Liam

Either, although I can never see this particular image as anything but clockwise

It's not terribly difficult to tell if you have an unauthorised user on your wireless network, IF you monitor such things. I don't know many people -even those of a disposition to be rather anal about their home network, who actively monitor who is on their network. At best, as the 'administrator' of a home network who had noticed such an intrusion, you would be in posession of their MAC address (easily spoofed) and in a decent position to capture data packets using a packet sniffer like Wireshark. This isn't terribly useful information unless you know what you are looking for, besides which pretty much all 'interesting' traffic goes over HTTPS anyway (you have enabled https on gmail, haven't you? ) On the whole, i wouldn't be too worried about it. I've always seen unsecured networks as an open invitation to browse, within courtious limits. I've been doing it for four or five years now; sadly wheras two years ago I was able to find unsecure AP's on more or less every residential street, these days it is quite rare.

Just what I need to bump in the motor. Is the name a nod at Iran's recent milestone?

I don't know shit about setting up the PS3, but I know a bit about networking so perhaps I can help. MTU is your maximum transmission unit size; i.e. the largest 'chunk' of data that can be sent at one time. Potentiallly, nerd tweaking this could improve your ping (smaller sizes tie up your connection for less time, but reduce efficiency), but modifying it from default is not likely to fix a broken connections. Specifying a dumbfuck value might break it, though. Set your MTU to your ISP's recommended size then leave it alone. DMZ (or demilitarised zone, rolleyes) opens all ports to a specific network address. It's not wise to use this, unless you know exactly what you're doing. I seem to recall that for a lot of routers, it can fuck up uPnP and/or port forwarding. The bottom line is that you've got a decent, brand name router and a games console. The two should not really require any setup. I'm reading between the lines here, but it sounds like your setup used to work fine. If this is the case, then there was nothing wrong with your original settings -I would look to your ISP first for traffic shaping, bandwidth issues and such. Who is your ISP, anyway? Hopefully not Tiscali...

Àlso, don't be thrown by the specs on that ILP unit. I still get a fair amount of signal out at 2.5Hz (ELF is very important to my work), and 240W is an extremely conservative estimate. I've driven it well out of spec. I eventually killed one by mistakenly sending horrible 5V P-P (!) step functions to it (a mistake in my PIC code). It lived for several mins before eventually melting the potting compound, followed by smoke, horrible smells and death. That's a tough amp module. If class AB isn't your thing, you could always try http://www.prismaudio.co.uk/ Nice class D modules. More expensive as you will need a special power supply, but I've had a few chats with the manager, he really knows his stuff. These amps will actually respond all the way down to DC, and at the ultrasonic end they are actually widely used for hydrographics experiments -sonar, specifically. Sorry, bit off topic there. I'll get me (lab) coat....

Is your room is something like 2.4*2.9m? Damn, sorry to hear that. As far as what you are saying regarding it being the power supply, here's my thoughts: In a very simplified view, an amp is like a 'tap' for power; the signal being fed in varies the flow. The power is fed by the (obviously), power supply. If you feed it a DC signal... that's like jamming the 'taps' on full flow. That is likely to be very, very bad for the power supply. Consumer audio stuff is always AC coupled to ensure this never happens, but this is going to be at the expense of low frequency response (i.e. from the breakpoint->0Hz). Consumer amps have inline fuses and such, but these are never linear devices, so there is another sacrifiice in performance to improve reliability and safety. This is a total guess, but both of these could well be left out of pro audio gear to achieve the best performance -on the assumption that you really know what you are doing. Having said that, it could also be right on the other end of the spectrum: PC power supplies, especially cheap ones, are notorious for generating horrible RF and microwave frequencies. You would expect LP filtering on consumer level gear, but I've got no idea if you would find the same in pro gear where linearity is king. If you can get me some more info, I *may* be able to offer a little help on fixing it. If the electronics are truely fried, I can suggest a nice homebrew replacement. Take a look at: http://www.ilpelectronics.com/amplifiers/audio_hy2007.asp Definately my module of choice, outputs extremely clean 300W rms mono. About £100 each, but worth every penny. They do smaller modules for much cheaper. Add a torroidal transformer from Farnell and you're away.

I can't see it selling if it isn't.

On xbox, they are cross-compatible. Yes, even the RB drums with GHWT, even though the RB kit has less pads. I've no idea about the Wii, post up when you find out

Signed, albeit primarily on the principle that any measurement conventionally made on a log scale is going to dumbfound the average policy making dipshit. In pure sound pressure terms, I would be startled if the average ipod user isn't doing similar damage. I'm not citing that as a justification, I'm genuinely concerned. That having been said, I regularly turn up to work with my ears ringing, having gradually incremented the dial on my ICE. The worst part is, you never know until you step outside and realise that your hearing really has suffered. I love my car stereo, but I'm really beginning to think that having hundreds of watts of bass everywhere I drive is going to do my hearing severe harm.

Been meaning to get this one for a while now. Couldn't really justify it in the post xmas poverty, but I get paid on the 15th so I might have to pick it up. Does anyone want to swap some games? I buy way too many games really, should offload a few. I'm just about to FINALLY finish Dead Space if anyone wants it. Oh, and while we're talking 360: Braid is the most absorbing, frustrating but fantastic game idea for ages. Well worth the cash.

