Technology

What is a Surge Diverter and How Does It Work?

April 2, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

A key safety issue in any home is to protect appliances, personal computers, and other sensitive electrical equipment from damage resulting from a spike in excess voltage.

This may occur during an electrical thunderstorm, for example. While most surge diverters will not protect from a direct lightning strike on the house — thankfully this is quite a rare occurrence! — they will help protect from the surge in energy caused by lightning strikes in the vicinity.

One way to keep your appliances safe is through surge protectors and plug adapters that cut out when a spike in electricity occurs. However, while there are many excellent surge protection devices, such as power boards and wall units that offer some protection for appliances, they will not give the whole house the protection against the power surge that you require.

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Many people think that power boards installed in the home are sufficient to protect against power surges. However, different power spike protection products perform different tasks. In redirecting power surges to the ground, a surge diverter can provide the all-round protection that your household needs.

If you’re a homeowner and you like proper protection from excess voltage, consider installing a surge diverter.

What is a Surge Diverter?

A surge diverter (or arrestor) is a device attached to the main power board which gives protection against damaging power surges, either from outside or from within (such as from faulty wiring or appliances).

The device prevents excess power from damaging or destroying sensitive electrical and electronic appliances such as computers and audio gear.

How Does It Work?

Surge diverters work by capturing the excess electricity that would otherwise be absorbed into the house’s electrical circuit. They will help protect the property by diverting this power away from the house by “shunting” it to the earth. Installed in the switchboard, the surge diverter will help protect against most excess energy spikes. Any electricity over 260 volts will automatically be diverted to the ground. This then renders the excess power harmless and prevents a damaging surge in your home.

Does a Surge Diverter Act as a Safety Switch for Your Home?

No. A surge diverter is not a safety switch or circuit breaker. It should be considered as a separate safety function and should work in conjunction with these devices to fully protect your home. A safety switch will monitor the electrical current through your home’s circuit and automatically cut the power within 0.03 of a second should it detect a fault.

However, a surge diverter does not act as personal protection, nor does it act through one power point. It goes further by protecting the entire property by diverting excess voltage before it travels through the circuit and causes damage.

A surge diverter is an excellent investment to protect you, your family, and your expensive electrical appliances from a dangerous surge in power. In conjunction with other surge protection measures such as power boards and safety switches, a surge diverter can play a central role in keeping your house safe. The cost of a diverter is small when compared to the problem of replacing expensive electrical appliances damaged by a spike or the frustration of having to deal with insurance companies to replace valuable equipment!

Remember to always practice electrical safety in your home; install a diverter as part of your overall safety plan and stop worrying about power surges today.

Author Bio

Ray Loh is the General Manager of Perth, WA based West Australian Power Protection dedicated to offering earthing, surge and lightning protection products aligned with the latest safety standards.

Top 10 Best Home Security Cameras for 2019

March 31, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

One always cares about the security of their house and valuables when they are away from it. Using video surveillance & Security Cameras is now a new trend around the world.

It allows homeowners to ensure visitor identification, provide evidence for insurance claims, check what is happening in the observation area, watching the activities of kids and relatives, records the facts of theft or misappropriation of property & other acts of criminal activity.

There are many companies that offer security cameras with installation Services. Let’s have a look at some popular names now.

Nest Cam

Home security camera Nest Cam is designed for home surveillance. It offers round the clock video in real time. At 130 degrees, a wide-angle lens gives you visual access to the inside of your home all day long at 1080p. The camera will automatically send a warning or notification to your phone or email address along with an attached photo of activities. Its installation process is easy and simple.

It works perfectly with Amazon Alexa. The built-in microphone and speaker allow you to communicate with people in the room as it acts as an intercom. It also has a night vision capability, enabling you to see the room clearing during the day and at night.

There is the possibility of programming intelligent warnings, continuous recording of videos and storage on clouds and creating activity zones for more accurate warnings. You need to have a monthly subscription to access all the features of this smart camera.

Vimtag VT-361

The Vimtag VT-361 surveillance camera offers built-in wireless video monitoring through ultra-high resolution with a 3.6mm lens and a clear video compression format. You can use this camera to monitor pets, businesses, rest homes, the elderly, and even babysitters and nannies.

You can ensure the security of your house through live video streaming through applications on your smartphone, tablet or PC.

The Vimtag home camera offers amazing functions for home security, such as a 120-degree turn, a 320-degree tilt which is controlled remotely, motion detection, a 3x digital zoom, clear night vision up to 10 meters, accompanying snapshot notifications and two-way voice communication via the built-in microphone and speaker.

