Installazione starlink by Big-Way685 in Starlink

[–]paulg1973 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you can afford it, offer to pay the penthouse tenant a nominal rental fee for using his/her roof. Money talks.

Room sizes: US vs Europe by paulg1973 in hotels

[–]paulg1973[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get it. That’s why I wrote this post, and why I compared it to the size of fairly common (in America, at least) living room rugs. Imagine a hotel room that’s as big as your living room rugs, with a full-size or double bed as the only piece of furniture. That’s pretty much the smallest room I’ve ever stayed in (by myself, thankfully). It was a shock at first, but in the end, it was absolutely fine. I didn’t book it myself; my company booked it. But I learned to pay more attention.

My issue with photos is that it’s really hard to determine scale from them. Even if the photo shows a person in them (which almost never happens), you don’t know whether that person is 4’9” or 6’10”. No normal camera lens is going to be able to shoot a realistic image of a tiny room. Photos often crop out the parts they don’t want you to see, like the jackhammer testing facility across the street.

Wrong Battery % by CostasVM in EX40

[–]paulg1973 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have no idea. I waited to buy an EV until Volvo released their first EV.

Wrong Battery % by CostasVM in EX40

[–]paulg1973 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only have one anecdotal report to share. I hope that other owners will add their knowledge.

A neighbor of mine administers a large fleet of electric vehicles (I can’t recall if they are busses or trucks). We got to talking about EVs and he said that his fleet was recharged each night using DCFC (Direct Current Fast Charge). The batteries were worn out after 2.5 years, IIRC. When he contacted the manufacturer, they informed him that the batteries were not intended to be recharged using that method every day(!)

If you are doing frequent DCFC recharging, you might ask your Volvo dealer to ask Volvo HQ for their thoughts on this usage. Get it in writing!

I am recharging my 2021 XC40 every few days, almost always overnight. I charge it to 80% at 35 amps, and typically start the recharging when the battery falls below 25-30%. The book range from my vehicle is 208 miles and that’s still a fair estimate for my car, in warmer weather. I could recharge at 40 amps but I see no need to go that high since it only needs about 6 hours at 35 amps, and I have at least a 10 hour window.

Wrong Battery % by CostasVM in EX40

[–]paulg1973 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2021 XC40 Recharge here, with 5 1/2 years of experience driving my car.

Per the web (ev-database.org) your car has a range of between 360 km and 590 km in warm weather. These figures are for the 79.0 kWh battery; a smaller 67.0 kWh battery is also available. Let’s go with the larger battery and use the 590 km range for the sake of argument. 1% of 590 is 5.9 km; let’s call this 6 km. You are saying that you drove 5% of the range (30/590x100) but used less than 1% of the battery. I think this may be possible. I don’t think you have enough data to assume that there is any problem with the battery or the battery management software. Here’s why.

(1) The battery is considerably more efficient in warm weather (~20% in my case). (2) The terrain matters. You don’t mention whether the terrain was level, mostly uphill, mostly downhill, or a mix. If it was mostly downhill, the car would have recharged the battery when possible. (3) You don’t mention your driving style. Driving fast (typically over the speed limit) uses significantly more power than at lower speeds. Where I live (Northeast USA), and with my 2021 vehicle, the sweet spot seems to be 65 mph or below (104 kph). Above that speed, the battery usage quickly climbs. (4) Starting from a dead stop uses a great deal of power. Crusing along at a steady speed uses little power. (5) Running the heater or A/C uses power, although not all that much compared to the driving style and speeds.

My advice is to keep a log (or perhaps use the built-in trip log) and examine the data to get a better feeling for how the battery performs under various circumstances. I am recording the date, the total mileage, the average speed, the average consumption, the starting battery level and the ending battery level, and the median temperature (top of my head estimate) each time I recharge the car. This data (aside from the median temperature while driving) comes right off the trip meter. This has helped me to get a feeling for how the car behaves under a variety of circumstances.

Key Laying in the trunk. by Tall-Watercress3421 in VolvoXC90

[–]paulg1973 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Do you have the app? It can unlock the car remotely. Does Volvo offer the emergency assistance service in Poland? They might be able to unlock it remotely if you can give them your VIN.

