Wattson’s transmitter batteries need charging, hence zero Watts!
It’s not that I’ve installed my own wind turbine or solar panels, and getting free electricity.
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Wattson’s zero Watts!
Sunday, May 10th, 2009RSS Feed Broke, but now fixed!
Sunday, May 10th, 2009I don’t know how long it’s been broke! I’ve just noticed, because I’ve wondered why my last RSS post downloaded from this blog was on the 22 April 2009! A blank line got in the way of the feed data! (whoops!). Fixed and validated again! In future, I’ll validate after I make any changes!
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Warning Frost Alert!!!
Saturday, May 9th, 2009and because Jack Frost is coming to visit this evening (so says the weather forecast), I thought I better wrap up the potatoes, Blue-berry and goji-berry bushes. The problems with late frosts this time of year, is it damages the flowers on the Blue-berry bushes, and no flowers, no berries! It’s the moisture in the air around the plants that causes the problem when the temperature drops, and frost appears, so if you cover up the plants before darkness falls, this traps in the warm air – well that’s the theory!
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- Frost Protection Fleece covering potatoes
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- Frost Protection Fleece covering blue-berrys
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- Frost Protection Fleece covering goji-berrys
Potatoe Farm update – Earthing-up
Saturday, May 9th, 2009My potatoe farm has been romping away, I’m surprised that all the 48 tubers from Unwins have sprouted, except one, despite them looking rubbish before they were planted. Time to earth them up again…(I’ve also heard on the weather forecast, we are getting a frost tonight, so want to protect the delicate chutes).
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- Before earthing up picture 1
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- Before earthing up picture 2
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- Before earthing up picture 3
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- Before earthing up picture 4
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- After earthing up picture 1
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- After earthing up picture 2
Windows 7 Release Candidate
Thursday, May 7th, 2009Well here is its, Windows 7 Release Candidate, the final version of Windows 7 which may be released in August 2009.
Windows 7 x64 edition
I’ve just taken some time out to download the 3GB download, and install this 64-bit Release Candidate to have a look.
I’m still a fan of Windows 2000 Professional, although a bit old these days, and have resisted the temptation to move/upgrade to Vista, apart from on my gaming rig because I needed DirectX 10 for the games.
Windows 7 x64 Edition Scene Theme
Quite a few other colourful themes as well. For oldies like me that like the “classic theme”, the Windows Classic Theme is still present! After 10 minutes of fiddling, here’s my desktop!
Windows 7 x64 Classic Theme
Would I upgrade, not at present. But Nice picture of a Male Siamese Fighter though!
Cheap Growbags
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009I purchased ten Bulrush Growbags from Somerfields today, cheap at £1.29 each, well cheaper than my local garden centre. I was going to have them delivered and save my back and car, but free delivery was only available over £25, and I would have to have purchased another ten!
Ten Bulrush Growbags
I’ve never heard of Bulrush growbags, but these are for my tomatoes when I put them out at the end of the month.
Unlocking a 3 USB Modem (Huawei E220)
Monday, May 4th, 2009I purchased two Pay As You Go 3 USB Modems a few months ago from Sainsbury’s reduced from £49.99 to £12! I thought they would come in handy if I needed to go mobile with my notebook. My Orange High-speed circuit-switched data (HSCSD) data card is a little slow these days. I can surf the internet with a speed of 14.4kbit/s or if I use two time slots (bonded) can achieve a blistering speed of 28.8kbit/s, this is over the GSM network.
3 USB Modem Huawei E220 `
The 3 (http//www.three.co.uk) USB Modem is manufactured by Huawei. The model number I’ve purchased is the Huawei E220 HSDPA USB Modem. This model is often called the ‘pebble’, because it resembles a pebble, and is a small ‘dongle’ type device which connects to your computer using a USB cable. Some folk may be put off by this model in favour of the newer “chewing-gum type sticks” modems available.
The issue I have is that 3’s Pay As You Go data tariff involves “topping up” with £10, but this does not roll over to the next month, if a portion remains unused, you need to top-up again. For £10 you are given a data allowance of 1GB. I don’t find this suitable for my use, I’m only going to use this device . occasionally. A much better tariff for me is the ASDA Mobile Pay As You Go Tariff, Calls – 8p per minute, Texts – 4p per text, Data – 20p per 1MB. ASDA mobile phone tariffs are a steal. But unfortunately, you cannot just use an ASDA SIM Card in a mobile phone which is locked to the other vendors network! I tried the ASDA SIM Card in the 3 USB Modem, and although it recognises the PIN number, it states “invalid SIM”. This is because the 3 USB Modem is SIM Locked to the 3 Network.
