Dropbox Free Cloud Storage

So many choices! But I choose DROPBOX!

Cloud Storage (or storing your files in the cloud) simply means your files are stored in a different hard drive (not the one you have in your computer) and that it can be accessed from anywhere by anyhow at anytime. 

I actually installed and tried different Cloud services and based on how I needed it and how it was delivered by the provider, I got to say Dropbox is #1 and next is Google Drive. This review is based on how these clouds appealed to me when I was looking for a Free Cloud service to Sync not just a few computers and devices but to handle Syncs in 40+ Windows XP boxes, several laptops and devices.

Why Dropbox is the winner?

1. Very easy to install. Straight forward with no errors in installation. Requires very few data during registration and your done (we all hate answering longs forms and reading captchas). (To install Dropbox click here). After completing the registration form the installer will auto download. After that you can already install.
2. Useful features.

• You can save important files in your Dropbox and it will be available in all of your devices (iPad, Android, Blackberry, other computers).
• It synchronizes files and folders to all devices wherever the update was made from.
• You can work directly from files in your Dropbox folder. The Dropbox folder can be customized according to your desired location. By default it is installed in your My Documents. Supports special features for different devices. Such as 1) Auto-sync your pictures when you insert your USB drive, 2) Command different functions from your Blackberry such as Import and Export contact to Dropbox. 3) Share links to file so others can download it (externally). 4) Share folders and files and collaborate.5) Many more useful features. This is just the beginning.

3. Dropbox is FAST! Compared to Google Drive, files will sync faster!

4. No false advertisements, no crap on the website, no clutter on the software. Straightforward service! Other Cloud services will let you download for "free" but then again have you pay at the end. Promising unlimited bites but actually you have to pay to be "protected".

5. Get up to 16GB Free from referrals. 2GB is the standard free space in Dropbox. Small if you have many files to save, but on average its enough. And besides, Dropbox has plenty of free space to give away. 

Create a Dropbox Account NOW!

Comments on other Cloud Service

1. Google Drive - Syncs slower than Dropbox. But has  the advantage of 5GB Free space.
2. CX - Enables the user to really define the local cloud folder. Unlike in Dropbox and Google Drive, wherever you place it will always create the folders "Dropbox" and "Google Drive". This was my third best but it could not completely install in my Win7, Core-i7, ASUS board box. Plus it always get a flag message from my firewall. Makes you wonder if its safe to install.
3. JustCloud - Its just not worth it! They advertise for free unli storage with a price.
4. Sugarsync - have not tried this one. They say its also good.
5. Box - reviews not so high as far as I have seen. Dropbox and box are different.
6. Ubuntu One - Its slow. Installation is not the appealing. Lacks features. 

PLDT Modem

You learn something new everyday!PLDT Modem Conquered!

I was at one of our company's new branch to setup the system there. DSL was already installed around 6 months before but hasn't been used since opening of the branch was delayed. When I got there I expected to plug the DSL directly and would get connected, but instead they handed me the DSL box (literally, the box)--it hasn't been configured yet. So I plugged the DSL to the computer (LAN-to-LAN) and the computer could not get an IP from the DHCP Server.

My First Mistake: I first checked the wiring even when I knew nothing was wrong with it. Initial diagnostics of a PLDT DSL ZyXel P-600 would tell you to check all light indicators first. And all were good but I didn't pay attention to that and did the wiring check first. Big mistake! Power was okay, Ethernet was okay (thus nothing wrong with the connection from modem to computer) and DSL was okay (thus line was good). If you do encounter an all green all okay connection, thus you should first check modem then the computer configurations for any problems.

Note: PLDT ZyXel P-600 modem's Ethernet light is color GREEN when wires are connected but LAN card is disabled and ORANGE if wired and connected.

Going back to the challenge, I need to connect to the modem's web interface to make the configuration but could not get an IP from the DHCP Server. After consulting with our friend Mr. Google I read from a blog that I needed to manually assign a local IP first to get in to the modem. So I did and it worked!

