Love this!  The video is 2:18 and titled how to use iPlayer on Freesat.  it spends 2:00 discussing how to set it up and 18 seconds on using it.  Love it.  Oh, yes – and from BBC so of course there are no brand names for that Humax set top box or Powerline devices!  Brilliant stuff.

Which Networking Technology Is Right For Your Home? : The Connection Less Traveled – Review Tom’s Hardware.

Another MoCA review is in the books, this time by Tom’s Hardware and the conclusions versus Wireless and Powerline are what everyone has come to expect:

For those who can’t string Gigabit Ethernet, MoCA is clearly the only choice when high performance is needed.

Tom’s Hardware puts MoCA through a number of tests, but where MoCA really shines is in whole home network performance as seen in the chart above.  When there are multiple video streams through the house, MoCA performance is almost double what Powerline and Wireless-N have to offer.  That means better HD streaming from Netflix, Xbox, TiVO, VUDU, DLNA or whatever movie services happen to be watched in your home.

Read the full review here.

We have previously examined the types of smart meters that are available i.e. electricity, water and gas. The next question to examine is how this vast new pool of data can be managed by a utility or indeed by an organisation that has installed smart meters on their premises themselves.

The Information Systems used to manage smart meters are typically referred to as Meter Data Management Systems (MDMS) . MDMS capture data from multiple metering systems and can then supply that data to the other Information Systems within the organisation for purposes such as billing, maintenance, forecasting and customer service. Like Enterprise Systems, MDMS have a central database that stores all customer, meter and reading data. The different Information Systems that require this data can interact with the MDMS using an Application Programming Interface (API). Alternatively, the data can be pushed from the MDMS using data export functionality.

It would be impossible for organisations and utilities to reap the cost and consumption saving benefits that an energy management strategy enabled by smart meters would provide without using an MDMS.  MDMS can manage outages by recording start and restore times and organise outage events by meter, grid or customer. MDMS can provide fault management functionality and notify other Information Systems such as Outage Management Systems of alerts. The pool of data provide by an MDMS can be combined with other data such as weather information to predict how a grid might perform under extreme weather conditions and can serve as a basis for developing distribution planning and reliability strategies. And, of course, as smart meters provide data of energy consumption the data captured by MDMS ultimately is used to measure revenues for the utility.

MDMS are a key component of what are referred to as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems.  AMI refers to the entire chain of technologies that enable the smart grid. These include not only the MDMS but also the smart meter equipment and the communications used to relay the data readings to the MDMS. AMI gives the utility company control over all aspects of the smart grid.

Vertoda can act as an MDMS as it provides device organisation, fault management and Business Intelligence capabilities to capture data from smart meters and transform that data into meaningful information that the utility organisations can use for business decision making. This information is then available for the ERP, Business Intelligence and other Information Systems of the organisation. Furthermore, given that Vertoda can manage devices such as RFID, Wireless Sensors and GPS in addition to smart meters our system can act as comprehensive middleware to manage all the devices used to enable smart infrastructure.

There are a number of issues which must be considered in relation to smart meters and the smart grid. We have previously noted that the security of smart meters is a problem as the vast majority of devices do not encrypt or digitally sign the data they generate. The possible solutions for smart meter security would be to encrypt or sign the data at the device level or to transfer the data through a secure communications link. This is a vital issue as without security there is nothing to prevent consumers being maliciously disconnected or having their consumption data hacked and modified.

A related concern is that of privacy. Some claim that meters record readings so often that power flows can be interpreted to reveal consumption behaviour and even use of individual appliances. Some even fear that consumers will in the future be cited for excessive use of resources through the monitoring of their smart meter. Many US states such as the Colorado Public Utilities Commission have initiated inquiries into the privacy implications of the use of smart meters. The Dutch parliament recently rejected a bill that would have compelled all citizens to have a smart meter installed in their home. In Britain, The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) says that there is theoretically scope for using the smart metering communications infrastructure to enable a variety of other services such as the monitoring of vulnerable householders by health authorities or social services departments.

The invasiveness of technology is always a concern and is not confined to smart metering. Finding a solution that would alleviate concerns will be difficult to achieve. However, one step in the right direction would be to encrypt the data in transit and secure the raw consumption data in the database it is stored in so that the ‘public’ view of the information is the billing information generated using this raw data. Vertoda can offer a solution to secure the smart meter data both in transit and in storage.

We have alluded above to the transmission of smart meter data. This is another difficulty for smart meter users as currently there is a lack of standardisation in data transmission. One mechanism by which data transmission can take place is by using mobile network systems such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) using SMS/text message, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) , CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or 3G (Third Generation). Of course, this assumes that the smart meter is in a ‘good cell area’ and is subject to vulnerabilities in the mobile transmission of unencrypted data. Radio transmission in a licensed or unlicensed band is another possibility but has wireless security issues. With RF Mesh (the RF stands for radio frequency), each smart meter essentially acts as a router and forwards the data to an Access Point or hub which will then send the data to a utility using a mobile network or land line. The other alternative is to configure the smart meter to communicate with a radio tower which will in turn forward the data to the utility’s IT systems.

