Home network overhaul

I had been forced to do an overhaul after my daughter told me that she did not have wireless access upstairs anymore. The last wireless extension adapter upstairs went down.

While trying to fix it, I had to get into the router setup page using the IP 192.168.1.1
Whilst I was doing the settings, I noticed a message asking me to update the router firmware. I clicked the update because of security updates. That's where it all went downhill.

The router was an Asus RT-AC87U with four antennas. The wifi it provided reached all the way to the top floor of the house. Now that the home network was down, I scrambled to recover it to no avail.

Fortunately, I had a newer unused router from the telco. I was able to restore the home network but the wifi from this router was restricted.

Fortunately, the comex show was on and I got myself a new set of home plugs to extend the wifi throughout the house.

I called Asus support but after hearing that I had I had tried using the recovery software and that they do not have any further solution to suggest, I gave up on Asus support.

I had done all the necessary steps for the firmware recovery but somehow, the wifi LED s weren't lighting up, not to mention accessing the router through its default gateway. I knew it had to be residual configuration not fully wiped out by the recommended factory reset. Finally, someone on a site mentioned the WPS button as an alternative to clearing the NVRAM. When I tried that, lo and behold, it worked!

So now, I can squeeze more extra years out of this older router. The next project is probably to find a way to reuse the older home plugs which are of a different brand. Hopefully they use the same home plug standards. I will probably use an even older router as a wireless extension with those old power line adapters.

Zebra Doves

My favourite birds like to forage in my backyard. They are highly prized for their singing in South East Asia. They may cost as much as SGD$30000.00 per bird depending on their singing quality. The birds are categorised by classes A, B and C. I am not familiar with the intricacies of this hobby as I don't believe in keeping birds in cages but I think the classes are about the pitch of the bird call. I have learnt to mimic their calls quite closely to the extent that I can imitate the calls of the expensive birds.

When I mimic the calls of the Spotted Doves or the Zebra doves, they will come to the backyard expecting a treat. Sometimes when they arrive and see me, the Zebra doves will make s clicking sound as if they were telling me to feed them.

My garden update

I love nature and plants. They give me so much joy especially when they thrive. If they don't, it gives me a chance to do a bit of failure analysis to find out why they are not thriving.

The Red passionflower bloomed quickly after I pruned it and added flowering fertilizer.

Over ripe bittergourd

Jacaranda

Passiflora Edulis

Passion fruit

View from the top

Mint

Pandan with Bulbul nest

Dan Lepard Foccacia

I have not updated my baking activities although I had been baking weekly.

My free range pets

I have many creatures visiting my backyard. Although I do not keep any pets, I consider these creatures my pets.

Of all the birds that visit my backyard, I have a soft spot for the Zebra doves who are so gentle and perpetually bullied by the larger Spotted doves.

Some like the Bulbul and Olive backed Sunbirds have chosen to make nests in my garden and I feel honoured by their choice of my humble lodgings.

Loving couple of Zebra doves

Spotted dove

Nesting Bulbul

Wood doves

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Crimson sunbird

Sunbird feeding on Passionflower nectar