I have to add this web site to my blog because sometimes when I'm in a hurry I cannot find this web site.
This is the web site that will tell you the default user name and passwords for a large number of makes and models of switches, routers and modems.
http://www.phenoelit-us.org/dpl/dpl.html
This web site's information has saved me a ton of hair loss and it had to be added to my blog.
To the creator/creators of this wonderment....
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
I hope this never disappears from the World Wide Web.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Telephone (Biscuit) Jack Wiring for Ethernet
Sometimes when creating a data run you don't have the luxury to install face plates and Cat5 Cap stones for an inside run. You can still create an Ethernet point with a Cat5 surface mount telephone jack that you can mount on the outside of the wall without having to cut extra holes or having to run conduit.
This is generally done post construction for an extension of the central demarcation point for anything such as a T1 smart jack, cable modem, patch panel, switch, or router.
First you have to use a standard straight through cable from the demarcation point. The pin out of this has been mentioned before, but I'll show it again here to save some time:
RJ-45 Cat5e Standard Straight Through Pin Out:
Make sure the clip end is facing down and the pins will go from left to right Pin 1 - Pin 8. The gold leads in this picture should be facing you.
This will be the business end for the cable that will plug into the smart jack or whatever you are starting the run from. The other end of this cable will be wired up in the Telephone Jack.
The first picture of the jack is the common color layout of a Cat5 Telephone jack yours could be different depending on the manufacturer. What is really important is what is shown in the second picture. That is what you want your end product to look like:
Cat5 Telephone Jack (Before):
COLORS VARY BASED ON MANUFACTURER
The top end of this jack is where the Ethernet cable will plug into to connecting the demarcation point to the end device.
Cat5 Telephone Jack (After):
This is the pin out for how it should be connected.
So if using the colors from the picture above you would connect your Orange/White wire to the Blue wired pin and so on.
Once you have completed connecting all the wires together you should test for continuity with a LAN tracker before mounting and closing up the biscuit to save yourself some time and heartache if anything should not work out correctly.
JS
This is generally done post construction for an extension of the central demarcation point for anything such as a T1 smart jack, cable modem, patch panel, switch, or router.
First you have to use a standard straight through cable from the demarcation point. The pin out of this has been mentioned before, but I'll show it again here to save some time:
RJ-45 Cat5e Standard Straight Through Pin Out:
Make sure the clip end is facing down and the pins will go from left to right Pin 1 - Pin 8. The gold leads in this picture should be facing you.This will be the business end for the cable that will plug into the smart jack or whatever you are starting the run from. The other end of this cable will be wired up in the Telephone Jack.
The first picture of the jack is the common color layout of a Cat5 Telephone jack yours could be different depending on the manufacturer. What is really important is what is shown in the second picture. That is what you want your end product to look like:
Cat5 Telephone Jack (Before):
COLORS VARY BASED ON MANUFACTURER
The top end of this jack is where the Ethernet cable will plug into to connecting the demarcation point to the end device.
Cat5 Telephone Jack (After):
This is the pin out for how it should be connected.
So if using the colors from the picture above you would connect your Orange/White wire to the Blue wired pin and so on.
Once you have completed connecting all the wires together you should test for continuity with a LAN tracker before mounting and closing up the biscuit to save yourself some time and heartache if anything should not work out correctly.
JS
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Bridged Modem's
This is a general real world explination of a bridged modem. I am not going to bore anyone with the specifics of data transfer and bit rates on a bridged modem compared to a routed modem.
When you run into a modem that the ISP has stated is in bridged mode you have two options.
The first option is to reset it to DHCP or routing mode. Usually the modem is in bridged mode for a reason so resetting it to route mode is not an option.
The second option is to get all of the information for the modem that you can.
A bridged modem is a modem that will connect two separate parts of your network together. More times than not it is a link between the outside and your router. The modem has a static IP address and this address is set up in your router configuration creating a bridge between the public and private address on the network.
The information you needed from your ISP will be the IP Address, Subnet, Gateway, and sometimes the DNS server. DNS will depend on your network set up, but it is usefull to have the ISP DNS information just in case.
A username and password for the modem is also helpful just in case you need to modem configurations. Some companies will give you this information freely. Other companies though will not give you the user name and password to the modem unless you purchase the modem and line directly from them.
Every company is different, but it does not hurt to ask...
If you connect your laptop directly to the modem and try to surf the internet you will see very quickly that you cannot get out. That is because you will have to set a static IP on the network connection. This is the information that you requested from the ISP earlier.
