# The House's Gear

Source: https://congregationoftomorrow.org/gear/ · The Congregation of Tomorrow · the same words a person sees on this page.
Our own words are free to use under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), naming the Congregation of Tomorrow.

The House's Gear
Every part, within reach.
What the house means to run on, laid out like a dossier: what each part does, what it costs and where it was seen, what it draws, how to fix it, and how it all works together.
### I · What the house runs on now
The house server
A small office desktop (HP EliteDesk 800 G3 SFF: Intel Core i5-7500, 16 GB memory, one 512 GB NVMe drive). It carries the house's records, its library and its services, day and night. A good machine of a kind sold by the million: every part is standard and every part can still be bought.
Its backups
One 1 TB USB SSD plugged into the server for the nightly copy, and a full copy kept away from the house, locked up, in the hands of someone outside the household. Every copy is refreshed and read-checked once a year, on 6 September. What it still needs: a restore from it proved on a spare machine, and a second drive so a copy is always away while the other is refreshed.
Its network
Its gigabit port links at only 100 megabits: a tenth of what it can do. That is nearly always a worn cable or a slow switch port, and it costs a few dollars to mend.
Its power
Straight from the wall. A blink of the power stops everything mid-write, and nothing protects it from a surge.
The work machine
One laptop (Ryzen 5, 16 GB), which is also where work is done.
The phones
Five Android phones in the household's hands.
The record's keeper
The sun-powered Hundred-Year Node is drawn on the Blueprints, not yet built.
### II · What the gear must do
- Keep running through the short outages Florida gets, and shut down cleanly in the long ones.
- Lose nothing: every record on two disks inside the server and on one copy kept away from the house.
- Be mended by anyone in the house with a screwdriver, from parts any store sells, without a technician.
- Draw little power, so the bill stays small and a battery can carry it.
- Work together: one power line, one network, one backup routine, nothing that needs its own app or account to run.
- Be ready for the future by being plain: standard parts, open formats, nothing that stops working if a company does.
- Stay in the household's reach: no part dearer than a month's spare money, and the whole bought a little at a time.
### III · How it all fits together
- Power runs one way: the wall feeds the battery backup, and the battery backup feeds the server, the network switch and the internet box. In an outage the battery carries all three, and tells the server when to shut itself down.
- The network is one small switch: the server, the internet box and the laptop all plug into it with tested cables.
- The records live on two drives inside the server, each a copy of the other, so one can die without loss. Each night a copy goes to the backup drive; once a month that drive changes places with a second one kept away from the house.
- Once a year the core is burned to M-DISC and kept apart, readable with no power and no internet.
- The Hundred-Year Node stands on its own sun and battery, and takes its copy over the network when the network is there.
### IV · The power, worked out
The UPS is rated 1500 VA / 1000 W: far more than a small server, an internet box and a switch will ever ask.
The real draw is not guessed here: once the UPS is in, its own screen shows the watts, and that number goes on this page.
In a long outage the UPS tells the server to shut down cleanly. The server waits, whole, for the power to come back.
### Every part
Each part is a card: what it does, why this one, its price and where it was seen, its power, how to fix it, what it works with, how long it lasts, its spare, and what it is made from.
### V · Get now: the core
What protects the house today. The Elon lane's cut, priced and sourced.
This tier: $486 + $80 to $150 (rough, not yet sourced)
### CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS
CP1500PFCLCD
What it does
Line-interactive pure sine wave battery backup (1500 VA / 1000 W) for server, router and switch; rides out short outages and allows a clean shutdown over USB.
Why this one
Florida blinks and storms stop the server mid-write. This carries the server, the internet box and the switch, and tells the server to shut itself down before the battery runs out. Its own screen shows the watts drawn, so no separate meter is needed.
Price
$240 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Amazon.com; SALE: 13% below the $274.95 list price (CyberPower MSRP also $274.95).
To fix it
User-replaceable battery (CyberPower: RB1290X2, or RB1280X2B by serial); 3-year warranty including batteries; 4 ms transfer time; 12 outlets (6 battery).
Works with
The server (over USB, for the safe shutdown), the internet box and the switch, all on its battery side.
How long it lasts
The battery about 3 to 5 years; the unit far longer.
The spare
A replacement battery pack of the same model, when the first one tires.
Cheaper choice
CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD (1000 VA / 600 W, same family) · $180
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Lead-acid batteries (inside a UPS such as CyberPower or APC): Lead ore mining → Refining and recycling lead → Lead-acid battery cells → UPS assembly → To a shop in Florida, and back for recycling
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### Monoprice SlimRun Cat6A patch cable, 3 ft, 5-pack
Monoprice 136200 (30 AWG, snagless)
What it does
Fresh certified patch cables for server, router and switch; a bad cable is the usual cause of a 100 Mbps link.
Why this one
The server's port runs at a tenth of its speed, and that is nearly always the cable. Swap it first, before buying anything else.
Price
$16 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Amazon.com; SALE: 20% below the $19.68 typical price.
To fix it
Standard RJ45; cheap to replace. Cat6A is backward-compatible with Cat6/5e.
Works with
Any network port; Cat6A plugs into anything gigabit or slower.
How long it lasts
Until damaged.
The spare
The rest of the five-pack.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Copper cable (Cat6): Copper mining → Smelting and refining copper → Wire rod and drawn wire → Twisting pairs and jacketing (PVC) into Cat6 → To a shop in Florida
### A second server, kept at another house
What it does
A used machine of the same model, kept away from the house, that takes a copy of everything every night.
Why this one
The best idea in this plan. The away copy is never more than a day old, and the machine can take over if the house is lost. It is also where the quarterly rebuild is practised. One box covers a dead power supply, board, memory or drive at once.
Price
price not found
To fix it
Every part is the same as the server's, so either machine can lend the other a part.
How long it lasts
Seven to ten years.
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Memory and drives (DRAM, NAND SSDs, hard drives): Silicon wafers (same start as chips) → DRAM memory fabs → NAND flash fabs (the chips inside SSDs) → Memory modules and SSDs: assembly and test → Hard drives: heads, platters and drive assembly → To a shop in Florida
### Seagate Portable 4TB external USB 3.0 hard drive
STGX4000400
What it does
Second large backup drive to keep off-site (rotate with the T7).
