posted
We rarely are FAPed but it did happen last night and I know why. The issue here is some strange indicators I'm not understanding.
The basic layout for the last several years: Two Dell laptops configured the same -- WinXP Pro SP3, ZoneAlarm Pro, AVG, PC clocks set manually via NIST; all running fine. Both laptops wireless to Linksys router, and on to 7000s.
When we were FAPed last night one PC showed 117 minutes remaining, the other 108 minutes remaining. Why the difference?
This morning one PC shows 44 minutes remaining and the other 35 minutes remaining. Yet when I look at the "modem's Download Allowance Status" at http://192.168.0.1/fap-meter/; it shows Allowance Remaining 0MB as expected, but the Time Until Allowance Refill (Hours:Minutes) shows 16 hours 21 minutes.
Also, hnFAPAlert parameters are set the same on both machines. One of the settings is to break the connection "When MB is at or below" 20MB. But it does not break the chosen connection on either machine.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks,
Chuck
-------------------- Chuck & Elva, Wheel Estate Travelers Safari Serengeti | Ford Van, M&G Sys | Scooter See Us Here F1/2W|D3/v3.9.4|HN7000s|83W/990/30 Msps/V/H|SD BOW-A|2 Linksys WRT55AG/CAT 5/WPA2|Droid VZW Tether/Wilson Amp Posts: 102 | From: Fulltime Wheelestate | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
The 117/108 minutes remaining refers to the time the program is waiting to restore the connection (I don't know what you have set for the restore time).
If the connection didn't break that would, usually, mean that the wrong adapter was selected. Have you checked that?
The restore connection is set to 120 minutes. The Check Interval is 15 seconds. The clocks on both laptops are the same to within 10 seconds. Now I understand the function of the initial minutes display when FAPed, but apparently at my end, what would cause the 9 minute difference displayed on each PC?
Also, I'm not understanding (referring to one PC) the time went from 117 minutes remaining to 44 minutes remaining that spanned a real time period of almost 7 hours (overnight). Does the Hughes non-metered download period of hours effect this?
The above two (probably related) issues are not worthy of intensive investigation. But I am curious why both machines would not display the same number within a minute.
Regarding the connection selection, that was one of the first things I checked because I've noticed this phenomena before. Both Ethernet and USB Easy Tether cables were not in use. But I noticed I still could get very slow data through the 7000s.
On that same issue, I noticed this morning when checking the Choose Connection selection, when I click on the drop down source selection window it displays "Packet Scheduler Miniport". If I select any of the three adapters listed, it will not change from Packet Scheduler Miniport. The only way to get rid of this is click OK and reopen the main program window. At that time the previously selected adapter is correctly listed in the connection window.
Thanks to your program we've been FAPed only four times in 2.5 years. But each time I noticed it was the same machine, and each time the hnFAP program icon was missing from the tray (right end of the task bar). I presume the hnFAP program was stopped and whatever program was using data kept going until FAP. Are you aware of any computer setups or programs that will stop hnFAP or otherwise cause performance issues with hnFAP?
The latter issue is my greatest concern because it allows us to be FAPed. And of course, both machines are scanned daily with AVG and weekly with Malwarebytes.
I'm sorry to hit you with so many issues but I've been watching this for some time to develop a pattern. And during this event I had the time and energy to document the anomalies of the incident.
Thank you. I appreciate your help.
-------------------- Chuck & Elva, Wheel Estate Travelers Safari Serengeti | Ford Van, M&G Sys | Scooter See Us Here F1/2W|D3/v3.9.4|HN7000s|83W/990/30 Msps/V/H|SD BOW-A|2 Linksys WRT55AG/CAT 5/WPA2|Droid VZW Tether/Wilson Amp Posts: 102 | From: Fulltime Wheelestate | Registered: Aug 2007
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The restore connection is set to 120 minutes. The Check Interval is 15 seconds. The clocks on both laptops are the same to within 10 seconds. Now I understand the function of the initial minutes display when FAPed, but apparently at my end, what would cause the 9 minute difference displayed on each PC?
I can think of a few odd circumstances, but it would be very hard to know without some difficult tests.
