Technetz.com | DIY Wireless

Solar Powered Battery Charger

joe — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:56:41 +0000

Solar powered battery charger has become a fast growing product. There are varieties of solar powered battery charger power supplies and is an ideal 5V to 12V power systems for various types of equipments from smaller devices such as headphone, calculator to the bigger applications such as Cars batteries. Moreover solar charging systems can be set up for 24 to 48 volt DC systems and can be used as a power supply when for the outdoor activity. The greatest thing about solar powered battery charger is that they are maintenance free and simple to use.

Using solar power battery charger is easy and environmentally friendly. The basic solar powered battery component is called solar cells which convert solar energy to electricity. When the solar plates are exposed to daylight, the solar powered battery charger than will converts the suns rays to DC voltage electricity. Then the DC electricity can be either be stored or immediately used as a power supply. Solar powered battery chargers have various power levels that can be adjusted to suit your condition.

Wifi Antenna Booster | Part 1

joe — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:47:03 +0000

Looking for wifi antenna booster? Here is my compilation of wifi antenna booster. I will update here if I found new links about wifi antenna booster.

Homebrew WiFi Antenna Shootout (cantenna) [Link]

Homebrew outdoor wifi antenna booster. [Link]

Vertical Collinear Omnidirectional Wifi Antenna Booster [Link]

Helix wifi antenna booster [Link]

Yagi wifi antenna booster [Link]

Helical wifi antenna booster [Link]

Parabolic wifi antenna booster[Link]

will be updated day by day.. if have a link suggestion, submit it under comment form.

Outdoor Wireless Antenna | Usb Compatible

joe — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:32:28 +0000

This outdoor wireless antenna is probably the best solution for those who seek for mobility of antenna. The outdoor wireless antenna from LDiO is actually a built in wireless USB adapter with a 12dBi gain external antennas. Powered by USB and use only 500mW of power this outdoor wireless antenna will extend or boost your wireless reception by 10X from the original signal, suitable for long range condition. The advantage of the LDiO outdoor antenna is because it is using usb 2.0 port as a connector, whereby you can use it with your laptop or netbooks and there is no need to attach it to the normal SMA Connector. It supports AP mode and the manufacturer claim that this outdoor wireless antenna can cover up to 1000m.

Full product description
High Power WLAN USB adapter CPE fully supports the features and functional compliance of IEEE 802.11b/g standard. The WLAN USB adapter provides competitive price, high power with good performance to PC & NB linked into wireless network world.

Features
* Long distance USB solution
* High Power up to 27dBm
* Increase your wireless coverage and high throughput
* Weather proof plastic housing
* Operating distance of up to 1000 meters
* Support Software AP mode
* USB 2.0 interface w/ 5M USB extended cable

Specification
Chip set: Realtek RTL8225
Standard: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g (Wi-Fi Compatible)
Frequency Band: 2.412GHz ~ 2.484GHz unlicensed ISM band
Data Rate:
-IEEE 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps
-IEEE 802.11g: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54Mbps
Output power: 25±2dBm (500 mw)
Power Consumption: Transmit:<600mA Receive:<400mA
Antenna: 12 dBi panel Antenna (RP-SMA)
Operating System: Windows98SE, ME, 2000, XP, SP2, Vista, MAC, Linux

Package Content:
USB CPE set w/ 5M cable
Driver/Manual CD
Stand
Hose Clamp

Operating System:
Win 98SE/ME/2000/XP/x64/Vista
Mac v10.3 and c10.4
Linux Kernel v2.6.6 and after (Support BackTrack 3)

You can get this outdoor wireless antenna here at amazon for here $69.99

Parabolic Wireless Antenna

joe — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:18:38 +0000

Parabolic wireless antenna is probably the simplest among wireless antennas to build. The result of parabolic wireless antenna is quite impressive whereby it can go boost up to 6dBi wireless signal. The most important thing is we don’t need to hack or modify our wireless router or USB wireless adapter in order to get the better signal. The cheapest method complete a parabolic wireless antenna is by using Aluminum foil. To get the maximum performance of your parabolic wireless antenna, you must know where the focal point is. My method to find the focal point is by using torch light. Once I wrap the template with the aluminum foil and bend it, I expose my parabolic wireless antenna to light and find where the concentrated light is is focused. I mark this as the focal point. See picture for the idea.

This is not the actual picture, but to give you the idea on how I find the focal point. You may need to increase the curve degree so the focal point is within the curve areas.

Since parabolic wireless antenna is the cheapest home made wireless antenna to make, you can try to experiment it with another material, for example using a brass, steel, copper or aluminum plate; but in my observation aluminum foil had done a great job. I will post my very own parabolic wireless antenna soon, right now I only can obtain the gain up to 6dBi and I’m trying to increase the gain as high as possible. Wish me luck! Picture below give me the rough idea on how do I make my parabolic wireless antenna.

Picture credit to [Freeantennas]

Wireless Antenna Booster | Wifi Antenna Booster

joe — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:47:08 +0000

A wireless antenna booster is a device that can pick up and enhanced your wireless reception. The wireless antenna booster are intended to get better reception. A wireless antenna booster can be attached to a wireless router, access point with coaxial cable. You can use the wireless antenna booster to a wireless card, which is normally for laptop or other portable devices that have PCI slot. In addition, wireless antenna booster also capable with some USB devices which have suitable SMA connector.

