Re: [H] Vintage Antenna Amp. WAS: Re: Cable Modems Splitters
Of you're talking digital cable you will need a distribution amp that covers 1ghz, same with spitters taps. 900mhz was the older CATV standard and I'd imagine that 450Mhz is old OTA broadcast spectrum. Not having much output gain is not a biggie if your demarc signal is strong. Main advantage to a DA is that it does not attenuate signal when splitting where passive splitters do. I definitely would NOT put a cable modem after a DA, especially a 450Mhz DA. Rick Glazier wrote: From: swzaske Good question, try it and let us know. Personally, I just got a digital converter for my old Sony 27 and it works well with rabbit ears. I get about a dozen stations because 2 of them have 2-3 channels each which was unexpected. NTSC is dead, long live ATSC. Duncan and swzaske, I found two old Broadband TV (distribution) amps. One only had a 1dB gain, (but four outputs) so I skipped it. (I may gang/chain them later in my attic for distribution on my second floor.) The other is a +10dB single output. Archer 15-1118 (very old, never used.) 50-450MHZ. http://support.radioshack.com/productinfo/DocumentResults.asp?sku_id=15-1118Name=Video%20AccessoriesReuse=N The OSD signal strength meter seemed to say it boosted the signal around a little less than a third of the bar. (Red, Yellow, Green.) This was on a channel that was breaking up, and it cured that... I put it right at the VHF/UHF 75ohm rabbit ears to feed a converter box from there. I'll try it on my Desktop Computer next week. (I'm working my way up from cheapest to most expensive stuff...) Rick Glazier
Re: [H] Vintage Antenna Amp. WAS: Re: Cable Modems Splitters
Thanks for the reply, but this was for an antenna in my attic. See subject line. -- I miss stuff in there too... ;-( I don't know the actual OTA frequencies we are currently using and I guess that is a major part of my question. (And if 450M is still high enough.) I did not test this set-up too much yet, but I have to figure the signals coming from the old antenna will pass the same as they always did through those old amps. Is the worst that can happen the digital signal will flat-top/clip? Seems like that would actually clean them up a little... (Wish I was sure..?) Rick Glazier From: maccrawj Subject: Re: [H] Vintage Antenna Amp. WAS: Re: Cable Modems Splitters Of you're talking digital cable you will need a distribution amp that covers 1ghz, same with spitters taps. 900mhz was the older CATV standard and I'd imagine that 450Mhz is old OTA broadcast spectrum. Not having much output gain is not a biggie if your demarc signal is strong. Main advantage to a DA is that it does not attenuate signal when splitting where passive splitters do. I definitely would NOT put a cable modem after a DA, especially a 450Mhz DA. Rick Glazier wrote: From: swzaske Good question, try it and let us know. Personally, I just got a digital converter for my old Sony 27 and it works well with rabbit ears. I get about a dozen stations because 2 of them have 2-3 channels each which was unexpected. NTSC is dead, long live ATSC. Duncan and swzaske, I found two old Broadband TV (distribution) amps. One only had a 1dB gain, (but four outputs) so I skipped it. (I may gang/chain them later in my attic for distribution on my second floor.) The other is a +10dB single output. Archer 15-1118 (very old, never used.) 50-450MHZ. http://support.radioshack.com/productinfo/DocumentResults.asp?sku_id=15-1118Name=Video%20AccessoriesReuse=N The OSD signal strength meter seemed to say it boosted the signal around a little less than a third of the bar. (Red, Yellow, Green.) This was on a channel that was breaking up, and it cured that... I put it right at the VHF/UHF 75ohm rabbit ears to feed a converter box from there. I'll try it on my Desktop Computer next week. (I'm working my way up from cheapest to most expensive stuff...) Rick Glazier
Re: [H] Cable Modems Splitters
You can use taps with DA same as splitter, key point is taps split passing 0db insertion loss to the next split down the segment (which has it's own loss) where splitters evenly apply loss to each of N legs. Return loss I have not looked into as we have our modem on 1st tap and no digital cable. Since the point of the exercise is achieve near 0db at each TV without having to distort the signal by over-amplifying taps have advantages if all you're connection points are along a single segment spaced apart. Taps are how modems are installed generally since they're 1st in line thus can be highly attenuated. Bottom line is there's a reason why cable co's 1. locate modem on it's own feed, or 2. locate modem on a tap right after the demarc. The further into your system you move the modem, the more trouble you will have. If you buy a DA (and buy you will as old 900mhz stuff won't work) make sure it's designed to allow return signals for digital devices like modems catv boxes. Steve Tomporowski