Does Egyptian Car Insurance Really Work?

Got your attention with title? Well short answer is yes! Here is my story.

My car insurance was due, and had few scratches and very minor dents, mostly from people that do not know how to park. You can tell this type as they have all kinds of marks on their bumpers back and front.

Was going ignore these and have them fixed myself. But smart wife said "let's talk to insurance people".

Bit of background. I bought a Mercedes 200 Kompressor and had 6 paint scrathes - some I did myself. When we went to Mercedes Maintenance and wife asked if insurance would fix all these - they said why not?

So in end I paid 9.874 LE for insurance year before (for 300,000 LE) coverage and in end my few defects repair cost was 13,200LE. ( I paid 600 LE on top of this). So I am ahead few ,000. but of course paid for following year as well so not really ahead - but insured. By the way with no claims they deduct 20% for 2nd years insurance and 10% each year thereafter up to 50% savings on you insurace. So, if only minor stuff with cheaper car - better to fix youself - but not with a Merc!!!

Trick is if you insure (and it is good idea) you need to go to Police and make a report for damages which in my case was a bit fictious as list all damages like it was one car that did it all while I was parked and had no idea who offender was. It was really easy!

So in end you can plan on 3% cost of insurance for what you declare as value of car. Deductable per event is 100 LE. But make a police report if someone does really significant damage- actually you need to make a police report in any event.

I am still not clear on third party issues. Like deaths and injuries as to what insurance covers.

Finally - few cars are insured here but take them to police if they hit you as insurance people need that police report. If they do not agree to go to police - get car license number, and go yourself with translator, if not speaking arabic. Don't also forget to have your fixer pay the backshessh and if you want it done right and don't be cheap. I gave 200 LE and that was for everyone and car was fixed without question.

Some holiday cheer with FREE Christmas Music

The Garritan Community is offering a downloadable MP3 Christmas album full off Christmas classics.

The current album '2008' has 19 tracks and if you search around you can get up to 79 from previous year's albums dating back to 2004.

Garritan is 'a community of musicians from all over the world met on the Garritan community forum and agreed to submit their own recordings of holiday music, to be freely distributed. Each of these orchestral recordings were made not with large live orchestras in vast recording studios at huge expense, but rather were created by a single person working on their own desktop or laptop computer. What they have in common is the use of Garritan libraries representing software musical instruments based on samples of real instruments.'

Have Merry Christmas

Link : http://garritan.com/Xmas.html

Laser Eye Treatment - Egytian Style

I know several expats, and Egytians, who have had this corrective surgery. The most recent I am aware of was Sept 2007 and cost was 5000LE. I previously posted this as a comment in answer to a reader but thought later it is worthy of a separte posting.

Vision modification by prk lasik

Question & answers about vision modification by lasik

What are the different vision faults?

Normal vision

That mean the image is formed exactly on the retina without additional effort on the eye muscles

Short vision

That Mean the image is formed before the retina (the image is not quite clear), that mostly because the cornea is more convex than normal

Long vision

It the opposite to the short vision, in other words the image is formed behind the retina & the cornea is more concave than normal

Stigmatism

That mean the image is formed in more than one focus before or after the retina that causes headaches & blurred image.

What is the laser ?

The laser is one of the photo waves, the computer controlling these waves to modify cornea convex to become normal.

That Laser is accurate, it is not affecting the cornea fibers or it’s surrounding, this method is certified in all of health ministries over the world such as (U.S.A. Japan, UK) & it is used for more than 10 million persons all over the world according to the international American association for vision modification statistics.

Are there many methods for vision modification?

Yes there are two methods for vision modification.

1. Axemar laser (p.r.k), this is the old one, but it has some disadvantages such as some pain & blurred image after the surgery for a few weeks after the surgery.

2. Lasik is the new one & it is the best because it can modify any degree of vision weakness, no pain, and short recovery time.

Is my case suitable for lasik?

Lasik can handle cases with –19 degrees short, +5 degrees long & 5 degrees stigmatism, but the eye & the cornea must be inspected by a special computer.

Is there a suitable age for lasik?

We recommend over 18 years (for eye settling)

Is there any pain during or after the surgery?

The lasik surgery takes less than 5min. , We use anesthetic drops only, after that there is only light suffering for about 3 hrs.

Is the result is fixed (the weakness not coming back)?

