By “ADSL modem” we mean the device which connects to the internet through a phone line. A modem supplies connection to at least one computer via net or USB wire. The router is a device which simultaneously “distributes” the connection to a certain number of computers.

This delivery can also be made wireless: in this case the router is generally called “Access Point Wireless”. Please note that, being its task not to execute the connection, but to distribute it, a router commonly needs a modem to get the internet connection. ADSL modems with integrated router are available and widespread.

What we find in a store

Be careful: in stores are available different kinds of devices only apparently similar (to non-experts).

• Modem ADSL Used to access the internet, it connects to a computer through a network cable or an USB wire.
• Modem ADSL with HUB (integrated router) Used to access the internet, it can distribute the connection to a number of computers through network cables.
• Access point Wireless Used to distribute a connection coming from an existing modem to a number of computers, wireless.
• Modem ADSL with integrated Access Point Wireless Connects to the internet and at the same time distributes the connection to a number of computers, wireless.

We recommend to be careful when buying ADL modems and routers because, even if bearing technical specs printed on the package, they can be easily mistaken and buying an Access Point Wireless being convinced it works also as an ADSL modem, is a mistake much more common that one would think.

Phoning with internet (VoIP)

Besides ADSL connection, many providers supply the opportunity to phone via internet (VoIP). If you intend to use this service, there are 3 possible ways: Using a preset router (VoIP router) connected to a normal telephone device. Using a “VoIP” telephone (very expensive) connected to a simple router through a network cable. Using an adapter, which connects a standard telephone device to a standard router (VoIP adapter).

Choosing with no hesitation

Eventually, when purchasing an ADSL modem for domestic or SOHO (small offices) use, we highly recommend a modem with integrated Access Point and a 4 or more ports hub which will allow wireless navigation and give the possibility to share the connection through network cables. In addition, with a hub it’s possible to use VoIP adapters, should you want to utilize VoIP internet phone service.

As regards the ADSL connection, the provider might offer a choice between Ethernet router and USB connection. OK, always choose Ethernet connection cause an USB modem cannot be connected to a router and a great number of services, today as yesterday, require a router to function.

Check ikaro.com for furhter information about modems and routers.

Daniele Di Gregorio is a web engineer and new media expert. In the last 2 years he focused on social networking and viral marketing. He currently manages ikaro.net, an italian ICT portal and ikaro.com, the english version. He recently opened Article Marketing Italia,one of the first article marketing sites in italy.

So you need ten sets of a fifty page document for this mornings meeting. It’s 8:30AM and your meeting is at 9:00AM. You begin with your project and the copier jams. You clear the jam but it keeps jamming! It’s not pulling in the paper. Sure you can call the repair person, but you need the copies now! There’s nothing you can do, or is there?

All office equipment that feeds paper has a component inside that pulls the paper out of the paper tray and into the machine. Most are made out of rubber and just like the tires on your car they wear out. When a roller is worn and dirty they will cause paper jams. The purpose of this article is to show you how you can clean or rejuvenate the rollers long enough for you to complete your job and have your repair person come out and fix it properly.

Alternative solutions
When your machine is jamming, first locate where the paper is jamming. Which paper tray? Is it tray 1 or tray 2? Also which size is jamming? On machines that have more than one paper tray you can switch paper trays and then you can skip cleaning the rollers. Make sure when you change cassettes that the copier registers the correct size. The machine will think it is a different size and it will jam. The sensors are set for a specific timing and it will know the difference in length from letter size and legal size. I also would try using the bypass tray or manual feed tray if so equipped. This will get you up and running quicker than cleaning the rollers.

Determining if the rollers are the problem:
If you need the specific tray to be functional we will get busy with the repair.
First make a single copy in the tray that is jamming. By doing this you are determining where the paper is jamming. If it is jamming in the exit for instance, you have another problem. If it is jamming in the center of the machine, again it is a different problem. But if it jams at the cassette or paper tray area the next step is removing the paper tray. Shine your flashlight into the paper feed area and see if there are any pieces of paper torn off inside or something blocking the paper path. Now that you have ruled out a blocked paper path, you can clean the feed roller(s).

