I was recently sent this link to Gizmodo showing a robot that can be controlled via the internet based on the open source Linksys WRT54GLÂ router. Amazing stuff!
More at jbprojects.net.
For more information about the WRT54GL see my quick review at http://www.ozcableguy.com/review.asp?router=WRT54GL.
I’ve had my amazingly tiny iPod shuffle for a few months now and it’s been great for clipping onto my shirt collar while cycling etc. I love it and it’s never given me any trouble.
Until last Tuesday…
I plugged it into my PC to update its playlist and give the battery a charge but the PC refused to recognise it all of a sudden. Windows gave the little sound it does when a USB device is plugged in or unplugged but iTunes wouldn’t pop up like it normally does and I eventually got a Windows message saying something to the effect of “One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it”.
So I try it in a few other PCs and get the same response. Now the iPod works fine otherwise, if I plug the earphones in I can listen to tunes just fine, so I figure maybe it needs a reset or something. So I go to plug it back into my main PC but before the USB plug reaches the plug, there’s a spark to the case, the PC switches off and there’s a burning smell.
Oh crap!
I turn the PC back on and get a warning that the processor has changed, press F2 to continue or F1 to enter setup (or something like that), but it’s frozen and that’s the closest that PC will ever get to booting up again. The motherboard is fried. 
After replacing the motherboard after not even two months since I fried the last one, I then learn that the boot sectors on both my hard drives have been lost and no amount of chkdsk or replacing the hive and so on will get things happening.
So I’m back to formatting.
Oh joy oh joy. At least this time I was adequately backed up but my PC is still a nightmare to reinstall with lots of specialised applications and takes a good 20 hours of solid work to get back to operating the way I need it to.
D’oh! D’oh! D’oh!
Lessons learned:
1. Get a USB hub if hot swapping USB devices
2. Don’t use important PCs for non-essential tasks if you can help it.
3. Ghost complex installations using DriveImage XML or similar.
Many thanks to my old mate Rustty for losing almost as much sleep as I did to get me up and running again and for having the most amazing collection of spares around his house that I’ve ever known anyone to have. I swear there’s enough around that place to put a lot of PC shops to shame… 
BTW, I took the iPod back to the place I bought it from and after trying it on another USB cable it appeared to be fine, so they swapped my cable for theirs and away I went and all’s been good with it since. For some strange reason they seemed reluctant to try my cable in one of their PCs though…
Yep, apparently the International Space Station is using Netgear WAPs (Wireless Access Points) up there. Check it out here (about half way down the page).
 How cool is that?Â
For the range of available Netgear WAPs at OzTechnologies click here.
For more information about WAPs and wireless networking in general check out my wireless FAQ.
I’m attempting to put together a page with a list of USB Print Servers including Routers that feature a USB Print Server, and I need lots and lots of data. If you’ve had a good or bad experience with a USB Print Server, please email me your experiences. I’ll need to know the make and model of your printer, the make & model of print server and whether or not it worked, kind of half-worked or didn’t work at all.
Most people on Telstra Cable still with old CDLP (CyberSURFR) modems should have received shiny new DOCSIS compliant Motorola SB5100s by now. A few people have been reporting that they can’t get online with the new modems and I think in 99% of these cases patience is the missing element. On the front of the modem there’s a bunch of lights and you need to have the Receive, Send and Online lights glowing (not flashing) before you’re going to get anywhere. When I plugged mine in, the Send and Receive lights came on pretty quickly but it took a good 3 or 4 minutes before the Online light stopped flashing, but I remember way back when I was still installing Cable modems and the DOCSIS system was first introduced, it was not uncommon for this syncing up process to take anything up to half an hour. However, if it’s still blinking after half an hour there’s more than likely a fault with your modem, the DOCSIS network in your area or something technical to do with your account that you’ll need to contact BigPond about.
The 2nd problem with installing the new modem mainly affects Routers, but it could affect PCs as well. Naturally before unplugging the old modem you’d be logging out of BigPond first right? Yes… Ok, well apart from that, the Router will have data associated with the old modem in its records which will cause hassles, but it’s easy to fix. Once your Receive, Send and Online lights are all glowing (not flashing) on the modem, power the Router off for 30 secs or so and back on and you should be away. For modems connected to PCs, a reboot will be in order.
As a footnote I should warn anyone shopping for 2nd hand modems from this point on to beware of enterprising wackers attempting to sell these old CDLP (CyberSURFR) modems. They’re completely useless in Australia now and only good as paper weights.
Update: One thing not mentioned in Telstra’s instructions is that the attenuator on the supplied fly lead (from the wall socket to the cable modem) isn’t needed and shouldn’t be used with the new DOCSIS modem, particularly if you’re having problems getting line sync. Fly leads were often made up by the installation technician and it’s easy to unscrew the attenuator from these, but if you’ve got one of the pre-manufactured white leads, the attenuator is hiding under a heat shrink tube. In these case you’ll need to carefully cut along the heatshrink tube without cutting the cable sheath underneath to expose the attenuator. Then you can unscrew it from the F Connector and reattach the cable to the cable modem without it.
This should solve 90% of problems people might be experiencing with their modems not syncing.
Since the recent storms around the country I’ve been getting about 10 enquiries a day for Cable modems. Common complaints are “don’t want to sign up a new contract”, “Too expensive from Telstra/Optus” and annoyed about delays of anything up to 3 months for a service call.
Well, sorry folks but I can’t get ‘em and I don’t know anyone who can. The ISPs buy them directly from the manufacturers and there are no distribution channels, so I’ve hit a dead end. At one stage about a year ago I was able to get Nortels but they were at least twice the price that the ISPs were offering them for.
