Resolve IT Solutions Articles

Do UK Homeplug or Powerline Adaptors Work Abroad?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 +0200

"Powerline Communication" is a relative boom industry in the computer networking sector at the moment, the quality, speed and security of connection boasts enviable attributes over the much wider recognised Wireless Communication.

Wireless communication has its positive points too, but as we probably all know too well has a number of negatives "to boot"; Powerline communication too has a number of negatives (portability, cost and potentially compatability).

Powerline Communication in its conception is very simple; plug a source powerline adapter in one socket in your house, and your mains electricity supply becomes a data network, plugging another adapter in at the required destination effectively gives you a ethernet connection to the source adaptor.

The precise operation and operational standards for Powerline Communication are governed by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), and those who are interested can read more about the history of Powerline Communication on its Wikipedia Entry Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communication

Standards are incredibly important in all aspects of life, not only in the computing realm; but specifically relating to Powerline Communication this article set out to outline UK Homeplug operability whilst abroad. Owing to the numerous possible electricity supplies/facilities offered in the 195 countries of the world a typical Powerline adaptor user might be forgiven for asking the question "will my homeplug adaptors work abroad?"

Unfortunately at Resolve we were unable to verify functionality of homeplug adaptors in all 195 countries in the world, but we can give this conclusion - The Homeplug Adaptors we tested (COMTREND PowerGrid 902 - N.B. Standard Issue with a BT Vision Box) function perfectly in Germany.

Obviously the end user is required to use travel adaptors to fit the UK 3 pin plug into the German 2 pin socket, but the functionality of the Homeplug was consistent with that found in the UK.

Resolve would love to hear from any other users who have tested their Homeplug Adaptors (or similar) in any other countries; subsiquent submissions will find themselves added to this article.

Ask Ben - Internet Explorer 7 crashing

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Hi Ben,

Internet Explorer 7 has automatically installed on the majority of our School machines. Most work fine but there are 5 or 6 computers which freeze up when launching IE7. For now we have just uninstalled IE7 and gone back to version 6, but we like the new features available in 7 and we would prefer to keep up to date on the latest versions.

James Wood
Sheffield

Hello James,

I have seen this happen many times and it has taken me ages to work out the problem. This is because there are no signs as to why it is crashing and nothing common between the machines that do crash, however, a possible solution is at hand!

It seems to me that it isn’t actually Internet Explorer 7 that is causing you problems, it is software that is an ‘add-on’ for IE6, and is incompatible with IE7. The way to verify this is by going to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer (No Add-ons).

If it now loads correctly, it is defiantly an add on which is causing the fuss.

On the now working Internet Explorer, press alt to show the tool bar. Click Tools > Internet Options. Go to the programs tab and click Manage Add-ons.

Disable all of the add-ons and close Internet Explorer. Re-open IE using the normal method (not the no add-ons version).

Now, re-enable a few add-ons and test again. If it doesn’t work, it was one of those add-ons you enabled so try different combinations until you can narrow it down to one. If it works, enable some more until you find the culprit. Using this method you should be able to find out which one is causing IE to crash. When you find it, leave it disabled and enable all the others.

Regards,
Ben.

Ask Ben - Missing Start Menu Shortcuts

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Hello Ben,

I am an IT Co-ordinator for a school in Nottingham. Today I have installed some network software in our IT suite but none of the pupils can access it! I installed the software logged in as administrator, and as administrator the software is accessible through the start menu. When logged on as a pupil the shortcuts are gone. Please help.

Wendy McLeet, Nottingham.

Dear Wendy,

This usually occurs when the software you are installing was intended to be used on a stand-alone computer, with only a single login.

To fix this problem in Windows Vista, log in as administrator and navigate to C:\Users. In here you should see all the different names that have logged into this computer. Find the ‘Administrator' folder and double click this, then double click "Start Menu". Find the shortcut to the program you want and copy it (right click, copy). Now navigate back to C:\Users and double click the ‘All Users' folder, then double click "Start Menu". Paste the new shortcut here (Right click, paste).

To fix this problem in Windows XP/2000, log in as administrator and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings. In here you should see all the different names that have logged into this computer. Find the ‘Administrator' folder and double click this, then double click "Start Menu". Find the shortcut to the program you want and copy it (right click, copy). Now navigate back to C:\Documents and Settings and double click the ‘All Users' folder, then double click "Start Menu". Paste the new shortcut here (Right click, paste).

Now when you log in as a pupil or anyone else for that matter, they should find the shortcut is now on the start menu.

Regards,

Ben.

Ask Ben - Online forms not working?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Dear Ben,

When I go to the website http://www.*******.org.uk and try to fill in a form with some data, the actual form will not load! Internet Explorer says the page has fully loaded but there is a little triangle with an exclamation point in the bottom left corner. I have tried it on another machine and it works fine. Can you help?

Mary Robinson, Barnsley.

Dear Mary,

This is one of the more common questions I am asked and, thankfully, has an easy solution. The form you speak of sounds like it uses JavaScript. Java is a type of language used for many things on the internet from forms to games. Some years ago the Java plug-in used to be installed with Windows and would work straight away, however Microsoft and Sun Microsystems (the company who made the Java plug-in) have fallen out, so now you must download it separately.

Simply go to http://www.java.com/ and click ‘free Java download' on the top left, and then follow the instructions. After the installation your forms (and games) should work correctly!

Regards,

Ben.

Ask Ben - Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc)

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Dear Ben,

I use Outlook Express and I would like to send out a mass e-mail, but I would not like any of the recipients to see who the other recipients are. I have heard I need to use ‘BCC' but I don't know what it is and how to find it.

Jon Rhodes, Sheffield.

Dear Jon,

Outlook Express has the ability to send a Bcc (Blind carbon copy); however it needs to be enabled.

Open up Outlook Express and start a new e-mail. Open the top of the message click ‘view', then click on ‘all headers'.

A Bcc box should now be seen below the Cc box. Enter your addresses in here and they will all be kept private.

After sending the message, the only way you will be able to see who you sent the message to is to go to your sent items, right click on your message and go to properties, then finally click details.

To add Bcc in Microsoft Outlook (which usually comes with MS Office) open Outlook and start a new message. Somewhere along the top you will see ‘options'. Click the small black arrow to the right of this and click Bcc.

Regards,

Ben.

Ask Ben - Your Laptop on the Net - both at School and at Home?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Dear Ben,

My laptop works fine at home, but does not at school. How do I use my Laptop on the Internet, both at School and at Home?

John Owen
Sheffield

Dear John

This is a question we are frequently asked. In schools the broadband connection goes via a separate server, called a proxy server, which filters out unsuitable content. Unfortunately, when you get home, the internet will not work properly unless the proxy server is de-selected.

This means changing the settings every time you go home or to school – an extra hassle you can probably do without.

A neat way to speed this up is to use a proxy switcher. This is a free piece of software – available for download from our website – which quickly allows you to switch between home and school settings.

The proxy switcher does require an initial set up – have a word with your IT technician – but once it is up and running life should be made much easier.