Heaven_and_Hell

Heaven_and_Hell
Originally uploaded by oracle_from_beyond

Thank you, beyond.

Mysteries of WiFi Resolved!

Here we go! Read on as we delve into the mysteries of WiFi, that wonderful set of wireless standards that lets us do so much online, both locally via LAN and widely via the Internet.

The full set of WiFi Wireless Standards is: 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g and 802.11n.

 

The Wonderful Wireless LAN (Local Area Network)

The WiFi enabled LAN has revolutionized the home and business network. In order to thread your way through the minefield it will help to realize that the accepted series of standards that have evolved over the years since Vic Hayes, and others, gave birth to WiFi in the early 90s the evolution was fast and furious. We now have four and with time we will undoubtedly see yet further enhancement. For greater and more in-depth discussion visit the Wiki article which I have read and is excellent. The generally accepted list of conforming WiFi technologies are the four listed above. There are other related forms of wireless such as Bluetooth which is an alternative wireless network technology that followed a different development path than the 802.11 family. Bluetooth supports a very short range (approximately 10 meters) and relatively low bandwidth (1-3 Mbps in practice). It is designed for low-power network devices like handhelds. The low manufacturing cost of Bluetooth hardware also appeals to industry vendors. You can usually find Bluetooth in the networking of PDAs or cell phones with PCs, but it is rarely used for general-purpose WLAN networking due to the range and speed considerations. Another alternative is WiMax, developed separately from Wi-Fi, WiMax is used for long-range networking (spanning miles or kilometers) as opposed to local area wireless networking.

 

802.11 –Where it started

In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created the first WLAN standard. They called it 802.11 after the name of the group formed to oversee its development. Unfortunately, 802.11 only supported a maximum network bandwidth of 2 Mbps - too slow for most applications. For this reason, ordinary 802.11 wireless products are no longer manufactured.

 

802.11b –WiFi becomes Useful

IEEE expanded on the original 802.11 standard in July 1999, creating the 802.11b specification. 802.11b supports bandwidth up to 11 Mbps, comparable to traditional Ethernet.

802.11b uses the same unregulated radio signaling frequency (2.4 GHz) as the original 802.11 standard. Vendors often prefer using these frequencies to lower their production costs. Being unregulated, 802.11b gear can incur interference from microwave ovens, cordless phones, and other appliances using the same 2.4 GHz range. However, by installing 802.11b gear a reasonable distance from other appliances, interference can easily be avoided.

In Summary:

1. Pro 802.11b - lowest cost; signal range is good and not easily obstructed
   
2. Con 802.11b - slowest maximum speed; home appliances may interfere on the unregulated frequency band
   

 

802.11a – The Confusing Standard

While 802.11b was in development, IEEE created a second extension to the original 802.11 standard called 802.11a. Because 802.11b gained in popularity much faster than did 802.11a, some folks believe that 802.11a was created after 802.11b. In fact, 802.11a was created at the same time. Due to its higher cost, 802.11a is usually found on business networks whereas 802.11b better serves the home market.

802.11a supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated frequency spectrum around 5 GHz. This higher frequency compared to 802.11b shortens the range of 802.11a networks. The higher frequency also means 802.11a signals have more difficulty penetrating walls and other obstructions.

Together But No Unity: You've heard the truism,
'Two cats tied by their tails are together, but definitely NOT in unity!' Because 802.11a and 802.11b utilize different frequencies, the two technologies are incompatible with each other. Some vendors offer hybrid 802.11a/b network gear, but these products merely implement the two standards side by side (each connected devices must use one or the other).

In Summary:

1. Pro of 802.11a - fast maximum speed; regulated frequencies prevent signal interference from other devices
   
2. Con of 802.11a - highest cost; shorter range signal that is more easily obstructed
   

 

802.11g – We're getting somewhere now

In 2002 and 2003, WLAN products supporting a newer standard called 802.11g emerged on the market. 802.11g attempts to combine the best of both 802.11a and 802.11b. 802.11g supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps, and it uses the 2.4 Ghz frequency for greater range. 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b, meaning that 802.11g access points will work with 802.11b wireless network adapters and vice versa.

