Obtaining Your IP Address

Working in the IT field, technicians will always try to fix a problem remotely first. The one question that is asked 9 times out of 10 is usually "What is your IP address?". Internet Protocol Address, or IP for short, can tell the technician alot of things. An IP address is comprised of 4 numbers ranging from 0-255 and seperated by a period. EX: "192.168.1.254" This number can tell technicians how or if you are connected to the internet, in work situations it may allow the technician to connect to your machine. After about 15 minutes with some users you might be able to get an IP address from them. It's not because the users are illiterate or stupid its more about the gap that exsists between the technician who asks that question 30 times a day and the end-user who actually looks up their IP only when the PC is down. In this Techreally! we'll show you the simplest most easy way to obtain your ip address and some other key information.

Obtaining IP address in Windows XP:

Step 1: click Start

Step 2: click Run

Step 3: In the Run dialog box type "CMD" with no quotation marks and click "OK". This will open a black window.

Step 4: At the prompt(it usually says something like "c:\>") type "IPCONFIG" with no quotations, it does not have to be capital but there are no spaces. Press "Enter"

Voila! Your IP address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway are all there.


Obtaining IP address in Windows 7/Vista:

Step 1: click Start/Windows Logo

Step 2: in the search box type "CMD" and press "Enter". This will open the black command prompt window.

Step 3: At the prompt(it usually says something like "c:\>") type "IPCONFIG" with no quotations, it does not have to be capital but there are no spaces. Press "Enter"

Voila! Your IP address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway are all there.


Another thing you can do is type "IPCONFIG /all" for all of the information about your adapter and internet connections.

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How To Program Your Direct TV Remote

Contemporary remote controls have become quite complex. In the old days, it used to be that a remote control was a simple electronic device- one power button, a volume up and down button, channel selections and perhaps a mute control. Remote controls today have become more universal, programming the user’s television, satellite receiver, VCR, DVD player, stereo and any other part of the user's home entertainment system.

The problem arises when the viewer is not able to understand the options on the remote control and it becomes useless. DirecTv's remote control can be simply understood if these directions are followed. DirecTV incorporates specific features and special options. A four-position slide switch for easy component selection , code library for popular video and stereo components, code search to help program control of older or discontinued components and memory protection to ensure that the user will not have to reprogram the remote when the batteries are replaced.1. The user chooses the Device

The first thing the user is required to do is choose which device is desired for programming. Most remotes have separate buttons that correspond to the various devices:

SAT - controls the satellite receiver

TV - controls the television set

VCR - controls the VCR

AUX - controls one of several additional units, such as a home stereo

The user presses the button of the device to program until the corresponding light on the remote control begins to flash.

2. The user finds the Code

Once the device desired for programming is chosen, the appropriate code for the particular unit is needed.

Codes for most manufacturers and brands can be found in the back of the remote control user manual. Satellite subscribers can also typically go online

to their provider's website and if all else fails, contact the manufacturer of your remote to get the necessary codes.

3. Program the Device

Using the keypad on the remote control, enter the number that's listed first for the device. When this is finished, enter the appropriate key to indicate completion of input. For some remotes, this might be the asterisk (*) while other remotes might use the pound key (#). The mode light on the remote control will flash again and, if the code was correct, the device can now be controlled with the remote control. The user should test the results by turning the power on and off. Does it work? If so, the device is now programmed.

There is no cause for alarm if the code doesn’t work the first time.

Remotes come with several codes for the various device brands. If the first code doesn't work, start over using the next code and the next and the next until the right one is discovered and the device is programmed.

What if the device isn't listed at all? Look through the list for "general" codes. If those codes are not found, then try scanning for the device. The user manual should have specific advice for devices without a listed code.