Setting Network Type for Hamachi Connections

Posted by on September 22, 2010 No comments

Recently ran into an issue with Hamachi / Windows 7 where I couldn’t set the Network Type for the Hamachi connection.  I use Windows Firewall, and wanted to specify the Hamachi network as “Home.”  However, the normal option to change network type wasn’t there in Network and Sharing Center.  It just said “Unidentified Network” with blank space underneath:

Network and Sharing Center - Before

It turns out, Windows 7 (and I assume Vista) will do this when there is no Default Gateway set up on the network.  For Hamachi, this can be set to the same address as their DHCP server: 5.0.0.1.  To avoid having to manually enter an address, this should be entered separately in the Advanced TCP / IP settings window:

Advanced TCP / IP settings window

That window is accessible through the “Advanced” button where you would normally set a static IP address.  After that, the option was available, and the network was no longer listed as unidentified:

Network Sharing Center - After

Just another reference post.  Hope this is useful!

Sources:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/215-63-change-network-type
http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-networking/4416-how-change-network-type-2.html#post21820

Changing WordPress Title Formats

Posted by on September 16, 2010 No comments

I fixed the title formats on here today.  Not especially noteworthy, but I wanted to make a small post about it for my own reference.

So, the change I wanted to make was to make John-AM.com appear after the post title.  In this theme’s header.php, there is a line like this:

<title><?php bloginfo('name'); ?><?php wp_title(); ?></title>

I swapped the postition of wp_title and bloginfo(‘name’), but then I had the separator (») at the beginning of the title.  Well, it turns out wp_title will take whatever you put into it, and append it to the title.  If nothing is passed, it automatically uses ».  So I changed that, and you can choose the location where it is appended.  So, here is mine:

<?php wp_title(' | ',true,'right'); ?>

Which puts a nice | between the title name and my blog name, which is now after the post name.

Quick Subnets 1.0.6 Now Available!

Posted by on September 14, 2010 No comments

Quick Subnets 1.0.6 is now available in the Palm App Catalog!  The fix in 1.0.5 had its own flaw that I didn’t notice until it was submitted.  If you find a bug or have a feature you would like to see built in, feel free to send suggestions to QNS@john-am.com.

Quick Subnets 1.0.5 Submitted to Palm

Posted by on September 12, 2010 No comments

Quick Subnets has been updated to version 1.0.5 and has been submitted to Palm. Here is the update info:

Update in 1.0.5

– Fixed labeling for Network and Broadcast addresses. No longer labeled “Min IP” and “Max IP”

– Changed help screen to display properly on the Palm Pixi.

– Corrected error where the Network and Broadcast addresses would generate impossible IPs if a number larger than 254 was entered.

Also, Quick Subnets has had over 1500 downloads! Thanks for downloading everyone!

Netgear WNR2000 – A Common Favorite

Posted by on September 3, 2010 No comments

A few weeks ago I was asked to set up a Wireless link for my Dad’s business in Sabula, IA.  DD-WRT on a pair of consumer grade routers seemed like a good fit, as the link only crossed a street, and the business really isn’t big enough to warrant more expensive hardware.

So the morning of I got online to find out what was available, and what would work with DD-WRT.  And while it isn’t perfect, I really liked the Netgear WNR2000(V2).  It was available at my local Best Buy for $70, and with the Broadcom chipset and 32mb (!) of RAM it really was a no brainer.  The single downside is that it doesn’t have enough flash to support a standard DD-WRT installation.  It has 4MB which should be enough, but forum posts say otherwise.  The closest you can get is the standard image minus the Kaid software.  Also, there is a firmware package available for this router, so the upgrade can be performed from the stock web interface.

I was able to use it to set up the wireless link without issue, and without optimal router placement either.  The two routers have several walls between them, on top of going out one building and into the other.  Through all that, the connection was rock solid.  Bandwidth tests on the far end were giving me the full speed of the Internet connection.

So the WNR2000 is a nice router, but the important part is that it’s a common router.  Given the choice, I’d rather buy a Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH or WHR-HP-G300N.  But they’re not available locally and I didn’t have the time to order them.  But from now on if I’m in a scenario where I need a router quickly, I can turn to the WNR2000.

QuakeCon and Upcoming Projects!