• IPv4: 192.168.1.33
• Subnet: 252.255.255.0

The problem was that by DEFUALT the DHCP Server in the modem is disabled.

Note #2: After you get in the router and activate the DHCP Server you need to set your LAN's IP back to obtain.

Since I'm already in the web interface I have two options which to proceed with the activation.

1. Create a new PPPoE connection from the Network and Sharing Center (Win7). I don't recommend this if you want to be connected  24x7 since you have to manually connect every time the computer boots.
2. Set the modem from Bridge mode to Router and setup the PPPoE settings there.

On Option-2:

Benefits:

• Connection is always on.
• You can distribute connection. Either wired or wireless.
• If using another Router set IP to Dynamic (obtain).

How?

• (Your done already setting up your DHCP Server and you can already access the web interface)
• Go to Network > WAN
• Change mode to Routing (from Bridge)
• Change Encapsulation to PPPoE and enter your PPPoE Username and Password (which are your PLDT account's telephone # w/o the zero in the start of the area code and your Account # as Username and Password, respectively)
• Check Nailed up Connection (not Connect on Demand)
• (IP Address should be obtain)
• Go to Network > NAT (NAT Setup)
• Check Active Network Address Translation
• Select "SUA Only"
• Apply changes and reboot (or power off/on Zyxel)

If everything works perfectly then your Modem would already be connected.

Final notes:

• After activating DHCP Server don't forget to indicate IP Pool Starting Address (192.168.1.100). You also need to indicate Pool Size (32) and Primary and Secondary DNS Server. For me I used the default PLDT DNS and "8.8.8.8" as secondary (free DNS Server from google).
• On the first problem, Modem's DHCP was down. How come it worked when I assigned a local IP? The answer is becuase 1) The default gateway of the Model is 192.168.1.1 and I locally assigned 192.168.1.33 to my computer making them members of the subnet group. Even without a DHCP Server as long as they are in the same family they will see each other.
• If you want to do a hard reset there is one at the back near the power switch.
• To reset simply long-press the reset button for 10 seconds or until lights starts blinking.

DSL Micro Filter

Micro Filter: Use or Not?

First of all what is a Micro Filter? Basically its installed between your phone line and your DSL modem with the goal to make internet connections more stable. The typical DSL Micro Filters I know has an RJ-11 tip on one end which you plug in your telephone socket and an RJ-11 socket on the other which you will use to connect your ADSL Modem. Other variants comes as a splitter--for telephone and DSL.

DSL connections can come in two forms, Naked and Bundled. The first one (Naked) is a dedicated line for DSL connection only. Whereas Bundled connections is one line which services both voice (telephone) and data (internet). From what I have read it is advised to use Micro Filters for Bundled connections to prevent interference from either of the two frequencies (voice and data). I believe the explanation is sound, however I have no way of testing that since I only have Naked connections.

Last night I installed a Micro Filter in our office. I placed it between the telephone socket and the ADSL. Connection was okay and maintained to be stable. Well, it was already like that, so just no complain here. Until I tested it with speedtest.net. I was randomly getting the results from speedtest the whole day and to my surprise the Micro Filter instead of improving performance actually reduced my Download speed by a few Kbps. Our connection in the office is a stable 5Mbps, with the Micro Filter installed it could not really hit 5Mbps. So this evening I took out the Micro Filter and immediately did a test and right there and then speedtest registered over 5Mbps. To verify the results I conducted the test over and over again among several servers and the results were conclusive.

Again I have not tested the performance of a Micro Filter over a Bundled line, but its purpose is to protect each frequency running in the wires against radio interference. In my setup I did not need the Micro Filter since their was only one (1) radio frequency running through the wires.

The nature of the Micro Filter is not directly the cause of my setup's reduced performance. In other words filtering the connection doesn't do any damage. However as you increase the number of Hops (devices where data passes) data travel naturally increases and performance diminishes.

