23. July 2009 by admin.

Another year has gone by in my life…

So it’s my birthday again on July 23rd. I won’t mention my age and those that know me will have some idea about that.

It’s been a rough year in 2009. It has been for a lot of people and for a lot of companies. But I’ve stuck it out as I always do. I have bigger ideals than money in my personal and business plans anyway. I like what I do and like helping people to have better communications on both land and sea. I have been working mostly in marine since 2004 and although it wasn’t the exactly the start of Alan Spicer Telecom - it was the start of Alan Spicer Marine Telecom. Let me explain…

I met someone that was working in marine communications for yachts back in 2004 and it was over few pints or beers as we yanks call it. I was wearing a Cisco Systems tee shirt and that’s what the other guy liked. He was working on yachts with Inmarsat Satellite Systems and dealing with Cisco gear for both the router and the onboard wireless set up.

The rest is history. I went independent after that. Because I did NOT believe in the off-season that so un-ceremoniously driven in each year around the middle of July. Work and business just does not stop on seasonable boundries - in Fort Lauderdale Yachting or otherwise. That’s when my fight began.

You probably know that I have an I.T., Communications, and a Cellular / Radio background … if not, then now you do. Not much details there but if someone wants more you’ll have to let me know.

So here we are in Fort Lauderdale off-season again. After an already terrible start in 2009 because of the economy. I would like to thank all of my supporters past and present - and I ask that you continue to support my efforts and my small business. If anyone, on the occassion of my birthday, would like to purchase a support agreement (value for your donation - not just money down the hole for nothing) - I would interested in talking to you. In addition anyone needing communications support, installation, equipment, or even general marine electronics (yes I have a guy for that) - please I would love your call and your business.

On that note. Happy Summer 2009 to everyone. And Happy Birthday to me!

 —

Alan Spicer

http://www.marinetelecom.net

+1 954-683-3426

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22. July 2009 by admin.

I should make a bumper sticker…

Got Milk? Got Marine Internet? Got Marine Internet Problems????

I came across another yacht the other day in my travels that stopped me and told me of their troubles. They had multiple Internet technologies spanning the last few years or more of Satellite, and other Internet and Voice Telephone “connections” - *but* the “system” is a jumbled up mess, he said. Wires going everywhere - wireless onboard that’s a bit flakey - I.P. Address conflicts and multiple boxes that want to be the “IP Address Boss”.

Believe it or not I heard this a LOT. And this is the type of work that I do … sorting through that mess and recommending what to keep (and why) and what to get rid of, as well as some options to make that stuff all BEHAVE and let you have some peace onboard with the onboard “Network” just working. And the options of Internet being as easy as possible to select and activate for the appropriate geographic location where you’re at. And The Top Fuel Challenger … How to use multiple Internet Access “connections” to save money on your Internet and Voice telephone bills.

I often get called in just find out “What all do we have, and how do we use it?”, and also to consult on what should we have and how do we use that? Recommending alternate technologies and systems to make use of cost-savings on both Fast Internet and Telephone Voice Services.

Need Help?

—

Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

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22. July 2009 by admin.

Yes, I’m about to rant. But I bet more than a few of my readers may have the same opinion.

 Too many damn toolbars for Internet Explorer (web browser). I was working on a boat the other day on the computer and I needed to get to Favorites … there was no Internet, because well it’s a boat - a yacht - and that’s what I was working on fixing. Because of so many tool bars in IE I almost couldn’t find Favorites to bookmark a router box that I changed the I.P. Address to.

Which leads me to … every company it seems wants to install a damned toolbar. Either theirs or Yahoo’s or Google’s. No I always tell new software installation, no I don’t want yet another toolbar. Another toolbar to block popups which IE already does. Another tool bar to allow bookmarking of favorites but you have to log in online to use it. No thanks IE bookmarks favorites just fine for me. (Did I say I don’t like Cloud Computing?) Another tool bar that makes getting to your email oh so much easier. Thanks but no thanks … I know how to get to my email just fine without any additional help.