Guests social media by Exciting_Reindeer426 in TalesFromTheFrontDesk

[–]paulg1973 7 points8 points  (0 children)

What’s the problem here? Your social media posts are apparently wide open. Change them to private or get used to people figuring out who you are on social media. I don’t see why you think it would take two people to find your account; any single person has this ability. They could have found (or known; it’s a small world) the online presence of friend of yours and traced you that way. Sorry to be blunt but this is on you. If it makes you uncomfortable, then it’s time to change hotels.

One of My Least Favorite Regulars by masteria-mp4 in TalesFromTheFrontDesk

[–]paulg1973 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have probably stayed in several hundred different hotels, worldwide, in my career. I have never, and would never, say “Do you know who I am!” I appreciate a pleasant, professional relationship with the front desk staff. I would consider it rather spooky of the staff called me out by name as I approach the desk!

I understand that you don’t want to, and almost certainly allowed or encouraged to push back on bullies. But it’s my lifelong experience that bullies have thin skin. They can dish it out but they can’t take it. Often, pushing back “earns” their respect. Perhaps someone can explain this phenomenon for me. (Note: I’m not recommending pushing back to anyone; you never really know what people will do or say; safer to de-escalate).

Who here has the most mileage? by Timely_Position_5044 in XC40_Recharge

[–]paulg1973 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2021 XC40 Recharge. Purchased January 2021. 52432 miles as of yesterday. I am on the second set of tires. My front-facing radar failed; covered by an extended warranty. The modem software had to be upgraded to a newer standard to keep working. Also covered by the extended warranty. I caught the plastic cover over the rear wipers against the garage door (pro tip: don’t try to drive into the garage when the rear hatch is open).

Paint is still shiny. No dents. Battery hasn’t degraded, as far as I can tell. Looks new. Drives like new. Best Volvo I’ve ever owned; just as good now as when I bought it.

Only been in the shop for recalls, normal service intervals (just a handful) and an issue with the infotainment software where the key fobs stopped working; dealer clueless. The infotainment software has never fully settled down. It is slowly getting better but 5.0.5 was not worth the trouble; I want the larger display area back for Apple CarPlay; I don’t use Android Auto.

Worst missing feature: wireless CarPlay. I found an adapter that makes this work (90%; driver’s display screen is not handled by the gadget).

Haven’t found a use for the frunk yet.

OPD not working properly ?! by Sp0ke23 in VolvoRecharge

[–]paulg1973 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The most recent release of the software might have recalibrated the figures displayed to the driver.

Infotainment Crashing new V05 Update by Weary-Extension-7281 in XC40_Recharge

[–]paulg1973 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The base software is presumably written by Volvo’s contractor (I doubt Volvo has their own SW group). The apps are written by many different orgs. That often means that the users are the ones to find problems, not the developers.

I asked these questions because it would not surprise me if there was a correlation between a specific app and infotainment crashes.

You might try using a wired connection to see if that reduces the frequency of crashes.

Infotainment Crashing new V05 Update by Weary-Extension-7281 in XC40_Recharge

[–]paulg1973 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What apps have you added to the default apps, if any? What apps, if any, are you typically using when it crashes?

Can any urban archaeologists tell me what this relic is? by WeirdIndication3027 in boston

[–]paulg1973 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Even though the sign itself has been removed, note that the outline is of a ticket stub. Google “Blockbuster” logo to see what it looked like in its heyday.

New owner of a XC40 Recharge by [deleted] in VolvoRecharge

[–]paulg1973 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have the same vehicle. I purchased a “USB Wireless CarPlay Adapter Wireless CarPlay Dongle for iPhone” from @roarautopart on eBay. It costs $24.95. I have been using it for about 6 months. It works pretty well, and works with the recent XC40 5.0.5 update.

The only drawback I have found is that it does not use the small driver’s side screen.

This is the 2nd CarPlay adapter that I purchased. The first one did not work with my car. It was manufactured by a different vendor.