If you unable to obtain Internet signal in particular spaces of your residence using a wireless antenna booster can improve the situation. Connecting the wireless antenna booster to a repeater devices also a good practice. Using repeater could double the signal strength so you can achieve good signal. You may require targeting the wireless Internet booster antenna in the proper path to get highest signal potency.

The wireless antenna booster can broadcast signal through walls and obstacles. The signal tends to become weaker as the position are far away from the router, extreme temperatures also can interrupt the signal strength. Expert says that signal also become weaker because of obstacles, such as metal made furniture. However in since wireless signal are wave signal it is weather resistant and can withstand rain, snow or hurricanes.
If you need a tool to measure the wireless signal strength NetStumbler is the best choice if you are using Mac there is Mac version for it called MacStumbler.

Diy iPod Touch Dock

joe — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:03:30 +0000

My DIY iPod Touch Dock was inspired by lot of great diy iPod/iPhone docks out there. I am using Perspex and the original iPod accessories (the white color) that come with the iPod Touch box. The tool and materials you need is just basic equipments for cutting and assembling Perspex.

DIY iPod Touch dock in action

Tools you need

How to
Cut the Perspex according to your need. Mine is 4cm wide (because I want to tilt my iPod about 60 degree) 7cm long (same long as the *white iPod accessories), 3 cm height (front) and 7.5cm height back. Attach them together with Perspex glue and it will look like a chair or a seat and. Voila you are done!! Consider this is just for fun; if you really love your iPod Touch spend some money for cool iPod Touch Dock. I desperately need one haha. Tips- to cut a perspex you have to consider the thickness of the perspex also. My current dimension is including the perspex thickness.

If you need to tilt the iPod more than 60 degree just change the height(back) or adjust the width, for me 60 degree is the nicest number.

Wireless Antennas | Guidelines to increase wireless antennas performance

joe — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:45:00 +0000

Wireless antennas are the most important thing to consider when you want to build a reliable and good wireless infrastructure. There are lot of things to consider when choosing wireless antennas. Of course you should choose suitable wireless antennas based on your need for example for home, building or big area such as for your current residential. Below are some tips for choosing right wireless antennas and how to enhance the signal reception.

Relocate your router.

A lot of times, poor signal area or dead spots’ are related to metal or other resources in walls and any obstacles between the wireless router and where you want to get a wireless signal. Testing by moving the router around if you can, you might find better arrangements that will improve your signal strength.

Try directional wireless antennas

Routers come with Omni-directional wireless antennas to be able to shoot a signal in all directions. Look if you can discover a substitute antenna that is extra specialized for use in complicated signal situations.

Try a parabolic wireless antennas

Parabolic or dish wireless antennas increase signal strength by using a backboard that concentrates the signal, utilizing these devices can also increase your wireless signal. I recommend 2.4Ghz Square Grid Parabolic Antenna, 24DBI

Try a signal repeater

For a specific wireless range fix, search for a repeater on market by the same manufacturers that provide modems. The repeater has been described as similar to a router, and unfortunately, it seems that the producer aren’t making cheap, easy devices to string a signal together. a few store owners even suggest buying another router as a solution.

Try homemade wireless antennas. Sites like Instructables claim to have essential do-it- yourself solutions for obtaining your antenna extra powerful and boosting your signal strength. But without the proper apparatus, this alternative could be a failure.

Zune Setup | How to setup Zune

joe — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:21:21 +0000

Zune setup is easy since Microsoft already provide all necessary software and firmware upgrade for it. I collece zune setup video from youtube and compile it here so you guys can get all the information about the Zune setup. Credit goes to thoughsmedia for making this Zune setup video.

Zune setup: installing software

ZD YouTube FLV Player

Zune setup:Desktop Software Use, Music & Videos

ZD YouTube FLV Player

Zune setup:Desktop Software Use, Pictures & Podcasts

ZD YouTube FLV Player

Zune setup:Desktop Software Use, First Sync

ZD YouTube FLV Player

Sony HDR-CX500 Quick Review

joe — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:03:16 +0000

Sony introduced two HDR 500 series Handycam HDR-CX500V High Definition Handycam with 32 GB of built-in memory and the HDR-CX520V with 64 GB storage. It comes with Memory Stick-expandable slot if the built in is not enough for the occasional recording. Sony HDR-CX520 handycam has the cutting edge technology which offers a Highlight Playback function. Every footage that you take can be analyzed and edited such as create a highlight reel and adding a background soundtrack.

It has the latest face recognition technology, just touch a face on the LCD screen and the camcorder will save it in the memory. Sony HDR-CX500V and HDR-CX520V pre-installed with Navteq GPS software that will let user geo-tagging their video.

Sony HDR-CX500 Video test

ZD YouTube FLV Player

kidkraft pink retro kitchen 2 piece set 53116

joe — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:12:47 +0000

kidkraft pink retro kitchen 2 piece set 53116, kids can cook up feasts for the whole family. The young chefs in your life are sure to love this wooden kitchen’s bright colors and adorable details. The design and colors will remind mom and dad of their own childhoods. Also, this is large enough that multiple children can play at once.

kidkraft pink retro kitchen 2 piece set 53116 feature

* Refrigerator, freezer, oven and dishwasher all open and close
* Knobs on dishwasher, oven and sink turn
* Removable sink for easy cleanup
* Stove dimensions: 25.87 x 13.75 x 26.25 inches
* Fridge dimensions: 12.37 x 14 x 30.75 inches

Get it here: KidKraft Pink Retro Kitchen