Setting Up A Wireless Router
February 19, 2012 | 
Author Using a wireless router makes computing life much more enjoyable. Why confine yourself to work on the computer in the same location you took it out of the box? Setting up a wireless router is easy and allows you the freedom to access the Internet, files, printers, plus much more, from virtually any location in your house or yard. Before you shake your head about setting up a wireless router on your own, trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.
Here are some simple steps for setting up your wireless router.
Select the correct wireless router for your needs.
If you walk into your nearest Best Buy or other computer store, you will see they have a wide variety of routers available. There are basically (3) wireless networking technologies on the market today; 802.11a, 802.11b, and 801.22g. So what are the differences between these wireless technologies?
802.11a wireless protocol is the oldest version of wireless networking technologies currently available. While you may find 802.11a wireless hardware at discounted prices, I would strongly urge you to avoid them. 802.11a is limited in range and capacity versus 802.11b and 802.11g. So why set up your first wireless network with the oldest technology.
802.11b wireless protocol (11Mbs) is by far the most common wireless technology in use today. If you select this wireless protocol, you will be fine. But why not start with the latest and greatest wireless protocol currently available?
802.11g is the best wireless technology on the market and all new computers with built-in wireless cards utilize this protocol. 802.11b wireless protocol was superceded by backwards compatible 802.11g (54Mbs). What this means is that if you have an 802.11b card on some of your computing devices, you can use an 802.11g wireless router without the need to replace your wireless card. If you have the option, I would strongly recommend purchasing 802.11g cards for your computers as well to get the maximum benefits of this wireless network technology.
Connecting your wireless router
Before starting, be sure you have a paper copy of all instructions or the router manual in front of you. Sounds simple, I know, but you would be surprised how many people neglect this basic step. Ok, let’s get started!
The first step will be to power down your DSL or cable modem. This will be accomplished by unplugging the devices from the electrical outlets.
Next, connect the wireless router to your modem. I would recommend keeping the distance between the router and modem as close as possible. I have both modem and wireless router setting side by side on my desk.
Included with the wireless router, you should have a short cable. This is your network cable. Plug the network cable into the wireless router in the port labeled INTERNET, WAN OR WLAN. This designation varies depending on the brand of wireless router you purchased. It does not matter which end of the network cable you connect to the router, since the same type of connector is used on both ends.
Once you have connected the network cable to your wireless router, connect the other end of the cable into your modem. Your modem will only have one port available. You will hear a “click” when a secure connection has been established.
You can now re-insert the cable which provides your Internet access back into your DSL or cable modem.
At this point, you will want to power up your modem. The modem should always be powered up first. Allow a few moments for the Internet connection to synchronize with the modem.
It is now time to configure your wireless router. Temporarily disconnect the network cable from the router and modem. Once you have completed this, connect the network cable to any port on the wireless router not labeled as INTERNET, WAN OR WLAN. You will probably have at least 4 open ports; any one will do. Next, connect the other end of the network cable to your computer. This may seem confusing, however, you need a direct connection between the router and computer to permit configuration.
On your computer, open up an Internet browser and enter the address which corresponds to your specific make of wireless router.
ROUTER ADDRESS USERNAME PASSWORD
3Com 192.168.1.1 admin admin
D-Link 192.168.0.1 admin
Linksys 192.168.1.1 admin admin
Microsoft Broadband 192.168.2.1 admin admin
Netgear 192.168.0.1 admin password
Once you have entered the address into your browser, you will be prompted to enter a username and password. Reference the chart for your respective information. While in the configuration mode, you will have the option to change your password, which I strongly suggest.
Next, you will need to set your network id or SSID. This name does not have to be lengthy, but choose something that is unique and but easy enough for you to remember.
Protecting your network. You will also have the option to either secure your network or leave it “open”. By leaving your network “open”, anyone within range of your wireless router signal will be able to access your network. If you live in a location in a development or apartment, there is a good chance someone will be riding your network..using your Internet access for free and degrading your access quality. It is a good rule of thumb to secure access to networks and computers whenever possible.
To secure your network, select the WEP tab or option. WEP stands for Wireless Encryption. You will be prompted to enter a password or passphrase. We have already addressed changing your administrator password from the default, so let’s move on. Be sure to select Apply or OK after making your selections.
Disconnect the network cable from your computer, and reconnect as before. One end of the network cable goes into the port on the wireless router marked INTERNET, WAN, or WLAN, and the other end connects to your DSL or cable modem.
After a few brief moments, an icon should appear on your desktop alerting you a wireless network has been detected. Right click on the icon and select “View Available Wireless Networks”.
If you do not see your network, click on the Refresh button from the menu. Once your network is visible, click on it.
If you have WEP protected your wireless network, you will be prompted to enter your password or passphrase. If you have chosen to leave your network unprotected, you will be cautioned that you are attempting to access an unsecured network. Select your network and press “Connect”.
Article written by LSG at Lilsurfergirl.com [http://lilsurfergirl.com/2007/11/08/choosing-the-right-laptop/]
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Reloading Windows XP
If you have been running Windows XP for a couple of years or more you may find that it is not running quite as quickly and smoothly as it was when you did your first install. I am constantly ‘evaluating’ software and uninstalling and reinstalling beta software on my computer and have always gradually become more and more disappointed after nine months to a year with the performance of my PC. So I regularly do a backup and reinstall all my software, including Windows.
