What are you working on?

i totaly get the gamble bit, its the sole reason weve stuck with the "90 series" for over 40 years LOL, those frontloader setups have and always will spook me

i assume you run your own dedicated routing pc at the main port entering the home not some off the shelf or....gulp...isp unit...something running like pfsense?

heres something i built last last year to replace the previous closet unit as the old bastard was failing in small ways, but also wasnt up to the giga...it was also used, old used re-used and was spent....the new one is all new

for those of you who want to understand the whatfors and whys...and never pay for an ISP device again....as well as the false outages hey create....read this
www.pcgamer.com

I built my own super router out of old PC parts and I've never felt so powerful

It's easier than you think to build a router that's way better than what you can buy off the shelf.
www.pcgamer.com www.pcgamer.com

i did a TON of work re-building the livingroom, including the closet which got a built in, but i made a cut in hidden back wall that houses ALL incoming cables from the outside world, cable, phone, cat, and even fiber, with the addition of a full 12x4 slot into the attic at the top of the wall for feeding anything new

should..for some reason any service call for ANY company REQUIRE a tech to come out...there is ZERO reason to step beyond the front door PERIOD

the livingroom when we redid the floors recieved a plethora of cabling, on both main walls, 2 hdmi 2 cat6, 2 subs, 7.1+2 surround cabling, 2 rgb+rl cables, rca cables, 1 coax, with the simple idea that any part of or partial to the system could be run from/thru to the other wall

anyway heres the closet and new router...there are 6 "switchs" thruout the house handling a wifi net as well as splitting the need for more drops

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on a side note...pfsense is so user friendly..its stupid but its also VERY nice to be able to pull up event logs and know exactly what and where things are happening...and should the net go down for some reason you can reboot remotely but more often than not you can have a poke at it and see what the problem is...think having OBDII on your router and being able to go..yup theres the problem
 
That’s why I hated what I had.
It was a router supplied by the ISP and it could not be configured to be bridged so that I could use my own router. It didn’t even allow for static routes so I could put a router behind it and not have to do double-NAT.
and it sucked for logging. At best, I could see that it was complaining about power. that’s how I ended up with a bathroom reno last year - messed up power circuit and my need to see what’s behind the walls.
Otherwise, I was flying blind.

The new router let’s me set a port to “IP Passthrough” which is just a confusing term for bridged. It lets me use my own router/firewall while still letting all the TV/TIVO stuff runoff of their router. So, it’s pretty much just a cable modem now - exactly what I want.
Up here, you pretty much have to get your gear from the ISP. Some let you buy it. Some you have to rent. If it’s just a modem, sometimes it’s included in the plan. I have a router to support the TiVo service and the devices that come from the provider.

So, I have a NetGear in place right now, but that’s temporary.

My new stuff is enterprise level gear from work.

The other reason for running new CAT6 is that the old CAT5 stuff was poorly done and whenever I had network issues, about 60% of the time, it was a cabling problem.

So, I’m doing it as right as I can without ripping open any walls.

This is up in the furnace room.
Its not huge, but it’s all I need for network gear. The baker’s rack below will do for any servers and temporary network gear.

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I’ve got 8 ports going to my office, 4 ports going to the built in desks in the rec room, and two going to the far corner of the rec room for my music Mac and an LTE WAN device.
I‘ll have a couple of runs that will bypass the patch panel and go right to my new router. One is another WiFi router that my security cameras use. The other is a Gb switch behind my TV for all of that stuff.

With this setup, I’ll have both the 1Gb cable service and about 20Mbps LTE available for Internet access. I can set it up to failover, use the best link, or even direct certain applications to use specific links.

I MIGHT take another stab at getting a cable up to the top floor for an AP. Otherwise, I’m going to use two and the mesh feature to create a wireless back haul. That way, I only need to power the AP upstairs - the traffic will get bridged to the AP downstairs using one of the radios in each AP.

I’ve got two servers right now, a VMWare ESXi host and an unraid server that use for Docker and virtual machines. I‘ve got 7 Raspberry Pis that I use to test and play with different stuff. I need to build a new ESXi host with a lot more RAM, but that can happen whenever.

Cool setup that you have there. I love pfsense too, but now, it’s my competition. LOL!
 
