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potatohut is wifi, laptops - online edit of handbook/computing/computer.html

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Philip Sargent
2025-07-22 13:55:13 +01:00
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@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@ still upright and have not been knocked sideways.
<br>
<p>Since 2018 we now have proper internet access in the tatty hut so the set-up on expo is exactly the same
as the rest of the year. One or two <em>Expo laptops</em> are provided, but you should be
as the rest of the year. A few <em>Expo laptops</em> are provided, but you should be
able to use your own computer in exactly the same way (if you brought one) as you do at home.</p>
<figure class="onright">
<a href="/piclinks/typing.htm"><img src="/images/typing.jpg"></a>
<br><figcaption>Tony Rooke at computer in 1991 - in the old potato hut</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We have our own WiFi ("tattyhut" and usual cavey:beery password) which is connected (deviously)
<p>We have our own WiFi ("potatohut" and usual cavey:beery password) which is connected (deviously)
to the Gasthof campsite WiFi. So please don't stream video or do a lot of operating system updates using it
as the Gasthof is probably paying per GB to their supplier.
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Gasthof campsite reception.
Sargent) which is connected to the hut network by a cable. It
also has an external numberpad available as a couple of vital keys are dead
(e.g. down-arrow, del - it has a new keyboard in 2023 but the contacts on the ribbon cable need cleaning).
<p>This <em>Expo laptop</em> runs Linux [Cinnamon/Debian] and is configured as both
<p>This <em>Expo laptop</em> Crowley runs Linux [Cinnamon/Debian] and is configured as both
an <a href="surveylaptop.html"><em>Expo survey laptop</em></a> with Tunnel and Therion and as an
<a href="#bulk"><em>Expo bulk update laptop</em></a>.
<figure class="onright">
@@ -60,22 +60,22 @@ an <a href="surveylaptop.html"><em>Expo survey laptop</em></a> with Tunnel and T
</ul>
which can actually be done using any internet browser or a phone.
<p>Any laptop or phone can connect to the server via the "tattyhut" WiFi and,
<p>Any laptop or phone can connect to the server via the "potatohut" WiFi and,
with some configuration, can be set up to do all those things too. New expoers
are advised to use an <em>Expo laptop</em> first to see how it all works.</p>
<p>The laptop is usually positioned permanently on the unused stove and is connected by ethernet cable to the hut network. It is connected to an extra LCD screen and external full-size keyboard (where all the keys do work) and mouse. The bigger screen is so that you can see surveys more easily as the laptop itself is small.
<p>Crowley is usually positioned permanently on the unused stove and is connected by ethernet cable to the hut network. It is connected to an extra LCD screen and external full-size keyboard (where all the keys do work) and mouse. The bigger screen is so that you can see surveys more easily as the laptop itself is small.
<P>Through the miracle of the distributed version control system, everyone can edit the
data on multiple laptops at the same time and it should all get merged.</p>
<p>At the end of expo we don't need to bring the <em>Expo laptop</em> back back to the UK
<p>At the end of expo we don't need to bring all the <em>Expo laptops</em> back back to the UK
(though we will, as we will want to do operating system updates during the year) as all the caving data updates are continuously
synchronised with the public server expo.survex.com during the expo.</p>
<h4 id="bulk">Bulk updates</h4>
<p>For experienced expo surveyers the <em>Expo laptop</em> is also set up as an
<a href="bulkupdatelaptop.html"><em>Expo bulk update laptop</em></a> with file-transfer and version control capability to the expo server. New expoers should use the web forms, which work from any browser on any laptop.
<p>For experienced expo surveyers the <em>Expo laptops</em> are also set up as
<a href="bulkupdatelaptop.html"><em>Expo bulk update laptops</em></a> with file-transfer and version control capability to the expo server. New expoers should use the web forms, which work from any browser on any laptop.
<p>Once you are familiar with the <a href="upload-simple.html">uploading forms</a> and know how to use the system, you can
configure your own laptop to do <a href="bulkupdatelaptop.html">bulk upload</a> of many files and
@@ -99,11 +99,10 @@ Configuring the scanner to be used via WiFi is yet to be done, but the printer i
directly but we haven't got this configured properly yet.) Use a usb stick to transfer files for printing
if you can't get your own laptop or phone to work with the printer.
<h3 id="network">The Expo Laptops: Crowley's Friends, Aziraphale, Pulsifer and Anathema</h3>
<h3 id="network">The Expo Laptops: Crowley's Friends: Aziraphale, Pulsifer, Anathema and Barbie</h3>
<p>The wired-in <i>expo laptop</i> is called "Crowley". Crowley was rather too ill to be useful during the 2022 expo (being left in the potato hut for 3 years was not a healthy experience) but is now feeling much better... apart from the WiFi which needs a software driver update, but as Crowley is connected to the ethernet cable this is not vital.