Please note that this is completely different than doing the standard things to troubleshoot and fix individual problems such as system errors or application errors. These things are better fixed by using a systme Restore which is a great new feature to Windows XP
For anyone that has reinstalled their operating system a few times the process seems pretty straightforward as they have found all of the gotchas the first few times. I have lost mail and contacts but not much else over the years by following (or not following) a system to reload my operating system and software. This purpose of this guide is to give you a checklist to follow so that a reloading of Windows goes smoothly the first time.
The steps are as follows:
1. Backup all data
2. Document your current system drivers and software
3. Delete the Windows and profile directories
4. Reload Window
5. Reload software and data.
6. Get some sleep
1. Backup data.
There are two methods of the process of reloading your operating system. The first is to just delete the system files and the second is to backup the files to CD or DVD and then format the hard drive completely, my preference is to delete the system folders and work from there as the actual formatting is not needed as much now as it was in the past.
It is very important to be sure to get a backup of all of your data. My current practice is to create a folder in the Root of the C: drive called “backup for reload” and copy all of my files in there. The first few times that I reloaded my machine I either saved all of the data to another hard drive so I could format my main drive or I would just create a folder to save my data in that was in the root of the C: drive and just deleted the Windows directory. One thing to be aware of is that a new install of Windows is going to delete your current profile where your data is kept, you will be warned in the install and I am warning you here as well!
First of all Windows likes to keep all of your documents in your “My Documents” folder and even though the icon is on the desktop the folder is actually in the following location: c:documents and settings . The documents and settings folder is quite important as it does have all of the files that are associated with you as a user. Other folders in documents and settings are “Favorites” “Application Data” and “Local Settings”.
If you use Outlook Express for your mail you will want to back up its folders. Open up Outlook Express and go to tools to options to maintenance and there is a button called “Store Folder” this will tell you where the folder is that holds all of your mail, usually located in
c:–> documents and settings(logon name)–> local settings–> Application Data–> Identities–> Microsoft–> Outlook Express”. Hard to find spot but important.
If you are using Outlook for your mail and contacts my policy has always been to search for all .pst files on your PC this will give you your main as well as archive folders and maybe even some long lost mail from before.
I also do a search and put the following in the search box *.doc;*.xls;*.ppt;*. mdb;*.pub this will search for all office documents on the PC, when I get the result I only backup the files that are not in my documents and settings for my name or in the my documents folder.
How big is your “Backup and Reload” folder now that you have all of your data in it? Can you back it up to a CD? Or two, or a DVD? This would be a nice time to do that save to a CD so that in the event of a catastrophic failure of your hard drive you can go back and reload your data later.
2. Document your current system drivers and software
So often when I am working on a computer I find that after a format and reload of Windows that I am missing a network card driver or a video driver. Before you turn off the computer to format it or delete the system files make sure that you have a copy of all of the drivers, realistically the only drivers that seem to change are the video drivers. What other drivers might you need? Well If you have the CD that came with the motherboard then you will probably only need to download the sound card, video, monitor, modem drivers and you can find the type of hardware by right clicking on the my computer and going to properties and then depending on your version of Windows look for the device manager. I do not tend to format my drive I only delete the Windows directory and the Documents and settings directory when I do a reload so I can then find the files later still sitting on the hard drive. My preference is to create a folder called mydrivers in the root of the C: drive so that after you reload Windows you will have a central place to go to find the drivers. Now just go out and download the drivers that you need.
3. Delete the Windows and profile directories
Now, this is where you have to take a deep breath before you get started as when we delete files we are not going to be able to get them back. When I delete files on the computer before I reinstall Windows I do not delete all of the files or format the drive. The only way that you can delete what you want is to use some kind of a boot disk that does not load Windows from your hard drive. I use the Ultimate Windows Boot CD and after I boot the drive up I move some data instead of deleting. More often than not I will have missed some important file so I create a “backup” folder that contains all of my data. I drop my current “Documents and Settings” folder into this backup folder and then also any applications from the “Program Files’ folder that may have some of their own files. This would include databases like Act or Maximiser and Tax software or book keeping software like Quicken. Most of the data files for applications are kept in the “My Documents” folder.
In the install of Windows you will need to have at least 2 gigs of free space so make sure that you have freed up enough space to do the install
When I am deleting folders I am most interested in deleting the” Documents and Settings” and “Windows” folders, as this is where you will find user settings as well as the registry both good and bad. If you are really aggressive you can also include the “Program Files” folder so that after you have reloaded Windows you can have the default settings for each application. I also delete any files that are sitting in the root of the C: drive.
4. Reloading Windows
Now that you have deleted the unneeded files and directories you will have to give yourself an operating system to reload all of your software into. I prefer Windows XP now although if you have a bit of an older computer Windows 2000 will probably be fine and takes less system resources.
Just a note here, Windows 98 is a bad choice and there are a few reasons why. Windows 98 is not supported anymore by Microsoft so it does not have any new security fixes or drivers being written for it. One other issue is that the underlying file system that Windows 98 supports is FAT32, if you are loading Windows 2000 or XP you will likely want to take advantage of NTFS but the only good way to do this with a fresh load is to format your machine, this will delete all of the data that you have on your PC now. If you are moving from Windows 98 there will be a spot in the install asking if you would like to format or convert the drive to NTFS, I would avoid this as you can convert after you have switched your PC to Windows XP in Disk Management from the Computer management application in Windows.