Why this one
A full copy is already kept away from the house. This second drive lets one copy always stay away while the other is brought home and refreshed.
Price
$190 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Amazon.com; no sale shown. HDD prices are high in late 2026.
To fix it
Bus-powered, nothing user-serviceable; listing says 1-year warranty plus a Rescue data-recovery plan. A review notes it is SMR (slow on big rewrites).
Works with
Any USB port; encrypted before it leaves the house.
How long it lasts
About five years.
The spare
The other drive of the pair.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Memory and drives (DRAM, NAND SSDs, hard drives): Silicon wafers (same start as chips) → DRAM memory fabs → NAND flash fabs (the chips inside SSDs) → Memory modules and SSDs: assembly and test → Hard drives: heads, platters and drive assembly → To a shop in Florida
### iFixit Mako Driver Kit, 64 precision bits
Mako
What it does
Precision bits (Phillips, Torx, hex, pentalobe and more, 4 mm shank) for the server, phones and laptop.
Why this one
One kit opens everything on this page, so every mend can be done at home.
Price
$40 · Amazon, 2026-11-03; same $39.95 on the iFixit store; no sale.
To fix it
iFixit Lifetime Guarantee (they replace broken tools); standard 4 mm bits, includes 1/4-inch adapter.
Works with
Every screw on the server, the drives, the UPS and the node.
How long it lasts
A lifetime; the maker replaces broken bits.
Cheaper choice
iFixit Moray Driver Kit (32 bits) + precision tweezers bundle · $30
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Tool steel (S2 or chrome-vanadium screwdriver bits): Iron ore mining → Steelmaking → Alloying metals: chromium and vanadium → Machining, hardening and kitting the bits → To a shop in Florida
### VI · Only if measured first
Bought only when the house's own numbers show the need.
This tier: $596 + $3,000 to $8,000 (rough, not yet sourced)
### Crucial 32GB kit (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 UDIMM
CT2K16G4DFD824A
What it does
Takes the server from 16 GB to 48 GB (with the old pair kept) or 32 GB (replacing it); the SFF has 4 DIMM slots, up to 64 GB.
Why this one
Only if the server is shown to be running short of memory. Nothing so far says it is, and memory costs far more this year than it did.
Price
$196 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by third-party seller DEVECHO INC, no sale shown. DDR4 prices are very high in late 2026.
To fix it
Standard 288-pin non-ECC unbuffered DDR4 at 1.2 V, CL17; listing states a limited lifetime warranty; customer-replaceable (HP: all slots customer accessible).
Works with
The server's four memory slots (up to 64 GB).
How long it lasts
The life of the machine.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Memory and drives (DRAM, NAND SSDs, hard drives): Silicon wafers (same start as chips) → DRAM memory fabs → NAND flash fabs (the chips inside SSDs) → Memory modules and SSDs: assembly and test → Hard drives: heads, platters and drive assembly → To a shop in Florida
### Crucial BX500 2TB 2.5-inch SATA SSD
CT2000BX500SSD1Z
What it does
Second internal drive for bulk data, in the SFF's 2.5-inch bay (the NVMe slot stays the system drive).
Why this one
A second drive inside the server, mirrored with the first, so one can die without a stop. Worth having once the restore has been proved.
Price
$290 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by third-party seller Platinum Micro, Inc.; not a sale. SSD prices are very high in late 2026.
To fix it
Standard 2.5-inch 7 mm SATA; Crucial lists a 3-year limited warranty (flyer, could not open). DRAM-less budget drive: fine for a data/backup disk, slower on long writes.
Works with
The server's free 2.5-inch bay.
How long it lasts
Five to ten years.
Cheaper choice
Seagate BarraCuda 2TB 3.5-inch HDD ST2000DM008 (fits one of the SFF's 3.5-inch bays) · $119
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Memory and drives (DRAM, NAND SSDs, hard drives): Silicon wafers (same start as chips) → DRAM memory fabs → NAND flash fabs (the chips inside SSDs) → Memory modules and SSDs: assembly and test → Hard drives: heads, platters and drive assembly → To a shop in Florida
### TP-Link TL-SG108 8-port gigabit unmanaged switch
TL-SG108
What it does
Metal-case fanless gigabit switch; replacing the old switch/cable is the likely fix for the I219-LM linking at 100 Mbps.
Why this one
Only if a new cable does not mend the slow link.
Price
$20 · Amazon, 2026-11-03; no sale shown in the price block.
Power
3.3 W max (TP-Link spec) · the maker's sheet
To fix it
External 9 VDC 0.6 A power adapter, a cheap standard part to replace; fanless. Warranty not stated on the spec page.
Works with
The server, the internet box and the laptop.
How long it lasts
Ten years and more.
Cheaper choice
Netgear GS308 8-port gigabit · $21
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Copper cable (Cat6): Copper mining → Smelting and refining copper → Wire rod and drawn wire → Twisting pairs and jacketing (PVC) into Cat6 → To a shop in Florida
### Klein Tools LAN Scout Jr. 2 cable tester
VDV526-200
What it does
Checks each pair of an Ethernet cable (opens, shorts, miswires, split pairs) so you can prove which cable is bad.
Why this one
Only if cables keep failing. A new cable is cheaper than a tester.
Price
$60 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Amazon.com; no sale shown.
To fix it
Runs on standard batteries (included); Klein is a long-lived US tool brand; listing says call vendor for warranty.
How long it lasts
Many years.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### P3 Kill A Watt electricity usage monitor
P4400
What it does
Plug-in meter that shows real watts, volts, amps, VA, power factor and kWh for the server, UPS and node.
Why this one
The UPS shows the watts for what is plugged into it; this is only for measuring things elsewhere.
Price
$30 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by third-party Timers Plus; no sale shown.
To fix it
No user parts; listing states 1-year limited warranty. Maker: 0.2% accuracy, max 15 A / 1875 VA.
How long it lasts
Many years.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### A local AI machine
What it does
One or two 24 GB-class graphics cards, so the house's own models run at home.
Why this one
Only if measured. Local AI is for emergencies by the house's own rule, and the laptop's own graphics card already carries that.
Price
price not found
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Memory and drives (DRAM, NAND SSDs, hard drives): Silicon wafers (same start as chips) → DRAM memory fabs → NAND flash fabs (the chips inside SSDs) → Memory modules and SSDs: assembly and test → Hard drives: heads, platters and drive assembly → To a shop in Florida
### VII · Parked for a later year
Good projects that do not run the house today.