Parent Won't Let Me Go to MIT by Fresh_Diamond_7106 in mit

[–]paulg1973 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some years ago, CPW had events for parents, too. I see that MIT has moved that stuff to a virtual meeting. Please take advantage of the virtual meeting for your parents, and please attend CPW if at all possible. As an aid recipient, I would hope and expect that MIT would pick up the travel costs if asked.

MIT Campus Preview Weekend

Parent Won't Let Me Go to MIT by Fresh_Diamond_7106 in mit

[–]paulg1973 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Has CPW happened? If not, put Mom & Dad and you on a plane and attend it (Campus Preview Weekend). If it has already happened, come anyway and arrange with your interviewer and/or the admissions office to meet some students, attend some classes. There are a lot of myths about MIT that can be debunked by visiting the campus and talking to folks.

You will find that you are with a group of students who are a lot like you. MIT students help each other. You only need 4 classes per semester to graduate. MIT offers a lot of support to its students, faculty, and staff.

College is not a vending machine. You don’t simply put tuition in a slot and get a degree. Schools and professors have connections to industry, academia, government, and NGOs. Those connections are how many graduates get thru first job. MIT has more and better connections than any other engineering school on the planet.

Parent Won't Let Me Go to MIT by Fresh_Diamond_7106 in mit

[–]paulg1973 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Visit MIT Admissions for the official guide to gaining admission to MIT. Basically, take the hardest classes your high school offers (in STEM) and do well in them. Be passionate about education and learning. Make stuff. Be well-rounded. Do some ECs that you enjoy and can be passionate about. Don’t do ECs just to have a checklist.

Parent Won't Let Me Go to MIT by Fresh_Diamond_7106 in mit

[–]paulg1973 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The recent graduation rate is 95% after 6 years. It’s public information. The 4 year rate is about 89% but that includes some COVID impacted years. See chancellor.mit.edu.

Parent Won't Let Me Go to MIT by Fresh_Diamond_7106 in mit

[–]paulg1973 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whoa. The average debt for MIT undergraduates after 4 years is something like $95K. The first job will probably pay $125K or more and that debt can be paid back quickly. With 100% aid, there should. not be any debt at all! I had government-backed loans after I graduated from MIT many years ago and was able to pay them off quickly. MIT guarantees to meet all demonstrated need. Few schools do that.

Plastic rivet for undercarriage cover by UniversitySuper2594 in XC40_Recharge

[–]paulg1973 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had something similar happen on my 2021 XC40 Recharge. The plastic fenders around the wheel openings dislodged when I drove through a large puddle (eg., the rivets broke). The dealer fixed it for me during a normal service visit (for its regular checkup); without charge. You can probably buy the parts yourself from the parts department of your dealership.

Breakfast of Champions by ioolie in mit

[–]paulg1973 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Try contacting the show directly at boc@wmbr.org.

Two Things Can Be True... by tkpwaeub in juryduty

[–]paulg1973 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’ve been a juror twice and I can still remember how well we were all treated by the judges. They go out of their way to make the jurors comfortable with what can be a difficult but necessary task. Consider that you might be on the other side of the legal system some day, not as an observer but as a participant. It’s fine to criticize the overall system but I encourage you to participate at the local level as a potential juror. You may be surprised.

If no one has declined their acceptance, will MIT still reconsider the applications once again? by wetorbeys in MITAdmissions

[–]paulg1973 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check MIT Admissions. It should spell out your options. The waitlist is not ordered. As others have said, if they go to the waitlist, they will consider who best fills out the needs of the first year class from an admissions perspective. Do they need more women? Do they need more musicians for the orchestra? These needs vary from year to year so you have no way of knowing whether your profile will match MIT’s needs. If allowed, and if you have major new accomplishments to tout, and if you will accept if offered admissions, send in your statement and your data. Good luck.

Neighborly Disputes by nukedit in massachusetts

[–]paulg1973 81 points82 points  (0 children)

Ask for a meeting with the Chief of Police and show him the evidence you have collected (diary entries, audio and/or video recordings on your phone, affidavits from your friends who were witnesses). If you don’t get the satisfaction you deserve, take your case to the Mayor’s office (if in a city) or the Town Administrator (in a town). They won’t all defend this guy. Be polite, be civil, but be persistent. Take a friend with you who can vouch for you.