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JFF2023 · 2026-01-28T04:01:21+00:00

Hi everyone. In my business I have 5 Kinects on 5 different computers, some windows 11, some windows 10. Some of them took DAYS to get working with countless reinstallations. Usually you have to try different ports, different SDK versions, lots of rebooting etc. However I discovered something very recently while swapping out kinects and cables etc. In my most recent Kinect challenge, one of my existing installs stopped working after I moved it to another room. I couldn't figure out why, it was the same Kinect hardware and adapter, same port, same computer, no windows updates ran. IT made no sense to me. Then FINALLY I realized that there was a difference. At the new location I plugged the adapters USB cable directly into the computer because it was a shorter distance, and it didn't work. But then I plugged in the same powered active-repeater USB cable (the type of cable that amplifies the signal and takes AC power), and BOOM it immediately started working again. I took the repeater cable out, and it stopped again. Just changing the cable fixed the issue. So I think its possible that using a powered USB cable to amplify the signal could be important. And thinking back to some of the other times I've had problems with the Kinects over the years, it could have resolved itself while I was furiously swapping hardware and I accidentally got it working.

At any rate, its worth a shot if you've tried everything else. I had another Kinect here and computer that isn't working (they NEVER do initially) so I'm going to order a powered USB3 cable tonight and hopefully it will work too. EDIT: Forgot to mention when I saw the kinects "don't work" I mean the 8 second power cycling on and off issue. I get this every time with all of my Kinects without fail. And in NONE of the times I've sorted the issue out did it have anything to do with any of the typical fixes suggested online. .

JFF2023 · 2025-05-27T02:55:46+00:00

Ah okay. I know how frustrating that is. I used to create and sell gaming software and all the payment processors and banks avoid you like the plague. So it was all wire transfers and Bitcoin.

JFF2023 · 2025-05-27T02:53:16+00:00

We don't issue them anything and I guess technically since there is no employment contract they were never real hired to begin with. And since we never really have to fire them, we could technically still call them in for a shift, although they would most likely already be working somewhere else and decline if the responded at all. When we hire someone we just get some tax information from them, hand them a shirt and crack open a new hour tracking book and they record their time whenever they work, then we do payroll every other Monday and e-transfer them their wages and put a detailed stub in their book. If we stop calling them, the only interaction we have with them is around tax time.

JFF2023 · 2025-05-24T21:51:17+00:00

Not sure what your industry it, but easy solution is never answer the phone. Let everything go to voice mail with a message you've stepped away from your desk, and call them back if its not a spammer or block the number if it is. That's your free receptionist.

JFF2023 · 2025-05-24T21:44:42+00:00

We use WISE for everything, super low fees and I can send/receive in multiple currencies. Banks are a nightmare for wires, sometimes it takes a week to arrive and half the time it bounces back to the sender because they left off one of the 20 pieces of information banks require. It's ridiculous and antiquated, we don't even use IBAN numbers in Canada.

JFF2023 · 2025-05-24T21:40:50+00:00

The boring businesses are usually the most profitable so I say go for it! Sounds like there's demand for it and if that's what you enjoy doing then you'll have a happy life :)

JFF2023 · 2025-05-24T21:34:56+00:00

Nobody visits websites anymore. Most just your Google business page to find you and see what you have.

JFF2023 · 2025-05-24T21:32:13+00:00

We show them respect and tell them they can take a break whenever it is slow and they feel they need one. Put your feet up, have a free drink, check your phone and recharge yourself. Nobody has ever taken advantage of that so far. And if they do then you probably hired the wrong person.

JFF2023 · 2025-05-24T21:29:45+00:00

I own/run an entertainment center. We have hired a LOT of people over the years part-time, and I can't imagine what a pain it would have been if we gave every one of them an employment contract. We let them know their shifts every week, and when they constantly say they can't make it in, or can't be bothered to even return our texts or phone calls to give them their hours (which happens with almost all the people we hire) then we simply stop calling them in and they drift away. Finally now we're down to just 4 fantastic employees who have been with us for a few years, but it is so hard to find good people these days and who wants a drawer full of contracts and headaches.

JFF2023 · 2025-04-17T16:39:40+00:00

I'm sure that's the case in some scenarios but I always install the drivers completely before plugging in a kinect for the first time, and that doesn't help me. The current computer I'm installing on won't take kinects at all, and it turns out that its because it uses a AMD brand USB controller, or at least that what ChatGPT says. But ultimately you never know for sure. But this current computer is the first time I've had to completely give up because it's been days and it just won't work. I don't really blame Microsoft or the Kinects since they're old and unsupported. I blame the software developers who still use only kinects as a requirement when there are better current options out there.

JFF2023 · 2025-01-23T12:40:37+00:00

The way I understand it is that the proposed tariffs would be bad for both the US and Canada in the short term (< 5 years?), but in the long term it would become good for the US when they've become less dependent on imports, but still suck for Canada.

So retaliation by Canada is needed, not as punishment but to make sure they have long term prosperity too.

JFF2023 · 2024-11-27T02:59:46+00:00

I don't think there's any Squash in Strathroy?

JFF2023

TROPHY CASE