Revanchism

I'd seen the word \( \textbf{revanchism} \) before but forgotten what it meant. Figure 1 shows a dictionary definition of the word. Note the surge in mentions of the word as the 1950's progressed. As can be seen the etymology is quite straightforward. There is the French word for revenge (revanche) with an English suffix (ism) tagged on after the final e is dropped.

Figure 1

The word even has its own Wikipedia entry that begins:

Revanchism (French: revanchisme, from revanche, "revenge") is the political manifestation of the will to reverse the territorial losses which are incurred by a country, frequently after a war or after a social movement. As a term, revanchism originated in 1870s France in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War among nationalists who wanted to avenge the French defeat and reclaim the lost territories of Alsace-Lorraine.

The word is linked to \( \textbf{irredentism} \) that the Wikipedia article describes as "the conception that a part of the cultural and ethnic nation remains "unredeemed" outside the borders of its appropriate nation-state." The article contains an interesting map showing the new nations that were created in the aftermath of the First World War. See Figure 2.

Figure 2: link

WordMaster Wizardry

I play a word game on my iPhone called WordMaster and last night I reached the highest score that I've ever achieved in the game. See Figure 1.

Figure 1

I was helped by a phenonomenal point score of 203 for the word BEEFLESS that not only used all seven letters but also fell across a Triple Word Square. This was the highest score that I've ever received for a word. See Figure 2.

Figure 2

I was also aided by another score of 102 for JOUR that also fell on a Triple Word Square. See Figure 3.

Figure 3

There's not much more to say except that I felt I needed to record the accomplishment.

New Router

Recently we acquired a new router (a tp-link TL-WR841HP), currently attached to the router supplied for free by our Internet provider. Here is what Gemini had to say about the TL-WR841HP:

The TP-Link TL-WR841HP is a high-power wireless N router designed to provide extended Wi-Fi coverage and penetration, particularly in environments with obstacles that can weaken standard wireless signals.   

Release Date:

While specific global release dates for all hardware versions can be varied, information suggests the TP-Link TL-WR841HP was initially available around August 2013. Subsequent hardware versions have been released since then.

Specifications:

• Wireless Standards: IEEE 802.11b/g/n   
• Wi-Fi Speed: Up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band   
• Antennas: Two detachable high-gain antennas (often 5dBi or 9dBi depending on the version)  
• Frequency: 2.4 - 2.4835 GHz
• Ethernet Ports: 4 x 10/100Mbps LAN Ports, 1 x 10/100Mbps WAN Port
• Working Modes: Router Mode, Range Extender Mode, Access Point Mode
• Wireless Security: 64/128/152-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK   
• WAN Type: Dynamic IP, Static IP, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, BigPond
• DHCP: Server, Client, DHCP Client List, Address Reservation   
• Quality of Service (QoS): WMM, Bandwidth Control   
• Port Forwarding: Virtual Server, Port Triggering, UPnP, DMZ
• Dynamic DNS: DynDns, Comexe, NO-IP   
• VPN Pass-Through: PPTP, L2TP, IPSec (ESP Head)   
• Access Control: Parental Control, Local Management Control, Host List, Access Schedule, Rule Management   
• Firewall Security: DoS, SPI Firewall, IP Address Filter, MAC Address Filter, Domain Filter, IP and MAC Address Binding   
• Buttons: WPS/Reset Button, Power On/Off Button, Wi-Fi On/Off Button
• External Power Supply: 12V DC / 1A
• Dimensions (W x D x H): Approximately 9.0 x 7.5 x 1.9 inches (227.5 x 190 x 48.3mm), though this can vary slightly by hardware version.    

Advantages:

• Extended Range and Wall Penetration: The primary advantage of the TL-WR841HP is its high-power design and high-gain antennas, which are intended to provide a stronger signal and better coverage, including the ability to penetrate walls and reduce dead zones.   
• Multiple Operating Modes: It offers flexibility by supporting Router, Range Extender, and Access Point modes, allowing it to be used in various network setups.   
• Easy Setup: The router is generally considered easy to set up, often with the help of a setup assistant or the TP-Link Tether app.   
• Affordable: Compared to more recent and higher-specification routers, the TL-WR841HP is typically an budget-friendly option.
• Detachable Antennas: The detachable antennas allow for potential upgrades to higher gain antennas if needed.   

Disadvantages:

• Limited to 2.4GHz Band: It only operates on the 2.4GHz frequency, which can be congested in many environments, potentially leading to interference and lower speeds. It does not support the faster and less congested 5GHz band.
• Fast Ethernet Ports: The presence of 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports means that wired connections are limited to 100Mbps, which can be a bottleneck for faster internet connections or local network transfers. It lacks Gigabit Ethernet ports.
• Older Wi-Fi Standard: As a Wireless N (802.11n) router, it does not support the newer and faster Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).
• Potential for Overload: Some user feedback suggests that the router can struggle with a large number of connected devices or heavy bandwidth usage, potentially leading to speed drops or instability.
• Inconsistent Performance (based on some user feedback): While designed for high power and range, some users have reported inconsistent performance, including unexpected speed drops or connectivity issues over time, which could be related to firmware, hardware versions, or environmental factors.

Summary of User Feedback Regarding Performance:

User feedback for the TP-Link TL-WR841HP is somewhat mixed but often highlights its strength in providing extended wireless coverage, especially in larger homes or areas with physical obstructions. Many users appreciate the improved signal strength and ability to penetrate walls compared to standard routers. The ease of setup is also frequently mentioned positively.

However, a recurring theme in some user reviews and forum discussions is the potential for performance inconsistency and speed limitations. Some users have reported experiencing significant drops in speed, particularly when multiple devices are connected or under heavy load. Issues with the stability of the connection over time have also been mentioned by some users, occasionally requiring reboots. The limitation to the 2.4GHz band and the 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports are also noted as drawbacks by users with higher internet speeds or those requiring faster local network performance. Despite these criticisms, many users find it to be a cost-effective solution for extending basic internet connectivity over a wider area. 

With a release date of August 2013 this router is clearly OLD but it was the one recommended by the technician and cost about A$50 so it was cheap. It does the job of penetrating those areas of the house where the signal previously struggled to reach and that's what was wanted. The longer 2.4GHz band is what's needed to penetrate the thick walls within the house. Actually the router supplied by the Internet provider does operate in the 5GHz range so that is available if needed.

Figure 1

Figure 1 shows the results of an Internet speed test and we see that data is being downloaded at 26.1Mbps compared to the router's Wi-Fi speed of 300Mbps which is more that 10 times faster. Having a faster router is not really going to make much difference obviously.