A rant about photos/internet.

[thekooliest]

So I just moved my computer up stairs (to make room for my brothers new computer, he bought it so it is all his), and we switched from local connection to wi-fi. I think there is a problem with our adapter, it sucks . We get a great connection but if we do anything like load two internet windows, load aim and mozilla firefox, try to print wirelessly and browse the web, the internet breaks...Sometimes when we only do one thing it breaks every 5 minutes!!! That is the beginning of the internet part...

I recovered my dad's great SLR cameras. I couldn't wait to take pictures even though I would have to scan them and they would lose quality. I just developed my film (a good $7 ) and they were all blurry. Not the 'out of focus blurry'...but the blurry where you can't see anything. Like 'blue tint over the picture blurry'.

So I found 6 of the best ones, and I decided to try and scan them. But wait!!! My printer is wireless, I have to use wi-fi to scan them. So I give it a shot, but the only way I get a semi-good quality out of the photo is if I use the highest resolution. But the internet breaks a third of the way through when using the highest resolution, I only can get pictures on the lowest resolution (they will have to do :main_angry.

Then I got so anxious for good pictures that I grabbed my old digital cameras, found the newest batteries in the house, and started taking pictures. By the time I got 3 good pictures, the camera turns off! I realize that these cameras were gas-guzzlers, and they have just gotten worse when sitting in the cabinet. So I am like, oh well...I will just grab these pictures. So I start uploading them, but the batteries don't last long enough!

I have started looking for newer digital cameras. And I was thinking about getting the Digital SLR camera, Canon Rebel...And I got all happy, because YAY! I can use my dad's great three lenses from his old Canons. And that would allow me to buy a camera without the standard lens, cutting the price in more than half!!! But wait, technology has outgrown my dad's 25 year old lenses. I can't use those. So it is either a $750-1000 camera, or a $100-300 camera that won't work very well :main_angry:

Argh...I just want new pictures of my geckos. Haven't gotten them in months. And they have gotten bigger, and my normal has gotten a beautiful carrot tail. I'm going to see what I can do with the scanned pictures in paint.net...probably not much.

Oh ya, when I reboot my computer, something comes up saying "Activate Windows XP within 1 day, Activate now?" (probably because I just formatted it, after my brother got his own) I clicked yes, and it said "Please connect to the internet to continue this activation." I doubt I will be able to get through an entire activation, I gotta try though...don't know what would happen if I didn't :main_thumbsdown:

Phew, thats off my chest

Oh, ya, any 'good-priced', 'very nice quality', 'cheepish' cameras that you know of, I would love to know about :main_thumbsup:

-Sam

 

[Haligren]

Sounds like you should really talk to your internet provider. You said you have a wi-fi connection? Perhaps someone is eating up your bandwidth. Try putting a password on it and see.

 

[thekooliest]

Sounds like you should really talk to your internet provider. You said you have a wi-fi connection? Perhaps someone is eating up your bandwidth. Try putting a password on it and see.

We have a password...and it is the same problem with anyone that connects (unless your in the room with the router)...but we can't move the router because then the two computers downstairs couldn't be plugged in directly. When two of our computers used to be on wi-fi, we had lots of problems as well...Like days where it wouldn't work, and to fix it you had to call our provider and they gave us a password to fix it. Then we got a different router (newer one), started happening again...then we connected locally. And now this computer is back to wi-fi because of my brother's new computer.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

What's on the other side of the wireless router? DSL, Cable Modem, Fiber Optic? You may have to inquire about a higher bandwidth service, which will also mean higher monthly cost.

I imagine you're using dynamic IP addressing right, or are you using static IP addressing? All need to be set the same way, regardless of which you use, or you run the risk of having address conflicts.