By lasik the result is more than 98% successful & it is completely fixed there are only the natural increase in vision shortness or 0.5 degrees or little bit more this also can be modified by another way without surgery, but the surgery result is fixed.

Dr. MOHAMED SEDKY

· Consultant of eye surgery & laser usage.

· Member of royal college of eye surgery in London

· Member of American academy for eye medicine & surgery

· Member of international council for vision modification surgery

· Section head for eye medicine in (misr tairan) hospital

· Trainer in tektolas German device

CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS.

Dr. Mohamed Sedky mobile: 012-2117939

Eye Clinic: 02-2571820

Eye Centre: 02-4549570

Sunkey SK-801 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews (DTV)

Product Details: The picture quality of the Sunkey SK-801 digital TV converter box falls somewhere in the middle. It is still better than most analog broadcasts but you can definitely get a better digital picture with other converter boxes. This product is like most other converter boxes in that it comes with great sound quality.

This digital tv converter box comes with the most important feature, analog pass-through. It also comes with its own remote control, an electronic program guide, vcr timers, and the composite video and rf outs.

This converter box is a government certified DTV converter box and is priced out at about $50 before using the government coupon. It is not widely known and is a less popular TV Converter Box. This TV Converter Box is clearly not a top rated box but also sells for a pretty cheap price. If you don't want to spend a lot of money but want a converter box that will get the job done then this one will work for you.

Sunkey SK-801 Features & Specs

Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Sunkey SK-801 Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
RF Cable

Sunkey SK-801 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews (DTV)

Product Details: The picture quality of the Sunkey SK-801 digital TV converter box falls somewhere in the middle. It is still better than most analog broadcasts but you can definitely get a better digital picture with other converter boxes. This product is like most other converter boxes in that it comes with great sound quality.

This digital tv converter box comes with the most important feature, analog pass-through. It also comes with its own remote control, an electronic program guide, vcr timers, and the composite video and rf outs.

This converter box is a government certified DTV converter box and is priced out at about $50 before using the government coupon. It is not widely known and is a less popular TV Converter Box. This TV Converter Box is clearly not a top rated box but also sells for a pretty cheap price. If you don't want to spend a lot of money but want a converter box that will get the job done then this one will work for you.

Sunkey SK-801 Features & Specs

Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Sunkey SK-801 Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries
RF Cable

Zinwell ZAT 950A Digital TV Converter Box Reviews (DTV)

Product Details: Just likes its older brother (Zinwell ZAT-970A) the Zinwell ZAT-950A comes with excellent picture quality. It is in the 2nd tier of TV converter boxes for its picture quality which means that it is not quite as good as the best digital converter boxes but still a major upgrade from the average analog broadcast quality. Again, this digital TV converter box is just like its older brother in regards to sound quality. Using this converter box will help you to get crystal clear and crisp sound quality. This TV converter box rates near the top in regards to its sound quality.

This digital TV converter box comes with a bunch of excellent features. Some of these features include an electronic program guide, the ability to scan for channels, adjustable closed captioning, analog pass through, and much much more. The new 950A is better because it comes with a built in VCR timer so you can record television shows, silicon based tuner for better signal gathering strength, and 8 ports so that it can work with your VCR recording.

This is another great digital TV converter box brought to you by Zinwell. The Zinwell ZAT-970A was a good one and the Zinwell ZAT-950A is even better. We have concluded that this converter box deserves a very high grade. At a selling price of $64.99 it is also a good buy when you use your government coupon to offset the purchase price. Overall there are probably only a few TV converter boxes out there that are as good as this one.

Zinwell ZAT-950A Features & Specs - Zinwell ZAT-950A Owners Manual

Analog Pass-Through
8 Event Timer
Configurable Closed Captioning
Parental Controls
Electronic Program Guide
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Zinwell ZAT-950A Converter Box
Remote Control

Zinwell ZAT 950A Digital TV Converter Box Reviews (DTV)

Product Details: Just likes its older brother (Zinwell ZAT-970A) the Zinwell ZAT-950A comes with excellent picture quality. It is in the 2nd tier of TV converter boxes for its picture quality which means that it is not quite as good as the best digital converter boxes but still a major upgrade from the average analog broadcast quality. Again, this digital TV converter box is just like its older brother in regards to sound quality. Using this converter box will help you to get crystal clear and crisp sound quality. This TV converter box rates near the top in regards to its sound quality.

