I would like to start off with ADSL sucks and Cable is the way to go. It is retarded to authenticate and use a telephone line to start a connection as that is so 56K era. ADSL connection disconnect you more than cable. ADSL modem has full of settings that requires you to set in order for it to work normally, with cable, just plug the cable into your modem and you are ready to use the Internet. How easy can that get?

Yesterday, I went to the my mom office to solve a very peculiar Internet problem. My mom is using Singnet Business Internet which is like SGD$100 per month for a 512K downstream and a 256K upstream for more than a year before this problem occurs.

The problem happen like 2 weeks ago where my mom is unable to use the Internet before 2pm (roughly) but after 2pm, she can use it without any problem. This problem occurs every day for the past 2 weeks.

The Singnet people came at least 4 times to solve this but for the first 3 time, they are unable to find out why. The 4th time, the technician came and he suspect it is our router problem.

We are using the 2wire 2700HGV-2 (Singtel’s MioBox) and Linksys WRT54G. So as you can see there are 2 routers as the 2700HGV-2 itself is also a router. Previously I set up wrongly for my mom and this wrong setup works for more than a year and only start giving problems 2 weeks ago.

The thing I did wrong is creating 2 routings. My 2700HGV-2 will initiate a PPoE connection and connect to the Internet and my WRT54G will also initiate a PPoE connection using the 2700HGV-2 and connect to the Internet. And hence I got 2 external IPs for the 2 PPoE connections, 1 each for the router.

According to some Google searches I made, 2 routings will cause a major lag and slowdown to the network. This problem did not happen a year ago as my mom’s workplace is new and my mom is the first few tenants there and recently it seems that the whole building is fully occupied and morning seems to to be the peak period and hence a lot of people is using the Internet. There is no cable point installed, so the tenants can either be using Singtel’s Singnet or Starhub’s ADSL.

After figuring out this, I went to disable all the shit in 2700HGV-2 making it into a pure ADSL modem and bridge it using my WRT54G. I managed to bridge it using only just my WRT54G to initiate a PPoE connection. My WRT54G managed to get the external IP, gateway, DNS and MTU and it seems everything is working perfect, but it is not! I can’t surf the Internet or ping out at all. And I have no idea why this is happening. I asked FRRO’s Michael for help and he told me it is weird and recommend me in worst case scenario, get a ADSL modem plus a router. I know that the 2700HGV-2 has a inbuilt wireless and 4-port wired router function but it lacks A LOT of features that the WRT54G has like the DDNS service which my mom need the most.

I heed Michael’s advice and went down to Funan to get the Linksys WAG200G, for SGD$99, it is basically a WRT54G with ADSL modem inside.

Went back to replace both the 2700HGV-2 and WRT54G with only WAG200G and BINGO, everything is perfectly working alright (just got feedback from my mom this afternoon).

Why can’t just Singnet give us the bloody ADSL modem with no shit inside just like Starhub’s Cable modem and it would make the solution easier.

Last but not least, I would like to add that my WRT54G is version 7 and I can’t flash it to DD-WRT. How unlucky!

SINGAPORE, 4 August 2008 – Singaporeans will now be able to cruise the information superhighway with a new fixed broadband service operated by M1.

Offering a mobile broadband service since 2006, M1 will become a full fledged broadband player when it introduces M1 Fixed Broadband from tomorrow.

M1 Fixed Broadband is available to all homes with cable access points or which are cable ready. The service is capable of achieving download speeds of up to 100 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 2 Mbps.

“M1 is repositioning itself for the future as it develops new businesses anchored on our core competencies. The launch of M1 Fixed Broadband is an important step in our planned transformation from a single-play mobile operator to a dynamic multi-play operator with interests in both the mobile and fixed sectors. The proliferation of the Internet and the increasing demand for Internet bandwidth also make this an opportune entry into the fixed broadband market,” said Neil Montefiore, Chief Executive Officer of M1.

M1 will launch its fixed broadband service with four unlimited data plans based on varying Internet access speeds. Providing customers faster speeds for less, the monthly subscription fee starts from as low as $40.60 for existing M1 customers*. Customers will also be offered a plug-and-play cable modem as part of the launch promotion when they sign up for the service.

Promotional Price

• 10 Mbps $43.50/month
• 15 Mbps $58.50/month
• 30 Mbps $73.50/month
• 100 Mbps $88.50/month

Promotional Price for existing M1 customers

• 10 Mbps $40.60/month
• 15 Mbps $50.70/month
• 30 Mbps $63.70/month
• 100 Mbps $76.70/month

Usual Price

• 10 Mbps $58/month
• 15 Mbps $78/month
• 30 Mbps $98/month
• 100 Mbps $118/month

Those who wish to sign up for the M1 Fixed Broadband service can call at any M1 shop or visit www.m1.com.sg/broadband for more information.

