Networking, WiFi, UniFi, VoIP and security guides from Chris Sherwood and the Crosstalk Solutions team.https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/never-lose-remote-access-again-comet-5g-kvm/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/never-lose-remote-access-again-comet-5g-kvm/GL.iNet Comet 5G KVM review: a KVM over IP with built-in 5G RedCap failover, tested against a real upstream network outage.Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTNetworkinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-network-masterclass-design-deploy-and-master-unifi/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-network-masterclass-design-deploy-and-master-unifi/The UniFi Network Masterclass is a hands-on course on designing and deploying UniFi networks, from fundamentals to firewall rules, VLANs and VPNs.Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/ringcentral-vs-crosstalk-cloud-pbx-the-real-cost-comparison/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/ringcentral-vs-crosstalk-cloud-pbx-the-real-cost-comparison/RingCentral vs. Crosstalk Cloud PBX cost comparison: a real RingCentral bill with its contract and fees, plus a 12-user, five-year price breakdown.Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTPhone Systemshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/why-id-never-trust-3cx-with-my-customers-phone-systems/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/why-id-never-trust-3cx-with-my-customers-phone-systems/Why I won't trust 3CX with customer phone systems: how it treats partners, how it handled the 2023 supply chain attack, and its licensing changes.Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTPhone Systemshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/introducing-ui-toolkit-a-free-open-source-dashboard-for-your-unifi-network/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/introducing-ui-toolkit-a-free-open-source-dashboard-for-your-unifi-network/UI Toolkit is a free, self-hosted dashboard for UniFi networks with Wi-Fi device tracking, IDS/IPS threat monitoring and live network stats.Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/network-flyer/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/network-flyer/A one-page network services flyer works best when it offers something free and useful, like an onsite WiFi survey. Hand it to the owner of a local business in person, listen to their problems, follow up within 24 hours, and send a short proposal built on hardware you know well.Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTNetworkingConsultingWiFi surveysOmadahttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/uptime-kuma-complete-setup-guide-on-digital-ocean-with-docker/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/uptime-kuma-complete-setup-guide-on-digital-ocean-with-docker/How to set up Uptime Kuma on a Digital Ocean droplet with Docker and Caddy, then add monitors, Discord alerts, a status page and ufw rules.Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/easy-install-unifi-os-server-on-a-raspberry-pi/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/easy-install-unifi-os-server-on-a-raspberry-pi/Step-by-step guide to install UniFi OS Server on a Raspberry Pi with Ubuntu Server and Podman, from flashing the SD card to the setup wizard.Wed, 06 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/complete-unifi-os-server-installation-on-linux-best-practices/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/complete-unifi-os-server-installation-on-linux-best-practices/Install UniFi OS Server on an Ubuntu cloud server: Podman, multi-site mode, Let's Encrypt SSL via Cloudflare and UFW firewall rules, step by step.Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/run-your-own-chatgpt-locally-for-free/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/run-your-own-chatgpt-locally-for-free/How to run a ChatGPT-style AI locally for free on Windows with Ollama, Docker Desktop and Open WebUI, using models like Llama and DeepSeek R1.Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostingaichatgptdeepseekllmollamahttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-gl-inet-tailscale-for-secure-remote-access/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-gl-inet-tailscale-for-secure-remote-access/How to set up Tailscale on a GL.iNet travel router like the Beryl AX for secure remote access to your home PC and the devices behind the router.Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-openvpn-access-server/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-openvpn-access-server/How to set up OpenVPN Access Server on a DigitalOcean droplet, with an SSL certificate, MFA users, split tunneling and site-to-site router access.Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-password-pusher-complete-setup-with-docker/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-password-pusher-complete-setup-with-docker/How to self-host Password Pusher with Docker on a Vultr server, with Caddy for HTTPS, a ufw firewall and containers that restart on reboot.Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMTSecuritypassword pushersecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-u7-pro-speed-testing-and-first-impressions/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-u7-pro-speed-testing-and-first-impressions/UniFi U7 Pro speed tests against the U6 Pro with a Wi-Fi 7 Pixel 8 and an iPhone 13, plus specs, power draw and whether the upgrade is worth it.Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/the-best-travel-router-gl-inet-beryl-ax-complete-setup-guide/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/the-best-travel-router-gl-inet-beryl-ax-complete-setup-guide/GL.iNet Beryl AX travel router setup guide: hotel Wi-Fi repeater and captive portals, custom SSIDs, AdGuard Home and a VPN on the toggle switch.Wed, 27 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMTNetworkinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/visual-network-management-ubiquitis-new-pro-max-switches/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/visual-network-management-ubiquitis-new-pro-max-switches/What Etherlighting does on Ubiquiti's UniFi Pro Max switches, plus their 10G SFP+ and 2.5G ports, PoE++ and the Etherlighting patch cables.Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/my-ultimate-travel-network-setup-a-tech-enthusiasts-dream/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/my-ultimate-travel-network-setup-a-tech-enthusiasts-dream/My travel network setup: the GL.iNet Beryl AX travel router, Anker 655 USB-C hub, a portable monitor and a USB-C laptop for work on the road.Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMTWiFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/dont-fall-for-wi-fi-7-marketing-how-to-build-your-own/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/dont-fall-for-wi-fi-7-marketing-how-to-build-your-own/Is a Wi-Fi 7 router worth it? Why the TP-Link BE19000 hype misses the point, plus a $600 and a $1,500 UniFi Wi-Fi 6 network build.Sat, 09 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMTWiFihow toubiquitiunifihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-express-is-this-the-best-new-ubiquiti-device/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-express-is-this-the-best-new-ubiquiti-device/UniFi Express (UX) overview: Ubiquiti's compact gateway with built-in Wi-Fi 6, wired and mesh setups, ports, client limit and heat.Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-uxg-lite-first-impressions-of-the-gateway-lite/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-uxg-lite-first-impressions-of-the-gateway-lite/First impressions of the UniFi UXG-Lite (Gateway Lite): specs, setup with a CloudKey, performance, and what a basic UniFi setup with it costs.Tue, 28 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMTUniFiubiquitiunifihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-network-8-0-7-whats-new/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-network-8-0-7-whats-new/What's new in UniFi Network 8.0.7: the Radios view, port management and insights, the VLAN viewer and the WireGuard VPN client.Thu, 16 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-vpn-proxy-service-configuration/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-vpn-proxy-service-configuration/Set up a VPN proxy service like Private Internet Access as a UniFi VPN Client, then route a device, specific domains or a whole VLAN through it.Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/ltx2023-whale-lan-network-diagram/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/ltx2023-whale-lan-network-diagram/Whale LAN at LTX 2023 ran 5 Gbps fiber into an OPNsense firewall and a MikroTik CCR2216 core, with a 200 Gbps link to a Lancache server and 20 Gbps of UniFi switching to every table. Because games came from the cache, internet use peaked at about 2 Gbps.Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMTNetworkingLAN partyLancacheMikroTikUniFiEvent networkshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/home-assistant-the-ultimate-setup-guide-a-step-by-step-tutorial/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/home-assistant-the-ultimate-setup-guide-a-step-by-step-tutorial/Step-by-step Home Assistant setup guide: install it on a Raspberry Pi, Synology VM or Docker, run the setup wizard and build your first automations.Tue, 11 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-disappear-online/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-disappear-online/How to disappear online: private browsers, HTTPS-only mode, private search, DNS over HTTPS, VPNs, Pi-hole ad blocking, Tor and Tails.Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/i-cancelled-starlink/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/i-cancelled-starlink/Why I cancelled my Starlink Residential service after price hikes, 1TB data caps, weak customer support and the loss of portability.Tue, 07 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMTOpinionhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/cloudflare-tunnel-easy-setup/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/cloudflare-tunnel-easy-setup/How to set up a Cloudflare Tunnel with a cloudflared Docker connector on a Synology NAS, reach LAN services over HTTPS and lock them down with Zero Trust.Mon, 27 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/yubikey-ios-setup/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/yubikey-ios-setup/How to set up YubiKey security keys (FIDO U2F) to protect your Apple ID on iOS 16.3, with step-by-step iPhone screenshots.Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/t-mobile-home-internet-review/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/t-mobile-home-internet-review/In my 2023 testing, T-Mobile Home Internet was an excellent backup connection for power users and businesses, at $50 a month. Occasional slowdowns, double NAT and no static IP option made it a weak choice as a business's only internet connection.Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMTCellular & 5Ghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/orange-pi-5-simple-overview-and-installation-with-m-2-ssd/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/orange-pi-5-simple-overview-and-installation-with-m-2-ssd/Orange Pi 5 overview and setup guide: flash Ubuntu to a microSD card, then move the OS to an M.2 NVMe SSD and boot from it via SPI flash.Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/starlink-side-hustle/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/starlink-side-hustle/How to build a portable Starlink network in a box with UniFi, a paid captive portal, battery power and Layer 7 filtering to sell Wi-Fi at events.Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTCellular & 5Ghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/mastodon-easy-server-setup/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/mastodon-easy-server-setup/How to set up your own Mastodon server on a Digital Ocean droplet with the one-click install, Spaces storage, SendGrid SMTP and CrowdSec.Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/the-worlds-greatest-pi-hole-and-unbound-tutorial-2023/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/the-worlds-greatest-pi-hole-and-unbound-tutorial-2023/Pi-hole and Unbound setup on a Raspberry Pi, step by step: imaging, static IP, install, block lists, and your own recursive DNS resolver.Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghow toPi-holeraspberry pihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/tp-link-omada-installation-on-ubuntu-20-04/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/tp-link-omada-installation-on-ubuntu-20-04/How to install the TP-Link Omada SDN software controller on Ubuntu 20.04, with OpenJDK 8, jsvc, MongoDB 4.4 and the Omada installer.Thu, 14 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMTNetworkinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/pivpn-wireguard-complete-setup-2022/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/pivpn-wireguard-complete-setup-2022/Step-by-step PiVPN and WireGuard setup on a Raspberry Pi: install, static IP, port forwarding, client QR codes, conf files and backups.Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/sonoff-rf-bridge-how-to-setup-with-home-assistant/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/sonoff-rf-bridge-how-to-setup-with-home-assistant/How to set up a Sonoff RF Bridge with Home Assistant: pair it in eWeLink, add Sonoff LAN through HACS and automate RF lights with a motion sensor.Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/raspberry-pi-lan-speed-test/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/raspberry-pi-lan-speed-test/How to run an OpenSpeedTest LAN speed test server on a Raspberry Pi with Docker and Portainer to test your local network speed.Tue, 23 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/definitive-guide-to-hosted-unifi-2021/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/definitive-guide-to-hosted-unifi-2021/Host a UniFi Controller on an Ubuntu 20.04 Vultr server: SSH keys, UFW firewall, UniFi install, setup wizard and Let's Encrypt SSL.Thu, 21 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/raspberry-pi-4-boot-with-usb/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/raspberry-pi-4-boot-with-usb/How to make a Raspberry Pi 4 boot from a USB SSD or M.2 drive: copy the microSD card to the drive and set USB boot order in raspi-config.Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/voip-ms-setup-using-pjsip-on-freepbx/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/voip-ms-setup-using-pjsip-on-freepbx/Step-by-step VoIP.ms SIP trunk setup on FreePBX with pjsip, covering sub accounts, DID routing, the trunk and inbound and outbound routes.Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMTPhone Systemshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-enable-jitsi-server-authentication/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-enable-jitsi-server-authentication/How to enable Jitsi Meet authentication with Prosody so only registered users can start meetings while guests still join anonymously.Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-install-jitsi-server-on-ubuntu-19-10/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-install-jitsi-server-on-ubuntu-19-10/Install a self-hosted Jitsi Meet video conferencing server on an Ubuntu 19.10 Vultr VPS, with SSH keys, UFW firewall rules and Let's Encrypt.Fri, 03 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-share-internet-with-your-neighbors/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-share-internet-with-your-neighbors/How to share your internet with neighbors over a Ubiquiti point-to-point wireless bridge with a separate, throttled guest VLAN and SSID.Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMTNetworkinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/getting-started-with-raspberry-pi-4/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/getting-started-with-raspberry-pi-4/Getting started with Raspberry Pi 4: flash NOOBS to a microSD card, install Raspbian, update it and enable SSH and VNC for remote access.Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/create-your-own-personal-vpn-proxy-with-streisand/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/create-your-own-personal-vpn-proxy-with-streisand/Build your own Streisand VPN proxy server on DigitalOcean: builder droplet, Ansible install, DNS, SSH SOCKS proxy in Firefox and OpenVPN fixes.Wed, 08 May 2019 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/definitive-guide-to-hosted-unifi/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/definitive-guide-to-hosted-unifi/Host a UniFi Controller on a Vultr or Digital Ocean server: SSH keys, UFW firewall, UniFi install and Let's Encrypt SSL, step by step.Tue, 19 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-controller-installation-on-vultr/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/unifi-controller-installation-on-vultr/Install a UniFi Controller on a Vultr Ubuntu 16.04 server: 2FA, server setup, SSH hardening, firewall, swap, Java and the UniFi package.Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/long-range-dead-drop/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/long-range-dead-drop/Build a long range dead drop: a Raspberry Pi running PirateBox behind a Ubiquiti LiteBeam AC PtMP link for offline anonymous chat and file sharing.Wed, 24 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMTSelf-Hostinghttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/solar-powered-wifi-part-3-companion-guide/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/solar-powered-wifi-part-3-companion-guide/Wiring diagram and full parts list for a solar powered WiFi bridge: Renogy panel, Victron MPPT controller, battery, PoE and NanoStation M5s.Thu, 20 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMTWiFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/lets-encrypt-unifi/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/lets-encrypt-unifi/How to install a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate on a self-hosted UniFi Controller, with automatic renewal through cron.Thu, 06 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMTSecurityhttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/15-minute-hosted-unifi-controller-setup/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/15-minute-hosted-unifi-controller-setup/Set up a hosted UniFi Controller on a Digital Ocean droplet in about 15 minutes: Ubuntu, SSH hardening, firewall, swap and the UniFi install.Sat, 08 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMTUniFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/send-telemarketers-hell/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/send-telemarketers-hell/How to install the Blacklist Loser module in FreePBX and build an x666 ring group that blacklists telemarketers live and sends them to Lenny.Mon, 14 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMTPhone Systemshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/freepbx-polycom-directory-automation/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/freepbx-polycom-directory-automation/A bash script and cron job that build a FreePBX Polycom directory XML file from your extensions, so every Polycom phone's directory updates hourly.Wed, 13 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMTPhone Systemshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/howto-stream-music-on-hold/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/howto-stream-music-on-hold/How to stream music on hold in FreePBX from an internet radio station using a streaming category, mpg123 and an inbound route.Tue, 29 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMTPhone Systemshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/howto-pwn-telemarketers-with-lenny/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/howto-pwn-telemarketers-with-lenny/How to set up the Lenny telemarketer bot in FreePBX with an Asterisk custom context, Lenny sound files and a custom destination.Wed, 16 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMTPhone Systemshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-install-webmin/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-install-webmin/How to install Webmin on FreePBX with the Webmin yum repo: add the repo file, import the GPG key, install and log in on port 10000.Tue, 08 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMTPhone Systemshttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-create-a-wireless-bridge/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/how-to-create-a-wireless-bridge/How to create a point-to-point wireless bridge by unboxing and configuring a pair of Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco M2 radios.Thu, 23 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMTWiFihttps://www.crosstalksolutions.com/beware-shady-voip-news/https://www.crosstalksolutions.com/beware-shady-voip-news/Why VoIP lead-generation articles like VoIP News can mislead businesses, and why not every network is ready for a VoIP phone system.Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMTOpinion