Let’s Talk About Smart Homes
A few years ago I started to scratch the surface of smart home automation and Internet controlled "things". I first explored the basics of board relays and how to customize
Workshop Articles
Why I Use Nagios XI To Monitor My Network
Earlier I wrote an article about my uncommon residential network setup consisting of many homes connected and managed through the use of enterprise hardware. As this network grew, so too
ESP8266 + ESPEasy And Why You Need It
Opening up the Arduino libraries and sketching an ESP8266 concept for hours sounds like a lot of fun, and sometimes is, however we have reached an era of IoT where
PBX Voice CAPTCHA And Why It’s Amazing
Generally speaking, one of the most undervalued servers I host is an Asterisk PBX build. This VoIP server is home to roughly 15 active extensions, 10 DID phone numbers, and
Tech Tools Worth Considering
I'm not in the field as much as I used to be, but I certainly understand the value of having every tool imaginable around me at all times. The most
Building A Corporate Family Network
Being a network or system administrator is an around the clock job. Family reunions can sometimes involve an unending line of questions about personal computers, phones, and other consumer level
IP Camera in a Car
I've been able to do some pretty miraculous things with 3G/4G cellular links over the past decade. Technical challenges many said were impossible to solve at the time. Years ago
Let’s Talk About Smart Homes
A few years ago I started to scratch the surface of smart home automation and Internet controlled "things". I first explored the basics of board relays and how to customize
The Ultimate Mobile Network
Scenario: You or an organization you work with is putting together an event at a conference space or outdoor park. Consider such possibilities like a concert or festival, weekend long
Discovering the Limits of PoE
Not too long ago I found myself discussing electrical trends with a commercial engineer. I made a bold prediction about the rise of DC usage suggesting something to the effect
Raspberry Pi Zero – Where to go from here?
I will begin this post with the same sentiment that I've been pushing for years: If you're in IT and you haven't been playing with low-tech, you're doing something wrong.
Powering an office using USB
In early 2015 I set about an ambitious goal: Convert a medium-large size business into one giant USB hub. Several months later, this mission has been accomplished and now the
Dust no more
Server dust collection has always been both a concern an annoyance of mine. Proper server storage accommodations are rare for most businesses and even if properly locked away, the rooms
Breaking The 3G/4G Barriers
I've been using cellular hot spot devices for a number of years, however up until recently I believed they were only useful for occasional remote work. Basic e-mail, remote desktop
3G/4G Cabin Project
This project has been ongoing, but is mostly completed. I consider this cabin my test site for extreme remote connectivity simply due to the fact that if anything were to
Smart Home – Outlets
There are very few inexpensive options available for multiple smart home outlets. Let's first review the not so great list: ~$100 for one/two outlets? Unknown circuit/build quality? No thanks ~$50-60
3G/4G Remote IP Surveillance
Earlier last year I was able to successfully resolve the challenge of accessing BlueIris via remote cellular connections. The demo ignited several e-mails from readers asking me to accommodate mobile/remote
Real-time Vehicle DVR Alerts
I live in an apartment tower located in downtown Minneapolis. Many grad students and older people find it easy to commute via bicycles. There are about 100-150 bicycles lined up
Smart Car – The ELM327
Having worked closely with Ford, GM, Chevrolet, Chrysler, and other industry automotive giants, I know just about every way to interface and program/diagnose issues using various OEM software and smart
