ASCII.jp Build a home line with cheap SIM for Amazon Echo and Google Home

Smart speaker "Amazon Echo"

Amazon Echo and Google Home are now on sale in Japan, and smart speakers are attracting attention.

However, an internet connection is required to introduce a smart speaker. People who have only a smartphone and do not have a fixed line at home need some ingenuity.

Therefore, I would like to consider a simple means of communication for those who do not have an internet connection at home. It is also for those who want to take this opportunity to restructure their home internet line to a minimum one.

First, find out what line you need

In this series, I have introduced several times how to make a home line with a cheap SIM. If the monthly capacity is 3GB, the monthly fee is 1000 yen or less, no construction is required, it can be used immediately, and you can move freely. If you can cancel your data-only contract at any time, it's a pretty good choice as a simple line other than speed and capacity.

However, the problem is capacity, and if you watch videos continuously, you will need dozens of GB immediately. If you use a cheap SIM plan that supports large capacity, if you look only at the running cost, it will cost enough money to pull the optical fiber.

This time it is for smart speakers and related data, so it is expected that it will not take much space, but one of the useful functions of smart speakers is the reception of Internet radio.

Radio doesn't consume as much as video, but if you listen to it all day almost every day, you'll still have a capacity problem.

However, some cheap SIMs do not allow the use of some video and music distribution services such as YouTube, AbemaTV, radiko.jp, Google Play Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and AWA, such as BIGLOBE's "Entertainment Free Option". There is also a service with a fixed amount of data, and if it falls within the scope of the target service, the use value of a cheap SIM will come out.

Entertainment Free Option is 980 yen per month (for a dedicated data line), and combined with the 3 Giga Plan, it costs 900 yen + 980 yen + 3 yen + tax for 2,034 yen. Although it is a specific site, it is quite reasonable as a line that can be canceled at any time with unlimited video viewing.

If you don't seem to have enough capacity even with such options, or if you want stable and high-speed communication, you should give up the cheap SIM and consider a cheap plan ADSL, or WiMAX or optical fiber, which is a little more expensive.

For Wi-Fi only, a mobile router is convenient Don't forget to turn off the sleep setting

Then the next question is whether you only need a wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) or you need a wired LAN. please. Most smart speakers themselves are connected via wireless LAN, and most devices that emit infrared remote control light from the network, dongles attached to TVs such as Chromecast, and other IoT devices are also connected via wireless LAN.

In that case, buy a suitable mobile router, insert a SIM card, and your home line is complete.

For SIM-free mobile routers, NEC Platforms' "Aterm MR05LN" can be obtained from around 20,000 yen, but docomo network cheap SIM can use docomo brand mobile routers.

If you expand the range to second hand, the oldest "L-09C" can be obtained from about 1000 yen, and the "HW-02G" that supports wired LAN with carrier aggregation and attached cradle can be obtained from about 5000 yen.

When using a mobile router on a home line, it is necessary to set it so that it does not enter sleep mode, and to prohibit communication between terminals connected to the same wireless LAN, such as "AP isolation". It is necessary to cancel the setting to

Disable network sleep as it will stop the Wi-Fi signal.

Sleep mode often does not go to sleep if an IoT device is connected, but just in case, it is necessary to make settings so that the main unit does not sleep when there is no communication.

Most of the settings are made by accessing the IP address of the mobile router with a web browser from the device connected to the mobile router. In addition, the manual for the mobile router includes information on how to access the setting screen, sleep and power saving settings, etc., so be sure to check and set them. It doesn't make sense if the mobile router is dormant when it matters most.

If AP isolation is not turned off, communication between devices will not be possible.

If "AP isolation" is turned on, devices connected to the same wireless network cannot communicate with each other. This makes no sense at all, as the smart speaker cannot communicate with the Chromecast.

And don't forget to keep it plugged in. The battery runs out quickly in continuous operation, so the AC adapter is left connected. Models with a dedicated cradle should use it.