Everyday Tips from the ComputerMom 

July 2014
 
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What an absolutely lovely June we had - perfect weather almost every day. I hope July follows suit and that we have a month of beautiful beach days and sunshine. To that end, this issue is all about summer vacations - how to safely travel with your electronics, and how to improve your WiFi experience if you are vacationing at home. 
 
As for my own vacation plans, I don't currently have an extended trip planned for the summer, just a few days off here and there. However, if that changes, I will send out a notice to let you know when I will be unavailable.
 
Hope you all have a perfectly wonderful summer!

Regards,
 
Julie Marto 

508-359-8176
www.thecomputermom.com
www.facebook.com/thecomputermom 

PS - I still have an unidentified hard drive in my possession - a potential owner came forward, but it turns out she was incorrect.  If you are missing a portable hard drive filled with music and videos please get in touch!
Vacationing?
Do's and Don'ts for your Electronics

Summer is in full swing, with beach, barbecues, boating, vacation rentals - it's nice to get away from it all. But of course you want to stay in touch and use your electronics as well. Here are some points to keep in mind.

Don't - leave electronics in a hot car. Overheating delicate electronics can cause permanent damage. Keep your phone off the dashboard, and if you find you have left your tablet or laptop in a hot car, allow it to cool down for an hour or so before attempting to use it.

Don't - use public WiFi to access financial or email accounts. Public WiFi networks are intrinsically insecure, and you never know if someone is trying to steal your log in information. Use your phone's data plan  to check email and bank accounts, and save the public WiFi for surfing gossip blogs! 

Do - investigate protective cases for any device you might want to take to the beach or on a boat, like your smartphone, tablet or Kindle. Water and sand damage can be devastating - a $20.00 case can be a great investment, but even a zip-lock bag can make a big difference in a pinch!

Do - consider the ramifications if your phone, tablet, or laptop gets lost or stolen. Back-up your important information, put a strong password on each device (even if you don't use one when at home) and implement remote wipe and device tracking software when possible.  If you can, leave your "real" laptop at home and travel with a system that has minimal personal information on it. 
Staycationing?
Improve the WiFi in your home     


I've worked with several clients recently with large homes with less than desirable WiFI range.  If you find your WiFi is unreliable here are a few possible fixes.

Relocate your router to a more central location - your wireless router sends its signal in a circle with the router in the center.  The more central the location of the base unit, the more of your house will be reached. If it's possible to move the router to the center of your house you should do it.

Replace an aging router - If you can't remember when you purchased your router it is probably time to replace it with a newer more powerful model.  It might look like routers just sit there blinking at you, but the cumulative effect of years of electrical surges will eventually wear them out. Replacing your older router with one with greater range and power might be all you need to do. I tend to replace mine every 3 years or so.

Use a more powerful router rather than the built in WiFi from Comcast or Verizon - Both Comcast and Verizon's newer equipment includes a built in wireless signal, but the range for those devices is notoriously bad.  Attaching a more powerful router to the ISP provided box is a good solution. 

Add one or more additional routers - If you are lucky enough to have a home with network wiring in place it's relatively simple to place additional routers throughout the house to extend the network. If you don't have network wiring you can approximate it with something called power line networking, which uses the electrical wiring in your home to extend your network.

Purchase a network range extender - these devices re-broadcast the signal throughout the house.  I have found them to be a bit finicky, and the signal loses speed, but it's often the easiest and cheapest approach.

Remember, everybody's situation is unique. If you are having WiFi issues please give me a call or drop me a line and we can discuss what might work best in your home! 
 
And on a much more personal note

I hesitate to use this newsletter for such a personal matter, so please forgive me if you find this inappropriate. However, many of you know that my father passed away last summer after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. This July the local chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association will be holding a walk in his honor to raise funds toward treatment and cure of Parkinson's. If anybody would like more information about this event please follow this link.