Tools Required:
Flashlight, strong cotton towel (so it will not rip off in the machine), WD-40 or Rubber roller rejuvenator.
Note: Never use alcohol to clean rollers. It dries out the tread and the remaining tread will get ripped off and then it still will not feed. Use WD-40 it works great!

Cleaning the rollers:
Shine your flashlight into the paper feed area and locate the rubber rollers that feed the paper in. Grab your towel and saturate it with cleaning fluid. This can be WD-40 or your favorite roller rejuvenator. Start by cleaning the roller and spinning it all the way around not missing any of the surfaces of the roller. Then go over it again with the dry part of the towel. As I said there are many different types. Some have a set of three rollers. One Pre-feed roller, this pushes the paper into the other rollers. One feed roller and one separation roller. Others have a half moon style. These are harder to clean because they have a clutch system that keeps it at home position when not feeding.

WARNING: If you try and turn these to clean them you will damage the clutch mechanism! There are two ways you can clean these types. First you can actuate the clutch by pushing down on the solenoid or release lever. This sometimes can be hard to get to. You can also start the copy process and shut off the machine exactly when the feed roller engages. This takes some patience and practice but it is better than damaging the clutch. Once you get it where you can clean the roller repeat the procedure above.

Some alternatives to replacing feed rollers:
There is a material called feed roller tape. I have used it when I didn’t have the right roller in my car stock. It works with some styles mainly half moon styles. Just peel off the adhesive and wrap it around the worn roller surface. They also have some that stretch over the old rollers. I have never used this but I have been told it will get you up and running. On old copiers or printers that you can no longer get parts for you can apply clear silicon on the feed surface and let it dry twenty four hours. It works but I am inclined to use the real thing. You can also use generic rollers manufactured for almost all equipment. I have mixed feeling about these because I have had to go back and change them again later. For the best repair I use genuine OEM feed rollers. They are still inexpensive and they will last you longer and you will have fewer headaches.

Feed Rollers
There are many types of rollers and feed systems. Here are some common feed rollers with their part numbers. Rollers will normally come in a maintenance kit but they may need to be replaced approximately half way through the maintenance kit cycle.

HP LJ-4000 laser printer
Feed Rollers
RG5-2651-000CN x 2
Note: These are very easily replaced. Just unsnap them and replace them with the new roller.

Toshiba E-Studio 350/450 Photocopier
Paper Feed Rollers
44201807000 x2, 4400669910
Note: These take a little more work. First you need to remove the paper feed assembly and then you can get to the clips that hold them on.

I hope this has helped you complete your print or copy job. Please remember that this article is just a quick fix and not a long term solution. Be sure and call your repair person to fix it correctly.

Bill Tucker has been in the office equipment and supply industry for over 20 years and has several published industry related articles that help the end-user as well as the technician.

Click here for more industry related articles and high quality OEM and compatible toner cartridges –TonerOvernight.com

The invention of batteries is perhaps one of the most useful innovations of the modern times. In the contemporary world which is brimming with all sorts of gadgetry, the importance of batteries is becoming clearer to us.

We all hate alkaline batteries for they are so unreliable. It dies within a short span of time and then add on to the junk of our houses. The better option is to buy rechargeable batteries that are indeed better and useful in comparison to the former. The way by which these rechargeable batteries function is equivalent to the way your regular batteries function. The only difference is that when the need of replacement arises, all you need to do is to recharge these batteries and use it again.

Rechargeable batteries can also be named as cheap batteries as they avoid the hassle of walking to the high street shop to buy a new one every time. The electronic gadgets are numerous and forever increasing. Thereby enhancing the need for these rechargeable batteries. From charging your clocks or stereo to lights or toys, a fairly large chunk of our household works on these batteries. For instance, if you constantly need to operate your laptop while travelling, then you can stick on to the rechargeable laptop battery rather than opting for the normal batteries, for they are indeed helpful to keep your gadget go on and on.

These cheap batteries have made our lives easier and convenient. Nearly all the top manufacturing brands are into producing these types of batteries. So forget about your old alkaline batteries. See the new mantra of power which is emerging in the form of cheap rechargeable batteries.

Fletcher Mak is an author, write various articles on different themes to expand information, because articles is a good way to send their information to needy people easily. You can get more detailed about rechargeable battery and other cheap laptops.

