The cam test was a success. We ran the cam while Georg was practicing driving stick shift at the Sheraton Imperial Center, then as I drove back to Durham for lunch. After lunch I was going to keep broadcasting while Georg drove some more in Oval Park, but the phone suddenly started to say "Extended Network." Which I believe means "We are charging your ass about a thousand dollars per minute for roaming." It's totally ridiculous, we were about a block from the restaurant where I had a steady signal (three bars out of five). But still, I turned off the phone as fast as I could.
I'm going to check my account online tomorrow and if I got charged for roaming, call them to complain. I've found that they credit you for the charge if you make a stink about it. Which inclines me to believe that roaming charges are capricious, not always based on actual loss of coverage, and they know it. I mean, if you only got charged for roaming when you really were roaming, why would they be so willing to credit the charges?
Anyway, enough bitching about Verizon. The charger was great. After an hour and fifteen minutes of powering the computer it was still going fine. The only problem I noticed was that the plug didn't seat very well. It tended to pop out if the charger was moved or jarred, as tends to happen in a moving car. I'll have to see if I can tape it down or something.
So with power from the car while the car is running, power from the charger, and the laptop's own battery, we'll be able to keep running for a good long time.
Hey, Georg just called and they have rope lights at Home Depot. Unfortunately they're not cheap, but then again they're not on post-holiday clearance like the ones I bought last year. He's going to get two 18' strands of clear lights. That will be plenty for the roof and hood. Yay!
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