Calling all geeks: Now Including Tech-o-Wienies!

[rwa12]

When I have that bluetooth problem in my car, I reboot my phone. Music works fine through it, just lose the ability to hear the other caller. Rebooting it has worked every time.

[Patrick425]

Thanks...tried that already though...didn't work.

[Blancofan1]

Patrick425--do you have your phoned paired with any other devices or speakers? I was having an issue with the bluetooth in my car a couple of weeks ago and had to remove all paired devices and then re-pair them starting with my car first. Seemed to solve my problem--which was that my phone wouldn't stay connected viz the bluetooth so it was a bit of a different problem but hopefully the solution might work for you.

 

BTW--how much do you love having bluetooth in your car. I've had mine for about 3 years and when I initially bought the vehicle I thought it was a nice feature but had no idea how much I would really come to rely on the bluetooth on a daily basis.

[Godspeed]

Hey Nerds! I replaced my cracked and malfunctioning laptop screen.

 

Just bought the laptop about a year ago and foolishly stepped on it in the middle of the night while getting up to tend to a screaming 2-year-old (so, double suck...). I pondered just getting a new one, but found out replacement of the screens a.) isn't all that expensive ($60) and b.) isn't all too hard.

 

Feeling real good about this right now.

[Patrick425]

Patrick425--do you have your phoned paired with any other devices or speakers? I was having an issue with the bluetooth in my car a couple of weeks ago and had to remove all paired devices and then re-pair them starting with my car first. Seemed to solve my problem--which was that my phone wouldn't stay connected viz the bluetooth so it was a bit of a different problem but hopefully the solution might work for you.

 

BTW--how much do you love having bluetooth in your car. I've had mine for about 3 years and when I initially bought the vehicle I thought it was a nice feature but had no idea how much I would really come to rely on the bluetooth on a daily basis.

 

 

Thanks Blanco. Can I asked how you removed the paired devices from your car? I'm actually now having the same problem you are having. To try to solve my original issue, I unpaired my phone (I did that on my cell phone, not through the car's menu). When I tried to pair it again and it asked for the name of my phone, I used the same name and it said "Sounds to familiar". So, I used a different name and it paired. I still had the same problem when I made calls (not being able to hear the person on the other end). However, the new issue is now when I turn off the car (or my phone) and turn it back on, my car does not recognize the phone. I'm thinking if I can some how remove all the paired phones from my car (I've paired the same phone 3 times now with different names along with my wife's phone), it may help me solve my problem. I just can not figure out how to do that.

 

I sent an email to Subaru. They sent an email back that I should contact my dealer with this issue. I'm due for my first oil change, so I guess I'll have them take a look at it.

 

Anyways...yes, I love the bluetooth function (when it works!!) and I will probably never buy another car that doesn't have it (although it's becoming almost standard on most new cars now).

[1992casey]

I'd bring all of your devices and sit there while the techie gets them going. If your wife could be there (or at least give up her phone long enough for you to take it with you), that would probably help to ensure that everything is working. Hopefully, after seeing what the techie does, you'll be able to handle this on your own in the future.

[RobDeer 45]

I didn't click on this thread until today, thought it was something else. Great idea for this!!!

 

For some reason, I can not get my iPhone to make the "tweet" sound when I recieve a tweet! It juts makes the generic notification noise. I have "tweet" selected in the settings under sounds but I get nothing! Any ideas?

[Blancofan1]

Patrick--try going into your bluetooth menu and saying "list". That gives me a total rundown of all the paired devices. I then say "delete" and it asks which device to delete. I did that and deleted all devices then paired the ones I wanted up again. My owner's manual came with a separate booklet for the voice command system that walked me through the process, it is however a Pontiac and not a Subaru though.

 

Good luck

[Patrick425]

Patrick--try going into your bluetooth menu and saying "list". That gives me a total rundown of all the paired devices. I then say "delete" and it asks which device to delete. I did that and deleted all devices then paired the ones I wanted up again. My owner's manual came with a separate booklet for the voice command system that walked me through the process, it is however a Pontiac and not a Subaru though.

 

Good luck

 

Blanco, thanks for this advice. My car does not have quite the same process for deleting phones, but it's similar. Anyways, I tried this about a week ago and it seemed to work with my problem of my devices not just disappearing from my car. So, I was at least able to listen to music through my phone without have to set my phone up every time I got in the car.

 

Also, finally got a solution to my "not being able people on the other end of phone calls" issue and I feel kind of stupid about it. I took my car into the dealer yesterday for it's first oil change and I also mentioned my blue tooth issue. The service person told me that they don't deal with that and that I would have to speak to a sales person about it (which kind of irked me). So I spoke with a sales person who told me that when I'm on the phone, I should adjust the volume using my steering wheel volume control. I was very skeptical that this would be the solution. I told him that people call me when I'm listening to the radio or listening to music on my phone, so it really should not be a volume issue. He told me to just try it and if that did not work to bring the car back in and they would make sure they figure out the issue one way or another.

 

Sure enough, I tried it on the way home, and that was the issue. Apparently there is a separate volume "memory" for phone calls vs. the radio vs. music played through the phone even though it's all the same controls in the car. I did not know this.

