OldNews: Difference between revisions

From K-LUG Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
(19 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:




=== Technical Meeting: November 9th, 2017 ===
=== <strike>Technical Meeting</strike>  <strike>PIZZA!</strike>  CANCELLED: Thursday April 11th ===
The bad weather, courtesy of power outages, wins for tonight.


Cancelled due to no speaker volunteers.
<strike>No speaker, bad weather, sounds like a great night for pizza and socializing.  The usual meeting date and time (6 pm, Thursday April 11th), but we'll relocate to the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pizza+Ranch/@43.867592,-92.4914597,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f7564533a8f601:0x84f740738bc6192c!8m2!3d43.867592!4d-92.489271  Stewartville Pizza Ranch] pizza and chicken buffet. </strike>




Speaker needed, please let Tina know if you're willing to volunteer.  Willing to present but want to know what people have expressed interest in? Check out our [http://www.k-lug.org/index.php?title=Meetings&action=submit#Requested_topics_list requested topics] page.




=== Social:  March ===
<strike>What might you want to do?  Tell Tina. </strike>


6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA107.


[http://www.roch.edu/html-spectrum/getting_to_ucr.html  Directions to Campus]


[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/maps/heintzA.html  Heintz Center Building Map]


Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
=== Planned Social:  November 2017, TBD ===
Canceled  because the holidays are just too busy.
=== Social:  October 2017, TBD ===
We tried to play disc golf, and got (again/still) rained out.
Ideas can be found [http://www.k-lug.org/SocialMeeting here] or invent your own.  What would you like to do?  Tell Tina.
=== Technical Meeting: October 12th, 2017 ===
Paul Zellweger and Jason Thompson of ArborWay Labs, giving an update from their January presentation, on expansions to their automatic database application Studio.
And they're bringing dinner and beverages!
6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA107.
[http://www.roch.edu/html-spectrum/getting_to_ucr.html  Directions to Campus]
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/maps/heintzA.html  Heintz Center Building Map]
Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
=== Technical Meeting turned Social: September 14th, 2017 ===
Physics Force idea stolen - vortex cannon making smoke rings.  We'll build it and try to get it to work as our monthly social event, since we don't have a speaker.  Got any other fun child-safe physics experiment suggestions?  Bring your supplies!
6 pm, Tina's house (see email for directions).
=== Technical Meeting: August 10th, 2017 ===
Kevin, with his annual DefCon report.
6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA107.
[http://www.roch.edu/html-spectrum/getting_to_ucr.html  Directions to Campus]
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/maps/heintzA.html  Heintz Center Building Map]
Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
=== Social:  Sunday August 6th, 2017 ===
Ice cream social and kite flying! 
12:30 pm
Location:  [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Redwood+Ln+SW,+Rochester,+MN+55902/@43.989365,-92.4843012,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x87f758cbe6ddd805:0xcbd56f452d52bbef That park by Steve Fox's house], officially known as Pine Ridge Estates Park, on Redwood Lane SW.
This park has a nice playground for the littles, picnic tables, and room to fly kites, as well as usually being unpopulated.  The lack of trees and being on top of a hill mean it's pretty bug free even when there's not enough breeze to fly the kites.
Please bring your family and friends who might want to hang out.  Bring your own kites.  If you don't want to sit at the picnic tables or on the playground equipment, bring your own folding chair.  And bring your own beverage.  Tina will bring the ice cream.
=== Social:  Tuesday July 18th 2017 ===
CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN
6 pm
Disc golf!  Just up the road outside the RCTC field house.  [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217033483939111930234.0004a3795f42da701ae0b&msa=0&ll=44.015742,-92.422206&spn=0.003541,0.006942&iwloc=0004a37962daae4746296 Meet at the parking lot edge / field house doors], 6:30 pm.
=== Technical Meeting: July 13th, 2017 ===
Dennis DeLorme, giving a talk about Arduino programming.  He has provided the following summary:
---
I use Arduino based boards for various monitor and control projects. The Arduino has a variety of I/O  functions (digital, analog, serial, spi,
etc) but reasonable user interfaces are limited. Permanent storage options are also limited.
The Android has a nice graphical user interface and built in permanent storage.  The external I/O is limited to USB, audio or wireless. There are on board sensors but they are limited, particularly on low end devices.


