Nvusone

2 hours ago, Moparman said:

We're trying to purchase the SL roam and it won't let us purchase is anyone else having this problem

They still limit the number of users in geo areas, even with the roam feature. If you have a vacation home, or address outside of most urban areas, you can use that as the order address and most likely will be able to get going right away. You can then change your billing address back to your main home. Starlink did this because folks in those black out areas were ordering the RV (roam) service, but never leaving the urban area. This is also why roam can be limited/throttled when used in urban areas. 

On 6/6/2023 at 9:16 AM, Punchdrunk Monkey said:

But if I took the Starlink dish on an RV trip, all the Wifi stuff at the house would shutdown, until I brought it back. Correct?

You can port the old Cox phone number to a cell, or even a forwarding service that goes to an existing cell. I still keep my Spectrum internet service at home, using starlink as a fallback when at home, and then my main access when away, with cell being the fall back. It works great, is worth the money, but does still have slowdowns in "busy" areas. There is only one ground station serving the glamis area, so Im sure it will get bogged down as more roadrunner estate folks catch on. ;)

13 hours ago, Kraut_n_Rice said:

If you think that the weather in the Az is a deterrent, wait until you meet all the relocated Californians that tell you about it.  F*ckers are worse than vegans, crossfitters, and the LGBTQlhohllj,...combined.  We just moved here from "enter shitville California", it's great...

THEN you have to deal with their compete and utter inability to drive... Your freeways suck, ours don't.  AT MINIMUM do the f*cking speed limit!!!

And use a Effing turn signal already!!

If its moving for retirement, I'd look at Nv or Tx, as they don't tax retirement income. Az is nice if you can find the right piece of land, but you still have lots of taxes... not compared to CA, but still lots. You have 8%+ sales tax, and food is not exempt. Property taxes need to be figured for both county, fire, school, and municipal rates, which can add up depending on the specific locations. Fuel taxes aren't bad, but the base price is pegged to what the CA price is, so it is still more expensive than Tx. 

If you can find land, and don't mind the cold, Wy is worth a look. Its got no one around, and not many folks from CA want to move there, with CO so close by. 

I keep passing dealerships with more and more trucks in the lots... Seems they just aren't moving volume, as folks cant justify 60k for a "low" priced work truck... I'm happy with my old, paid off, beater, so I can wait to see if there is a fire sale in the coming economic pitfall I expect in the next few years. 

1 hour ago, Realbadlarry said:

Can you point out those tax cuts? They didn't happen that I can find. Lots of people NOT in NY and CA, did much better after the cuts... so did my son in law.... the 178k and up people, pay for it... as it's always been. 

Its a rework of the income brackets. Where I used to be in a 28% bracket, now its 32%. If they had left the bracket alone, Id be paying 24%... Add to that the cut in the itemized deductions, and I got screwed, as I have no kids to give me a credit. The only thing I can "legally" do to offset my new taxes is to max my deferred deductions to attempt to lower my income enough to get back into the 24% bracket. Its to the point where I turn down extra work just to make sure I don't have to cut a check on the 15th. 

2 hours ago, THD said:

I agree to a certain level. The SALT exclusion did offset the tax cuts and that had various impact depending on where you live. High tax localities, usually Dem run metro area's, got hit hard when they no longer had the SALT write offs. But area's with lower taxes were not impacted nearly as much.

It's the local level taxes that can nickle and dime you to death. Fortunately I live in a small rural town and local taxes are very low, which is I considered when I moved here.  

Its not just that... For folks like me that dont have kids sucking my bank account dry, Trumps tax "cuts" (which for people are only temporary and begin to expire this year, where businesses still get at least 5 more years, if not more before they expire) made my taxes go up! The only deduction I get now is for my mortgage. I lost at least 3K worth of local taxes I could have claimed, along with a long list of business related costs I could claim. All gone, thanks to Trump and a republican congress that says they support middle America folks trying to make a living... Now Im not "poor", but Im not a Roadrunner Estates level guy either, and I got hosed by that tax cut, while that same congress took on massive new debts to fund that tax cut for BIG companies, not the small folks who could have used the help, and would make sure it stayed in the pockets of local folks. They cut Forbes 500 taxes, which is great for the stock market, and the 1%. In no way was that the republican party that I had been a lifelong member of, which is why they wont get my support anymore. 