wrote: Just got back from Colorado Springs. It just seems wrong that it takes a whole day each way to travel there! Are you talking about the taps off a dist amp? Or is this a device I haven't heard of? Because it sounds good. The problem I'm having most is that there is too much return loss. Well, I've rewired a bit to help the problem, but from what I understand, the modem has internal gain that is remotely selected to overcome return loss, but it has only so much and when it hits the top end, then there can be dropout problems. I've read where they say that gain tends to go up with temperature, but they never say the temperature of what. The modem is in an air-conditioned enviroment and all the cabling in the neighborhood is underground which I believe will limit the effects of temperature. Steve maccrawj wrote: Cable modem should be on 1st *tap*, no later. Taps should be used instead of splitters, working from highest to lowest attenuation as you run down a cable segment. If splitting, do it sooner rather than later. Distribution amps have 0 insertion loss, unlike splitters. Taps are unbalanced splitters that attenuate one leg but not the other. Advantage? Nearer devices get just what they need leaving more db left over going to devices further down the segment. Greg Sevart wrote: If all of your runs come back to one place, I'd chuck all of the splitters and get a single amp. Not just any amp--the stuff you can usually find locally typically inserts so much noise that you're better off w/o an amp at all. http://www.cabletvamps.com/drop%20amps.htm Electroline amps are considered to be among the best available. They do have one model with 0 return loss. Greg -Original Message- From: hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com [mailto:hardware- boun...@hardwaregroup.com] On Behalf Of Steve Tomporowski Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 9:29 AM To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: [H] Cable Modems Splitters *snip* Okay, does any of this make sense? What have I got wrong? Also, would a low return loss amp be the best bet? Any suggestions greatly appreciated! ThanksSteve __ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4337 (20090815) __ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com __ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4337 (20090815) __ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com
[H] mask your IP with a changing one
I know there are a few IT gurus in HWG so if there is a way to do this, you guys will know it. Is there a way to repeatedly mask your real IP address with another random one, that changes every time you log into the same site. To clarify... a site tracks visitors by IP addresses. You log on but mask your real IP address and display another one that is randomly chosen ,every time you log into a web site. So you could log into the same site numerous times in a day, each time with a new IP address. It can be a free way or a paid way to do it. thanks
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_routing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_(anonymity_network) -Original Message- From: hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com [mailto:hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com] On Behalf Of Winterlight Sent: 16 August 2009 21:55 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: [H] mask your IP with a changing one I know there are a few IT gurus in HWG so if there is a way to do this, you guys will know it. Is there a way to repeatedly mask your real IP address with another random one, that changes every time you log into the same site. To clarify... a site tracks visitors by IP addresses. You log on but mask your real IP address and display another one that is randomly chosen ,every time you log into a web site. So you could log into the same site numerous times in a day, each time with a new IP address. It can be a free way or a paid way to do it. thanks
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
You always need an IP. Whatever you do on the Internet, or on a TCP/IP network, you need an IP address. You can't just trip it, you have to replace it with something that can be used for routing across the Internet. This is what the proxy does. -Original Message- From: hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com [mailto:hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com] On Behalf Of Winterlight Sent: 16 August 2009 22:58 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
I use CovertSurfer. You use their proxy servers and no one knows, including your ISP, where you are or what you are doing. All your ISP knows is that you are online. It even has a neat little box that tells you what others can see and it shows the outgoing IP. Where you have been doesn't even show up in your Temp Internet Files folder, even if you are on there for hours. You get NO cookies of any kind regardless of your settings and it has never affected a site that requires them. I've used it for 4 months now and am very happy with it. The that owns the site is in Florida and is a disabled vet and seems like a great guy. www.covertsurfer.com Jeff BTWI am just a subscriber and have no other interest in the site whatsoever. Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