The rest of the install should go smoothly and after you have finished you will have a nice new clean install of Windows with only the recycle bin on the desktop and no applications. Perhaps the desktop is only 256 colors or the size is not quite right but this is where you will fix that problem by reloading your drivers. Go to start and right click on the “MY Computer” icon and select properties, go to the hardware tab, now find the device manager and anything with an exclamation point or a red X will need a new driver. Right click on the icon, select update driver and walk through finding your drivers. If you can not find the driver in the lookup then you may have to go back to the mydrivers folder and run the executables for the drivers which may quicken the process of loading new drivers.
5. Reload Software and Data
Now the slow torturous part of the Windows install begins. I always do this reloading of Windows because my computer has gradually slowed down from all of the software that I have loaded up and pledge never to do again, I have proven time and time again that I don’t live up to the pledge. The only software that I load first is Office XP and setup my personal settings and mail folders from Outlook (check around for this documentation as it varies with your version of Office) and I also install my commonly used utilities. I keep my software install disks close by and just load software as I need it over the next few days.
6. Get Some Sleep
Congratulations. This process is very long and occasionally we do lose data that was missed in the backup but after you are done you have a computer that is at least as good as the day you started using it. There are fewer errors, less hiccups and the computer is fast and responsive. Although it takes a long time I am more than willing to do it as long as I cleared some time beforehand as the difference in working with the computer for some time after is a real treat.
Troubleshooting Dish Network
Many times we experience trouble in Dish Network due to some reasons such as bad weather or due to changes in voltage spikes. Many of us have experienced this problem it becomes a very difficult task to come out of such a difficult situation. This article is intended to provide novice users guide how to deal with such critical situation.
If something intercepts with the signal getting from the satellite to your dish the picture is surely going to suffer. If the signal is blocked completely, your picture will disappear completely. So Make sure that there is nothing in between your dish and where your dish is pointing in the sky. This could include: a tree branch, your motor home, your neighbor’s motor home, a build-up of snow, ice, or excessive water on the dish, or anything else you could possibly imagine. Luckily, the solution is simple. Get the signal flowing without restraint back to your Dish Network receiver by removing the obstruction.
The Cables and Connections – The wiring and connecting parts that carry the signal from the dish to your Dish Network receiver could also be part of the problem. It is unlikely that the image will suddenly cut out on you, especially in the fourth quarter, if the wiring is bad. The easiest way to test this is to ensure that the reliability of the cables is still intact and that all of the connections are tight. If you are still not getting picture to your television, try plugging the cables into another TV, or routing the picture through your VCD.
Your Dish Network Receiver – On a very rare occasion, your receiver may stop receiving or decoding the signal properly. Firstly, reset your receiver by pressing and holding the Power button on your satellite receiver’s panel for 10 seconds. Your receiver will reset and return to normal and it is possible the problem may be solved. This is to set the receiver to default setting in case you have made some unnecessary setting changes If you are not able to solve the problem using the above methods you can solve it be calling 1-800-333-DISH (3474) the contact number of Dish Network technical support team. Just give them a call and they will try their best to fix your problem.
Thus try this steps before disturbing your crystal clear television. With these above mentioned steps, you should be able to fix some of the problems. Please do not try removing any hardware or the dish. Do not try to chirp inside what’s wrong as it’s dangerous. Safety should always be the first priority.
Digital Safe Locks – Forgotten Your Code?
Virtually all-modern safes have replaced dial locks with electronic keypad-entry locks. While it features more reliable, tamper-proof and burglar-proof locks, it is easy to use, along with its keypad number entry combination locks that makes it more secure as well. For one thing, it automatically goes into its lockdown mode, which means that it goes idle for 5 minutes. Aside from its great strength and security, it is also nice-looking; who wouldn’t want one of those modern James-Bond-technology inspired security gadgets installed in their homes?
While digital safe locks present a highly secure gadget, it also has its downsides. For one, it operates on power or batteries, which typically last up to one year. While battery recharge or replacement is expensive, it requires a certain amount of money for maintenance. Also, if the owner has pressed the wrong lock combination, they will have to wait 5 minutes to try pressing down the correct combination code. However, more difficulties or problems will be faced by the owner if the digital lock combination has been forgotten.
What should I do if I forgot my combo code?
o First, you need to remain calm so you can easily and clearly think of the many ways to solve the problem; take deep breaths.
o For some digital lock safe models, changing the number lock combo is easy. Instructions are provided on the user’s notes or owner’s manual that usually comes with the product when purchased. Consider using the defaults to crack the code.
o Some digital lock safes may have been provided with notes, manuals and papers; their manufacturer’s websites filled with helpful instructions, documents and papers; however, this poses a problem on which one to choose. Simply read through everything that you can find, to eventually find the solution to your problem.
o You haven’t found any piece of useful paper of your digital safe’s package; try reporting your problem to the manufacturer. You can contact manufacturers at their website or local offices. Send in a request for a tool key or a set of instructions on how to change your currently forgotten combination lock. While they do not keep records of safe combinations, they are the best group to consult on how to crack their own security codes.
o An alternative would be having the safe serviced by a qualified technician, the one that specifically fixes digital lock safes of the same brand.
In case of a lockdown due to forgotten digital lock code, many would give an advice to try remembering the other digits in the lock code and filling it in with random numbers. With dial locked safes, this method of cracking the code could work. However, the heightened security features of digital lock safes eliminate or do not support random entry of lock codes. Some brands may even have designed their digital lock safes to block all random combination entries after several attempts, for security reasons, unless serviced by the manufacturer.