On the old appliance front, there was a Whirlpool dishwasher here when we moved in 2002. I‘m sure it was a handful of years old at the time. I should check the labels.
It’s still running strong.

I think I replaced a wire rack divider thing and pulled a spoon out of the drain hose. Otherwise, it’s need nothing all these years.

I hope I didn’t just jinx it.
 
i need to add a server rack stlye port panel in the closet as i now have a single independent drop for every room and the shop with 2 in the livingroom for a total of 8 drops all terminating at netgear switches for further splitting within the rooms

i gues im lucky on the net front...its fiber right up to the house NOT COAX..so even if for some reason i wanted their tv i could still bypass their BS, TBH with having amazon prime for free orders/shipping that gives me a load of basicly free tv,

if i were you...id force my way up to the second floor one way or another even if it ment running some outdoor rated conduit up the side of the house as a last resort, just go bigger so that anything at a later date can be run in the same tube......personaly i look at it this way....if power runs floor to floor there is no excuse for not finding where the power runs and punching another hole

i do wish i was more tech savy on this front tho...ive learned a TON from my buddy in seattle who comes down and does tweaks and updates, purchase recomendations etc, no way in hell i know enough to keep my linux server and nas running on my own..were still working out the kinks on being able to stream true uncompressed 4k.....
 
I took the washer apart again last night.

The spider bracket looked solid but it was caked with un-dissolved detergent.
So I took the drum and bracket outside and started in with the pressure washer. It still is pretty solid, but there were a couple of spots in the webbing that rotted through. So, 270 dollar order and now we wait...

I figure the caked on detergent was throwing it out of balance.

so, here’s hoping.
 
Been working on the basement. Subfloor Drycore R+ is down, 12mm laminate floor is down, and drywall is on the walls and ceiling. Fireplace surround is framed and drywalled in. The basement bedroom is Drycore R+ and laminate flooring done as well as a fresh coat of paint. Got this all done in time for my daughter and husband and 3 grandkids to move in last Saturday. Have some toilet reno's to do upstairs and down stairs to make things more live-able. It's been crazy the last month getting everything done as my daughter and husband sold their semi because the market is so crazy, as they need a 4 bedroom. Sold well over ask in 4 days. Now to get settled all in and not trip or step on too many kids toys or the 12 yr old miniature dash hound.
 
re-sorting thru parts stash. nos and otherwise, im mostly on the hunt for anything lloyd planed/related, but more specificaly.....its OE hardware..to be exact...the roof bolts as they are SQUARE thread...and i cant find replacements

as of right now ive a lovely pile of engine rebuilds, purple sticks, nos t-bars, rads,exhaust stuff and loads of little things all out in the shop as im trying to re-pack everything "tighter"..finding lots of empty holes, old speakers im tossing out etc before it all goes back on the shelving unit, then all the "used" stash will come down and get the same treatment.....all the motorcycle stuffs done allready

i came across a full set of 5pt NOS belts RJS still each in their box hardware not even scratched ...so never even mocked up..i think the experation dates are way early 80s...is there ANY reason i cant run em in the lloyd other than the fact that no track would allow it?, i love em cause they are wide, simple and the only logo work is on the side that would touch you IE no brand showing when in use
 
Got the washer back together on Thursday night. There’s a bit of a shake, but it doesn’t bounce and bang like it used to.
It definitely spins a lot faster now, too.

Meanwhile, the fridge evaporator tray kept overflowing. Figured it was a leak in the filter housing. So, I ordered up one of those and popped that in on Friday. It’s all good now.

Saturday I studied all day and missed the nice weather.

Sunday, I decided to get some sun and get all the bikes ready for the season.
I struggled with the disc brakes on my daughter’s new bike, but once I stopped thinking about it and just played the adjustments, I saw how it all worked and had it dialled in in a few minutes.
Then I tried to dial in the gears on my daughter’s old bike and that was pure frustration. Finally, I just took it for a ride and it was fine. It was no where near fine upside down on the bench. Not even close. But it works fine.
 
between sifting sorting repacking parts, ive found some treasures for the lloyd but not the stuff i need....