If I want a toolbar or any other kind of help that a toolbar gives I’ll consider it. If I want a toolbar I’ll search for one and install it … meanwhile leave my computer alone (see other rant someone else did - in my blog - about Just who’s computer is this anyway????)

But our software (or feature, or bullshit) will stop functioning if you unistall our toolbar. So what. I’m sure gonna miss you - but I don’t need any more conditions (spyware, etc.) to using software.

—

Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

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22. July 2009 by admin.

Google choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy… but because they are hard.

I found out about this from: http://www.pcworld.com/article/168696/google_earth_now_takes_you_to_the_moon.html

And checked it out myself. I just fired up my Google Earth and found it quite easily under: View > Explore > Moon. It gives links (Layers) for Apollo Missions, Guided Tours, Historic Maps, and more.

—

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

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21. July 2009 by admin.

Just a quick reminder that the 2009-2 Flyer is out, showing the WiFi Hotspot Range Extending / Sharing System as well as the Ericsson W35 (if you’ve got or have seen a W25 this is the next model up adding full HSPA with the High Speed Upload Packet Access capability, as well as the expected Cellular voice-to-analog phone equipment and PBX systems.) Please download the image and pass it on to all of your friends and colleagues.

We also handle Audio-Visual (Entertainment Systems) and General Marine Electronics with Bryan of International Marine Electronics available.

If you have any questions or needs please call. Click on either of these images to go through to the full image in your browser, then right click and choose Save As to save your own copy of them. Please pass these on to your friends and associates. Some of these systems (e.g. Ericsson W35) work on Land (and motor vehicles) as Telephone and Internet backup, as well as on Marine (Yachts) for PBX “Cellular Line” and 3G Fast Internet (with HSPA - HSUPA and HSDPA via UMTS WCDMA “Leading Edge” Technologies.) They are also great for other Remote Site / Temporary Site / Remote Data Acquisition projects and systems. Please feel free to contact me for a quote on multiple unit purchases.

—
Alan Spicer

DBA Alan Spicer Telcom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
Computer Services, Wired/Wireless Networking,
Cell/Sat/Landline Communications, General Consulting…
Marine, Business, Small Office and Home Office (SOHO)

* Cost Savings and Integration of Multiple Internet Technologies
on board Sail and Motor Yachts * Documentation, Operating
Instructions, and Support after the Sale *

* http://www.marinetelecom.net/
* http://www.internetforyachts.net/
* http://www.wifiyacht.net/
* 954-683-3426

Mobile Internet! Step up to the HSPA 3G Fast Internet!

Ericsson W35 released in the USA. This you’ve gotta SEE!!
Better looking presentation than W25 (you might not want to
hide this one in the Doghouse!) + High Speed Upload which
the W25 did not have.
http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W35/

Ericsson W25 released in the USA.Voice / Fax / High Speed Internet
Voice for your analog jacks or PBX Cell Line + 4 port
CAT5 Ethernet Router and Built-in WiFi Wireless
Replace older Ericsson F series or Telular Boxes
Go To:
http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W25/

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21. July 2009 by admin.

But we don’t broadcast in A Million 80p, do we? That funny commercial from DirecTV as shown here from YouTube. No, they don’t broadcast in A Million 80p - and neither did they just level the playing field. But coming soon, maybe in 10 or 15 years (or sooner?) there may be even “Higher Definition TV” called UHD - Ultra High Definition. I found this while reading some additional stuff related to my last post on DVD Upscaling and while reading about Movie Production with High Definition Video Cameras (1080/24) that are starting to beat 35mm Film for producing movies.

The Wikipedia Site has an article on this…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Hi-Vision

Super Hi-Vision (SHV), also known as Ultra High Definition (UHD), Ultra High Definition Video (UHDV), Ultra High Definition Television (UHDTV)[1], Extreme Definition Video and 8K is an experimental digital video format, currently proposed by NHK of Japan, the BBC, and RAI.

