Review on PLDT Home Ultera

Q: Why did we get PLDT Home Ultera?
A: We didn't. We had a SMART Bro connection at home for 999 per month. One day, a technician from SMART went to our house and said that there's a mandatory "upgrade" which means faster internet for the same price. Of course we availed! Who didn't like upgrades right?

P.S. If you look at it, Ultera is offered at 699 at the market now and we're still freakingly paying it for 999 a month because we're still with our previous SMART Bro Plan 999. Unfair.

Q: So how was it?
A: Let me count the ways:

1. Our bandwidth increased BUT we have this limit of something-Gig worth of download per month. If we reached our limit, the bandwidth will decrease. Talk about Torrent downloads, we cannot maximize the connection unlike when we we're still on SMART Bro.

2. We cannot change our own router's user name and password. Which sucks! We have this theory that our router is connected to a "mother" router where all Ultera users in our area are connected that's why we cannot change the router's username and password.

3. We're getting a LOT of captcha every time we browse. Which sucks, again!
Whenever we click a link from facebook or even going directly to a site, a page for captcha needs to be answered first. Every. Effin. Time. When you browse, you need to fill up a captcha. When you want to read an important article, you need to fill up the captcha. What the?!

Most of the time, the captcha is like this:

Q: Will you recommend it?
A: No. Our internet got slower. Sometimes the internet connection gets lost. A million captcha needs to be filled up before you can browse. Just No.

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How to "Select All" or Highlight textfield or password field in Java

There are cases when you want to select all or highlight the characters inside a textfield or password field in your Java desktop app. Here's a sample code to do that:

int i = textfield.getText().length();
textfield.setSelectionStart(0);
textfield.setSelectionEnd(i);


Put this in the action or wherever you want it. Replace textfield variable to the name of your textfield. I'm not sure but this might work for JTextArea and JTextPane too.

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How to change any date format to DATE datatype in MySQL (Insert or Update)

Use this function: STR_TO_DATE('date', 'format')

This accepts two parameters: date and format where date is the input raw date you want to change and format is the corresponding format relative to date that you want to change.

For example: INSERT INTO table(date_field) VALUES(STR_TO_DATE('December 8, 2010','%M %d,%Y'));

Note: table is the name of the table in database and date_field is the name of field in DATE datatype.

The statement above shows 2 parameters date as 'December 8, 2010' and format '%M %d, %Y'. The format is the exact format of the date, so that the mysql knows from what format will it convert the date to DATE datatype format which is '%y-%m-%d'.

Other valid examples are: INSERT INTO table(date_field) VALUES(STR_TO_DATE('12-31-2004', '%m-%d-%Y')); INSERT INTO table(date_field) VALUES(STR_TO_DATE('12/31/2004', '%m/%d/%Y')); UPDATE table SET date_field = STR_TO_DATE('Dec 31, 2004', '%b %d, %Y');

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How to maximize frame or window in Java (JFrame)

There are multiple ways but I recommend these lines of code:

GraphicsEnvironment e = GraphicsEnvironment.getLocalGraphicsEnvironment(); Frame fr= new Frame(); fr.setMaximizedBounds(e.getMaximumWindowBounds()); fr.setExtendedState(main.getExtendedState() | JFrame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH); fr.setVisible(true); 

The code above will maximize your frame/window without hiding the taskbar (at the bottom part) of your screen except if you used undecorated frame. Any maximizing will hide your taskbar. This is according to my own experience but if you found ways to against it, please post it as a comment. Thanks :)

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How to run MySQL queries from Windows Command Prompt (cmd)

Warning: READ CAREFULLY

I am writing this post because I cannot find something like this over the internet. For some reasons that you do not want to use MySQL GUI and just wanted to run mysql cmd but you cannot seem to run its own command line, your other option is to run it through window's cmd. I just want to point out that there are two command prompts that you can use to manipulate your MySQL database. One is MySQL server's command line and the other is through Window's command prompt. BOTH OF THESE METHODS REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE A MySQL SERVER INSTALLED IN YOUR UNIT.

