Well, here we are in July and we just lived through the largest electronic attack in recent history. No,.I'm not talking about an ECM, but the long-heralded release of Windows 98. Well the world will survive, but now here is the big decision, do I change to Windows 98? If you have a Pentium based machine or better you should have no problem converting to 98, but if you are running a older 486 you should probably stay with your current operating system. If you are a big internet user you should convert to 98; it will improve your internet experience. If you are upgrading a system to 98 you will have the decision of whether to convert the hard drive to Fat 32. Fat 32 can give you 20-30% more space on your hard drive. Fat 32 has many advantages, but one major drawback; older versions of DOS and NT will not recognize the drive. I don't know about other people but at times I have had the need to boot my system with a older operating system; but to get the full benefit of the 98 upgrade I will give in to Fat 32. This is also the reason to keep a older system around to handle the need to run alternate operating systems.
` Well, to help you with these decisions and other information about Windows 98 I have found 2 internet sites that offer unlimited information. The first is www.zdtev.com, this is the web site for the new TV show, more about this later. The second site is actually 3 sites but they are all at CNET Central, the web site of one of my favorite computer TV shows previously reviewed by me. Now for the CNET web addresses:
Now if you have the big dish and are as big a computer geek as me you may have been enjoying a new Channel that is GREAT. This is ZDTV which is located on Satcom 4 (C4) channel 12. It is in the clear and is a 24 hour computer information channel or computer news channel. It is the brain child of Ziff Davis Publishing and is a very well done. The one drawback is also viewed as a plus; this is the programs cycle at some point during the day or week. The drawback to this is you might have to change the channel if you have already seen the segment or you might want to watch it again to pickup things you missed the first time. If you are a small dish user don't despair; a deal has been made and ZDTV should be showing up there around August 1. But if you had the big dish you have had 2 months of this great channel and had a first hand view of the release of Windows 98.
Well now that I have everyone screaming enough about computers lets talk about the last News DataCom ECM on the small dish. Some people got 99'ed, some FF'ed and some had minor glitches. There have been some recovery of some plastic cards but some are setting on the shelf. Before this ECM there was lots of talk about UN99 devices and the imminent release of a new UN99 device. I was contacted by one hacker on the IRC who was hot that his design of a programmable glitch UN99 device was showing up on web pages for sale at exorbitant prices. He has asked that we print the drawing for his device here in my article, his original intent was for the design to be free for anyone and can be built for under $50.00. So look on the net for this UN99 design file sometimes listed as UN99NEW.ZIP. You can compare the following drawing to verify you have the right file. BUT keep in mind that there is NO software out there that UN99's the H cards. Now don't get me wrong, there probably is UN99 software but not readily available to the public, but this free design and the software is a good building tool. And who knows if you build it they may come, so while we have time during the aftermath of this last ECM, you may want to tackle this project.
Well until next month have fun testing and I'll see you surfing on the net.