From: fatkinson@remove-this.mishmash.com   
      
   > On Sep 8, 2022, at 10:13 AM, Bill Horne   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   > Yesterday (Wednesday, 9/7), I got a call from someone at "Galaxy   
   > Cablevision," and he told me that my VoIP lines are out-of-service   
   > because of "Cee-Gee NAT." He did his best to convince me that the   
   > ports used for the "new" Internet layout that my local cable company   
   > is using can't be "mapped" to my VoIP phone, and that there was   
   > nothing he could do about the problem.   
   >   
   > I did my best to explain to him that I used to be a Certified   
   > NetWare Engineer(tm), and that I have been the Moderator of the   
   > Telecom Digest for about fifteen years, and that my job gives me   
   > extraordinary access to world-class experts on the subject of   
   > Network Address Translation, the TCP three-way handshake, and VoIP   
   > in general, and that there was no "port mapping" involved. I told   
   > him that I didn't need any ports mapped, and that such capability   
   > wasn't what I had sought after.   
   >   
   > He told me that my problem would be solved by a "Fixed IP Address,"   
   > but when I advised him that I wasn't interested in paying for a   
   > capability which isn't guaranteed to solve the problem, he said he'd   
   > do some more research and get back to me.   
   >   
   > So, I'd appreciate your help: please point me to a source of   
   > easy-to-understand information about current VoIP practice,   
   > especially as it relates to NAT of any flavor, and let me thank you   
   > in advance for your help. I'd also like to know if there are more   
   > current versions of the story about being born at night in the back   
   > of a turnip truck, since I'd like to have answers ready if and when   
   > someone at Galaxy Cablevision calls me again.   
      
   > Bill Horne   
      
   > P.S. I'll also call Alexis Rosen at Panix, and ask if he can support   
   > the "OpenVPN" capability of my ASUS router. Here's hoping ...   
      
   Bill,   
      
     This is typical.  If they can't solve the customer's issue, they try   
   to sell him/her a solution that they don't really need.  You were wise   
   not to buy into it.   
      
   If you can'r dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle them with   
   ................ !   
      
   I am sure you've heard that one before.   
      
   I often ask questions that I already know the answer to so I can find   
   out if they are going to lie to me.  Usually, they are.   
      
   I have [so many times] been lied to by a salesman, CSR, or tech   
   support.  I lost count of how many times many years ago.   
      
   Those high tech representatives don't realize they are talking to   
   someone with my level of technical expertise.  I am not a 'guru', but   
   I know enough to know when I am being lied to or when the person I am   
   talking to does not know what they are talking about.   
      
   Yes, do call on your technical cohorts for advice on the matter.   
   Hopefully, they will be able to help you!   
      
   Rotsa ruck!   
      
      
                                                                  Fred   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)