This tier: $1,107
### Raspberry Pi 5, 4GB
Raspberry Pi 5 4GB
What it does
Low-power computer for the Hundred-Year Node.
Why this one
The computer of the Hundred-Year Node, drawn on the Blueprints.
Price
$130 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by third-party MemoryWhiz; no sale shown. Board only (no PSU, case, storage).
Power
Needs a 5 V / 5 A USB-C supply (up to 25 W); idle draw not listed by the maker · the maker's sheet
To fix it
Raspberry Pi says it stays in production until at least January 2036; uses standard microSD or NVMe via HAT.
Cheaper choice
Raspberry Pi 5, 8GB · $200
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### LiTime 12V 100Ah Group 31 LiFePO4 battery
LiTime 12V 100Ah (100 A BMS)
What it does
1280 Wh storage battery for the node.
Why this one
The node's battery: safe chemistry, thousands of cycles.
Price
$302 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Li Time US; SALE: 10% below $335.99 list. Non-returnable (hazmat).
Power
1280 Wh capacity (listing) · the maker's sheet
To fix it
Listing: 5-year warranty, 100 A BMS, IP65, M8 terminals, up to 4S4P; sealed pack (cells not user-serviceable).
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
LiFePO4 batteries (12 V 100 Ah battery, power stations): Lithium mining (rock and brine) → Lithium chemicals, phosphoric acid, and graphite → Cathode (lithium iron phosphate) and anode (graphite) → Battery cells, then the 12 V pack or power station → To a shop in Florida
### Renogy 200W N-type rigid solar panel (16BB)
Renogy 200 W N-type (24 V-class)
What it does
Charges the node battery through the MPPT controller.
Why this one
The node's sun.
Price
$170 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Amazon.com; 6% below the $179.99 typical price.
Power
200 W at STC; Voc 37.44 V, Vmp 31.03 V (listing) · the maker's sheet
To fix it
Rigid glass panel with MC4 leads; standard parts.
Cheaper choice
Newpowa 200W 12V monocrystalline panel (true 12 V-class) · $175
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Solar panels: Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon → Ingots and wafers → Solar cells → Modules (panels) → To a shop in Florida
### Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 (Bluetooth)
SCC075015060R
What it does
Solar charge controller for the 12 V LiFePO4 battery, with a load output and app monitoring.
Why this one
Keeps the battery charged right and safe from heat and cold.
Price
$136 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, no featured offer; lowest new offer from third-party Monody Trading; not a sale.
Power
Self-consumption 10 mA at 12 V with load off (about 0.12 W), 19 mA with load on (Victron datasheet) · the maker's sheet
To fix it
Victron product page cites a 5-year standard warranty; screw terminals; IP43 electronics.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### Allied Moulded NEMA 4X polycarbonate enclosure 14 x 12 x 6
AMP1426L
What it does
Weatherproof box for the node electronics.
Why this one
Keeps out rain, dust and salt.
Price
$136 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by third-party Solutions Direct Online; no sale shown.
To fix it
Plain box; drill your own glands; mounting feet included.
Spec
the maker's page
### Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 (915 MHz)
HTIT-WB32LA V3 (ESP32-S3 + SX1262)
What it does
Meshtastic LoRa radio for the node.
Why this one
Speaks with no internet and no phones.
Price
$20 · Heltec store, 2026-11-03, listed at $17.90 to $19.90 depending on option; no sale shown. Ships from China.
To fix it
Onboard SH1.25-2 battery connector; IPEX antenna connector; up to 21 dBm TX (Heltec).
Cheaper choice
LilyGO T-Beam 915 MHz soldered OLED (US warehouse), has GPS and an 18650 holder · $38
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Radios (Meshtastic boards: Semtech SX1262 LoRa chip, Espressif ESP32): Silicon and wafers → The LoRa radio chip (Semtech SX1262) → The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth processor (Espressif ESP32) → Board assembly (Heltec, LILYGO, RAK, Seeed and others) → To a shop in Florida
### ASUS SBW-06D5H-U external slim Blu-ray / M-DISC writer
SBW-06D5H-U
What it does
Burns M-DISC BD-R archival discs (ASUS lists BD-R M-DISC write at 4X), USB Type-A and Type-C.
Why this one
Burns the record to discs readable with no power and no internet. Parked: an archive must be restored from to count.
Price
$187 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Amazon Germany (import); no sale shown.
To fix it
USB-powered external drive, nothing user-serviceable; warranty not stated on the listing.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Optical discs (M-DISC BD-R): Polycarbonate plastic and the recording layer → Licensing the M-DISC design → Disc pressing → To a shop in Florida
### Verbatim M DISC BD-R 25GB 4X inkjet-printable, 10-pack spindle
Verbatim 43825
What it does
Archival write-once discs with an inorganic data layer for the long-term copy.
Why this one
The discs themselves.
Price
$25 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Amazon.com; no sale shown.
To fix it
Consumable. Listing: 10-Year Limited Warranty; lifetime claim of several hundred years based on ISO/IEC 16963 testing (maker claim).
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Optical discs (M-DISC BD-R): Polycarbonate plastic and the recording layer → Licensing the M-DISC design → Disc pressing → To a shop in Florida
### VIII · The house fully grown
Everything the house would ever want, if money were no object: so the whole road is in view, and the first steps are the right ones.
This tier: $96 + $29,780 to $55,150 (rough, not yet sourced)
### Klein Tools MM325 digital multimeter, manual-ranging 600 V
MM325
What it does
Checks battery voltage, PSU rails, fuses, continuity and solar wiring.
Why this one
For the node's wiring, and for finding a dead power supply for sure.
Price
$30 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by Amazon.com; SALE: 14% below $34.97 list.
To fix it
CAT III 600 V, 10 A DC, runs on 2 x AAA; replaceable test leads. Warranty terms not stated on the maker page.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Tool steel (S2 or chrome-vanadium screwdriver bits): Iron ore mining → Steelmaking → Alloying metals: chromium and vanadium → Machining, hardening and kitting the bits → To a shop in Florida
### Brother P-touch PT-D210 label maker
PT-D210
What it does
Labels cables, drives, disc sleeves and breakers; uses standard Brother TZe tapes up to 12 mm.