In Summary:

1. Pro of 802.11g - fast maximum speed; signal range is good and not easily obstructed
   
2. Con of 802.11g - costs more than 802.11b; appliances may interfere on the unregulated signal frequency
   

 

802.11n – In Search of Perfection

The newest IEEE standard in the Wi-Fi category is 802.11n. It was designed to improve on 802.11g in the amount of bandwidth supported by utilizing multiple wireless signals and antennas (called MIMO technology) instead of one.

When this standard is finalized, 802.11n connections should support data rates of over 100 Mbps. 802.11n also offers somewhat better range over earlier Wi-Fi standards due to its increased signal intensity. 802.11n equipment will be backward compatible with 802.11g gear.

In Summary:

1. Pro of 802.11n - fastest maximum speed and best signal range; more resistant to signal interference from outside sources
   
2. Con of 802.11n - standard is not yet finalized; costs more than 802.11g; the use of multiple signals may greatly interfere with nearby 802.11b/g based networks.
   

 

There are other IEEE 802.11 standards such as 802.11h and 802.11j. These are extensions or offshoots of Wi-Fi technology that serve specific purposes not generally used in normal work-a-day wireless networking situations.

For a full list of WiFi Standards and to read more click this link.

Sailing Christopher Cross (Tall Sailing Ships)

Isn't the Internet wonderful? Here is something truly beautiful for all to enjoy. Thank you Christopher Cross.

A Big Tick for Microsoft

I'm talking hybrid computing here. Definition of Hybrid Computing: Apps and utilities that work locally AND in the Cloud.

Quoting from one of my fav columnists, "Microsoft currently is the only company that gets this right while everybody else fails miserably at it." I agree.

He cites a case in point: 'You want to use a service that provides reliable email, instant messaging, contact, file and calendar management. You want it all to work no matter what computer you're on. You want something that is accessible on the web, as a local client and on your mobile device.'

'And', as he says so correctly 'you want it all for free'. Too right.

So, where do you go? The answer: to Microsoft and their Windows Live service. It does it all, and it does if for free. More, it works, it works and it works fantastically well. Here they are. These are the apps, utilities and service you get all in a package, or standalone.

• Hotmail: for email
  
• Windows Live Messenger: for instant messaging.
  
• Hotmail again: for contact management.
  
• Skydrive: for files (25 GIGS WORTH!)
  
• Calendar management: with, you guessed it, Hotmail again.
  

All of the above work on the web, sync seamlessly with the Windows Live Mail client and, if you prefer to stay with Outlook, syncs smoothly with Outlook's Calendar via Outlook Connector. And wait, there's more! All this PLUS 100% accessible via your smartphone/Windows Mobile equipped PDA/Phone as well (I use Palm's Treo 700wx and have full access with Windows Mobile Pocket MSN.

As my columnist asks, in words to the same effect, 'who else does it with anything like the same smooth efficiency?'

• Google? Not even close.
  With Google you must stay in the browser completely –Gmail is browser based. You can download and send email via Outlook Connector (Microsoft to the rescue please note!), bu NOT your contacts. Further, there is no way to make use of Gmail "labels" using any other client. I must add, I am a fan of many things Google, not least of which is Blogger, on which this is being published (!), yet even more so, I, as a consumer, love competition even more. This blog will hopefully serve to stimulate the folks at the big 'G' to turn up the heat yet again for you and me. After all, in the end, in a democratically and enterprise based society (the Net), we vote with our feet! (or is fingers as we type?)
  
• Apple? Nah. You have to pay. MobileMe cost ya. How much? US$99 yearly just to have it.
  
• Yahoo? No again. Yahoo offers no local client access and POP cost again. Microsoft wins again because Hotmail's POP access is now free since March 2009. Can't beat that FREE! Then again, just like Google you must stay in the browser to achieve full functionality.

