Matthew Steven - Consumer Devices

Magic Jack, Ooma and a POTS Credit Card Terminal Working on VoIP

Matt — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:04:40 +0000

I wanted to dump Qwest. That's the root of it, I really don't dig their way of handling customers. I wanted to take advantage of my really nice internet connection, and use VoIP. The only major hurdle seemed to be the use of my credit card terminal, and the occasional fax. After a few evenings of struggling, I achieved success.

Getting More from your Lithium Ion and other Rechargable Batteries

Matt — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:02:33 +0000

Like any other electronics aficionados, I have a number of devices that use Li-Ion batteries. My Yaesu VX-6 being one that is very frequently discharged 10-20%, but they’re also in my laptops and cameras. Since they tend to be very expensive I did a little research on making them last, and learned a little about other battery types while I was at it. Here’s the short story, if you want the nitty gritty on each there’s plenty to sort through out there.

By Amateur Radio Standards, Cellphones Can Be Unsafe

Matt — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:01:08 +0000

According to the FCC, Amateur Radio operators should calculate their RF exposure regularly to ensure station safety and be in compliance with accepted safe levels.
So I thought, why not do this with my cellular telephone?
Considering that the signal strength declines logarithmically as distance from the antenna increases, having the phone against your head must really give you a full dose of RF power.

Review: iRiver e100 Ogg Vorbis Flac MP3 Player

Matt — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:55:44 +0000

In a nutshell, avoid this device if you can. The following is my review from 4/6/08 in which I initially liked it, then discovered all its warts, then dropped it like a hot potato, losing a small sum in the process. Some workarounds are included for various problems you'll encounter with it if you are stuck with one.

Product: iRiver e100 2gb portable music player (iPod[tm] alternative)