It requires Internet access in order to function properly. An internal SD card slot records video conveniently. The setup is simple and is complete only in 4 steps because of the convenient scanning of the QR code.

Logitech Circle Wireless HD Video Security Camera

The Logitech Circle Camera delivers high definition (1080p) video streaming to your home 24*7/365 days. You get instant on your smartphone or tablet for all detected activities.

With this CCTV camera, you can keep track of what’s going on inside your home and make sure everything is well in the house when you’re on vacation. This work can be performed conveniently through your phone or the Logitech app. It offers free cloud video footage and storage.

You can access those videos accessed within 24 hours from your secure private cloud. Logitech Circle has a simple setting and is portable and rechargeable.

A wide-angle lens with a diagonal of 135 degrees makes it easier for you to view what is happening in even large rooms. Companies that provide CCTV installation Services to their clients use this camera to guarantee foolproof video surveillance of houses.

Lynx Indoor Home Security Camera

The Lynx home security camera has intelligent face recognition capabilities which allow you to choose who your security camera recognizes normally and who will be considered an impostor.

With the help of the crystal-clear stream of 1080p HD Lynx video, you can clearly see each face in the video. Night (infrared) vision allows the camera to record videos even in total and complete darkness.

Its configuration and installation process is quite simple. Its camera is equipped with two-way sound (with a built-in microphone and speaker), allowing you to record the sound and listen what is happening in your house.

Lynx also offers motion detection and instant alerts to you in quick time. With the Lynx home security camera, you get a free and secure seven-day cloud storage for life.

Arlo Pro

It is a completely wireless camera. You can easily place it anywhere without worrying about its proximity to the nearest electrical outlet. It is waterproof, which makes it a versatile choice for indoor or outdoor surveillance. Also, the rechargeable battery supports fast charging and seamless sharing without requiring your camera to turn off.

It doesn’t start recording until you request a live channel. There is also a two-way audio function, allowing you to hear the sound coming from the room the built-in microphone and speak to individuals present there. It also has a sound recording function.

Canary

With this excellent Camera, you can stream real-time video of your home with a high-definition 1080p HD camera as a wide-angle camera lens (147 degrees!) offers a wide field of view. So, you can cover a large area even with a small camera. Automatic night vision and high-quality sound increase its usability up to a great extent.

Canary All-in-One is more than just a camera. It has a built-in 90-decibel siren that will start making a sound when it detects suspicious activities in your house.

Motion activated recording, remote auto on/off function and instant access to local authorities ensure you are calm while you are away. Not only this but also intelligent notifications enable you to receive instant video alerts on your devices.

It is also equipped with HomeHealth technology and has the ability to control quality, temperature and humidity. You can analyse the collected data to know how your home can affect your health.

Its installation is not needed. Just plug in Canary and connect to the Internet to use it. When you purchase it, free secure cloud storage comes along with it.

Nest Cam Outdoor Security Camera

Nest Cam security camera if fully compatible with Amazon’s Alexa- a popular home technology. Its outdoor camera provides 24/7 live video with a wide-angle lens with a viewing angle of 130 degrees.

It sends alerts and accompanying snapshots to you whenever it detects unusual activity outside your house. The camera, cable and adapter are weatherproof, which allows you to use all times regardless of the weather.

You need to have A monthly subscription to access its all features and functionalities. Even with a free trial version of Nest Aware, you can receive smart alerts and continuous cloud recording.

NETATMO, NOC01-US

It is popular among homeowners as the smartest outdoor security camera. This outdoor security camera records videos in real time.

The live footage detects and warns you about things that happen outside your house. The camera can easily distinguish between people, cars and animals.

It has a built-in intelligent spotlight that turns on when it is necessary to prevent unnecessary happenings from taking place. It has e floodlight capability, which makes it unobtrusive and “invisible. Furthermore, recorded videos are stored on the microSD card of your home security camera with the ability to store video on Dropbox or on your personal FTP server.

It also offers infrared night vision, which increases your ability to view what is happening outside of your home 24*7/365 days.

DAHUA SD22204T-GN

This a perfect camera for home security. It Turns almost 180 degrees as per the user’s instructions. Three hundred positions are programmed into the device memory, which can be changed if needed.

It comes with a lens with the ability to adjust the focal length to increase the scale of the image. It has small dimensions – 132x132x116 mm and performs encoding using three streams.