Once you set the IP, Subnet and Gateway you should then be able to surf the net.
Use the gateway address as your entry into the modem by entering it into your web browser and you will be prompted for the modems user name and password.
Some Verizon and Embarq ISP modems (Westell 6100 series) will use the admin, 1234 user name and password scheme, but it is rare. Usually they are set to a company specific user name and password scheme like youcompany@att.dsl.net. They all are different.
When you run into a modem that the ISP has stated is in bridged mode you have two options.
The first option is to reset it to DHCP or routing mode. Usually the modem is in bridged mode for a reason so resetting it to route mode is not an option.
The second option is to get all of the information for the modem that you can.
A bridged modem is a modem that will connect two separate parts of your network together. More times than not it is a link between the outside and your router. The modem has a static IP address and this address is set up in your router configuration creating a bridge between the public and private address on the network.
The information you needed from your ISP will be the IP Address, Subnet, Gateway, and sometimes the DNS server. DNS will depend on your network set up, but it is usefull to have the ISP DNS information just in case.
A username and password for the modem is also helpful just in case you need to modem configurations. Some companies will give you this information freely. Other companies though will not give you the user name and password to the modem unless you purchase the modem and line directly from them.
Every company is different, but it does not hurt to ask...
If you connect your laptop directly to the modem and try to surf the internet you will see very quickly that you cannot get out. That is because you will have to set a static IP on the network connection. This is the information that you requested from the ISP earlier.
Once you set the IP, Subnet and Gateway you should then be able to surf the net.
Use the gateway address as your entry into the modem by entering it into your web browser and you will be prompted for the modems user name and password.
Some Verizon and Embarq ISP modems (Westell 6100 series) will use the admin, 1234 user name and password scheme, but it is rare. Usually they are set to a company specific user name and password scheme like youcompany@att.dsl.net. They all are different.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Commercial NID Splitter Installation
There are multiple ways to install a NID splitter, but they all come down to the same thing. You want to separate the Voice, Data, and Network signals.
Sometimes there is static on the phone line or the fax machine will knock off the DSL connection among a host of other things that could confirm a reason to installing a NID Splitter.
I am using a scenario that involves a generic 66 block that you find on most Demarks, a Suttle Outdoor NID Splitter and a 4 post telephone jack or biscuit.
First thing you need to do is find the circuit that the DSL line is sharing. Sometimes it's marked and sometimes it is not. That is when you need a butt set to test the circuit. Connect your alligator clips to the 66 Block and get a drop tone and verify the circuit by calling 1-800-444-4444. This number will spit back the phone number MCI sees on their end.
If you are on the correct circuit and there is no dial tone verify with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) that you are not using dry loop DSL. If you are using a dry loop DSL there should be no reason to install a splitter, but I've seen crazier things happen.
Please take a look at my other posting on how to make a homemade Lineman's head set or butt set in one of my earlier posts if you don't have one or yours is out of commission for the moment.
Once you find the circuit take a look at how it is being used. It could be used for just the main land line or possibly the fax line. Then you will want to run this first to your voice side in the splitter all the way down to the biscuit.
Verify that you have connectivity at the splitter on the Voice Posts with another phone or your butt set. This way you know you are getting an electrical current all the way from start to finish.
After that it is all down hill. Connect a run from the 66 block to the Data posts and connect your last run from the 66 block down to the network posts.
Below is a picture of one type of proper split set up.
I hope this makes some sense to those reading. It looked much better when I created it...
The 66 Block is labeled. The NID is between the two with the 6 posts on it. Those are the Network, Voice and Data posts.
Row 1 Column 2 on the 66 Block is using a Blue and White cable and Row 1 Column 3 is using an Orange and White cable. Row 2 Column 2 is using a solid Blue cable and Row 2 Column 3 is using a solid Orange cable. (Just for clarification)
The color of the cable DOES NOT MATTER. Just keep them the same for simplicity and future use. Make sure you label the jacks if they were not before. Remember this is just ONE of many ways to install a NID Splitter. It all depends on the situation presented to you at time of install.
JS
Sometimes there is static on the phone line or the fax machine will knock off the DSL connection among a host of other things that could confirm a reason to installing a NID Splitter.
I am using a scenario that involves a generic 66 block that you find on most Demarks, a Suttle Outdoor NID Splitter and a 4 post telephone jack or biscuit.
First thing you need to do is find the circuit that the DSL line is sharing. Sometimes it's marked and sometimes it is not. That is when you need a butt set to test the circuit. Connect your alligator clips to the 66 Block and get a drop tone and verify the circuit by calling 1-800-444-4444. This number will spit back the phone number MCI sees on their end.
