Tech And Leisure..

A quick info for all Malaysian Internet User, TM Bhd just issued a notice with regards to disruption of its Internet services since 18 February 2009 due to circuit fault on the Asia Pacific Cable Network 2 (APCN2) between Kuantan - Katong in Singapore and Shantou - Tanshui in Taiwan linking Malaysia to the United States (US). Normal services will be resumed on 5th march 2009.

This problem will effect Malaysian Internet users disregards of what ISP you are subscribing. Expect slow downloading on popular webpage such as Facebook and Friendster.

To read the notice please click here.

For these past few months I have been testing Yahoo Messenger (YM) using Celcom Mobile Broadband D98- this is due to the fact that a lot of Celcom Mobile Broadband customers face difficulties in accessing YM. For further information, please refer to the details below:

Windows: XP SP2
Modem: Hua Wei E220 (Firmware upgraded to support 7.2Mbps)
Carrier: Celcom Mobile Broadband Advance D98 data Only (Max 3.6 Mbps)
YM versions: 8.0 and 7.0
Location: Seri Gombak and Celcom Headquaters in KL
IP address: 203.82.91.34
Band tested: GPRS, WCDMA, HSDPA


Conclussions:
Connection is not stable for the time being if you are using the YM software. Sometimes the connection is OK and sometimes its the other way arround, but most of the times the connections was failed. However when I tried to access YM via Yahoo web messenger and 3rd party applications like Meebo, it seems that the connections is OK all the time.

Sollutions: Downgrade or Upgrade YM versions is not the answer. Better use the web version or use 3rd party applications like meebo.com.

The recent China Mobile Phones are Bluetooth enabled. A few days ago I managed to play around with my sister`s phone and I found these info about the bluetooth functionn on the phone:

Below are the server address (Outgoing and Incoming) for some of the popular emails provider in Malaysia:

1. Streamyx
Incoming Mail (POP3): pop.streamyx.com
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): roam.tm.net.my @ smtp.streamyx.com
* Do NOT tick SSL
* Advanced Options : Tick Outgoing mail needs authentication (not SSL)

2. TmNet Prepaid
Incoming Mail (POP3): pop.tm.net.my
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): roam.tm.net.my
* Do NOT tick SSL
* Advanced Options : Tick Outgoing mail needs authentication (not SSL)

3. Jaring (Prepaid/Postpaid)
Incoming Mail (POP3): mbox.jaring.my @ pop.jaring.my
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): smtp.jaring.my
* Do NOT tick SSL
* Advanced Options : Tick Outgoing mail needs authentication (not SSL)

4. Gmail (POP)
Incoming Mail (POP3): pop.gmail.com
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): smtp.gmail.com
* Select SSL
* Advanced Options : Tick Outgoing mail needs authentication

5. Gmail (IMAP)
Incoming Mail (IMAP): imap.gmail.com
Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): smtp.gmail.com
* Select SSL (Both incoming and outgoing)
* Advanced Options : Tick Outgoing mail needs authentication

Recently, a friend of mine ask me to test Internet connection using China brand Mobilephone (on celcom 3G carrier) as a modem. So if you are interested in this matter, please continue reading:

China Brand Mobile Phone ( after this will be referred as CBMP throughout the post), can be used as a modem either by using USB cable or using Bluetooth DUN connections.

1# I tried to use the phone using a USB cable using driver and software ( http://mt6227-driver.blogspot.com). Please bear in mind that CBMP used as a modem linked by USB cable got no official support from the manufacturer. Therefore if you try to do this, no guarantee that it will work and if anything happen to your phone (minimal risk if ever present), please dont blame me or the manufacturer. Do this at your own risk.. However the interesting point I want to share here is that I already tested it and the connections was failed. Eventhough after I Installed all the relevent driver and software, my Windows XP SP2 still failed to communicate with the modem (It was detected though as MTK GPRS Phone)

2# I tried to use Bluetooth DUN connections, and the connection was successfull. Just pair your phone with your computer, and once DUN`s driver is installed, you are ready to go.. Pls refer screenshots below:













The last screenshot shows 115.2Kbps which the maximum bandwith speed available for this china mobile phone (for actual speed, I recommend speedtest.net as a third party bandwidth tester) .

If your connection failed, go to control panel>phone and modem>Modem>highlight Bluetooth DUN Modem and select properties>Diagnostic>Query Modem. Once your query modem success, select advance and under the extra intialization command box key in: +cgdcont=1,"ip","celcom3g". Press OK twice to get back to the control panel window and try again to do the connection.