This digital TV converter box comes with a bunch of excellent features. Some of these features include an electronic program guide, the ability to scan for channels, adjustable closed captioning, analog pass through, and much much more. The new 950A is better because it comes with a built in VCR timer so you can record television shows, silicon based tuner for better signal gathering strength, and 8 ports so that it can work with your VCR recording.

This is another great digital TV converter box brought to you by Zinwell. The Zinwell ZAT-970A was a good one and the Zinwell ZAT-950A is even better. We have concluded that this converter box deserves a very high grade. At a selling price of $64.99 it is also a good buy when you use your government coupon to offset the purchase price. Overall there are probably only a few TV converter boxes out there that are as good as this one.

Zinwell ZAT-950A Features & Specs - Zinwell ZAT-950A Owners Manual

Analog Pass-Through
8 Event Timer
Configurable Closed Captioning
Parental Controls
Electronic Program Guide
English, French, and Spanish Language Support

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Zinwell ZAT-950A Converter Box
Remote Control

office 2007 install fix -

This has nothing to do with egypt in the first sense, but since I had this problem and solved it, from advice of others, thought I would share. I found this advice with google and it worked a treat as I could not install Office 2007 with my replacementWindows XP SP3 install, until I did following. I used nlite to install Windows XP, as fellow below, so seems this is what causes problem. Office 97 installed fine on all my other computers before.

The instructions below may well be beyond many, but if you have patience you can work through it. However, I think I should put a plug in for my main computer man whom mentored me to put together a computer from scatch, gets any computer supplies I need, and fixes problems that I cannot (that is not many, or I get lazy). He is a great Egyptian lad. He is self emplyed now and has his own beetle car so is pretty mobile to help anyone. Call Mahmoud Abdella on 0112647110 or email mahabdella@hotmail.com. Costs - you cannot do better and is a real gentleman. He is also trying to support a family so give him a try. I do not recommend many people but Mahmoud I do with highest respect. PS he fixed my HP lap top that screen failed, and my multi media Everex that crashed fatally, for very decent costs.

Here extracts from forum on how to fix Office 2007 install problems. See link at end.

"Tried to install office 2007 enterprise on xp sp2 with all updates
and ie7 installed. i had office 2003 working fine.
got the ==The windows installer service cannot update one or more
protected windows
files ==error and office 2007 rolled back.
naturally this totally screwed outlook 2003. i had to reinstall office
2003 to fix the mapi32.dll error everybody gets when this happens. that
worked.
then i uninstalled office 2003 completely and tried again to install
office 2007. again it did not work.

i tried it several times and sometimes it just said installation error
without the The windows installer service cannot update one or more
protected windows files error message

Solution

look at the event viewer. it names a file called fpault.dll as
failing the protected files check

this file was not on my computer at all. supposed to be in c:\program
files\common files\microsoft shared\web server extensions\40\bin

the reason it was not on my computer may well have been because i used
nlite to modify my windows xp installation on this computer to get rid
of some of the crap

by a miracle, i found this fpault.dll file on the original xp cd,
hiding in I386\FP40EXT.CAB
which is not a place i would ordinarily be looking

i extracted it and copied it to c:\program files\common files\microsoft
shared\web server extensions\40\bin

like the red sea parting office 2007 rolled on to install itself.

i have searched everywhere for a fix to my problem, which does not seem
to be widespread, and nowhere has this solution been stated. so i hope
it may help others.

See full forum discussion at this link


Addiitonal Hints:
One should learn from mistakes when re-building a computer from scratch, but some like me tend to forget, then have hours of grief ahead of them.

I wanted to replace/upgrade my Windows XP has had corrupt "Windows Installer" files. Of course I copied all important files to another location before formatting and installing the new XP version. But, I forgot to go to the device manager and idenify all the drivers, and I did not have the orginal motherboard driver disk. So when installing the new Windows XP it doesit's best to find drivers but not all will be correct. My problem was mainly with no sound. And I did not know the manufacturer or model of the mother board so I could not find find the correct audio driver and chipset driver.

I tried various driver scan progams (or scam programs) these were basically useless and some wanted money for the driver downloads - which where not correct any way. Finally found program that told the all the details I needed as to what was installed in the PC. It is called PC Wizard 2008 and voila I had all info required. Then I googled for manufacturer and model number of motherboard and low and behold all the required drivers where there for the download and all is fine now.

