Network Overview

The Pimeleon router provides a complete network routing solution with separate wired and wireless networks, comprehensive filtering, and secure internet access.

Network design

Your Pimeleon router creates two distinct networks for different use cases:

Wired Network (LAN)

• Purpose: High-speed, trusted network for your primary devices
• Speed: Up to 100Mbps (Raspberry Pi 3B+ hardware limit)
• Typical Use: Desktop computers, NAS devices, printers, smart TVs

Wireless Network (WiFi)

• Purpose: Convenient wireless access for mobile devices
• Speed: Up to ~50Mbps (Raspberry Pi 3B+ WiFi limit)
• Typical Use: Laptops, smartphones, tablets, IoT devices

Both networks provide the same security and filtering features, so you can safely use either one based on your connectivity needs.

How Your Traffic is Protected

Every request you make goes through multiple security layers automatically:

Your Device
    ↓
DHCP (Automatic IP Address)
    ↓
DNS Filtering (Blocks ads and malware)
    ↓
Proxy Filtering (Additional content blocking)
    ↓
Firewall (Security rules)
    ↓
Internet

What This Means for You

1. Automatic IP Configuration: Just connect to the network - your device gets configured automatically
2. Ad Blocking: Ads and trackers are blocked at the DNS level before they even load
3. Content Filtering: Additional HTTP filtering removes unwanted content
4. Security: Firewall protects your network from external threats
5. Optional Anonymity: Tor network available when you need anonymous browsing

Network Performance

Understanding the performance characteristics helps set expectations:

Speed Expectations

• Wired Network: Up to 100Mbps (limited by Raspberry Pi Ethernet)
• Wireless Network: Up to ~50Mbps (limited by Raspberry Pi WiFi)
• DNS Resolution: Typically under 50ms for most websites
• Tor Network: 1-5Mbps when using anonymous browsing (slower but private)

What Affects Speed

The filtering layers add a small amount of latency:

• DNS Filtering: ~10-20ms (negligible for most users)
• Proxy Filtering: ~10-20ms (barely noticeable)
• Tor Anonymity: +500-2000ms (significant but necessary for anonymity)

Practical Impact: For normal web browsing, streaming, and downloads, you'll experience excellent performance. The filtering happens so quickly that you won't notice it.

Network Services Available to You

DNS Service

• What it does: Converts website names (like google.com) to IP addresses
• Your benefit: Automatic ad and malware blocking
• How to use: Just browse normally - it works automatically

DHCP Service

• What it does: Assigns IP addresses to your devices automatically
• Your benefit: Zero configuration needed - just connect and go
• How to use: Connect to WiFi or plug in Ethernet - that's it

Proxy Service

• What it does: Intercepts and filters web traffic
• Your benefit: Additional ad blocking and privacy protection
• How to use: Transparent - works automatically without configuration

Firewall

• What it does: Controls what traffic can enter and leave your network
• Your benefit: Protection from external attacks and malicious traffic
• How to use: Pre-configured for security, no action needed

Common Questions

Can devices on WiFi talk to devices on wired network?

Yes! The Pimeleon router automatically routes traffic between networks, so your phone can access your NAS server, print to network printers, etc.

Why is my speed limited to 100Mbps?

This is a hardware limitation of the Raspberry Pi 3B+. If you have faster internet (like gigabit), consider upgrading to a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 which support gigabit Ethernet.

Can I bypass the filtering?

The filtering is network-wide and cannot be disabled on individual devices. This ensures comprehensive security for all users. If you need access to a blocked site, contact your network administrator.

How many devices can connect?

Realistically, the Pimeleon router can handle 100-130 devices total across both networks. Most home networks use 10-30 devices.

troubleshooting Common Issues

Can't Get an IP Address

Symptoms: Your device says "No Internet" or "Connected, no internet"

Solutions:

1. Forget the network and reconnect
2. Restart your device
3. Check that the Pimeleon router is powered on
4. Try connecting to the other network (wired if on WiFi, or vice versa)

Slow connection speeds

Symptoms: Downloads are slow or websites load slowly

Solutions:

1. Run a speed test to establish baseline
2. Check if you're on WiFi - move closer to router
3. Verify your internet service is working properly
4. Restart the Pimeleon router if speeds are unusually slow

Can't Access Certain Websites

Symptoms: Some websites won't load or return errors

Possible Causes:

1. Ad blocking: The site might be on a blocklist
2. DNS filtering: Malware/tracking domains are blocked
3. Firewall rules: Certain ports might be restricted

Solutions: Contact your network administrator to whitelist the domain if it's legitimate.

Related Documentation

• DNS Filtering - How ad blocking works
• DHCP Service - Automatic network configuration
• Firewall Protection - Security features

Need Help? Check the troubleshooting documentation or contact your network administrator.