Category Archives: internet

internet, software, Tech

Make your own “Cloud” – use Syncthing

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I’ve been de-coupling from the reliance on “cloud” services. Earlier I removed everything important from Google servies, and Google Drive in particular. However I still needed to share a couple of important things to my other devices, especially my phone, when not home. So, I still have to maintain a minimal prescence.

Then I found Syncthing. Essentially it lets any device sync to any other devices (which you cofigure), bypassing the Internet. That way, Big Tech companies do NOT have your critical data. It works on Windows, Linux, and mobile platforms.

Why is having your data on Big Tech clouds a big problem? Imagine if Google or Microsoft bans you for some stuff, you no longer can log in until you make a new account, or get the current ban revoked. You’ve just lost all access to your documents and data on your “cloud”.

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hardware, internet, Tech

Using Existing DIR-655 Router with Starhub MaxInfinity Fibre Plan

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Initially I was a little apprehensive about hooking up to fibre connections. From all reports via friends, colleagues, friends of friends etc, it seems you are doomed to using only the modem/router combination as provided by your ISP (M1, Singnet, Starhub) and you have little or no choice in using your own existing router.

Why does someone want to use his own router? For one thing, all your wireless SSID, security settings, DHCP, and so on, are already configured. If you have to dump your router and use only the one provided by the ISP you would have to set everything up again.

In any case I was surprised how easy it was.

When the Starhub guy came he said essentially that if I wanted to use my router I would have to disable DHCP on it and all my reservations will have to be done on the new router. I didn’t want to prolong the issue so I said ok, you set it up as you normally would, I would figure it out later.

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hardware, internet

How-To: Combine 2 ISPs into 1 home network

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In my home, I have 2 ISPs providing internet service – SingNet and Starhub. I won’t get into details as to why I have 2, but the fact is, I have 2.

For a long time, these 2 ISPs have remained separate. PCs and laptops connected to one can’t see the other, and vice versa. When one ISP fails, we’d have to manually go to the router and plug the LAN cable into the other one, to continue having internet service. Now, we’re (meaning the people in my household) are naturally lazy. The thought of having to walk to the routers, sort out which cable is the right one, and plugging it into the other ISP, is a headache that we dread. It was made even more apparent recently when my ISP seemed to be having some minor lag issues with an online game I’m playing, and by swapping my cable over to the other one, I confirmed that the fault lay in the ISP and not in any of my PCs or laptops.

During the troubleshooting, I had to plug, unplug, replug the cables many times, and as you can imagine, it’s tiring.

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