Hope this may be of help to any others that create their own predicament.

Friday SA Music Spotlight - jacSharp

Even though jacSharp won HP's Design you personal life at the beginning of the year already, I must admit they have not been on my radar at all. However they are creating quite a buzz all of a sudden as they release their debut album Technicolor this month and quite rightly so.

Juliet Harding (Vocals and Keyboard), Emelio Gassibe (Bass), Ben Peters (Drums and Sampling) and Carl Wegelin (Guitars and Vocals) make up the band who put themselves into the Electro/Afro/Jazz/Pop/Rock genre. Personally I would reorganize this to Rock/Electro/Pop/Afro/Jazz. Man, I pity the music store assistants as they try and figure where to put the upcoming cd. As I write this, I am listening to the tracks they have posted on various sites and find myself backspacing and re-writing my descriptions. Their offerings are so diverse that I has actuall given up. Perhaps the only constant is that they are distinctively South African.

I enjoyed this bio from laodtheshow.com though:

• What do you get when you mix an electronic drummer, rock/funk guitarist, afro/jazz bassist and a pop/jazz singer? A completely new, eclectic genre of music that's unique to Cape Town based band, jacSharp. If you dig to the core of this band, you will find something magical that has been built on a foundation of nothing but good times, good tunes and keen understanding of musical diversity. All of this has been melted down, mixed together and energetically thrown at their enthralled audiences.

Their debut album bash is on the 18th December @ the Assembly but they are embarking on a nationwide tour with Plush from tomorrow, so I strongly suggest you follow the links and give their tracks a listen and then make a note in your diary to go check them out when they are in your neck of the woods.
Oh, and when visiting their website jacsharp.com you can download the title track of the new album Technicolour (check the SA spelling!) for free, gratis. Well worth the visit.

Links

• Homepage : jacsharp.com
• MySpace
• FaceBook
• Overtone artist page
  

Tour Dates : The Keep it in the Family Tour with Plush

13 Dec: Harvey Wallbangerz , Durban

15 Dec: Douglas Mitchell Sports Ground, Uvongo, KZN

16 Dec: Johannesburg, Tanz Cafe

17 Dec: Johannesburg, Tanz Cafe

18 Dec: Assembly, Cape Town

27 Dec: Crab’s Creek, Knysna

28 Dec: VIP, Plettenberg Bay

29 Dec: Neptunes Festival, Kenton on sea

31 Dec: Phoenix Rising New Years party, Kenton on Sea

3 Jan: Tapas Al Sol, Port Elizabeth

4 April: Kirstenbosch Summer Concert

Around the world on a Tractor

Travelling over our local mountain pass, Ou Kaapse Weg, last weekend we passed a tractor and a rather old looking one at that. This is not something we see very often, especially with a dog peering our at the passing cars.


I have since learned that this very tractor was been driven by a Manon Ossevert who, also known as the Tractor Lady, is 'a dynamic, enthusiastic lady who recently arrived in Cape Town from the Netherlands on a tractor. With a top speed of 25 km per hour the trip took 3 years. 39,000 kilometres and one flat tyre.' These 39,000 kilometres have taken her through The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, & South Africa. She is using the trip to inspire others to dream and then follow those dreams while at the same time drawing attention to Non Governmental Organisations like WarChild and The Hunger Project and small local projects from the regions she visits.








Her story :
'As a theatre maker I came up with a plan for a journey.
A journey of a little girl on a tractor.
A journey to the end of the world, and back.
But what is the end of the world?
If I was a child, I would say: the South pole!
As an adult I said: the worst war-country I can imagine.
Both voices, the one of the child and the one of the adult, said: We want to go!
Then I thought: All right, we'll just do that.'


To finish her trip she needs to get to the South Pole. In order to do this she has to undergo cold weather training. She is currently planning to fly to Canada to do this training! There has been a call out to anyone who is able to assist her here in Cape Town, or at least South Africa, so if you can do so, or know anyone who can please contact her @ www.tractortractor.org or leave a comment and I will supply you with a local contact person.

Artec T3AP Pro Digital TVConverter Box Reviews (DTV)

The Artec T3AP Pro is no longer available and has been upgraded several times, the upgrade versions include the Artec T3AP-LL, and Artec T3AP-LS.