The UPS is meant to only give you sufficient power to either help you switch on the alternate power like a generator / alternator or save your work and shut down the system that you are working on. When one is quite engrossed in his / her work one may not notice that the main power has failed and will continue to work with the UPS power if there are no indications.

This is where the necessity of a warning comes up. Standard UPS incorporates both audio and visual warnings for the user to understand that the power is being consumed form the battery and not from the main line.

Visual warning:
There are UPS that have one LED, two LED’s and three LED’s. For UPS with a single LED, the LED glows a green color, indicating the system is working on the main power line. When the power fails, the LED turns either amber or a red with blinking at an interval of thirty seconds indicating that the UPS is working with back up power; power being supplied from the battery that is in the UPS. After for a particular duration of time and if by then the power is not restored by switching on a generator / alternator, the light turns a bright red along with continuous blinking indicating that you have a critical two minutes left for the power of the battery to drain out and crash abruptly.

For UPS with two LED’s the green is a solo type indicating mains; and the type, then only one green light is visible. If the UPS is having two lights then the green LED is “ON” and the other LED is off indicating main power line consumption. When the power main power fails, the other LED i.e. either a red or amber comes on indicating the power is of last two minutes. This is accompanied by continuous blinking of the LED indicator.

For UPS that have three LED’s , the green indicates UPS working from main lines, the amber indicates the UPS working from battery back up and the red LED indicates UPS working from critical backup. As mentioned in the UPS with two LED’s the blinking of the UPS is the same here too. For back up it is blinking at the rate of thirty seconds per blink and for critical power it is blinking at the rate of almost one second per blink.

Audio warning:
Almost all UPS have an audio warning incorporated into the circuit. The audio warning is a beep, which during critical back up power being consumed the beep is continuous with a frequency that is equal to the blink rate. The audio warning gives one an indication that it is high time you shout down your UPS after saving critical data.

Lee Smith is a technical writer for GE Digital Energy , provider of the best ninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) equipment offering the highest quality of UPS and related software products in the industry.

http://www.gedigitalenergy.co.uk/

A hybrid hard drive (HHD) is a standard hard drive fitted with a large buffer or memory cache that does not require a spinning disk to record data. This “non volatile” form of flash memory is included in the HHD in increments of up to one gigabyte, resulting in a hard drive that basically functions to back up the memory cache.

The “platters,” or discs in a hybrid hard drive are thus required to crank up and spin only when the buffer memory is filled or when the computer operator is moving extremely large files around. The result is that for normal computer operators, the hard drive is actually spinning a fraction of the time that the computer is in operation, compared with one hundred percent of the time for a standard hard drive.

The advantages of this format are several. Because the HHD is actually turning only ten percent of the time or less, the computer consumes far less power and generates far less heat. These features are particularly valuable in a laptop that is operating on battery power. It is also true that laptops have been somewhat limited in the video horsepower they can handle due to heat generation. Any reduction in heat for a laptop is going to allow for the expansion of available features.

When the computer operator is working only off the buffer memory, the result is also increased speed. The reverse is true, however, when it is necessary to search and retrieve files stored on the hard drive itself. That requires the discs to get up to speed and the search software to execute its function, a process that is somewhat slower than with a computer equipped with a standard drive.

Proponents also note that a motionless hard drive is a silent hard drive, thus reducing the noise output of the computer. Wear and tear on the hard drive is also greatly reduced by this engineering concept, resulting in longer life for the hard drive - and, in all likelihood, its computer. One of the potential downsides for HHDs, however, is the fact that most of the wear on a hard drive and the majority of its power consumption occurs during “spin up.” That means the constant starting and stopping could create power usage and wear that is not currently part of a standard computer’s function.

There is also the possibility of data loss in the event that the computer crashes. A flash memory device loses all data when it goes down. A hard drive, on the other hand, can often be coaxed to produce “lost” data from a crash - a process that usually requires an expert, but that is a possibility nonetheless.

Samsung and Microsoft have collaborated on a hybrid due for introduction in 2007. While Samsung is the world leader in the production of flash memory devices, it is unclear what role Microsoft is playing in the product rollout - other than nosing its way into yet another market segment.

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for ApolloHosting.com. She brings years of experience as a small business consultant to helping prospective clients understand the ways in which a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, vps hosting, and web design services to a wide range of customers. Established in 1999, Apollo prides itself on the highest levels of customer support.