If you are on the correct circuit and there is no dial tone verify with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) that you are not using dry loop DSL. If you are using a dry loop DSL there should be no reason to install a splitter, but I've seen crazier things happen.
Please take a look at my other posting on how to make a homemade Lineman's head set or butt set in one of my earlier posts if you don't have one or yours is out of commission for the moment.
Once you find the circuit take a look at how it is being used. It could be used for just the main land line or possibly the fax line. Then you will want to run this first to your voice side in the splitter all the way down to the biscuit.
Verify that you have connectivity at the splitter on the Voice Posts with another phone or your butt set. This way you know you are getting an electrical current all the way from start to finish.
After that it is all down hill. Connect a run from the 66 block to the Data posts and connect your last run from the 66 block down to the network posts.
Below is a picture of one type of proper split set up.
I hope this makes some sense to those reading. It looked much better when I created it...
The 66 Block is labeled. The NID is between the two with the 6 posts on it. Those are the Network, Voice and Data posts.
Row 1 Column 2 on the 66 Block is using a Blue and White cable and Row 1 Column 3 is using an Orange and White cable. Row 2 Column 2 is using a solid Blue cable and Row 2 Column 3 is using a solid Orange cable. (Just for clarification)
The color of the cable DOES NOT MATTER. Just keep them the same for simplicity and future use. Make sure you label the jacks if they were not before. Remember this is just ONE of many ways to install a NID Splitter. It all depends on the situation presented to you at time of install.
JS
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Cannot View the Help File in Vista
Ever since Windows 3.1, Microsoft included the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) with new releases. WinHlp32.exe is used to view 32-bit Help files that have the .hlp file name extension.
Starting with the release of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, Microsoft has decided to no longer include in WinHlp32.exe as a component of the Windows operating system. To be able to read these files you must install the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 manually.
This was done supposedly due to security reasons and according to MS does not meet the standards for current Microsoft bloatwa.. I mean software.
Here is a brief description of the file directly from the MS Downloads site:
"WinHlp32.exe is required to display 32-bit Help files that have the ".hlp" file name extension. To view .hlp files on Windows Vista, you need to install this application."
The link provided above should get you to the file if not try here. You will have to authenticate your installation of Windows through the Windows Genuine Advantage program. If you use Internet Explorer it should zoom right through it, but if you use another application like FireFox then you might have to download the WGA plug in for it.
After you jump through the WGA hoop you will be able to download two versions of the file... Choose which one is right for you:
Windows6.0-KB917607-x64.msu coming in at 611 KB (Vista, S2008 64-bit)
or
Windows6.0-KB917607-x86.msu coming in at 601 KB (Vista, S2008 32-bit)
Once you choose your download and run the program just follow the "I accept" prompts and then the Finish Button. It will install to the default location for MS software.
If you would like more in depth information about this file please check the KB (knowledge base) article #917607 directly from Microsoft.
Starting with the release of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, Microsoft has decided to no longer include in WinHlp32.exe as a component of the Windows operating system. To be able to read these files you must install the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 manually.
This was done supposedly due to security reasons and according to MS does not meet the standards for current Microsoft bloatwa.. I mean software.
Here is a brief description of the file directly from the MS Downloads site:
"WinHlp32.exe is required to display 32-bit Help files that have the ".hlp" file name extension. To view .hlp files on Windows Vista, you need to install this application."
The link provided above should get you to the file if not try here. You will have to authenticate your installation of Windows through the Windows Genuine Advantage program. If you use Internet Explorer it should zoom right through it, but if you use another application like FireFox then you might have to download the WGA plug in for it.
After you jump through the WGA hoop you will be able to download two versions of the file... Choose which one is right for you:
Windows6.0-KB917607-x64.msu coming in at 611 KB (Vista, S2008 64-bit)
or
Windows6.0-KB917607-x86.msu coming in at 601 KB (Vista, S2008 32-bit)
Once you choose your download and run the program just follow the "I accept" prompts and then the Finish Button. It will install to the default location for MS software.
If you would like more in depth information about this file please check the KB (knowledge base) article #917607 directly from Microsoft.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Cannot Edit the Registry
Sometimes when a virus infects a computer it will over write the settings to allow for a user to edit the registry.
When you go to Start > Run > Regedit you will recieve and error stating:
"Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator"
This is very frustrating especially when you are doing tasks under the administrator account.