So, as Dave states, 'In the end, Microsoft's Windows Live is the only sensible choice for true hybrid computing. You've got your local and your cloud within easy reach.' And, he adds, 'it's also stupidly easy to backup your mail and contacts using freely available software.

So, let's hear it for Microsoft, so often the recipient of boos and brickbats, on this occasion they definitely earn the laurel wreath of victory in this age when the aerial battle for web dominance is being fought way up in cloud-sphere.

More bad news for the other combatants: Microsoft Office will be integrated into Windows Live in 2010. Wow!

Is that laughter in Redmond I hear?

Ref: Dave Risley, PCMec.com

How to Ensure I Will Read Your Email

Recently I read a very pertinent and apropos blog which I have taken the liberty of plagiarizing –at least, to some extent.






If you want your e-mail ignored do these things:

1. Leave the subject line blank
2. Put your entire message into one, long, 300-word sentence
3. Use cutesy, curlicued font styles that cannot be deciphered
4. Make sure you use lavender backgrounds and neon green type (or other ghastly combos)
5. Add in-line photos of such huge dimensions that they take forever to download even on fast connections
6. Use super bad grammar and never ever bother with spell checks apostrophes full stops and other archaic helps to comprehension that might actually allow the long suffering recipient to understand what on earth you are talking about
7. Treat emails like examples of speed texting on mobile phones with high priced plans and low end technology …and so on. I'm sure you can think of other offenses against the good will of fellow netizens.

So, how can you contribute towards a more calm and courteous communication between us all?

State, as explicitly and simply as you can what your message is about in the "Subject" line. That's that line with the label 'Subject' up in the 'Header' section of the email. Messages with vague subjects such 'Hi, Hello, How are you?' and, even worse, left glaringly blank, invite instant deletion by those of us who do not get paid on word counts of emails read each morning.

Remember that many of us are savvy enough to have set our spam deletion rules to filter emails that use all capital letters, an excess of exclamation points, and words typically seen in spam. I'd give examples, but my spam filter would trap them and refuse to send the email. I don't use these kinds of expletives myself, I do not treat my recipients to samples of what used to be called the 'gutter press' so please don't do it to me.

Messages that are one long paragraph with complicated details (rather like this one) will often not get read either. Do yourself and your longsuffering recipient a favour and break up your message into three or four small paragraphs. Unless you are sending a draft copy of the annual 'Address to the Nation' a reasonable limit, it seems to me, is three or four paragraphs. After that I think it likely that most of us will start dozing. If your email has to be lengthy consider providing a one or two sentence overview. Even a quick bulleted list of topics to be covered introduced with an explanatory, "I have a complicated issue, which will take a bit of explaining. Here is the gist and below is the lengthier explanation." Or, "I need help with xyz. If you have time to help, I've provided details below." If you need answers to a series of questions and/or you need to make several points, why not number them? This will make replying easier as the answers can be numbered accordingly thus saving the need to restate each issue or question.

If you want to share a link, please don't just stick the URL in the e-mail, particularly if it's a long one as is often the case. Most email utilities, such as Outlook and others will allow you to use html and code it into the source so that you can create a clickable link and all the gobbledygook is hidden. Another courteous trick (read technique) is to use TinyUrl. This will allow you to enter the long URL and convert it into a shorter version. It's quite free and you can add a toolbar shortcut for frequent use.

Now for photos: This can be a real issue, especially for those longsuffering souls among us who still labour with dial-up and other slow connections. If you need to share a bunch of photos don't just attach them by the dozen. If there are more than three or four courtesy demands they be zipped or posted to a site such as Flicr (the link to my public photos on Flickr). You can then email the link and the burden of a huge download is not laid uninvited upon your recipient. An excellent free compression utility is 7-Zip.

