Labeling Wires for the IT Profesional

Save on your Internet Bill

Do you know that you could be paying $72 or more extra a year for internet service?

If you are with one of the major cable companies you are

They are charging you to rent the cable modem every month and its for a device you do not own.

Time Warner Cable was once one of the rarest company's that did not charge for cable modems. This all changed in 2013 when they started to charge 4$/month... NOW its upto 6$/month. I am only going to guess that it will continue to go up in the following years.

You can buy your own modem and save!

I will list out the 3 modems that I would look at and why...


Motorola SB5101U
Cost: 34$(as of 1/31/2014)
Payback time frame: 6 Months

Buy here: ARRIS / Motorola SURFboard SB5101U DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem

Pro:
-stable proven platform
-used by TWC today
-cheap option

Con:
-not 100% future proof. This modem will limit you to internet speeds packages below 38Mbps.
-no longer on the TWC approved modem list (was in 2013)

90% of the readers here should get this modem as most will NOT be buying the higher tiered internet packages.

The next two modems are DOCSIS 3 cable modems meaning they are able achieve higher speeds by "bonding channel" signals.




Motorola SB6121
Cost: 67$(as of 1/31/2014)
Payback time frame: 11 Months
Buy here: ARRIS / Motorola SB6121 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem - Retail Packaging



Pro:
-stable proven platform
-used by TWC today
-TWC Approved
-able to get speed packages upto 160Mbps

Con:
-More time for pay back
-Only 4 channel bonding. Current can go upto 8.




Motorola SB6141
Cost: 80$(as of 1/31/2014)
Payback time frame: 13 Months
Buy here: ARRIS / Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem - Retail Packaging - White



Pro:
-stable proven platform
-used by TWC today
-TWC Approved
-able to get speed packages upto 300+ Mbps

Con:
-More time for pay back
-higher cost than the previous two.

I hope this helps... Please let me know if you have any questions.

1998-2003 Toyota Sienna Instrument Cluster Light Replacement

This guide is for all models of the 1st generation Sienna's.
It's a quick and cheap fix.

Review: Slingplayer for Logitech Revue™ With Google TV™

Review: Slingplayer for Logitech Revue™ With Google TV™ 

This is my review of the slingplayer app for googleTv. I bought the Logitech Revue only for one reason... that is to stream cable service from my primary residence to my new apartment. We'll lets rate this by categories.

Picture Quality: 
The picture is very clear and a hell of alot better that I expected. I have a upload of 6-8Mbps. Even when I switch to a source that is on a 2Mbps upload it was still very good. This says alot b/c I work in the cable industry and I am extremely sensitive to video quality.

Rating 4 of 5 

App for GoogleTV:
Currently (as of April 2012) the app is free and it still works. Since Logitech said it was no longer going to support the device late last year I am not sure how much longer Slingmedia will keep this app up to day. Of course it is NOT really and App but more of a web based flash player. The damn thing locks up alot more than I really want it to sometimes making it frustrating to watch. The remote function is extremely slow and 70% of the time will lock up the video and you must disconnect and restart the stream. It is extremely important that you know what channel you are watching so you do not have to use the guide function on your cable box.

Rating 2 of 5

Overall: 
The cost of the slingplayer and the revue makes it the cost ineffective for "cord cutting" If I had to do it all over again I am not sure that I would. You can pick up the majority of the broadcasters (ABC/FOX/NBC/PBS) using a over the air antenna.

HP DV9720US Reboots 1-30 Seconds

I just did a simple repair to fix a dv9720us. It was rebooting anywhere between 1 & 30 seconds on start up.

My thought it something was causing it to over heat. When I took apart the laptop and removed the heat sink I saw that the Video chipset did not make a "good" contact with the heatsink. I removed the thermal pad that came on it and placed a penny in between the center of the chip and the copper pad on the heatsink.

Google Redirect Virus 2011 Removal

Having issues getting this pesky thing off your computer? I did. They the following steps and see if it helps.

Software based solution:
Install and run the following free programs in order listed.

1. CCleaner - Run file & registry cleaner. (www.piriform.com/ccleaner/)
2. Malwarebytes - (www.malwarebytes.org/)
3. SuperAntiSpyware - (www.superantispyware.com)
4. TDSS Killer by Kaspersky (http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208283363)
5. Microsoft Software Scanner (http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx)
6. ComboFix - !!!Caution!!! USE ONLY UNDER THE DIRECTIONS OF bleepingcomputer.com

Reset your host file:
Caution this may have unwanted affects on some programs.