Before you begin the work around for this I recommend unplugging the computer from the network so that it does not have an internet connection. I had this policy overwritten after it was changed because the virus was reactivated via internet communication. It gets very frustrating.
Method 1:
For Windows XP machines go to Start > Run > gpedit.msc
This will bring up the Group Policy Editing MMC snap in console. Here you will have to drill down to:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System
Look on the left side panel and scroll down until you see:
Prevent access to registry editing tools
Double click it and set it as Not Configured. OK your way out of the set up and Log Off or Restart the computer.
Method 2:
A much easier way to do this, is to run a Visual Basic Script that Doug Knox a MVP for Microsoft created. This script will give you the ability to enable or disable the Registry Editor function on a Windows machine. If you are using Vista you may want to right click the file and run it as Administrator.
Download the .vbs script from here.... It's the regtools.vbs script in the upper right hand corner. Double click it to start the auto run sequence. Click the OK's then reboot your computer. Logging off will not help you very much at this point so make sure you reboot.
I had to do all of this when a virus overwrote the ability to see hidden files and folders.
It was a mess, but that is for another day.
JS
When you go to Start > Run > Regedit you will recieve and error stating:
"Registry editing has been disabled by your administrator"
This is very frustrating especially when you are doing tasks under the administrator account.
Before you begin the work around for this I recommend unplugging the computer from the network so that it does not have an internet connection. I had this policy overwritten after it was changed because the virus was reactivated via internet communication. It gets very frustrating.
Method 1:
For Windows XP machines go to Start > Run > gpedit.msc
This will bring up the Group Policy Editing MMC snap in console. Here you will have to drill down to:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System
Look on the left side panel and scroll down until you see:
Prevent access to registry editing tools
Double click it and set it as Not Configured. OK your way out of the set up and Log Off or Restart the computer.
Method 2:
A much easier way to do this, is to run a Visual Basic Script that Doug Knox a MVP for Microsoft created. This script will give you the ability to enable or disable the Registry Editor function on a Windows machine. If you are using Vista you may want to right click the file and run it as Administrator.
Download the .vbs script from here.... It's the regtools.vbs script in the upper right hand corner. Double click it to start the auto run sequence. Click the OK's then reboot your computer. Logging off will not help you very much at this point so make sure you reboot.
I had to do all of this when a virus overwrote the ability to see hidden files and folders.
It was a mess, but that is for another day.
JS
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Increase the size of Text Inbox on Cell Phone
This is for a Alltel Samsung type cell phone.
******* WARNING *******
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
There are codes that you can type into any cell phone and you will be able to make modifications to the cell phone in simple ways.
One modification you can make to the phone is the amount of space you can have to store Text Messages (SMS).
To do this on the phone described above type this into your phone. It may or may not work depending on your cell phone and carrier.
##3282# == ##data#
This will open up a data menu. In this menu you can view or edit the settings. Here you can see the SMS settings.
Scroll to the SMS selection and press OK button. Choose Edit and enter your SPC code. Most phones are six zero's = 000000 = Not all though. Here you will have another set of options to choose.
Pick the SMS MO SO option and here you will see 8K and 13K. This is the allowed size of your SMS inbox. Change the settings to 13K. Click OK, Back, Done then Exit. You now have increased your Text Inbox size for storage 5K.
There are a ton more things you can do with a couple pieces of free software and and a great place to start is at Howard Forums. Here you will find all kind of like minded people that have an peculiar interest in how to get more for their money when it comes to their Cell Phone.
JS
******* WARNING *******
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
There are codes that you can type into any cell phone and you will be able to make modifications to the cell phone in simple ways.
One modification you can make to the phone is the amount of space you can have to store Text Messages (SMS).
To do this on the phone described above type this into your phone. It may or may not work depending on your cell phone and carrier.
##3282# == ##data#
This will open up a data menu. In this menu you can view or edit the settings. Here you can see the SMS settings.
Scroll to the SMS selection and press OK button. Choose Edit and enter your SPC code. Most phones are six zero's = 000000 = Not all though. Here you will have another set of options to choose.
Pick the SMS MO SO option and here you will see 8K and 13K. This is the allowed size of your SMS inbox. Change the settings to 13K. Click OK, Back, Done then Exit. You now have increased your Text Inbox size for storage 5K.
There are a ton more things you can do with a couple pieces of free software and and a great place to start is at Howard Forums. Here you will find all kind of like minded people that have an peculiar interest in how to get more for their money when it comes to their Cell Phone.
JS
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