Product Details: The picture quality for this digital TV Converter Box is actually very good. When watching free over the air broadcasts with this one you get a picture quality that is just a slight step below that of a DVD. If you are looking for a significant upgrade from the quality you get then the Artec T3AP Pro is a good digital TV converter box to consider. The sound quality is also very good for the Artec T3A Pro Box. It is similar to all other TV converter boxes in that it gives viewers a crystal clear sound.

This converter box comes with an electronic program guide that shows information for upcoming shows and currently running shows. This DTV converter box also comes with on box buttons to allow control without the remote control. The best thing about this Digital TV converter box is that it was upgrade from the Artec T3A Pro to include analog pass-through. This digital to analog DTV converter box also comes with an external power adapter and multi-language functions. This digital TV converter box does not come with a universal remote control or a smart antenna connection port.

Artec T3AP Pro Features & Specs

Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks
75 ohm RF Video/Audio Jack (Coaxial Cable)
Sleep Timer
Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support
Compact Size

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Artec T3AP Pro Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries

Artec T3AP Pro Digital TVConverter Box Reviews (DTV)

The Artec T3AP Pro is no longer available and has been upgraded several times, the upgrade versions include the Artec T3AP-LL, and Artec T3AP-LS.

Product Details: The picture quality for this digital TV Converter Box is actually very good. When watching free over the air broadcasts with this one you get a picture quality that is just a slight step below that of a DVD. If you are looking for a significant upgrade from the quality you get then the Artec T3AP Pro is a good digital TV converter box to consider. The sound quality is also very good for the Artec T3A Pro Box. It is similar to all other TV converter boxes in that it gives viewers a crystal clear sound.

This converter box comes with an electronic program guide that shows information for upcoming shows and currently running shows. This DTV converter box also comes with on box buttons to allow control without the remote control. The best thing about this Digital TV converter box is that it was upgrade from the Artec T3A Pro to include analog pass-through. This digital to analog DTV converter box also comes with an external power adapter and multi-language functions. This digital TV converter box does not come with a universal remote control or a smart antenna connection port.

Artec T3AP Pro Features & Specs

Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks
75 ohm RF Video/Audio Jack (Coaxial Cable)
Sleep Timer
Analog Pass-Through
V-Chip Lock Parental Control Setting
Configurable Closed Captioning
Electronic Program Guide
On Screen Signal Strength Meter
Energy Star Compliant
English, French, and Spanish Language Support
Compact Size

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Artec T3AP Pro Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries

Coship N9901T Digital TV Converter Box Reviews (DTV)

Product Details: The Coship N99o1T digital TV converter box comes with quite a bit of good features. It comes with a program guide that gives users information on current and upcoming shows including the show title and show run time. This converter box also comes with on box buttons so that if you lose your remote you can still operate it. This converter box also comes with a remote control, adjustable closed captioning, and language supports for english, spanish, and french. This digital TV converter box does come with analog pass-through which is a feature its older version was missing. It also comes with composite video and RF outs and VCR timers. Despite being a pretty darn good converter box this one was the one of the best TV converter boxes.

Coship N9901T Features & Specs

Analog Pass-Through
Configurable Closed Captioning
Parental Control Settings
English, French, and Spanish Language Support
Electronic Program Guide

Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Coship N9901T Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries

For more information on other home theater related items visit Big Picture Big Sound.

Coship N9901T Digital TV Converter Box Reviews (DTV)

Product Details: The Coship N99o1T digital TV converter box comes with quite a bit of good features. It comes with a program guide that gives users information on current and upcoming shows including the show title and show run time. This converter box also comes with on box buttons so that if you lose your remote you can still operate it. This converter box also comes with a remote control, adjustable closed captioning, and language supports for english, spanish, and french. This digital TV converter box does come with analog pass-through which is a feature its older version was missing. It also comes with composite video and RF outs and VCR timers. Despite being a pretty darn good converter box this one was the one of the best TV converter boxes.

Coship N9901T Features & Specs

Analog Pass-Through
Configurable Closed Captioning
Parental Control Settings
English, French, and Spanish Language Support
Electronic Program Guide

Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Coship N9901T Converter Box
Remote Control
Remote Control Batteries

For more information on other home theater related items visit Big Picture Big Sound.