EZVIZ MINI PANO

This is an excellent home security camera is in a round shape, which comes with a warranty period of 12 months.

With Maximum resolution 1344×1344, Weight- 200 grams, Dimensions -70x70x70 mm, and wireless connectivity- it is a nice camera for home security and real-time monitoring. Its 70x70x70 mm size allows the device to remain unnoticed for a long time.

Its viewing angle is 360 degrees, enabling it to capture videos from all angles.

Final Words

There are many affordable and convenient home cameras available on the market. First, identify your home security needs very well to choose the best camera. We hope you find your favourite home security camera in this list. Best of luck.

Author Bio

Lisa Cooper work as a blogger with Fixtel – an Australian owned and operated telecommunications company offers CCTV & Security System Installation in Australia. She loves to write insightful blogs & articles on the security Gadgets and Components of a Telecommunications System.

A Look at the AusCERT2019 Cyber Security Conference

March 24, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Photo © Pixabay

AusCERT is holding its annual conference from 28 to 31 May 2019 at the Surfers Paradise Marriott in the Gold Coast. AusCEPT is a leading Cyber Emergency Response Team CEPT information security advisor for different sectors.

Different organisations in Australia join the network and benefit from the response services of the team on different issues involving cybersecurity.

Both members and non-members can attend the conference, which has various elements making up the agenda. The first two days cover tutorials while the actual conference takes place on the last two days.

More About AusCERT

The Australian CERT was established in 1993 as a non-profit that is part of the University of Queensland in the Information Technology Services. AusCERT served as the national cyber emergency response team until 2010. It is one of the first contacts that organisations have when dealing with security incidents.

AusCERT was created to help members detect, respond, mitigate and prevent cyber-related attacks. The response funds itself through registration fees from members, service contracts and the annual conference.

AusCERT is responsible for monitoring threats and vulnerabilities on a global scale. It then develops strategies for mitigation and prevention of different types of risks. The team has numerous global contacts across the world that allows it to gather accurate information on emerging cyber threats. As part of global CERT, the cyber security Australia team gets early warnings about threats for which members benefit a lot.

The response team has an incident management service that is responsible for stopping a cyber attack in progress. Members can also rely on this service to help them recover after an incident. AusCERT has a Security Bulletin Service, which is a report containing data from varying sources about different internet security issues.

AusCERT 2019

Every year, AusCERT holds a cyber security conference that has remained the longest running in Australia. About 700 participants, both individuals and organisations, attend the event. The conference is designed to offer companies and internet security experts the tools they need to enhance their response to attacks.

From in-house IT teams to white hat hackers and other internet security experts, the 2019 conference provides an opportunity for industry players to interact and discuss issues like cyber security management. Social events are also part of the program including a Gala Dinner that incorporates industry awards. Participants have the chance to visit the Gold Coast and enjoy what it has in store.

The Agenda

On the first day of tutorials, participants will undertake a malware traffic analysis workshop, open source security orchestration, malware analysis, MISP training, TLS training, digital forensics and social engineering. For the second day of tutorials, attendees will learn how to think like an analyst, the risk management of cyber security, x86 assembly fundamentals, hacking of Bluetooth low energy, practical data science, TLS training and digital forensics. On 30 and 31 May, keynote speeches will take place.

The keynote speakers at the 2019 AusCERT cyber security conference are Mike Hypponen and Troy Hunt. Hypponen is a renowned TED Speaker on matters of tech security. He is also the CRO (Chief Research Officer) of F-Secure. Hypponen is an author for various global publications including Scientific America, The New York Times and Wired. Hunt is a Microsoft Regional Director and an independent security trainer. He founded HIBP (Have I Been Pwned) a data breach monitoring and notification service. Adam Spencer, a lover of math and a comedian, will be the event’s MC. Speakers for the main program and tutorials are from different global and regional companies.

AusCERT2019, organised by GEMS Event Management, will be a congregation of organisations from across the region looking to gain more knowledge about cybersecurity and its various facets. AusCERT provides information about the registration of members and non-members for the conference.

How to Maximise the Benefits of Your Child Care Software

March 18, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

If you’re thinking about implementing child care software for your child care centre, or if it’s already being used, it’s important that you use it to its full potential. At the beginning, you may be excited to implement it, but after a couple of months pass, you may find that you’re not getting the most out of it. It’s important to thoroughly understand all the features that are available to you, including a personalised dashboard, business reporting, online enrolments and payments, learning observations, and rosters and schedules. By utilising these features, you can make sure you’re maximising the benefits of your child care software.