This Acer AJ17 Monitor came in with the complaint of wide screen and distortion (line swimming) across the vertical line of the display. Although you can adjust the horizontal size, you just can’t make it into smaller and the horizontal size still big and curve inward. You could also clearly see all the vertical lines at the display have a small wave (distortion) across it. At first I thought it was caused by a defective filter capacitor at secondary side of the display but all the capacitors checked to be okay.

Since all the caps tested okay, now I fully concentrate on the horizontal size and pincushion circuit area. If there are any components shorted or faulty in this area, it will cause the display to go big (wide) and many times you can’t tune it back to normal size. From experienced, mostly the problem was the modulation diode that have shorted or a pincushion transistor that have leaked. But both components and all the nearby circuit components checked to be okay too. Using high voltage probe to test on the anode voltage proved it to within the right range. For your information, if the holddown or safety capacitor capacitance value out it could also cause the display to turn big but of course the high voltage measured at the anode cap would be higher.

Since all the suspected components measured okay, I would then use voltage testing to locate the fault. Just before doing the voltage test, I observed that the eeprom ic is installed just beneath the picture tube. If any eeprom ic in any monitor located under the belly of the CRT, then chances are high the data would be corrupted by the discharge of the CRT.

If you repair some of the latest model of Samsung Monitor, you will understand why because the Samsung monitor had a piece of aluminum shielding to protect the microprocessor and eeprom IC from being discharge onto it. A corrupted eeprom data could cause the micro processor to output a wrong signal to certain or all circuit. If it send a wrong signal to the DPMS circuit, then the monitor will shutdown once the power is on.

The ACER AJ17 eeprom IC part number was 24C08. I used to keep good eeprom data in my hardisk for future use just in case if there is a need to reprogram the eeprom IC. I took out the eeprom IC from the board and insert it to the center socket of the pony prog eeprom serial programmer. I then connect it to the serial port of my computer and begin to look for the good data for this model. I do keep a lot of ACER monitor eeprom IC data. Once I got it, I overwrite the old data with the good data.

Installing back the eeprom IC took only a while and the Monitor was switched “on”. Guess what? Not only the horizontal size now got back to normal, the distortion at the vertical lines vanished too. You better believe it that a corrupted eeprom IC could cause many weird symptoms. For some monitors, once the eeprom IC have been programmed, although the monitor work, the color may run. Some techs are good in changing the code in the data and tune to the desire colors.

In order to make the new reprogrammed eeprom data last longer, you can add a piece of shielding on top of the EEprom IC to prevent any loss data in the future. Bare in mind that, eeprom data loss not only occurs in monitor, it could happen in other electronic equipment too such as LCD Monitor, Television, UPS and etc. Whether you are repairing the ACER AJ17 or any other brand of Monitors, if you come across any weird problems that you can’t solve, try reprogramming the eeprom IC and who knows the monitor may work again. In order to do this, of course you need a serial programmer which you can easily buy one from the internet.

Jestine Yong is a electronic repairer and a writer, for more monitor repair information, please visit his website at http://www.electronicrepairguide.com/computer-monitor.html

A slide projector is a great way to store, share and show photos, presentations and other information. But what do you do when your slide projector is having problems. How to fix it can be a simple matter of jiggling a few wires, cords or cables, or taking the entire projector apart and taking a peek as to what’s inside.

The most common problem with a slide projector that needs fixing is a simple projector jam. A projector jam is when one of the slides is stuck in a position that won’t allow the carousel to rotate. Now, this may seem like a minor inconvenience, but it should also be the first area you look into when your projector is having problems. How to fix it, and remove the jammed slide can be done in a matter of steps.

1. Shut the slide projector off and let it cool down for a few minutes.

2. Remove the slide tray by loosening a latch or placing a coin in the middle of the tray & turning it

3. Turn the tray upside down

4. Locate the jammed slide and carefully remove it

5. Place the tray back into the projector

6. If the slide isn’t damaged, insert it back into the carousel

The next time you notice your slide projector is having problems, how to fix it is to follow the steps listed above. Normally, when a slide projector won’t fully rotate, it’s because of a jammed or lodged slide within the carousel. Carefully removing the trapped slide should solve any projector problems you’re experiencing.

