Apr 29
Care to see what some geeky types do in their free time?
A couple of my buddies recently completed a wireless network connection between their homes using roof-mounted directional antennas. After literally months of custom design work, troubleshooting, climbing on ladders, and a still non-working network, they finally got it going.
Doesn't sound riveting does it? Despite your preconceived notions, it's actually a decently entertaining tale. Take a moment to check it out.. if you have any interest in this sorta thing.
Click Here to see the blog. (Start at the entry transpalisades is live!)
Tagged: Transpalisades, Wireless Network, Directional Antenna
May 3rd, 2006 at 9:38 am
That is a picture of a Erector set antenna mount. The only thing not pictured is the lightning rod. We will post a better picture later.
May 3rd, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Yes, folks, that's my brother.
May 3rd, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Come on now, at least he's got something new to spend his time on.
I mean, this really is a pretty sweet idea.. I'm still not sure how useful, but sweet.
- Dustin
May 4th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Oh it's useful…
* redundant, off-site backups get sent over the link to the other house nightly.
* we can login to our own domains from each other's house
* easy sharing of media
* gaming
* a second remote-access entrypoint – think one peron's cable modem drops…
* voip a possibility
Useful? Sheesh.
May 4th, 2006 at 10:52 am
OK OK:
- Redundant off-site backups on cheap.. worth it.
- remote domain login.. not so worth it.
- easy sharing of media.. maybe worth it.
- gaming.. not so worth it (you won't play much with just 2).
- 2nd remote access.. maybe worth it, but how often is it absolutely neccesary you have access. I haven't ever had that kind of access to my own home computer.. ever… nor have I ever really needed it.
- VOIP possibility… not so worth it.. I mean do you and Jay spend a lot of time talking to each other on the phone? Somehow, I doubt it. Even if you do, you can always use the regular phone (which you likely pay for) or an instant messenger that let's you talk through your pc.
So, there we have it, only one thing that makes it worth it.. the redundant off-site backup. But even so, couldn't that be cheaper by just buying a portable HD, backing stuff up, and bringing it to work?
Don't get me wrong guys, I'm mostly trying to push buttons. I still think it's cool and I wish I had done it. Unfortunately, we don't have all that fancy wireless stuff down here in the boonies. All we got is that dang ole wired internet thing and what-not.
- Dustin
May 4th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
- Remote domain login: I'll agree it's not the biggest advantage, but it is pretty nice to be able to have all of the same mapped drives regardless of which house you're at.
- Backups – backups aren't good if I have to intervene to make them happen. This way they're automatic and I don't have to think about them.
- 2nd Remote Access – I'm always connected to my home network when I'm at work. It's rare when I don't have that sort of connectivity and I like it like that. It also comes in very handy if/when I've gotten a new IP address but DNS didn't get updated automatically.
- voip – yeah this is just a coolness thing. I dislike phones, and don't currently have a home phone.
EJ
May 8th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
As for the gaming possibility, since our houses are connected and we both have VPN servers, we can host an online game with a minimum of 4 people playing. For my experience it would be playable with 10 people total.