Gordons Bay Fire Pictures and Video

Gale force South Easters have been fanning fires in the Gordons Bay area since the weekend. This morning things are no different, which is not surprising considering the buffeting we got last night. I have been scouring the internet for images and news and have found the following video and pictures.




Further Video : Wolfie.za.org



Further Pictures : ChrisJacobs.co.za

Blog post with more pics : Craniac's Place

Eye Witness News : Fires rage in Gordons Bay

The guys working hard to save what they can from further destruction : capefires.com

Channel Master CM-7000 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews (DTV)

This box has proven to be one of the best available due to its enhanced reception which results in more channels. It has also seen a significantly lower number of complaints as compared others and appears to have significantly better longterm reliability.

Product Details: The picture quality of the Channel Master CM-7000 digital TV converter box is the best that we have seen out of all converter boxes we have looked at. This digital TV converter box provides an absolutely crystal clear picture that is equivalent to that of DVD quality. The sound quality of the Channel Master CM-7000 is just as good as any of the other analog digital converter boxes that we have looked at. Its sound quality rivals that of a DVD.

This digital TV converter box is one of only two models that we know of that comes with S-video output. This digital to analog converter box also comes with an excellent programming guide, channel scanning function, and adjustable closed captioning. Unfortunately this analog digital converter does not come with analog pass-through, a universal remote, or auto aspect ratio. Despite lacking these features it is still highly recommend over the majority of other converter box that malfunction or break rather easily.

If you are interested in getting a digital TV converter box then the Channel Master CM-7000 is probably the best one out there. This digital TV converter sells at a good price and has the best picture and sound quality around. Beyond that is the fact that the it has proven to be reliable over the long haul and you can expect it to work for years rather that months, as is the case with most other converter boxes.

Channel Master CM-7000 Features & Specs - Channel Master CM-7000 Owners Manual

Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box
Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks
S-Video Output
Electronic Program Guide
Configurable Closed Captioning
Parental Controls

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Channel Master CM-7000 Converter Box
Remote Control

Channel Master CM-7000 Digital TV Converter Box Reviews (DTV)

This box has proven to be one of the best available due to its enhanced reception which results in more channels. It has also seen a significantly lower number of complaints as compared others and appears to have significantly better longterm reliability.

Product Details: The picture quality of the Channel Master CM-7000 digital TV converter box is the best that we have seen out of all converter boxes we have looked at. This digital TV converter box provides an absolutely crystal clear picture that is equivalent to that of DVD quality. The sound quality of the Channel Master CM-7000 is just as good as any of the other analog digital converter boxes that we have looked at. Its sound quality rivals that of a DVD.

This digital TV converter box is one of only two models that we know of that comes with S-video output. This digital to analog converter box also comes with an excellent programming guide, channel scanning function, and adjustable closed captioning. Unfortunately this analog digital converter does not come with analog pass-through, a universal remote, or auto aspect ratio. Despite lacking these features it is still highly recommend over the majority of other converter box that malfunction or break rather easily.

If you are interested in getting a digital TV converter box then the Channel Master CM-7000 is probably the best one out there. This digital TV converter sells at a good price and has the best picture and sound quality around. Beyond that is the fact that the it has proven to be reliable over the long haul and you can expect it to work for years rather that months, as is the case with most other converter boxes.

Channel Master CM-7000 Features & Specs - Channel Master CM-7000 Owners Manual

Government Certified Coupon Eligible Converter Box
Displays All 18 ATSC Formats
Composite Video Jack
Stereo Audio Jacks
S-Video Output
Electronic Program Guide
Configurable Closed Captioning
Parental Controls

What Is Included With Your Purchase?

Channel Master CM-7000 Converter Box
Remote Control

A chance to save the Springbok?

Perhaps those sympathetic to the cause of keeping the Springbok alive in SA Rugby can latch on this little bokkie and use him/her to their advantage?

Born on the 17th October 2008 @ Heia Safari Ranch (who have since seen another black Springbok enter the world on the 2nd November) , it seems that this is mother nature's answer to B.E.E.