Follow the instructions from Microsoft. For novice computer users just use the "Fix it" program list on the page (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972034)

Make sure your browser is not using a proxy server:

Internet Explorer
Tools -> Internet Options -> Connections Tab -> Lan Settings

Firefox
Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Network Tab
Click on Settings Tab under connections.
Make sure there is "no proxy" is checked.

Make sure you do not have 213.x.x.x DNS server:
Follow the following instructions to make sure you are obtaining a DNS server automatically
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-TCP-IP-settings

IF ALL ELSE FAIL'S PLEASE LOOK AT YOUR ROUTER SETTINGS

Log into your router and make sure you do not have any DNS settings with 213.x.x.x
Use your ISP's server or OpenDNS(http://www.opendns.com/)

If you need help logging into your router please download instructions from your Manufacture.

If you have forgot your password to your router, follow instructions to reset to factory defaults.

Here are a few links to top home router manufactures.

Linksys - (http://homesupport.cisco.com/en-us/support?referrer=www.linksysbycisco.com)
Dlink - (http://support.dlink.com)
Netgear  - (http://support.netgear.com/)

I will try to help the best I can please leave me comments and I will try to respond.  Also let me know if you have anything else that I can add to help someone else. 

I accept donations :)

1998-2003 Toyota Sienna Inside Rear Door Handel/Button Stuck Repair

DYI Fix or Replacement
1st Generation Toyota Sienna owners are you sick of having your inside rear door button stick in and you can't close your door? No fear... the fix is simple. You can try my simple fix or replace the inside handle which will solve the problem.


Option 1 (Replacement) Parts list:

Dorman 80498 - Gray

Dorman 80499 - Oak

Option 2 (DIY) Parts List:
- White Lithium Grease
- Assorted Sandpaper

Tools needed:
- #2 Philips Head Screw Driver
- Flat Head Screw Driver (very small/small tip)
- 10mm metric socket & ratchet (Optional)
- Masking or Duck Tape
 

REMOVE THE CUP HOLDER
- Pull the cup holder in a inward/downwards motion. Clips are holding this in place. Be firm yet careful.

- Unscrew or use your 10mm to remove the screw inside the hole.

REMOVE THE DOOR TRIM
-Insert a screwdriver between the door and door trim to pry
the trim out. Tape the screwdriver tip before use to avoid scratching the paint.

- Pull the panel away from the door. Again only clips holding these in. FIRM yet CAREFUL

REMOVE THE UPPER & SIDE TRIM COVER
- If you can get your finger behind it just pull it out. Top one first then the side. Use a taped screwdriver if you need additional force

 REMOVE THE SERVICE HOLE COVER
-Right above the button you should see a little flat round circle. There is a little slot near the bottom of it, use a small flat head carefully pry that out and remove the screw behind that.

 REMOVE THE DOOR HANDLE COVER
- Great a firm grasp on the handle and pull it towards your chest. It should just pop right off.

REMOVE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE
- Remove the 3 screws
- Pry with a taped flathead screw driver
- Disconnect the two cables from the handle.

Now you have made it this far. Choose your next step.

OPTION 1:
Replace the plastic handle with the parts above and reassemble. Just reverse the dismantling process.

OPTION 2:
Here is the part where we just fix the handle.

REMOVE THE TWO SPRINGS
- JUST PULL UP ON THEM AND GET THEM OFF THE HOOK.

REMOVE THE SLIDE GUIDE
- Lift up from the rear and remove the guide out. The button should just pop out now.

SAND THE MARKED AREA OF THE BUTTON
-Look at the images below and sand where I have arrows. Put a piece of high grit sand paper on a flat surface and rub the button's marked surface area back and forth until you have remove some of the plastic.

 

Sand both sides

Clean off the button and inside of the white plastic area where the button fit in.

TESTING THE FIX

- Put the button back into its slot. Do not add any of the other parts back yet.

-Place the unit in your palms holding the white picece. The button now should face the floor.

- Tap the button from the button up and down. It should go up and down smoothly. If it binds note that spot and sand alittle but more. Repeat this setup unit the everything is smooth. 

Reassemble THE INSIDE HANDLE

- Once everything is nice and smooth remove the button again and now spray the inside white area with the grease from above.

-Put the button back in

-Spray the white slide guide, wipe off and excess. Place it back in

-Reinstall the spring.

TEST ONCE MORE..... everything should work without getting caught.

REASSEMBLE EVERYTHING

- Do this guide in reverse.

I hope this was helpful, leave me comments below. 

If it was helpful I also accept donations :)