Luckily there are software programs that can over-ride this lock. I’ve used the following procedure to over-ride the lock in a 3 USB Modem (Huawei E220) and replace the 3 SIM Card with an ASDA SIM Card. Your mileage may vary, and I will not be held responsible if this procedure fails, and turns your 3 USB Modem into a brick (breaks it!).
- Remove SIM Card from USB Modem.
- Connect USB Modem to computer.
- Download DC-Unlocker Client v1.00.0267 from authors-site or here.
- Install the above software on your computer where you have installed the 3 USB Modem.
- Start the DC-Unlocker Client on your computer.
- Click Buy Credits. You’ll need to register with the DC-Unlocker website, and purchase 15 credits. (15 Euros) to unlock the E220.
- Input your username and password into the DC-Unlocker Client, it should verify your details and confirm your credits.
- Do not change any other settings. Make sure select manufacturers – Huawei datacards is selected, and select model is set to automatic.
- Click the Magnifying glass.
- With no SIM card installed the following will appear
DC – Unlocker 2 Client 1.00.0267
Detecting card :
selection :
manufacturer – Huawei datacards
model – Huawei E220
application port – COM4
diagnostic port – COM5
Found modem : E220
Model : Huawei E220
IMEI : 35xxxxxxxxxxxx8
Firmware : 11.117.09.01.156
Dashboard version : HOST01.11.118.01.19.156_MAC11.201.05.00.156
Serial NR. : Exxxxxxxxxxxxxx6
SIM Lock status : Locked (Card Lock)
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Click Unlocking, Unlock
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The following output will confirm lock staus
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Unlocking, please wait …
Card successfully unlocked ! -
Credits left : 0
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Click the Magnify glass again, the following will appear
DC – Unlocker 2 Client 1.00.0267
Detecting card :
selection :
manufacturer – Huawei datacards
model – Huawei E220
application port – COM4
diagnostic port – COM5
Found modem : E220
Model : Huawei E220
IMEI : 3xxxxxxxxxxxxx8
Firmware : 11.117.09.01.156
Dashboard version : HOST01.11.118.01.19.156_MAC11.201.05.00.156
Serial NR. : Exxxxxxxxxxxxxx6
SIM Lock status : unlocked
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The USB Modem is unlocked.
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Exit DC-Unlocker.
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Remove USB modem from computer.
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DC-Unlocker client works for me with the above firmware.
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If you re-insert your 3 SIM Card and connect to computer, the 3 software should still function.
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To use another SIM to connect to internet requires the Uninstallation of the 3 software and the installation of generic Mobile Partner Software from here.
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Install the Mobile Partner Software from above.
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After installation, and only after a successful installation connect the USB Modem.
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Plug ‘N’ Pray should install new drivers for the USB Modem.
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Start Mobile Partner and create a new Profile for ASDA, ASDA uses the Vodafone network, but doesn’t use the Vodafone APN!
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Open Mobile Partner application, choose Tools – Options – Profile Management – Click New
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Create a new profile. e.g. ASDA or Vodafone
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Select APN – Static – APN name is asdamobiles.co.uk
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Authentication – Access number – *99#
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username and password – web/web.
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You could create a Three Profile, details are APN – APN
3internet. Username and password – leave blank. -
Hopefully you be able to click connect and use the Internet via ASDA mobile network.
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I think the generic version of Mobile Partner is a much better application than the “noddy” 3 USB Modem application.
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The above procedure may work with different providers.
Petrol Leak Fixed!
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009The pipe from the fuel tank to the fuel filter had come away because the clip had failed, and when the petrol switch was open, caused petrol to drip very slowly onto the floor of the generator shed. All fixed. Test started the generator for 30 minutes to check, the generator still worked!
Petrol Leak!
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009Lindsey noticed a strong smell of petrol today near the generator shed (generator is used to power the fish house, when there’s a power outage) which I ignored!, I’ve just investigated because it is rather strong and it would appear a pipe has split and petrol has been leaking from the petrol tank! I’ve left the generator shed door open for the fumes to escape overnight, and I moved the fire-extinguisher from the kitchen into the porch!
Top of the to-do list tomorrow morning in day light me thinks!
Note to self: Pay attention to what Lindsey tells me! It’s often correct!!
Tweaking the blog!
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009Sorry nerdy alert, boring stuff!!!!
just been tweaking the blog….I’ve been tweaking the blog to log php errors, increasing the memory for php scripts, to try and get rid of the errors which are occuring still!
so, I’ve modified the following things, and it seems a good place to note them here for later…
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
define(‘AUTOSAVE_INTERVAL’, 10 ); // seconds
@ini_set(‘log_errors’,’On’);
@ini_set(‘display_errors’,’Off’);
@ini_set(‘error_log’,’/home/example.com/logs/php_error.log’);
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