My thought was to combine the rich Arduino I/O with the Android GUI and storage. The use of the Android I/O is complex which can limit its use.
=== Technical Meeting:  Thursday March 14th ===
I have found working examples for USB to serial and Blue Tooth interfaces. (I felt like I was back on the farm with a pitchfork sorting through the Internet sites to find a few pieces of usable code!)  I will present a simple demonstration of connecting an Arduino and Android to control an LED and sense temperature. (Note: even low end Androids have a "temperature sensor" but it measures the CPU temperature.)
Arhelger, on Wifi and Home Networking.


If you have an Android device with Blue Tooth, and are adventurous download Blue Serial by Plasty Grove from Google Play and bring it along. You can then do a demo of controlling my Arduino via Blue Tooth.
Everyone asks Kevin what he recommends for Wifi routers, so he's going to put all of his thoughts into slide form to document it for posterity. He'll cover the explosion of options over the past few years to help you figure out what the best option for your situation. If you're looking to upgrade, have complaints about Netflix constantly buffering, or want to make sure your network is secure, this ones for you.
This is the code I used as a base for my Blue Tooth interface. He (she?) has abandoned the project but gives the link to the source code in the "READ MORE" section. The source is for Eclipse but can be imported to Android Studio relatively painlessly.


---
File:http://k-lug.org/images/8/8e/AndroidInterface.pdf


This presentation will be recorded, FYI if that bothers you.  For those of you who don't make it, look for the recording afterwards.




6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA107.


[http://www.roch.edu/html-spectrum/getting_to_ucr.html  Directions to Campus]
We will also have a shorter presentation by George Chatzisofroniou, he's the lead author of [https://github.com/wifiphisher Wifiphisher], a free and open source tool that is available on GNU / Linux.


[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/maps/heintzA.html  Heintz Center Building Map]
Wi-Fi Security Testing with Open Source Tools


Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
In this presentation, audiences will learn about the open source tools available to penetration testers and the situations in which they apply. The presentation will demonstrate how to conduct attacks with the help of open source tools.






=== RochesterFest lunch: Thursday June 22nd ===
Happy Pi Day! The plan is to consume pie.
June downtown lunch at RochesterFest (Soldier's Field track oval), Thursday June 23rd, 11:30 am, weather permitting (rain date TBD).  For those of you downtown who aren't up to walking that far (or your schedule doesn't permit the extra time), they are doing [http://www.rochesterfest.com/trolley.php free trolley rides] again 11-2 from in front of the Marriott Hotel; and new this year they're adding a trolley run from St. Mary's (Monday and Thursday only, we got lucky).  Hopefully they will publish some coupons for food vendors again this year, if so I'll add a link later.  Here's a [http://www.rochesterfest.com/food.php map of the vendors] and a listing of items to be for sale.




6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA108.


=== Social: Saturday June 10th 10am - 2pm ===
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/1926+Collegeview+Rd+E,+Rochester,+MN+55904/@44.021027,-92.4379617,17z/ Directions to Campus]
Socializing at the Voldal's.  We will have options for outdoor weather and indoor weather. Bring your favorite outdoor or indoor games.  
We do have an old beagle, but she will either be upstairs or on a leash (so that she doesn't eat your food).
Here's a signup table so everyone can be aware of who's bringing what.
{| border="1"
! People !! Providing Food !! Other
|-
| Dee & Erik Voldal
| Light lunch of "make your own sandwich", and fruit, and a basic beverage selection of milk, juice, and water.
| Backyard games (bean bag, kubb, bocce, a single disc golf hole, kid pop-up tunnels, etc). Indoor activities (board games, table tennis, foosball, darts, kid toys).
|-
| Tina family of 4
| Vegetable pasta salad
| Something if outdoors.  If indoors weather, non-reading required board games.
|-
| Ed & Sylvia Fishel
| Potato salad
|
|-
| Will family of 3
| Not sure.  possibly potato chip assortment.
|
|-
| DeLorme empty nesters of 2
| Fresh Strawberries clean in a bowl
| Testicle toss (Connie made me say this) aka ladder golf
|-
| ?
|
|
|}


[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/ Campus layout]


 
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/heintz/heintz-a.html Heintz Center Building Map]
=== Technical Meeting: June 8th, 2017 ===
 
Vi Grey, on attacks used against 2-factor authentication, and why people should still be using 2-factor authentication wherever they can.
 
