Home Music Streaming

I would love to have a Sonos mesh entertainment system, I just can’t rationalize paying $1,500 to set it up (doesn’t include the actual stereo). It looks like a great system that I would like to get at some point.

So instead went with an Apple AirPort Express (with Air Tunes) network that allows me to easily (pretty much just plugged it into a wall plug) and stream music on my iTunes to my Philips Micro Hi-fi System. So I can move my stereo and the AirPort Express to anywhere in my house near a power plug (and within the wireless network) and I can stream music there.

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Blackberry 7230

So I held out as long as I could but finally got a Crackberry at work. It’s a nice gadget and has been very helpful for the week that I have had it.

I’ll toss out my initial thoughts and I’m sure I will have more to add as I use it more.

• Bookmark mobile.google.com/local – a great way to find something local… I just wish the Google Maps worked like it does on my cell phone.
• Yahoo IM seems to work a lot better than AIM. YIM groups the buddies a lot nicer and I’m not getting the annoying “second login” error that I get on AIM. The interface is still way too clicky but using the Return key instead of the Click-Wheel saves quite a few.
• The keys are a bit loud, and sound stuck.
• I don’t use the phone on it, but others at work say it drops calls and the T-Mobile service is not that great.

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Wireless Setup

Since I seem to be talking to a lot of people regarding setting up a wireless network, I have provided a bit of information here, along with links to buy the necessary equipment.

So here a graphical representation of my home network. I have used D-Link from the start (I have also setup a wired network using the DI-604), but Linksys and Netgear are also good. Product links are included on the bottom if you want to buy anything.

cable modem –>

router extender VoIP –>

wireless laptop card cordless phone

• I use Cable Internet through OptimumOnline/Cablevision with speeds of about 1,500 kbps download & 900 kbps upload. I had SpeakEasy DSL which was a vast improvement over dial-up but never approached the speeds of cable and went down more often. I was shocked when I noticed a similar jump in speed from DSL->Cable as I saw from Dial->DSL. (Search for broadband in your area.) You will need to split your cable line, with one going into your cable box/tv and the other going into your cable modem. After you connect plug in the power and the modem should automatically connect. You should see around 4 solid lights once it’s connected (depending on modem) after about a minute. A randomly blinking light (sometimes yellow instead of green) shows network traffic.
• Using the wireless “g” standard, along with “AirPlus Xtreme” gives me a network speed of 108 Mbps, which is faster then the traditional ‘wired’ network of either 10 or 100 Mbps. Run a network cable from your cable modem (should only have one port) into the ‘WAN’ port of your router. Then just plug in the power cable. By default you should be setup to automatically connect wireless computers/laptops (with DHCP) with no encryption nor password.
• VoIP setup is (relatively) easy, with the router working with no setup out of the box. You may need to “open some ports” if you use VoIP, but that is not all too complicated. (But too much info for this page and depends on your VoIP carrier.) You should plug your VoIP modem into one of the network ports in your router (normally 4) using a network cable. Plug in the power and this also should auto config. There might be a light that blinks while is connects and stays solid once connected. Plug in a phone to the back of the VoIP modem to test for a dial tone. Once it’s working, plug a phone cable from the VoIP modem to one of your house phone plugs (assuming you don’t have phone service), and you can then use any of the phone jacks in the house for your VoIP. You could also keep your phone service (why I don’t know) and use VoIP through a cordless phone basestation setup.
• It is common now to get a router included with the VoIP modem, which is great for security but these are most likely not wireless, so you will still need the setup above. The extra trick is that you will have to make sure the wired router doesn’t do DHCP or they will confict. The default network setup will probably be 192.168.0.1 for your router plugged into your cable modem. You can manually setup your wired router to use the IP 192.168.0.2, gateway of 192.168.0.1 and subnet 255.255.255.0.

Products
1. D-Link Wireless Network Kit, 802.11g, 108Mbps, Includes DI-624 and DWL-G650

2. D-LINK DWL-800AP+ AirPlus Enhanced 2.4GHz Wireless Range Extender
Better range then my actual router, but since the two d-links are incompatible I have two networks setup.

3. D-Link 6DBI DIRECTIONAL INDOOR ANTENNA ( DWL-M60AT )
(not tested, similar to #2)

4. Network Storage for audio & video media files

Vonage VoIP – $25/m for unlimited local and national long distance over your cable internet. I can plug in my phone modem anywhere in the world and use it, and also setup local or international “alternate” phone numbers that will ring my phone. Only downside is it depends on house power/cable internet, but with a cell phone I don’t find this an issue.

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iPod reset

I can see that this is actually pretty common, but still surprising when your iPod won’t respond to attempted charging, syncing or turning on.

Here are the brief instructions to reset a Mini:

1. Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
2. Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

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