You can get MySQL Server through (but not limited to) the following:
1. Downloading and installing MySQL Server.
2. Using application server platforms like Wamp, Xampp, lamp or mamp, whichever works for your unit. These application servers installs MySQL Server too.

The point is, you have to have a MySQL Server installed in your unit!

To be able to run MySQL in Windows command line, do the following:

1. Make sure that your MySQL is turned on. 

• In application servers (wamp, xampp, etc.), you may start the service of MySQL.
• To force start of server, locate the MySQL files and run mysqld.exe.  

2. Locate your MySQL server executable file.

• Look for your MySQL server exe file. Usually, it is installed in C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server x.x\bin. 
• The MySQL Server x.x defines the version of MySQL in your unit. Example: C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\bin
• You may use Window's search to find this.

3. Open windows cmd.

• You can either open this from your Start button or use Windows+r to run cmd to open the command prompt.

4. Go to the root directory in Windows cmd. 

Type cd.. then hit Enter button until you encounter the root directory of your unit (C:\)

5. Type the address of your MySQL Server

• Your address should not contain the C:\ directory instead, replace it with cd. Example: cd Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\bin
• The directory should change based on the address you typed. 

5. Login to MySQL Server

• Type the login statement: mysql -u username -p
• For example, mysql -u root -p
• Enter your password

6. DONE! You've now successfully logged in into MySQL using Windows cmd.

You can now make your database, tables, queries, etc.

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How to change Word 2013 Review pane to No Markup by Default

The case: Whenever you open and type on your document, the changes are being tracked because your review pane is showing Simple Markup or All Markup by default. Annoying Right?

Solution:

Carefully read and follow ALL steps.

Step 1 Open any document you want to edit.

Step 2 Go to the REVIEW pane, select to show No Markup

Step 3 Go to File >> Options >> Trust Center >> Trust Center Settings >> Privacy Options then uncheck Make hidden markup visible when opening or saving. Click OK button then another OK button to click before the window closes.

Step 4 !important! Make changes on the document like typing a space then Save your file.
Note: This step is important. If you miss this, the changes won't apply so you have to do all the steps all over again.

You may refer to the official post by Microsoft here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/831771

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How to change WIFI name and password for PLDT HomeBro Ultera or upgraded SmartBro connection

Attention: This is to inform everyone that this post is not an official post from PLDT support nor its technicians. I am just a lowly housewife (that's why the name of the blog is techiehousewife) who've discovered how to do these stuffs. For more technical concerns, please contact pldt. Thanks!

TIP: Before continuing to this article, make sure to check your router, modem and connection if it is PLDT Home Ultera.

Recently, technicians from Smart came to our home to change our antenna and router because, they said, they need to upgrade these things for all consumers for free. Of course I agreed because it's FREE! Now, they changed our Smart Broadband connection to PLDT Home Ultera, which is LTE connection. This is how you change the wifi name and password.

1. GET THE DEFAULT GATEWAY IP ADDRESS
For SmartBro, the default IP address is 192.168.1.1 but PLDT Home Ultera has different IP address depending on the router provided. To check, go to CMD. For windows, you can easily press and hold the Windows button on your keyboard (usually near the space bar) and press letter R. That would be Windows+R, which will open the RUN window. Type cmd on the input box and press Enter which will open the CMD. Type ipconfig in cmd.


2. IN THE BROWSER, GO TO THE IP ADDRESS FROM DEFAULT GATEWAY


3. LOGIN
The default Username is homebro and password is homebro. If this doesn't work, call your local Smart or PLDT customer service to ask what settings did their technician put.


4. CHANGE WIFI NAME
To change the WIFI name, click Wireless from the menu then Basic Settings. Change the value in SSID then click Modify button.


5. CHANGE WIFI PASSWORD
 To change WIFI password, click Wireless from the menu then Security. Change the value in Pre-shared Key then click Modify button.


You're Done! You can change other values in your settings but I advise that if you are not familiar with them, do not attempt to change them.

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