Why this one
Every cable labelled at both ends.
Price
$66 · Amazon, 2026-11-03, sold by third-party Supplying Families; no sale shown (another listing was $68.00).
To fix it
Runs on 6 x AAA or an AC adapter (sold separately); TZe tape is widely sold, including third-party.
Spec
the maker's page
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### Whole-house solar with a home battery
What it does
About 10 kW of panels and 13 to 27 kWh of storage, so the house never goes dark.
Why this one
Last of all. A power station and a generator give most of the safety for a sliver of the cost.
Price
price not found
Made from
Solar panels: Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon → Ingots and wafers → Solar cells → Modules (panels) → To a shop in Florida
Made from
LiFePO4 batteries (12 V 100 Ah battery, power stations): Lithium mining (rock and brine) → Lithium chemicals, phosphoric acid, and graphite → Cathode (lithium iron phosphate) and anode (graphite) → Battery cells, then the 12 V pack or power station → To a shop in Florida
### Starlink, as the storm-proof internet
What it does
Internet by satellite when the ground lines are down.
Why this one
The house stays reachable through a hurricane. Seventh in the order: storm backup.
Price
price not found
Made from
The satellite dish (Starlink kit): Silicon, copper and other materials → Circuit boards and packaged chips → Kit assembly → To a shop in Florida
### One satellite messenger for the household
What it does
Texts with no cell towers (Garmin inReach class).
Why this one
For trips and an evacuation. At home, satellite internet covers it.
Price
price not found
Made from
The satellite dish (Starlink kit): Silicon, copper and other materials → Circuit boards and packaged chips → Kit assembly → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### A GMRS base and family handhelds
What it does
Talk across town with no phones; one family licence.
Why this one
The family can find each other in a storm. Fifth in the order: one family licence covers everyone.
Price
price not found
Made from
Radios (Meshtastic boards: Semtech SX1262 LoRa chip, Espressif ESP32): Silicon and wafers → The LoRa radio chip (Semtech SX1262) → The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth processor (Espressif ESP32) → Board assembly (Heltec, LILYGO, RAK, Seeed and others) → To a shop in Florida
### A second Hundred-Year Node at a relative's
What it does
The record kept on its own sun in a second place.
Why this one
Two places, so one storm cannot take both.
Price
price not found
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
Made from
LiFePO4 batteries (12 V 100 Ah battery, power stations): Lithium mining (rock and brine) → Lithium chemicals, phosphoric acid, and graphite → Cathode (lithium iron phosphate) and anode (graphite) → Battery cells, then the 12 V pack or power station → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Solar panels: Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon → Ingots and wafers → Solar cells → Modules (panels) → To a shop in Florida
### A fire- and water-rated safe
What it does
For the discs and the paper core.
Why this one
The record survives a fire.
Price
price not found
Made from
Tool steel (S2 or chrome-vanadium screwdriver bits): Iron ore mining → Steelmaking → Alloying metals: chromium and vanadium → Machining, hardening and kitting the bits → To a shop in Florida
### A repairable laptop for each worker
What it does
Standard parts, every one replaceable (Framework class).
Why this one
Bought only when a laptop dies, never before.
Price
price not found
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Memory and drives (DRAM, NAND SSDs, hard drives): Silicon wafers (same start as chips) → DRAM memory fabs → NAND flash fabs (the chips inside SSDs) → Memory modules and SSDs: assembly and test → Hard drives: heads, platters and drive assembly → To a shop in Florida
### A whole-panel surge protector
What it does
Fitted at the electrical panel, it stops a lightning surge before it reaches anything in the house.
Why this one
Florida lightning comes every year. With the battery backup, it is the first protection to buy. Fitted by a licensed electrician.
Price
price not found
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Copper cable (Cat6): Copper mining → Smelting and refining copper → Wire rod and drawn wire → Twisting pairs and jacketing (PVC) into Cat6 → To a shop in Florida
### Two hardware security keys for each adult
What it does
Small keys that prove who is signing in; with printed recovery codes kept in the fire safe.
Why this one
Losing an account is likelier than losing the house, and it has happened once already. Second in the order.
Price
price not found
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### A 1 to 2 kWh LiFePO4 power station
What it does
A big battery on wheels that keeps the server, the internet box and the phones up for a day.
Why this one
Fourth in the order: it turns a long outage into a day of normal work.
Price
price not found
Made from
LiFePO4 batteries (12 V 100 Ah battery, power stations): Lithium mining (rock and brine) → Lithium chemicals, phosphoric acid, and graphite → Cathode (lithium iron phosphate) and anode (graphite) → Battery cells, then the 12 V pack or power station → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC): Quartz to silicon metal → Polysilicon to silicon wafers → Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) → Assembly, test and packaging of the chip → Boards and final assembly of the PC → To a shop in Florida
### A dual-fuel inverter generator
What it does
Petrol or propane, clean enough power for computers.
Why this one
Florida's real answer to a week without power after a hurricane. Run outside only, never in a garage.
Price
price not found
Made from
Tool steel (S2 or chrome-vanadium screwdriver bits): Iron ore mining → Steelmaking → Alloying metals: chromium and vanadium → Machining, hardening and kitting the bits → To a shop in Florida
Made from
Copper cable (Cat6): Copper mining → Smelting and refining copper → Wire rod and drawn wire → Twisting pairs and jacketing (PVC) into Cat6 → To a shop in Florida
### A fire extinguisher by the gear
What it does
An electrical-fire extinguisher, mounted where the server lives.
Why this one
Cheap, and the one thing that can save the room the copies started in.
Price
price not found
Made from
Tool steel (S2 or chrome-vanadium screwdriver bits): Iron ore mining → Steelmaking → Alloying metals: chromium and vanadium → Machining, hardening and kitting the bits → To a shop in Florida
### IX · From the ground to the shelf
Every part on this page is made from something dug out of the earth. These are the chains, from the raw material to the finished thing, with where each step happens and who does it. Each card above names the chains it is made from.
