Back To School

My employer is upgrading their communications and console system and our department gets to to school to learn how to decipher and read IP addresses and create them from binary codes. I am woefully mathematically impaired and it is an uphill climb. I also get to drive 30 miles each way in crawling traffic. I have put off everything to attend, including trying to repair my car, which has just failed it's emissions inspection. Two final things to make things right, I have a favorite 75 ft. 2 conductor 14 ga. extension cord that I use for my electric implements. I was hurrying to get my yard work done between storms and I neatly cut the last 2 ft. off of it with the hedge trimmer. A few moments later, a 20 ft. limb fell off my tree and smashed my 8 ft. wooden fence into kindling.

Bad year fro both of us.. Isn't it??

I reckon so.  We need to get things turned around soon.

I was one of the last people I knew to get a computer. That was in 1997, a Compaq Presario that my wife still uses. I got a cell phone in 1998, still use it. It actually has a retractable antenna. The kids at work make fun of my phone, since all it is is a phone. I do not text, tweet, use Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or any of that nonsense. I am trying to learn some new computer skills, and that is tough for me. I am fairly good with math, but I understand the frustration of struggling with something that is so easy for others. I can remove the engine from a restored car without removing the hood, or damaging the car or the engine. We all have talents, as well as things we struggle with. When we share our struggles and help others, we all learn.

Last week, I decided it was time to get the Buick out and wash and wax it. The tractor was in the way. It had to be moved, the truck had to be moved to get the car out of the garage. The battery was dead on the tractor. I charged it, got it half way out of the door, and it ran out of gas. I forgot I had stolen the gas out of the tractor for the lawn mower. Put lawn mower gas in the tractor and got it moved. Next came the truck, It refused to start for the first time in its life. Wasn't getting gas. The fuel pump checked good. I pulled the carb off, took it apart and found the clip that secures the needle to the float was dislodged allowing the needle to stick to the seat not allowing gas to flow. So I had to rebuilt the Quadra-Jet to get the truck to go. Backed the truck out of the garage, went to stop at the street, and the brake pedal went to the floor. The original, 1973 master cylinder decided to give up the ghost running that last 50 feet. The brakes worked when I started backing out. I pulled the truck back into the garage, went to town and got a master cylinder, and got the brakes going again. Then I was too tired and too annoyed to care if the Buick was dirty or not. It is still dirty. I will try again this weekend. Life goes on. Nobody got hurt and I got some quality time in with my vehicles. I will keep a good thought for you guys to get thing going your way. mucho pronto.

Regards

WC

I guess all this luck must be catchin'.  

At least you know how to run a computer. I never liked computers. They are a huge PITA as far as I am concerned. Trying something different is a challenge for me. We all have luck sometimes. We only notice it when it turns bad for some reason.

Regards

WC

To stay in this business I have to take challenges all the time, and I agree they can be a PITA.

Wildcat445 wrote:At least you know how to run a computer.  I never liked computers.  They are a huge PITA as far as I am concerned.  Trying something different is a challenge for me.  We all have luck sometimes.  We only notice it when it turns bad for some reason.

Regards

WC

I can connect on that one. I am sick of computers, and, have much trouble with them.
I'm barely accepting DVD's, and, Laser discs because they have the stuff on them tv program wise I can't get on video tapes.
I DO NOT have a cell phone, and, don't want one.
I gave up face book, don't twitter, or, text.
I talk on the phone, yack in person with triends, and, play REAL records on real record players, and, antique wind up phonographs I restore, and, collect.

And, I HATE appliances, and, tv's with computters, and, Loathe HD tv.

It looks like that bad luck is really getting around!
http://variety.com/2013/more/news/dick-van-dyke-rescued-from-burning-car-in-l-a-1200581826/

That's what old Dick gets for driving a Jag-u-ah in the first place. Lucas electricals and all. Which brings up a joke:

Why do the British not build a tv? Because they can't figure out how to make it leak oil. 

Now that's funny!  

Now today we started assigning IP's to routers and switches. It took 2 1/2hrs each way to get there. It is a 27 mile trip each way.

By the way I have an programmable HP calculator that can convert binary-Hexadecimal-10base. Easy to use, its a model 49sx. One like that May help you. Also you can do it on line and also put it into a spreadsheet for future reference.

I used to have to program NEC2400 phones systems and insert hexadecimal values that had to be broken down into binary.
 
We would convert eight binary digits down to a two digit hex. For the longest time I could do this in my head.
example;
8421  8421
0101  0011  equals 53 in hex!  In the first set add 4 and 1, in the second set add 2 and 1
 
Hex values are 1, 2,  3,  4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, A, B, C, D, E, F

Thanks for the advice, the class had a bit different means of computing each octet of the IP address that provided each function of the addressed device. I hope that won't be a constant part of this task I'll be getting. We are now programming switchers and routers that are a part of our digital trunking radio system. I, meanwhile am desperately trying to stay awake.

MEZLAW wrote: Hex values are 1, 2,  3,  4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, A, B, C, D, E, F.

The '0' goes before the '1' IN Hex; 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F

Ron.

School is out. I'm an educated man. Got to work on the emissions challenged v-hicle. I got a new set of plug wires and cut and terminated them to route with no slop. Got a new set of plugs and gapped them all to the spec of .054. As I removed the old set I thought I'd check for any erosion since the mechanic installed them last year. They measured .040. that is about how they come out of the box before they are properly gapped by someone who gives a ____. Got the plugs all replaced, replaced the air filter, changed the oil and started the engine. Reversed the #3 and #5 connection on the distributor. It is now running with nary a skip and hasn't thrown a check engine (cylinder bank rich) light yet. Now to find a 75 ft. 14/2 extension cord.

Go, Dr. Goodwrench. 

I have a 100 footer you could borrow. Are you on your way to Missouri? 

WC

Thanks anyway. After leaning over that engine all day, I feel like I am on my way to a broken back. I'll take the car out for an hour tomorrow morning, if it doesn't throw any codes, I'll try another test.

Ron Pond wrote:

MEZLAW wrote:  Hex values are 1, 2,  3,  4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, A, B, C, D, E, F.  

The '0' goes before the '1' IN Hex;  0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F

Ron.

Ron you are right, thanks for catching that!

Well, my back is better, the car has passed it's inspection with room to spare. Now to mow the lawn with my emergency back up 50' 12 ga. cord.

Just to think about doing the conversions, OH! the number of possibilities.