A Quick Update on Life

Well, not too much has happened lately. I have added Google Adsense to RockyRoad Entertainment's website just for fun. I'm pretty sure that RockyRoad Entertainment won't get a lot of revenue through Google's Adsense program but I guess we will see. In fact I've had this on the RockyRoad Entertainment website for at least a couple of month now, as well as Google Analytics. And suprisingly the site does pretty well for attracting visitors. I was suprised to see the number, which I won't release just yet, as I'm sure if everything that is in the works, works out those number can grow.
As for an update with Cingular Wireless, I have to say I'm still impressed. You see about a week and a half ago my speaker, on my Motorola Razr V3 Black Edition, started cutting out during calls where service was at least 3 bars or more. These places included school, home, and even on the road. So I called up Customer Service and they tried to send some stuff to my phone, and had problem. In fact my phone was so stubborn they said it was one of the most difficult phones they have ever tried to work with. So they had asked me to stop by a Cingular store and have them check the SIM card. Seeing as there is a Cingular store less than two minutes away from school, I stopped by in between classes and told them what the CSR said. They took out the SIM card and continued to put some updated for the phone on it before putting it back in the phone and having me on my way. So I continued to try and use my phone and the problem continued, except that this time the speaker volume liked to go from low to high on it's own and high to low on it's own, usually being very low. Now I know that the Razr's volume is set very low from the factory but this was worse than when I first got the phone. So again I'm on the phone with Customer Service, but this time the contact LockLine, my phones insurance coompany, to issue me a brand new one. So the new phone arrived today and I must say the new one is nice, and feels like it was built better than my old one. So once again I'm satisfied by Cingular and their Customer Support Representatives. The thing I'm not satisfied with them about though is that they told me that, unless I had my phone for my contracts duration, or paid full price, they can't unlock my phone. This is all good and dandy but I can find numerous account on the internet where you have to be with them for three months and they will unlock your phone for free. I mean that would be the right thing to do, especially since if I cancel service within my two year agreement they anally rape my in New York for $240.
Stayed tuned for my next blog post titled - "Running a Business Is Not As Easy as it's Made Out to Be!" Till then so long.

Linksys PAP2-NA

Ok, well back when I ordered ViaTalk Service I was given a free Linksys PAP2 for being a beta tester of the service (basically, all we did was get everything before it launched, we still had to pay for it and all although I got like 2 1/2 months for free for doing it). Anyways when I received the package a while back, I noticed that the box the VoIP adapter came in said Linksys PAP2-NA. And after much research and snooping around I've come to find that ViaTalk, does indeed ship out UNLOCKED PAP2 adapters to it's customers. But wait, don't get your panties in a bunch just yet. These adapter that they ship out are UNLOCKED but they hold the Admin password in which you can get if you pay them $50. Well as I was sitting around tongiht, I decided to see since I no longer have ViaTalk, if I could hack the PAP2 to stop it from having an Admin password. And after searching on the net, found the perfect solution. Originally found here, I'll also list them below:

1. Hook up you PAP2 adapter as you normally would but DO NOT PLUG IT IN TO YOUR NETWORK just yet
2. Unplug the power cord from your cable modem
3. Now plug your PAP2 adapter into your router
4. Pick up the phone it's connected to and dial ****
5. Then dial 73738#
6. When it prompts you for a password use one of the following: 7756112# or 8995523#
7. Press 1 to confirm and the press # to hang up

After you do this you should be able to the WebAdmin portion of your Linksys PAP2 and all of the configurations should be reset to what ViaTalk gets from Cisco. And when you click on the upper right hand link called "Admin Login" you should not be prompted for a password and you should eb able to change any settings you want.

Please note that this was done on a PAP2 with the firmware version: 2.0.12(LS)
DISCLAIMER: This article is for reference only and if followed I take no responsibility for your actions (which include but are not limited to Violation of ToS, Rendering your PAP2 unusable, or any other damages you may cause).

Please note that here are some other useful links to check out:
Yahoo - Linksys PAP2 Group
Voxilla Forum Thread on PAP2-NA Firmware
Linksys Download Page for the PAP2
Sipura - The technology maker Cisco licensed technology from to make the PAP2 before buying them
VoIPSupply.com - Buy everything you need for VoIP

Life, Technology, and College...(Not Particularly in that Order)

For those who don't know, I will be attending my second semester at Erie Community College - North Campus starting on January 23rd, 2006. During my first semester I had no gripes or complaints other than the fact that some of my teachers who will remain unnamed, lacked the knowledge of the course material and was clearly not prepared to teach the class in which they were assigned to teach. But of course, for a community this is understandable. Now going into my second semester I must say the Associates Degree which should have only taken me Two Years to recieve is slipping further away. But wait...It's not due to me failing any classes, especially when I finished the first semester with a 3.44 GPA with nothing below a B. But instead it comes to the fact that all classes rely on classes in which I can't take yet. This is mostly due to me scoring not as good as I should have on the placement test in math last summer but there is more. Then I since I need to fill up credit hours I'm looking into other fields to try to find a suitable minor, since I'm majoring in Computer Science, when I come across TeleCommunications. This would be great or so I thought, but it turns out it was not. First off all the classes are at South Campus, which isn't a problem since I can drive to class, but the problem lays in being they are not offering the Prerequisite to the class I want to take at all this semester. Which is kind of dumb in my opinion, teach the follow-up but not the class before it. So there are some gripes and growing pains about college to start.
Next off Technology. While doing my normal scan through Digg today I ran across this story How Go Daddy Lost A Longtime Customer to A Phisher. The only thing I have to say is that after reading this it really makes me want to have my own dns servers setup here for the company. So fi anyone has any ideas on how to go about with an easy Windows Based DNS server drop me a comment. Other than this I've been doing a lot of work and dealing with life, so that's all I got for now. And in case you didn't know yet, I'll be unavailable for the next couple days as I am taking care of family issues after the recent death of my Grandmother.

Making the Switch

After two years of having Verizon Wireless out here in the Alden area I've made the switch and it couldn't come at a better time. My contract with Verizon Wireless ends on January 17th, 2006 so instead of renewing it I decided to try Cingular Wireless out one more time. I previously tried it when it first rolled out service in 2000 and was less than impressed. Back than I had dropped calls in places I had full service and less that admirable sound quality on my phone. But it's been about 5 years since that time and GSM technology has come a long way since then. So first before we get into my review of Cingular's Service let me list the reasons I decided to drop Verizon Wireless in the first place.
Verizon while it's touted as have great reception, prices, and customer services, I find it falls short in some of those areas. For instance when I first got my phone I had great reception in my basement where my room is, where as now I get crappy reception, frequent dropped calls, and shady reception in other areas around town. And yes, I'd always keep my phone with the most up to date prl's. The prices I can't agrue about but the customer service I found to be very bad and difficult to deal with. I mean I'm paying the bill here but whenever I had to take to Verizon on the phone they didn't even care to talk about any issues I've had or at least the CSR I've gotten had been that way with me.
Now on to Cingular! First off Cingular has begun to put themselves in a position that helped Verizon get to where it is today. Cingular starting January 2nd, 2006 had begun selling Phones and Service in RadioShacks WorldWide, replacing Verizon Wireless. Then I decided to get the Motorola Razr V3 Black which yes, I know Verizon has a CDMA version but Verizon cripples their devices which Cingular so far and to my knowledge has not. Next is the GSM network, which to my understanding works in 3 parts. The first part takes up part of the tower to connect to the call, when that is done it move on to part two and frees up more space for other people to connect to the tower to place and recieve calls. The second part is when you are actually connected to the call and having your conversation. And finally after that it frees up that part and moves to part three which disconnect the call. So this is done to allow more people on a tower at a time and compared to what I've read it allows up to twice as many people on a Cingular tower comapred to Verizon and their CDMA technology.
Now after getting Cingular again I was skeptical but after playing around a bit I must note that the sound quality is fantastic, the Motorola Razr is fantastic, and customer service is very helpful and willing to work with you on various issues. So hands down Cingular so far seems to be a great buy and even better when they launch their Ringback tones equivalent AnswerTones sometime this Spring.

What's New with Life?

Well it's been a long time since I posted here, so I figured I'd give everyone an update. The past few months have been somewhat a RockyRoad. I left the Erie County Home where I was working due to problems with their management. And have been unemployed. Recently I was hired at GameStop in the Eastern Hills Mall where I am a Seasonal Sales Associate.
On another note for all of you that have been to my house, your next visit will be a little different. This is because my room has moved. Yes, you heard correctly I changed rooms from my upstairs room to something a little more comfortable and livable for me.
The formation and start-up of RockyRoad Ent. is taking off to a slow start but there are some projects in the works which at this time I don't feel like disclosing to all. This is mainly due to the fact that I'm not one to go about and brag or mention a product until I have a working prototype because some project just don't work out and I don't want to get any hype around something that won't be pursued or even remotely in a workable state, at least not now.
As for everything life is good, I guess. Nicole and I are not together, but then again what else is new. I'm currently dating this girl Lauren from Holland. And you can usually find me at the clubs on any given Saturday Night, and sometimes Friday depending on what's going on. If you ever see me I'll be with my 3 boys, Bob, Dave, and Alan who are are Staff members at Utopia. So until next time, Party On!