### Chips and computers (office mini-PC: HP EliteDesk, Intel N100 mini-PC)
- Quartz to silicon metal Quartz (silica) is smelted with carbon in electric furnaces to make silicon metal. A small part is purified further into ultra-pure polysilicon for chips and solar cells. China: almost 80% of all silicon materials, 2025 (USGS text); about 87% of silicon metal, 2025 (calculated: 4,000 of about 4,600 thousand t) [source] Brazil, Norway, Russia (next largest silicon-metal makers): about 4%, 3% and 1% of silicon metal, 2025 (calculated) [source] not found by name in USGS (company data withheld) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Silicon
- Polysilicon to silicon wafers Ultra-pure polysilicon is grown into crystal ingots and sliced into polished wafers, the blank discs chips are built on. Wafer making is a separate business from chip making. United States (new plant): not found (no country shares for chip-grade wafers found in a citable source) [source] GlobalWafers (named by SIA/BCG), Shin-Etsu, SUMCO, Siltronic, SK Siltron: commonly named, NOT verified from a primary source here SIA/BCG, Emerging Resilience in the Semiconductor Supply Chain (May 2024)
- Wafer fabrication (the chip fab) Fabs print the transistors onto wafers. The most advanced logic chips are made almost only in Taiwan and South Korea. Intel makes its own processors in its own fabs; TSMC makes chips for other companies. Taiwan and South Korea: almost 100% of advanced logic capacity (below 10 nm), 2022 [source] Intel fabs: Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon (US); Leixlip, Ireland; Jerusalem and Kiryat Gat, Israel: not a share; Intel's own list [source] TSMC: Taiwan (plus one fab each in Japan and Arizona, two 8-inch fabs via subsidiaries): not a share; TSMC's own list [source] Intel, TSMC, Samsung Intel: How Many Manufacturing Fabs Does Intel Have? TSMC fab capacity page
- Assembly, test and packaging of the chip Finished wafers are cut into dies, sealed in packages and tested. This step is mostly done in Asia. Intel lists its own assembly/test sites in China, Costa Rica, Malaysia and Vietnam (later reports say Costa Rica is closing; not verified here). Mainland China and Taiwan: nearly 60% of global assembly, test and packaging (ATP) capacity [source] Intel assembly/test: Shanghai and Chengdu (China), San Jose (Costa Rica), Kulim and Penang (Malaysia), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam): not a share; Intel's own list [source] Intel, outsourced assembly and test firms (OSATs), not named in sources read SIA/BCG 2024
- Boards and final assembly of the PC HP designs its PCs and has outside manufacturers build them. After US tariffs in 2025, HP moved building of North American products out of China to Vietnam, Thailand, India, Mexico and the US. Where small-brand N100 mini-PCs are assembled: not found in a citable source. Vietnam, Thailand, India, Mexico, United States (HP, for North America, from mid-2025): nearly all HP products sold in North America built outside China by end of June 2025 (HP's expectation) [source] HP Inc. and its outsourced manufacturers (not named in sources read), Intel N100 mini-PC brands: not found RTE (Reuters copy), HP quarterly results, 29 May 2025 HP Inc. Form 10-K FY2025 (SEC)
- To a shop in Florida Finished PCs are shipped from the assembly country to US distributors and retailers. The port of entry and route into Florida were not found in a citable source. not found
The weak link: Making the most advanced chips: in 2022 almost all advanced logic capacity (below 10 nm) sat in Taiwan and South Korea (SIA/BCG 2024: 'from almost 100% distributed between South Korea and Taiwan in 2022'). Upstream, China made almost 80% of the world's silicon materials in 2025 (USGS MCS 2026, Silicon).
### Memory and drives (DRAM, NAND SSDs, hard drives)
- Silicon wafers (same start as chips) Memory chips start from the same silicon and wafers as the chips chain. Hard drives also need aluminium or glass platters, magnetic coatings and rare-earth magnets (not researched here). China (silicon materials): almost 80%, 2025 [source] see chips chain USGS MCS 2026: Silicon
- DRAM memory fabs DRAM (working memory) is made by three big companies. Capacity is concentrated in South Korea; Micron makes most of its DRAM in Taiwan. South Korea: DRAM 'highly concentrated' there (no single % given in the text); US share 3% now, 9% by 2032 [source] Taiwan (Micron): a majority of Micron's DRAM output, 2025 [source] Samsung, SK hynix, Micron SIA/BCG 2024 Micron Form 10-K FY2025, Item 2 Properties
- NAND flash fabs (the chips inside SSDs) NAND flash is made mainly in South Korea and Japan. Kioxia and Sandisk (spun off from Western Digital) share fabs at Yokkaichi and Kitakami, Japan. Micron makes NAND in Singapore. South Korea and Japan: South Korea 30% of NAND capacity (2022), 42% by 2032; Japan + Korea about 75% by 2032 [source] Japan (Kioxia Yokkaichi and Kitakami plants, joint venture with Sandisk): not a share [source] Samsung, SK hynix, Kioxia, Sandisk, Micron Kioxia news release, 30 Jan 2026 Micron Form 10-K FY2025, Item 2 Properties
- Memory modules and SSDs: assembly and test Memory chips are packaged, tested and built into sticks and SSDs, mostly in Southeast Asia, China and Taiwan. Micron lists Malaysia, China and India as assembly/test sites. Malaysia, China, India (Micron): not a share [source] Micron, Samsung, SK hynix, Kioxia, Sandisk (their assembly sites not verified here) Micron Form 10-K FY2025, Item 2 Properties
- Hard drives: heads, platters and drive assembly Only two big makers remain, Seagate and Western Digital. Each makes its own read heads and platters and assembles drives mainly in Thailand, China and Malaysia (Seagate also makes heads in Northern Ireland and platters in Singapore). China and Thailand (Seagate drive assembly): 'primarily' (no %) [source] Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, China, California (Western Digital assembly and test): not a share [source] Seagate, Western Digital Western Digital Form 10-K FY2025 Seagate Form 10-K FY2025
- To a shop in Florida Drives and memory are shipped from Asian assembly plants to US distributors and retailers. Route into Florida: not found. not found
The weak link: Memory chip fabs in South Korea: DRAM 'will remain highly concentrated in South Korea', and South Korea plus Japan are set to hold about 75% of NAND capacity by 2032 (SIA/BCG 2024). Hard drives rest on just two makers whose assembly is mainly in Thailand, China and Malaysia (Seagate and WD 10-Ks).