* Existing M1 customers eligible for the additional discounts refers to existing postpaid customers on selected M1 Mobile Plans and Mobile Broadband plans

Source: Hardware Zone Forums

July 2008 Total Traffic

• Total Hits: 9,569,791
• Total Files: 8,590,686
• Total Pages: 765,670
• Total Visits: 166,191
• Total KBytes: 32,030,828
• Total Unique Sites: 111,190
• Total Unique URLs: 16,067
• Total Unique Referrers: 19,085
• Total Unique User Agents: 5,377

July 2008 Daily Traffic

• Hits per Day: Average: 308,702 – Max: 545,879
• Files per Day: Average: 277,118 – Max: 372,059
• Pages per Day: Average: 24,699 – Max: 30,123
• Visits per Day: Average: 5,361 – Max: 6,741
• KBytes per Day: Average: 1,033,253 – Max: 1,329,666

Note: Green denotes increase and Red denotes decrease when compared with June 2008.

Previous month site traffic: June 2008

I will be taking the following modules for my 3rd year, first semester:

CS3251 – Technology Strategy and Management (4 MCs) [1 PT]
CS3361 – Service Science (4 MCs) [1 PT]
CS4254 – IS Project Management (4 MCs) [999 PTs]
CS4251 – Strategic IS Planning (4 MCs) [1,000 PTs]

Module Code – Module Name (Module Credits) [Points Bidded]

Time for me to rant about NUS or in particular School of Computing (SoC) in NUS. I seriously think whoever plan those modules in SoC deserved a knock his head on the wall.

Direct Honors is NOT a new thing and I think as of 2 or 3 years ago, students entering NUS will have to go for compulsory 4 years course (Direct Honors) instead of 3 years (Bachelor). SoC did NOTHING to anticipate the increase of students taking level 4000 modules. They asked us to do a survey on what modules are we taking next year during the last semester and I think this survey is pretty much USELESS.

Imagine there are only 50 places for almost all level 4000 modules in Information System (IS) course and 100 students are fighting for the 50 places. As you can see from above, I spend 1,999 points just to bid 2 level 4000 modules, and every semester I am only given 800 to bid ALL my core modules. I must at least accumulate 3 semesters before I even can reach 2,000 points.

I wanted to take another level 4000 module, CS4266 (IT and Customer Relationship Management) but I do not have another 1,000 points to bid for it. End up I have to forgo it and take CS3361 instead.

I can’t appeal as I still got non-core modules not yet taken and I will only be graduating in December 2009 and hence I still got another semester 1 to go.

I doubt I got enough points to bid for level 4000 modules next semester as I need to take 3 level 4000 modules. But next semester I am able to appeal as it will be my LAST semester 2.

I also want to add that not all level 4000 modules are offered every semester as it takes 1 semester for the lecturer to prepare the exams paper. That I fully understand, but the thing I don’t understand that why must they limit the places to 50 instead of 100! If they cater for 100 people, this problem will be solved.

Before I went to KL, I received an email from Felicia and an SMS from Supriya saying I won a contest that I took part with Text 100 at the Nokia Connection 2008. As Nokia Connection 2008 saw the launched of Nokia E71 and E66, the first thing that comes to my mind is that I might have just won either of the mobile phones. Few minutes later, Felicia sent me the 2nd email and told me that I won SGD$300 Takashimaya Vouchers. I was like WOW.

I have not won anything since my polytechnic graduation dinner and dance draw which I only won a SGD$50 Converse voucher. This is the biggest prize I have won so far, but nevertheless, I still don’t believe in lucky draws or contests =p

I would like to thank Felicia, Supriya and Liyi (in no particular order) from Text 100, Nokia Communication Team for the prize. Thank You!

I am going to get myself a leather shoes and perhaps get one for my brother as well.

SGD$300 Takashimaya Vouchers

Today, went down to Bugis’s Singtel Hello! store to get a Nokia N78 as my grandfather line contract has expired and Singtel has kindly sent a voucher to my grandfather. I can choose to get the Nokia N78 with a SGD$100 discount or any Nokia 3G/3.5G phones with a SGD$30 discount. Wanted to get the Nokia E71 but it is quite expensive (SGD$400+) after the SGD$30 discount. End up getting the Nokia N78 for SGD$298 (after SGD$100 discount).

My mom told my grandfather that I wanted the phone and hence she traded with him the older Nokia 7610. If not my grandfather will either bring the phone to China and sell or give it to some China man (no idea whether he got tricked or cheated into doing those).

Anyway, I will keep the Nokia N78 in the meantime and once my dad is back I can passed it to him to use and hence his old Nokia N73 will become a spare phone.

Nokia N78

My M1 line will expire on 24th August 2008 and after that, I will definitely switch to Singtel as M1 can’t be bothered to retain their customers and hence I can’t be bothered to stay with them.