Read on to find out three tips to help you use your child care software in the best way possible.

Train Your Staff

Your child care staff will use the software every day, so it’s essential that they’re properly trained in using it. Having staff up to speed on how to best use your child care software is important for the success of its implementation. To train your staff, get them together and show them all the features available to them. It’s also vital to encourage staff to use every opportunity to make a journal entry about what a child learns or how they’ve displayed growth.

This helps showcase the benefits of your child care software to parents and also records a child’s development to ensure they’re on track.

Share with Parents

Another way of maximising the benefits of your child care software is through sharing information with parents, enabling staff to connect with them in a fast and efficient way. Professional child care software allows your staff to easily communicate with a child’s parents throughout the day. For example, staff can snap a photo during an art lesson and tag a child so their parents will be able to immediately view it. This builds a good relationship between staff and parents, leaving parents feeling highly satisfied with the level of care that’s being provided.

This makes them more likely to keep their child at your centre and even recommend it to their family and friends.

Consult with Your Child Care Software Company

If you’re unsure about how to maximise the benefits of your child care software, it’s best to consult with your child care software company. There should be an online help desk and unlimited phone call support, so no matter the issue, your child software company should be able to assist you.They’ll have the knowledge and tools to help you with whatever you need, regardless of whether a problem is big or small.

They may even be able to show you other parts of your child care software that you didn’t know existed, and you can discuss anything from online payment and BPAY through to rosters and schedules.

Even if you feel like you’re using your child care software to its full potential, it may be time to contact your software company to review your setup and ensure there are no updates available.

The Ultimate Vape Cloud Guide

January 31, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

If you are in the vaping scene you may have wondered how some vapers get their clouds so big. There are a group of people who go by the collective of cloud chasers which essentially means that they build and modify their vape set ups to create those massive plumes that you see on the street, however, not everywhere you can vape. Many people also refer to the act as extreme vaping or stunt vaping.

The cloud chasing fad stemmed from the original vaping trend where people would start to figure out all the cool things that they can do with their clouds. It now has a massive cult following with many social media accounts dedicated to the craze. To help you fully understand cloud chasing we have put together a short little guide.

Where it came from

According to E-cigarette Club an e-cigarette shop – there are mixed reports of the origin of cloud chasing but many people claim that it originated off the west coast of America. A lot of people who are new to the vaping scene use cloud chasing as their entry point to help them become more acquainted. Not all vapers are fans of the cloud craze though. There is a distinctive split amongst the community of those who believe it is a legitimate representation of the culture and those who believe it gives the rest of them a bad name.

It is now a sport

What started off as a recreational hobby has turned into a competitive scene. Across the globe there are many competitions where vapers can show off their skills and produce the thickest clouds. These competitions also offer the winners thousands of dollars in cash to further promote the activity as a sport. This scene can be thought of as a subculture within a subculture that is starting to gain a lot of traction thanks to social media.

How you can get started

There are 9 main factors that you should take into consideration before you start trying to blow the biggest clouds.

E-liquid

E-liquids or e-juice can in two main categories, those with PG and the other with VG. VG produces more vapour which makes it a dominant product. Additionally cloud chasers don’t usually use nicotine in their vapours as it can leave you short of breath quicker than an e-juice without it.

Battery

Batteries and their safety are of the highest concern. Be sure to use trusted and safe products and don’t be afraid to ask other vapers or even the people who you are buying the products from.

Atomizer

Sub-ohm tanks are starting to become the preferred choice when it comes to cloud chasing. However as the products aren’t perfect yet, many people still tend to go with a RDA model with airflow control.

Airflow

The key to the best clouds is the right combination of airflow and resistance. Less resistance means more airflow but if it gets to thin you vapour will disperse and won’t produce as much.

Wicking

Using the right material for your wicking it vital when letting air and your e-juice flow to the coils in an efficient manner.

Coil Build

There are many different coil builds that affect how your vapour is produced. Generally speaking people tend to go for a low resistance build to maximise the amount of vapour produced.

Modifications

Modifications are a big part of the competitive scene. Mech mods are common as they offer a lot of power to your device.

Technique

Techniques and practice play a big part in all tricks. You need to perfect every aspect including inhaling and exhaling techniques as well as having the right body posture.

Lung capacity

At the end of the day some people are just born with a higher lung capacity than others. This plays a big part in how much you can inhale and exhale.

