1)
Message boards :
Politics :
GOD or NOT?
(Message 1924589)
Posted 14 Mar 2018 by River Song Post: Why? We didn't enter the world wearing anything. :-) Haha! Good one! |
2)
Message boards :
Politics :
GOD or NOT?
(Message 1924584)
Posted 14 Mar 2018 by River Song Post: Wednesday March 14 2018, 1:27 PM Well, let's face it. Each of us "out there" has a date that will be her/his last on this earth. In most cases, bu not all, our families, friends, or whoever, will see to it we're dressed up in our best "finery," whether it be a dress or a suit. I think we might all agree on ONE thing, maybe, I hope? It would be a shame to be all dressed up and have no place to go, huh? |
3)
Message boards :
Science (non-SETI) :
A new prime number has been found!
(Message 1924579)
Posted 14 Mar 2018 by River Song Post: Wednesday March 14 2018, 1:18 PM I shall celebrate the existence of that new, and a bit large, prime number with a toast! If someone can send me a copy of it, maybe i can use it as wallpaper? :) Whoopie, a truly thrilling event. Now, if only Hillary, oops, I mean "Blamery," would go to the other side of the universe I would have a 2nd, and larger drink. :) ... Fairy Tale: A long time ago, there lived a woman. She did not nag, bitch, or rant. But, it was just that one day. And it was a long time ago. :) The End |
4)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1901376)
Posted 16 Nov 2017 by River Song Post: BOINC Screen Saver Still NO GOOD after Win 10 Fall Edition of Creators Update !! Thursday November 16 2017, 10:27 AM (GMT -7)[/b] Hi All, The long awaited Win 10 Fall Edition Creators Update, which was SUPPOSED to SOLVE the problem with the best screen saver in the world, the BOINC Screen Saver, has FAILED MISERABLY. My Win 10 just completed its full up-date and I anxiously was awaiting the outcome! When all was done and my screen was back to normal, the first thing I did was to right-click and click on 'Personalize.' From there I checked my BOINC settings. I had given it a 3 minute 'wait time' before activating the screen saver. I held my breath. After 3 or so minutes up popped the "BOINC Screen Saver Loading" msg below a 1/3 sized BOINC icon. I thought it was doing what it said LOADING, but NO, it didn't load !! Dammit !! (Forgive my foul and un-lady-like language), plz? I continued to watch the screen for several minutes. The aforementioned loading icon slowly rotated around the screen as in the many months past since M$ DESTROYED BOINC. Thinking I was too impatient, and the problem needed time to "settle in," I counted 107 iterations of the "loading message" before giving up. In regard the Win 10 Fall Edition Creators Update FIXING the problem, IT IS JUNK. So sad to say! Can't M$ EVER get it RIGHT? Won't ANYONE at Berkeley or the SETI orgainzation CONTACT M$ about a proper FIX? Now, I must ADD the following: The BOINC Screen Saver DOES work, on occasion. For some reason, sometimes, but rarely. It wiII load and work properly ONCE in a while, just not MOST of the time. It is badly intermittant, I will cease my RANT and step off the soap box. Anyone wanna be next? Stay here on Earth. It's the only planet with DARK CHOCOLATE !! |
5)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1900024)
Posted 9 Nov 2017 by River Song Post: Thursday November 9 2017, 7:21 AM The FALL Edition of Win 10 Creators Edition is SUPPOSED to finally FIX the BOINC Screen Saver problem. Here is more info on it: Protect your PC with Windows 10's antiransomware tool Enable the new antiransomware protection in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update to lower the odds of becoming a victim of the next ransomware attack The ABOVE is available at: [url] https://www.cnet.com/how-to/protect-your-pc-with-windows-10s-antiransomware-tool/?ftag=CAD-04-10aai5f&bhid=[/url] Here is a link telling you HOW to up-date to the Fall Windows Creators Edition right now instead of waiting for it.. [url] https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-download-windows-10-fall-creators-update-right-now/[/url] Shall we pray to the Goddess, (or the deity of your choice?) :) Stay here on Earth. It's the only planet with DARK CHOCOLATE !! |
6)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1897730)
