Technology Dribble

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NetComm NB9WMAXX Drops Out When Using IVR (or when dialled number is forwarded)

NetComm NB9WMAXXI’ve just bought myself a NetComm NB9WMAXX, an ADSL2+ Wireless Broadband Modem Router with VoIP gateway. I wanted to fully utilise my broadband account by making phone calls through the internet. Expensive equipment (AU$279.00) but I figured it would pay for itself when I start making big savings on my telephone bill.

I signed up for a VoIP account with Internode because I heard good things about it from a work friend. I installed my brand new modem, configured it with my VoIP account details, and at first, everything was great.

That was until I realised that the modem didn’t handle IVR or call forwards too well. IVR, Interactive voice response, is the interactive technology that allows a computer to detect voice and keypad inputs (eg. “press 1 for this, press 2 for that” OR “say yes if this is correct” etc.). This default configuration also cannot handle phone calls to a number that is diverted to another.

In both scenarios, the phone call “drops out”, ie. the call goes silent all of a sudden (can’t hear anything at all). I searched high and low for a solution online but to no avail. One particular site, however, hinted the problem. The following page http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/532842.html suggested to “have a look at your RFC2833 Outband DTMF options. Maybe ask your Voice Service Provider what settings they support”.

So I did. NetComm NB9WMAXX modem by default sets the “RFC2833 Outband DTMF” attribute to “Auto Negotiation”. I found that this configuration is what causes the problem with IVR and forwarded calls. Unfortunately, I tinkered with every possible configuration on the modem to no avail. NetComm NB9WMAXX is just not compatible with Internode VoIP and vice versa. Don’t bother calling NetComm or Internode support either because they won’t listen to you. NetComm does not have support for Internode VoIP.  Internode VoIP does not support NetComm NB9WMAXX. The hardware and service provider is just not compatible with each other.

To resolve my issue, I signed up with MyNetFone, which one of the many service providers supported by NetComm. I didn’t get the problem again and I’m one happy customer!

posted by admin in Modem, VoIP, VoIP Gateway and have No Comments

Configuring NetComm NB9WMAXX VoIP With Internode

The following outlines the best configuration for the NetComm NB9WMAXX Modem with an Internode VoIP account:

Interface name: ppp_8_35_1
Local selection: AUS – Australia (Set to your country)

Preferred codec:  G729
Preferred ptime:  20

Use SIP Proxy: Checked
SIP Proxy: [Your service provider SIP]
SIP Proxy port: 5060
Register Expire Time: 300
SIP domain name: [Your service provider SIP]

Use SIP Outbound Proxy: Unchecked

Enable SIP tag matching (Uncheck for Vonage Interop): checked
Remote server for SIP log messages: unchecked

DispName: [Your VoIP Phone Number]
VoIP Phone Number: [Your VoIP Phone Number]
Auth. ID: [Your VoIP Phone Number]
Auth. Password: [Your VoIP Password]

PSTN route rule: Fixed
PSTN route data: Phone 1
Emergengy calls: Landline
Number: 1. 000 (set to your local emergency number) 2. [Blank]

Max Digits: 24

RFC2833 Outband DTMF: Auto Negotiation

[Leave the rest as the default]

Please Note: I found out through my own various systematic testing that NetComm NB9WMAXX is not compatible Internode VoIP and vice versa. I tinkered with every possible configuration available on the NetComm NB9WMAXX to no avail. I even went as far as Telnet-ing to the modem and turning off the firewall but still experienced problems. I ended up signing up with MyNetFone and all my problems disappeared! For more details about my ordeal, read my next post NetComm NB9WMAXX Drops Out When Using IVR (or when dialled number is forwarded).

posted by admin in VoIP and have No Comments

Setting Up Virtual Directory In Apache 2.2

In order to allow web access to a different directory outside the root directory, use the Alias directive. The Alias directive will map any directory into the web root.

For example if you want to create a virtual directory called test, and the directory is in the D:/example/test, then modify your httpd.conf and add the following entry at the bottom of the file:

Alias /test D:/example/test

On a typical Windows installation, the httpd.conf file is usually located in the following directory:

C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\conf\httpd.conf

The URL http://www.example.com/test/dir/file.html will be served from:

D:/example/test/dir/file.html

For more information visit the Apache HTTP Server Version 2.2 documentation.

posted by admin in Apache, Virtual Directory and have No Comments

Loading a File Into a BLOB Object in Oracle

Loading a file into a BLOB object in Oracle is easy. All we need to do is use the DBMS_LOB package to load the file into a temporary LOB object. This is demonstrated in the following example.