took the washer apart as it failed to run...fought with it a couple days before i figured out its just the relay swtich on the motor..specificly the contacts inside the centrificul cut out..or whatever its called...filled the contacts and tweaked it..should be good for a while till i can find a better source for the pretty genericly used on most washers 70$ unit

id KILL to be able to just buy the rivit in contacts like you used to be able to do....the units fine i just need to do the contacts....hell i could fix one of my spare welders if i could just get some replacement contacts for it too
 
Today I remove the Reliance rental water heater in the house and installed a new 50 gal Rheem NG water heater. Redid all the plumbing lines and had to modify the NG lines as the new heater has a different foot print from what the rental had. I'm finally in a position to have purchased my own instead of renting. With what the quarterly rental fees are today, I would have paid off the new one in 4 years. My neighbor who is a plumber/Heating and cooling person came over to check everything out and help align the chimney stack before we fired it up. I figured to pull the plug on the rental before having an unwanted mishap with having done all the work in the basement. Monday I will call to cancel the rental and tell them to come get it. I'm paid on the rental to sometime in April or May.
 
o.0 rental water heaters..never heard of such a thing..and would have never thought to look for such a thing

i re-did ours last year replaced the 1970s unit with a nice new rig opted for a lil bigger since when you look at the big ones a lil bigger is nominaly more
 
It may be a Canadian thing. The original company was Union Gas which I believe was originally out of Michigan. They split into 2 companies , one for gas delivery and one to service gas appliances and furnaces.
 
71dusterman said:
Today I remove the Reliance rental water heater in the house and installed a new 50 gal Rheem NG water heater. Redid all the plumbing lines and had to modify the NG lines as the new heater has a different foot print from what the rental had. I'm finally in a position to have purchased my own instead of renting. With what the quarterly rental fees are today, I would have paid off the new one in 4 years. My neighbor who is a plumber/Heating and cooling person came over to check everything out and help align the chimney stack before we fired it up. I figured to pull the plug on the rental before having an unwanted mishap with having done all the work in the basement. Monday I will call to cancel the rental and tell them to come get it. I'm paid on the rental to sometime in April or May.
Click to expand...
I've been meaning to do the same... we've got a tankless heater and Reliance recently jacked the rental up nearly 40%, to $35/month. :(
Reliance has been great with their service response, though. The direct vent is susceptible to spiders and nesting, a no-fire service call happens once a year or so.
 
Those tankless units are nice. The initial expense for a good one is pretty high, though... I would imagine it's hard to go back to a tank unit once you're accustomed to eternal hot water. I'm not one to take long showers, but Mom had one in her last house and loved it. She missed it after moving into her duplex.
 
Downfall on a tankless is that no electricity no hot water. My neighbor said yes tankless is nice on one hand but from his experience they get quite costly to fix once out of warranty. He said the internal circuit boards are very expensive and from all reviews I have seen, North American tankless are not the most reliable. European ones seem to have better reviews. I'm just happy to get out from under the quarterly payment.
 
honestly ive yet to read anything "long term" good about the tankless, give me a BIG 50-75 tank with 50k btu, turn the temp up a lil higher than normal....want that long shower learn to adjust the water on the shower and you can....

i recently installed a new spigot outside last year, since there was ONLY ONE?!?!?!?! and in a shit spot in the back, since the boiler and water heater are in the same mini room on the front of the house i just tapped in and added spigots out front..bonus...i added a hot water one.....both on ball valves for full flow, fast on/off

now ive tested it and can tell you that a hot water mix washing a car is AMAZING....but pumping pure hot water to the presure washer to clean bikes, engines, transmissions etc holy crap do things come clean FAST
 
My wife was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a few years ago.
My back and neck are aching most days.
Long, hot showers are the norm here... ;)

I've heard the out-of-warranty repairs can be high, maybe that's why I haven't gotten out of the rental yet. We've had ours for 8 or 10 years, and other than the spider nests, it's been trouble free. Rinai brand.
They do like a good, healthy NG supply, though... Luckily, our gas meter was large enough to handle what is, essentially. a pool heater for your showers.
No electricity isn't a deal breaker: even the best Hi-Eff tank heater will only keep hot water hot for a few hours, and with electronic ignition, they're useless after that time period. Some of the newer tank heaters, once it calls for more heat, will shut down if there is no fire to light the boiler, leaving you with barely enough hot water for a single, Navy-style shower.
 
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