Posted by on August 19, 2010 No comments

Just got back from QuakeCon a few days ago.  It was a great time!  I loved seeing everyone again, and I learned about a few new games while I was there.  I had the chance to play Brink, which is a re-working of Team Fortress.  It’s a neat game, but I’m not the right market.  I saw several people playing Minecraft there also.  That game really grabbed me, it’s a simple crafting / sandbox game, but it seems to have so much potential.

The plan was to go to the Id Software keynote speech, or at least the Rage demo; but volunteering at the tech desk kept me from doing so.  Hopefully next year I’ll be able to see the presentations, it’s one of the few events I can see first hand in the gaming world.

I’m working out which project I’ll post next on here.  I have a few queued up: Create a template for this website, working on another Palm Pre application (once I think of one) and posting things from my CCNA studying, to name a few.  I also have some windows server / domain work I’ll post once I start working on it.  That will probably be early next year.

One other thing, Google analytics was showing a spike of visitors to my page regarding Google Chart types.  Glad to see that it’s useful!

Quick Subnets now in Palm’s App Catalog!

Posted by on August 4, 2010 No comments

Quick Subnets has been accepted by Palm!  My page for it is available in the link or in the above menu.  Otherwise you can view Palm’s page for it, where it gives you options to send it to your phone or post it to Twitter / Facebook.

Also, there have been over 700 downloads since it was accepted on 7/28/10.  I hope everyone is finding it useful!  Please send any comments / issues to QNS@john-am.com.

Submitted to Palm!

Posted by on July 24, 2010 No comments

Well, it’s late so I’ll keep it short.  But Quick Subnets has been submitted to Palm!  I’ll let you know if it’s accepted into the catalog!

Making Circles in Google Charts – Undocumented Chart Types for Google Charts

Posted by on July 16, 2010 No comments

So it looks like the Google Charts API has a couple of small undocumented charts in it!

There isn’t anything I can find about this written elsewhere, so here is my personal documentation for it.  The information here has been distilled from the MarkerIconCreator webpage. Where you can play with these chart types to have the URLs created for you.  I had to look all of this up for the KML generator I mentioned a few posts ago.

Circle (chart type it): Circle Example - With "X" in the middle.

Parameters: cht=it&chs=32×32&chco=FF0000,000000ff,ffffff01&chl=X&chx=FFFFFF,0&chf=bg,s,00000000

The important part to note is cht=it.  That chart type is not documented in the Google Charts API. 

Rounded Rectangle (chart type itr): Rounded Rectangle

Parameters: cht=itr&chs=32×32&chco=FF0000,000000ff,ffffff01&chl=X&chx=FFFFFF,0&chf=bg,s,00000000

Again, note cht=itr.

There are some other parts in both URLs  which are different from the documentation in how they’re used.  It’s not too hard to figure out via trial and error; but here are some quick explanations:

Color: chco=FF0000,000000ff,ffffff00

The API shows chco as series color, but it’s used a little bit differently for this chart type.  The first color is your shape color.  The second is your first shadow color, and the third is your background-shadow color.  These are regular hexidecimal colors, but with an added byte of values on the end to represent transparency.  If you are using this in a KML file, I recommend setting both shadow colors to 00.

Here are some examples with chco=00FF00,FF0000ff,0000ffAA: chco=00FF00,FF0000ff,0000ffAA chco=00FF00,FF0000ff,0000ffAA

Label Color: chx=FFFFFF

Chx doesn’t exsit on its own in the API. Other forms do, like chxt, chxr, etc.  It is the color for the label text.  It also supports adding an extra byte at the end for transparency.

Here are some examples with chx=00FFFF: Label Color Examplechx=00FFFF

Background color (gradient?): chf=bg,s,00000000

Chf is listed in the official documentation as a fill option.  Only the solid variety works here.  Then the coloring is the same Hex + transparency we’ve seen above. 

Here are the examples, chf=bg,s,00AA00FF: chf=bg,s,00AA00FF chf=bg,s,00AA00FF

Flash running on my iPad!

Posted by on July 13, 2010 No comments

I followed the instructions on Engadget, and installed Frash on to my iPad.

I’m really impressed, for an alpha release it runs very well and plays almost all content.  And more interesting is the fact that this is a port of the Android flash player.  Who would’ve thought?