Also, I'm not understanding (referring to one PC) the time went from 117 minutes remaining to 44 minutes remaining that spanned a real time period of almost 7 hours (overnight). Does the Hughes non-metered download period of hours effect this?
Since the program is not looking for anything from Hughes during the delay there is no effect from things like that. As to what you are seeing I have no idea. I must admit that I personally have never been in FAP since I wrote the program, which makes experience on in-FAP behavior difficult to deal with. The code stores the time you enter FAP as a decimal value (which is what a PC does internally), and compares the current time with that time using a factor of 0.0006944 as a multiplier. That is one minute in fractional days. When you went into the shutdown period the time was stored in the registry, and if the computer were turned off and then on again in the morning the time is read back in; at that point it should compare and immediately see that it is now more than 120 minutes later and release the adapter.
posted
Thanks Don. My primary concern is the hnFAP program disappearing from the tray, and apparently something is shutting down the FAP monitor to occur on one of the laptops. Multiple virus scans as noted above. No viruses.
Any ideas what may cause this?
Has anyone else had the issue of hnFAP intermittently shutting down and loosing FAP monitor protection?
-------------------- Chuck & Elva, Wheel Estate Travelers Safari Serengeti | Ford Van, M&G Sys | Scooter See Us Here F1/2W|D3/v3.9.4|HN7000s|83W/990/30 Msps/V/H|SD BOW-A|2 Linksys WRT55AG/CAT 5/WPA2|Droid VZW Tether/Wilson Amp Posts: 102 | From: Fulltime Wheelestate | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I have used FAP monitor since Don released it and not seen a shut down. I never look at the time on the different machines so I can't if it is a issue or not. Now I have had a lot of problems with ZoneAlarm Pro and dumped it a few year ago and the issues went away.
Joe
-------------------- F1 D3/7000S 89W/1170 V/H My location Posts: 197 | From: http://map.datastormusers.com/user2.cfm?user=1219 | Registered: May 2004
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posted
Actually, it could be hidden. I haven't read much about that with software. Typically, I see a program get corrupted and stop working and/or disappear from the tray. But you bring up a valid point.
We're going to be back on the road tomorrow until the weekend. Then we will be planted for 3 months in a VZW 4G area. I will do one or more "test FAPs" and reconfirm that the wireless is or is not leaking data while hnFAP is in alarm state. Will check in Ethernet mode also. Plus I'll check the Task Manager and see if the process still is running.
I'll let you know. I greatly appreciate your help Don.
-------------------- Chuck & Elva, Wheel Estate Travelers Safari Serengeti | Ford Van, M&G Sys | Scooter See Us Here F1/2W|D3/v3.9.4|HN7000s|83W/990/30 Msps/V/H|SD BOW-A|2 Linksys WRT55AG/CAT 5/WPA2|Droid VZW Tether/Wilson Amp Posts: 102 | From: Fulltime Wheelestate | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Don, yes, just click the task bar arrow to temporarily show all icons. I'm sure you realize you can customize which icons appear and which are hidden. When you originally said "hidden" my brain went to another, deeper issue of Win OS.
When an icon disappears from the task bar, that program has stopped running -- for whatever reason. That's the issue with hnFAP here and I'm guessing it is due to corruption by another program.
Have tree blockage here and cannot move. When I get the tripod working I'll try more testing and let you know what I find.
Thanks.
-------------------- Chuck & Elva, Wheel Estate Travelers Safari Serengeti | Ford Van, M&G Sys | Scooter See Us Here F1/2W|D3/v3.9.4|HN7000s|83W/990/30 Msps/V/H|SD BOW-A|2 Linksys WRT55AG/CAT 5/WPA2|Droid VZW Tether/Wilson Amp Posts: 102 | From: Fulltime Wheelestate | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I've had the icon disappear a few times, what I've done is that I restart the PC (windows XP pro) to get it back. It's different from the exclamation mark on the tray which indicates another issue with the connection.
When I tried to start hnFAP from the start menu before I rebooted the PC it didn't appear to start (at least it didn't return to the tray). The next time it happens I will open the task manager to see if it is running or not.
It's not a big deal as I don't come close to draining the bucket but I like to see the icon on the tray.
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