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Using the Linksys SPA-3102 as a VOIP ATA

12 March 2009

In other blog entries I’ve been discussing a larger project of setting up a personal Voice over IP (VOIP) Asterisk server using the Linksys SPA-3102 VOIP gateway device.
An ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) allows one to use old fashioned phones on a voice over IP network, or you can just use IP phones. An ATA like [...]

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Getting around Comcast port 25 block

8 March 2009

Comcast started blocking outbound port 25 on my cable modem yesterday. I can understand why — it stops a lot of infected machines from spamming the world. But it also broke the ability of my security webcam from sending me pictures to my server whenever it detects movement, and the cam firmware has no option [...]

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BCBSDE website stupidity

8 March 2009

In this morning’s News-Journal  paper I see an advertisement for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware’s website where it lists all the wonderful things you can do on it, like order a replacement ID card. 
When reading this, I had to let out a little chortle because last Sunday my wife and I were looking all [...]

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Banned for life from Pathmark

22 February 2009

Sometimes I’m amazed at some of the stupid things businesses do to drive away customers.  Here’s one for you, I’ve been banned for life from Pathmark, which happened back in 1972.  Pathmark is a regional grocery store chain, with a few stores in northern Delaware as well as up around the New York City area.
It [...]

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SMS short codes and the evil that is M-cube

21 February 2009

This post is to document frustrations I had removing a monthly charge from M-cube to my wife’s cell phone for $9.99 a month from the SMS short code of 44999. 
Now most sane people would just contact their cell phone provider and complain right away, but I’d figure I’d just do it the way you are [...]

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25 Random Things About Me

5 February 2009

Often on social networking sites people try to create a viral message that says something silly, like you have to copy it and spread it to n number of your friends for good luck, etc, etc.  Well I got hit by one that says you need to write down 25 random things about yourself, tag [...]

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Importing a mirrored disk pair into new Windows 2003 Server

2 February 2009

At home I run a Windows 2003 R2 Server configured for Active Directory and file service for my couple of computers in the house. Way overkill but I originally did it for the learning experience and now maintain it so I don’t lose touch. Since I’m in management now, I don’t do much “real work” [...]

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Did Obama break 1981 Reagan record for inauguration?

22 January 2009

Straight from the mouths of the old, dying media comes word that — wait for it — Obama did not break 1981 Reagan Nielsen record for inauguration.
Wow, you don’t say. Now run around to some friends and ask them if they watched the inauguration, and if so, how.  Most — and I mean just about [...]

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Personal VOIP/PBX using Asterisk, part 2

19 January 2009

This is part two of my series on how to set up an asterisk server for home use on a Linode VPS — but is applicable to any host that doesn’t have additional hardware telephony devices installed in the server. Please refer to Part 1 for how to set up the dummy timing module.
Also, before [...]

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IP Telephony Codecs

17 January 2009

My first stumbling block when installing and trying to get Asterisk PBX working were the codecs and mismatching. If both ends of a connection can’t negotiate the same codec, the call won’t complete.
I grabbed the recommended asterisk config for gizmo5 and when attempting to place a call to my gizmo call-in number which should have [...]

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My Wife opens up her shop in Second Life

15 January 2009

My wife’s been into Second Life quite a lot lately. In fact, her avatar now has it’s own website: www.ellcee-tabak.com.   She sews a lot of neat clothes and costumes in real life, and amazingly was able to transfer that skill into the virtual world, and has opened up a store to sell her own [...]

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