SA gets free ADSL accounts

Interprise (Pty) Ltd, a South African internet company that has been around since 1999, has launched MYISP.co.za which is offering free dialup and perhaps more importantly, ADSL accounts.
There are three account options tha offer between 200mb and 250mb ADSL account free.
Depending on the account you choose, you can opt-in to pay R29-00 a month for a mailbox with top-ups available @ 10c a mB, R55 for 500mb and between R100 to R120 for 1Gb topups.

Click here for more info.

South African Banks on Facebook

The Facebook adoption by the big four SA banks is , in some cases rather interesting:

• ABSA have one fan page on Facebook with 2488 fans.
  Although an ABSA fan page, this has been geared more around the Currie Cup than actual banking. It's heavily branded with Currie Cup information, photo's and videos of their Currie Cup TV commercials. However they do seem to respond to wall posts made by their customers, even posting a TV ad script when requested.
  
  
  
  

• FNB have one fan page aimed at the their Premier Bankers with 73 fans.
  It's a very informative, has upcoming events, weekly economic updates from their chief economist and some interactive tools. They also appear to respond to posts, albeit they have only had two. I do find it odd that FNB have chosen this market (those earning R350k to R1mill a year) to target on Facebook though. If they are looking to keep things managable and niche, perhaps the student market would make more sense? They have made good use of Facebook for the various events they are naming sponsors for namely the FNB Classic Clashes, The Varsity Cup and Whiskey Live Festival
  



















• Nedbank has no banking consumer orientated Facebook presence. They do have a page dedicated to the Nedbank Local Heroes, where you can nominate a worthy cause or person for a R10 000.00 prize. A touch I like is the videos they have included of the nominated heroes.
  
  
  
  
  

• I couldn't find any evidence of Standard Bank having any official presence on Facebook other than someone who has setup up a persona with a Standard Bank logo.
  
  

It would seem that ABSA has a clear lead when it comes to using Facebook to interact and communicate to it's customers. The beauty of this platform, if they do this right, is the positive image the bank can portray to their customers, as well as those who are customers of other banking institutions, as they react timeously to queries, suggestions etc posted on the fan page wall . The public display of helpfulness is priceless PR. Of course, the opposite can also be true as they leave themselves open to public displays of unhappiness.

It's going to be interesting to see how corporate South Africa use Facebook and it's online social media competitors to connect to their clients.

Regular blackouts to hit *** within three years because there is a shortage of new power stations

Families face regular blackouts within three years because *** has not built enough new power stations, it has been claimed.

Sound familiar? Replace *** with Britain. This story comes from Britain's Daily Mail Online.

Seems Eskom are not the only ones that have gotten it wrong .Read on here

Job offered : Must have a head for bricks

Caught on video in Khulna, Bangladesh

Words, I have few

During my monthly wade through eMusic.com's catalogue, I came across the following review of an album by Tom Middleton. I read this and immediately felt extremely inadequate. Ah, something to aspire to. One day when I grow up ...

This is Tom Middleton's first, true solo outing and it's a stunner. He opens with the Crimson-inspired "Prana," driven by Fripp-like arpeggios that lead into a monumental beat and larger-than-life hooks. It's a heroic statement -- a pronouncement, an affirmation of life and a hope-filled herald for the rest of the recording. He even throws in some soaring string arrangements in the middle third of the piece, which adds to its majesty. "Beginning of the Middle" follows "Prana" and is no less epic, starting slow, acquiring electronic force, pulsing into a breathtaking escape that accelerates into a galactic-groove-overdrive. It's the type of music that I'd want cranking if I owned my own personal star craft, kicking it past the atmosphere of the familiar. Lifetracks is a big recording, elements of funk, jazz and space music manifesting in a positively bearable lightness of being.

RCA ANT 2000 Indoor Smart Antenna Review, Rating, and Comparison

Product Details: The RCA ANT2000 is an excellent smart antenna. This antenna is specially designed to be used with any DTV converter boxes that come with a smart antenna port. If your TV converter box does not support smart antenna technology then you will have to get a different antenna.

This smart antenna comes with an amazing new flat omni directional receiver that allows it to get signals from a full 360 degrees range. It allows you to get HDTV, DTV, UHF, and VHF signals all with one antenna. This antenna comes with special technology that helps it to amplify weak signals and get better reception from further away than traditional antennas. The RCA Ant 2000 can either be laid flat or huge in the air and is ultra sleek and small.

