Ready to takeoff.

Flying in the Air space

The world is completely occupied with Computer networks. Wireless network in particular plays a major role. Wireless data networks includes , . Normally Bluetooth, Zigbee are intended with low power and low band width digital communications.
The Zigbee network uses airwaves to connect lamps, lighting switches, electric meters, thermostats and other electric appliances. The Zigbee network employs 868 Mhz, 915 MHz and 2.4 GHz.
We use bluetooth enabled computers, laptops and mobile phones for transferring data and files between the devices.
The recent new network scheme is Dash7 which uses less power compared with other schemes. This can be used as RFID (Radio frequency Identification) tag in order to work for years without any external power source. The actual RFID tag employ passive devices and draw energy from radio waves by their readers emit.
Dash7 tags are active and uses very small batteries. Dash7 readers do not have to transmit high power RF and cost effective compared with other devices. Dash7 can communicate with tags located with 100 m away. Dash7 works with 433 MHz which is global level. The antenna is very compact as the wavelength is 70 cm.

DASH7 features include:
* Operation at 433 MHz, globally available, unlicensed spectrum
* Based on ISO 18000-7 standard
* Multi-year battery life
* Range of up to 2 km (potentially farther)
* Penetration of concrete walls, water, and ability to "bend" around metal objects
* Low latency protocol that enables reliable tracking of moving objects
* Small, lightweight protocol stack that minimizes silicon costs
* Data transfer at up to 27.77kpbs (potentially as high as 250kpbs)
* Sensor & security support


While comparing other schemes, Dash7 is neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth nor Zigbee.

A full solar eclipse was seen at Kanyakumari, South of Tamilnadu, India which is called as Kanganam (Ring or Bangle shape) Solar Eclipse. This is also called as Ring of fire.
This is wonderful to see after a long gap say 108 year. This eclipse started on 15.01.2010, 11.45 am to 1.20 pm and the full eclipse lasted for about 10 minutes. The moon covered fully the sun during 1.10 to 1.20 pm.
The last time India saw this ‘Ring of Fire’ was November 22, 1965. The next longest annular solar eclipse will only be seen in 3043. I watched this amazing event only on TV.

Japanese researchers have unveiled a robot seems to be a Hummingbird which can fly around in mid air with rapid wing movements. This robot is equipped with a micro motor with four wings which can flutter 30 times per second. It is controlled by an infrared sensor for controlling left, right, up and down movements.

The robot weighs only 2.6 grams (0.09 ounces), However it can not stay at one point at the mid air. Their next step to do research to make it hover at one point in the mid air. They have also planned to fit a micro camera with the robot in order to help rescue humans trapped in destroyed buildings during earthquake, search criminals or to probe vehicles on other planets.

This wonderful robot cost about 2.1 million dollars for design and developed. Though this is too costly, the robot seems very amazing in the technology era.

I have to say 1000 of thanks to Farhad Irani, Paypal who have clearly announced the alternate method of withdrawing paypal money to Indian banks. It is a big releive for those who have 100 of dollars in the paypal account. The paypal now introduces with purpose code which posses different categories of external affairs. With this purpose code we are now able to withdraw our funds from Indian banks. The completed details are here

I received a mail from paypal stating the following:

We have been diligently working with the RBI and our business
partners to resume Indian bank withdrawals for the thousands
of Indian businesses who depend on PayPal to sell their goods
or services in the global marketplace.

Today, we are happy to announce that the RBI has allowed us
to continue local bank withdrawals for settlements for exports
of goods and services. We are currently making changes to
comply with Indian regulations for settlements for exports of
goods and services, and we anticipate that, as of Wednesday,
March 3rd, customers will be able to use our
bank withdrawal service.

As part of the changes, you will be required to fill out a
new field entitled 'Export Code' when you request a withdrawal.
This information is required under the current laws of India in
order to identify the nature of cross-border merchant transactions.

On Monday, March 1st, we will be back in touch with specific
instructions on how you can move your money into your bank account.

Moving forward, the RBI has told us that PayPal needs specific
approvals to allow personal remittances to India, which we
currently do not have. Until we get these approvals, personal
payments into India will remain suspended. However, if you are
an exporter, you will continue to be able to use the PayPal
service for payments of goods and services. In fact, with the
changes we are making to our system, PayPal is now set to be a
more powerful engine for exporters in India. With purpose codes
for export transactions and FIRCs (Foreign Inward Remittance
Certificates), you should now be able to get the export
related benefits you seek.
Paypal team