The Twins Birthday today!

Today is the Twins birthday.. or rather EDD, estimated delivery date.

Sad to day Samuel and Amos met their demise on the 14th week of gestation.

Here's to them for being in a better place now..

Hug Hug kiss kiss.

Antique in the city

Sepang race track

Sepang race track was HOT!!

Was the Race doctor during MME 2008 2 weeks back. Was hot!

Busting Malaysian GPS Myths

Why is it that Global Positioning System is catching on so extremely well in Singapore, and somehow in Malaysia, its  still such a premium "toy" with everyone much too much wary about even the most basic understanding of GPS. I'm a very staunch supporter of Personel Navigation Devices, considering I'm really bad at directions, so every so often, Conversations with other geeky people would eventually drift to global positioning systems. I've been dabbling in GPS for the past 5-6 years, since the availability of low cost GPS receivers so here's what i've gathered.

Global Positioning Systems, Malaysian Myths and Truths 

Its GPS not GPRS  

Very simply, Global Positioning System GPS is not synonymous with General Packet Radio Service GPRS. The latter is for surfing the internet, 1st generation of internet surfing via Mobile. GPS receivers are also known as Personal Navigation Devices. Its like your Mini satellite dish, which receives  multiple satellite signals which determines your exact location up to an accuracy of about 3 meters. Very Simply, the system is : Your receiver, and 27 satellites (3 spare) which orbit around the earth. This is the basic idea, and I'm only to be explaning the basics.

GPS is free. 

There is no subscription cost invoved in GPS usage. However, AGPS, ie Assisted GPS, like whats available on some mobile phones like the Sony Ericsson c702 and the Nokia n95, incurs some cost. This is because of the "assisted" part. The assistance which is rendered is to use telephone company's cellular network to identify your approximate location, to about say 20 meters, so as to make it quicker to work out your accurate location using the satelites in the sky. 

All GPS receivers are the same 

This is so untrue. Right now, the industry leader is and always has been GARMIN. I'm not trying to plug GARMIN, but as you will see in the next few topics, GARMIN is by far, the most logical choice for GPS receivers. Many cars which come with non Garmin GPS receivers, i question the reliability of the maps and the ability for map updates. Besides that GPS receiver chipsets are another issue, again, the basic standard is embedded in modern Garmin receivers, which is the sirf star 3 chipset. quick to decipher satellite signals and accurate.

GPS Maps in Malaysia are free 

YES!! We are fortunate that for GARMIN Personal Navigation Equipment, We have free Maps for Malaysia and Singapore which are available at http://www.malsingmaps.com Its actually run by a community of people who constantly add new roads and locations to the maps. Once you get into the rhythm of using the GPS, you can also be part of the Mapping community. If you buy a GPS receiver in Malaysia, it is likely that you will get a Malaysia Mapset, so its most likely that you would get a free map, whatever brand of GPS you buy.

GPS Maps always get outdated in Malaysia

Gps maps in Malaysia are updated rather regularly! Up to every two weekly or at the least, once every 6 months. Thanks to the great community of mappers. Mind you, for GARMIN devices only though. As i said prior, for non Garmin GPS receivers, Maps may get outdated, and updates may not be free.

GPS maps in Malaysia are not accurate 

YES they are accurate. Especially in city areas, they are extremely accurate. See te picture at the begining of the post. Even small roads are marked out in the map. Obviously, not all maps in Malaysia are marked out, but you will be able to get around with the maps. 

More expensive GPS receivers are more accurate 

We will not get into the concept of Differential GPS. We're not launching a cruise missle here, so relatively all Personal Navigation devices have about the same accuracy of about 3 meters. So NO, more expensive GPS receivers will have the same accuracy, but will probably allow you to watch divx video files and play mp3 music or have a bluetooth connection to use as a speakerphone for your mobile.

GPS reception in Malaysia is poor 

NO... unless you're in between some tall buildings, I should mention that GPS only works when the receiver is in sight of the sky. It doesn't work in tunnels and underground parking lots.

GPS bought in Malaysia cannot be used overseas 

Oh yes you can, you just need to "find" the map for the country you intend to  use it in. you can buy it. No I don't know how much they cost because I've never bought one before.

 

SO hope that solves some myths for wannabe users of GPS in Malaysia.

How much does it cost? What do i suggest?

Again, I suggest a basic Garmin Nuvi 205, a basic no frills receiver which should retail at about a thousand ringgit, If you're the type who likes to save a few bucks and risk not having a local warranty, the same model is available over the causeway for about 800 ringgit 

My New Blog is ONLINE!!

Hi everyone! I finally Have a blog at Cnet Asia. I'm now a featured blogger by Cnet Asia.. Technically I'm considered a Freelancer for Cnet Asia, "Sort of" under their employment.. Meaning They pay me some money and I mantain a blog at their site. So, I won't be blogging at my old blogspot anymore.. Please subscribe to my new Blog.. I promise it'll be more informative, funny, and of course.. lots of knowledge.. for you.

Kia Sportage For Sale!

Finally, i'm planning to sell of my Trusty Kia Sportage. I was planning to keep the Kia Sportage to be used as a third car, but I don't have time to use the third car!! HA HA HA... So i'm planning to sell it off cheap. The manufacture date is 1998 and the Registration is in 1999. The car is Completely imported from Korea. Completely Built Unit. I have a picture of the import tag, on the rear window. It is 2000 CC, and the safety feature it has is ABS> Antilock braking system. It also has got 5 new tyres. Goodyear Fronteras. Even the spare tyre is new. Hardly used the tyres since i got the new tyres on. Initially i was planning to keep the car but because i gatal to buy the Honda Civic, this car has got to go la.. The total mileage on this car so far only about 110,000km. The condition is excellent, and paintwork is still good. If you buy the car, no need to do anything, just drive the car only..!! If you have any questions just email me at alantyc@gmail.com Click the pictures to see a bigger picture! The car has a nice Kangaroo Bar in the Front, I didn't get front view as the car was nicely parked already..

