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Small Office Home Office Networking

First-Mile internet access

Increasing internet usage, video on demand and telecommuting are driving demand for faster first-mile access while exerting downward pressure on pricing. Today much of the US population has access to ADSL/VDSL from traditional telephone carriers and DOCSIS from Cable TV providers. However both are falling behind the gold standard of FTTP (fiber to the premise) capable of delivering virtually unlimited speed. Cellular carriers are also entering the world of high speed internet access.

In the US the FCC broadband definition, set in 2015, was 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. In 2024 the FCC increased it to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.

This paper discusses the various technologies used to connect customers to their ISP (internet service provider).

Living with a SOHO network 2025 Twenty-seventh annual report

Hands-on experience installing a small LAN. Paper covers a broad range of topics: internet connection sharing, Ethernet and WiFi, VoIP landline telephone, configuring network PCs and implementing a poor-man's home server. Being a small business I discuss the advantage of registering an internet domain name and using a hosting service for web site and email.

Living with a SOHO network 2024 Twenty-sixth annual report (skipped)

Replaced ISP WiFi router with a Netgear RAX10, increased internet speed to 100/100 Mbps and switched hosting service

Living with a SOHO network 2023 Twenty-fifth annual report (skipped)

50/50 Mbps PON ISP fiber has been working great for both internet and VoIP landline phone. This is the 25^th anniversary of our internet connected home network. It began with V.34 (33.6 kbps) dialup and a few 10 Mbps Ethernet drops. Now it has a fiber PON internet connection, 20+ Gig Ethernet drops and dual-band WiFi.

Living with a SOHO network 2022 Twenty-fourth annual report

Changes this edition: Consolidated Communications under Fidium branding is aggressively deploying PON (passive optical network) symmetric internet access in New Hampshire. We were finally able to upgrade from 6 Mbps DSL to 50/50 Mbps PON and switched our landline to Consolidated VoIP (voice over internet protocol).

Living with a SOHO network 2021 Twenty-third annual report (skipped)

Grudgingly learning to live with Win 10 - no changes to the network or ISP

Living with a SOHO network 2020 Twenty-second annual report

Changes this edition: with Win 7 at end of support I upgraded/replaced our suite of PCs and laptops to Win 10. We also had to change the way we stream internet content for our TV, now using a Roku Express media player. I built a DC UPS to keep our network alive during power outages when our backup generator is not running.

Living with a SOHO network 2019 Twenty-first annual report (skipped)

LAN has been stable, still stuck with DSL but it remains almost-adequate for our purposes. Need to start thinking about migrating our Win7 PCs as extended support ends January 2020.

Living with a SOHO network 2018 Twentieth annual report (skipped)

Hard to believe it has been 20 years since I first installed an Ethernet LAN. LAN and DSL have been stable, no network changes the previous year. I replaced my T61 ThinkPad laptop with an off-lease T520 ThinkPad running Win 7.

Living with a SOHO network 2017 Nineteenth annual report

Changes this edition: pretty uneventful year. Same ISP but replaced the DSL modem. New modem is synching about 1/2 Megabit per second faster, that was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. Expanded the troubleshooting section.

Living with a SOHO network 2016 Eighteenth annual report

Changes this edition: finally moved into the 21th century, I upgraded the LAN with a Gig Ethernet switch, increased the size of our off line backup, replaced an aging inkjet printer and signed up with a WiFi centric mobile phone provider.

Living with a SOHO network 2015 Seventeenth annual report

Changes this edition: ADSL service has been uneventful except our CLEC was acquired, nothing is supposed to change. Added several Ethernet drops to support home automation controllers and finally bit the bullet and upgraded from Win XP to Win 7.

Living with a SOHO network 2014 Sixteenth annual report (skipped)

Living with a SOHO network 2013 Fifteenth annual report

Changes this edition: finally able to upgrade ADSL to 6 Mbps from 3 by switching to a CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier). Still modest by present standards but a worthwhile improvement. Upgraded WiFi to an 802.11N Access Point and installed a WD TV Live Hub for Netflix TV.

Living with a SOHO network 2012 Fourteenth annual report (skipped)

Living with a SOHO network 2011 Thirteenth annual report (skipped)

Living with a SOHO network 2010 Twelfth annual report (skipped)

Living with a SOHO network 2009 Eleventh annual report

Changes this edition: updated LAN wiring with a patch panel and added more Ethernet drops, implemented off line USB file backup, DSL speed increased to 3000/768 Kbps.

Living with a SOHO network 2008 Tenth annual report

Changes this edition: after several years of stability replaced just about everything except the DSL connection.

