My Network

I have an extensive network set up in the cabin to both work on my own projects, run the house, and hopefully do some consulting work.

The heart of the network consists of a single laptop.  It runs 'Winroute Pro' and connects to the internet via the two satellite modems you can see below the laptop.  Additionally, the laptop connects to a combo hub/wireless AP to provide networking throughout the cabin and property. 

The laptop also acts as the center for all web published data.  It pushes all of this data up every 3 minutes  It runs custom programs I have written in Java to both monitor the status of the inverter and display the weather data.  It also acts as the MP3 decoder for all of my music.  The music is then distributed throughout the property via phone lines and a Trek leapfrog unit.

My webcam and my music files are served from a Linux machine running down in the barn.  There is another hub in the barn that is linked to the cabin via  a LinkSys WET11 wireless bridge.  The Linux machine uploads the web image every 2 minutes.

My uplink to the internet is through Direcway.  This gives me a 24x7 high speed link to the internet.  My experiences with the service have been good, once I got all of the bugs worked out.  Latency is high, but how can you complain when I get this level of service where I am?

The other antennas are for Amateur Radio.  On the extreme right is an antenna that covers 6m on up.  The two other antennas are both for 2 meter and 70cm coverage.

Follow on to The weather station.....