The new format has a resolution of 7680 × 4320 pixels, four times as wide and four times as high (for a total of 16 times the pixel resolution) as existing HDTV, which has a maximum resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will be starting a public-private partnership to develop technology for SHV in the hopes of setting an international standard for Super Hi-Vision in addition to broadcasting with it beginning in 2020.[2]

So, it looks like the war isn’t over for higher definition. There will be an Ultra-High Definition format coming out … maybe in 10 or 15 years? Hopefully not sooner - a lot of people just had to replace their TV’s to get on HDTV.

Most of us probably didn’t realize it but this is what they also call 8K, but other higher resolutions are already being worked with called 2K and 4K … in Digital Cinema, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_cinema

Digital cinema is distinct from high-definition television and in particular, is not dependent on using television or HDTV standards, aspect ratios, or frame rates. Digital projectors capable of 2K resolution began deploying in 2005, and since 2006, the pace has accelerated. (2K refers to images with 2048 horizontal pixel resolution.) (4K refers to 4096×2160 resolution.)

As of 2007 the most common acquisition medium for digitally projected features is 35 mm film scanned and processed at 2K (2048×1080) or 4K (4096×2160) resolution via digital intermediate. Most digital features to date have been shot at 1920×1080 HD resolution using cameras such as the Sony CineAlta, Panavision Genesis or Thomson Viper. New cameras such as the Arriflex D-20 can capture 2K resolution images, and the Red Digital Cinema Camera Company’s Red One can record 4K redcode *RAW. The marketshare of 2K projection in digital cinemas is over 98%. Currently in development are other cameras capable of recording 4K RAW, such as Dalsa Corporation’s Origin, and cameras capable of recording 5K *RAW, such as the RED EPIC, and cameras capable of recording 3K *RAW (for budget filmmakers) such as the RED SCARLET. (Raw redcode is a proprietary wavelet compression scheme offered on the redone camera. It can be defined further on user sites such at reduser, but is not by definition RAW, and does potentially contain compression artifacts.)

(that’s all for now. More at those links…)

—

Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://blog.marinetelecom.net

+1 954 683 3426

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21. July 2009 by admin.

Lincoln Spector has an interesting article on his “Answer Line” blog on PC World. I think this link will get you there: http://www.pcworld.com/blogs/id,1/answer_line.html.

Alan Spicer also had questions and comments about the article…

Is Upconverting Worth It?
Lincoln Spector

Jul 20, 2009 10:44 am

Gordon Walter wants to know if an upscaling DVD player will improve the picture on his HDTV.

Probably, but there’s no guarantee.

The fact is that, even without a new DVD player, the image will be upconverted. Unlike old-fashioned CRTs, plasma, LCD, and DLP displays have fixed resolutions. When an HDTV built around one of these technologies receives a DVD’s 480-line signal, the television upconverts the image before displaying it. If your DVD player does the upconverting, the TV doesn’t have to.

Upconverting, or upscaling, is a complicated process. Some DVD players do it better than others. Same with HDTVs. And there’s no absolute rule that promises that DVD players will always do a better job than HDTVs. In my experience they usually do, but the differences are seldom significant.

(more at the link above…)

“Is Upconverting Worth It?” Comments

aspicer says:

Mon Jul 20 13:43:37 PDT 2009

Re: Is Upconverting Worth It?

Interesting… I wonder what happens when I watch regular DVDs on my computer to my HDTV? I go through an HD video card and an HDMI interface.

I wonder what is the difference between movies shot for Blu-Ray and not shot for Blu-Ray / HDTV? The cameras used are Panavision right? Which are made for film for movie screens. Converting from film to DVD means putting through a machine called a Film Chain. Which I believe basically plays back the film on a screen (along with the audio?) and re-records it in digital format.

So is it worth getting older movies in Blu-Ray? Is it worth getting anything that was not shot for HDTVs ?

What is the difference in resolution between film and HDTV?