More on Photos: Further, when sending images please reduce them in size. A dozen 4-megabyte photos of your last picnic will not win your friends and allow you to influence people towards your latest favourite thing! Learn to use an image resize for reducing the size of images for exactly this purpose. Microsoft has a free one for XP as part of its Power Toys collection. There's one for Vista too, if you're afflicted with that particular OS.

Videos: While I'm on topic let me discuss sending 10-megabyte videos of birds using tools. Now vides are fun, but attaching a video in e-mail is so passé. If you look I'll bet you'll find it on YouTube. Here's a way to send big files when needs must. There are several places on the web where you can upload large files for free as well as paid services. Try LargeFilesASAP, or Huddle. Provided it's not something super private these are good options to crashing your friend's machine!

Turn of Your Antivirus Blurb: Most people who have any sense today do have their own Antivirus programmes running and scanning their incoming and outgoing emails. This means they do not need to see your AV program's blurb at the bottom of your e-mail telling them it has scanned the email before sending. Take a moment to check out your AV programmes Options and just turn it off please. Thank you.

OK. That's about it, for me. I think I've made my contribution towards world peace and goodwill with this little blurb. My appreciation to my muse -you will recognize some of it, but not a whole heap I'm thinking.



Happy emailing my fellow netizens.

The Serious Sickness of PC Rage!

Hi! Folks,
It's winter time here in Kiwiland (That's New Zealand for the uninitiated!), and with all those lurgy's floating around I thought I should weigh in with some advice against one particularly common affliction: PC Rage! Here we go…

Save yoursef from "PC Rage"!

Symptoms: This affliction is often evidenced by strange noises coming from those you know for normally being of a calm and peaceful disposition. The early symptoms are often a low mumble, which can progress into loud yelling, even screaming. This may well be followed by loud bangs, thumps and explosive sounds, even breaking glass as windows are shattered and large objects are sent hurtling into outer space!

If you have ever been tempted to enquire into these events you may find yourself in George Bush like situations, dodging that infamous shoe. Only this time it could be keyboards and other low flying objects of a technological nature.

Further enquiry will often reveal a very sick and tired computer user frustrated by their machine taking forever to start up and load programs, crashing randomly and performing other forms of unsolicited behaviour.

Prescription: I am happy to be able to prescribe cures for this affliction. Follow these steps at routine intervals and all should be well. Sadly, this is not a 'once only' cure, as the bug circulates and always returns.
Here is my prescription for curing 'PC Rage' when the symptoms become apparent.

1. Delete Temporary Internet Files. When you visit a new website as its content is stored on your PC and takes up hard drive space. Go to "Tools", then "Options" – as each browser is a bit different, click through tabs to find an option for deleting temporary files and cookies. (A cookie is a small piece of code, usually innocent, but not always, that performs certain tasks of, usually, but not always, a benign nature.)

2. Use a registry cleaner such as Registry Mechanic, or one of the excellent free versions that PC Care can install for you. Windows® registry can be a common cause of crashes, slow performance and error messages. Registry cleaners will stabilise your system and help improve its performance.

3. Ensure automatic Windows® Updates is turned on. You can turn this feature on via the Control Panel and then click on Automatic Updates to configure the settings. My recommended setting is to set Windows to download updates but for you, the user, to decide when to install. This way you will be sure of getting the updates.

4. Eliminate unused files & desktop shortcuts. Every file and application that sits on your desktop takes up extra space, delete them to free up your hard disk space. This is called 'good housekeeping' and PCs really benefit from systematic and routine cleaning.

5. Uninstall unused programs. The more programs you have installed the slower your system will become. You need to use the "Uninstall" command in the Add/Remove program feature in the Control Panel. Caution: You can't remove a program just by deleting its folder and files. Full un-installation may require the use of the registry cleaner to clean up stray references left in the Windows Registry after un-installation. Again, caution: You should consider carefully all the files your cleaner offers to remove and backup the Registry beforehand.

6. Empty the Recycle Bin. Files that you delete from your computer are still stored in your recycle bin and will continue to take up a valuable hard drive space.