Product Features: The RCA ANT2000 comes with patented smart antenna technology that allows it to automatically shift itself to the optimal reception position. It works with all digital converter boxes and digital televisions that come with a CEA909 smart antenna port. This smart antenna is also optimized for HDTV reception for both UHF and VHF bands. Another great thing about the ANT2000 smart antenna is its extremely low profile flat design. This RCA 2000 antenna is also great because it will communicate with your television or converter box to lock in the best reception signal for each channel and filter out unwanted noise. The RCA ANT2000 has also been shown to receive television signals from further away than the average smart antenna and also provide a more clear picture.

Specifications:
Weight: 3.1 pounds (lbs)
Size: 12 x 12 x 1.2 (in inches, L x W x H)
Warranty: Comes with a full 1 year warranty against manufacture defect
Support: Supports all digital signal types

The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a smart antenna to improve your overall TV reception then the RCA ANT 2000 is a pretty good smart antenna to choose. Our reviews, ratings, and comparison have indicated to us that although not the best smart antenna on the market this one is quite good when considering it cheap price of $54.99. We can't promise you the world with this smart antenna but assure you that it will eliminate that annoying tasking of constantly adjusting your rabbit ear antennas and in most circumstances should allow you to get more channels than before.

Why should you Purchase A Smart Antenna?

We suggest getting a smart antenna because digital television signals are much different than analog television signals. With digital signals you need to have your antenna precisely pointed in the right direction or you will not get the best picture possible. It or to be able to get the best picture possible without having to move our antenna constantly we suggest a smart antenna. Smart antenna are made so that you can set the antenna to remember which direction it must be pointing in order to pick up each individual channels signal. Then when you change channels your smart antenna automatically adjusts to the setting that it remembers for that specific channel. This allows you to get the best picture and sound quality possible without ever having to manually adjust your smart antenna and completely automates to tuner tuning process.

RCA ANT 2000 Indoor Smart Antenna Review, Rating, and Comparison

Product Details: The RCA ANT2000 is an excellent smart antenna. This antenna is specially designed to be used with any DTV converter boxes that come with a smart antenna port. If your TV converter box does not support smart antenna technology then you will have to get a different antenna.

This smart antenna comes with an amazing new flat omni directional receiver that allows it to get signals from a full 360 degrees range. It allows you to get HDTV, DTV, UHF, and VHF signals all with one antenna. This antenna comes with special technology that helps it to amplify weak signals and get better reception from further away than traditional antennas. The RCA Ant 2000 can either be laid flat or huge in the air and is ultra sleek and small.

Product Features: The RCA ANT2000 comes with patented smart antenna technology that allows it to automatically shift itself to the optimal reception position. It works with all digital converter boxes and digital televisions that come with a CEA909 smart antenna port. This smart antenna is also optimized for HDTV reception for both UHF and VHF bands. Another great thing about the ANT2000 smart antenna is its extremely low profile flat design. This RCA 2000 antenna is also great because it will communicate with your television or converter box to lock in the best reception signal for each channel and filter out unwanted noise. The RCA ANT2000 has also been shown to receive television signals from further away than the average smart antenna and also provide a more clear picture.

Specifications:
Weight: 3.1 pounds (lbs)
Size: 12 x 12 x 1.2 (in inches, L x W x H)
Warranty: Comes with a full 1 year warranty against manufacture defect
Support: Supports all digital signal types

The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a smart antenna to improve your overall TV reception then the RCA ANT 2000 is a pretty good smart antenna to choose. Our reviews, ratings, and comparison have indicated to us that although not the best smart antenna on the market this one is quite good when considering it cheap price of $54.99. We can't promise you the world with this smart antenna but assure you that it will eliminate that annoying tasking of constantly adjusting your rabbit ear antennas and in most circumstances should allow you to get more channels than before.

Why should you Purchase A Smart Antenna?

We suggest getting a smart antenna because digital television signals are much different than analog television signals. With digital signals you need to have your antenna precisely pointed in the right direction or you will not get the best picture possible. It or to be able to get the best picture possible without having to move our antenna constantly we suggest a smart antenna. Smart antenna are made so that you can set the antenna to remember which direction it must be pointing in order to pick up each individual channels signal. Then when you change channels your smart antenna automatically adjusts to the setting that it remembers for that specific channel. This allows you to get the best picture and sound quality possible without ever having to manually adjust your smart antenna and completely automates to tuner tuning process.