Unifi Modem Hack

No physical hacking nor computer programming was done to the little modem. This post is inspired by a conversation I had with a friend who told of another friend's complaint about the modem (am I making any sense?).

Almost everyone who has modem for his/her internet connection would have had this problem at some point of his/her (internet) life: modem hang. If you don't already know what is it, it's the problem of not being able to connect the internet but is solved merely by switching off and on the modem (or commonly called resetting the modem or modem reset).

I too had the same problem started a few days after the Unifi installation. I too, took the same solution for weeks: modem reset. Then I realized that the USB port on the modem (intended for programming the modem) is just like any other USB port. So...

Hacked?!

I plugged in a cheap laptop cooling fan to that USB port. The modem is switched on almost 24/7. It is in an area without air conditioned; in fact the area have slightly higher temperature compare to the rest of the house during midday. I switched the modem off just to give it a break for 5 minutes or so, every 4 or 5 days. It has been more than a year now, I still use the same modem that they first installed and have no more "modem hang" problem!

I'm not sure if the newer modems come with that USB port. Good luck!

Ride and food

This ride took place 3 months ago. It is the the furthest I've been on Black Beauty to date.

Stopped by a bank to settle some bills.

Then I continued cycling.

 Rehydrated and rested, my stomach began to growl. Time for food.

By the time I reached the cafe, it was almost 11am. The sun was already out in its full glory. Took a table in the shade and ordered food.

I had cleaned this bowl when I was joined by Uncle Jack:

Since the sun was out, I accepted Uncle Jack offer, folded Black Beauty and hitched a ride back in his car.

Riding Black Beauty for the first time

Alas, I got myself a birthday present this year. No, I didn't buy a horse. It would cost a fortune to maintain - the food, the vet and whole range of other related expenses. I got myself a steel steed that runs on fat: a bicycle. Since it was black, with some white on it, I named the bicycle Black Beauty. With slightly bigger tyres, better gearing and other stuff, it is an upgrade compared to Lil' Red.

Black Beauty - as advertised at the supplier's website

To check if it was indeed a real upgrade, I decided to take it for a test ride along the route that I've travel on Lil' Red.

The red dot on the map indicates the 99 metres peak of the route. With Lil' Red, I had to dismount and push the bike up the gradient. With Black, I managed to shift to the lowest gear and slowly pedaled it up the hill.

I had some reservation about the seemingly crappy handle bar. I had wanted to replace it with a better one from the 'Neo' model. Unfortunately, none of the shop seemed to be able to fulfill my request. To my surprise, after adjusting the handle bar to the right height, it was comfortable. I would have suffer some discomfort and occasionally pain on my right wrist when riding Lil' Red, the seemingly crappy handle bar on Black gave no such problem.

I decided to roll into town and pay some bill. I could have tried to fold the Black Beauty and bring it indoor. But it was easier just to lock it to a pole. With no quick release on the tyres, I didn't have to worry about people carting away with my tyres.

I had wanted to taste the famous "cendol" in Seremban town, but it was closed.

I rolled out of town. Within 30 minutes, I was back at the starting point.


In terms of folding, Lil' Red folds a lot faster and easier. The over-sized carrier on Lil' Red became a stable stand for Lil' Red when folded. But Black Beauty performed better on the road compared to Lil' Red.