A Guide To Faster Internet Speeds

January 29, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Slow internet speeds can be frustrating. There has been an upsurge of media-content and websites and it is no coincidence a lot of people are experiencing slower speeds than usual. It takes a lot more time to load content than it did just a few years ago. While the problem could be your ISP, there are some controllable components that could be making your internet slower.

Types of Broadband

There numerous kinds of broadband connections. As an internet user, you should be aware of the broadband you’re using as the speed and bandwidth differ from one provider to another. The easiest way of knowing the type of broadband connection is by contacting your ISP.

Satellite: Just as the name suggests, data is beamed to a satellite in outer space and then bounced back to your ISP. The set up requires a transmitter and a satellite dish which is provided by the ISP. Speeds are usually slow because of the long distance that data has to travel. There is also the issue of weather interference which messes up the signal.

Cable: This connection goes through the coaxial cable. This is the typical line that brings shows to your TV. The networks are usually shared and the speeds will fluctuate depending on the number of users on the network. It is not strange for a household in the rural area to experience faster internet speeds compared to one in the city.

Optical Fiber: Optical is seen as a precursor of internet connectivity in the future. With Fiber Optics, data is transmitted through pulses of light through dedicated fiber lines. There are vendors who currently offer up to 1000 Mbps speeds which one wouldn’t have thought possible a couple of years ago.

Having known the different types of broadband connectivity, the next question would be how to make your internet faster with the controllable variables in play.

Router Placement

Ideally, the router should be placed in a central location. The router is the getaway between the home connection and your ISP and the location it is placed will play a big role in ensuring high internets. The router should be located where most of the connected devices are found. The router should be placed in an elevated position where there are no obstacles.

Restart Regularly

The Router should be restarted regularly for it to function at its optimum. While it might work throughout, sometimes the slow internet speeds can be solved by simply restarting the router. The process is known as power cycling and is meant to help the router in clearing the redundant data that has accumulated. The restarting will also enable the router to choose the less crowded channel thus improving the speeds.

Content Consumption

Most homes nowadays rely on the internet for content. The internet is used for watching movies, stream live sports events, watching 4K videos, and gaming. There are times when all these processes could be running at the same time which could slow down the internet connectivity. You should monitor what is being consumed and ensure that not all the processes are running concurrently.

Increase Wi-Fi Range

Sometimes the problem could be limited to the Wi-Fi range. This applies to big houses where there is a single access point and you lose the signal when you go upstairs. There are some DIY techniques like using tinfoil although it might not be very effective. An effective solution would be to add more access points in the home.

A foolproof way of extending the network is using a wireless mesh network system. It is a one-time set up that will go a long way in ensuring that every part of the home has internet access. The whole system can be controlled with an app.

Switch Broadband

If the internet is still slow, chances are high that the problem could be your ISP. It could be time to start comparing new NBN plans. You should make sure to check if the ISP is providing what you paid for. You can also look online if there are other people who are complaining about the services. A good ISP provider should provide high-speed internet and offer technical support in case of low speeds.

The Best NBN Ready Routers for 2019

November 26, 2018 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Are you looking for very fast internet speed? Then what you need is a NBN (National Broadband Network) ready router.

These routers come at the speed of 12Mbps, 25Mbps, 50Mbps and 100 Mbps. To download your files at these speeds, you need to get yourself a modem router that is compatible with your location’s NBN’s chosen type of technology. In this article, we are going to present you with a selected choice of NBN ready routers that are available in 2019.

NetGear DGN2200

At the price of $128, you can get NetGear DGN2200, which is a wireless modem router. It comes in unique style and shape. Next to being able to handle fibre and NBN cable functionality, it is also an ADSL2+ modem.

It provides you with N300 Wi-Fi, as 2.4 Ghz single-band transmission. It offers you all that you require, and works well with NBN FTTP/FTTH type connections. It’s a quality router that has a wireless that can perfectly cover your home.

TP-LINK TD-W9970

TP-LINK’s TD-W9970 is capable for all the fast transmission speeds, up to the most wanted 100 Mbps speed. It is a Wireless N VoIP VDSL/ADSL modem router. It utilizes VDSL technology to achieve such high speed, in this case VDSL2. The price is great – only $89.95.

This router is a great choice in the case that you have ADSL2+ connectivity right now, and are soon going to be provided with VDSL2 NBN. It’s backwards-compatible with ADSL technology, so you can get it as soon as possible.

NetGear DM200 High-Speed DSL Modem

NetGear’s DM200 is a great router for NBN compatibility, but it doesn’t have the feature to work as a wireless router. The price is good – it is available for only $89. It is made to work with ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+, VDSL, and VDSL2 technologies.

