Tuesday, November 18, 2014

CWNP: CWTS - Service Sets

My study guide/notes... my definitions may not be perfect, but they help me with concepts.

Service Set (SS) - all the devices connected to a wireless LAN.

Basis Service Set (BSS) - a single access point and all of its connected devices

Independent BSS / Ad Hoc / Peer-to-peer - devices talk to each other without a central authority like an access point

Infrastructure BSS - an access point that connects to a larger distribution network

Extended Service Set (ESS) - a collection of BSS that are working together to provide wireless service in an area

Basis Service Set Identification (BSSID) - the MAC address of the access point

Service Set Identifier (SSID) - the unique identifier for a BSS or ESS, what we commonly call the name of the wireless network

Intel Wireless AC 7260 Problem and Work-around

I got a new laptop at work and it has the Intel AC 7260 wireless card. Apparently, it does not like our AC access points here. With the default settings, my iperf tests look like this:

iperf\iperf.exe -c server -r -i 2 -w 524288
------------------------------------------------------------
Server listening on TCP port 5001
TCP window size:  512 KByte
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to server, TCP port 5001
TCP window size:  512 KByte
------------------------------------------------------------

[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  24.0 MBytes   101 Mbits/sec
[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  24.1 MBytes   101 Mbits/sec
[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  30.2 MBytes   127 Mbits/sec
[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  30.8 MBytes   129 Mbits/sec
[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  28.1 MBytes   118 Mbits/sec
[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   137 MBytes   115 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  6.67 MBytes  28.0 Mbits/sec
[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  6.87 MBytes  28.8 Mbits/sec
[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  4.33 MBytes  18.2 Mbits/sec
[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  6.17 MBytes  25.9 Mbits/sec
[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  6.05 MBytes  25.4 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.1 sec  30.4 MBytes  25.2 Mbits/sec

If I change the HT Mode from VHT Mode (AC) to HT Mode (N) in the driver properties, then my results get much better.

[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  33.4 MBytes   140 Mbits/sec
[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  30.6 MBytes   128 Mbits/sec
[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  33.0 MBytes   138 Mbits/sec
[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  33.0 MBytes   138 Mbits/sec
[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  34.4 MBytes   144 Mbits/sec
[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   164 MBytes   138 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  25.8 MBytes   108 Mbits/sec
[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  30.9 MBytes   130 Mbits/sec
[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  29.6 MBytes   124 Mbits/sec
[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  30.7 MBytes   129 Mbits/sec
[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  31.3 MBytes   131 Mbits/sec
[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   149 MBytes   124 Mbits/sec

I see the same sort of results with Speedtest.


Monday, November 17, 2014

Trouble with Tribbles GIF

Pretty funny GIF version of the Trouble with Tribbles episode.

Via Ace of Spades

Funny?

Is it just me or are these not funny? I like to pick on users as much as the next IT professional, but so many of these sound like the urban legends of the IT world.

I'm trying to come up with some funny stories of my own, but I'm struggling. I remember the lady that set her coffee on top of our AS/400, but that was more cringe inducing than funny.

Another lady was mad because the replacement for her corded mouse, a wireless mouse, would slide off her angled keyboard tray. Sorry we couldn't bend the rules of gravity for you there. That story was more about how to deal with a difficult users. This lady was very direct and I had to be blunt/tough with her right back. That's just the way she worked.

I'll think on this some more and maybe I can recall an actual funny one.

Baofeng UV-5R: Feature

These things sure are full featured - they even act as a remote for auto-opening garbage cans.

Part 90 v Part 95: Fight!

KD0TLS on Part 90 and Part 95 radios:
"Hopefully, I've narrowly averted the total collapse of Western civilisation by offering a legal alternative. It all starts with some guy in Plymouth using a TH-9000 on GMRS. Next thing you know, we're all killing each other because the law has lost its meaning."

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Stealing this, too.

"Yesterday, My XYL said she'd leave me if I didn't give up ham radio. Over."

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Stealing This

"I started reading the internet, and I just couldn't put it down!"
Stolen from Althouse

Blog Birthday

I  was thinking it was today, but actually yesterday was four years of blogging... 2,693 posts and 1,584,674 hits.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Xiegu X108: Firmware Update

A link was posted on the (X1M) Yahoo Group to a beta version of a firmware update for the X108, so Ed (Import Communications) chimed in with the following:

"11/11/14The factory has finally finished the firmware update to correct the few bugs that have been reported. They are testing it and should release it shortly. I will email all owners when it's ready and will also place it in the files section of this group. 
The factory says they will design their own microphone instead of depending on the clone mics they are now using. They say this won't take long and I'll keep everyone posted on how this plays out. 
One of the bugs that bugged me was the noise blanker. Some worked but most did not. When I reported the problem, I assumed it was a firmware problem but that is not the case. It seems two diodes on the NB board are reversed. I'm not sure how this will get corrected because I haven't looked to see the physical size of the diodes involved. My first thoughts are to get a supply of correct boards and swap them out. 
That's all I have for now. 
Regards,
Ed
Import Communications"

The update notes that were posted initially said:
Update records:
Updated: 2014.11.09
Firmware filename: X108_FW_V135_SOFTPTT
Firmware version number: V1.35B 
Update:
1, the band changes and then return to the previous band, the frequency remains the original frequency;
2, increasing the key lock function;
3, increasing microphone in hand UP and DN keys to control the stepping of continuous functions;
4, increase the size of the adjustment menu CW Tone
5. PTT microphone in hand to improve immunity.