LincolnSpector says:

Mon Jul 20 14:10:59 PDT 2009

Re: Is Upconverting Worth It?

Hi, aspicer. A lot of good questions.

Without knowing the details of how your computer is set up, I’d guess that your PC is doing the upscaling so your TV doesn’t have to.

“wonder what is the difference between movies shot for Blu-Ray and not shot for Blu-Ray / HDTV?” It’s not a matter of movies shot for Blu-Ray or not. Movies, especially theatrical ones, are made for a wide variety of formats. Most are shot on 35mm film, which captures far more information than Blu-Ray. More and more are being shot digitally these days, which is cheaper, but most professional filmmakers prefer the look they can only get with film.

Is it worth getting older movies on Blu-ray? Absolutely. One hundred year old 35mm film, if well preserved, still looks better than anything on your TV. I haven’t yet bought the BD of Casablanca, but I want it. And I’m looking forward to the first releases of silent films on BD.

What is the difference in resolution between film and HDTV? No easy answer to that one because it’s an apples and oranges thing. Film grain isn’t inherently numeric like digital resolution. But a lot of experts consider a 4K scan (about four times to the resolution of Blu-ray) the best option for capturing the information on a 35mm negative.

aspicer says:

Mon Jul 20 14:33:56 PDT 2009

Re: Is Upconverting Worth It?

Thanks for the reply and additional information.

I also found this article to be interesting … a bit dated … but chock full of technical details.

http://www.henninger.com/library/hdtvfilm/

Also the updated article (still 6+ years old)

http://www.henninger.com/library/hdtvfilm24/

I would venture to say that most consumers would not go through such a read or research to make their purchasing (or video renting) decisions. I’m not exactly an early early adopter. But I did get a small 4:3 HDTV to start with over a year ago just to see what was going on with DTV and HDTV. I gave that one to mom about 6 months ago and got a 32″ sony HDTV and subscribed on DirecTV with HD. I also got a Blu-Ray drive for my computer. I play all of my movies from the computer’s DVD and Blu-Ray drives. It works pretty well - but it was a learning process because the internal video card could not play HD content with the new Blu-Ray drive. So off to the store to get an HD card and an HDMI cable. Then if I remember right I had to upgrade Cyberlink PowerDVD software to get HD playing capability as well.

I do like know How Stuff Works

—

Alan Spicer

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://blog.marinetelecom.net

+1 954 683 3426

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19. July 2009 by admin.

64 QAM Constellation View

A constellation diagram for rectangular 16-QAM

A constellation diagram is a representation of a signal modulated by a digital modulation scheme such as quadrature amplitude modulation or phase-shift keying. It displays the signal as a two-dimensional scatter diagram in the complex plane at symbol sampling instants. In a more abstract sense, it represents the possible symbols that may be selected by a given modulation scheme as points in the complex plane. Measured constellation diagrams can be used to recognize the type of interference and distortion in a signal. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation_diagram.)

Quadrature amplitude modulation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrature_amplitude_modulation

UMTS Long Term Evolution (LTE) Technology Introduction

Even with the introduction of HSPA, evolution of UMTS has not reached its end. To ensure the competitiveness of UMTS for the next 10 years and beyond, UMTS Long Term Evolution (LTE) has been introduced in 3GPP release 8. LTE, which is also known as Evolved UTRA and Evolved UTRAN, provides new physical layer concepts and protocol architecture for UMTS. This application note introduces LTE technology and testing aspects.

LTE/E-UTRA

Currently, UMTS networks worldwide are being upgraded to High Speed packet Access (HSPA) in order to increase data rate and capacity for packet data. HSPA refers to the combination of High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).
While HSDPA was introduced as a 3GPP release 5 feature, HSUPA is an
important feature of 3GPP release 6. However, even with the introduction of HSPA, evolution of UMTS has not reached its end.  HSPA+ will bring significant enhancements in 3GPP release 7. Objective is to enhance performance of HSPA based radio networks in terms of spectrum efficiency, peak data rate and latency, and exploit the full potential of WCDMA based 5 MHz operation. Important features of HSPA+ are downlink MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), higher order modulation for uplink and downlink, improvements of layer 2 protocols, and continuous packet connectivity.

