What's
New
Oct 2003
HBOS have applied to Nominet to strip some of my
domains off me; read about it here
Aug 2003
Updated all pages to bring them up to date.
Here is a good place to check prices
Want a credit card, then check out
for a great offer.
Feb 2002
Redoak services added that include password
discovery and VAT number validation. X-10 system enhancement plans
updated.
http://www.halifaxsucks.co.uk
is now being populated.
Dec 2001
The DOS network boot disk has been upgraded to
boot the IBM ThinkPad T23 to DOS.
Oct 2001
Although this page has not been updated for a
while, we have still been active.
In X-10, our IBM "Butterfly"
ThinkPad has been retired after five years trouble free service from it's
role as our X-10 computer to be replaced with an IBM 560X Thinkpad.
This machine runs both ActiveHome and HomeSeer software.
Our burglar alarm system that is integrated into
our X-10 system has been enhanced, and I have just this month received an
X-10 Chime module, two X-10 external motion detectors and a Telephone
Responder all of which need to be converted from 115V to 240V
operation. So watch the X-10
and 115/240V conversion page.
in Computing, we now have four network
switches installed on our 100Mb network that link our computers together
and connect them all to a 24/7 ADSL connection. The boys now have
their main computers and their own IBM
ThinkPads in their bedrooms.
In fact we only use the IBM laptops because they
are so reliable and there
are some excellent deals going at the moment so take a look at the latest
IBM PCs here (UK Only)
In Audio/Visual, our DVD/mp3 player has
been upgraded to an AMD Duron 750 and this has resolved all our DVD
playback problems.
In Gadgets, a collection of colour CCTV
cameras will be installed over the coming months which will also be
integrated into the X-10 and security systems.
In disputes, we still have our dispute with the
Halifax, now HBOS, and now that they links with the Equitable Life,
that will be another company I'll need to avoid.
Finally, please keep up the X-10 feedback, and
here are some links for you http://eze-buy.co.uk.
Mar 2001
The Halifax, has had a further complaint against
it upheld by the ASA on 28 February 2001. Full details of this
second upheld complaint within one month are here.
We have now been sent not one, but
two viruses from the Office of the Chairman of the Halifax Group.
The May 2001 edition of Computer Shopper has my
third article on X-10 technology. Additions and
corrections are here.
I am going to add a "site map" page
soon that will list all pages on this site.
Feb 2001
The Halifax, trading as Intelligent Finance,
published a series or advertisements in the national press; the author
believed that these advertisements were highly misleading and he
complained about them to the Advertising
Standards Authority. The ASA's adjudication dated 14 February
2001 is on their website
here. On our website we have scanned copies of
the adjudication.
The download page has been updated with the DOS
network boot disk providing options for the D-Link DFE-550TX and the 3Com
3C905TX.
Jan 2001
Although the site has seen few changes in the
last three months, much work has been ongoing. PC Upgrades include a
new 1GHz Athlon, and the network is now fully "Switched" with
ADSL coming soon.
The X-10
System has been enhanced with an old
box kindly donated by http://www.dme.co.uk and
the HomeSeer X-10 software is now fully functional on it and it is controlling all
appliances and the Christmas lights.
Finally, expect some updates to the Halifax
plc page coming soon in February 2001.
Sep 2000
I've redesigned the site to improve loading
times and also to remove the music from all pages except from my CV
page. Angus our 12 year old son has designed
his own page and our X-10 system has been enhanced this month too. We
now have a separate firewall PC with that being the only PC with a direct
Internet connection.
Aug 2000
After a disastrous Haven
Holiday last year, we had an excellent holiday this year in
Jersey. Do visit the holiday report
section
Jun 2000
Read the August 00 edition of Computer Shopper
and on page 415 you can see my top 10 products over the last 150 Shopper
Issues.
I'm concerned at the number of hacking and
probing attempts that take place and so a separate PC will shortly be set
up as a firewall to protect the Redoak network. This should be up
and running by August.
Also from August the X-10 system here will be
switched over to the Homeseer control software; more information will
follow.
May 2000
X-10 TM751 Transceiver unit modifications added
following my successful modification of three units.
I'm now evaluating the Homeseer home automation
software, with encouraging results so far. More details to be
provided later.
Apr 2000
Read the report on the Halifax
2000 AGM where there are pictures and an mp3 file available for
download. Also the Halifax 1999 AGM
page has been updated with the Radio 5 Live broadcast interview.
The download page has a fake credit card number
generator so you don't have to give your real one out for trial
subscriptions.
Mar 2000
My second article in a series on Home Automation
is published on pages 469-4472 in the May edition of Computer Shopper.
Look out for some special Homebase offers on X-10 equipment in the
article.
Feb 2000
New in February is the Linux box which has the
SuSe release 6.3 installed.
Also, some good news on the Halifax - we have a
report of successful litigation against the Halifax. More news
will come later.
I now have an X-10 burglar alarm system that I
shall be evaluating and which we may use to supplement our existing
system.
Jan 2000
New this year is a re-design of the site without
frames. I hope the site is now easier to use and you like the new
midi files on each page (MS Internet Explorer only). What do you
think? Please fill in the feedback form
with your comments.
Also, we have a report on the Haven
Holidays Hafan Y Mor site in North Wales which was not an enjoyable
experience.
The Y2K rollover did not impact us at all.
Our CM12U X-10 controller lost a day, but that was easily corrected by
resetting the internal clock.
I had a three page article published in Computer
Shopper p535 in the February 2000 edition on X-10 computer control.
However, I had intended using some extra photographs, but my 18 month old
Kodak DC210 camera failed and Kodak want an extortionate amount of money
to repair it. |
Redoak
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