive in formulating company policy.

I de-installed the Kaspersky anti-virus from all machines and replaced it with Sophos. Interestingly when I scanned the file archives with the new AV I found some old virus programs that KAV had missed on my son's gaming PC

Cloudflare, Akamai: Why we're not pulling out of Russia

Good luck to Akamai

Good luck on getting paid in Russia, you'll need it. Perhaps it will be worth you investing in a wheelbarrow for the roubles.

UK.gov threatens to make adults give credit card details for access to Facebook or TikTok

Re: One word.

Where do you think the bulk of the Tor capacity comes from? Large servers in secretive locations funded by interested people.

I don't want to Labour the point.

Remember when David Blunkett (Labour Home Secretary) tried to introduce National Identity Cards? They're baaaack....

HMRC tool for measuring IR35 status is so great, employers are ditching it in their droves

The pachyderm is dead and getting whiffy

IR35 is a massive home goal. Increasing goverment costs for software development/maintenance whilst driving them more deeply into the clutches of large consultancies. All to satisfy the ego of HMRC. The elephant in the room is ignored despite the rot.

RAF shoots down 'terrorist drone' over US-owned special ops base in Syria

Re: Mistletoe

Get your coat? No Sir, you should be forcibly ejected into the street for that gem.

Refunds?

Does the RAF get a refund on missiles that are unused? If not, the expensive missiles are the ones not used to good effect.

Pretend starship captain to take trip in real space capsule

Klingons

The Klingons will be waiting for him in a cloaked ship. The capsule will disappear.

Oh the humanity: McDonald's out of milkshakes across Great Britain

Re: HGV Drivers

I did hear tell that one of the reasons for the shortage of HGV drivers is IR35 knackering the freelance market for drivers.

Benefit

Nightmare? No.

Benefit? Improved health through sugar reduction.

Tesla battery fire finally flamed out after four-day conflagration

Cry Oh Genick

Inject liquid oxygen to shorten the duration of the fire.

'Login infrastructure issue' blamed as sustained Xero outage threatens payrolls

It's reliable

My small company has used Xero for several years now. It is usually reliable, so we're not going to squeal foul because of one outage. As for the VAT you have a whole month to prepare the VAT returns and submit payment to HMRC. If you leave this to the last moment you are asking for trouble. Anyone met Murphy with his JCB digging next to your data line?

Xero does need to look at its major outage procedures and how customers are kept up to date. Lessons to be learned.

Water conditions in Jupiter's clouds could support 'life', say astroboffins

Heavy decision

I wonder if this announcement was made with due gravity?

Hubble memory errors persist despite NASA booting long-idle backup payload computer

Holey smoke

I think there's hole in my puter, Dear Lisa Dear Lisa. There's a hole in my puter .....

UK government resists pressure to hold statutory inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal

Health & Safety

The whole process was deleterious to the Health and Safety of the Postmasters as a direct consequence of the negligence of the Post Office executive. Let's see some heavy corporate fines and maybe with a taste of jail time for the key decision makers. All nicely topped up with substantial compensation for those affected.

OVH founder says UPS fixed up day before blaze is early suspect as source of data centre destruction

Flywheels are not flammable

This is an unpaid advert for an unnamed supplier who produces stored energy flywheel UPS systems. They couldn't have received a better marketing story for free. Did they pay for the matches?

AdGuard names 6,000+ web trackers that use CNAME chicanery: Feel free to feed them into your browser's filter

Raspberry Pi anyone?

Checking my PiHole lists.

Does Samsung want you to buy new phones? Asking 'cos Galaxies now get four years of security updates

Disposable goods

Samsung's policy of growth through the sale of short life products is the main reason I don't buy their products.

Ad blocking made Google throw its toys out of the pram – and now even more control is being taken from us

Encourage the Advertisers

I run an AdBlocker to tidy the dross, but Google does manage to slip some stuff by those controls. In those cases where the content consistently repeats I always (repeatedly) click on the link to bring up the ad on a different browser tab. It's a click and will have cost the advertisers a dollar or two for each click. For the worst offenders I let them know they are wasting money.

The more that people sting the Ads, the sooner Google will change it's tune. Sure it gives an initial boost to Google's wallet, but as the advertisers become to realise it is wasted money...

Chinese ambassador to UK threatens to withdraw Huawei, £3bn investment if comms giant banned from building 5G

The Tiger

The sleeping tiger yawns and reveals its teeth. I told you it was not a rug.

Skype for Windows 10 and Skype for Desktop duke it out: Only Electron left standing

Classic

This is classic Microsoft. You'll get what we think you need and not what you want. If you don't want Teams you clearly have an issue in understanding the problem. ;)

CERN puts two new atom-smashers on its shopping list. One to make Higgs Bosons, then a next-gen model six times more energetic than the LHC

The answer

Is 42.