[Patrick425]

Need help connecting dual monitors to a laptop. What I want is just to use the two external monitors (as extended screens - not duplicate screens) and not use the laptop monitor. I figured out how to get the laptop monitor to work with the external screens in an "extended" mode, but no matter what setting I use the external monitors just duplicate themselves.

 

Perhaps my connection is wrong. I purchased a USB Powered VGA Splitter to connect both monitors to the laptop.

 

Any help would be appreciated!

[TheCrew07]

I've seen docking stations that will allow for multiple monitors but I haven't witnessed anyone using dual monitors with a laptop in which the laptop LCD screen wasn't one of the monitors which is the way I have it setup in my office. Until you asked it had never even occurred to me to try.

 

Here's a

from a quick google search "laptop dual external monitors".

[Patrick425]

Thanks Crew07. I actually saw that same video. He has a different hook up than I do and he's using 3 monitors. I really only want to use the two external monitors that are the same size and sit up at the same level. If I can't get it figured out I guess I'll just have to use one external along with my laptop monitor.

[nate82]

Either of these two products should be able to help you do what you want to do.

 

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/

 

or

 

http://www.amazon.com/Targus-SuperSpeed-Docking-Station-ACP70USZ/dp/B005YR1PV2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&%3Bqid=1339569483&%3Bsr=8-1&%3Bkeywords=targus+docking+station+usb+3.0&tag=gamespot-vg-20

[Baldkin]

You're using a vga splitter, which will just split the same signal and send it to both monitors. Your laptop has no idea that the signal is being split (if that makes sense).

 

You need something where your laptop will identify that it needs to send out a different signal to each monitor. Most laptops will use a docking station to accomplish that feat.

[RightFieldCoder]

At work I need to connect one monitor to VGA and one to HDMI for the laptop to figure out there are two.

[Patrick425]

Need help with Google Calendar. I loaded a calendar from my son's school on my google calendar. I did this by adding it to "other calendars" through URL. There are several items that don't really apply to my son, for example "MAPS testing for freshmen" (my son is a Sophomore). I can't find anywhere in google calendar to delete seperate items (perhaps you can't do this for calendars downloaded through URL?). Thanks for any help with this!

[1992casey]

This is just a stab in the dark, but is it possible that you don't have permission to edit that particular calendar? I don't have any experience with Google, but with Apple, I can opt to share a calendar without giving permission for others to edit.

[Invader3K]

Hey guys. This morning I woke up to find that my cable internet was not working. This has been happening more and more frequently lately. I called Charter (our provider), and the helpful call center guy was able to resolve the issue over the phone. I asked why this had been happening to me lately. He said the problem is probably due to the fact that I have an older cable modem. We own our modem, which is a Motorola model, probably 4-5 years old. He said I have a "2.0" and should upgrade to a "3.0." I know nothing about this. Can you guys point me to a good model to look at? Not looking to spend a fortune but don't need the cheapest out there either. Thanks!

[support]

There are not too many DOCSIS 3.0 retail modems currently. Personally, I would go for either the Motorola SB6141 or the Motorola SB6121. You could get cheaper and it may even work out quite OK, just the same as you might get more expensive and not gain.

 

Consider these three things:

1. Don't feel pressured into upgrading if you are quite happy with the performance that you have.
   
2. In time the technology and hardware will become better honed and costs will reduce a little too.
   
3. You are probably saving $5 a month by providing your own modem. In one year, that is $60. The cost of these is very little more than that, so you are more or less staying within any warranty period.

 

Be sure that whatever you purchase is compatible with your existing hardware as well as your Service Provider.

[Invader3K]

Thanks for the help, support. I went with the 6121 (a local shop in Whitewater had it in stock). Seems to be working great so far, and I'm noticing my internet is running a bit quicker now.

[support]

That's great to hear!

 

By rights it should be faster but there are many constraints that can slow delivery to you. If you are noticing differences in your favorite sites, that is good. [sarcasm]Of course, I did make some changes a day or two that speed this site up.[/sarcasm]

[Hammer]

Updated router question: I know that routers have been discussed before but what are the current recommendations for wireless routers? I do mainly email and social media with a splash of PS3 COD play. We have 3 computers, 2 iPhones, an iPad and 2 iPods connected at all times. My 7 y/o Belkin just can't handle it all anymore. Charter 30 mb connection...

 

Thanks Tech-o-Wienies!!

[Godspeed]

Bringing a router and a Chromecast to a hotel was a winning idea. Luckily, the room has an ethernet jack and an available HDMI port on the TV.

[1992casey]

I tried to to that once with my Apple TV. Everything would have been fine had the TV's remote actually allowed me to switch to the other HDMI port.

[Invader3K]

*BUMP*

 

Hey everyone. My wife is in need of a new laptop. Her current one is about five years old, and getting slower and slower. It's time for her to upgrade.

 

Main needs aren't anything too intensive (no gaming or heavy video editing, etc). Mainly will be used for basic work stuff like spreadsheets, some accounting, word processing, etc. Has to be a PC, due to compatibility with some software our business uses.

 

Are there any good sites to go to in order to get a good deal these days? Doesn't need to be a bottom barrel modern, but not looking to blow a grand on this either. Thanks!