If you are only looking for a wired connection, the LAN port can be directly connected to your PC. There is only one LAN port, so it’s a great router if you already have a powerful Wi-Fi router in your hands. If you don’t, then you might want to look for another option.

D-Link G225 N300 ADSL2+/VDSL2 Modem Router

D-Link’s DSL-G225 is a modem that works with all the available NBN speeds. Its internal network speed is 10/100 Ethernet. The same as TD-W9970, this router is compatible with VDSL and ADSL technologies.

When it comes to wireless distribution speeds, they are at 300 Mbps over the 802.11 n Wi-Fi standard. This makes it a really great choice for a NBN ready router. Next to impressive features, it also looks great, so it’s a router that you’ll want to try out. It comes at the price of $99.95.

NetComm NF10W

NF10W is a beautifully designed VDSL/ADSL modem router which works perfectly for NBN via the FTTN model, making use of fibre connectivity to a node in your basement (FTTB). There is a separate WAN port that can work with Gigabit Ethernet, which is 10/100/1000, or in other words, one that can get speeds of 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps.

For LAN purposes, it offers four Fast Ethernet ports, which are compatible for 1/100, or 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps speeds. Furthermore, you get N300 wireless connectivity. The cost is $104.

NetGear D1500

Another NetGear product – D1500 comes at the cheap price of $49. You should keep in mind that unlike most other routers discussed in this article, it isn’t VDSL2 compatible. It is an ADSL2+ router that works with fibre and cable. This means that it has a dual LAN/WAN port in the back, which works with NBN by utilizing FTTH delivery only.

This router’s ADSL2+ capability is at 20 Mbps. When it comes to its Wi-Fi speed, it is at 300 Mbps. It includes only two LAN ports for Fast Ethernet, which has higher speed than standard Ethernet, but lower than Gigabit Ethernet. This means that you can reach speeds up to 100 Mbps. Due to only two LAN ports, it’s not suitable for more than one device. Netgear has launched some super fast 2019 Modem router models.

Linksys X3500 N750

If you are looking for a Gigabit Ethernet device, with the speed up to 1000Mbps, then Linksys X3500 N750 is the right choice for you. It comes with an ADSL2+ modem, and is one of the more expensive choices, being $130. It does a great job at distributing NBN connectivity through your home.

Its Wi-Fi standard the same as other routers that utilize 802.11n. However, it works on dual bands, which means that its Wi-Fi transmission is boosted to 750 Mbps. Its downside is the design that looks quite outdated, and it offers less features than some of the other choices in this article.

Conclusion

A NBN ready router is your path to fast internet speed. Take into consideration these reviews of some of the best routers out there, and make your choice. Remember to make sure that the modem is compatible with the NBN’s chosen type of technology in your area.

Also, another thing to bear in mind is the security aspect of your gear. IT Support Sydney specialists recommend looking only at routers that have WPA2-PSK or greater encryption methods.

Though most routers will have WEP and other methods available as well, make sure to tick the WPA2 method and, of course, to choose a strong password at least 12 characters long, with spaces, numbers and other uncommon symbols. And finally, to ensure the best speed possible out of your Wi-Fi, check the channel availability and choose the least busy channel.

Travel Tips: The Importance of Lockers in Airports

July 19, 2018 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Why airport lockers are the unsung heroes for mega travellers everywhere.

I travel, a lot. When I do get the time and funds together to pull off a really epic trip, I go all out. This means that I’m bring home a mass of rare finds, flea market jewels, and- yes, I know it’s lame- a ton of souvenirs for friends and family. On top of the fact that my baggage has baggage, I also like to make sure that I book flights with extremely long layovers (sometimes up to 48 hours) in cities that I want to lounge around in for a few hours.

This works great for me, I get to see everything and more, and I really get to make the most of the time and money I have available to me. The only part of it that was starting to get a bit worrisome was what I was going to do with bags upon bags of necessities, gifts, and all those fantastic items that make my house look like an 18th century museum. I wasn’t ready to sacrifice any of my luggage, but I also wasn’t wanting to sacrifice my travel time either. The simple solution to my perceived travel woes? Airport lockers.