This is the Back view of the car. I've blackened out the number plate, NAX XXXX

The interior of the car is clean and yes its an automatic gear. I've got the sports pedals so the brake and the accelerator is nearer together. I've also got a sports steering put on, and Sony Head Unit, which plays MP3 as well. The car is 4wd capable but I usually drive with the 2 wheel drive mode. Can adjust to 4wd high, 4wd low or 2wd modes.

This is the Import Tag on the Car.. Its still there.

This is the meters, showing the mileage.Only 110,000 km done..!! very little.. and you can see the ABS light also for the car.

The 2 Liter Sportage engine. Very Powerful, DOHC engine. Uses the same oil filter as the Proton Wira. So changing oil, No Problem. Any mechanic also can change the oil.

Reviving an Old Nitro glow plug Radio Controlled Car..

My brother passed me his 2 year old Kyosho RC car.. The great thing was that it was FOC, and even greater was the fact that it was a nitro Glow plug engine car! THe bad news was that he had not run it for the past two years. We found out after i took it out of the box that the engine had seized..

Finally got some 25% Nitro from the local toycity Ipoh parade, a few days back. Cost me 30 ringgit for half a litre! Decided to seriously try to get the car moving again.

Took me a night to partially disassemble the engine .. The crankcase had seized, due to lots of gooey stuff in it.. WD 40 the whole thing, then it was ok.. The piston and crank was nice and loose.. When i tried to start it, the starter section also stuck.. had to clean that also, and apparently the pull start bearing also jam.. WD40 also don't seem to work that well.. After getting things slightly loose, Reassembled the engine onto the car, poured some 25% nitro into the tank, primed it and after a few pulls, everything got loose.. Realized that the best thing to get the stuff loose was the nitro itself.. Still.. no ignition.. Removed engine heatsink and checked out the glowplug.. Apparently, The paint on the heatsink was the problem, Crocodile clips of the starter battery wasn't heating up the plug.. A little scratching later, glowplug lit up well.. After that, a little priming.. and vroom vroom.. engine started.. Quite fun to play, but the road outside my house is really too rough for the GT car.. looking for some better paved roads..Either that or get some buggy tyres for the car.. Al in all .. Good fun.. The sound of the engine is AWESOME.. Just like the sound of F! cars on TV.. The best part was starting the car after rebuilding the engine.. Its like resuscitating a dying patient back to life. HA HA!!

Turtle Wax "ICE" review

I finally bought Turtle Wax "ICE" yesterday.. 20% discount at Jaya jusco sale. Came up to 80 ringgit with a bottle of free tutlewax zip wax car shampoo. Oooh Used it this morning.. and it is really Very easy to use. So easy to apply and easy to remove. Really no white residue. The after effects, Shine is on par with turtle wax platinum. The wonder is that it also waxes all the rubber and plastic at the same time. Applying it is like using a wet sponge to wipe a car. It doesn't really dry to a haze.. but it dries a little, After that its just wiping off with the provided microfiber cloth. If you're going to get 1 bottle of wax only and are also lazy to wax your car.. Ice is the bottle to get. Very easy to apply and buff.. No need orbital polisher also. Orbital polisher would be overkill.. Yes "ICE" is much easier than conventional waxes. Rememeber to was the car first. Use a wool mit or at least a chenille sponge to prevent scratches on your car during washing. and work from top to bottom as the sand is usually at the bottom, rinse washing pad frequently. AND most important.. must dry either with lots and lots of "good morning" towels or buy a really good Chamois. (japanese real chamois not some bullshit one) Problem with ICE is that it will not remove water spots. THat one have to use real wax. ICE can only shine clean surfaces.. Get some tyre shine liquid for your tyres as you buy the "ice" also.. Hand Job also will be satisfactory. Machine would be overkill for "ICE" however i've yet to see the long term effects of Ice.

Honda Civic 2.0 FD2 Malaysian Spec.

I've finally got my Honda Civic!! Booked it on December 12th 2007, and got delivery on the 13th of Jan 2008.. So its a 2008 car. Its a nice car. Got the Mugen BK from GC motorsport. They did a rather good job on the bodykit.. 99% satisfied. Paint job also satisfactory, but after washing car today.. realized that i'll have to clay bar part of the rear BK as the paint job wasn't very smooth. Honda waxed my car before delivery, but they machine waxed it and burnt parts of the waxing.. i hand waxed the whole car to fix it.. Its a holiday today so i spent most of the day washing and polishing it. Used totally turtle wax Platinum series. I suggest anyone going to looking for turtle wax to buy the "ice" version. I had a lot of trouble with the leftover white in the seams of the car from the platinum wax. Other mods in my car include the mugen replica sidestep and the illuminated keyring. (will have to go back to GC to fix the plastic covers over the steering as i think it wasn't fitted back properly by GC or something broke during assembly) A small DIY mod, which i made due to small pebbles thrown up by the tyre entering the sideskirt.. making a lot of noise.. show u picture afterwards. Its just a piece of plastic double taped to block of the channel which pebbles accumulate The Civic Side Profile really looks much better with the Mugen Bodykit. Gives it a much more agressive stance.. Also of course gives it a slightly more customized look without sacrificing the stock car values.. The rear 3/4 angle is probably the best angle to take a pic of the civic. The high trunk with its tapering nose makes it most beautiful. The eight year old putra is starting to show its age both in the paintwork quality as well as the design.. I kept the car numbers there in case any of you want to buy number la...