Living with a SOHO network 2007 Ninth annual report (skipped)

Living with a SOHO network 2006 Eighth annual report

Changes this edition: ADSL speed increased to 1500/384 Kbps.

Living with a SOHO network 2005 Seventh annual report

Changes this edition: installed local DNS resolver (later removed).

Living with a SOHO network 2004 Sixth annual report (skipped)

Living with a SOHO network 2003 Fifth annual report

Changes this edition: added Syslog event logger, extensive whitepaper rewrite.

Living with a SOHO network 2002 Fourth annual report

Changes this edition: 768/128 Kbps ADSL replaced SDSL, implemented automatic file backup.

Living with a SOHO network 2001 Third annual report

Changes this edition: 512/512 Kbps SDSL replaced dialup. Added NAT router and network print server.

Living with a SOHO network 2000 Second annual report

Changes this edition: added software firewall, registered internet Domain name.

Living with a SOHO network 1999 First report

Dialup internet connection shared with Wingate connection sharing software.

Dialup modem access adapter - device prevents interference when telephone and dialup modem share a phone line. When modem attempts to dial out the adapter searches for an idle phone line over a maximum of two POTS (plain old telephone service) lines. It disconnects phone before connecting the modem. This prevents dumping a data connection if phone is picked during a session and conversely the modem barging into an existing phone conversation. If both lines are busy modem has to retry later.

Design Idea was published in July 22, 1999 EDN. Firmware is filed separately as Design Idea #2389. Download article directly from EDN magazine or here.

Dialup modem impairments – V.90 & V.92 modems are the pinnacle of dialup networking but are very demanding of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) and rarely hit advertised speed. This paper describes common impairments that degrade speed.

Miscellaneous Ramblings

Postal mailbox alert - our house is about 600 feet (190 meters) from the road and the mailbox is located on the far side of the road. Now that we have fiber internet I repurposed the retired outdoor copper telephone cable to link a low cost key fob on/off RF transmitter at the mailbox to a receiver at the end of the driveway. I used the same WebControl PLC as other projects. When mail is delivered the system illuminates an LED in the kitchen and sends a text message to my cell phone.

Bird feeder winch – this replaced the cleat we used previously to make raising and lowering the bird feeder much easier.

Inline DC voltage/current monitor - simple power monitor inserted between DC wall wart and low power electronics to monitor voltage and current. It includes Banana Jacks and an assortment of barrel jack adapters to maximize connectivity.

DIY Weather Station – This is another WebControl 8 project. It provides real time reporting of outdoor temperature, humidity, wind direction and wind speed as well as min/max temperature for current and previous day. It uses recycled Davis Weather station components.

Bucket seat tire swing - growing up there was a tire swing at my grandparents’ house. This was more than just an old tire hanging from a rope. About 2/3rds of the tread was cut away and the tire turned inside out resulting in a bucket seat. I had many joyful memories so wanted to make one for our granddaughter.

External battery DC output UPS - I wanted to keep our LAN operational during power outages when our generator is not running. The UPS replaced device wall warts and powers network devices directly with DC. Rather than including a SLA (sealed lead acid) battery I used an automotive jump pack as the battery. This is the best of both worlds: the UPS gets a free battery and the UPS keeps the jump pack topped up so it is ready for use.

Vacuum cleaner plug repair - the captive connector on our Sears canister vacuum cleaner wand failed. I found a shrouded connector for safety to affect a makeshift repair, not pretty but it works.

ATX bench supply – I recycled an old PC ATX power supply using a nifty breakout board I stumbled across on eBay It had never occurred to me to use an ATX power supply as a bench supply. It provides plenty of 3.3, 5 and 12 volts and even a little -12 for analog projects or 24 volts when teamed with +12v rail.

Toddler activity box - as a newly minted grandparent I wanted to build an activity box. This one has an electronics section (what a surprise) with a plumbing and gear side. It will be several years before our granddaughter will be old enough to use it but it is ready if and when she expresses an interest.

Cat proof automatic feeder - our daughter purchased an automatic cat feeder. Unfortunately her cats figured out they could use their paws to get additional food out of the feeder mechanism. I built a simple non-electronic enclosure to protect feeder from marauding cats.

Portable backup generator – I bit the bullet and installed a 7 kW gasoline generator to deal with utility power outages. System includes a status panel to monitor generator AC and DC health. Paper describes: generator selection, fuel choices and electrical considerations.

USB dummy load - simple device to verify power supply capability and device power consumption. It uses a switched resistive load for supply and cable testing. For more comprehensive testing a constant current load can be connected.

2016 update: it has turned out to be more useful than expected so I modified it to provide greater granularity: 100ma, 500ma, 1A, 1.5A, 2.1A and 3.1A.

