Review ASUS AC66R wireless router

Review ASUS AC66R wireless router

  I picked up a refurbished ASUS ACC66R wireless router in June 2013 for 119.99 from newegg. The only difference between the AC66R and AC66U is that the R version is sold in brick and mortar retail stores and the U version is sold thru online channels.

  It had been running great until I moved it in Feb 2014 and then it did not like to stream 5GHz thru 3 walls (2 outside ones). However, upgrading the firmware to the latest and upping the 5Ghz transmit power to 110 mW stabilized the connection.



Pros:

• Simultaneous Dual Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
• Gigabit LAN
• Supports draft AC
• Has guest networks that are isolated from your network
• 2.4GHz range is much better than my old E2000
• Stable, has needed very little rebooting (I think twice in 6 months)
• Sleek looking
• 3 adjustable external antennae (recommend 45, 90, 45 degree oreintation)
• Supports IPv6

Cons:

• Not final AC

Other thoughts:

• Have not tested AC streaming as I don't have any clients

Review Canon Powershot s110

 Canon Powershot s110

  I was looking for a higher end point and shoot that works better in lowlight than our older models. I had a couple choices that I narrowed it down to:

• Canon Powershot s110
• Nikon Coolpix P7700
• Sony DSC-RX100

  However Amazon and Bestbuy put the s110 on sale for $219.99 including a 32GB and a carrying case. This was enough to seal the deal.

Pros:

• Flash is bright, but does not give our dogs zombie eyes
• Camera starts up quickly
• Touch screen works well
• Zoom is quick

Cons:

• Flash pops-up right where you want to put your left hand.
• Lots of controls, made finding the timer shot difficult

Other thoughts:

• WiFi requires an app installed on the phone
• I used this website to help pick: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-powershot-s110/

Windows CD Rip to MP3

Windows CD Rip to MP3

As I bought my first cd in a long time thanks to Pandora :-) I needed to get some software to create MP3s out of it so that I could transfer them to my phone and audio players. iTunes would have been the obvious choice, but I do not use that so here is what I used.

I chose Exact Audio Copy: http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/
I also needed to download LAME from here: http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-bundle.php

It worked like a charm.

Review Sony Blu Ray Player BDP-BX110

Review of Sony Blu Ray Player BDP-BX110

Here is my review of the Sony Blu Ray Player BDP-BX110. The only difference between this model and the BDP-S1100 is the inclusion of a HDMI cable. Also similiar are the BDP-BX310 and BDP-S3100 which include Wi-Fi and the BDP-BX510 and BDP-S5100 which include 3D playback.

Pros:

• I got it for $40 refurbished from Newegg (about the price of a new DVD player)
• DVD playback is very quick to start
• Blu Ray playback takes longer to start, but is still fairly fast
• Internet apps include: Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, and Hulu Plus (among others)
• Amazon Instant Video works well (don't have Netflix or Hulu Plus account to try) and is easy to navigate on the TV using the remote
• Nice looking small enclosure
• Only the power button lights up in a non-obtrusive white 

Cons:

• Ethernet Only. I really wish I shelled out more cash for the Wi-Fi version ($78 on Amazon new)
• Had to sign up for a Bravia account to use Amazon Instant Video - however, it easily allows you to sign up for a free account right through the Blu Ray player
• Battery door on remote squeaks when pressing buttons for me (my wife does not have this problem)
• Remote is not universal, but can turn on the TV and adjust the volume, it just does not allow you to scroll up and down through the channels

Other Thoughts:

• Includes a quick start mode that increases the start up speed, but requires more power when "off" (I do not use this mode)
• Did have to apply approximately 100MB of updates before the internet apps would work

Installing perl in a User Directory

Here is the procedure that I went thru to add perl into a user directory:

1. Setup the directories:

• cd 

• mkdir perl5 

• mkdir perl5/bin 

• mkdir perl5/lib 

• mkdir perl5/man 

• mkdir perl5/man/man1 

2. Download the source (See this link for URLs: http://www.cpan.org/src/README.html)

• wget http://www.cpan.org/src/5.0/perl-5.10.1.tar.gz 

3. Unpack it

• tar zxvf perl-5.10.1.tar.gz 

4. Install it

• cd perl\-5.10.1 

• ./Configure -des -Dusethreads -Dprefix=$HOME/perl5

• make test && make install 

5. Configure PERL5LIB (add to .profile)

• export PERL5LIB=$HOME/perl5:$HOME/perl5/site_perl 

6. Install cpanm

• $HOME/perl5/bin/cpan App::cpanminus 

7. Install LWP

• $HOME/perl5/bin/cpanm LWP 

Install XML::Parse and Expat:

1. Download Expat: http://sourceforge.net/projects/expat/files/expat/

• wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/expat/files/expat/2.1.0/expat-2.1.0.tar.gz/download 

2. Compile Expat

• tar -zxvf expat-2.1.0.tar.gz 

• cd expat-2.1.0 

• ./configure --prefix=$HOME/usr 

• make 

• make install 

3. Install XML::Parser

• cd 

• perl5/bin/cpan 

• o conf makepl_arg "EXPATLIBPATH=/prod/user/home/boz604/usr/lib EXPATINCPATH=/prod/user/home/boz604/usr/include" 

• o conf commit 

• install XML::Parser 

• quit 

Install Net::SSLeay and OpenSSL and Zlib:

1. Download OpenSSL

• wget http://www.openssl.org/source/openssl-1.0.1e.tar.gz 

2. Compile OpenSSL

• tar -zxvf openssl-1.0.1e.tar.gz 

• cd openssl-1.0.1e 

• ./config shared --prefix=$HOME/usr --openssldir=$HOME/usr/openssl

• make 

• make test && make install 

3. Download Zlib

• wget http://www.zlib.net/zlib-1.2.8.tar.gz 

4. Compile Zlib

• tar -zxvf zlib-1.2.8.tar.gz 

• cd zlib-1.2.8 

• ./configure --prefix=$HOME/usr 

• make 

• make test && make install 

5. Install Net::SSLeay

• cd 

• OPENSSL_PREFIX=$HOME/usr perl5/bin/cpan Net::SSLeay 

6. Install LWP::Protocol::https

• cd 

• perl5/bin/cpanm LWP::Protocol::https 

Here is how to set custom Include and Lib directories:

•  In CPAN:

• perl5/bin/cpan 

• o conf makepl_arg "LIBS=-L$HOME/usr INC=-I$HOME/usr/include" 

• o conf commit 

• When running perl:

• perl -I $HOME/perl5/lib/site_perl 

• Inside your perl script

• use lib "/home/user/perl5/lib/site_perl"; 

LG 32LN5310 Review

Over Labor Day weekend, I purchased the LG 32LN5310 from Best Buy for $259.99 +tax. Here is my review of it.



Pros:
  - Assembly of the base was easy
  - Good auto channel detection
  - Seems to use Direct LED back-lighting instead of edge-lit
  - 1080p
  - Excellent viewing angles
  - Has an Optical Audio out


Cons:
  - Eco mode seems to be too dark and I can't seem to find a way to increase the backlighting without going to normal mode since it is automatic
  - Does not appear to support HDMI 1.4 and Audio Return Channel


Other Thoughts:
  - Does not support local dimming and 3D, but at this price point not to be expected
  - Switching the tv from Eco to Normal mode and adjusting the brightness down gives an excellent picture
  - I know that 1080p at this tv size does not make any difference, but at the same price it certainly doesn't hurt :-)
  - This is the perfect size for a bedroom (or small living room)
  - I cannot find the tv on LG's website, but the best theory I have found is that it is just a rebranding of the 32LN5300 to be a Best Buy exclusive.

Convert Cisco Linksys E2000 into a Wireless Bridge using dd-wrt

My recent purchase of a refurbished Asus AC66R wireless router has left my previous router, a Cisco Linksys E2000, free to become a wireless bridge to upgrade my ps3 from 2.4GHz G to 5GHz N. Here are the steps that I followed to do it.

Disclaimer: All activity you do is at your own risk. I am not liable for any damage you do to your equipment.

1. First setup my new router and ensured that the encryption used was WPA2 Personal-AES on both spectrums
2. Downloaded dd-wrt.v24-21061_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini-e2000.bin from the dd-wrt page: http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/support/router-database (search E2000)
3. Followed the flashing instructions on the wiki: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_E2000
1. Disconnected all ethernet cables and wireless clients
2. Did a 30/30/30 reset using a pen
3. Connected my laptop using an ethernet cable (also turned wireless off on my laptop)
4. Log into Linksys Web Interface Firmware Upgrade page at 192.168.1.1 using the default password (admin), went the Administration tab and then the Upgrade sub-tab
5. Wait 10 minutes until WLAN (wireless) light turns on.
6. Power cycle by unplugging E2000 for 30 secs.
7. Plug E2000 back in and wait about 5 minutes until it finishes booting.
8. Do a 30/30/30 reset on router.
9. Wait 3 minutes and log into web interface using the default user/pass (root/admin)
10. The router then made me change the password
11. You are done. There is no NEED to flash any other build.
4. I then configured the E2000 to be a wireless bridge using this wiki: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge
1. My new and old router both use the ip 192.168.1.1, so if you use a different subnet be sure to modify accordingly
2. Changed the E2000 to a static ip
• Setup Tab -> Basic Setup sub-tab -> Network Setup heading
• Local IP Address: 192.168.1.2
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• Gateway: 192.168.1.1
• Local DNS: 192.168.1.1
3. I also disabled the WAN port at this point
4. Hard-coded a static ip onto my laptop wired connection
1. Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center
2. Left side -> Manage Adapter Settings
3. Right Click on your wired connection -> Properties
4. Highlight TCP/IPv4 -> Click on Properties Button
5. Use the following IP Address:
• ip: 192.168.1.100 (or a similar unused one on your network)
• subnet: 255.255.255.0
• gateway: 192.168.1.1
5. Disable the DHCP server on the E2000
6. Change the E2000 into wireless bridge mode
1. Wireless Tab -> Basic Settings Sub-Tab
• Wireless Mode: Client Bridge
• Wireless Network Mode: N-Only (5Ghz)
• Channel Width: Auto
• Wireless Network Name (SSID): type in your 5GHz network SSID
2. Wireless Tab -> Wireless Security Sub-Tab
1. Security Mode: WPA2 Personal
2. Encryption: AES
3. Password/Passkey: type in your network password

After all this I was able to successfully connect to the internet and the rest of my network. It also maxed out my 100Mbps laptop ethernet port.