Netgear Gigabit Switch

In part two of this article I am going to be talking about each piece of networking equipment and how it interacts with the network and its importance.

The basic goal for any network is to create a reliable, fast and easy to maintain infrastructure. Our network had the following criteria:

All Television, Telephone, and Internet is to be powered by Time Warner Cable (TW).

• Telephone via TW VOIP, Using the 66 block all house phone jacks work.
• Television via TW Digital Cable, our house has two High Definition, and two Standard Definition TV’s.
• Internet via TW High Speed Internet, by setting up a simple network we can share this with our 6 computers and have network enabled backups.

In the last article we talked about our goals for the network and outlined the network map. Below we talk about each device and what it does.

Cable Modem

• A cable modem is a type of modem that provides bi-directional data communication via radio frequency channels on a cable television (CATV) infrastructure. Cable modems are primarily used to deliver broadband Internet access in the form of cable Internet, taking advantage of the high bandwidthof a cable television network. They are commonly deployed in Australia,Europe, and North and South America. In the USA alone there were 22.5 million cable modem users during the first quarter of 2005, up from 17.4 million in the first quarter of 2004.

Voice Over IP / ATA

• An analog telephony adapter, or analog telephone adapter, (ATA) is a device used to connect one or more standard analog telephones to a digital and/or non-standard telephone system such as a Voice over IP based network.

Patch Panel

• Patch panels offer the convenience of allowing technicians to quickly change the path of select signals, without the expense of dedicatedswitching equipment.

Network Switch

• A network switch is a computer networking device that connectsnetwork segments.
• The term commonly refers to a Network bridge that processes and routes data at the Data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model. Switches that additionally process data at the Network layer (layer 3 and above) are often referred to as Layer 3 switches orMultilayer switches.
• The term network switch does not generally encompass unintelligent or passive network devices such as hubs andrepeaters.
• The first Ethernet switch was introduced by Kalpana in 1990.

WiFi Router

• Wi-Fi (pronounced /?wa?fa?/) is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance for certified products based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. This certification warrants interoperability between different wireless devices.
• Wi-Fi is supported by most personal computer operating systems, many game consoles, laptops, smartphones,printers, and other peripherals.

Apple Airport Express

• AirPort and AirPort Extreme are local area wireless networkingproducts from Apple Inc. based on the IEEE 802.11 standard (also known as Wi-Fi).
• AirPort and AirPort Extreme in common usage can refer to theprotocol (802.11b, and 802.11g and 802.11 Draft-N, respectively), the expansion card or the base station.

Now that we know what each device does I will explain how each one is connected to each-other.

Starting with the feed coming into the house, we have a single RG6 drop from the utility pole and from there it goes into the garage utility room where it is then split off into its appropriate places. It first goes into a 3 way -5.5db splitter where it goes to the Cable Modem, Telephone ATA, and Television Amplifier.

Television Splitters and Amplifier.

Television

The signal coming into the 3 way splitter is low to begin with and is causing some of our HD channels to come in pixelated at times, so the only way to combat that was to install a Multimedia Drop Amplifier that has a +20db output signal. After the amp I have a 8 way splitter with 5 rooms connected, leaving 3 ports free, on those 3 I put terminators on to prevent signal loss and interference. With the new amp and splitter installed, the televisions are all now working much better and very rarely do they go blocky.

Phone

66 Block

Since we are using VOIP for our phone service I wanted to have the phone signal going though to all the wall jacks just like a normal POTS (Plan Old Telephone Service) does I decided it was best to use a 66 block and by using the new wiring I installed previously I was able to connect every room that has a phone to the VOIP service. This also allows for us to easily upgrade and add additional lines of phone and or digital extensions if we decide to install a PBX phone system.

Ethernet

Patch Panel

I connected the Cable Modem to the Patch Panel where it then goes up into the office and is connected to our Belkin WiFi Router, I setup the WiFi with a secure WEP password and MAC address authentication. I then connected one of the LAN ports to the second ethernet wall jack returning to the Patch Panel, this is where I have my 5 port Gigabit Switch located, from the Patch Panel I have one port as the uplink and then the four remaining ports plugged into the three remaining rooms and the fourth connected to my Ubuntu File Server (Future Article).

