Tailscale Mesh VPN

[G4GUO]

I have just started using https://tailscale.com/

It allows you to setup a secure virtual network across the internet, so for example, you can access your local LAN from a remote device.
For 3 users it is free. It might be useful when out portable or away from home.

Anyone else using it?

- Charles

[g8lce]

Yes, I have. It has had quite a few updates since I started using it. I don't know where it is based and have not looked. Another thing I have done is setup a TinyGS station which is similar to the RSGB balloon experiment. It picks up low earth satellite data. When I looked at the RX data it was mainly Russian, Chinese and Iranian satellites! However, when I checked I found it is run from Spain and I am happy.
https://tinygs.com/station/G8LCE@cbjkMXaUWEdfbJTi

I am going to switch it to just receive the LightSail cubesat that will be launched from the ISS on 2nd December.
https://alphacubesat.cornell.edu/dashboard.html

There is a thought that radio amateurs should look at these data services more. We could (and some are) setup our own 'Internet' using radio. We already use radio for high speed data through repeaters and satellites although we call it DATV.

Martin G8LCE
iGate, TinyGS and DATV

[G4GUO]

I watched an interview with the U.S founder of Tailscale, he was trying to build a service that people could use rather than make billions which mean't
he had difficulties raising money, as he wasn't being ambitious enough. The guy that does most of the Tailscale videos is British (judging by his accent).

I have a TinyGS node here as well, but I am not sure if it is still running, as it is located in a shed in the garden that I seldom visit. I also supply an ADSB feed to fligh24 using a spare PI, that gets me access to their paid network.

I set up a Meshtastic node, again I have not checked recently whether it is still running.

I contribute weather data to the Met Office WOW system https://wow.metoffice.gov.uk/ (search on there for 'Ferring Beach')

I have also looked at selling GPS information or renting out my GPUs, but even with solar it doesn't look worth doing, plus my internet connection
is so slow that I wouldn't qualify for GPU sharing project.

It was sad when the packet radio development ground to a halt, mainly due to the lack of development of higher speed modems, dumb routing algorithms and the internet.

- Charles

[g8lce]

I am using Tailscale at the moment to write this on my home computer while actually several miles away. I am using my Windows laptop connected to the Internet using mobile phone as a Hotspot (the building I am in's WiFi has lost Internet connection!! ). I am using Remote Computer Connection and the IP address Tailscale has given the home computer to make it work. There is a delay sometimes but I can run vMix on my home computer remotely to transmit. Could be useful to see transmission distance etc. Worth giving it a go.

Martin G8LCE

[G4GUO]

Great!

I must go somewhere with free Wi-Fi and try something similar. So far, I have only simulated being remote.
At least for our types of applications, this is free to use.

My main server is based on a workstation motherboard so I can turn it on and off remotely, so I can just leave a small
low power device running while I am away and only turn on the main machine remotely when needed.

- Charles