Other manufacturers like Netgear do have DOCSIS compliant modems, but the Aussie ISPs only allow certain brands and models on their Networks so these are no good. (Ain’t monopolies grand…)
Update: Replacement power supplies for early Motorola CyberSURFR modems may be available by calling Motorola on 02 87481958. Now all we need is a distributor who can get Motorola’s interest by taking on sufficient quantities of the SB4200s and the new SB5100s that are being introduced and we’ll be laughing.
Note: Starting a new contract with Telstra will usually get you a new modem at a discounted price so check current offers.
Pictures of 1.5 km Wireless bridge recently installed.
One building has ADSL with Router and 2 PCs. ADSL is shared over the wireless link from first building to 4 other PCs at the 2nd building.
All work happily together as one LAN, with throughput figures in excess of 5-8mbs. (ADSL top speed is 1.5mbs)
Wireless Bridging offers many security advantages over plain Access Points and is not susceptable to WarDriver interference.
Rooftop Parabolic Grid antenna (one needed at each end). Part No 16PARAGRID20 from MMT. Cost approx $230.00each.
2 x WAP54GÂ in bridging mode. Cost approx $230.00 each.
+ Approx $250 – 300.00 in assorted bits and pieces like low loss cables, pigtails, brackets etc.
Thanks to -
Fred & the boys from Philcomm for the cabling and antenna installation.
Mark & Danny from MMT for product assistance and recommendations.
Leroy from WirelessNederland (see SeattleWireless for an excellent firmware hack that makes the WAP54G probably the most powerful WAP in its class for the money.
If you’re one of those people that forwards on chain letters about virus warnings, sick children, improbable stories etc, then this email is for you.
********************************************************************
           WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER, AND BEWARE!
        Gullibility Virus Spreading over the Internet!
********************************************************************WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Institute for the Investigation of Irregular
Internet Phenomena announced today that many Internet users are becoming
infected by a new virus that causes them to believe without question
every groundless story, legend, and dire warning that shows up in their
In Box or on their browser. The Gullibility Virus, as it is called,
apparently makes people believe and forward copies of silly hoaxes
relating to cookie recipes, E-Mail viruses, taxes on modems, and get-
rich-quick schemes [perhaps conspiracy theories should be included
here].“These are not just readers of tabloids or people who buy lottery
tickets based on fortune cookie numbers,” a spokesman said. “Most are
otherwise normal people, who would laugh at the same stories if told to
them by a stranger on a street corner.” However, once these same people
become infected with the Gullibility Virus, they believe anything they
read on the Internet.“My immunity to tall tales and bizarre claims is all gone,” reported one
weeping victim. “I believe every warning message and sick child story
my friends forward to me, even though most of the messages are
anonymous.”Another victim, now in remission, added, “When I first heard about “Good
Times” and “Join the Crew”, I just accepted it without question. After
all, there were dozens of other recipients on the mail header, so I
thought the virus must be true.” It was a long time, the victim said,
before she could stand up at a Hoaxees Anonymous meeting and state, “My
name is Jane, and I’ve been hoaxed.” Now, however, she is spreading the
word. “Challenge and check whatever you read,” she says.Internet users are urged to examine themselves for symptoms of the
virus, which include the following:
     * the willingness to believe improbable stories without thinking
     * the urge to forward multiple copies of such stories to others
     * a lack of desire to take three minutes to check to see if a
story is trueT. C. is an example of someone recently infected. He told one reporter,
“I read on the Net that the major ingredient in almost all shampoos
makes your hair fall out, so I’ve stopped using shampoo.” When told
about the Gullibility Virus, T. C. said he would stop reading e-mail, so
that he would not become infected.Anyone with symptoms like these is urged to seek help immediately.
Experts recommend that at the first feelings of gullibility, InternetÂ
users rush to their favorite search engine and look up the item tempting
them to thoughtless credence. Most hoaxes, legends, and tall tales have
been widely discussed and exposed by the Internet community.Courses in critical thinking are also widely available, and there is
online help from many sources, including     * Symantec Anti Virus Research Center at
             http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
             http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/vinfodb.html     * McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List at
             http://www.mcafee.com/support/hoax.html     * Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability at
             http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/     * The Urban Legends Web Site at
             http://www.urbanlegends.com     * Urban Legends Reference Pages at
             http://www.snopes.comThose people who are still symptom free can help inoculate themselves
against the Gullibility Virus by reading some good material on
evaluating sources, such as     * Evaluating Internet Research Sources at
             http://www.sccu.edu/faculty/R_Harris/evalu8it.htm     * Evaluation of Information Sources at
             http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm     * Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources at
             http://refserver.lib.vt.edu/libinst/critTHINK.HTMLastly, as a public service, Internet users can help stamp out the
Gullibility Virus by sending copies of this message to anyone who
forwards them a hoax.*******************************************************************
This message is so important, we’re sending it anonymously! Forward it
to all your friends right away! Don’t think about it! This is not a
chain letter! This story is true! Don’t check it out! This story is
so timely, there is no date on it! This story is so important, we’re
using lots of exclamation points! For every message you forward to some
unsuspecting person, the Home for the Hopelessly Gullible will donate
ten cents to itself. (If you wonder how the Home will know you are
forwarding these messages all over creation, you’re obviously thinking
too much.)
*******************************************************************    ACT NOW! DON’T DELAY! LIMITED TIME! NOT SOLD IN ANY STORE!
             *******************************************************************