7. Schedule regular anti-virus & anti-spyware scans with your antivirus programme. You do have an antivirus programme running and up to date on your machine, don't you? A quick daily scan followed by a full weekly scan is what this doctor orders. Computer viruses and spyware can take over your computer's memory and slow down performance.

8. "Defrag" your computer regularly. Each time you work with a file your computer stores changes in a different place on the hard disk. A good defragmentation tool is Desktop Maestro, or you can check with PC care for recommended free versions. Warning! Don't just download and install the first Registry Cleaner you come across (or any other programme for that matter) there are con jobs out there that masquerade as legitimate software but are, in fact, wolves in sheep's clothing! They will hijack your machine and prevent you doing any work until you pay large amounts of your hard earned dosh -and even then you won't get free of it. Alternatively, you can use the free defrag utility packaged in Windows. However, you may have to stop all running apps to prevent them writing to disc and stopping the defrag process. The Windows defrag utility can be tricky, but if you want to give this a whirl you should find it in XP under 'Accessories' from 'Start' and then 'Programmes'. For Vista it will be elsewhere.

Current Threats: For your interest here is the Current Crop of Top Threats identified by Malware Research:

• Backdoor.Emogen • Backdoor.Turkojan • RogueAntiSpyware.VirusMelt • Trojan-Downloader.Agent.VB • Trojan-DDoS.VFI • Trojan.Adclicker

Best regards,
John

Confidence in the Face of Conficker

Conficker is a worm. That is to say it is a self-replicating computer program. It uses a network, any network, including the biggest one of all, the Internet, to send copies of itself to other computers on the network and it may do so without any outside help -I.e. without you or I clicking on anything, intentionally or unintentionally. It is different to a virus in that it does not need to attach itself to an existing program. Are they dangerous? Yes and no. They almost always cause at least some harm to the network, if only by consuming bandwidth, whereas viruses almost always corrupt or modify files on a targeted computer. The Conficker worm is also known as win32 Conficker, Win32 Downup, ConfickerA, Net Worm Kido and possibly by other names as well. It appears to do a variety of things that are most often of nuisance value. However, its early days yet, and the bad news is that there could be more surprises down the line.

We do know these things:

• SpywareProtect2009: Reports are identifying SpywareProtect2009 as being another of the specific scareware tactics being used after Conficker's latest update. The victim receives a warning and is prompted to purchase the removal tool @$49.99. When you do the download streams in from the Ukraine and compounds the problem. Do not under any circumstances follow instructions from one of these prompts.
  
• Microsoft has purportedly put a bounty on the head of its creator, to the tune of $250,000.00.
  
• The Department of Homeland Security has also, I believe, issued a removal tool for its federal, local, and state governments and commercial vendors.
  
• High Infection Rate Already: I have also read that this worm has already infected between 9 million and 15 million systems.
  
• Known Actions: It saves a copy of its .dll (dynamic link library) files randomly in the Windows System folder and then load each time you boot Windows.
  
• Potential Harm: Once entrenched it can potentially disable system devices, reset and remove restore points, and stop automatic updates. This is in addition to stopping Windows security, Windows Defender (Microsoft's antispyware utility) and Error Reporting. This worm possesses the latest technology to help spread its destruction and avoid detection and removal.
  

Systems that are affected are: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 (beta thru RC), Windows 7 beta and all the beta versions.

Steps To Avoid Harm

1. Update all Definitions: Ensure all your antivirus and antispyware programmes are kept updated
   
2. Windows Updates: Ensure Windows is up-to-date with the latest patches. If unsure visit www.microsoft.com.
   
3. Configure Windows Auto-Update: Make sure Windows is configured to automatically download and install all updates.
   
4. Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool: Download, install and run Microsofts Malicious Software Removal Tool, keep it updated and run at random intervals.
   
5. Strong Passwords: Use strong Password Protection. I'll post an article on strong password shortly.