### Lead-acid batteries (inside a UPS such as CyberPower or APC)
- Lead ore mining Lead is mined mostly together with zinc and silver. China mines the most. China: about 42% of mine output, 2025 (calculated: 1,900 of 4,500 thousand t) [source] Australia: about 11%, 2025 (calculated: 480 of 4,500) [source] Peru, United States, Russia, India: about 6%, 6%, 6%, 5%, 2025 (calculated) [source] not named by USGS; US mines are in Missouri, Alaska and Idaho USGS MCS 2026: Lead
- Refining and recycling lead The US no longer smelts lead from ore; almost all US lead comes from recycling old batteries. World refined output was about 13.3 million tons in 2025. United States (recycled lead): secondary lead equal to 70% of US consumption, 2025 [source] World: 13.3 million t refined, 2025 forecast (no country split found) [source] not named in sources read USGS MCS 2026: Lead Recycling Product News on BCI National Recycling Rate Study (industry-funded), 13 July 2023
- Lead-acid battery cells Lead and lead oxide plates in sulfuric acid make the sealed batteries inside a UPS. Batteries take about two-thirds of US lead use. Who makes UPS batteries, and where: not found in a citable source. United States (use): batteries = about 67% of US lead use, 2025 [source] not found USGS MCS 2026: Lead
- UPS assembly CyberPower, a Taiwanese company, makes 30 to 40% of its products in China and the rest in the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, and bought a larger plant in Cavite, Philippines in 2026. APC (Schneider Electric) factory locations: not found. China (CyberPower): about 30-40% of CyberPower products, 2026 [source] Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam (CyberPower): the remainder [source] CyberPower Systems, APC by Schneider Electric (sites not found) Taipei Times, 22 Aug 2026 (Meryl Kao)
- To a shop in Florida, and back for recycling UPS units are shipped to US retailers. When the battery dies, US law and stores take it back; many spent car batteries are now exported for recycling. United States (spent batteries exported): 23 million spent car batteries exported, first 8 months of 2025 [source] not found
The weak link: Mining is the most concentrated stage: China mined about 42% of the world's lead in 2025 (calculated from USGS MCS 2026, Lead: China 1,900 of 4,500 thousand t). Recycling is the strength: recycled lead covered 70% of US use (USGS).
### LiFePO4 batteries (12 V 100 Ah battery, power stations)
- Lithium mining (rock and brine) Lithium is mined from hard rock (Australia, China, Zimbabwe) or pumped as brine from salt flats (Chile, Argentina). Australia: about 32% of mine output, 2025 (calculated: 92,000 of 290,000 t, world total excludes US) [source] China: about 21%, 2025 (calculated: 62,000 of 290,000) [source] Chile: about 19%, 2025 (calculated: 56,000 of 290,000) [source] Zimbabwe, Argentina: about 10% and 8%, 2025 (calculated) [source] not named by USGS USGS MCS 2026: Lithium
- Lithium chemicals, phosphoric acid, and graphite Ore and brine are turned into lithium carbonate or hydroxide. Purified phosphoric acid supplies the phosphate. Graphite (mined, mostly in China, or synthetic) is purified for the anode. China (lithium chemicals): 70% of lithium chemicals, 2024 [source] China (purified phosphoric acid): 75% [source] China (graphite): 82% of mined natural graphite, 2025 (USGS); over 95% of battery-grade graphite, 2024 (IEA) [source] not named in sources read IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 (PDF)
- Cathode (lithium iron phosphate) and anode (graphite) Lithium, iron and phosphate are made into LFP cathode powder; graphite is made into anode powder. Almost all of both are made in China. China: 98% of LFP cathode material; over 90% of anode material, 2024 [source] not named in sources read IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025
- Battery cells, then the 12 V pack or power station Cathode, anode, separator and electrolyte are rolled into cells. Cells are wired with a battery management board into a 12 V case or power station. Where specific 12 V brands assemble their packs: not found. China: 80% of global battery cells, 2024 [source] CATL and BYD (named by IEA as LFP innovators), 12 V pack brands: not found IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025
- To a shop in Florida Packs are shipped to US sellers. The US imports its lithium mostly from Chile and Argentina, and its graphite anode material mostly from China. Route into Florida: not found. China, Indonesia, South Korea (US imports of graphite anode material): 55%, 31%, 14%, 2025 [source] not found USGS MCS 2026: Lithium
The weak link: The cathode: China made 98% of the world's LFP cathode material in 2024, plus over 90% of anode material and 80% of battery cells (IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025).
### Copper cable (Cat6)
- Copper mining Copper ore is dug mostly from big open pits. Chile mines the most, then Congo (Kinshasa) and Peru. Chile: about 23% of mine output, 2025 (calculated: 5,300 of 23,000 thousand t) [source] Congo (Kinshasa): about 14%, 2025 (calculated: 3,200 of 23,000) [source] Peru, China: about 12% and 8%, 2025 (calculated) [source] not named by USGS USGS MCS 2026: Copper
- Smelting and refining copper Concentrate is smelted and refined to pure copper cathode. China refines nearly half the world's copper, much of it from imported ore. China: about 48% of refined copper, 2025 (calculated: 14,000 of 29,000 thousand t); IEA: over 40%, 2024 [source] Congo (Kinshasa), Chile, Japan: about 10%, 6%, 5%, 2025 (calculated) [source] Aurubis, Glencore (European-owned); ENEOS, Mitsubishi Materials, Sumitomo Metal Mining (Japanese-owned) - named by IEA IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025
- Wire rod and drawn wire Refined copper (and scrap) is cast into rod, then drawn into thin wire. In the US this happens at about 14 rod mills; about 30% of US copper supply comes from scrap. United States: not a world share [source] not named by USGS USGS MCS 2026: Copper
- Twisting pairs and jacketing (PVC) into Cat6 Four pairs of insulated copper wire are twisted and covered with a plastic jacket, usually PVC. Where PVC compound and Cat6 cable are made, by country: not found in a citable source. Belden, CommScope (US-made Cat6 claims seen only on reseller pages, not verified)
- To a shop in Florida Not found in a citable source. not found
The weak link: Refining: China refined about 48% of the world's copper in 2025 (calculated from USGS MCS 2026, Copper: 14,000 of 29,000 thousand t). Mining is spread wider; the largest miner, Chile, had about 23%.