--
 
With account data breaches occurring at companies, a password alone isn't enough to protect our accounts.  Two-Factor Authentication has been introduced in more services, but it isn't perfect.  In this presentation, I explain the importance of Two-Factor Authentication and attacks against different forms of Two-Factor Authentication.  I will also be debuting my proof-of-concept Man-in-the-Middle attack on FIDO Universal Second Factor (U2F) USB hardware authentication.
 
--
 
PDF is [http://k-lug.org/images/c/ca/TwoFactorAuthentication_201706.pdf here].
 
 
6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA107.
 
[http://www.roch.edu/html-spectrum/getting_to_ucr.html  Directions to Campus]
 
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/maps/heintzA.html Heintz Center Building Map]


Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
Line 207: Line 53:




=== Rescheduled!  Social:  Tuesday May 30th 2017 ===
=== CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER! <strike> Social IceThursday February 7th, right after the Technical Presentation </strike> ===
Disc golf!  Just up the road outside the RCTC field house.  [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217033483939111930234.0004a3795f42da701ae0b&msa=0&ll=44.015742,-92.422206&spn=0.003541,0.006942&iwloc=0004a37962daae4746296 Meet at the parking lot edge / field house doors], 6:30 pm.
<strike>
 
Looking for a host to choose a time and location, and preferably at least one other person to commit to meeting up then/there, for this to happen yet tonight. Please email the list.
Note - our Tuesday May 16th and Tuesday May 23rd dates were watered out.
 
 
 
 
=== "Technical Meeting":  Thursday May 11, 2017 ===
We're going to a [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/physics-force-shows-tickets-26925604207 free physics show] at the Civic Center auditorium
 
7 pm, plan to show up early so we can try to sit together.


Lots of free tickets still as of the March 9th technical meeting.




=== CITO Social:  Wednesday April 26th ===
We're headed to Social Ice (aka SocialICE), an [https://www.downtownrochestermn.com/events/socialice outdoor ice bar on the downtown Peace Plaza], which if the -25 degree windchills as I'm writing this is any indication, will have no issues with melting or crowding this year (it's Minnesota, that may change).
Our annual clean up a corner of the world event, helping de-litter a local park as a part of Litter Bit Better.  As usual we're teaming up with the [https://coord.info/GC72ECA geocachers who get CITO credit]. 
 
Parking is [https://www.google.com/maps/place/44%C2%B001'25.3%22N+92%C2%B029'52.8%22W/@44.0237038,-92.500194,17z here] or [https://www.google.com/maps/place/44%C2%B001'24.7%22N+92%C2%B029'36.1%22W/@44.0235278,-92.4955498,17z here], in the SE or SW corners of the park.  The official group gathering location is on the SE corner of the park.
 
6 pm start time.
 
Bags and trash are provided, you need to provide your own gloves and a sense of civic duty. If anyone has some waterproof boots for cleaning the marshy stream edge, that'd be great too.
 
 
 
=== "March" Social:  Thursday April 20th ===
 
We will be going to the newly opened [http://www.d6gamesmn.com/ D6 Games], to support a new game store in town!  Bring cash for buying snacks for our table rent.
 
Thursday April 20th
6-10 pm
 
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/D6+Games/@44.056911,-92.4539646,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f9e01a41d71f8d:0xeb2c897ab7310492!8m2!3d44.056911!4d-92.4517759 3160 Wellner Dr. NE Ste. 200], the same parking area as Whistle Binkies North.
 
 
 
 
=== Technical Meeting: April 13th, 2017 ===
 
--
 
Topic: An Introduction to Docker
 
Containers seem to be the current buzzword, and Docker is at the head of the list. Join us for an introduction to the world of Docker containers, and a practical demonstration as well. We’ll look at how to use Docker from the command line, and how it can be managed via a web interface. We’ll also discuss some security aspects which various vendors are trying to address. The presentation will be interactive, with questions welcome.
 
Speaker: Robert Nix
 
Bob is a Linux Systems Engineer at Mayo Clinic, and has worked with operating systems for 18 years for Mayo, and another 20 before that at various large companies.
 
