From the intro: "Many people dream of solar-electric power for their homes, but can't afford whole-house systems. Here's an affordable, entry-level system with which you can have fun and get to know the basics of solar power. This setup, built with a small photovoltaic (PV) panel, one battery and low-power direct current (DC) lighting fixtures, can bring solar lighting into your home or remote locations. If you can turn a screwdriver, you can install it yourself."
Really does read like "Solar Power for Dummies", though the info seems US-centric.
Disclaimer: I haven't built any solar power systems yet.
Thanks so much for all the replies and suggestions. Even the negative ones, which I could glean some info off. Special thanks to those who emailed me.
My last skirmish with databases was with Filemaker Pro, about 10 years ago. Prior to that, I have vague memories of Foxpro and dBase (!). While I've cobbled together a form or three before, my DB experience has mostly been as an end user.
So it appears my idea of a database is outdated (skewed?), and I have to explore relational DB territory.
Basically, all I need is a better way to organise data about Wifi APs. Something better than just notepad, but at the same time, would not cost me big bucks, need a server app, or require me to learn SQL/PHP.
I'm thinking of some kind of form for data entry, with presets for certain fields (e.g. location, encryption), the ability to view records as a table, and the capability to sort by column.
"Data entry" usually just means adding new APs as I come across them. Other than that, APs can get renamed or un-named (i.e. "hide" SSID), passwords are changed (though not very often, from what I've observed), or encryption is changed (usually, they just turn on WEP).
Being able to do queries would be a plus, something like "Show me all the APs in this location which use WPA2, and which I have used in the last 3 weeks."
I'm evaluating the various solutions posted here, and here are my initial impressions:
1. Various posters suggested that I could actually use a spreadsheet. However, I don't have Excel, and don't intend to buy it. So OO Calc might look like the best bet. However, its need for JRE gives me pause. As Indy might say, "Java... Why it did have to be Java?"
Anyway, using a spreadsheet for this seems kinda overkill, though I suppose it can handle the "sort by columns" task. This seems a bit like using Excel just to store phone numbers, which I've seen quite a few people do;-)
2. OpenOffice Base. Again, Java. And some posters say it is still half-baked. I might just hold my nose and live with Java to test this.
3. Kexi (http://kexi-project.org). This seemed to be the the most promising candidate. So I actually downloaded and installed the Windows offering. Unfortunately the Windows ver is only a demo. It comes with a blinking "buy now" button and flickering text, which cannot be disabled. Hmph... I guess the LGPL allows that. So I dumped Kexi. May try it again if I install Linux.
Plusses: no Java (I think). KDE appearance, which I am partial to. Minuses: no free version for Windows. Demo is feature-limited, nagware.
4. TextDB also looked promising, but it requires PHP.
5. Treepad Lite, free, but not open source. Might test it later.
6. SQLite Database Browser - Didn't look promising at first. But despite its name this does allow data entry. Gave this a whirl, but data entry is too rudimentary. THAT'S why it has "browser" in the name.
Plusses: no Java. Qt (KDE) appearance. FOSS. Runs in vista. Minuses: Data entry is rudimentary. Can't sort columns.
Anyway, those are my DB adventures so far. Will continue the search and also plough thru the 600+/. comments. This has certainly spurred me to update my knowledge about databases!
If it was only cold weather they wanted, why not find some place in the United States or Canada? Surely there are enough cold locations in the N. American continent.
I believe Microsoft is just after cheap land and cheap labour. Russia is just brimming with cheap, highly-qualified tech talent.
Moller Int'l has tried to sell this concept before and was later revealed to be quite a dodgy company.
So much so that the SEC (The Securities and Exchange Commission, a U.S. regulatory body) filed a lawsuit against Moller Int and Paul Moller in 2003. The details are available on the SEC website at: http://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/comp17987 .htm
In the introduction to the suit, the SEC said:
"This matter involves a fraudulent, unregistered offering and the filing of a fraudulent Form 10-SB by Moller International, Inc. ("MI" or "the company"), a California company engaged in the development of a personal aircraft known as "the Skycar."
Under the heading, "False and Misleading Statements and Omissions", the SEC said:
19. The promotional material used in this solicitation campaign contained materially false and misleading information.
20. For example, the Skycar, according to Moller, would allow any person to travel at speeds over 400 miles-per-hour in the uncluttered airspace above the roadways for about the same price as a luxury automobile. In MI investor newsletters, Moller projected that 10,000 Skycars would be sold by the end of 2002.
21. In reality, the Skycar was and still is a very early developmental-stage prototype that has no meaningful flight testing, proof of aeronautical feasibility, or proven commercial viability.
For the Excel-averse, I have uploaded the Excel Results of the test to the Zoho Viewer website. So you needn't install Excel or OO.
http://viewer.zoho.com/docs/edblaI
Damn, you're right about speakers. Mine run off a 12W AC adapter, so they've been eating up 12W 24/7. I'm gonna use a power strip with switches and turn them off when I'm away/asleep.
This scenario was covered in Greg Abraham's "Gnota" (1995), though the story involved a piglet and a combat veteran's need for a replacement heart.
Bottom line is: some people may get attached to the animals bearing their replacement parts. Also note that such a process would take months, if not years.
Slashdot Mirror
Mother Earth News mag ran a feature last year on exactly this topic:
Easy DIY Solar Lighting
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/2007-04-01/Easy-DIY-Solar-Lighting.aspx
From the intro:
"Many people dream of solar-electric power for their homes, but can't afford whole-house systems. Here's an affordable, entry-level system with which you can have fun and get to know the basics of solar power. This setup, built with a small photovoltaic (PV) panel, one battery and low-power direct current (DC) lighting fixtures, can bring solar lighting into your home or remote locations. If you can turn a screwdriver, you can install it yourself."