### Tool steel (S2 or chrome-vanadium screwdriver bits)
- Iron ore mining Iron ore is mined and made into pellets or fines for blast furnaces. Australia mines the most. Australia: about 38% of usable ore, 2025 (calculated: 980,000 of 2,600,000 thousand t) [source] Brazil: about 16%, 2025 (calculated: 420,000) [source] India, China: about 12% and 11%, 2025 (calculated) [source] not named by USGS USGS MCS 2026: Iron Ore
- Steelmaking Ore becomes pig iron, then steel. China makes about half the world's steel. China: about 52% of raw steel, 2025 (calculated: 980 of 1,900 million t) [source] India: about 8%, 2025 (calculated: 160 of 1,900) [source] United States, Japan: about 4% each, 2025 (calculated) [source] not named by USGS USGS MCS 2026: Iron and Steel
- Alloying metals: chromium and vanadium Chromium (from chromite ore) and vanadium are added as ferroalloys to make tough tool steels such as chrome-vanadium and S2. South Africa mines most chromite; China produces most vanadium. South Africa (chromite): about 45% of chromite ore, 2025 (calculated: 23,000 of 51,000 thousand t) [source] China (ferrochromium, vanadium): leading ferrochromium maker (no %); about 75% of vanadium, 2025 (calculated: 82,000 of 110,000 t) [source] Russia (vanadium): about 19%, 2025 (calculated: 21,000 of 110,000) [source] not named by USGS USGS MCS 2026: Chromium
- Machining, hardening and kitting the bits Bar steel is cut, shaped, heat-treated and packed into kits. iFixit's own Mako page gives the steel (S2) but not the country where it is made. Country shares for hand-tool and bit making: not found in a citable primary source. iFixit (designs and sells the Mako kit; maker and country not stated) iFixit Mako Driver Kit product page
- To a shop in Florida Not found in a citable source. not found
The weak link: Vanadium: China produced about 75% of the world's vanadium in 2025 (calculated from USGS MCS 2026, Vanadium: 82,000 of 110,000 t). Steel itself is next: China made about 52% of the world's raw steel (USGS Iron and Steel).
### Solar panels
- Quartz to silicon metal As for chips, quartz is smelted to silicon metal. China makes most of it. China: almost 80% of silicon materials, 2025 [source] not named by USGS USGS MCS 2026: Silicon
- Polysilicon Silicon metal is purified into solar-grade polysilicon using a great deal of electricity, much of it coal power in Xinjiang. China: about 80% of solar polysilicon, 2021 [source] Xinjiang, China: 40% of global polysilicon manufacturing, 2021-22 [source] not named in sources read IEA Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains (2022)
- Ingots and wafers Polysilicon is melted, grown into ingots and sliced into thin wafers. This is the most concentrated step. China: over 95% of ingots and wafers [source] not named in sources read IEA Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains (2022)
- Solar cells Wafers are doped and wired into cells. Most cells outside China are in Southeast Asia and Korea, often in Chinese-built plants serving the US market. Southeast Asia and Korea: 18% of global cell market (so about 80% China), 2021 [source] Chinese integrated manufacturers (not named) IEA Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains (2022)
- Modules (panels) Cells are laminated under glass in an aluminium frame. Module assembly is the most spread-out step, but China still led. China: about 70% of modules, 2021 [source] Viet Nam, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand: 5%, 4%, 4%, 2%, 2021 [source] not named in sources read IEA Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains (2022)
- To a shop in Florida The US imported most of its panels in recent years. Florida-specific route: not found. United States (imports): 77% of installed modules imported over the five years to 2021-22 [source] not found
The weak link: Ingots and wafers: China held over 95% of the market (IEA Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains, 2022). Note this IEA report uses 2021 data; newer IEA figures were not reachable (iea.org blocks automated reading).
### Radios (Meshtastic boards: Semtech SX1262 LoRa chip, Espressif ESP32)
- Silicon and wafers Same start as every chip: silicon from quartz, mostly made in China, then wafers. China: almost 80% of silicon materials, 2025 [source] see chips chain
- The LoRa radio chip (Semtech SX1262) Semtech, a US company, designs LoRa radio chips but owns no fab. Outside foundries make the wafers and outside firms package and test them. U.S., China, Taiwan (wafer foundries): 'primarily' (no %); which foundry makes the SX1262 itself: not found [source] Canada, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam (assembly and test): 'a majority' (no %) [source] Semtech Semtech Form 10-K FY2025 Meshtastic hardware docs
- The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth processor (Espressif ESP32) Espressif, based in Shanghai, designs the ESP32 and has no fab; TSMC makes a large share of its chips. Taiwan (TSMC): 'a significant portion' of Espressif's products (no %) [source] Espressif Systems (Shanghai), TSMC Espressif Systems 2024 Annual Report (English)
- Board assembly (Heltec, LILYGO, RAK, Seeed and others) Board makers solder the chips, antenna parts and power circuits onto circuit boards. Heltec says it runs its own factory. Heltec's city (commonly given as Chengdu) and LILYGO's (Shenzhen) were not confirmed from their own pages here. China (board makers' home country; not confirmed by own pages here): not found [source] Heltec Automation, LILYGO, RAKwireless, Seeed Studio, B&Q Consulting, Elecrow, M5Stack Heltec Automation: About
- To a shop in Florida Boards are mostly sold online and shipped by parcel. Not found in a citable source. not found
The weak link: Both chip designers depend on outside fabs; Espressif states that a significant portion of its chips are made by one company, TSMC in Taiwan (Espressif 2024 Annual Report).
### The satellite dish (Starlink kit)
- Silicon, copper and other materials The dish is a flat-panel antenna built on circuit boards with many chips; its raw materials follow the chips and copper chains. Where SpaceX buys its chips and materials: not found. not found
- Circuit boards and packaged chips SpaceX makes printed circuit boards and does advanced chip packaging at Bastrop, Texas, and was expanding the site with a state grant in 2025. Bastrop, Texas: not a share [source] SpaceX / Starlink Office of the Texas Governor, 12 Mar 2025
- Kit assembly Bastrop opened in late 2023 and had built over a million standard kits by September 2024. SpaceX's president said it would beat Southeast Asia in efficiency. Whether any kits are still made elsewhere: not found. Bastrop, Texas: more than 1 million standard kits in about 10 months (to Sept 2024) [source] SpaceX Aviation Week, 30 Sept 2024 Space Intel Report, 27 Sept 2024 (Shotwell testimony to Texas House)
- To a shop in Florida Kits are shipped from Texas to buyers and to retailers. Florida route: not found. not found
The weak link: One factory: the sources found name only Bastrop, Texas, as the kit plant (Texas Governor release, Aviation Week). Chip and material sources for the kit were not found.