This brain child came to me as I was lugging a small pachyderm and six of it’s friends worth of bag weight around Sydney Airport. I had booked one of my famous 48 hour power tours of the city, complete with museums, walking tours, discos, and bar crawls. Sydney is known for its wild nightlife as well as as for being city that is steeped in history and class. I had booked a cheap overnight in a crowded hostel near the city center. While this is a tactic I rely on more often than not, I also use websites like couchsurfing when I can and stay with locals I don’t know. This is fine by me and I’ve never really ran into any issues with it, but it does feel a bit awkward busting into someone’s home with seven giant bags and two large suitcases- just to snag a nap for the night. So there I was, standing in the middle of the airport, amongst a sea of overstuffed luggage, with a plan that absolutely did not include toting those bags with me. Right on the verge of mental breakdown, I look up and what do my wondering eyes spy? A line of airport lockers.

The lockers in the Sydney airport are brilliant. They come in a number of shapes and sizes, and are great for overnight storage. I ended up having to hire about six of them, but even then it didn’t break the bank. I kept one of my favourite messenger bags stuffed with essentials and set off. Feeling the freedom and confidence of running around the city, only armed with a fresh pair of underwear, cocktail dress, and a toothbrush, was incredible. The lockers enabled me to run around without having to concern myself with the safety of my artefact’s, or the safety of my health.

Running around with a mass of luggage isn’t just awkward and embarrassing (no one wants to be that tourist) but Sydney is hot, and I am not exactly in my prime health. I mean, I’m fit, but I’m not running any marathons any time soon. Pack on seven huge bags, heat, and several miles worth of walking tours, and I would have ended up looking like the back end of a baboon. Only extra sweaty.

Leaving my bags in the airport lockers kept me looking fresh as a daisy while I spent all day and all night experiencing this great city. Not only that, but I didn’t lose any sleep over worrying about whether or not my purchases were safe from any prying roommates.

I always find it surprising that lockers aren’t utilized more often. They’re spectacular for packing away your baggage while you have an overnight romp in an unknown city- but their usefulness doesn’t stop there. Travelling with kids? Lockers are a great way to store a bunch of luggage for a few hours while you bustle around the airport, making sure that you have your hands free for feeding, changing diapers, and general wrangling. They also work really well for stowing things away while you use the bathroom to freshen up between flights, or slip into the bar to relax before hitting the plane again. Lockers are what keep you from looking like a harried sentinel, desperately attempting to keep one eye on your charge at all times.

The peace of mind that you get from knowing that your items are safe and easily retrievable is something that you can never get enough of when your living out your travelling dreams. Lockers are definitely the things that keep these dreams from turning into nightmares.

Key Tips on Boosting Your Leads for Better Long Term Profit

October 31, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Have you checked the status of how your business is fairing lately? As you know, there is massive competition as well as an overflow of supplies in every field. To survive, every small business requires new buyers and leads. Each day, you should generate newly qualified leads; otherwise, it won’t take long and you will be out of business.

If you have a small business, most likely, you have a limited budget when it comes to marketing for leads. Therefore, it becomes important to utilize those leads for profit¾otherwise you will be out of money and the business won’t grow. Here are some important tips which you can immediately initiate to start getting more lead conversions online.

1. Know Your Market

Identify the psychology of the market you are targeting. Find out what the market is thinking, identify the pain points, find the customer requirements, and determine other important aspects of your market. You should not limit your search to their needs but look for what they truly want from a product or service.

· Remember, the most important thing to identify is consumer problems. What issues do they potentially want to address with one of your products? Also, find out when your target audience is online and where they spend maximum time. Additionally, demographical considerations such as income, gender, age, etc. should be made.

· Being a business owner, you are always at the advantage of communicating directly with the customers, and you can build great long-term working relationships with them by asking what you can do for them.

2. Speak Their Language

You should understand and talk exactly the way your customers expect. The choice of words should be according to them. It is understood that people give more priority to the problem being solved¾the product, service, and its features come after that.

· Present yourself in a problem-solving way. For instance, instead of saying, “how to communicate through email,” say “how to utilize emails to generate effective business leads.”

· The advantage with small businesses is that they are very close to their customers. So, next time, think about how to promote your business so that it provides the results that customers want.

3. Ask For Small Actions First

The biggest mistake that small businesses make is that they directly go for the sale immediately after the first conversation. Take your time with the customer, it will pay off in the long-run.

· First, try to get your prospect’s email address by offering either a free valuable report, or videos rich with information.

· With time, they will understand what your business can offer and then you can help them in solving their problems.

4. Give Something of Value First

It is well-understood method¾if you want to build a relationship and trust with a prospect, you should first give something that is valuable for them.

· Provide them with information or talk to them about their issues and how you can offer solutions. Give them quality information and better content.