The difficulties brought by forgotten digital lock codes emphasize the importance of using codes that you can be easily remembered. If you have difficulty retaining number codes, make use of numbers that mean something personally to you. Arrange it in a sequence that creates a pattern that rhythmically allows your mind to remember the code when needed.
What to Do If You Forgot a Linksys Router Password
The Linksys router passwords for all are setup at the same time as the initial router setup and can be changed later, but it is definitely important to reset the password for avoiding unauthorized access to the router’s web page. But once after having set the password one is finding tough to remember his Linksys router password or has simply forgotten it, then following these simple instructions should surely help you out.
1- If you have forgotten your Linksys router password, reset your Linksys router to the first stage i.e. to its factor default settings, and to restore the router configuration to factor defaults, hold the reset button for 30 seconds which will reset default name and access IP address also.
2- Reconfigure the whole system again and manage the Linksys router passwords by connecting the Ethernet ports to the computer while logging into the URL http:// 192.168.1.1/. This will allow you to view a dialog box and ask you for the username and the password to login to your router, in which you should enter “admin” for both the fields. On the older versions of Linksys routers, the default name is blank and the default password is “admin”, but for the newer routers (Linksys), the default name and the password will be “admin” only.
Once passing off the login screen, the reconfiguration of the router is done. One can now visit the management tab and change the admin password to some other password to avoid other’s access to router. Post changing the administrator password; enable the WAP or WEP security so that others are deprived of gaining unauthorized access into your wireless network.
Even after following these instructions and resetting your router (Linksys), there could be some glitches for which suggested useful tips can surely help you in case you forget your Linksys router password. 1- Always keep a printed copy of the required important data, by keeping a code and other relevant facts about configurations, etc. for better management of router passwords.
3- To avoid forgetting the code at the first instance, always choose the right password which is a more complex code and not an easy one so that others find it difficult to guess or access, and keep the printed copy of this complex code safely so that you can restore it when needed.
4- Carefully read the instruction manual before installing and getting the router and the ports to work together efficiently, and educate you to get familiarized with the working of the different components in the router.
How and Why to Open a Bank Account in Hong Kong
Hong Kong today remains one of the best offshore banking jurisdictions. It offers a great combination of bank secrecy, corporate secrecy, a financially and politically stable environment, and strong banks. But perhaps most importantly, it’s a secure offshore investment haven for those who want to diversify out of sinking western currencies into booming Asian markets, and China in particular.
So how can you go about opening an offshore bank account in Hong Kong? Do you have to travel there? This article will answer these questions and give you some practical hints and tips. But first some background.
A Successful Free Market Experiment For East and West Alike
Hong Kong, in my opinion, is the only practical example in the world of a major city that has been developed from scratch and run as something of an offshore, free market experiment – first by the British, then by the Chinese.
The main Island (and later Kowloon and the New Territories, parts of the mainland) was a British colony for most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. During this time it grew from a fishing village and opium trading hub, into a city-state of seven million people. It became known as a free-wheeling, free market paradise for capitalists, with an economy characterized by low taxation, free trade and no government interference in business.
In 1997 the British returned sovereignty over Hong Kong to China. The former colony became one of China’s two Special Administrative Regions (SARs), the other being Macau. Many people were initially doubtful about one of the world’s capitalist bastions being run by a communist power, and at the time a lot of investors pulled out, many taking their dynamic business acumen heading to places like Singapore and Vancouver.
However, the “one country, two systems” model adopted by Beijing to coincide with free market reforms and the growth of China into an economic superpower has proven very successful. The Basic Law of Hong Kong, the equivalent of the constitution, stipulates that the SAR maintains a “high degree of autonomy” in all matters except foreign relations and defence. The SAR today operates as a major offshore finance center, discreetly oiling the wheels of commerce between East and West.
These days, rather than being put off by the Chinese influence, most international investors who are attracted to Hong Kong are coming precisely because of this Chinese connection. Hong Kong is the point of access to Chinese trade, without the legal and cultural difficulties of doing business in mainland China.
Those who do not trust their own governments are reassured by the fact that under the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s foreign relations are run from Beijing. While most offshore jurisdictions humbly submit to demands from the USA and other western countries, in the case of China, the relationship is definitely reversed. Hong Kong does have a number of Tax Information Exchange Agreements (see below) but these are sensibly policed and do not allow for fishing expeditions.
Offshore Banking in Hong Kong
The region’s population is 95 percent ethnic Chinese and 5 percent from other groups, but English is very widely spoken and is the main language in businesses like banking.
One thing I like about using Hong Kong for offshore bank accounts is the same argument I have used for Panama and Singapore: it’s a ‘real’ country with real trade going on. The Hong Kong dollar is the ninth most traded currency in the world. Compare this to doing business on a small island or other remote banking jurisdiction, where everybody knows your only reason for doing business there is offshore banking. It also means that there is no problem doing your banking in cash, if you so wish.
For now the HKD, the local dollar, still tracks very closely the US dollar, but this appears to be changing as the Chinese Yuan circulates freely in Hong Kong, both in cash and in bank deposits. We think this represents an excellent opportunity to diversify funds out of the US dollar now, gaining exposure to Chinese growth in the meantime. (Of course, you can also hold HKD in banks in other parts of the world too)
Bank accounts in Hong Kong are almost all multi-currency by default, allowing all major local and international currencies to be held under one account number and exchanged freely and instantly within the account at the click of a mouse.
