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Comcast routers broadcast a second network called xfinitywifi, all cable internet. CableWifi is hosted by Time Warner I think, I've seen those around albeit not as often.

I've used Comcast for many years in my apartment, but never used the xfinitywifi public networks. I recently started using them on the go (I'm in the Bay Area, so they're everywhere), and it provides great high-speed internet on the go without worrying about Unlimited plan limits. If you're a...

So I have a 225 Ah battery bank that I'm charging via solar, but I want to add a isolator as a backup power source. I get the concept behind them, but how do you pick a size? I don't want to send my entire alternator's current to my batteries because that'll charge them much too quickly. (130 Ah...

That's part of the reason why I want to do it. Parking enforcement comes up to me and is says, "Sir, that parking spot is for electric vehicles only, you will be towed if you don't move." Then I reply, "Sir, do you see the EV port in my ELECTRIC VEHICLE, and the solar panel on top?" :D I'll need...

I'll mostly be in the Bay Area in California where SAE J1772 EV chargers are everywhere. I want to make a hookup for those to my internal batteries, and I've got some plans. Based on my research, the level one chargers are just a house socket current with a detector circuit on the side, that...

I have a Suniva 290W solar panel (I think), and I want to attach some angle aluminum to attach it to my roof. Is it safe to drill through the .5" thick aluminum frame on the side for bolts, or is that full of circuitry/wires? There are no side mounting holes, but there are on the bottom. I'd...

There are some campgrounds a dozen miles away or so, but they charge a lot (bay area, California). Other than buying from residents, where can you get potable water cheap?

So the one I bought (290W big panel) didn't come with mounting brackets, but it has a 3 sided lip with no internal side to support it. Should I go buy some mounting brackets? Can I mount it without brackets? I've been trying to figure out how to mount it in its current form, but I'm having a...

So my floor stack plan is as such: 1/2" plywood as subfloor, 1" of polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation, .08" hardboard as seperator/force distributor, 1/4" carpet underlayment + sound deadening, carpet, for a total of about 2" thick. I do intend to have air circulation, so I'm guessing floor...

The only reason I care about stealth is because of where I'll be the majority of the time... the vandweller crackdown capital of the west coast -- San Francisco down to San Jose. Do you guys think that it's also overrated there?

I have a used cargo van, 2005 Ford E150. I'm going to live in it at first 5 days a week while I'm working, then 7 days a week afterwards. I live in the bay area and its usually fairly mild here. I have a very complex build in mind, with a few grand for budget. Time table is about 200 hours over...

I'm thinking I'll either augment the insulation behind the panels or remove the panels in favor of a plywood panel. Would make for better mounting of smaller stuff than plastic, but wouldn't fit as nicely. What have you guys done, and what do you think?

I have no idea what kind of rivet they are, but I got them all out. I drilled them out with a 1/4" drill bit then smacked them off with a chisel and small sledgehammer. The first one I tried a 1/8" then a 3/16" in, but they could not detach the head -- I grinded the head off that first one until...

It's part of the tool rack in my new used van. There are about 10 of them, and I cannot figure out how to remove them. I tried prying them, allen wrenches, a flat head screwdriver inside, nothing worked. I'm about ready to whip out my dremel and cut them off -- but that might lead me with...

I got the rivets out with a tool from an auto parts store. A little U shaped pry thing. Now I need to deal with these metal bolts holding a tool rack in -- that seemingly cannot be removed. I'll post that in a new thread though. I'll upload some pictures tomorrow when I get home.

I bought my 2005 Ford E-150 last Friday, and am commencing the build tomorrow. I got it at a great deal, $2900, because the guy had a really high list price and I haggled him down over email while no/few others responded. (I recommend this strategy!) It runs great, recently rebuilt transmission...

I'm going to go pickup a 1999 Ford E250, 240K miles tomorrow. It's in good condition and reasonably priced. I'll also be moving out of my parents house when I'm done building, so this is all very terrifying and exciting!

I was thinking about how to hide solar panels and/or a roof vent. It occurred to me that if I make a 5" roof side-looking addition to my roof, I could make solar panels and roof vents recessed, or just directly lower down the main portion of the roof (but the last thing I need is less height)...

Do you think stealth is overrated in areas like San Francisco and Silicon Valley? I was under the impression those are the areas that really crack down, unlike most of the country where they simply can't if they wanted to.

I hope people are apprehensive about telling a FBI surveillance or NSA van to move along! ... not encouraged. :D