Here are [http://k-lug.org/images/a/a0/Docker.pdf his slides], most of the presentation was a live demo.
 
--
 
 
6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA107.
 
[http://www.roch.edu/html-spectrum/getting_to_ucr.html  Directions to Campus]
 
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/maps/heintzA.html  Heintz Center Building Map]
 
Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
 
 
 
=== Technical Meeting: March 9th, 2017 ===
 
The March meeting topic - you!  Yep, this meeting will be all about you, in a low-preparation way.
 
--
 
The topic for mini-presentations:  If you knew then what you know now, what if anything would you do differently for:
 
a) hardware choices
 
b) programming languages
 
c) software investments
 
d) job choice
 
e) where to invest your computer/tech-related volunteer time
 
f) anything else computer/tech related that you feel up to passing judgment on (if you have topics to suggest people brainstorm on, please send those to the list)
 
--
 
So please attend, and be prepared to offer some opinions.  No Powerpoint required.
 
As extra encouragement to attend, and for those of you who are PCIG members to be present for voting, don't forget that our annual March meeting is also a celebration of Pi day!  Courtesy of family support, we have semi-homemade peach pie, and thawed key lime pie, to enjoy.
 
 
And PCIG officer nominations and elections.
 
 
6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA107.
 
[http://www.roch.edu/html-spectrum/getting_to_ucr.html  Directions to Campus]
 
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/maps/heintzA.html  Heintz Center Building Map]
 
Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.


For those of you who also love photography, note that SocialIce 2019 is holding a photo contest, each of 6 winners will receive a $50 gift card, details on the SocialICE Page.


When and where?  The group attending the technical meeting will head there whenever it's a good time to have wrapped up the presentation, and they'll have their own meet up location chosen.  So plan to attend the technical meeting first.
</strike>




=== <strike> Technical Meeting</strike> Social : February 9th, 2017 ===


We did not get any volunteers for speakers, so we'll go play instead.
=== CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER!!  <strike>Technical Meeting:  Thursday February 7th <- Note date change! </strike> ===


We're going to hang out at the Machine Shed. Costs are:
Due to weather, RCTC is closed, so there will be no technical meeting tonight.  Rescheduled for the usual 2nd Thursday, but in March.


$10 ages 13+


$5 ages 8-12


7 and under are free with paid adult
<strike> This meeting has been moved to avoid Valentines Day!  I don't want to be in trouble with anyone's spouse or significant other.


The [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MachineShed/ Machine Shed website].
Arhelger, on Wifi and Home Networking.


They're open from 4-8 pm, and the cost is flat per session, so if you feel like arriving early for longer gaming that's certainly fine.  They also sell snacks, drinks, and pizza, so you can come straight after work.
Everyone asks Kevin what he recommends for Wifi routers, so he's going to put all of his thoughts into slide form to document it for posterity. He'll cover the explosion of options over the past few years to help you figure out what the best option for your situation. If you're looking to upgrade, have complaints about Netflix constantly buffering, or want to make sure your network is secure, this ones for you.


They are located at [https://www.google.com/maps/place/11+2nd+St+NE,+Rochester,+MN+55906/@44.0255146,-92.4643205,17z/ 11 2nd St NE], Rochester, MN 55906 in the east portion of the Wausau Homes building (look for the two large garage doors and the entry door).


This presentation will be recorded, FYI if that bothers you.  For those of you who don't make it, look for the recording afterwards.


Note that the signage is almost non-existent, they have a plain text-only sign on the appropriate door, but no big sign on the building.  The parking lot there IS for customers, or you can park on the street.  I won't be attending, you'll have to gather around someone else.
We may also have a mini-presentation by someone new to town, on wifiphisher, we'll let you know when we have more details ironed out.




Immediately afterwards, at whatever time the meeting wraps up, those interested will go to Social Ice downtown on the Peace Plaza for our February social, led by Arhelger.  So if you want to attend this social, make sure you attend the meeting, or have coordinated communication with Arhelger in advance.  See the separate Social Ice posting below too.


=== Social:  Saturday February 4th ===
More presentation details expected to be posted on Friday February 1st.
We will go for a [http://www.rochesterwinterfest.com/2016/01/06/winterfest-sleigh-rides/ sleigh ride at WinterFest] for our February social.  That's Saturday, February 4th, at 10 am. 


[https://www.google.com/maps/place/44%C2%B000'14.4%22N+92%C2%B030'46.4%22W/@44.0040188,-92.5150877,17z/ Park along the road on Salem Road], the sleigh rides are north of the road behind the History Center.


6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA108.


[https://www.google.com/maps/place/1926+Collegeview+Rd+E,+Rochester,+MN+55904/@44.021027,-92.4379617,17z/ Directions to Campus]


=== Social:  Tuesday January 24th, 2017, 6 pm ===
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/ Campus layout]
We're going to hang out at the Machine Shed, thanks go to Mark D for the idea.  Here is some [http://k-lug.org/images/2/2b/MachineShed201611.pdf recent advertising from the local newspapers].


From [https://www.facebook.com/machineshedrochester/posts/ their Facebook page], it looks like costs are:
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/heintz/heintz-a.html Heintz Center Building Map]


$10 ages 13+
Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know - but Tina won't be running this meeting, I'll let you know when I know who will be.


$5 ages 8-12
</strike>


7 and under are free with paid adult


The [https://www.facebook.com/groups/MachineShed/ Machine Shed website].


They're open from 4-8 pm, and the cost is flat per session, so if you feel like arriving early for longer gaming that's certainly fine.  They also sell snacks, drinks, and pizza, so you can come straight after work.


They are located at [https://www.google.com/maps/place/11+2nd+St+NE,+Rochester,+MN+55906/@44.0255146,-92.4643205,17z/ 11 2nd St NE], Rochester, MN 55906 in the east portion of the Wausau Homes building (look for the two large garage doors and the entry door).
=== "January" Social:  Saturday February 2nd ===
Sleigh rides!  We will go for a [https://www.rochesterwinterfest.com/events/sleighrides sleigh ride at WinterFest] for our "January" social.  This is an annual favorite with the smaller geekazoids. In fact I think we've even made the advertising photo for this public event, I suspect that mini-Schmidt is in pink on the top of the snowpile and my own blaze orange snowpants can be seen behind the horses to the right of mini-Schmidt.


Saturday, February 2nd, at 10 am.


Note that the signage is almost non-existent, they have a plain text-only sign on the appropriate door, but no big sign on the building.  The parking lot there IS for customers, or you can park on the street.  I won't be attending, you'll have to gather around someone else.
Park along the road on Salem Road, the sleigh rides are north of the road behind the History Center.  


Plan to gather around the Schmidt family.  Sorry, no easily identifiable blaze orange to gather around this year.






=== Technical Meeting:  Thursday January 10th, 2019 ===
Dennis DeLorme on his Garagenator (that's garage doing the work of a refrigerator), involving WiFi/Web based temperature sensor/logger:


<blockquote style="
color: black;
background-color: #eaecf0;
border: solid thin gray;
padding-top: 10px;
padding-right: 10px;
padding-bottom: 10px;
padding-left: 10px;
">
Did you have the family gathering at your place for Thanksgiving? Did you run out of space in the refrigerator? Did you wonder if the garage temperature was safe for overflow food storage? If so you needed the GARAGERATOR - the WiFi/Web solution to garage temperature monitoring.


=== Technical Meeting: January 12th, 2017 ===
In this presentation I'll describe how to use an under $10 WiFi module as a web server to monitor and log temperature. The "user interface" is via a web browser on a laptop, tablet, or cell phone. No special hardware or software is needed on the user side.


Paul Zellweger and Jason Thompson of ArborWay Labs, on their automatic database application Studio.  [http://k-lug.org/images/3/3f/ArborWayLabsJAN122017.pdf Handout / presentation outline]
I will demonstrate the web server as an Access Point (a stand alone
network) to collect and download data. This requires no additional networking, so it is not dependent on a local network.


It can also be connected as a station on a local network and accessible to any device on the local network. I will describe how to do this (it is only a few lines of code difference). I don't know that I will be able to demonstrate this on the RCTC network - as I recall they had some additional interactions to sign on to their open network.


ArborWay Labs presents a demonstration of its automatic relational technology or ART Studio
I will cover the hardware and software used in the project. For those that want to get a head start - the hardware is an ESP8266 module, a
DS3231 rtc, and a DS18B20 temperature sensor. The software is developed using the Arduino IDE with extensions for the ESP8266 (https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino).


ArborWay Labs will present a live demonstration of its automated
NOTE: This is not an "Internet Of Things" (IOT) presentation. It could be connected directly to the Internet, but I lack the security knowledge (or, alternately, the level of stupidity) required to do that. It can, of course, access the internet via a local network - like other devices on a local network.
relational technology system called the ART Studio. It is a proof of concept that
</blockquote>
generates database applications automatically using context-sensitive interfaces that
guide designers through our step-by-step process. In the first half of our presentation,
we will explain how and why our technology breaks new ground with the RDBMS on the
white board. Next, we will build a small database application from a 5-table database
system that will be posted on our server. The audience will be encouraged to browse
and explore the “100 Best TV Episodes database” on their own personal computing
devices. This part of the demonstration will be limited to smart phones, tablets, and
laptops. Stay tuned for the launch of our smart watch database applications in the
Summer’17.


ArborWay Labs is a Rochester, MN based start-up that aims to change the way today’s
professionals build and distribute database applications. With ArborWay’s ART Studio,
database applications are generated by a design activity that automates the production
of SQL, object-relational mapping, and all code that was previously crafted by hand.




It is rumored Dennis may be having a birthday (and providing cupcakes), and ArborWay is providing two pizzas.
KLUG officer nominations and elections (president, vice president, treasurer).


PCIG officer nominations.


Also, K-LUG officer elections, and PCIG officer nominations.
6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA108.




6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA107.
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/1926+Collegeview+Rd+E,+Rochester,+MN+55904/@44.021027,-92.4379617,17z/ Directions to Campus]


[http://www.roch.edu/html-spectrum/getting_to_ucr.html  Directions to Campus]
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/ Campus layout]


[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/maps/heintzA.html Heintz Center Building Map]
[http://www.rctc.edu/campustour/heintz/heintz-a.html Heintz Center Building Map]


Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
Anything else you want to see on the agenda?  Let Tina know.
Line 413: Line 166:
=== Older News ===
=== Older News ===


* [[OldNews2018]]
* [[OldNews2017]]
* [[OldNews2016]]
* [[OldNews2016]]
* [[OldNews2015]]
* [[OldNews2015]]

Revision as of 19:44, 15 April 2019



Technical Meeting PIZZA! CANCELLED: Thursday April 11th

The bad weather, courtesy of power outages, wins for tonight.

No speaker, bad weather, sounds like a great night for pizza and socializing. The usual meeting date and time (6 pm, Thursday April 11th), but we'll relocate to the Stewartville Pizza Ranch pizza and chicken buffet.



Social: March

What might you want to do? Tell Tina.



Technical Meeting: Thursday March 14th

Arhelger, on Wifi and Home Networking.

Everyone asks Kevin what he recommends for Wifi routers, so he's going to put all of his thoughts into slide form to document it for posterity. He'll cover the explosion of options over the past few years to help you figure out what the best option for your situation. If you're looking to upgrade, have complaints about Netflix constantly buffering, or want to make sure your network is secure, this ones for you.


This presentation will be recorded, FYI if that bothers you. For those of you who don't make it, look for the recording afterwards.


We will also have a shorter presentation by George Chatzisofroniou, he's the lead author of Wifiphisher, a free and open source tool that is available on GNU / Linux.

Wi-Fi Security Testing with Open Source Tools

In this presentation, audiences will learn about the open source tools available to penetration testers and the situations in which they apply. The presentation will demonstrate how to conduct attacks with the help of open source tools.


Happy Pi Day! The plan is to consume pie.


6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA108.

Directions to Campus

Campus layout

Heintz Center Building Map

Anything else you want to see on the agenda? Let Tina know.



CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER! Social Ice: Thursday February 7th, right after the Technical Presentation

Looking for a host to choose a time and location, and preferably at least one other person to commit to meeting up then/there, for this to happen yet tonight. Please email the list.


We're headed to Social Ice (aka SocialICE), an outdoor ice bar on the downtown Peace Plaza, which if the -25 degree windchills as I'm writing this is any indication, will have no issues with melting or crowding this year (it's Minnesota, that may change).