Power line transmission is another option. Broadband over powerline, also known as power line networking, enables Internet connections with the home through existing electricity transmission and distribution lines. A power line modem has recently being developed by On Semiconductor (http://www.onsemi.com) for this purpose. For the utility company, the most logical option would seem to be the transfer of data from the smart meter through the power line as the infrastructure is already in place and it would be a standard mechanism for transferring data. The lack of a standard mechanism by meter vendors for data transfer is a challenge for utilities as otherwise they have to capture data from diverse mobile and radio systems, a functionality that can be provided by Vertoda.

The development of data transmission standards is still evolving. The Spanish utility, Iberdola (http://www.iberdola.es), has initiated the PRIME project to develop an open standard for powerline communication. Echelon (http://www.echelon.com) have developed a similar standard. Power line transmission and the use of mobile networks appears to be more popular in Europe than the US where RF Mesh and tower-based smart meter communications appear to be more prevalent.

Similarly there’s a lack of standardisation in terms of access points. Access Points can communicate using radio, mobile or power line communications. Some smart meter vendors offer data concentrators which forward data to the utility through an IP network.

Within the home, communication will also take place between the smart meter and the consuming appliances. Zigbee started to gain traction in smart meter to appliance communication in 2007 and has been adopted by many smart meter vendors. WIFI and WIMAX are other possiblities for wireless communication within the home but Zigbee appears to be the most likely standard given its adoption by so many leading vendors.

Unsurprisingly, there are many vendors of smart meters including EnergyICT (http://www.energyict.com), Iskraemeco (http://www.iskraemeco.co.uk), Echelon (http://www.echelon.com), GE (http://www.ge.com) and Landis & Gyr (http://www.landisandgyr.com). Most of the leading software companies have strategies in place for the smart grid. Google has developed their own power meter, SAP and Oracle offer solutions in this area and Microsoft and IBM have ‘green’ strategies in place that take the smart grid into account. The value proposition offered by Vertoda in the smart meter arena is one of data and security management. Vertoda can both acts as middleware and provide the security framework required for encrypting both data in transit and in storage.

“It’s really popular right now.”

“It is?”

“Yeah. My daughter loves the tune. I think it’s a theme song for some TV show she watches. She says young people really identify with the message.”

“Hmm. This might explain why the group is so popular again, after all these years.”

It became a must-learn song for our band.

But it presented a huge challenge. We had to find someone who could sing it with the energy and power of the original vocalist. That took one year. Most groups would just drop the tune and pick an easier one that could be sung by a current member of the band.

But this is not just any tune and we have no plans to be just any band.

Nearly thirty years ago, the composers had no idea the impact it would have. Even the record company didn’t think it should be released as a single – at least not the first single from the album – because they didn’t think it had enough mass appeal.

Released in 1981, it reached #8 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, and #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was never a #1 one hit.

Today, the song has appeared in a number of film and television series, including The Wedding Singer, Family Guy, Monster, Shrek the Halls, Bedtime Stories, Yes Dear, King of the Hill, The Comebacks, View from the Top, South Park, Cold Case, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, My Name Is Earl, Just Shoot Me, Laguna Beach, American Idol, Australian Idol, X Factor, Scrubs, The Sopranos, and Glee. It gained national press for its use in the final scene of HBO’s The Sopranos from the series finale “Made in America.” It’s even been used in a Presidential campaign. It is now considered the signature song for the group that recorded it.

One of the song’s writers is easily the best-known rock vocalist of all time. The other writers were the keyboardist, Jonathan Cain and the lead guitarist, Neal Schon. When the singer decided to move on, the band went through lead singers for ten years searching for one that could handle the lead vocals without losing their voice. Today, the band’s music is so popular that there are over 60 “tribute” bands performing it world-wide.

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, featuring the unmistakable voice of Steve Perry, has made its mark as one of the most memorable songs in popular music’s history. It has one of the broadest demographic appeals of any song in my lifetime – and I’m no “spring chicken.”

Here’s a two part interview from July, 2009, with Perry about the tune by Canada’s CBC Radio One host, Jian Gomeshi. Enjoy the slide show while listeneing.

A few days ago, I set up two microphones in the rehearsal room to record us reviewing nine tunes, one of which was “Don’t Stop Believin’.” This is a “live” recording – no individual tracks, no “do-overs.” Although we still have some areas that need improvement, I feel we’ve captured the essence of the song. And yes, for those reading who might be musicians, we perform all of our songs in their original keys.

