Tag: Networking - James A. Chambers

How to Reset and Update a UniFi Cloud Key Gen1 (Complete Guide)

Published: April 21, 2026 / Last Modified: May 3, 2026 / Leave a Comment / Hardware, Networking

If you manage older UniFi environments, you’ve probably run into a frustrating issue: legacy Cloud Key Gen1 devices that are too outdated to connect to the UniFi Portal. This can leave you completely blind when trying to manage a client’s network.

After working with many of these devices in production environments, here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to resetting and updating a UniFi Cloud Key Gen1 so it can be brought back into a manageable state.

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Speed Up Helium Miner Hotspot Sync / Fixing “Relayed” Status

Published: June 22, 2021 / Last Modified: July 29, 2022 / 241 Comments / Cryptocurrency, Networking

I recently received my Bobcat 300 miner after months of waiting. Much of the advice I’d read/seen on the subject suggested to leave the hotspot alone and that it takes a very long time to sync.

This is true but it assumes you configured your network correctly first and have the correct port opened to the outside world. If it’s not it will take even longer to sync the blockchain and your hotspot will have a yellow “Relayed” status. This is slowing down your sync and will harm your rewards even when it finishes since your responses to challenges will be “relayed” and will often time out before they are relayed through other hotspots.

In this guide I’ll show you how to get your network configured correctly for your hotspot to sync as fast as possible and remove the “Relayed” status!

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Ubertooth One Kali Linux Latest Tools / Firmware Setup Guide

Published: June 16, 2021 / Last Modified: March 2, 2023 / 21 Comments / Gadgets, Hardware, Linux, Networking, Security

The world is full of devices communicating with Bluetooth even if (or maybe especially if) you don’t realize it. Most “smart” devices are advertising some Bluetooth services (some of them even publicly writable without a password!). Even my treadmill is advertising writeable Bluetooth endpoints!

The Ubertooth One is a bluetooth and bluetooth low-energy (BTLE) capture device intended for developers and security researchers/auditors. It has an external antenna and is able to communicate at much further distances than most BTLE devices by both transmitting more powerfully and having a more sensitive antenna to listen to the response. To find out what is nearby and happening over the air this is the device you want to have.

In this guide I’ll show you how to get the latest Ubertooth tools on Kali Linux as well as update the firmware for the Ubertooth device and actually use the device!

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Telecom Monopoly CenturyLink’s Static IP / Modem / UPS Scam Outlined

Published: July 8, 2020 / Last Modified: October 18, 2022 / 20 Comments / Hardware, Networking, Security

I’m really sorry to say that I was excited when I found out CenturyLink offered gigabit 1000 up 1000 down fiber to the home in the neighborhood I just moved into. Dreams of things like having enough upload speed to leave the cloud and operate jamesachambers.com independently in my own home seemed like they could finally be a reality. Dreams were quickly shattered when I realized what kind of incompetence and dishonesty I would be dealing with.

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Alternative to Wired – Ethernet Over Power

Published: July 7, 2019 / Last Modified: March 2, 2023 / 5 Comments / Gadgets, Networking

Ethernet over powerline tech has existed for a while but traditionally has frankly sucked. It was slow and had issues with reliability.

After decades of improving standards and technology this has changed dramatically and now makes a very cheap and attractive alternative to wireless in many situations. The latest iteration gives a 1200 Mbps connection right over your existing power lines in your house and is designed to work in “noisy” power environments without interruption.

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Join Mac OS X Mojave to Active Directory Using Built In Tools

Published: May 3, 2019 / Last Modified: March 16, 2022 / 5 Comments / Networking, Security

Joining a Mac to Active Directory has continued to get more and more difficult over the years. High Sierra and Mojave now require a Active Directory functional level of Windows Server 2008 or later and are still pretty tricky to get to join it.

When I started researching the topic I saw a whole lot of advice to install third party software to join a Mac to Active Directory. In most corporate environments installing third party software is frowned upon due to licensing and security considerations so I was determined to get the native Mac OS X tools to work.

This guide will walk you through the basic steps to join Active Directory without having to resort to using third party software.

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