Note: PLDT is my ISP

WiFi All Over the House

I wanted to get my WiFi signal all over the house.

Structural challenges:

1. Two floors to cover.
2. The house is solid. Mostly concrete and hard wood.
3. Not to many options for the location of the router.

What I have to work with:

1. ZyXel Router ( P-2612HWU-F1) from PLDT (my ISP)
2. TP-Link Router (TL-WR941ND) with three (3) 5dBi antennas
3. DSL (Telephone Wire)
4. Three (3) 9dBi omni-directional antennas

TP-Link TL-WR941ND (Front)

TP-Link TL-WR941ND (Back)

The story: 

The task was to get the WiFi signal all over the house so that everybody can enjoy it--even in their rooms. I cant do so much with the ZyXel Router from PLDT. The antenna (Single 5dBi) is fixed and configuration is very limited. Although signal strength is good when in the open areas, even when at the second floor, but signal was either very poor or lost when in the rooms. Again I cant do so much with the router and wired connection of any type is not an option here.

For the problem above I thought of adding an additional router (thus TL-WR941ND). The TP-Link router would get its internet from the ZyXel which so happens to be the modem also. This connection would be wired from one of Zyxel's LAN Ports (usually color yellow) to the TP-LINK's WAN Port (usually color blue). Under default settings you should be able to get the internet from the Zyxel to the TP-Link Router as soon as you wire them together. No configuration out of the ordinary is required. But remember though for this setup TP-Link's WAN Connection Setup should be set to  Dynamic IP. This will allow the TP-Link Router to automatically get information from the other router.

To address the structural challenges I placed the TP-Link router at a very high elevation (at the center of both floors). Physically this made the router closer to each floor. I then replaced the three (3) 5dBi antennas that came with the TP-Link Router with high gain 9dBi antennas (12dBi antennas or those that come with an externally powered range booster mount would be even better). I specifically purchased this type of router because #1 the antennas are replaceable (thus I can upgrade) and #2 it has three (3) antennas and uses MIMO technology. The antennas are triangularly positioned and are tilted forward. This allowed the center of the doughnut-shaped radio signal to focus on my target "dead spots". Note that the router is placed on top of the wall on one side of the house, thus signal should be pushed forward.

At first I changed the radio frequency of both routers and distanced them to lessen interference and overlapping  (ZyXel channel 1 and TP-Link channel 4). Having other wireless devices operating close to each other in the same or close frequency would affect signal performance. But I eventually just turned off the radio of ZyXel as I didn't need any wireless connection from there.

The results:

Success! I got a stable signal in all rooms even when doors are closed. The signal strength indicator doesn't register a full signal when inside the room but its not low and the most notable part is that its stable. Ping results are also good, I got an extra hop since I have an extra router but its not a factor specially for home users.

My Actual Setup

Failed setups: (Resulted in unstable signal strength when inside the rooms) 

1. Same configuration but TP-Link router was placed at a slightly lower elevation.
2. Antennas are positioned normally (not tilted forward).

Notes:

1. Radio signals are weakened by interference (such as walls and doors).
2. The capacity of the radio signal to pass through infrastructures also depend on the materials used in your building/house/site.
3. TP-Link's firmware (TL-WR941ND) can also be upgraded to DD-WRT. But I didn't try it here. I do have a Buffalo box with DD-WRT and features are good (more benefits for advanced and IT users than home users).
4. I like Cisco (Linksys) routers but didn't use them here since antennas are built-in
5. For those with old TP-Link routers and are familiar with the old web interface, the new one is better.
6. WDS Option is available for TL-WR941ND but didn't use it here to save on the cost of a second router. I did try it (ZyXel + Tp-Link) but failed. I think it was due to some configurations in the ZyXel. Everything was good in the TP-Link box. And WDS is a whole different story.