· You will build stronger trust and relationship with every piece of valuable information that you provide.

5. Know Your Numbers

Being a small business, it is not advisable that you spend money on digital advertising or buying clicks. Proper planning can help you at being profitable¾even on a smaller budget.

· The first thing you should do is to identify your marketing goal.

· Second, find out the results you want to achieve and the number of leads you are expecting to get so that they can be converted into buyers.

· Identify the average conversion rate from lead to customer. These are important numbers that you should know.

Other vital numbers that you should be aware of are the worth of the buyers, such as their initial spending in the first month and what’s expected over a lifetime. From all of these numbers, you can find out how much you should invest in a lead so that the conversion provides profit. Since the goal is not to just generate leads, your leads should be profitable as well. By having those numbers and analyzing them properly, you will be able to act accordingly and grow your business.

6. Maximize Value for Every Lead as Well As Every Buyer

A simple word can do a lot for your business: Follow-Up. You should keep in touch with your audience all the time.

· Do not limit the follow-ups to the first day or the first month, remain in touch with them until they buy or until the time they exist in your list.

· Consistently provide them new offers, even if it is a weekly webinar or a free consultation.

· Provide them quality information and add value to their life. Along with those, remember to add a call to action.

These are six tips that you can use (just like we do at Fone Dynamics !), that will certainly be beneficial to your business. These will give your business the opportunity to generate more profitable online leads without spending too much.

John Taylor

John is a long-time professional with over two decades of experience in analytics and communications technology. He works as the Senior Data Analyst at Fone Dynamics, a leader in call tracking, voice, and SMS communication. When John steps out of the office, he loves to spend time with his family and bike riding.

Energy efficient heating and cooling solutions

October 16, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Image: https://pixabay.com/en/air-conditioner-ac-cool-cooling-1614698/

Keeping things cool in Summer and toasty in Winter is as easy as buying home air conditioners that can both heat and cool a room. But there is more to it than just buying a product to do the job for you. To keep costs down and your conscience in check, you need to think about energy efficient heating and cooling. This goes beyond buying a quality air conditioning unit and turning it on. You need to make sure you are using it properly while preparing your home to maximise results in an energy efficient manner.

You may think you need to start from scratch to take advantage of energy efficient heating and cooling but even for existing homes there are many ways to reduce your power bills and improve overall comfort without being a burden on the environment. The following tips will help you become energy efficient in both Summer and Winter.

Energy Efficient Heating

Reduce your power bill and save some cash with energy efficient heating. Keep you and your family warm all winter without breaking the bank with these energy efficient solutions.

No matter what home air conditioners you use, if you use and maintain it wisely, you can reduce those costs while keeping comfortable. You may even use quality air conditioning less.

● Keep your home air conditioners at a steady temperature. Ideally between 18°C and 20°C for you living room or lounge.

● You’ll want to avoid leaving your home air conditioning on overnight. Also, don’t leave it running when you’re not home. It doesn’t take long for a quality air conditioning unit to be effective so is a waste if you aren’t home.

● If your home air conditioners have turn off timers, use them. Set them to turn off at night or turn on in the morning.

● Control the area you want heated. Close doors to areas you aren’t using. Heating the one area you are using is a lot more energy efficient than heating your entire home.

● Keep the air flowing in your home. Make sure furniture isn’t blocking any ducts or optimal airways.

● Make sure you clean the filters of your home air conditioners regularly to keep them working at maximum efficiency.

● A bonus tip for those with a reversible ceiling fan. Use it to redistribute heat that has built up in high ceilings.

Energy Efficient Cooling

Being energy efficient with your cooling involves stopping the heat getting into your home during the day and making sure the cool air gets in at night. This can effectively reduce the need for turning on your home air conditioners. Most of our efficient heating tips work the same for energy efficient cooling but we have a few extras that you can try and employ.

● To stop the heat getting in try and shade north, west and east windows.

● Insulation is super effective for both cooling and heating. You’ll want to insulate your ceiling, walls and floors.

● Go around your home and check the seals around windows, doors and other gaps to stop that heat from getting into your house

● If you can, landscape your property to provide natural shade for your property.

With these tips in hand you, your home and your family will be cosy and comfortable all year-round while keeping costs down and energy efficiency at a maximum. If you need a quality air conditioning unit to help put these tips into practice head over to https://www.carrierair.com.au/ and they’ll help you choose a unit to complement these energy efficient solutions. You’ll be ready to beat the heat and grab hold of the cold.