Another option is to use a service like Swiss VPN. They give you a VPN tunnel from your PC to their network. Then they swap your IP for one of theirs and that is the IP that is out connecting to other machines and websites. As far as anyone can tell, you're coming from Switzerland. I think you get a different IP each time you connect/disconnect the service but they are probably all coming from the same pool. There is a monthly fee but it's not too bad and well worth it if this is something important to you: http://www.swissvpn.net/ I use them whenever I am traveling or working from open WiFI hotpots. --- Brian Weeden Technical Advisor Secure World Foundation http://www.secureworldfoundation.org +1 (514) 466-2756 Canada +1 (202) 683-8534 US On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net wrote: I use CovertSurfer. You use their proxy servers and no one knows, including your ISP, where you are or what you are doing. All your ISP knows is that you are online. It even has a neat little box that tells you what others can see and it shows the outgoing IP. Where you have been doesn't even show up in your Temp Internet Files folder, even if you are on there for hours. You get NO cookies of any kind regardless of your settings and it has never affected a site that requires them. I've used it for 4 months now and am very happy with it. The that owns the site is in Florida and is a disabled vet and seems like a great guy. www.covertsurfer.com Jeff BTWI am just a subscriber and have no other interest in the site whatsoever. Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
At 03:28 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: You always need an IP. Whatever you do on the Internet, or on a TCP/IP network, you need an IP address. You can't just trip it, you have to replace it with something that can be used for routing across the Internet. Yeah, right... that is what I asked for ... except not my IP address and not the same one each time. -Original Message- From: hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com [mailto:hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com] On Behalf Of Winterlight Sent: 16 August 2009 22:58 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
You have to determine whether it is privacy you want, or anomymity. And what you seem to be seeking is anonymity. Only you can answer: anonymity from whom? That will ultimately determine your choice. Tor might certainly fit the bill. It will achieve exactly what you need. And it's free. Personally, technically sound as they are, I would not touch SwissVPN. Read their privacy policy. AFAIK, they will log your traffic. Your IP, indeed will be masked from your destination. But SwissVPN will probably know who you are and where you're connecting from. And that means your anonymity is hosed. Switzerland may also be a data retention country, but I'm not certain. Also SwissVPN is a single-hop proxy. Now if these aren't major concerns then go with them. As far as I'm concerned, the cream of the crop these days is Xerobank. http://www. xerobank.com. They are pricey but offer close to the ultimate in anonymous communications. Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Brian Weeden brian.wee...@gmail.com Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:46:50 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one Another option is to use a service like Swiss VPN. They give you a VPN tunnel from your PC to their network. Then they swap your IP for one of theirs and that is the IP that is out connecting to other machines and websites. As far as anyone can tell, you're coming from Switzerland. I think you get a different IP each time you connect/disconnect the service but they are probably all coming from the same pool. There is a monthly fee but it's not too bad and well worth it if this is something important to you: http://www.swissvpn.net/ I use them whenever I am traveling or working from open WiFI hotpots. --- Brian Weeden Technical Advisor Secure World Foundation http://www.secureworldfoundation.org +1 (514) 466-2756 Canada +1 (202) 683-8534 US On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net wrote: I use CovertSurfer. You use their proxy servers and no one knows, including your ISP, where you are or what you are doing. All your ISP knows is that you are online. It even has a neat little box that tells you what others can see and it shows the outgoing IP. Where you have been doesn't even show up in your Temp Internet Files folder, even if you are on there for hours. You get NO cookies of any kind regardless of your settings and it has never affected a site that requires them. I've used it for 4 months now and am very happy with it. The that owns the site is in Florida and is a disabled vet and seems like a great guy. www.covertsurfer.com Jeff BTWI am just a subscriber and have no other interest in the site whatsoever. Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