Really does read like "Solar Power for Dummies", though the info seems US-centric.
Disclaimer: I haven't built any solar power systems yet.
Hi, thanks for the comment. You're right, I don't really want to deal with SQL or DBA stuff.
I just want a better way to organise data than Notepad. I'll revisit OpenOffice Base again; hopefully Java is not needed for my purposes.
Thanks,
Lee Meng.
Downloaded this to try. The app needs a password and points you to various sites to get it.
Doesn't allow you to continue or cancel without a password. Had to terminate it via Taskman.
So, am gonna trash this.
Thanks so much for all the replies and suggestions. Even the negative ones, which I could glean some info off. Special thanks to those who emailed me.
;-)
/. comments. This has certainly spurred me to update my knowledge about databases!
My last skirmish with databases was with Filemaker Pro, about 10 years ago. Prior to that, I have vague memories of Foxpro and dBase (!). While I've cobbled together a form or three before, my DB experience has mostly been as an end user.
So it appears my idea of a database is outdated (skewed?), and I have to explore relational DB territory.
Basically, all I need is a better way to organise data about Wifi APs. Something better than just notepad, but at the same time, would not cost me big bucks, need a server app, or require me to learn SQL/PHP.
I'm thinking of some kind of form for data entry, with presets for certain fields (e.g. location, encryption), the ability to view records as a table, and the capability to sort by column.
"Data entry" usually just means adding new APs as I come across them. Other than that, APs can get renamed or un-named (i.e. "hide" SSID), passwords are changed (though not very often, from what I've observed), or encryption is changed (usually, they just turn on WEP).
Being able to do queries would be a plus, something like "Show me all the APs in this location which use WPA2, and which I have used in the last 3 weeks."
I'm evaluating the various solutions posted here, and here are my initial impressions:
1. Various posters suggested that I could actually use a spreadsheet. However, I don't have Excel, and don't intend to buy it. So OO Calc might look like the best bet. However, its need for JRE gives me pause. As Indy might say, "Java... Why it did have to be Java?"
Anyway, using a spreadsheet for this seems kinda overkill, though I suppose it can handle the "sort by columns" task. This seems a bit like using Excel just to store phone numbers, which I've seen quite a few people do
2. OpenOffice Base. Again, Java. And some posters say it is still half-baked. I might just hold my nose and live with Java to test this.
3. Kexi (http://kexi-project.org). This seemed to be the the most promising candidate. So I actually downloaded and installed the Windows offering. Unfortunately the Windows ver is only a demo. It comes with a blinking "buy now" button and flickering text, which cannot be disabled. Hmph... I guess the LGPL allows that. So I dumped Kexi. May try it again if I install Linux.
Plusses: no Java (I think). KDE appearance, which I am partial to.
Minuses: no free version for Windows. Demo is feature-limited, nagware.
4. TextDB also looked promising, but it requires PHP.
5. Treepad Lite, free, but not open source. Might test it later.
6. SQLite Database Browser - Didn't look promising at first. But despite its name this does allow data entry. Gave this a whirl, but data entry is too rudimentary. THAT'S why it has "browser" in the name.
Plusses: no Java. Qt (KDE) appearance. FOSS. Runs in vista.
Minuses: Data entry is rudimentary. Can't sort columns.
Anyway, those are my DB adventures so far. Will continue the search and also plough thru the 600+
Once again, thanks to all who responded.
Regards,
Lee Meng.
MS would probably want to pay up quick, before the dollar devalues even further...
I believe Microsoft is just after cheap land and cheap labour. Russia is just brimming with cheap, highly-qualified tech talent.
http://www.blackhat.com/html/bh-media-archives/bh-archives-2006.html#eu-06
Skype has a slew of protections including code integrity checks, anti-debugging techniques, code obfuscation, and Skype network obfuscation.
Incidentally, Desclaux is the author of the Rasta Ring 0 Debugger [RR0D] which is not detected by Skype.
"So once again, Jones, what was briefly yours is now mine."
So much so that the SEC (The Securities and Exchange Commission, a U.S. regulatory body) filed a lawsuit against Moller Int and Paul Moller in 2003. The details are available on the SEC website at: http://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/comp17987 .htm
In the introduction to the suit, the SEC said:
"This matter involves a fraudulent, unregistered offering and the filing of a fraudulent Form 10-SB by Moller International, Inc. ("MI" or "the company"), a California company engaged in the development of a personal aircraft known as "the Skycar."
Under the heading, "False and Misleading Statements and Omissions", the SEC said:
19. The promotional material used in this solicitation campaign contained materially false and misleading information.
20. For example, the Skycar, according to Moller, would allow any person to travel at speeds over 400 miles-per-hour in the uncluttered airspace above the roadways for about the same price as a luxury automobile. In MI investor newsletters, Moller projected that 10,000 Skycars would be sold by the end of 2002.
21. In reality, the Skycar was and still is a very early developmental-stage prototype that has no meaningful flight testing, proof of aeronautical feasibility, or proven commercial viability.
For the Excel-averse, I have uploaded the Excel Results of the test to the Zoho Viewer website. So you needn't install Excel or OO. http://viewer.zoho.com/docs/edblaI
Damn, you're right about speakers. Mine run off a 12W AC adapter, so they've been eating up 12W 24/7. I'm gonna use a power strip with switches and turn them off when I'm away/asleep.
This scenario was covered in Greg Abraham's "Gnota" (1995), though the story involved a piglet and a combat veteran's need for a replacement heart. Bottom line is: some people may get attached to the animals bearing their replacement parts. Also note that such a process would take months, if not years.
So if Al-Queda wants to escape, all they have to do is cross the International Data Line?
Osama's in Fiji, I tell ya...