Archive for May, 2011

The Ins and Outs of Quickly Setting Up a Home Network

May 31st, 2011

Small home networks are a very popular with groups or individuals who own more than 1 computer or have computer accessories that support networked connections so that the devices can be operated remotely. Setting up a home network can be one of the most rewarding additions to your personal computing experience. First of all, it allows you to share a common internet connection with several users in your home network and also, with the right setup, allows you to share files, play network games over the Local Area Network, run network enabled applications, streamline and organize your home office setup, and much much more.

Many people find that setting up a home network can be very challenging, but incidentally, I actually find it very fun. Of course, I have more than 12 years of computer troubleshooting experience to aid me, but when I first setup my home network, network troubleshooting was a strange land to me and although it only took me 15 minutes to finish setting everything up, much of what I had accomplished I had done with a bit of guesswork. Since then, however, and with additional experience as a technical support representative for Verizon High Speed Internet to back it up, I’ve setup and troubleshot almost every manner of home network. In fact, I view my stay at Verizon as a high point in my career (the computer-related side), and I resigned with a spotless record, never dropping calls, never receiving a single negative review from any of the customers I served, and hearing the words “I’m glad I got you” everyday.

Here are a few tips to help you quickly and successfully setup a home network of your own.

Get the right hardware.

This cannot be stressed more. Making sure that you have the right hardware is of paramount importance as this is the only way that you can even make it work. While working at Verizon, it wasn’t uncommon to get calls from customers who were experiencing problems simply because they had bought the wrong type of hardware. You can avoid this by doing some research BEFORE going out to buy hardware.

The basic hardware for any home network setup is the router. Be very very careful when buying a router, as there are several types of routers. If you have a cable or DSL connection to the internet, there are modem-router combinations that might work better with your setup. Be warned, however, that modem-router combinations cannot function as standalone routers. If your ISP provided you with a modem to use with your internet connection, it’s always best to use that and get a stand alone router and connect it to your ISP’s modem.

Go wireless if you can.

Wireless connections are some of the most hassle free connections to setup. Many wireless routers are now made with a pushbutton Wireless Protected Setup (WPS) option. When buying a wireless router, be sure to ask about this as this will greatly simplify setting up wireless connections to your computer. With routers that have the pushbutton WPS, all you have to do to connect a new laptop or wireless device is to push a button on the router and activate WPS on the other computer or device as well. The two devices will talk to each other and exchange information about how to setup the connection.

Be creative with your home network.

Once you have successfully setup your home network, start trying new stuff out with it. Setup printer and file sharing on your computers. Research about how to setup a personal home network file server. Add new devices to your home network like a network printer or hard drive storage. Setup a media tank.

Chances are that you’ll run into problems while trying to set a few of these devices up, but instead of calling your ISP right away, use this as a chance to learn a little bit more about how your home network works and the science behind the technology. Do some troubleshooting of your own, but use your intuition and logic while your at it. And if you do call tech support, do your best to glean information that might become handy in the future.

And if your worried about the cost of new hardware, several China wholesalers have decent devices to play with at a fraction of the cost.

Finally, try to have fun when setting up a home network. Look at it as a chance to learn new things. And most of all, be proud about your accomplishment! Brag about it if you must – make the experience truly exciting for yourself and others.

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Posted in Computers, Gadgets, Tips and Advice

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On Cell Phone Jammers

May 31st, 2011

It’s not a far fetched idea that some people just don’t like it when cell phones are used in certain environments. Many people find it a hassle to be without cell phone signal, but put yourself in the shoes of an art gallery owner on Opening Night with all his guests talking on cell phones while he delivers a speech. Or maybe you’re in a concert hall intently watching the King’s Singers perform their incredible rendition of Paul Drayton’s Masterpiece when a cell phone suddenly rings out of nowhere and surprises you half out of your wits. I’m sure that many people would find these examples acceptable uses for devices that can block cell phone signals and stop abusive individuals from using their cell phones where their usage isn’t appropriate. In fact, many such institutions do rely on cell phone jammers to prevent the frivolous usage of cell phones.

Cell phone jammers work by transmitting a signal on the same frequency as the signal being used by the cell phone service in a certain area and with enough power so that the two signals collide and cancel each other out. They are also designed to notice when cell phones in their vicinity try to increase their transmitting power in an attempt to cope with the low level interference, and match that increase with power with enough power to thwart any attempt at acquiring signal once again.

Since cell phone services rely on full-duplex transmissions, basically meaning that they use two separate frequencies for transmitting and receiving, some cell phone jammers will only block one of the frequencies, effectively tricking the cell phone into thinking that there is no service in the area because it is only receiving one of the frequencies.

However, some cell phones can also switch between different network types in case one of the network types is not working. These are called multi-mode phones and cell phone jammers also are built for them that block a whole group of frequencies or all commonly available cell phone frequencies.

Cell phone jammers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For discreet uses, they can be made to look like cell phones or cigarette boxes, or any other item for that matter. They are also sometimes built into suitcases with their own power generating systems. They can also be very obvious, for use by a professional technician or in a professional installation where the presence of the cell phone jammer is advertised.

Because some cell phone jammers seem by their design to be intended for the use of ordinary consumers, it’s best to find out if their use without a license is legal in your country. Cell phone jamming is viewed as property theft in many countries, since providers actually pay to use the frequencies that are being blocked. The act of jamming cell phone signals can be seen as a safety hazard in its own right as well because it blocks all calls and texts, including calls made in emergency situations.

Nonetheless, some countries view disruptive cell phone use as an invasion to privacy and jamming is legalized for the purpose of preventing disruptive cell phone use. Countries such as France have legalized the use of cell phone jammers in theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, and other such performance venues. And some schools and universities in Italy use the technology to prevent students from cheating using their cell phones during exams. All-in-all, it’s always best to do some research and never use cell phone jammers for unethical purposes.

If it is legal for you to use a cell phone jammer, or are licensed to use one, you might find cell phone jammers in short supply in your area. In such cases, electronics wholesalers in China are your best bet, as the manufacture of jammers there is not as tightly regulated.

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Posted in Communication, Mobile Phones, Security

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