For those of you who also love photography, note that SocialIce 2019 is holding a photo contest, each of 6 winners will receive a $50 gift card, details on the SocialICE Page.

When and where? The group attending the technical meeting will head there whenever it's a good time to have wrapped up the presentation, and they'll have their own meet up location chosen. So plan to attend the technical meeting first.


CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER!! Technical Meeting: Thursday February 7th <- Note date change!

Due to weather, RCTC is closed, so there will be no technical meeting tonight. Rescheduled for the usual 2nd Thursday, but in March.


This meeting has been moved to avoid Valentines Day! I don't want to be in trouble with anyone's spouse or significant other.

Arhelger, on Wifi and Home Networking.

Everyone asks Kevin what he recommends for Wifi routers, so he's going to put all of his thoughts into slide form to document it for posterity. He'll cover the explosion of options over the past few years to help you figure out what the best option for your situation. If you're looking to upgrade, have complaints about Netflix constantly buffering, or want to make sure your network is secure, this ones for you.


This presentation will be recorded, FYI if that bothers you. For those of you who don't make it, look for the recording afterwards.

We may also have a mini-presentation by someone new to town, on wifiphisher, we'll let you know when we have more details ironed out.


Immediately afterwards, at whatever time the meeting wraps up, those interested will go to Social Ice downtown on the Peace Plaza for our February social, led by Arhelger. So if you want to attend this social, make sure you attend the meeting, or have coordinated communication with Arhelger in advance. See the separate Social Ice posting below too.

More presentation details expected to be posted on Friday February 1st.


6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA108.

Directions to Campus

Campus layout

Heintz Center Building Map

Anything else you want to see on the agenda? Let Tina know - but Tina won't be running this meeting, I'll let you know when I know who will be.



"January" Social: Saturday February 2nd

Sleigh rides! We will go for a sleigh ride at WinterFest for our "January" social. This is an annual favorite with the smaller geekazoids. In fact I think we've even made the advertising photo for this public event, I suspect that mini-Schmidt is in pink on the top of the snowpile and my own blaze orange snowpants can be seen behind the horses to the right of mini-Schmidt.

Saturday, February 2nd, at 10 am.

Park along the road on Salem Road, the sleigh rides are north of the road behind the History Center.

Plan to gather around the Schmidt family. Sorry, no easily identifiable blaze orange to gather around this year.


Technical Meeting: Thursday January 10th, 2019

Dennis DeLorme on his Garagenator (that's garage doing the work of a refrigerator), involving WiFi/Web based temperature sensor/logger:

Did you have the family gathering at your place for Thanksgiving? Did you run out of space in the refrigerator? Did you wonder if the garage temperature was safe for overflow food storage? If so you needed the GARAGERATOR - the WiFi/Web solution to garage temperature monitoring.

In this presentation I'll describe how to use an under $10 WiFi module as a web server to monitor and log temperature. The "user interface" is via a web browser on a laptop, tablet, or cell phone. No special hardware or software is needed on the user side.

I will demonstrate the web server as an Access Point (a stand alone network) to collect and download data. This requires no additional networking, so it is not dependent on a local network.

It can also be connected as a station on a local network and accessible to any device on the local network. I will describe how to do this (it is only a few lines of code difference). I don't know that I will be able to demonstrate this on the RCTC network - as I recall they had some additional interactions to sign on to their open network.

I will cover the hardware and software used in the project. For those that want to get a head start - the hardware is an ESP8266 module, a DS3231 rtc, and a DS18B20 temperature sensor. The software is developed using the Arduino IDE with extensions for the ESP8266 (https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino).

NOTE: This is not an "Internet Of Things" (IOT) presentation. It could be connected directly to the Internet, but I lack the security knowledge (or, alternately, the level of stupidity) required to do that. It can, of course, access the internet via a local network - like other devices on a local network.


KLUG officer nominations and elections (president, vice president, treasurer).

PCIG officer nominations.

6 pm, in or near RCTC Heintz Center's HA108.


Directions to Campus

Campus layout

Heintz Center Building Map

Anything else you want to see on the agenda? Let Tina know.



Older News

OLD SITE

Content from our old website can be accessed here.