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Mifi 2200 mobile hotspot review

Mifi 2200 mobile hotspot review

I recently swapped my Hugesnet Satellite system for the Verizon Mifi 3g mobile hotspot. So far I have been very happy with it.

I was at fist concerned about signal strength as we sometimes drop cell calls at our house. My plan to was to find somewhere in the house that had a good signal and then use a router as a repeater. However, in actual use, it picks up everywhere in the house. I just sit it near what ever computer I am using or, if it is charging, just lay it in the floor in the hallway.

This past weekend, I took the device to my mother’s house so she could test it. She currently uses the Verizon USB modem. To get reception in her computer room, she has to plug the modem into a long USB extension cable and tape the modem to the window.

My Mifi needed charging so I sat in on her sewing table well away from where hers gets a signal while I booted up my lap top. I let it connect to the wireless signal and I planned to move it once it charged up a bit. However, to my surprise, it had plenty of signal right where it was. This was in the center of her basement where cell phones hardly work.

She was able to connect with her laptop and carry it upstairs while the Mifi sat in the basement plugged to the charger. Both of us were amazed at the signal strength not only of the wireless signal but also the cellular reception.

So far the only disappointment has been that the tethered mode of plugging the Mifi into my computer via the USB cable refuses to work. I had hoped to use tethered mode while in the car to avoid running down the battery in the Mifi. My computer uses XP so I suspect that there is some problem with the installer it my older version of windows. I gave up trying to use tethered mode as the wireless mode works so well. The battery life is several hours so it has not been a problem yet.

In order to connect my desktop computer to the Mifi signal, I used dd-wrt software to convert my old router to client mode. The router automatically recognizes the Mifi anytime it is turned on and logs in automatically. All, I do is turn on the Mifi hotspot and in a few seconds, I am on the internet with the desktop.

When using my laptop, I always have to hit the refresh button to see available wireless connections before it will see the Mifi. But once I click refresh, it connects automatically.

I have the 3GB per month plan and so far I am on target to use about that much. The satellite plan gave me 200MB per day so I am accustomed to working within bandwidth restrictions. I use Opera in Turbo mode to save bandwidth when possible. However the other users in my house just browse as they normally would.
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Flea and Tick control

Smash is starting to collect tick already this year. Every afternoon during a pet the puppy session, I pluck off a dozen or so ticks.

I hate to use chemicals but I am seriously considering using K9 Advantix flea and tick medicine.

According to their web site, Advantix kills not only ticks but other parasites for up to a month.


Absolute Lowest Prices on Pet Supplies

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Jeep Distributor Indexing

Indexing the 4.0 distributor
Jeep Cherokee Repair – Motor Problems

After having heard and read many horror stories about Jeep 4.0’s that don’t run after pulling the distributor, I was very careful about installing the distributor in my new Titan Stroker Motor.

The procedure in the factory shop manual is surprising simple:

Use a 3/4 inch wrench to rotate the engine to the zero degree mark on the Damper. This is easier if the electric fan is not in the way. Also, you must ensure that you are on the compression stroke of the engine. One way to ensure this is to watch the motion of the valves and make sure that you are using the mark just after the intake valve closes.

Another note: If your damper is old, this is a good time to make sure it is not twisted by checking that the engine really is at TDC when the damper lines up with the mark.

With the cap on the distributor, scribe a line just to the left on the number one terminal. Transfer this line down onto the metal distributor housing. On the Renix version, it will be near where the wires come out.

Use a screwdriver to set the slot in the oil pump drive to 11 O’Clock.

Now take the distributor cap off. Eyeball the mounting tang over the mounting bolt hole in the block. Pick up the gasket you just dropped and put it back on.

Set the rotor to point to about 4 O’Clock. This will be a bit to the right of your mark.  (on the HO distributor, align it with the wire.)

Lower the distributor in to the hole and allow it to engage the cam shaft drive gears. The rotor will turn as the gears engage. When it hits bottom, the rotor should be pointing at the mark you made earlier. If not, try again.

Put the mounting clamp on and tighten the bolt.

From the stories I have heard, the computer will not work if the distributor indexing is off even one gear tooth. By using this procedure, yours will be right. Check off another item from your list of Jeep Cherokee motor problems.

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How to Change Taillight Bulbs on a Jeep Cherokee

How to Change Taillight Bulbs on a Jeep Cherokee

The brake, turn signal, back up and running lights are all housed inside the taillight housing. In order to change any of these bulbs, you must remove the tail light housing.

In Cherokee’s built after 1990, the housing is held in place by three bolts with 10MM heads. On the 1990 and earlier there is a fourth bolt at the bottom that is very hard to access due to the way the bumper cap is made. Jeep replaced this bolt in the later Jeeps with a flange that the light housing slips over.

To remove the housing, open the hatch and locate the bolts. I usually use a ratchet and a 6 inch extension to turn the bolts.

Once the bolts are out, tilt the housing from the top to remove it from the body. Be careful with the wires and the bulb sockets as you tilt it out.

To remove a bulb socket, twit the socket 1/3 of a turn and pull it out of the hole. To install note that one tab is larger and will only go back in one way. Line up the tabs and twist 1/3 of a turn.

Installing the housing can be tricky as the ground prongs on the bulb sockets sometimes hang. Gently work them into the holes using before pressing the housing into place.
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Spring Allergies and Sinus Headaches

Spring Allergies and Sinus Headaches

I used to have horrible sinus headaches this time of year. I was nearly addicted to ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine. Even with these chemicals taken on a regular basis, I still suffered with headaches and alternating between a stuffy and a runny nose.

But the last couple of years, I have suffered mush less. That is as long as I remember to take my daily dose of OPC-3. The OPC-3 is a natural grape seed extract that comes in a powder and is mixed with water to form an isotonic mixture.

If I remember to drink a shot in the morning, I have hardly any allergy symptoms all day. This is great stuff. The biggest trouble is that after taking it for a few days, I feel so good that I forget about it. Then it takes a few more days for it to wear off and I feel bad again.

I really love the positive effects that OPC-3 has on my body. More than just preventing the sinus headaches and such, it gives me more energy. It is also supposed to boost the immune system.

I really like to take it mixed with the ORAC anti oxidant compound. Mixed together they have a great grape juice taste and I get a real energy burst that last most of the day.

To learn more about OPC-3 and ORAC, click these links:

OPC-3
ORAC