bloody ISP's -

I've been having some ISP issues recently. Downloads were running at 500K and for a few days were down at 200K. Now I'm on a 1Meg download but my line speed is connected at 2Meg.

This all came about cause many years ago I joined Pipex on their Broadband 500K package. It was good and for a couple of years I had no issues at all. BT then upgraded all the lines in the area and suddenly we had 2Meg connection speeds. Pipex at the same time upgraded the package at no extra cost to a 1Meg download. Fantastic!! Again for a couple of years no hassles.

The last month or so have not been very good. Like I said in the first paragraph the download speeds went deep south and i was being asked to do speed tests using a 'Special' login. Well the Special account gave 1800k+ download speeds but I am on a 1000K download so it's not really relevant. After much to'ing anf fro'ing I had many speed tests that were from 200K to 960K. Last night I was asked by Pipex to use the Special account and obtain 5 test results. Well they all came out 1800+k which didn't surprise me. As soon as I logged back in as my account it dropped straight back to 500k. After speaking to one of the Pipex guys he logged in as me at their end and guess what. Yup 500K download. It's now being escalated to his manager who will now look into it. Funny that.

I still have the MAC mind.....

it's alive -

indeed, the dashboard dark zones were entirely down to pilot error. Having reversed the LED it now shines very happy like. Me also happy and the result is



I like.

pah I say pah pah pah!

decided after two years of ignoring it I would fix it. Got some LED replacements and off I went. Started with


and ended up with


Excuse the pic's usual camera phone rubbish but the dark zone is still there in the same place. So either the circuit is dead or the light track is blocked somehow. Back into the dash yet again...

5 years -

since the cambelt was last replaced. Ho hum time to replace it. It's going to hurt, a lot but it's cheaper than a busted engine that's for sure. Looks like a garage from the oc is going to do the work. It's all good news. Must get the alloys re-furb'd too. More money....

a new year -

a new bash on the car. Bleeding typical. Yet another driver out there who finds the concept of driving / parking beyond them. The decency to leave a quick note with your number and an apology was also lacking too. Well a pox on your kids and the curse of a thousand Traffic Wardens on you.

On another note, the car is making more noise under boost than it used too. So says a mate who hadn't been in the car in a while. Also very recently it has been making a strange noise that almost sounds like the alt belt is squeaking. Knowing my luck it's likely to be the alternator itself. Boo hoo.

On a positive note I now have both charge cooler pre-rads. Just need to purchase the pump and figure out how to pump it all in and bob's yer uncle.