 

[MeiK]

I know i'll probably get hell for this - But in all honesty - I'd suggest UNsecuring the whole network. Lose the password - get a cheaper wireless router. I build websites on the side and manage an office building's network... From experience - it's scary how much more "picky" the more expensive wireless routers are than the cheaper (i.e. belkin) units are. Linksys won't even allow you to setup their new routers without securing it. Sorta good... Sorta freakin' annoying. :main_thumbsdown:

For a residence - an unsecure network has minimal risk so long as you aren't in an apartment or something else where lots of people could easily pick up signal.

Having said that - Sony Cybershot is always a good cheap choice. Walmart has 'em for under $200 and they take great pics.

edit: I'm not saying unsecuring it will solve your problems - but @ my network at home - I had a linksys all firewall'd up secured - and I couldn't hardly get anything to stay connected long after running too much thru it at once. I tried an unsecure Belkin... No problems @ all after that. Having said that - a low (below 256MB) bandwith won't help with anything... And could very well be causing your problem as well.

 

[thekooliest]

I'll talk with my parents...after all, I am in the country

 

[shadowx362]

well i really dont understand the whole problem, but we use comcast as an internet provider. The modem isn't wireless so we have that hooked up to a Linksys router. The connection is great and we hardly have any interruptions. WE are constantly on the internet with sometimes 3 wireless laptops 2 PC's and a Wii all on the internet at the same time without any problems.
Maybe get a connection extender? ( dont know what its called)
As for cameras, I would go to best buy or Circuit city and try their display cameras and when you find one you like go to Cnet.com and read the reviews. Sometimes cameras/electronics get crappy after a while, like buttons falling off or something.

 

[thekooliest]

Ya, I am not really the wifi guy...but I talked to the wifi people in my household, and they didn't know what to do. But, I am about to make something happen!!!

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

For a residence - an unsecure network has minimal risk so long as you aren't in an apartment or something else where lots of people could easily pick up signal.

Unless you live in the stix, this statement isn't even close to accurate. I own my own home, in a residential neighborhood, and can pick up no less than 10 seperate wireless networks. All of them are secured. I have my wireless network secured and never have any problems.

If you try to run a wireless network, and your backbone is a low rate DSL line, its unlikely you'll see decent performance. What people also don't realize with DSL is that it's a symplex form of communication. This means it can't transmit and receive at the same time because its only a two-wire termination. Comcast, which is cable modem, is nearly T1 rate. If you expect your internet experience to be a positive one, you're really better off getting at least cable modem service or better.

edit: I'm not saying unsecuring it will solve your problems

It sure did sound like that to me when I read your post.

 

[Sturt]

And now this computer is back to wi-fi because of my brother's new computer.

I'm sure you can get a longer cable to plug it in directly, then just run it along skirtings to your pc upstairs for a lot cheaper than a new router.

 

[thekooliest]

Yes we could Stuart, but my parents don't want that. It took me 24 hours, 15 non-understandable microsoft and dell representatives, 20 automated recordings who didn't do their job because they can't understand a string of 20 numbers , and a lot of effort to activate my computer. xD

 

[MeiK]

Unless you live in the stix, this statement isn't even close to accurate. I own my own home, in a residential neighborhood, and can pick up no less than 10 seperate wireless networks. All of them are secured. I have my wireless network secured and never have any problems.

I'm assuming the OP is using a G-band connection. Getting "10 seperate" G-band signals is unusual if you don't live in an area where homes aren't piled up on top of eachother. If he lives in a densely populated area - it's not a good idea to be unsecured. If he lives in a normal (normal for CT anyway) residential neighborhood - he shouldn't see a problem. If he's using one of the newer (say N) bands - this should be out of the question since it'll reach halfway across the world. Say what you want - The few professors @ my school who knew what they were talking about had seen issues w/G-linksys wireless secured networks. I saw it at my home - and I saw it again at one of the businesses I built a site for. Again - doing that @ a business is downright stupid... but still. It happens. (this issue)

And I agree w/your statement of low-bandwidth DSL & wireless is a bad combo. I'd start there first if I were him... Better yet - Try going wired. It'll solve the issue both ways - and it's extremely inexpensive.