If you’ve followed the steps noted above, and you find that still your slide projector is having problems, an experienced technician may tell you how to fix it, and guide you through various stages of repair. The larger the slide projector you have, the more chances it has to jam. So before you take your projector apart or visit a potentially expensive repairman, be absolutely certain that it isn’t a jammed slide that’s causing your projector problems.

If your digital image projector is having problems, how to fix it can be a matter of replacing a burnt out bulb, ensuring that all your cables are properly connected to rebooting the entire system itself, depending on the sophistication level of your projector. Always go through the instruction manual when your digital projector is acting up.

Sometimes when your projector is having problems, how to fix it can be as easy as remounting it or reinstalling it. An improperly mounted projector can sometimes not project any image at all, and may appear to be broken and in need of fixing. Check to see if your projector is mounted and affixed straight. If it isn’t, take it down and remount it, being careful to make certain that it’s properly mounted. That should solve any issues regarding your projector’s refusal to show images. If that does not work, then you may consider taking your digital projector back to its point of purchase for a qualified inspection.

Jeffrey Saunders loves do-it-yourself technology

He also likes great deals on refurbished electronics. Amazing prices on big brand names like the Apple iPod Nano

And more fantastic deals on great items like digital camcorders.

Nothing is worse then going to print out an important document and finding that your printer has ceased to function. We all know the drill; we’re getting error messages left and right; over and over again we open up the machine and unleash the many hidden compartments looking for a jammed piece of a paper or anything that will clue us in to the problem. And when we’re at our wits end we know that it’s time to make the call for printer repair.

Printer repair is a difficult choice to weigh, simply because the affordable prices of printers makes the purchase of a new one – over the repair of an old one – sometimes easier and less expensive. Deciding on printer repair depends largely on the component that has stopped functioning. If you’re dealing with a paper jam you just can’t seem to solve, then, chances are, a printer repair professional can eradicate the problem very quickly and at very little cost.

If you’ve had ongoing problems with your printer and the repair bills have continued to mount, then it may be wise to skip the printer repair going forward and purchase a newer printer with a warranty. A printer repair warranty would essentially alleviate the worry over a printer breakdown, as parts and, in many a case, labor is covered under the warranty contract.

If you have to send your printer out for printer repair then turn to the manufacturer first and foremost. A printer manufacturer has a vested interest in upholding the reputation of its products. You will often find printer repair professionals who offer a superior level of service; and you can rest assured that the replacement parts you are receiving – if necessary – are in line with the manufacturer’s standards.

Some large office equipment supply stores also offer printer repair but be sure that you’re dealing with a reputable organization that will give you the same quality parts that you purchased initially. There are also private companies that offer printer repair; in some cases they will come to your office and work on the printer there. Weigh price considerations when determining the best printer repair as well; some of these smaller companies offer more competitive rates than the big guys, although you want to ensure that you’re getting the same level of quality work.

When it comes to printer repair, you must first determine the wisdom of repair versus the purchase of a new machine. If printer repair is the way to go, then be sure you are comparing apples with apples when considering several different companies.

For easy to understand, in depth information about printer repair visit our ezGuide 2 Printer.

Are you wondering if there’s an inexpensive way to backup the data on your hard disk? There is! While DVDs cost a bit more than CDs, they have so much more storage capacity that the extra cash is worth it. Many computers that are on the market today have DVD burners integrated into the computer from the start. This allows you to utilize this great backup storage option without having to spend any extra cash later on.

DVDs are much better than the older storage options availe on the market before they became standard. The closest type of backup media to the DVDs were CD-Rs, but CD-Rs could only hold 700MB of information, which left them at a huge disadvantage. Besides the that, the biggest benefit of DVD storage is that you can very easily create multiple backups over a period of time without incurring a huge extra cost. If you need a new external hard drive every time you backup your system, you can imagine that the cost will go up fairly rapidly.

You might have to purchase a DVD writer if your computer wasn’t fitted with one. If this is the case for you, then you should make sure that you pay attention to the format of the drive before you buy it.

Drive format? Aren’t all DVD drives and DVD writers the exact same? Yes, they are all DVD drives. However, there are different formats due to the different ways in which different companies started to make DVD discs. If you are going to buy a DVD drive, you should look for one that says it can do DVD+R, and DVD-R. If you are looking for one that has rewriting capabilities, look for DVD+RW and DVD-RW in the same drive. This will give you the most flexibility when burning discs.

