Dial up status / Internet Connection Settings Digital Mod

sharpmat007 · 04-24-2007, 02:26 PM

I have began some initial development work to create a mod for this. Wanted to start a post to see if I can get some inputs and hopefully some assistance if I get stuck.

Goals:
1. Internet Status Indicator - Have a dynamic imaged button available SD skins that will display the status of internet connectivity for a dial up connection. A dial up connection can be one established via cellular data card(verizon 3g), pdanet, cell phone tethering etc. This first goal is to just have the indicator available and show connected or not connected. I have already written some snippets for interacting with rasdial using vbscript, but haven't decided if this will be the best path.

Further development later on will include the actual signal strength of the data signal from 3g data cards and cell phones. This may not be as compatible across varying devices so this part of the goal might not be implemented.

2. Internet Settings Module - The above button would open up a module to change modify internet settings. Items on this page would be similar to IE's internet options -> Connections page to allow setting default dial up connection.

Further development might include local lan and wireless b/g settings.

So far I have been able to at least get an indicator in my skin to show if I am connected to prove the concept, but it is still in its early stages. As soon as I have something worthy of sharing I will post it here.

Please send on your suggestions and if anyone else already has something in the works let me know so I dont burn cycles. I got plenty of other ideas I could work on!

filatelico · 04-27-2007, 06:51 PM

I like the idea, right now if I want to connect to the Internet, I have to go to the desktop connect and the go back to SD....let me know how it goes.

BlueF · 05-18-2007, 10:07 AM

Awesome! Just the very mod I've been looking for. When I found how weak StreetDeck's current multi-monitor support was, I downloaded a copy of Centrafuse. While I can't really get into the interface aesthetic and layout of CF, I dig the internet status light.

It works as follows: Green if connected, red if not. Clicking on the red light initiates a connection (configurable for many type sof connects: Dial-Up, PPOE, etc).

Very cool feature! Oh, and multi-monitor support works quite well also. : P

Here's hoping StreetDeck adds these two features as fully functional and supported modules ASAP!!

sharpmat007 · 06-10-2007, 10:43 PM

This version is rusty, but should provide functionality for connecting to any dial up connection and to view the status.

What does it do?
- Shows an earth globe button on the top of the streetdeck. The earth is shaded green when connected and red when disconnected.
- Tapping the earth globe will flip the connection(Red globe will dial, Green globe will disconnect).
- It polls the dial connection and will change the button if the status changes. * This may be poorly implemented in this version as I notice a frame missed everytime it polls. Dev suggestions welcome!
- This mod should work with most versions(tested on 1.0.8.1) and the buttons can be moved/modified so you can incorporate into your own skin.

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Prerequisites:
1. A dial up connection must be preconfigured and saved in windows. In this version the dialer only attempts to dial a connection named "VZNEW". Just rename your default connection to "VZNEW".

2. The dial up connection can be of any type. Data card, Modem, PdaNet, Bluetooth modem, etc. It just needs to show up in your network connections and be named "VZNEW".

* You may also modify the !InternetStatus.vbs to change the default connection name. The variable is "strDefaultConnection". Later revisions may provide a preference section to change your default dialer for the digitalmod.
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There are two parts to the install:

1. Download the attached button.internetstatus.nofocus.zip. Extract the buttons to your skins default folder. If you use a different skin(s) you should extract them to that folder also.

2. Download and install the "Internet Status.sdz".

Thats it...please give feedback. Code bashers welcome

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Working on next....

- Clean up of code
- Preferences Module to set default dialup connection and add additional settings
- Globe icon changed to represent signal strength of a data card.

filatelico · 06-12-2007, 10:33 PM

Thanks, I will try it and let you know how does it works.

sharpmat007 · 06-14-2007, 01:49 PM

I need to change the z order...the buttons are showing up on top of everything(dvd, visualization, nav). Will try and get that fixed tonight.

filatelico · 06-15-2007, 01:25 AM

Works great!, very nice MOD. Suggestions:
1. Hide on Videos, DVD and Nav, gets on the way.
2. If disconnected maybe show a message asking if would like to reconnect.

Thanks again

sharpmat007 · 06-15-2007, 07:24 AM

Great suggestion on the pop up if disconnected. I will see what I can do...hope to have some time this weekend to get next version released.

felices · 07-04-2007, 03:26 PM

Any update in the works? Great MOD, I really needed this. It just needs to disappear as other buttons do.....thanks....

sharpmat007 · 07-05-2007, 10:29 AM

Sorry, I have been focused on rebuilding my media pc(SageTV). I am trying to see if I can make a mod for streetdeck to stream livetv using sagetv or orb. I will try and get sometime to work on it this week to at least fix the overlay order, but I really wanted to re-code the vbs to use an external object so that it should minimize the pause/frame drop.