There is no capital gains tax, no tax on bank interest or stock market investments, and no tax on offshore sourced income. This, combined with a welcoming attitude to non-resident clients in the banks (including US citizens by the way, who are generally unwelcome in traditional offshore banking havens like Switzerland), and strong cultural and legal respect for financial privacy, makes Hong Kong one of Asia’s best offshore banking jurisdictions.
For those who want to establish a small offshore account under reporting limits, or simply to have the bank account established in view of future business, Hong Kong is also attractive given the low minimum deposits demanded by the major banks there. The minimum bank account balance can be as low as HK$ 3,000. Of course, you can’t expect red carpet, VIP private banking at this level – but you get a perfectly good functioning bank account with all the technological trimmings.
Offshore Corporate Bank Accounts in Hong Kong – Do’s and Don’ts
Typically, offshore clients choose to open accounts using corporations, as opposed to personal accounts. This not only offers greater privacy, but also flexibility and can – depending of course on how things are structured – offer significant tax and asset protection advantages.
Accounts can easily be opened both for pure offshore companies like Panama, BVI, Nevis or Marshall Islands, or for local Hong Kong companies that are set up using nominee directors and shareholders.
When contacting local corporate service providers in Hong Kong, you’ll find that most of these corporate service providers will recommend you use a Hong Kong company to open the account. The reason they do this is that it’s simpler and more profitable for them. They can incorporate a local company at low cost, opening the bank account is smoother and faster with a local company, and they can carry on billing nominee director fees every year. But it may not be the right thing for you.
Whilst it is true that Hong Kong companies do not have to pay any tax provided they do not make any local source income, administering such a company is not so simple. For example, Hong Kong companies are required to file audited accounts every year. They must file pages and pages of documents to convince the Inland Revenue Department (HKIRD) that they don’t have any local business, and, from practical experience, the HKIRD is getting much stickier about this. Long-established companies are normally left unmolested but newly established companies can expect a lot of compliance work in their first few years. Again, this suits the Hong Kong corporate service providers who charge handsomely for such services.
Another factor to consider is Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) legislation in your home country. (For an explanation see Wikipedia ) Many clients choose to set up LLCs as they can be treated as passthrough entities, vastly simplifying reporting requirements in some countries like the USA. Hong Kong corporations are not LLCs and cannot be treated as passthroughs for tax purposes.
My advice – assuming you don’t intend to do any business in Hong Kong besides banking and perhaps the occasional trip to visit your money – would be to open the account in the name of a company from a foreign offshore tax haven. It’s a little more work and expense at the beginning, and the bank might ask you more questions, but it will save you a lot of money and headaches in the long term. If you want a local look and feel for your company, numerous virtual office services are available.
Hong Kong Tax Information Exchange Agreements
Contrary to what you will read on some out-of-date websites, Hong Kong has signed a number of Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs). However, the HKIRD is at pains to point out that fishing expeditions are not going to be tolerated.
The HKIRD has issued Practice Note 47, available on the internet, which usefully explains how the HKIRD seek to achieve a balance between the requirements of compliance with the OECD requirements, whilst providing checks and balances to protect the rights of businesspeople.
The HKIRD are professionals and should be well positioned to deal with TIEA requests properly and justly in accordance with the treaties and guidelines. I am confident not going to allow their ‘clients’ rights to be trampled on.
Regulation of Banks in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s Banking Ordinance was revamped in 1986. It has since undergone several amendments to improve prudential supervision. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) was formed in 1993 as a one-stop financial regulator, responsible for everything from banks to stored value anonymous debit cards.
The SAR maintains a three-tier system of deposit-taking institutions, comprising licensed banks, restricted license banks, and deposit-taking companies. Only licensed banks may operate current and savings accounts, and accept deposits of any size and maturity. RLBs are only allowed to accept deposits of HK$500,000 and above, while DTCs are only permitted to accept deposits of a minimum of HK$100,000 with original maturity of not less than three months.
Both these latter categories provide an opportunity for overseas banks to conduct wholesale, investment or private banking activities in Hong Kong without having to jump through the hoops of applying for a full banking license. In addition, some foreign banks have chosen to open representative offices in Hong Kong, which are not allowed to take deposits but can assist in opening accounts at other offices within their groups.
As Hong Kong is an international financial centre, it is an explicit policy of the HKMA that the regulatory framework in Hong Kong should conform as much as possible with international standards, in particular those recommended by the Basel Committee.
Hong Kong’s five largest banks, in terms of total assets, are as follows:
- Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC)
- Bank of China (Hong Kong)
- Hang Seng Bank Ltd
- Standard Chartered Bank
- Bank of East Asia Ltd.
A full list of updated Hong Kong banks can be found on Wikipedia.
Visiting Hong Kong to Open a Bank Account
If you are visiting Hong Kong to open your account, it can normally be opened the same day provided you have made some arrangements with a local service provider, or directly with the bank, in advance. This is assuming you use one of the major banks, that nearly everybody does. You can then simply visit the bank, sign documents and receive the bank account number immediately. This will be a full multi-currency account and you will typically receive a digital token for internet banking, a password and a debit card.
The documents required for opening offshore bank account are:
1) Formation documents (in the case of corporate accounts. Apostilles are required in the case of foreign corporate accounts – your offshore provider will know how to obtain these.)
2) Bank forms and business plan/expected activity (a corporate service provider will normally supply these as part of the service)
3) Passport copies of each director, signatory and shareholder (take special note of this requirement if you are using nominee directors – if the persons are not present, copies will have to be notarized.)
4) Proof of address (such as updated bill statement which shows up your name and address) and signed (of each director and shareholder)
A bank reference is generally required if you are dealing direct with the bank. If you go through a corporate service provider, they normally write a reference so you do not need to supply a bank reference. However, if you can obtain a bank reference it is better.
Opening an account without visiting Hong Kong
It is also perfectly possible to open accounts without visiting Hong Kong (known as ‘remote account opening’) though this process tends to take substantially longer as banks will ask a lot more questions. In this case, your bank or service provider will generally e-mail you the forms, that you will need to print out and sign.
Depending on the bank, there may well be certain special instructions about how and where to sign – for example, HSBC in Hong Kong will typically request that you have your signature witnessed in the HSBC Bank nearest to you. As with all foreign bank accounts, you should be sure to use the same signature that appears in your passport, otherwise the documents will be rejected.
In the case of remote account opening the bank will normally courier the password, debit card, and token direct to your address in your home country. Then you need to activate them via the bank’s website.
Conclusion
Hong Kong competes very favorably with Singapore, the other Asian banking jurisdiction we favor. If you have not yet diversified your offshore holdings into Asia, you should seriously consider doing so. I hope this article will be helpful in this regard.
How an Operating System’s File System Works
File systems are an integral part of any operating systems with the capacity for long term storage. There are two distinct parts of a file system, the mechanism for storing files and the directory structure into which they are organised. In modern operating systems where it is possible for several user to access the same files simultaneously it has also become necessary for such features as access control and different forms of file protection to be implemented.
A file is a collection of binary data. A file could represent a program, a document or in some cases part of the file system itself. In modern computing it is quite common for their to be several different storage devices attached to the same computer. A common data structure such as a file system allows the computer to access many different storage devices in the same way, for example, when you look at the contents of a hard drive or a cd you view it through the same interface even though they are completely different mediums with data mapped on them in completely different ways. Files can have very different data structures within them but can all be accessed by the same methods built into the file system. The arrangement of data within the file is then decided by the program creating it. The file systems also stores a number of attributes for the files within it.
All files have a name by which they can be accessed by the user. In most modern file systems the name consists of of three parts, its unique name, a period and an extension. For example the file ‘bob.jpg’ is uniquely identified by the first word ‘bob’, the extension jpg indicates that it is a jpeg image file. The file extension allows the operating system to decide what to do with the file if someone tries to open it. The operating system maintains a list of file extension associations. Should a user try to access ‘bob.jpg’ then it would most likely be opened in whatever the systems default image viewer is.
The system also stores the location of a file. In some file systems files can only be stored as one contiguous block. This has simplifies storage and access to the file as the system then only needs to know where the file begins on the disk and how large it is. It does however lead to complications if the file is to be extended or removed as there may not be enough space available to fit the larger version of the file. Most modern file systems overcome this problem by using linked file allocation. This allows the file to be stored in any number of segments. The file system then has to store where every block of the file is and how large they are. This greatly simplifies file space allocation but is slower than contiguous allocation as it is possible for the file to be spread out all over the disk. Modern operating systems overome this flaw by providing a disk defragmenter. This is a utility that rearranges all the files on the disk so that they are all in contiguous blocks.
Information about the files protection is also integrated into the file system. Protection can range from the simple systems implemented in the FAT system of early windows where files could be marked as read-only or hidden to the more secure systems implemented in NTFS where the file system administrator can set up separate read and write access rights for different users or user groups. Although file protection adds a great deal of complexity and potential difficulties it is essential in an enviroment where many different computers or user can have access to the same drives via a network or time shared system such as raptor.
Some file systems also store data about which user created a file and at what time they created it. Although this is not essential to the running of the file system it is useful to the users of the system.
In order for a file system to function properly they need a number of defined operations for creating, opening and editing a file. Almost all file systems provide the same basic set of methods for manipulating files.
A file system must be able to create a file. To do this there must be enough space left on the drive to fit the file. There must also be no other file in the directory it is to be placed with the same name. Once the file is created the system will make a record of all the attributes noted above.
Once a file has been created we may need to edit it. This may be simply appending some data to the end of it or removing or replacing data already stored within it. When doing this the system keeps a write pointer marking where the next write operation to the file should take place.
In order for a file to be useful it must of course be readable. To do this all you need to know the name and path of the file. From this the file system can ascertain where on the drive the file is stored. While reading a file the system keeps a read pointer. This stores which part of the drive is to be read next.
In some cases it is not possible to simply read all of the file into memory. File systems also allow you to reposition the read pointer within a file. To perform this operation the system needs to know how far into the file you want the read pointer to jump. An example of where this would be useful is a database system. When a query is made on the database it is obviously inefficient to read the whole file up to the point where the required data is, instead the application managing the database would determine where in the file the required bit of data is and jump to it. This operation is often known as a file seek.
File systems also allow you to delete files. To do this it needs to know the name and path of the file. To delete a file the systems simply removes its entry from the directory structure and adds all the space it previously occupied to the free space list (or whatever other free space management system it uses).