This example assumes that you have a directory object set up where the files are stored. In this example the following object is used:

CREATE DIRECTORY FILEUPLOADS AS '/home_new/dmt/public_html/fileuploads';

Use the following function to load a file based on the filename parameter and return the BLOB reference for processing:


CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION loadBlobFromFile(p_file_name VARCHAR2) RETURN BLOB AS
  dest_loc  BLOB := empty_blob();
  src_loc   BFILE := BFILENAME('FILEUPLOADS', p_file_name);
BEGIN
  -- Open source binary file from OS
  DBMS_LOB.OPEN(src_loc, DBMS_LOB.LOB_READONLY);

  -- Create temporary LOB object
  DBMS_LOB.CREATETEMPORARY(
        lob_loc => dest_loc
      , cache   => true
      , dur     => dbms_lob.session
  );

  -- Open temporary lob
  DBMS_LOB.OPEN(dest_loc, DBMS_LOB.LOB_READWRITE);

  -- Load binary file into temporary LOB
  DBMS_LOB.LOADFROMFILE(
        dest_lob => dest_loc
      , src_lob  => src_loc
      , amount   => DBMS_LOB.getLength(src_loc));

  -- Close lob objects
  DBMS_LOB.CLOSE(dest_loc);
  DBMS_LOB.CLOSE(src_loc);

  -- Return temporary LOB object
  RETURN dest_loc;
END loadBlobFromFile;
/

Easy as that.

posted by admin in BLOB, Load File Into BLOB, Oracle, PL/SQL and have No Comments

MP4 to DivX Conversion

I’ve just found out that MCEBuddy also works for converting MP4 to DivX.

To convert MP4 to DivX, just follow the instructions below.

  1. Go to http://mcebuddy.com/, and follow the instruction to install MCEBuddy.
  2. Once installed, open MCEBuddy, tick “File Selection” and enter either *.mp4 (to convert only MPG files) or *.* (to convert any format to AVI – I’ve found that MCEBuddy converts DVR-MS, MPG, and MP4 files effectively!).

What a great tool!

posted by admin in DVR-MS, DivX, MP4, MPG, Video Conversion and have No Comments

Oracle VARCHAR2(1) vs CHAR(1)?

Well, minimum size for both Oracle datatypes is 1 byte. So in terms of storage, they’ll both consume either null or 1 byte in storage space. So, when declaring a character datatype with a length of 1, it doesn’t really matter which one you use. The rules change when the length is greater than 1 though.

This is because CHAR is a fixed character data, so values held in this datatype is always RPAD’ed with blanks. Storing character data as VARCHAR2 will save space on, not just the character field, but any indexes that reference it.

As a personal preference, I always use VARCHAR2. The most important practice though is to be consistent. For example, if you use CHAR for a 1 byte character datatype and VARCHAR2 for everything else, then stick with it throughout your whole database.

posted by admin in CHAR, Datatype, Oracle, VARCHAR2 and have No Comments

SEO and Quality Backlinks

InternetIt is almost impossible to generate regular traffic to your website without backlinks pointing to your site. Quality web backlinks play a vital part when it comes to optimizing your website, which directly impacts its SERPs position and Page Rank. Better SERPs position and a better Page Rank, means more traffic for your website!

The reason behind the importance of web backlinks is because Search Engine spiders primarily examine website backlinks when determining a site’s significance. In a nutshell, a site’s popularity is predominantly based on the number of quality links dispersed all over the internet pointing back to the site. The more “good friends” your website has, the more popular it will be, and it will be more inclined to attract and make more good friends.

The term “quality backlinks” simply means that website containing the link back to your site has rich meaningful textual content that is relevant to the nature of your site. So it’s a good idea to be selective when deciding which site or service to approach to provide the backlink for you.

The most successful means of acquiring backlinks pointing back to your website is through link trading. This is the method of exchanging your link for someone else’s. Effectively, your link partner will agree to create a link to your website, if you agree to create a link to his website.

posted by admin in seo, website backlinks, website marketing and have No Comments

Instant Contact Form For Your Web Page

Start receiving messages via a contact web form on your web page instantly by including one line of code! That’s right, one line of javascript code.

There no need to write a complex program in order to receive messages for your web page. We’ve done the hard work for you. Messages are also moderated so you’ll never receive any spam email. Just add the code and we’ll look after the rest.

For more information, visit http://www.web-backlinks.com/instantcontactform/.

Adding the code will include a web form similar to the one below (Try it out, this is a live demo):

posted by admin in instant contact form and have No Comments

Instant Comment Form For Your Web Page

Start receiving and publishing comments on your static web page instantly by including one line of code! That’s right, one line of  javascript code.

There no need to write a complex program in order to receive comments for your web page. We’ve done the hard work for you. Comments are also moderated so you don’t need to do any form of administration on your end. Just add the code and we’ll look after the rest.

For more information, visit http://www.web-backlinks.com/instantcommentform/.

Adding the code will include a web form similar to the one below (Try it out, this is a live demo):

posted by admin in instant comment form and have No Comments

MPG to DivX Conversion

I searched high and low for the most effective, FREE, MPG to DivX video conversion method and by far MCEBuddy is the best software to do the job. MCEBuddy is actually advertised to convert Microsoft Media Center recorded media, DVR-MS. I found out that it actually also works for converting bulky MPG files also.

To convert MPG to DivX effectively, just follow the simple instructions below.

  1. Go to http://mcebuddy.com/, and follow the instruction to install MCEBuddy.
  2. Once installed, open MCEBuddy, tick “File Selection” and enter either *.mpg (to convert only MPG files) or *.* (to convert any format to AVI).

MCEBuddy Advanced Options

That’s it! Easy and it’s 100% free!

posted by admin in DVR-MS, DivX, MPG, Software, Video Conversion and have No Comments