Posted 27 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: I can't reset my rainbow screen saver after getting new hard drive. Have gone, as advised, to Settings, Personalization, Lock Screen, Screen Saver but then can't get any further. Please help. Friday October 27 2017, 5:34 AM Hi Mary, What version of Windows, if that is your OS, are you running? The original 'Creators Edition' has a bug which prevents the SETI BOINC screensaver from working properly. There is a new 'Fall Creators Edition' out that has, in the words of a previous poster to this group, 'fixed the problem.' Stay here on Earth. It's the only planet with DARK CHOCOLATE !! |
7)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1897566)
Posted 26 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: INFO ON THE M$ "FALL CREATORS UPDATE" Thursday October 26 2017, 7:17 AM [url]https://www.cnet.com/how-to/save-space-with-onedrives-new-files-on-demand-feature/?ftag=CAD-04-10aai5f&bhid= [/url] I still have not rcv'd it from M$ so I can't verify that the BOINC screensaver problem is finally fixed, but, as you indicated, it HAS been fixed, so we shall pray to the deity of our choice. Fair enough? :) To be OLD and WISE you must first be YOUNG and DUMB !! The SETI@home screen saver functionality is working again in the new Windows 10 version 1709 "Fall Creators Update" on two of my home PCs. |
8)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1896598)
Posted 21 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: Saturday October 21 2017, 5:28 AM THANK YOU !!! I still have 1703 and the BOINC saver is intermittant. Most of the time a small-sized version of the logo orbits slowly around the screen. On occasion, it finally LOADS and I get all the pages and they look great. Stay here on Earth. It's the only planet with DARK CHOCOLATE !! |
9)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1896496)
Posted 21 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: The SETI@home screen saver functionality is working again in the new Windows 10 version 1709 "Fall Creators Update" on two of my home PCs. Friday October 20 2017, 6:50 PM Mine is still intermittent. I have the same Win 10 as you; its the Creators Update. How do I tell if I have version 1709? If not, where to get it? Thank you... |
10)
Message boards :
SETI@home Science :
How far do Earth radio/TV transmissions reach?
(Message 1895962)
Posted 18 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: This is a reply to my Message 1895062 dated Friday, October 13, 2017, 9:33 AM [quote]Friday October 13 2017, 9:33 AM (in part) As an example of this idea, say you have two identical LNA's, each with a 2.5 dB noise figure, as measured in the normal way. OK, now you use a hybrid combiner with a 0.3 dB insertion loss. I would think the noise figure at the combiner input, measured with a noise figure meter, would then be 2.2 dB because there is no longer mismatch VSWR to influence the measurement, only the combiner insertion loss. I wonder, when commercial entities advertise LNA noise figure, if they use the 'single-ended' NF of one LNA, or if they advertise the somewhat lower number of a hybrid combined pair? mmmmmmmmmmm, huh? ============================== Wednesday October 18 2017, 8:02 AM I made a technical ERROR in my previous post, and I wish to CORRECT it. I postulated that, by combining 2 identical LNA's, (Low Noise Amplifiers), with a hybrid combiner having an insertion loss of 0.3 dB that, as a result of improving the impedance match to the source, that the combined noise figure would be DECREASED by the 0.3 dB. This is WRONG, you NEVER "get something for nothing." You WILL achieve a low input VSWR,, BUT to GET it you must suffer a worsening in the combined noise figure. The noise figure of the pair would RISE to 2.8 dB from 2.5 dB. Tuff noogies, huh? So much for freebies. :) |
11)
Message boards :
SETI@home Science :
How far do Earth radio/TV transmissions reach?
(Message 1895923)
Posted 18 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: If anyone from far far away was that interested in looking for life in our part of the galaxy, they would likely deploy probes, which themselves would have the capability to transmit findings back home. Wednesday October 18 2017, 5:36 AM Makes good sense. :) But, depending on the method of transmission, it may take many years for the messages to reach back to the senders. Stay here on Earth. It's the only planet with DARK CHOCOLATE !! |
12)
Message boards :
SETI@home Science :
How far do Earth radio/TV transmissions reach?