In order to ensure the competitiveness of UMTS for the next 10 years and beyond, concepts for  UMTS Long Term Evolution (LTE) have been introduced in 3GPP release 8. Objective is a high-data-rate, low-latency and packet-optimized radio access technology. LTE is also referred to as E-UTRA (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) or E-UTRAN (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network). 

This application note focuses on LTE/E-UTRA technology. In the following,
the terms LTE or E-UTRA are used interchangeably. LTE has ambitious requirements for data rate, capacity, spectrum efficiency, and latency. In order to fulfill these equirements, LTE is based on new technical principles. LTE uses new multiple access schemes on the air interface: OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) in
downlink and SC-FDMA (Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access) in uplink.

Furthermore, MIMO antenna schemes form an essential part of LTE. In order to simplify protocol architecture, LTE brings some major changes to the existing UMTS protocol concepts. Impact on the overall network architecture including the core network is referred to as 3GPP System Architecture Evolution (SAE).

Requirements for UMTS Long Term Evolution

LTE is focusing on optimum support of Packet Switched (PS) Services. Main requirements for the design of an LTE system have been captured in 3GPP TR 25.913 [1] and can be summarized as follows:
- Data Rate: Peak data rates target 100 Mbps (downlink) and 50 Mbps (uplink) for 20 MHz spectrum allocation, assuming 2 receive antennas and 1 transmit antenna at the terminal. 
- Throughput: Target for downlink average user throughput per MHz is 3-4 times better than release 6. Target for uplink average user throughput per MHz is 2-3 times better than release 6.
- Spectrum Efficiency: Downlink target is 3-4 times better than release 6. Uplink target is 2-3 times better than release 6.
- Latency: The one-way transit time between a packet being available at the IP layer in either the UE or radio access network and the availability of this packet at IP layer in the radio access network/UE shall be less than 5 ms. Also C-plane latency shall be reduced, e.g. to allow fast transition times of less than 100 ms from camped state to active state.

- Bandwidth: Scaleable bandwidths of 5, 10, 15, 20 MHz shall be supported. Also bandwidths smaller than 5 MHz shall be supported for more flexibility, i.e. 1.4 MHz and 3 MHz for FDD mode. 
- Interworking: Interworking with existing UTRAN/GERAN systems and non-3GPP systems shall be ensured. Multimode terminals shall support handover to and from UTRAN and GERAN as well as inter-RAT measurements. Interruption time for handover between E-UTRAN and UTRAN/GERAN shall be less than 300 ms for real time services and less than 500 ms for non real time services. 

- Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS): MBMS shall be further enhanced and is then referred to as E-MBMS.
- Costs: Reduced CAPEX and OPEX including backhaul shall be achieved. Cost effective migration from release 6 UTRA radio interface and architecture shall be possible. Reasonable system and terminal complexity, cost and power consumption shall be ensured. All the interfaces specified shall be open for multi-vendor equipment
interoperability.
- Mobility: The system should be optimized for low mobile speed (0-15 km/h), but higher mobile speeds shall be supported as well including high speed train environment as special case.
- Spectrum allocation: Operation in paired (Frequency Division Duplex / FDD mode) and unpaired spectrum (Time Division Duplex / TDD mode) is possible.
- Co-existence: Co-existence in the same geographical area and co-location with GERAN/UTRAN shall be ensured. Also, co-existence between operators in adjacent bands as well as cross-border co-existence is a requirement.
- Quality of Service: End-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) shall be supported. VoIP should be supported with at least as good radio andbackhaul efficiency and latency as voice traffic over the UMTS circuit switched networks.
- Network synchronization: Time synchronization of different network sites shall not be mandated.