Bill, You bring up a great point. That is one very important thing that CovertSurfer does, or I should say does not, do. I talked with the owner, and as he said, and they publish, they do not know where you are going or what you do. They do this so they cannot be subpoenaed against their clients. They keep NO records. I wondered about SwissVPN, as well, because they use standard browsers, CovertSurfer uses their own plug-in, which could leave the user open in some way. I originally subscribed to an outfit that was run by Russians. They had a client forum, which was a good idea, but it created a lot of problems for them. They were being hacked by ISP's and the movie/music Gestapo. They weren't furnishing any good answers which was costing them customers. Jeff Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 4:39 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one You have to determine whether it is privacy you want, or anomymity. And what you seem to be seeking is anonymity. Only you can answer: anonymity from whom? That will ultimately determine your choice. Tor might certainly fit the bill. It will achieve exactly what you need. And it's free. Personally, technically sound as they are, I would not touch SwissVPN. Read their privacy policy. AFAIK, they will log your traffic. Your IP, indeed will be masked from your destination. But SwissVPN will probably know who you are and where you're connecting from. And that means your anonymity is hosed. Switzerland may also be a data retention country, but I'm not certain. Also SwissVPN is a single-hop proxy. Now if these aren't major concerns then go with them. As far as I'm concerned, the cream of the crop these days is Xerobank. http://www. xerobank.com. They are pricey but offer close to the ultimate in anonymous communications. Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Brian Weeden brian.wee...@gmail.com Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:46:50 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one Another option is to use a service like Swiss VPN. They give you a VPN tunnel from your PC to their network. Then they swap your IP for one of theirs and that is the IP that is out connecting to other machines and websites. As far as anyone can tell, you're coming from Switzerland. I think you get a different IP each time you connect/disconnect the service but they are probably all coming from the same pool. There is a monthly fee but it's not too bad and well worth it if this is something important to you: http://www.swissvpn.net/ I use them whenever I am traveling or working from open WiFI hotpots. --- Brian Weeden Technical Advisor Secure World Foundation http://www.secureworldfoundation.org +1 (514) 466-2756 Canada +1 (202) 683-8534 US On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net wrote: I use CovertSurfer. You use their proxy servers and no one knows, including your ISP, where you are or what you are doing. All your ISP knows is that you are online. It even has a neat little box that tells you what others can see and it shows the outgoing IP. Where you have been doesn't even show up in your Temp Internet Files folder, even if you are on there for hours. You get NO cookies of any kind regardless of your settings and it has never affected a site that requires them. I've used it for 4 months now and am very happy with it. The that owns the site is in Florida and is a disabled vet and seems like a great guy. www.covertsurfer.com Jeff BTWI am just a subscriber and have no other interest in the site whatsoever. Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
I stay away from services that require additional software or special dialers to connect. It means that I can only use them on machines where I have installed it, which may not always be the case. And I wouldn't let any software made by some shady group in Russia within 10 feet of my PC. That's just asking for trouble. Besides, if you're really being paranoid, unless the dialer is open source how do you know it doesn't have a backdoor? If you're really paranoid about this there's another service called Relakkshttps://www.relakks.com/?lang=engcid=gbthat I have used as well. From their legal FAQ: For security reasons RELAKKS do not use any American software neither for encryption nor for any other part (we anticipate that most users will in spite of that use an American OS), but there is noting stopping an advanced user from accessing RELAKKS with a more secure operating system or use a specific VPN-client. Not that this is not at