Monday, 31 December 2012

Change the Default Administrator Password on Wireless Access Points and Routers

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Change the Default Administrator Password on Wireless Access Points and Routers





Nearly all wireless access points and routers allow an administrator to manage their WiFi network through a special administrative account. This account provides complete "superuser" access to the device's configuration utilities with a special username and password.
Manufacturers set both the account username and password at the factory. The username is often simply the word admin or administrator. The password is typically empty (blank), the words "admin," "public," or "password," or some other simple word.






To improve the security of a Wi-Fi network, you should change the administrative password on your wireless access point or router immediately when installing the unit. The default passwords for popular models of wireless network gear are well-known to hackers and often posted on the Internet. Most devices do not allow the administrative username to be changed, but if yours does, seriously consider changing this name as well.

Finally, to maintain home network security in the future, continue changing this administrative password regularly, not just one time. Many experts recommend changing passwords every 30 to 90 days. Use words that would be very difficult for others to guess.

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Thursday, 20 December 2012

In-Vehicle Cell Phone Repeater Kits

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Wilson 801201 Wireless Vehicle Amplifier



The Wilson 801201 is a mobile wireless amplifier designed to improve the cell-phone reception for one user in a vehicle.



  • Dual Band - Works with all networks (except Nextel iDEN technology).
  • Full Kits Available (Scroll down the page)
  • Behind-headrest low-profile antenna or phone cradle with integrated antenna.
  • Designed for installation in cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
  • Supports one user at a time.
  • Improves standard CDMA and GSM voice signals and also EVDO, HSDPA, UMTS and EDGE (see full list) data transfer services.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee.


Product Overview

The 801201 is a wireless dual band in-vehicle repeater designed for single user use. It provides significantly improved signal strength, and is a wireless unit. The amplifier is powered by your cigarette lighter socket using a supplied power adapter. An AC power supply is available separately.
The Wilson 801201 was recently upgraded to a thinner, more streamlined case. New serial numbers start Wilson 803201, but the product number remains unchanged.


Installation options:
The Wilson 801201 includes a low-profile antenna for wireless use. The 801213 Kit combines the 801201 amplifier with a phone cradle.
Wireless - The kit also includes a low profile internal antenna, that can provide improved signal wireless as long as it is installed no more than 1 foot away from the user's phone. We recommend installing this behind the driver's headrest.
Cradle - See Wilson 801213 Cradle Kit.
Wilson Electronics have a reputation for making reliable high-performance amplifiers, and most customers who purchase kits with the 801201 amplifier are very satisfied with the signal improvement.


Technical Specifications

Product Reference           801201 (Also known as the 803201)
Frequency:                  US PCS 1900 MHz Band 
Uplink:                             1850 - 1910 MHz
                                         Downlink: 1930 - 1990 MHz
                                         US Cellular 800/850 MHz Band 
                                         Uplink: 824 - 849 MHz
                                         Downlink: 869 - 894 MHz
Gain (up/down):          40dB / 40dB
Linear Output power: +30dBm maximum
Max Output Power: 3 Watts (cell site controlled)
Max RF (up/down): +35dBm / +10dBm
Noise Figure (down): 3dB Nominal
Flatness (up/down): +/- 4dB
Isolation:                       > 90dB
Power Consumption: 6V, 0.5A - 1.5A (subject to Uplink Power)
Connectors:                  FME Male, 50 Ohms
Dimensions:                 4.5 * 3.5 * 1.25 (inch)
Weight:                         1.5 lbs





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SignalBoost Pro Amplifier Kit

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SignalBoost Pro Amplifier Kit
The Wilson SignalBoost Pro Amplifier Kit is a USB powered repeater kit designed for use in the home/office or on the road.
Amplifier with USB power charger. For use with laptop data cards.
Dual Band
USB/In-car powered
Portable and lightweight
Easy to install and simple to use.
30-day money-back guarantee
SKU: 801240
See below for more product details

Product Description
Wilson Electronics have a reputation for construction reliable high-performance amplifiers, especially in the in-car/truck market..
Included in this kit is:


  • Wilson 801240 SignalBoost Mobile Professional amplifier
  • USB power cable for laptop charging, or in-car/office charging with optional adapters


The amplifier in this kit is the Wilson 801240 wireless 35/43dB dual band amplifier. This amplifier is a brand new product from Wilson, designed especially for mobile professionals who want a high-quality, portable repeater. The amplifier is dual band, working on both the 800MHz and 1900MHz frequencies. It can therefore be used with all US carriers (inc. AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-mobile etc) and 3G services except Nextel.

  • The 801240 comes in a variety of kits, suitable for all situations.
  • 801240: Amplifier with USB power charger. 
  • For use with laptop data cards. Needs external antenna.
  • 801241: Amplifier with 12" antenna and in-car/wall socket power adapters. 
  • For use in your car or in your home/office.
  • 801242: Amplifier with 4" antenna, in-car/wall socket power adapter, and window mount. 
  • For use in your car or in your home/office.
  • 801243: Amplifier with 12" antenna and in-car power adapter. 
  • For use in your car.
  • 801244: Amplifier with 4" antenna and in-car power adapter. 
  • For use in your car.