42 minutes ago, Sausage450r said:

The inflow is regulated by an agreement with iid The state and san diego. It basically has decreased any overflow that was permitted in the past to allow for fresh runoff to reach the salton sea basin. This is why the lake has been retreating since 2017. There are multiple great documentaries available on amazon firestick, explaining both sides of the battle over the salton sea. Im with the greenies on this one

The "extra" inflow has ended, yes. IID now wants to take the "runoff" from the ag fields and treat it to a degree, and reuse it,  as a possible hedge against Colorado river cuts. If this happens, kiss the Salton goodbye.  All the geo plants on the salton rely on water from the sea keeping the brine pool high, and some use IID supplied water for cooling and injection. Its going to be interesting if any of the production lithium processes use lots of water. 

15 hours ago, Bgchlln said:

The geothermal sites have been injecting the lithium back into the ground as a bi product of geothermal. Small recovery operations are in motion now, with the goal to ramp up asap. Can they do both( produce geothermal power and recover lithium at the same time?) This is the question?

Yes. But they will use more power than they produce from the geothermal vents, at least in the short term. This isn't the "end of the world" as there is plenty of solar and wind power in the Imperial valley to allow for "green" production.  The other large concern is water usage, as the sea retreats and IID stops inflows. 

https://www.isdpermits.net/

The store locater will show you where to buy off site. I'd call ahead though this time of year to make sure they have some in stock.

If you aren't sure about being out there in your trailer, you can stay at Gordons Well RV park, which has hookups and bathrooms, and is just off the South Dunes. 

The only benefit of going in September is that you don't need a permit until October 1st... Which should tell someone that its too damn hot to be in the dunes in September, unless you are a die hard who likes nite rides... Not something for first timers. 

And just cause someone said it above... I wouldn't risk going into the canals... While the chances of you getting caught are low, and only slightly higher for something bad happening because of the flow, the real reason is that if you go into the Coachella Canal, they but a chemical in it to keep the algae growth down, and it can mess up your skin. I'd rather stink for a week.

4 minutes ago, Sausage450r said:

Its simple. Biden was negotiating from a weak position. Putin has nothing to gain by releasing anyone. President dipshit would give up our nuclear arsenal to please the lgbtq+xyzAlmfao crowd and putin knew it. Biden has no spine, thats why the trade happened

Nice attempt at spin... Yes Putin is in a position of power on this one... What does he care if anyone continues to sit in any prison?? Its the GRU that wants this fool back, he is their boy. Putin is/was KGB, and there for above the GRU, which the KGB always distrusted and disrespected. Why give up two for one, when you can get a better deal? Bout wasn't talking, like a good spy, and could continue to sit in Marion if the US refused the terms Putin set out. 

Now did politics come into play here? Absofreakinglutly. Biden's base made her release a priority, and he worked to get what they wanted. They "asked" for the other POS, and Putin said no.... Take what you can get, and get the political win. Its politics 101... 

Personally, I'd let them all sit in jail. None of them are "worthy" of much effort to get set free, and certainly not at the price paid in this deal.

4 hours ago, Orange_R said:

He was discharged for disorderly conduct and received an "other than honorable not a dishonorable, does that constitute his fate? And if i'm being honest, had I caught on to what was "really" going on during my enlistment things probably would have played out WAY differently. 

Read right from the source... he received a bad conduct discharge. While that is not a dishonorable discharge, it also is not a "less than honorable" discharge. Those are two sperate things.

"attempted larceny, three specifications of dereliction of duty, making a false official statement, wrongfully using another’s social security number,1 and ten specifications of making and uttering checks without having sufficient funds in his account for 1 The appellant was charged under Article 134, UCMJ, for a violation of Title 42 U.S.C. § 408(a)(7)(B). 2 payment, in violation of Articles 80, 92, 107, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. §§ 880, 892, 907, and 934."

 https://www.jag.navy.mil/courts/documents/archive/2008/WHELAN, P.N. 200800152 PCE.pdf

My point in this is simply... drop the "he's a vet" act... if you want to call that woman a criminal, than so is this guy. He broke the faith, and did it to his fellow shipmate. He is a criminal too.

As to the allegations he was spying, I doubt it, and doubt IF he was, that he was doing it for the US even more. The info he was accused of receiving, by even Russia was low level BS, not of much use to our government. It is entirely possible he was setup to facilitate a trade, as the US had just charged two Russians with spying when he was charged.... in 2018. So remember that Trump let this guy sit in a Russian gulag for 2 years, and refused to trade him for the spies he did release to Russia, so its unlikely he was a US asset. 

So hate Biden for any of his numerous policy positions you don't agree with, but don't toss this criminal up as just a good vet being left behind... hes not. 

47 minutes ago, Esco said:

A USMC vet who got a BCD for larceny??? Sorry, not sorry. He broke the faith!

As you are in CA, I cant speak to the finical/ tax incentives you can get, but I built my system myself with panels from SanTan Solar (www.santansolar.com), and batteries from G4. My system is only 5kw of panels and 7kw of batteries currently, but it is enough to run the AC in the summer, which took my bill from 190 a month in the summer and put it at the 35 I pay in the winter.  