the moment supported by RELAKKS customer care. * *ELAKKS Safe Surf enjoys the strongest legal protection possible under Swedish Law because of the service type (pre-paid flat-rate service). This means that RELAKKS do not have to keep an ordinary customer database (to be able handle transactions etc.). This is of importance if forced to hand over information. If Swedish authorities can prove beyond reasonable doubt that they have a case for demanding subscription information from RELAKKS (they have to be of the opinion that if convicted the user will be imprisoned – fined not enough). . RELAKKS then have to hand over the subscription information entered by you (but that’s all). RELAKKS do not store any subscription information about you except what you entered yourself when signing up for the RELAKKS Safe Surf service. TOR is on paper the best bet for anonymously routing but it does have issues. For one, it can be excruciatingly slow because of the number of addition hops and encryption/decryptions that each packet needs to undertake. Plus, it is not entirely secure. Gov't types have been known to operate their own TOR routers and if your data exists one of those they can do some interesting packet analysis, especially if they are also watching the packet traffic between your machine and the beginning of the TOR network. TOR has basically made itself a very inviting target, which usually means it's just a matter of time before weaknesses are found. For more on TOR I highly recommend this Security Now! episode: http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-070.htm Also, please remember that none of these VPN or proxy services are encrypting the basic data. If you're using a VPN, the traffic between your machine and the VPN network is encrypted, but then it's decrypted and dropped on the net. The only way to counter this is either make sure you are talking to the final destination using https or self-encrypting your data. --- Brian Weeden Technical Advisor Secure World Foundation http://www.secureworldfoundation.org +1 (514) 466-2756 Canada +1 (202) 683-8534 US On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 8:31 PM, Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net wrote: Bill, You bring up a great point. That is one very important thing that CovertSurfer does, or I should say does not, do. I talked with the owner, and as he said, and they publish, they do not know where you are going or what you do. They do this so they cannot be subpoenaed against their clients. They keep NO records. I wondered about SwissVPN, as well, because they use standard browsers, CovertSurfer uses their own plug-in, which could leave the user open in some way. I originally subscribed to an outfit that was run by Russians. They had a client forum, which was a good idea, but it created a lot of problems for them. They were being hacked by ISP's and the movie/music Gestapo. They weren't furnishing any good answers which was costing them customers. Jeff Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 4:39 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one You have to determine whether it is privacy you want, or anomymity. And what you seem to be seeking is anonymity. Only you can answer: anonymity from whom? That will ultimately determine your choice. Tor might certainly fit the bill. It will achieve exactly what you need. And it's free. Personally, technically sound as they are, I would not touch SwissVPN. Read their privacy policy. AFAIK, they will log your traffic. Your IP, indeed will be masked from your destination. But SwissVPN will probably know who you are and where you're connecting from. And that means your anonymity is hosed. Switzerland may also be a data retention country, but I'm not certain. Also SwissVPN is a single-hop proxy. Now if these aren't major concerns then go with them. As far as I'm concerned, the cream of the crop these days is Xerobank. http://www. xerobank.com. They are pricey but offer close to the ultimate in anonymous communications. Bill Sent from my Verizon
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
I signed up for a month and I will see how it goes. This seems to do exactly what I wanted and I like having a VPN for public hot spots. I just didn't realize you could do it this cheaply. m At 03:46 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Another option is to use a service like Swiss VPN. They give you a VPN tunnel from your PC to their network. Then they swap your IP for one of theirs and that is the IP that is out connecting to other machines and websites. As far as anyone can tell, you're coming from Switzerland. I think you get a different IP each time you connect/disconnect the service but they are probably all coming from the same pool. There is a monthly fee but it's not too bad and well worth it if this is something important to you: http://www.swissvpn.net/ I use them whenever I am traveling