—
Alan Spicer

DBA Alan Spicer Telcom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
Computer Services, Wired/Wireless Networking,
Cell/Sat/Landline Communications, General Consulting…
Marine, Business, Small Office and Home Office (SOHO)

* Cost Savings and Integration of Multiple Internet Technologies
on board Sail and Motor Yachts * Documentation, Operating
Instructions, and Support after the Sale *

* http://www.marinetelecom.net/
* http://www.internetforyachts.net/
* http://www.wifiyacht.net/
* 954-683-3426

Mobile Internet! Step up to the HSPA 3G Fast Internet!

Ericsson W35 released in the USA. This you’ve gotta SEE!!
Better looking presentation than W25 (you might not want to
hide this one in the Doghouse!) + High Speed Upload which
the W25 did not have.
http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W35/

Ericsson W25 released in the USA.Voice / Fax / High Speed Internet
Voice for your analog jacks or PBX Cell Line + 4 port
CAT5 Ethernet Router and Built-in WiFi Wireless
Replace older Ericsson F series or Telular Boxes
Go To:
http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W25/

Posted in Cellular Voice and Internet | No Comments »

16. July 2009 by admin.

Attacks Against Unpatched Microsoft Bugs Multiply
Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

Jul 14, 2009 6:31 pm

http://www.pcworld.com/article/168424/attacks_against_unpatched_microsoft_bugs_multiply.html?tk=nl_dnx_h_crawl

Attacks exploiting the latest Microsoft vulnerability are quickly ramping up in quantity and intensity, several security companies warned today as they rang alarms about the developing threat.

Symantec, Sunbelt Software and SANS’ Internet Storm Center (ISC) bumped up their warnings yesterday after Microsoft announced that attackers were exploiting a bug in an ActiveX control used by Internet Explorer (IE) to display Excel spreadsheets. There is no patch for the vulnerability, nor will Microsoft release one later today when it issues its July batch of patches.

A temporary fix that sets the “kill bits” of the ActiveX control is available, but experts believe it’s likely most users won’t take advantage of the protection.

(more at the link above…)

* If there’s a fix for something like this that is getting increased exploitation … it’s a good idea to get whatever fix they have. When they are calling it “Zero Day” exploit - then it’s time to do something. In other words as cutesy as it seems it might be time to get “Mr. Fixit” from Microsoft here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/973472

—

Alan Spicer

http://www.marinetelecom.net

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16. July 2009 by admin.

Investigation Into Cyberattacks Stretches Around the Globe

Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service

Jul 14, 2009 6:04 pm

http://www.pcworld.com/article/168415/investigation_into_cyberattacks_stretches_around_the_globe.html?tk=nl_dnx_h_crawl

British authorities have launched an investigation into the recent cyberattacks that crippled Web sites in the U.S. and South Korea, as the trail to find the perpetrators stretches around the world.

On Tuesday, the Vietnamese security vendor Bach Khoa Internetwork Security (Bkis) said it had identified a master command-and-control server used to coordinate the denial-of-service attacks, which took down major U.S. and South Korean government Web sites.

A command-and-control server is used to distribute instructions to zombie PCs, which form a botnet that can be used to bombard Web sites with traffic, rendering the sites useless. The server was on an IP (Internet Protocol) address used by Global Digital Broadcast, an IP TV technology company based in Brighton, England, according to Bkis.

That master server distributed instructions to eight other command-and-control servers used in the attacks. Bkis, which managed to gain control of two of the eight servers, said that 166,908 hacked computers in 74 countries were used in the attacks and were programmed to get new instructions every three minutes.

But the master server isn’t in the U.K.; it’s in Miami, according to Tim Wray, one of the owners of Digital Global Broadcast, who spoke to IDG News Service on Tuesday evening, London time.

(more at the link above …)

* Alan Spicers Note: What’s scary about this is that 166 thousand computers (PC’s) have been compromised and made into Zombies for this purpose. So if your computer is not feeling well or is acting strange? Get it checked out.

—

Alan Spicer

http://www.marinetelecom.net

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