You may be wondering why I decided to place the Belkin Router up in the house? Well I did that because as with most consumer networking equipment, it will randomly lockup and need the occasional reboot and by having it in the house it saves a trip down to the garage.

In one of the bedrooms I then have a AirPort Express connected to the ethernet wall jack, this is used for printing and wireless music playing. One advantage of having two WiFi routers is the possibility of setting up a Guest Network, with this we can have it open and not secured, but we can isolate the WiFi network from the Physical Wired Network and Computers.

Charlie Miller, Independent Security Evaluators researcher, and Collin Mulliner, a Ph.D. student at the University of Berlin, demonstrated during a Black Hat presentation that hackers can break into an iPhone via the SMS protocol to launch a denial-of-service (DOS) attack or take control of a victim’s phone.

“Its lots of fun to kick friends off the network, but it’s even more fun to own their phone,” Miller said, who demonstrated the exploits on both the iPhone and Android.

Google has already patched the vulnerability that Miller identified in Android and Apple has been working on a patch for the iPhone OS. An O2 spokesperson told BBC News that a patch would be available via iTunes on Saturday, though Apple has not confirmed that information. Miller told Ars that Apple has asked him to help test a patch, though that test hasn’t yet happened. Miller did confirm that the problem affects iPhone OS up to 3.0, and he suspects it also affects current 3.1 betas. Other phone operating systems would also need patched to the fix the problem.

“We always recommend our customers update their iPhone with the latest software, and this is no different,” the O2 spokesperson told the BBC.

The Apple iPhone hack stems from the manner in which the iPhone handles the SMS protocol, according to Miller. The flaw, if exploited, could shut off the smartphone, deface text or reconfigure keys. The DoS hack floods a victim’s iPhone with hundreds of text messages that essentially allow the hacker to keep owners off the network.

“Basically what happens, you send a bad SMS, you can’t use your phone,” Miller said Thursday. “Literally the phone is working, you just can’t press any of the buttons.”

Oxnard, CA – July 30, 2009 – Scosche Industries, an award-winning innovator of mobile electronics and iPod accessories, today announced availability of the new “Works With iPhone” and “Made for iPod” certified IDR350M (Increased Dynamic Range) noise isolating earphones for the iPhone 3GS, iPod shuffle (Gen 3), iPod touch (Gen 2), iPod nano (Gen 4) and iPod classic 120GB.

The IDR350Ms feature Scosche’s integrated tapLINE control technology that allows users to play/pause,  adjust volume, skip tracks, navigate playlists, record voice memos, activate the voice control feature, and answer/end calls without having to take their iPod or iPhone out of their pocket or bag.

This functionality is particularly useful for iPod shuffle Gen 3 users given that model’s lack of control buttons. The earphones compatibility with Apple’s new Voice Control Technology allows iPhone 3GS users to speak the name of a contact or say a phone number to place a call.  IDR350M users can say the name of a song to play a specific track, ask the iPhone what song is playing, or even ask the iPhone to play similar songs with the Scosche earphones.

The IDR350Ms also give users a chance to customize their earphones with six different interchangeable color caps to match their mood or color coordinate with particular outfit.

The Scosche IDR350M earphones are available now on www.Scosche.com for $49.99 MSRP, and will go on sale at several other fine retailers around the world in the coming weeks.

Scosche will also begin shipping the IDR350MD in August.  These darker models offer the same feature set and great sound as the IDR350M, and will be available at Apple stores across the country.

PORT WASHINGTON, NY – (August 26, 2008) - iLuv, the leader in innovative audio solutions, announces the iMM173, Hi-Fi Dual Dock Alarm Clock for your iPhone / iPod. The iMM173 will be available Worldwide in early September 2008 for an MSRP of $129.99 at J&R, Micro Center and Amazon.com and www.i-luv.com.