or working from open WiFI hotpots. --- Brian Weeden Technical Advisor Secure World Foundation http://www.secureworldfoundation.org +1 (514) 466-2756 Canada +1 (202) 683-8534 US On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net wrote: I use CovertSurfer. You use their proxy servers and no one knows, including your ISP, where you are or what you are doing. All your ISP knows is that you are online. It even has a neat little box that tells you what others can see and it shows the outgoing IP. Where you have been doesn't even show up in your Temp Internet Files folder, even if you are on there for hours. You get NO cookies of any kind regardless of your settings and it has never affected a site that requires them. I've used it for 4 months now and am very happy with it. The that owns the site is in Florida and is a disabled vet and seems like a great guy. www.covertsurfer.com Jeff BTWI am just a subscriber and have no other interest in the site whatsoever. Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
Other questions to ask would be 1) Do they log? And if so, what? Content or connection? 2) What jurisdiction are they located? Location of servers makes a huge difference. Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:31:23 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one Bill, You bring up a great point. That is one very important thing that CovertSurfer does, or I should say does not, do. I talked with the owner, and as he said, and they publish, they do not know where you are going or what you do. They do this so they cannot be subpoenaed against their clients. They keep NO records. I wondered about SwissVPN, as well, because they use standard browsers, CovertSurfer uses their own plug-in, which could leave the user open in some way. I originally subscribed to an outfit that was run by Russians. They had a client forum, which was a good idea, but it created a lot of problems for them. They were being hacked by ISP's and the movie/music Gestapo. They weren't furnishing any good answers which was costing them customers. Jeff Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 4:39 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one You have to determine whether it is privacy you want, or anomymity. And what you seem to be seeking is anonymity. Only you can answer: anonymity from whom? That will ultimately determine your choice. Tor might certainly fit the bill. It will achieve exactly what you need. And it's free. Personally, technically sound as they are, I would not touch SwissVPN. Read their privacy policy. AFAIK, they will log your traffic. Your IP, indeed will be masked from your destination. But SwissVPN will probably know who you are and where you're connecting from. And that means your anonymity is hosed. Switzerland may also be a data retention country, but I'm not certain. Also SwissVPN is a single-hop proxy. Now if these aren't major concerns then go with them. As far as I'm concerned, the cream of the crop these days is Xerobank. http://www. xerobank.com. They are pricey but offer close to the ultimate in anonymous communications. Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Brian Weeden brian.wee...@gmail.com Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:46:50 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one Another option is to use a service like Swiss VPN. They give you a VPN tunnel from your PC to their network. Then they swap your IP for one of theirs and that is the IP that is out connecting to other machines and websites. As far as anyone can tell, you're coming from Switzerland. I think you get a different IP each time you connect/disconnect the service but they are probably all coming from the same pool. There is a monthly fee but it's not too bad and well worth it if this is something important to you: http://www.swissvpn.net/ I use them whenever I am traveling or working from open WiFI hotpots. --- Brian Weeden Technical Advisor Secure World Foundation http://www.secureworldfoundation.org +1 (514) 466-2756 Canada +1 (202) 683-8534 US On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net wrote: I use CovertSurfer. You use their proxy servers and no one knows, including your ISP, where you are or what you are doing. All your ISP knows is that you are online. It even has a neat little box that tells you what others can see and it shows the outgoing IP. Where you have been doesn't even show up in your Temp Internet Files folder, even if you are on there for hours. You get NO cookies of any kind regardless of your settings and it has never affected a site that requires them. I've used it for 4 months now and am very happy with it. The that owns the site is in Florida and is a disabled vet and seems like a great guy. www.covertsurfer.com Jeff BTWI am just a subscriber and have no other interest in the site whatsoever. Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a random IP address.
Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one
I believe their severs are in Florida, where they are located, but I could be wrong. They are very responsive so you could ask them. If you subscribe and download to a USB drive you can go anywhere with it. As I said, they maintain no records of when or where you log in. I would suggest that you might go to their site at www.covertsurfer.com and look at the FAQ's. They have answers to a huge number of questions and a wealth of other information on the entire site. BTW, I was wrong about one item. They work with all major browsers, as well as their own browser. They explain all this. Jeff Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 6:20 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one Other questions to ask would be 1) Do they log? And if so, what? Content or connection? 2) What jurisdiction are they located? Location of servers makes a huge difference. Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:31:23 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one Bill, You bring up a great point. That is one very important thing that CovertSurfer does, or I should say does not, do. I talked with the owner, and as he said, and they publish, they do not know where you are going or what you do. They do this so they cannot be subpoenaed against their clients. They keep NO records. I wondered about SwissVPN, as well, because they use standard browsers, CovertSurfer uses their own plug-in, which could leave the user open in some way. I originally subscribed to an outfit that was run by Russians. They had a client forum, which was a good idea, but it created a lot of problems for them. They were being hacked by ISP's and the movie/music Gestapo. They weren't furnishing any good answers which was costing them customers. Jeff Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 4:39 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one You have to determine whether it is privacy you want, or anomymity. And what you seem to be seeking is anonymity. Only you can answer: anonymity from whom? That will ultimately determine your choice. Tor might certainly fit the bill. It will achieve exactly what you need. And it's free. Personally, technically sound as they are, I would not touch SwissVPN. Read their privacy policy. AFAIK, they will log your traffic. Your IP, indeed will be masked from your destination. But SwissVPN will probably know who you are and where you're connecting from. And that means your anonymity is hosed. Switzerland may also be a data retention country, but I'm not certain. Also SwissVPN is a single-hop proxy. Now if these aren't major concerns then go with them. As far as I'm concerned, the cream of the crop these days is Xerobank. http://www. xerobank.com. They are pricey but offer close to the ultimate in anonymous communications. Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Brian Weeden brian.wee...@gmail.com Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:46:50 To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one Another option is to use a service like Swiss VPN. They give you a VPN tunnel from your PC to their network. Then they swap your IP for one of theirs and that is the IP that is out connecting to other machines and websites. As far as anyone can tell, you're coming from Switzerland. I think you get a different IP each time you connect/disconnect the service but they are probably all coming from the same pool. There is a monthly fee but it's not too bad and well worth it if this is something important to you: http://www.swissvpn.net/ I use them whenever I am traveling or working from open WiFI hotpots. --- Brian Weeden Technical Advisor Secure World Foundation http://www.secureworldfoundation.org +1 (514) 466-2756 Canada +1 (202) 683-8534 US On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:29 PM, Jeff Lane jeff.l...@comcast.net wrote: I use CovertSurfer. You use their proxy servers and no one knows, including your ISP, where you are or what you are doing. All your ISP knows is that you are online. It even has a neat little box that tells you what others can see and it shows the outgoing IP. Where you have been doesn't even show up in your Temp Internet Files folder, even if you are on there for hours. You get NO cookies of any kind regardless of your settings and it has never affected a site that requires them. I've used it for 4 months now and am very happy with it. The that owns the site is in Florida and is a disabled vet and seems like a great guy. www.covertsurfer.com Jeff BTWI am just a subscriber and have no other interest in the site whatsoever. Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [H] mask your IP with a changing one At 02:51 PM 8/16/2009, you wrote: Sounds like you want an Onion Proxy I don't think so because it strips the IP. I want to hide it but replace it with a
[H] Replacement UPS battery
Need to get a couple new batteries for several models of APC and CyberPower UPSes. Any collective opinion on whether to go straight through the manufacturer or 3rd party? 3rd party seems a lot cheaper... Scott
Re: [H] Replacement UPS battery
I've used 3rd party batteries on a bunch of APC backUPS for over 3 years now with no problems what so ever. -Original Message- From: hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com [mailto:hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com] On Behalf Of Scott Sipe Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 12:07 AM To: The Hardware List Subject: [H] Replacement UPS battery Need to get a couple new batteries for several models of APC and CyberPower UPSes. Any collective opinion on whether to go straight through the manufacturer or 3rd party? 3rd party seems a lot cheaper... Scott
