Writings

 

 

If you find these papers useful please consider making a donation.

Small Office Home Office Networking 

First-Mile Internet Access

Internet popularity is driving demand for ever-faster first-mile access while exerting downward pressure on price. Today much of the population is served by multi megabit broadband that costs only slightly more then dialup of a few years ago. This paper discusses technologies used to deliver high-speed residential Internet access and role played by ISP. 

 [PDF]  [HTML]

Living with a SOHO Network (2012)  Fourteenth annual report (skipped) Hopefully we will get faster DSL sometime soon
Living with a SOHO Network (2011)  Thirtenth annual report (skipped) 
Living with a SOHO Network (2010)  Twelfth annual report (skipped)  
Living with a SOHO Network (2009) Eleventh annual report 

Hands-on experience implementing small Internet connected LAN.  Covers broad range of topics from installing telephone and Ethernet wiring to configuring network PCs and server.

 [PDF] [HTML] Changes this edition: Updated LAN wiring with patch panel and added more Ethernet drops, implemented off line USB backup and DSL speed increased to 3000/768. 

Living with a SOHO Network (2008)  Tenth annual report 

 [PDF]  [HTML] Changes this edition: After several years of stability replaced just about everything except DSL connection.

Living with a SOHO Network (2007)  Ninth annual report (skipped) 
Living with a SOHO Network (2006)  Eighth annual report    

 [PDF] Changes this edition: ADSL speed increase to 1500/384.

Living with a SOHO Network 2005  Seventh annual report.

 [PDF] Changes this edition: Added DNS  Resolver. 

Living with a SOHO Network (2004)  Sixth annual report (skipped)   
Living with a SOHO Network 2003  Fifth annual report.

 [PDF] Changes this edition: Added SysLog event logger, extensive rewrite.

Living with a SOHO Network 2002  Fourth annual report. 

 [PDF] Changes this edition: 768/128 ADSL replaced SDSL, Implemented automatic file backup.

Living with a SOHO Network 2001  Third annual report. 

 [PDF] Changes this edition: 512/512 SDSL replaced dialup, added NAT router and network print server. 

Living with a SOHO Network 2000  Second annual report.

 [PDF] Changes this edition: added software firewall, registered Domain name.

Living with a SOHO Network 1999  First report. 

 [PDF] Sharing dialup Internet connection with Wingate connection sharing software.

Protecting Small Networks  Security basics for small network. Describes security ramifications of different firewall protection schemes.

 [MS PowerPoint]

Modem Access Adapter prevents mutual interference when telephone and dialup modem share a common phone line. When modem  attempts to dial out adapter searches for an idle line. It disconnects extension phones before connecting modem. This prevents picking up a phone from dumping data connection, or modem from barging into a phone conversation. Adapter hunts over two lines. If both lines are busy modem retries later. 

Design Idea 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 Dialup modems are very demanding of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and rarely hit advertised speed. This paper describes common  impairments that reduce speed. 

 [PDF]  [HTML]  

 

Miscellaneous Ramblings

Greenhouse server, I finally got around to building an attached greenhouse. This has been on the to-do list since we built the house decades ago. The server will monitor temperature and humidity, control rock storage blower and perform other miscellaneous functions.

Comming soon  

Bathroom Fan Timer Experimented with different ways to control bathroom exhaust fan over the years. This paper discusses the pros and cons of each method we tried.

 [PDF] [HTML]

Wood Heat Controller Thirty years ago heating with wood was seen as rather quaint and limited to rural poor. Today heating with wood or wood pellets is cost effective green energy technology. Paper describes purpose built controller to increase safety and efficiency.

 [PDF] [HTML]

Setting up Outdoor DTV Antenna Transition to Digital TV motivated me to upgrade our outdoor TV antenna. Living in a fringe area places great demand on TV antenna. Paper discusses criteria used to select  antennas, preamp and mounting location to obtain best possible reception.

 [PDF] [HTML]

Future of Home Networking  A decade  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 technology have made small LANs and Internet access the norm rather then exception. This paper extrapolates from the last ten years to predict how this critical market will evolve over the next decade.

 [PDF]  [HTML]

Future of Building Automation  The emergence of ZigBee and wireless Mesh networks have become the driver of next generation building automation systems by reducing cost and increasing functionality. 

  [PDF]  [HTML

IP vs RF Television High-speed Internet access creates an alternative TV delivery method. Where adequate bandwidth exists IP TV is capable of a much richer suite of services then either CATV or over-the-air. IP TV leverages Internet infrastructure eliminating the need to build a dedicated video distribution network. 

  [PDF]  [HTML

Commercial  Peer-to-Peer Distribution  There is much hand ringing by the music and movie industry that Internet peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing will be the death of artistic expression rather then an opportunity to lower delivery 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.

 [PDF]  [HTML]  

Do Third Party ISPs Facilitate Broadband Competition?  One of the more controversial aspect of broadband is the power exercised by first-mile network owners over third party ISPs and 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 ISP's to operate at the network edge independent of physical connection.

  [PDF]  [HTML

Effect of ISP Business Practices on Home Networks  Broadband ISPs are adopting restrictive measures that violate the cherished notion transparent data delivery.  This business strategy has profound effects on home networks. This paper was written to provide background information as part of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Versatile Home Network (VHN) and International Standards Organization (ISO) Residential Gateway (RG) standards activity. 

  [PDF]  [HTML

The Rise of Information Gatekeepers The Internet was designed as a transparent end-to-end data delivery network. This cherished concept is threatened by gatekeepers attempting to control how customers use First-Mile access networks. 

 [PDF]  [HTML]  

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

  [PDF]  [HTML

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

MG sales literature and books  - mostly 1962-1980 MGB

Photography Books and Equipment for sale

 

Large documents compressed with      PDF files require Get Acrobat Reader 

 

Home ]