These are the most basic operations required by a file system to function properly. They are present in all modern computer file systems but the way they function may vary. For example, to perform the delete file operation in a modern file system like NTFS that has file protection built into it would be more complicated than the same operation in an older file system like FAT. Both systems would first check to see whether the file was in use before continuing, NTFS would then have to check whether the user currently deleting the file has permission to do so. Some file systems also allow multiple people to open the same file simultaneously and have to decide whether users have permission to write a file back to the disk if other users currently have it open. If two users have read and write permission to file should one be allowed to overwrite it while the other still has it open? Or if one user has read-write permission and another only has read permission on a file should the user with write permission be allowed to overwrite it if theres no chance of the other user also trying to do so?
Different file systems also support different access methods. The simplest method of accessing information in a file is sequential access. This is where the information in a file is accessed from the beginning one record at a time. To change the position in a file it can be rewound or forwarded a number of records or reset to the beginning of the file. This access method is based on file storage systems for tape drive but works as well on sequential access devices (like mordern DAT tape drives) as it does on random-access ones (like hard drives). Although this method is very simple in its operation and ideally suited for certain tasks such as playing media it is very inefficient for more complex tasks such as database management. A more modern approach that better facilitates reading tasks that aren’t likely to be sequential is direct access. direct access allows records to be read or written over in any order the application requires. This method of allowing any part of the file to be read in any order is better suited to modern hard drives as they too allow any part of the drive to be read in any order with little reduction in transfer rate. Direct access is better suited to to most applications than sequential access as it is designed around the most common storage medium in use today as opposed to one that isn’t used very much anymore except for large offline back-ups. Given the way direct access works it is also possible to build other access methods on top of direct access such as sequential access or creating an index of all the records of the file speeding to speed up finding data in a file.
On top of storing and managing files on a drive the file system also maintains a system of directories in which the files are referenced. Modern hard drives store hundreds of gigabytes. The file system helps organise this data by dividing it up into directories. A directory can contain files or more directories. Like files there are several basic operation that a file system needs to a be able to perform on its directory structure to function properly.
It needs to be able to create a file. This is also covered by the overview of peration on a file but as well as creating the file it needs to be added to the directory structure.
When a file is deleted the space taken up by the file needs to be marked as free space. The file itself also needs to be removed from the directory structure.
Files may need to be renamed. This requires an alteration to the directory structure but the file itself remains un-changed.
List a directory. In order to use the disk properly the user will require to know whats in all the directories stored on it. On top of this the user needs to be able to browse through the directories on the hard drive.
Since the first directory structures were designed they have gone through several large evolutions. Before directory structures were applied to file systems all files were stored on the same level. This is basically a system with one directory in which all the files are kept. The next advancement on this which would be considered the first directory structure is the two level directory. In this There is a singe list of directories which are all on the same level. The files are then stored in these directories. This allows different users and applications to store there files separately. After this came the first directory structures as we know them today, directory trees. Tree structure directories improves on two level directories by allowing directories as well as files to be stored in directories. All modern file systems use tree structure directories, but many have additional features such as security built on top of them.
Protection can be implemented in many ways. Some file systems allow you to have password protected directories. In this system. The file system wont allow you to access a directory before it is given a username and password for it. Others extend this system by given different users or groups access permissions. The operating system requires the user to log in before using the computer and then restrict their access to areas they dont have permission for. The system used by the computer science department for storage space and coursework submission on raptor is a good example of this. In a file system like NTFS all type of storage space, network access and use of device such as printers can be controlled in this way. Other types of access control can also be implemented outside of the file system. For example applications such as win zip allow you to password protect files.
There are many different file systems currently available to us on many different platforms and depending on the type of application and size of drive different situations suit different file system. If you were to design a file system for a tape backup system then a sequential access method would be better suited than a direct access method given the constraints of the hardware. Also if you had a small hard drive on a home computer then there would be no real advantage of using a more complex file system with features such as protection as it isn’t likely to be needed. If i were to design a file system for a 10 gigabyte drive i would use linked allocation over contiguous to make the most efficient use the drive space and limit the time needed to maintain the drive. I would also design a direct access method over a sequential access one to make the most use of the strengths of the hardware. The directory structure would be tree based to allow better organisation of information on the drive and would allow for acyclic directories to make it easier for several users to work on the same project. It would also have a file protection system that allowed for different access rights for different groups of users and password protection on directories and individual files.Several file systems that already implement the features I’ve described above as ideal for a 10gig hard drive are currently available, these include NTFS for the Windows NT and XP operating systems and ext2 which is used in linux.
Best Regards,
Sam Harnett MSc mBCS
Pixeko Studio – Web Developers in Kent
How Do I Set Up My Wireless Network at Home?
Wireless home networks are becoming more and more popular these day. The ease of installation and the practicality of being able to surf the net anywhere in the house makes wireless home networks very attractive to internet users. Setting up a wireless home network is quite easy but you need to know some basic things about wireless networks before attempting to start the set up. You can read up more about the wireless networking protocols to help you get a better understanding of wireless networking.
To set up a wireless home network you need to have broadband internet connection with a cable or DSL modem. The common set up at home is usually that of the desk top computer being plugged directly into the modem. In this tutorial we will assume that you have a laptop that you want to connect wirelessly to the PC that is connected to the internet. You need some hardware to make this possible. First you need to have a wireless router. You also need to add a USB wireless network adapter to your desk top PC and a PC card-based network adapter for your laptop computer. For obvious reasons, it is advisable to choose the same vendor for all the additional hardware you buy. Refer to the documentation that comes with your hardware for the installation process.