(Message 1895062)
Posted 13 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: Friday October 13 2017, 9:33 AM Oops, sorry! I forgot to ADD the following to my previous post, and remembered it too late to do an 'Edit.' Deal with it, OK? Here is something of possible interest in regard commercially available LNA's. I feel that all LNA's have two different noise figures. One, and to me, the REAL one, is what you measure with a noise figure meter, which takes mismatch VSWR into account, and an IDEAL noise figure which is what you would measure with a noise figure meter IF, and only IF, you use two LNA's with a hybrid combiner. :) As an example of this idea, say you have two identical LNA's, each with a 2.5 dB noise figure, as measured in the normal way. OK, now you use a hybrid combiner with a 0.3 dB insertion loss. I would think the noise figure at the combiner input, measured with a noise figure meter, would then be 2.2 dB because there is no longer mismatch VSWR to influence the measurement, only the combiner insertion loss. I wonder, when commercial entities advertise LNA noise figure, if they use the 'single-ended' NF of one LNA, or if they advertise the somewhat lower number of a hybrid combined pair? mmmmmmmmmmm, huh? Sorry to rattle on, but it is an interesting topic to some, I hope? Question: if a tree falls in the forest, and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound? I wonder? |
13)
Message boards :
SETI@home Science :
How far do Earth radio/TV transmissions reach?
(Message 1895033)
Posted 13 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: The "one hundred light years" is based on the fact that we've been using radio transmissions for somewhat over 100 years and radio waves travel at the speed of light. Friday October 13 2017, 6:18 AM The "noise floor' of a radio telescope goes hand in hand with the "noise figure" of the receiving apparatus. The noise figure of any really GOOD earth-bound receiver LNA, (Low Noise Amplifier), is usually in the range of 1.5 to 2 dB or so. Cooling of critical parts of the receiver input certainly will lower the noise figure, and thus the detection noise floor, but not below "0 db." So, it's reasonable to assume that the noise figure of a radio telescope receiver is surely lower than anything in "normal" commercial use, but not lower than zero. If you do a search on "noise figure of a radio telescope" you will find many references. One that I saw at the top of a search using Bing on Mozilla Firefox indicated that the noise figure of one was 0.2 dB. This falls in line with my assertion that a noise figure less then zero is not possible. :) See https://www.rtl-sdr.com/radio-astronomy-0-2db-noise-figure-lna/ One source I found says that "lowering the noise figure of a satellite receiver by 1 dB is equivalent to increasing the size of the large receiving antenna by about 40%." Given the SIZE of a typical radio telescope dish, (they are humongous), a 40% increase is dramatic and very significant. We are in total agreement that there is a BIG difference between "detection" and "decryption." :) THAT makes GOOD sense indeed! You can DETECT noise but to DECRYPT a signal below -174 dBM/Hz requires the signal to be transmitted repetitively by the probe, and CRC coded to assure error-free decryption. There is another aspect to low-noise receiver design that is not obvious to many, and that is the LNA input VSWR. The noise figure calculations assume a "matched load." Simply stated, the noise source and the LNA are assumed matched impedance-wise. There is NO commercially available single-stage LNA that has an input VSWR of 1.0 . It is not at all unusual for a low-cost LNA to have a VSWR = 2, 3, or higher. So, the "dynamic," or "working" noise figure is different than the "static," or measured noise figure. To compensate for this, more expensive LNA's use TWO identical LNA's coupled together with a low-loss hybrid power combiner. The net effect of such a combiner is to present a matched load to the noise source. But, the combiner used has an "insertion loss," typically 0.3 dB, and THIS loss ADDS to the final input noise figure. You never get "something for nothing." A sad thing. :( A 2nd point rarely mentioned is "transmitter noise." It is entirely possible for a transmitter to add noise to the intelligence being amplified and sent to its antenna. This noise has to add to the difficulty of decryption below the thermal noise floor. A deep space probe transmitter HAS to be very clean. I've never been involved in the design of an LNA for a radio telescope BUT I have to assume that they MUST take into consideration input VSWR mismatch. I'm curious how they deal with this? Perhaps they gave found a "work around" for LNA input VSWR correction that doesn't involve a hybrid combiner? I doubt it tho. Hmmmm, an interesting topic for another day? |
14)
Message boards :
SETI@home Science :
How far do Earth radio/TV transmissions reach?
(Message 1894879)
Posted 12 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: The "one hundred light years" is based on the fact that we've been using radio transmissions for somewhat over 100 years and radio waves travel at the speed of light. Thursday October 12 2017, 9:35 AM Hi Bob, Very interesting.... Yes, transmission, earth to probe, or to an alien her/him or 'it' are limited to light speed. However, as you know, they are attenuated greatly when radiating outward, and subject to the radar range equation. Sadly so. :( When I first learned of our ability to 'see' signals far below the thermal noise floor I was truly anamzed. To me, prior to that, you could NEVER 'see' a signal unless it was at least 3 dB stronger than -174 dbm/Hz. I gave no thought, back then, to noise being random, and transmissions, sent repetitivly, and using a CRC code, as being viable. :) |
15)
Message boards :
SETI@home Science :
How far do Earth radio/TV transmissions reach?