Panels, battery, and wiring all done by me, and I'm in just under 8k for the current cost. I hope to upgrade the system to a whole home, off grid one in the next year or so, as the new tax credits make it a better deal. Cost wise, I will loose money doing so, but I HATE the power company, APS, and dream of the day I can tell them to come pull their meter. 

On 12/3/2022 at 8:31 AM, wesinls said:

Looks to be about 200 watts total if you read the specs...110 to 150 watts for the dish, and another 6ish amps (72ish watts) for the router - this is for the high performance residential version, first link below - they don't show the routers power consumption for the standard version (2nd link), which I assume it what is used on the RV plan / option...but the dish uses less power, 50 to 75w vs 110-150 for the high performance.  So,,,150 to 200ish watts total depending which one you go with.

The "RV' version (3rd link) is also 25 more a month, and the only difference looks to be that you can enable and disable your service on a monthly basis.  It would be nice to have one unit, in my opinion the high performance, and just take is from your house when you camp, but that could be a PITA and not ideal for everyone as you'd be taking away the internet from home...would also need two sets of cables (as to avoid taking the cables you prob have ran up to your roof each time), etc.

Lot of money to have reliable internet at the desert, but pretty cool it's an option if you want it.

09222022 - Starlink Product Specifications_HighPerformance

09222022 - Starlink Product Specifications_Standard

STARLINK FOR RVs

 

 

 

You also need the RV version to be able to take it to different places and be "guaranteed" service. Starlink can geofence the unit, and if too many end users are in one location, they can turn off units not inside their authorized location. The RV plan allows you to stay connected if this happens, but have your speed throttled down.

22 minutes ago, Dockmaster said:

I can attest to his statement as to insurance, as it applies to NFA trusts. I have all my weapons in an NFA trust, and when attempting to get them insured, ran into that issue. I cant add them as a rider on my homeowners because the trust owns them, even though I'm the sole current trustee and beneficiary of the trust. I had to get a separate policy, in the name of the trust, and it was not cheap at all. 

Also the use tax is an issue, but its an odds game. Except for that bounty issue. DMV has done that a few times in the past, and I wouldn't put it past them to do it again. 

Its for tax and fee reasons only, it wont make your ride legal for street use in CA. You really need to talk to lawyers and accountants about just what the rewards and the risks are when doing this, and the exact legal way to do it.  One thing you dont want to get wrong is taxes... Oh, and youll need to get the out of state OHV permit now too, thanks Cali!

38 minutes ago, South Bay said:

At $85 per barrel the price at the pump should be at least $1.50 per gallon cheaper than what been seeing at pump over the last 3 weeks . . .

That is why you are seeing such crazy changes in prices... its not the barrel price, but the spot refined price that is driving this craziness. Some refineries are down, others have plenty of supply, but don't have the pipeline capacity to the depot. Then you have truck availability, and to a smaller point, rail bottlenecks and labor... That is why prices go nuts over such small geographic locations. 

13 hours ago, Kraut_n_Rice said:

Got this from SRP yesterday about our TOU rates.

 

Im on APS's old fogies plan, so as long as I keep it below 600kwh per month on a yearly average, I pay 11.2C per Kwh. Makes summers a pain, but winters balance it back out. I tried the TOU, but it just killed my social life. ;)

23 hours ago, Rockwood said:

.... peasant models are ....  

 

Well then, I'll take my base Model 3 and be on my dirty way back to the washes...

Not an answer to your question, but have you thought of getting a battery system for the solar? Even a smaller one should help take up the load during peak hours and help put your panels to full use. And if you buy it after Jan 1st, there are some killer tax credits available.  Still more than the fees for a analog meter, but over time will be better. 

12 hours ago, Rockwood said:

Which is more fun...?

In the sand, or on the way to my bank account? :D

If I had the technical skill, I'd love to copy the guy who made the sand truck out of tesla parts... Other than needing to run a genny to recharge, I'm sold on the idea of it.

10 hours ago, ACarlson said:

BLM side I am referring to is the opposite side of the road from The Flats.  We previously camped there all the time (going back 20 years) before they made it a Tortoise habitat (at least that's what I heard has happened).  

Ah, no, that area is now a wilderness area. They closed it off sometime back in the 90's I recall. You still have mammoth wash, if you really feel like slumming it, in the far north, but you have to come down south on the old Coachella canal to access the main dunes. 

5 minutes ago, Grease Monkey said:

I'm kinda surprised they got the permit from the county at long last... Thought Imperial struck again. ;)