DVD+R and DVD-R are the same type of disc, they just have different formats. You cannot use a DVD+R in a DVD-R and vice versa, but you can use them both in a drive that is marked for both types of disc. Most new drives can read and write to both types of DVD.

DVD+RW compared to DVD+R are DVDs that can be written to more than once. This is similar to the difference between CD-Rs and CD-RWs. A typical DVD can hold about 4.7GB of data which is what makes these ideal for backups.

There is also a DVD-RAM disc which is 9.4GB of data and a dual-layer DVD that has 8.3GB of space. These are great if you need to back up really large files. However, you will have to make sure that you DVD writer is able to write to those formats.

If you want an easy method of backing up your hard drive, you should invest in a DVD burner, a stack of DVDs and a backup software program to make sure that everything important on your hard drive gets backed up without too much fuss or work on your part.

Backing up the data on your hard drive is no longer optional. It’s critical! Learn more about how to backup your computer today at BackupAdvice dot com.

The hard drive disk of a computer is the primary storage device of the computer. It is a non-removable device that retains all the information when the computer is turned off. A fast hard drive supplies the computer with data as fast as it needs. Hard drives are measured in Gigabytes (GB) and the larger the number, the more storage the computer has. When looking at purchasing a new home computer or laptop, it is important to understand how the hard drive works with your computer and how much storage capacity you will need.

When saving information on your computer, the application is recorded on a magnetic platter inside the hard drive. Most hard drives have several platters that allow them to spin up to 15,000 times per minute. The amount of hard drive space the computer has will affect how much data that can be saved. The data on a hard drive can be deleted or erased from the memory at any time and does not need a constant power supply to save the information.

It used to be that hard drives were small and had a capacity of no more than 5 MB, now most new computers and laptops have no less than 40 GB. Some hard drive capacities can exceed 120 GB. Today, computers with these capabilities can store a massive amount of information, videos and photos without getting bogged down.

Choosing a hard drive can be confusing if you are not familiar with what to look for. Hard drives can have a very high capacity and they can be very small. It is important when looking at hard drive for your computer or laptop to know what you need. Performance in a hard drive can vary dramatically. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to save information and learning your hard drive is full. If you plan on using your hard drive to store a minimum amount of information, you may not need to spend the extra money on a bigger hard drive.

For storing large files, videos, music and pictures, your computer will need to be equipped with a larger amount of hard drive space. You can purchase 160 GB and bigger of hard drive space on most computers. The general rule of thumb for purchasing hard drive space is to purchase the largest amount of space you think you will need and that you can afford.

Price is another factor when choosing the right hard drive size. The most common size of hard drive for the money ranges from 60 to 80 gigabytes. These hard drive sizes are readily available on most operating systems. They are a good economical choice for computer users needing the computer for everyday storage and use.

Besides the size of the hard drive and purchase price consider access times and transfer rates when looking at hard drives. The transfer rate is how much data can be transferred per second. This can vary though, depending on the condition of the computer. A computer that is nearly full may have a much slower transfer rate.

Transfer rates come in either internal or external. The internal transfer rate is how fast the hard drive can read the date. The external transfer rate is how fast the drive can speed data to whatever it is connected to. Usually, the transfer rate will be a little slower than listed, so it is best to get a faster transfer rate. The external rate is link to the type of hard drive that the computer is using.

Be aware that hard drive speed is affect by the computer’s capabilities. If your computer is slow, a bigger and faster hard drive will do you little good. Also, if your computer is operating slowly, a bogged down hard drive may be the problem. If your computer system is running slow, deleting unnecessary files from the hard drive. Defrag is another option used to optimize slow hard drive systems.

Fragmentation of the hard drive occurs when the operating system breaks a saved file into separate pieces and stores them in other places. This usually happens when there is not enough room to store all the date. Defrag takes those stored file fragments and pieces them back together again. The process can be time consuming, but is a good way to optimize hard drive space and the speed of the computer.

Peter Dobler is a veteran in the IT business. His passion for experimenting with new internet marketing strategies leads him to explore new niche markets.
Read more about his experience with home electronics; visit http://home-theater-systems.tip4u2.com