When you already have all the necessary hardware installed, you can begin the set up. First you need to unplug or turn off the DSL modem then connect the wireless router to the modem. You can check the documentation that came with your hardware for assistance. When you’ve set it up your computer will wirelessly connect to your router. The next step is to configure your wireless router. With Internet Explorer you can go to your router’s configuration page.
Most of the default settings there are rather safe left alone but there are some things that you need to configure. You need to choose a unique wireless network name or SSID, this will be the name of your network. Be sure that no one around that is near you is using the same name. The next step is, if your router requires it, to provide a unique passphrase that it will use to generate some keys. Then the last step to do before you are done with configuring the router is setting your administrative password. Choose a password that is not easy to guess and not too short for security reasons. Be sure to save every setting you’ve configured. The actual steps involved in configuring these settings vary according to the kind of router you have.
The next step is to configure your laptop’s network adapter. It is easy to follow Window’s XP’s on-screen instructions for this one. Right-click the icon for wireless network in your task bar and select “View Available Wireless Networks” in the pop up menu that appears. The Wireless Network Connection window will show and there you will see the name you chose for your wireless network listed. Click Refresh network list in the upper-left corner if you don’t see your network. You will then be prompted to enter a key, this is the key that you wrote down in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes. Click Connect. You will then see connection progress as it connects to your network. When you’re already connected you can close the Wireless Network Connection window. You’re done, you’ve set up wireless connection.
How To Set Up PSP Internet
The Sony PSP can do more than just play games, movies and music. This hand held machine can surf the internet as well. However, setting up PSP internet is often times the most asked question. I have prepared this simple step by step guide to help you set up your PSP for internet.
Before we begin, you must have a wireless network available and I highly suggest disabling the security encryption (WEP) on the wireless router for your first initial set up since the PSP seems to have problems reading the key. Upon powering up your PSP, make sure that the WLAN switch is turned on. Use your directional pad to go to the settings icon on the far left of your PSP screen and scroll down to the network settings icon.
From the network settings, highlight the “infrastructure mode” and click to enter. The next page will ask you to select a connection to edit. If this is your first time setting up a connection, just go ahead and click [new connection]. You will then be directed to the WLAN settings page and there should be four options.
There are a couple of ways to do this, but the easiest way to set up your internet connection is to click on the first option to allow your PSP to automatically scan for the nearest and strongest access point, which should be your router. This should take a couple of seconds. Your PSP should display your SSID information as well as the security and signal strength. Click on your SSID.
Then use the directional pad to scroll to the right to go to the WLAN security settings. Since we have disabled your security settings for your online network, just highlight none and proceed to the address settings page. In the address settings page, highlight “easy” and go to the next page.
The next page allows you to create a name for this connection. Feel free to name this connection anything you want. Once you enter the name of your connection, you will be able to preview your settings list which should show the connection name of your SSID, your security settings and IP address. Scroll to the next page and save your settings. Once your settings are saved, click to test internet connection.
Now go online to test the connection, we must go back to the desktop and go to the network icon on the far right. Find internet browser icon and click to open browser. If you get a blank page, click on the triangle button to open the browser menu. Congratulations and hopefully you are ready to surf the internet. I hope this has been helpful in setting up your PSP internet connection.
Writing an RFP (Request for Proposal)
A while back, a potential client provided me with some general details of the writing work he wanted me to do for his company. Then he asked me to send him a proposal.
Proposal?! I panicked as I tried to confirm with him what he meant by that since I had never done one before, at least not as a freelancer.
I must’ve not really wanted to pursue this opportunity since I didn’t bother to do research or follow up with the company after submitting a contract instead of a proposal. A little time passed, I came across an article on writing RFPs (Request for Proposal). Ding! The light bulb went on. This guy verbally gave me his RFP and wanted a written response.
When a company needs a project to be completed by a contractor or outside source, they write a RFP. This is a formal document describing the project, how the contract companies should respond, how the proposals will be reviewed, and contact information. Often, the company documents the submission guidelines to make it easier for them to compare responses. There are no specific standards or guidelines for creating the RFP, but government agencies usually strict standards they follow when conducting the proposal process.
Outside companies read the RFP and write a proposal (a bid) explaining how they can best provide and meet those needs. When writing the proposal, the company should closely follow the guidelines established in the RFP to avoid being removed from consideration for the potential project.
A typical proposal contains:
Executive summary – summary of the entire proposal
Statement of need – why project is necessary
Project description – How project will be implemented and
evaluated
Organization information
Project schedule
Budget
Conclusion
My situation was an informal version of all this. The client gave me a high level overview of what I might do for him. If I knew then what I know now, I would’ve written up a description of the client’s needs and how I would complete the work in meeting those needs.
Small businesses would likely do a proposal in between the one I got and the complex government required ones. Most small businesses will be prompted to write a proposal when approaching a client. The client may ask you to submit a proposal outlining what you can do for them. In this case, write a proposal including the elements of a typical proposal and keep it short and to the point especially if the client is not a large company.
There are examples of RFPs and responses peppered throughout the Web, but which one you can learn from depends on the type of work involved. A proposal can be two pages or as big as a book. Rely on your favorite search engine and do the research to create an unbeatable proposal.