Disconnecting from the grid and living the simple life for a weekend was incredible.  The air is clean, the sky has no light pollution, and there’s no cellular service.  It’s exactly how I would live if I was independently wealthy.

http://cbbyers.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=177

http://cbbyers.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=180

http://cbbyers.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=183

# nvram set vlan1ports=”"
# nvram set vlan0ports=”0 1 2 3 4 5*”
# nvram set manual_boot_nv=1
# nvram commit

This is a useful feature in dd-wrt’s WebUI, but isn’t present in Tomato.

The following example is my configuration using a Cisco 871 Integrated Services Router.  Linux supports proxy arp by modifying a kernel parameter in /proc/sys/net/… or sysctl.conf, so this will work the same on linux based routers, such as dd-wrt.

Cisco 871 ISR Configuration
Outside WAN: 74.185.75.16/32 (Dialer0)
Inside LAN: 192.168.10.0/27 (Vlan10)
DSL Modem: 192.168.1.2/16 (Westell management address)
PPPoE Interface: 192.168.1.1/24 (Fa4)

Enable IP Proxy ARP on Interface Fa4 on the Cisco 871
c871#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
c871(config)#int fa4
c871(config-if)#ip proxy-arp
c871(config-if)#^Z
c871#sh run int fa4
Building configuration…

Current configuration : 249 bytes
!
interface FastEthernet4
description ADSL PPPoE WAN to AT&T (6.0 Mbps)
ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
no ip redirects
no ip unreachables
ip virtual-reassembly
duplex auto
speed auto
pppoe-client dial-pool-number 1
no cdp enable
end

Adjust the mask length on the Westell to /16 so that it will ARP for addresses in 192.168.10.0/27

Results

cbbyers@radar:~$ host dslmodem
dslmodem.cbbyers.net has address 192.168.1.2

cbbyers@radar:~$ ping dslmodem
PING dslmodem.cbbyers.net (192.168.1.2) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from dslmodem.cbbyers.net (192.168.1.2): icmp_seq=1 ttl=63 time=0.748 ms
64 bytes from dslmodem.cbbyers.net (192.168.1.2): icmp_seq=2 ttl=63 time=0.753 ms

— dslmodem.cbbyers.net ping statistics —
2 packets transmitted, 2 received, 0% packet loss, time 999ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 0.748/0.750/0.753/0.027 ms

cbbyers@radar:~$ traceroute dslmodem
traceroute to dslmodem (192.168.1.2), 30 hops max, 40 byte packets
1  c871.cbbyers.net (192.168.10.1)  1.669 ms  2.052 ms  2.434 ms
2  dslmodem.cbbyers.net (192.168.1.2)  2.668 ms  2.713 ms  2.740 ms

I can now access my dsl modem’s web interface on 192.168.1.2/16 from 192.168.10.0/27.  Browsing to the management interface for the dsl modem displays all hosts on the 192.168.10.0/27 network as having the same MAC address.  This confirms that proxy arp is working as expected.

The most compelling features are the sms and email notification options. YouMail will text message you info about the caller, their carrier, and location even if they do not leave message. The option to receive voicemails as email attachments is great for archival and review. I have an unlimited data plan on my BlackBerry, which allows me to retrieve new voicemails without wasting my peak minutes.

I’ve also converted my home phone to YouMail. YouMail supports service for multiple phones to the same voicemail box. Having multiple voicemails is an annoying problem that should not exist, and I hate being asked the question, “What’s the best number to reach you?” This is a stupid 1980s problem that I no longer have. My home phone rolls-over to my mobile phone, so I have a single voicemail box, and I don’t have to give my mobile number to businesses.

Finally, YouMail also supports customized greetings based on caller-id and the ability to block specified numbers from leaving a message. Options also exist to prevent numbers with blocked and unavailable caller-id from leaving a message, and the system can differentiate between blocked and unavailable CID.

This service works perfectly and is completely free with T-Mobile. T-Mobile allows for configuration of unconditional call forwarding directly from the handset.

It’s aggravating that voice companies package everything inside their own custom wireless router. They obviously do this to avoid support issues with the masses, and at the same time, offer no alternative to those who have invested in more sophisticated gear and know how to support it themselves. If I was interested in the service, I’m sure I could make it work behind another vendor’s NAT gateway, but where’s the less expensive alternative which does not bundle wireless and routing services?

I’m a T-Mobile customer, and I use their UMA @ Home service on my Blackberry, but a contract agreement and an expensive device which bundles redundant features that I don’t need make this unattractive to me. Why would I want to use this when other VoIP providers are happy to sell me only the hardware I need with no contract agreement?  Why do I care about unlimited US calls when I can add that same feature to my mobile phone for the same price with no contract extension?  Is the look and feel of an analog home phone really that addictive?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CN01jwTrB0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhPQdI71jOY