Retro vacuum tube proximity detector - I ran across an internet library of old electronics magazines and found a copy of the Popular Electronics magazine I used to build a proximity detector for a science fair project way back when I was in 8th grade. Thought it would be fun to rebuild the device.

Aquarium controller - simple system to control lighting and heating for two aquariums and provide GFCI protection. I used the same WebControl PLC as in other projects.

Outdoor LED lighting control - fourth home automation project. Integrated multiple 12V LED floodlights and PIR (Passive IR) motion sensors around the house and outbuilding. This project uses hardwired logic rather than a programmable controller.

Window opener & exhaust fan controller - third home automation project. Used the same WebControl PLC as the wood heat and greenhouse designs to open/close clearstory awning window and control exhaust fans.

Leakage current adapter - simple device to measure appliance/tool leakage current and test safety ground under high current to insure it is functioning properly.

Whirligig bearing hack – I salvaged a CD/DVD drive bearing to improve the performance of this timeless yard ornament.

Second generation wood heat controller – the greenhouse controller ended up being so successful it motivated me to redesign the original wood stove controller using the same WebControl PLC. Device monitors flue temperate for safety, controls ventilation fans, fresh air intake fan and manages wood stove hot water preheater to reduce winter electricity use.

2021 revision: added plumbing leak detection and manual control of fans.

Greenhouse automation – I used a WebControl PLC (programmable logic controller) to manage greenhouse summer ventilation and winter temperature control. PLC has a web interface allowing it to be managed by any device on the LAN.

Solar batch and wood stove water heating - we significantly reduce our water heating cost with a solar batch heater in summer and wood stove preheater in winter. This is a mostly passive system with low capital cost and ease of use as major design goals.

Bathroom exhaust fan control - over the years I’ve experimented with multiple ways to minimize bathroom humidity. This paper discusses the pros and cons of each method I tried.

First generation wood heat controller - In the 1980s when we built our house heating with wood was seen as rather quaint and limited to rural poor. Today heating with cord wood or wood pellets has become a cost effective green energy option. Paper describes purpose built controller to increase safety and efficiency. Note: this design has been superseded by the 2nd generation controller.

Outdoor TV antenna - living in a fringe reception area places significant demands on over the air TV. This paper discusses the criteria we used to select UHF, VHF and FM antennas, preamp and mounting location to obtain best possible reception.

2017 update: added discussion of FCC repack plan as a result of the incentive auction and the next generation digital TV broadcast standard ATSC 3.0.

Future of home networking - a few decades ago computer networks were the province of large companies with well-funded IT departments. Internet access was little known outside a small cadre of network professionals. Advances in wired and wireless network technologies have made small internet connected residential LANs the norm rather than the exception today. This paper extrapolates from the last decade to predict how this critical market will evolve.

Future of building automation - the emergence of ZigBee and wireless mesh networks have become the driver of next generation building automation systems reducing cost and increasing functionality.

IP vs RF television - high speed internet access creates an alternative television delivery method. Where adequate bandwidth exists IPTV is capable of a much richer suite of services than either Cable or over-the-air TV. IPTV leverages internet infrastructure eliminating the need for a dedicated TV distribution network.

Commercial peer-to-peer distribution - there is much hand ringing by the music and movie industry that internet P2P (peer-to-peer) file sharing will be the death of artistic expression rather than an exciting opportunity to lower distribution cost. This paper proposes a P2P mechanism for commercial content distribution that compensates artists, provides incentives for customers to play by the rules while dramatically reducing distribution cost.

Do third party ISPs facilitate broadband competition? - one of the more controversial aspects of broadband is the power exercised by first-mile network owners over third party ISPs and the regulatory requirements to share these facilities. This paper argues for a different approach. First-mile networks should provide common carriage - transparent IP delivery. This allows application developers and ISPs to operate at the network edge independent of physical connection.

ISP business practice impact on home networks - broadband ISPs are adopting restrictive measures that violate the cherished notion of transparent data delivery. This business strategy has a profound effect on residential networks. This paper was written in 2002 to provide background information as part of the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) VHN (Versatile Home Network) and ISO (International Standards Organization) RG (Residential Gateway) standard activity.

Rise of information gatekeepers - the internet was designed as a transparent end-to-end delivery network. This cherished concept is threatened by gatekeepers attempting to control how customers use the first-mile access network.

Open letter to Senators Leahy, Hatch and Congressman Coble opposing Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA)

MG sports car stuff for sale - I have been a fan of MG sports cars since the 1960s. Over that time have amassed several cars and memorabilia. Trying to winnow collection down and am selling the following items.

MG sales literature and books - mostly 1962-1980 MGB

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