This Apple certified Dual Dock Alarm Clock for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 2G includes a multitude of features and functions.

Key Features:
•    Advanced user-interface (UI) with oversized LCD display 
•    Powerful 5W x 2 sound output with treble / bass control
•    jAura soundcell technology – enjoy your favorite tunes with top quality acoustic speaker sound and the properly proportioned mix of forward and backward sound waves
•    Auxiliary line input for any audio devices with 3.5mm jack
•    Daylight saving time switch
•    LCD dimmer 10 level control   

Dual Dock Capabilities:
•    Integrated universal dock for your iPhone / iPod
•    Charge two iPhones and/or iPods* at once 
•    Users can choose and play either of the two docked iPhones or iPods
•    Digital clock display with dual alarm clock featuring wake to iPhone / iPod, FM radio or buzzer options as well as a sleep to iPhone / iPod or FM radio function
 
Radio Functions:
•    FM stereo
•    PLL tuning digital tuning technology
•    Programmable presets for 8 radio stations
•    Remote control 

*Compatible with any iPod with dock connector (Excluding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation iPod)

“iLuv is very happy to present our first iPhone 3G Compatible Hi-Fi Dual Dock Alarm Clock,” said Robert Caputo iLuv Sales VP. “This truly is the latest technology for iPhone fanatics and we are proud to have passed all the Apple certification tests.”

For more information on product specifications as well as pricing and availability please visitwww.i-luv.com.

NetShare, the iPhone application that allows you to tether your iPhone or iPhone 3G to your computer with a simple button-press, went live in the AppStore yesterday. Then it disappeared. Now it’s back again. Whatever the reason for the mysterious disappearance, NetShare seems to be back online and ready to do your iPhone internet connection share bidding.

NetShare allows you to use your iPhone or iPhone 3G as a wireless modem for your computer. The application sets up a SOCKS5 proxy, which essentially allows your computer to tunnel through your iPhone’s data connection to access the web. Unfortunately, email clients and instant messaging programs won’t work through the iPhone tether. The SOCKS5 proxy is only good for serving up data to your computer’s web browser (Safari, Firefox, etc.).

Find NetShare here.

Radura Case Now Available for iPhone, iPod Touch, Nano(3G), and Classic

Los Angeles, CA – May 13th, 2008– Today, mStation/mophie announces the availability of the new Radura case for iPhone, iPod Touch, Nano(3G), and Classic.  The Radura’s clear polycarbonate design covers all scratchable surfaces on the iPod/iPhone, while conveniently freeing up all connectors, click wheel, and touch screen.  The end result is maximum protection without having to conceal the beautiful design of the iPhone/iPod.  The Radura is also compatible with the mophie Ratchet belt clip swivel and the mophie Run armband, allowing users to enjoy their media on-the-go.  The Radura for iPod Nano and Classic comes packaged with 3 silicone inserts(black, pink, and green) which act as shock absorbers and also glow in the dark for added visibility.

“With Radura, we’ve achieved a really great balance of, simple, clear design and strong protection” says Ross Howe, Sales and Product Development Director for mStation/mophie.  “Now, owners of all types of iPods and iPhones have a strong, sensible case that offers maximum protection, without sacrificing the unique aesthetics of Apple’s products”

The mophie Relo Radura is available now online and in stores at an MSRP of $20.  For more information on mStation or mophie, please visit www.mstation.com or www.mophie.com

mStation is consistently praised for its ability to create quality audio products with sleek, industrial design. mStation recently acquired mophie, an iPod accessory company with a wide array of award-winning cases.  Their products can be found in Apple Specialist Stores and major retailers across the country and in select retail outlets in both Canada and Mexico.

Quake 3 has been ported to work on the iTouch and iPhone. The game uses the accelerometer for character control and the touchscreen for shooting. You can even game using the WIFI connection and have a full on battle, hmm i can just imagine a bunch of iPhone users at StarBucks battling it out. No word on release date but you can see in the video that the graphics are pretty good.