Giz, do you remember the idea I outlined to you some time ago? These people really ought to have got to see that, it'd have been a damn sight simpler (and probabbly cheaper) to impliment. Never mind edit: any chance said ubergeek would punt a circuit diagram my way? I'm assuming if the info is in the public domain then they've got their IP straight so shouldn't be an issue, right?

I don't really have a clue about the nature of your problem from your description, but: I'm going to make an assumption you're talking about HSDPA here (aka 3G internet). I'll should warn you about it, I've been looking into HSDPA for my next laptop as I travel lots, and the data packages are shocking. The '3' network for example charge you 30 odd quid for the first gig, then about a pound a meg afterwards. At that rate if you went over by a gig (not a lot), you'd owe them a grand. I think Voda charge a flat 15 per gig. It's still a very very expensive way to get porn. If you're covered by 3G I'd be very surprised if you can't get at least basic ADSL. It's almost unheard of these days. Get proper internet. Or steal it.

I keep a mirror behind my Wii http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjqJlhlV1TA

For digi I'm told the Cannon G range are good and go for a song if you know where to look... G6 et al. Nice medium ground between full features and decent size. If you're still seriously looking for a 35mm SLR then for gods sake rummage around in a middle class family wheeliebin or at the very least hit up eGay; 35mm is about as popular as 4:3 CRTs and dial-up modems

Actually he was quite specific in saying it was perfectly possible to run MGS4 on the 360 hardware. Can't be arsed to get you a source on that so google it if you really give a shit

Even Kojima has publically said it's perfectly possible to port the game to 360 and they've spent so damn much on it that it'll probabbly go cross platform in the long term, most likely with added bells n whistles much like the GameCube remakes a few years back. The fact is that when development began, it probabbly seemed sensible to sign exclusivity agreements but stacked against the PS3's dismal first 18 months and the likelyhood of a very slow recovery over the next year or so I bet Konami are kicking themselves. All the MG games have made their way to PC pretty swiftly, too.

Bionic Commando looks tite too, as does the XBL arcade remake of the OG

You say that, but I think the GT series peaked with the OG. I didn't like GT2 as much, and while I rinsed GT3 I still thought the OG was the one that smashed it. Forza kills 'em dead IMO, I fucking love it. Then there's also the rumours about GTHD being all modular for purchase over PSN. I dunno what's up with that, I've not kept up on it but if what I've heard about buying packs of tracks and cars online, I dunno if I can be arsed with that. Can't wait to rinse Laguna Seca on both tho MGS4 looks sicko. Old Snake and mini MG's FTW.

Hooked on Forza; think GT will have to be something bloody special to top that. And by top I do mean top, I've no doubt GT will equal it, and probabbly rip off the online auctioning of cars etc.

LittleBigPlanet looks like it could be a novel multiplayer, but I've just seen the release date has been pushed back... on the whole I'm at a bit of a loss to be honest, there's still nothing on PS3 that has grabbed me, I think you could be in for a wait

Yeah, there was no reason why they ever couldn't Not strictly true, but the reasons why were severely misrepresented, people said it was a Sony ban and so forth. I saw this on Wired whihc clears it up: Makes a lot more sense

Yes, get a Vestax with the newer spring-loaded ASTS system. Do you remember the vertical turntables they used to do? It's pretty much that system filtered down to non-ridiculous 'tables I'd just take time to get comfortable sitting down though. Plenty of people are perfectly comfortable sat down with Techs, just fiddle with the height and persevere with it. It's always gonna feel odd at first.

The EEEPC's are dope but in a totally different game. Non gimped laptops? I have three here. I'm being a twat and I know it. More for money isn't too much of an issue, all of a sudden I have a decent income and I'm not spending nearly enough of it. The Toshiba Portage line really do make the Air look stupid, what with being lighter, smaller, having all the ports you could possibly need AND an optical drive. But for some odd reason I still kinda want the Air. I think the dealbreaker is gonna be how well Macs handle Perl. Any wisdom here?

I think I want one. On one hand it's gonna be the nuts for all the flying around with work, and I can probabbly get it for under a grand when I'm over in Orleans. US heads, can you getbackatme with some USD prices, can it be got for cheaper than at Apple stores etc? On the other hand I'm probabbly going to want the more expensive model with the SSD and the security of being covered by UK sales, and two grand for a laptop is just... galling. Plus, Intel have announced that the special C2D's for the Air are available to all manufacturers -I'm betting Dell et al. will release a thinner lighter cheaper longer life vista alternative soon. Is anyone using Parallels lately? I heard it got loads better -DX10 support even! So come on Macboys, talk me into it. It's only money after all. Anyone know what discounts I can get etc? Also: I'm forever hearing bad things about Perl for the Mac. Anyone got experience here? I use Perl extensively to code apps to talk to my various instruments over rs232. If it's all seamless in parallels then it isn't gonna be an issue, though.

Nozl, really loving the BB stuff -quality Don't sell yourself short with a shitty 1 colour print T shirt. I understand what you're saying about the low cost being what your customers say they want, but I don't think any of the designs here live up to the music you're putting out. Fans will pay a premium for a quality product -I know I would.