Steve Perry and Journey raised the bar for rock music in the ‘80s and their music continues to influence rock today. They make those of us “covering” their songs, better vocalists and instrumentalists. When I sent an e-mail of our version to one of my relatives who used to play hard rock in the ’80s, he said, speaking of our lead singer, “Man, that guy has a great voice!” and later in the e-mail he said, “…you totally nailed the keyboards…”

“Totally nailing” keyboard parts is what I do, dude.

Sincerely,

www.MichaelKontras.com

Daisy Powerline 693 air pistol

Bam, bam, bam…15 times! The Daisy Powerline 693 sends 15 BBs downrange as fast as your finger can work the trigger. This CO2 pistol has awesome looks and power, with a max velocity of 400 fps. (Never shoot BBs at metal objects!) A nickel finish against the black polymer frame and grips gives this semi-auto gun a very realistic look. Checkering on the grips gives you a good grasp when the action is hot and the gun is pumping. Load 15 BBs in the drop-in clip, insert a CO2 cartridge and you’re ready to go! The Powerline 693 is ideal for plinking, target practice and hours of fun. Everyone can shoot it, ’cause it’s ambidextrous…. Click the AMMO link to stock up on BBs. Check the ACCESSORIES link for CO2 cartridges, targets, maintenance items and safety gear…. Semi-auto 15-shot CO2 BB gun, ambidextrous, realistic…

Reviews from Customers

“best ever”
this gun is awesome its very accurate even though the sights aren’t that good. i shot my friends that was 60$ and it was way inaccurate.

pros:tons of shots, almost no recoil(bad?), super safe, a rail for a laser,

shiny metal looks great

cons:a long and hard trigger pull (you get used to it)fake looking plastic

pretty loud first 1-2 clips, bad sights, leaks a little co2 over time

“Excellent CO2 pistol”
I’ve had this gun for over a year now and I have to say that I am quite satisfied with it. It shoots at least 400 FPS and is very accurate. I lined up some unopened beer cans in the woods and shot them with this gun. I was about 30-40 feet away, and the BB would usually go all the way through the can and out the other side, causing the full beer can to explode.

I believe this gun is modeled after a Smith & Wesson second-generation 9mm. The magazine holds fifteen .177 cal BBs. I use Copperhead CO2 cartriges and they work fine. It is also a very durable product; one time I dropped it on concrete and it wasn’t damaged at all (with the exception of some minor scratches on the plastic part).

Overall this is an excellent product and I recommend it to anyone who wants an accurate, powerful and affordable gas gun.

“Powerline 693 air pistol”
all and all this is a nice little pistol it comes with 3 12gram co2 cartridges and a 350 count tube of bbs.its pretty powerful it’ll shoot through an unopened can of soda with the first couple of shots from a fresh cartridge,you can reload the clip atleast 5 times before a cardridge starts to get weak.theres only one down side the site set up is a little bulky and hard to use other then that its great.its also got a grip safety that wont use anything from the cartridge unless you hold it tight enough to press it in and its got a flip safety aswell.its got a maximum shot distence of 235 yards or so it and a maximum velocity of 449 feet per second or so it says.so if your just lookin for somethin you can use just for target practice this would be a good choice

See all detials of Daisy Powerline 693 air pistol

So Obama botched a bow, beclowning himself before the Japanese emperor.

Ace was the first place I saw this (he’s got video, too), and I got into it in the comments.  Me, I see a newby who is trying to do the culturally aware thing but royally screwing it up.  But, others took the position that US Presidents, Olympian Heroes that they are, never bow before monarchs.  But in Japan, bowing is similar to shaking hands; it doesn’t have the same meaning as bowing to a monarch does in the West, so I am less than outraged; maybe, bemused?  (Enough buts yet?)

Then the 1994 NYT article comes out about Clinton slumping – but not bowing! – to the emperor, and I think my goose is cooked.

It wasn’t a bow, exactly. But Mr. Clinton came close. He inclined his head and shoulders forward, he pressed his hands together. It lasted no longer than a snapshot, but the image on the South Lawn was indelible: an obsequent President, and the Emperor of Japan.

…

“It was not a bow-bow, if you know what I mean,” said Ambassador Molly Raiser, the chief of protocol.

I bowed my head in shame and submitted to the slings and arrows of outrageous Ace of Spades morons.  But then, Instapundit chimes in with another take, this time linking to a HotAir story which linked an ABC story linking a photo of Nixon bowing to the emperor.  So, fine, now I think I was right in the first place, BUT I should have said what this guy at ABC said:

“This picture shows two things,” my friend writes.

“1) The ‘right’ is wrong about Obama’s bow.

“2) The ‘left’ is wrong about Obama’s bow.

“His bow is neither (1) unprecedented nor (2) a sign of cultural understanding.