(Message 1894850)
Posted 12 Oct 2017 by River Song Post: Thursday October 12 2017, 7:37 AM I’m having a hard time reconciling these sentences: |
16)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1892499)
Posted 29 Sep 2017 by River Song Post: Friday September 29 2017, 2:40 PM Ahhh, gotcha !! I see, said the blind carpenter as she picked up her hammer and saw! :) I've tried everything ELSE to fix the BOINC Screen Saver with no luck. I thought: "Why not?" :) I changed back from 60% CPU to 35% CPU. I have an AMD graphics card. I suppose others use NVIDEA as they are more popular, so its not the card, and the monitor likely has no connection to the problem. It has to be Win 10 not allowing the screen image to load, but WHY, as in my case, it loads fine, at times. To me software either works or it doesn't. What kind of a software coding error would let the saver load properly one time but not another? Makes no sense. I developed engineering software years back for all Win PC's from those running Win 3.1 up to and thru Win XP. I had to stop when XP died as M$ prevented my code from fully utilizing the entire graphics screen; I couldn't 'call' it anymore. The basic code that BOINC was programmed with just may have a similar problem in working with Win 10? My older Win 7 PC runs BOINC just fine. Every day, thousamds of INNOCENT plants are killed by vegetarians. Help END the violence. Eat BACON !! |
17)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1892417)
Posted 29 Sep 2017 by River Song Post: Friday September 29 2017, 8:59 AM Hi, I have to agree that chances are small for a fix. Microsoft could likely care less as SETI probably won't offer to pay them to fix it, and it appears SETI won't contact M$ and ask them to and mention all the GOOD work SETI has done all these years. Let's face it, my experience is that SOME people, far from all, but SOME, only allow SETI to process data on their PC's only iF they can run the very nice BOINC Screen Saver. After all, it is colorful and informative and attracts a good response from those who see it. I know there are hard core diehards who could care less about BOINC, and some likely buy several PC's and run them at 100% to crunch SETI data and could care less about 'screen savers.' I don't do that. I run SETI to help out BUT I do it in exchange for the beautiful BOINC Screen Saver I'd rather use than the JUNK screen savers offered by M$. Huggs, :) Stay here on Earth. It's the only planet with DARK CHOCOLATE !! |
18)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1892363)
Posted 29 Sep 2017 by River Song Post: Friday September 29 2017, 6:28 AM Hi, I increased my CPU setting from 25% up to 60% to see if it had any effect on the BOINC Screen Saver failing to load properly. It doesn't help. My saver DOES work 100% SOME of the time, maybe 30% of the time, but at all other times all I see is a small-sized BOINC icon slowly rotating around my screen saying it is "loading." A SAD thing. I like helping SETI but now, with the screen saver failing, it does not impress visitors to my house who LIKED it and wanted to join SETI to get it. Now people just say "What is THAT boring thing on your screen?" SETI will lose participation unless they FIX the BOINC Screen Saver. |
19)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1891997)
Posted 27 Sep 2017 by River Song Post: It keeps telling the CPU is busy. The CPU is not doing anything. Seti shows up sometimes but never progresses beyond 29% I had it for years on my old computer and it ran beautifully. This one is a mess. Mine either loads 100% and I see a full display of all 4 pages and the graphic "noise" box, OR I just see a small sized BOINC image saying "loading" slowly rotating around my screen. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for when it works or doesn't work; it seems random. I can't do anything to change how it acts. I'm running the latest version of Win 10 on a 5 month old PC with AMD graphics, not nvidea. Fairy Tale: A long time ago, there lived a woman. She did not nag, bitch, or rant. But, it was just that one day. And it was a long time ago. :) The End Good luck !! |
20)
Questions and Answers :
Windows :
New version of Win10 not running BOINC Screensaver
(Message 1885689)
Posted 23 Aug 2017 by River Song Post: No one anywhere that I've seen, has acknowledged this failure of the screensaver or made any mention it will EVER be FIXED. No one seems to CARE. |
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