The repeater requires an external antenna to function. Purchasing the 801240 allows you to use an existing antenna, or use one of the other antennas on our site. Alternatively, you can purchase one of the pre-packaged repeater kits that include an external antenna - the 801241-801244 (see below)

echnical Specifications

Technical Specifications
Product Reference         801240
Frequency:                 824-894 MHz / 1850-1990 MHz
Gain:                                 40/45 dB
Max uplink power:         1,400 mw / 1,225 mw
Max downlink power: 6 / 0 dBm
Impedance:                      50 ohm
Voltage:                        5V - 8V, in-car and/or AC adapter included
Connectors:                SMA Female
Dimensions:                2 x 4.75 x 1 (inches) / 5.1 x 12.1 x 2.5 (cm)
Weight:                       3 (oz) / 0.09 (kg)





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Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Facebook For Android Goes Native, Ditches HTML5 Code

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Facebook For Android Goes Native, Ditches HTML 5 Code

Facebook has just released an update to their mobile app for Android devices which you could download right now over at Google Play. Instead of the usual HTML5 version this new version uses native code which promises to be twice as fast when launching and opening your Timeline.

The release of Facebook for Android 2.0 comes just days after the company launched a campaign by placing posters in their work areas encouraging employees to dump their iPhones and instead switch to Android. This also comes 4 months after the August update for the IOS version also doubled its speed.

This new app has been in development over the year and several key issues were addressed to make improvements.

Reducing Garbage Collection

Inefficient handling of memory can often lead to lag or freezing of the app. The team was able to solve this by deferring performing allocation-heavy code until the user stopped scrolling. “Inefficient memory usage will result in many garbage collection events, which in turn can pause the application for multiple frames and cause visible stutter during scrolling.”

 Writing a Custom Event Bus

Event buses allow communication between different classes and the old one was pretty slow. This new custom event bus is lightweight and avoids all reflection and object iterators.

Moving Photos to the Native Heap

Loading photos can be one of the most memory intensive activities for a device. Previously this was loaded to the Java heap which often times resulted in out of memory errors. This time the team made photos load directly to the Native heap.

Writing a Custom ListView Recycler

The original ListView recycler was inefficient when it came to handling elements of varying row heights such as news feeds. The team had to create a custom view recycler to correct this.

If you have already updated your Facebook for Android app you won’t see any changes in the UI at all. What has been improved is all under the hood and will be immediately noticeable once you use the app.
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Thursday, 13 December 2012

iPad Game Controller

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iPad Game Controller




If the iCade arcade cabinet proves too immobile for you but you still long for a sense of retro-style arcade gaming with your iPad, then the JOYSTICK-IT iPad Arcade Stick might just be the, well… joystick of choice. invented by the dudes over at ThinkGeek, the JOYSTICK-IT iPad Arcade Stick puts a real physical joystick, styled in the retro stick-and-ball look, right on your iPad. machined out of solid lightweight aluminum, the JOYSTICK-IT iPad Arcade Stick is touted to add “more precision movement and faster response time for enhanced playability.” perfect for a game of Pac-man. the concept behind how the JOYSTICK-IT works is similar to the Fling Tactile Game Controller for iPad – just stick it over the virtual control pad of your game and walah! you have instant control over your game via the joystick. JOYSTICK-IT iPad Arcade Stick works with any device that has capacitive touchscreen, hence it will also works with Android tablets – as long as the screen estate is big enough for the arcade stick not to hinder your game play. however, it will only work with games that has virtual control pad. if the game has both left and right virtual control pad, you can even stick two of it for a even more arcade or console feel.

priced at an affordable $24.99 for a single stick or $39.99 for a pair, the JOYSTICK-IT iPad Arcade Stick is available now on ThinkGeek web store.
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Wednesday, 12 December 2012

ATV docks with ISS

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ATV Docks With ISS







The European Space Agency periodically sends an Automated Transfer Vehicle to the International Space Station to reload the astronauts with supplies. On March 28, ATV-3, named Edoardo Amaldi, docked with the ISS. Astronauts on the station took this unbelievable picture of it as it approached: Wow. You can see the thrusters on the ATV burning to control its approach, like it’s right out of Star Trek! The stars, the green and brown aerosol layer over the Earth’s limb, the city lights slightly blurred from the ISS velocity of 8 km/sec – it gives such an eerie and unearthly feel to the picture!

As, I suppose, it should.

The ATV is amazing: this uncrewed machine can dock with the ISS using just GPS and star trackers — telescopes that can determine position and orientation by watching the stars… like ancient mariners did. [Update/correction: The ATV doesn't dock with ISS using just GPS and star trackers; it makes its approach using those. Once it's close enough, a more sophisticated laser guidance system is used.] This mission carried oxygen, water, hardware, spare parts, food, and even clothing for the astronauts.

While it’s docked, it may also be used as a booster, gently pushing the station into a new orbit to avoid space junk, or to boost the orbit higher. Although there’s almost no air up there, there’s some. Over time, as the ISS plows through these rarefied molecules, it loses orbital energy and drops into a lower orbit. Periodic reboosts are necessary, and the ATV can be used for the job.

The ATV can stay docked for up to six months or so. After that, it undocks, de-orbits, and burns up in Earth’s atmosphere, making a spectacular fireball. A blaze of glory, you might say, for a machine that helps keep humans in space.
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