“At their 1971 meeting in Alaska, the first visit of a Japanese Emperor to America, President Nixon bowed and referred to Emperor Hirohito and his wife repeatedly as ‘Your Imperial Majesties.’”

(See that picture HERE.)

“Yet, (and?) Nixon gets the bow right. Slight arch from the waist hands at his side.

“Obama’s handshake/forward lurch was so jarring and inappropriate it recalls Bush’s back-rub of Merkel.

“Kyodo News is running his appropriate and reciprocated nod and shake with the Empress, certainly to show the president as dignified, and not in the form of a first year English teacher trying to impress with Karate Kid-level knowledge of Japanese customs.

“The bow as he performed did not just display weakness in Red State terms, but evoked weakness in Japanese terms….The last thing the Japanese want or need is a weak looking American president and, again, in all ways, he unintentionally played that part.

Yes, exactly.

And for good measure, Powerline and Mad Minerva both weighed in on this.

No, I’m not adding a ‘Miss Manners’ category.

Oh, go on!

Wow, this is a crazy job.

TECNOLOGIA POWERLINE

POR EDY(INTELAF, S.A.)

Powerline es una tecnología “sin nuevos cables” que representa una alternativa rápida y económica a las instalaciones tradicionales de red en el hogar, que requieren cables de par trenzado para conectar PCs o precisan otros equipos de acceso como hubs, switches o routers. La instalación de nuevos cables en cada habitación de la casa puede ser costosa, desordenada e incluso imposible, especialmente cuando se trata de perforar paredes y techos. El kit de adaptador Ethernet Powerline a 85 Mbps utiliza una toma de corriente de cualquier tipo para crear una red de datos de alta velocidad y segura en un edificio. Podrá compartir una red con múltiples PC ubicados en espacios distintos sin la necesidad de colocar nuevos cables. Este adaptador crea una red de alta velocidad estable que es ideal para usar en
edificios que interfieren con las señales de red inalámbricas.

La encriptación avanzada ofrece a los usuarios lo último en seguridad de datos Powerline. El despliegue LED muestra el estado del dispositivo para gestionar la potencia y resolver problemas con facilidad. Conecte un adaptador a su red y otro adaptador a cualquier toma de corriente de su edificio para que pueda acceder a la red y a Internet de alta velocidad de forma instantánea.
Para realizar la instalación tienes que tener en cuenta lo siguiente:

Requisitos del sistema:

1. Unidad de CD-ROM

2. PC con adaptador de red instalado

3. Memoria Ram 254MB. O superior

4. Windows 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP / VISTA

1. Para la instalación sigue los siguientes pasos sin ser conectado aun el adaptador TPL-202E.

Introduce el CD-ROM de la herramienta en la unidad de CD-ROM de tu PC y haz clic en Install Utility

2. Continua con las instrucciones del Install Sheild Wizard  y luego haz clic en Finish

3. Copiar debajo de la contraseña del dispositivo de 12 dígitos para cada TPL-202E

4. Colocar un adaptador TPL-202E en una toma de corriente disponible.

5. Conecte el cable de red del puerto del adaptador a un puerto LAN disponible del Router de internet.

6. Conecta un cable de red desde un puerto LAN disponible en su Router a su PC.

7. Conecta el segundo adaptador a una toma de corriente en donde esté ubicado su PC.

8. Haz doble clic en TRENDnet Powerline AV Utility en su escritorio.

9. Selecciona el TPL-202E alejado y el tecleo incorpora la contraseña que anotaste.

10. Inserta la contraseña y haz clic en OK como se muestra en la imagen

Nota importante, el adaptador tiene la configuración por defecto HomePlug, si el nombre de red de tu red existente de la línea eléctrica no es HomePlug,  debes cambiar esto en la utilidad.  Para esto sigue los siguientes pasos.

Abre nuevamente la utilidad del adaptador PowerLine en la segunda cejilla puedes modificar el nombre de la red privada, introduzca el nombre deseado de la red privada y luego haga clic en Set All Devices. Haz clic en OK y listo. La configuración ha finalizado, solo conecta un cable categoría 5e del adaptador PowerLine a un puerto Lan de tu pc y listo.

NOTAS IMPORTANTES:

1. No conecte el TPL-202E a un regulador de voltaje o regleta

2. Para que los TPL-202E puedan verse mutuamente, cada Unidad debe estar en el mismo interruptor de circuito.

3. Se pueden conectar en red un máximo de 16 TPL-202E

Home Computer Network Is Already Linked – Yahoo! Finance.

Even Investor’s Business Daily is picking up on the growing demand for connecting the home theater to your computer network.  The article mentions both Powerline and MoCA as the best wired alternatives.  For connecting the home theater, coax networking makes the most sense due to the availability of coax outlets in consumers homes as well as being “far simpler than their electrical system”.

Read the article here.