### Optical discs (M-DISC BD-R)
- Polycarbonate plastic and the recording layer Discs are moulded polycarbonate with a thin recording layer; M-DISC uses an inorganic layer marketed for long life. Materials sources: not found. not found
- Licensing the M-DISC design M-DISC was developed by Millenniata, a US company. Its current status and who now holds the licence: not found in a citable source. United States (developer): not a share [source] Millenniata (developer)
- Disc pressing In 2013 the Taiwanese disc maker Ritek began volume production of 25GB Blu-ray M-Disc. Who makes the discs sold today, and where, was not confirmed: retailer listings give Taiwan or Japan for different Verbatim SKUs, and Verbatim's own country-of-origin pages could not be read. Taiwan (Ritek, from 2013): not a share; current status not confirmed [source] Ritek (historic), Verbatim (current brand seller; factory not confirmed) Digitimes, 6 June 2013
- To a shop in Florida Sold under the Verbatim brand by US retailers. Route: not found. Verbatim
The weak link: Very few makers: in 2013 one Taiwanese company, Ritek, was the volume maker of Blu-ray M-DISC (Digitimes). Today's maker is not confirmed.
### X · Easy to fix, on purpose
- Standard parts only: memory, drives, cables and power that any computer store sells, so a dead part is a trip to the store, not a lost machine.
- Every part has a spare on the shelf, or a cheaper stand-in named on its card.
- One screwdriver kit opens everything on this page. The server's case opens by hand.
- Every cable is labelled at both ends, and the labels match the drawing.
- A watt meter tells the truth: measure the real draw before buying more battery.
- Write down what was done, on the day, so the next person can follow it.
- Keep the server and the drives off the floor, out of the garage, somewhere dry and cool. Free, and it beats most of what can be bought against flood and heat.
- A printed sheet, kept by the server, for when the one who runs it is out: how to restart the server, the internet box and the phones, and who to call.
### XI · The order to get the core in
Bought a little at a time, the most important first. Nothing on this list costs more than the house can carry in a month.
- First: stop the loss · $256 (running total $256) The battery backup and the second drive: the two things that stop a blink or a dead disk from costing the records. CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD PFC Sinewave UPS, Monoprice SlimRun Cat6A patch cable, 3 ft, 5-pack
- Second: the network and the off-site copy · $190 (running total $446) The switch and tested cables mend the slow link; the second backup drive leaves the house. Seagate Portable 4TB external USB 3.0 hard drive
- Third: the tools to fix it all · $40 (running total $486) So every mend on this page can be done at home. iFixit Mako Driver Kit, 64 precision bits
- Fourth: room to grow · $0 (running total $486) More memory and the spare power supply, when the first three are done.
- Last: the Hundred-Year Node · $0 (running total $486) The sun-powered keeper of the record, drawn on the Blueprints, built when the house is safe.
### XII · What wears out, and when
### XIII · Left out on purpose
A rack, a NAS box, a second server
One good server with two mirrored drives and an off-site copy does the work. Two machines are two things to keep.
Anything that needs a subscription to run
If the company stops, the house must not stop. Every part here works with no account.
A generator
Fuel, noise, fumes and upkeep. A battery carries the short outages; in the long ones the server shuts down cleanly and waits.
Top-of-the-line parts
No part is chosen for speed the house will not use. The server is idle most of the day.
Smart plugs, cameras and gadgets
Each is another thing on the network to update and secure. None is needed to keep the record.
The seed sent to space
No safety per dollar. The record is kept by copies on earth, in more than one place.
A four-drive ZFS server
Two cheap machines in two places beat four drives in one box: one fire takes the whole box.
An HF amateur radio station
It needs a licence and a skill for each person. GMRS, on one family licence, and Meshtastic cover the family.
A 3D printer
It is not safety.
Ten-gigabit networking, cables in the walls, Wi-Fi 7 and a rack
The house moves little data. Gigabit and good Wi-Fi are plenty.
A second server in another room
Same roof, same fire, same storm. The second machine goes to another house instead.
### XIV · The Elon lane's cut
The Elon lane's first-principles review of this plan, in two rounds (11-03): what to delete, what matters most, what breaks first, the order for the whole road, and the best idea. Its cut is the core above.
The best idea
Make the copy at the other house alive. A used machine there copies the house every night, so the away copy is never more than a day old and can take over if the house is lost. The locked-up drive stays as the cold copy, swapped monthly with a twin, and every three months the house restores from it to prove it works.
The one thing that matters most
Not making an away copy: the house keeps one already. Keeping it fresh (nightly), rotated (one drive always away) and proved (a restore every quarter).
Delete outright
The node parts and the M-DISC archive (a later year's project). More memory, until the server is shown to be short. A spare power supply: buy a whole spare server instead. The cable tester and the watt meter: swap the cable first, and the UPS shows the watts. Every tool beyond one good kit.
What breaks first
Power, in Florida storms and brownouts: the battery backup comes first. Then the drives. The house survives both by a written, practised rebuild from zero onto the spare server, timed, every quarter.
Ready for the future, without spending
Plain files and version history, so any machine can become the server. Standard, swappable parts only. Measure before buying. A backup that has not been restored does not count.
The whole road, most safety per dollar first
1. Battery backup on the server and the internet, and a whole-panel surge protector. 2. Two security keys for each adult, with recovery codes in a fire safe. 3. The second machine at the other house, and a twin drive. 4. A 1 to 2 kWh power station. 5. GMRS radios and the family licence. 6. A dual-fuel generator. 7. Satellite internet for storms. 8. Then mesh radios, the spares shelf, the second node, and solar last.
Deleted from the house fully grown
The seed to space, ten-gigabit and the rack, a second server under the same roof, the four-drive array, HF radio and the 3D printer. Cut down: the AI machine to 'only if measured', one satellite messenger for the household, laptops only when one dies, solar last.
Set down 2026-11-03. The sun-powered node that keeps the record is drawn in full on the Blueprints.
The Blueprints The Door