<p>In 2023 we had another general-use laptop "Aziraphale" (it was also on expo in 2019). This is not connected by any cabling and just uses WiFi. Like Crowley it is running Debian and has the same set of software installed
(survex/aven, tunnelx, therion, git etc.) and you login to it using the username "expo" and the usual cavey:beery password. It has the identical[Cinnamon/Debian] configuration and survey software installed as Crowley. It is a big, heavy R61 14-inch Thinkpad on loan from Michael Sargent. (Note that Aziraphale's SD code slot doesn't work).
<p>Both laptops have had RAM upgrades and solid-state disc upgrades over winter 2022/23. They each hold a local complete copy of <em>expofiles</em> and the <em>expoweb, loser, drawings and troggle</em> <a href="repos.html">repositories</a> but do not have the troggle software configured to run locally, though this could be enabled if necessary.
@@ -112,15 +111,17 @@ if you can't get your own laptop or phone to work with the printer.
<br><figcaption>Barbie in the hut</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In 2025 we also have "Barbie" and "Anathema" as additional expo laptops.
<p>In 2025 we also have "Pulsifer", "Anathema" and "Barbie" as additional expo laptops. These are is currently running Xubuntu/xfce (not Debian/Cinnamon like Crowley).
<ul>
<li>"Barbie" is a pink netbook dating from 2014 which was intended as a replacement to the blue Acer Aspire but which is currently a general use laptop. It is an "HP Stream 11 Notebook", has only 2GB of memory, a 2.16GHz Celeron N2840, 32GB eMMC "drive" and is consequently a bit slow - it is donated by Philip Sargent. We have a 12V power supply for this, and it is small and light, so could be relocated to StoneBridge topcamp if that seems to be useful.
<li>"Anathema" is currently running Xubuntu/xfce (not Debian/Cinnamon like the others). As well as a recent solid-state disc and wifi it has an ethernet socket and (unsually) a working battery of 2 hours, pretty good for a 2011 machine. This is part of the Waddington bequest to expo (actually Michael Waddington's old gaming alienware laptop). It is actually configured to run troggle software locally, should that be required. It weighs 2kg and we don't have a 12V power supply for it, so it will live at base camp.
<li>"Anathema" has a recent solid-state disc and wifi; it has an ethernet socket and (unsually) a working battery of 2 hours, pretty good for a 2011 machine. This is part of the Waddington bequest to expo (actually Michael Waddington's old gaming alienware laptop). It weighs 2kg and we don't have a 12V power supply for it, so it will live at base camp.
<li>"Pulsifer" is also running Xubuntu/xfce. It has a recent solid-state disc, wifi, ethernet socket and (unsually) a working battery of about 1 hour. It is configured to run troggle software locally (but not as user 'expo'). It is old and heavy but we do have a 12V supply for it. Installed in potato hut 16th July 2025.
<li>In 2019 and 2023 we had "Aziraphale" . This failed to revive in 2025 and is pending repair in Cambridge. It has the identical[Cinnamon/Debian] configuration and survey software installed as Crowley. It is a big, heavy R61 14-inch Thinkpad on loan from Michael Sargent. (Note that Aziraphale's SD code slot doesn't work).
</ul>
<p>Pulsifer, Barbie and Anathema also have a complete troggle development invironment installed, but this is not availble from the "expo" login.
<h4>Laptop batteries</h4>
<p>Both Crowley and Aziraphale are old and have bad batteries. Crowley only runs 10-20 minutes on battery and Aziraphale only about half an hour or so. So both should be run permanently plugged in to mains power. The blue netbook may not even boot up on battery. Barbie's battery lasts a long time: several hours in use, but annoyingly it self-discharges if left unused.
<p>Both Crowley and Aziraphale are old and have bad batteries. Crowley only runs 10-20 minutes on battery and Aziraphale only about half an hour or so. So both should be run permanently plugged in to mains power. Barbie's battery lasts a long time: several hours in use, but annoyingly it self-discharges if left unused.
<figure class="onright" >
<a href="../l/hut-cables.html"><img border=1 width=250 src="../t/hut-cables-small.jpg"></a>
@@ -128,6 +129,7 @@ if you can't get your own laptop or phone to work with the printer.
</figure>
<h3 id="network">Networking Hardware - wiring up</h3>
<p>[in 2025 this is all different: this text needs to be updated.]
<p>The networking hardware is three boxes: an Alfa high-gain antenna device, an Acer Aspire One netbook and a Netgear WRT4000 ethernet/wifi box. These keep us logged in to the Gasthof to provide WiFi in the hut.
<p>As normal WiFi does not reach across the road to the Gasthof, we have
a high-power dual antenna WiFi tiny black box (Alfa 036ACH) on a small shelf high above the sink/stove area and connected via a usb cable to the tiny dark-blue Acer netbook 'tclaspire3' which is connected by ethernet cable to the Netgear box. It is the Netgear box which provides the WiFi in the hut. </p>