Category Archives: Make Tech Easier

Make Tech Easier, More, Security

Parental Controls on your Home Network

An article for Parents who are trying to maintain some safety on their home network. Note that this is for information only – please do not think of this as an “official endorsement”.

MDS Tech does think it’s a pretty interesting idea, and worth a look.

http://bark.us

Bark is able to provide monitoring for iPads with the help of the Bark Desktop Application. The Bark Desktop is downloaded onto the main computer and will analyze the iPad for text, photos, videos, web browsing, and voice memos every time the device is detected over Wifi or plugged in.
How to Monitor an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
 
However, if you want to take advantage of our “on the go” screentime and web-filtering on the device, you’ll need to download the Bark VPN. This allows parents to apply rules such as what apps or websites can be accessed and blocked during scheduled times.  These rules sets will apply even when the child is away from the home and off the main network. You do not need this feature for monitoring the device as it works independently. 
[NOTE: This may involve working with MDS Tech to get the VPN setup.]
What is Screen Time & Web Filtering?
 
If you want to apply the same limitations to the device without using our VPN, you’ll want to purchase our Bark Home product. This applies your screentime and web-filtering rules for every device in the household – including devices that can’t download the VPN [ such as smart TVs, watches, etc.] The Bark Home works as a gatekeeper for the router and filters websites based on the rules that you have set for each profile. You decide which profile rules get set for which device. Remember that once the device leaves the Home WiFi network, the screentime and web-filtering rules will not take place. 
What is Bark Home or In-Home Controls?

iPads, Make Tech Easier

I’m Having Network Issues!

Here is some general advice on figuring out why your devices aren’t working well at home – in no particular order.

One of the first things to do is to check your connection with the outside world. A handy website:
www.speedtest.net
Anytime your connection seems wonky, fire up a web browser, surf to this site, and click the go button. After the test, you’ll have three numbers:

PING measures how long it takes a “Are you there?” message to travel between your machine and a distant server. A longer PING time, or much slower upload/download speeds than normal, indicates a problem with your connection to the outside world.

If there is a problem – the only thing YOU have control over is your router. Try rebooting it [turn it on/off – sometimes the only way is to unplug it.]  The router plugs into the Cox cable connection .

Other things to try:

The iPad reboot dance: http://tech2.mountdesales.net/?p=800. It really IS important to swipe out of running apps.

Make sure you have room on your iPad. Details are here –> http://tech2.mountdesales.net/?p=916

If you have an OS update pending, get it installed. It is generally best to start the update at night – some of these can take a good long while.

When things aren’t working well, check network connectivity with multiple devices. If only one device is wonky, then you know it’s the device. If all of them, then you know it’s either the router, the connection, or the problem is upstream from you.

Cox Support has an automated tool you can access – call up the tech support number, select cox internet, residential… and somewhere in that phone tree is an option to automatically test the line. That’s a good way to test your connection as well – can the Cox network see your router?

In terms of wireless setup, there are some other things to note:

  • These are changes that would be made on your wireless router. How you get into these settings will change from router to router, and I cannot help you there. You can look up online how to access settings for your particular model router, though.
  • If your  wireless settings have both 2.4GHz and 5 GHz radios, try turning the 2.4Ghz band OFF unless you have an older device in the house that ONLY has that type of radio. [Robot vacuums, for example – or really old iPads].
  • There might be some places in the router where you can look for an open channel – you want your router to transmit on a channel that no one nearby is using. Interference from a neighbor can cause all sorts of network wonkiness.
  • Elevate your router – keep it off the floor, if that’s possible. 

Make Tech Easier, More

Dell laptops and batteries

Sometimes a Dell laptop will refuse to charge a battery, or won’t recognize the battery. That **could** be because the battery is dead, or the laptop doesn’t recognize the off-brand battery you bought – but it could also be because the sensor chip in the battery has gotten confused.

Here is how to reset it. It takes no tools, and just a few minutes.

This information was taken from https://www.ncconsumer.org/news-articles-eg/resetting-a-dell-laptop-battery-in-five-quick-steps.html.