Internet Of Things / IoT / Connected Home / Smart Houses

^ Ugh, logged in to the forum at work and it seems to have got rid of my old username. You can find me @JackFlash

If you're using apple stuff to stream music you can set up a rpi as an airplay receiver with very little trouble. There's some info here . I've not got any experience with Arduino so can't help much there

PiMusicBox is meant to be good http://www.woutervanwijk.nl/pimusicbox/ I've not used it yet but it's on my list of stuff to play with.

One point, I seem to remember reading somewhere that the quality of sound from the raspberry pi's line-out isn't great so an external sound-card is recommended. You might want to check that out.

Depending on your amp inputs and what you're playing music on then a chromecast could be a nice easy solution. Similarly, a bluetooth adapter (particularly if your phone has Apt-X).

This is good and easy. pi based.

https://sites.google.com/site/picoreplayer/home

Cheers guys - that's brilliant help.

I bought a Rocki to do a similar thing recently. Seems to work alright, although mac airplay didn't really like it so I had to download Porthole. Can't seem to get it working from my phone either, bubbleupnp doesn't seem to recognise it.

Could soldering a GPS antenna to its cable while still attached to an arduino shield and still powered on, have broken the shield? Everything still works but not getting gps coordinates anymore. :(
Anyone knows? Tnx

If it's at the end of a cable, probably not. Unless the device is creating a lot of it's own heat, soldering shouldn't be any different whether the device is on or not. Obviously you should try and do it with the device off though...
How were you getting coordinates before the antenna was attached?

Tnx. Basically the software is the same I have been using for a while and worked all along, getting a gps fix in a minute or so. Then it started not fixing anymore and realised the antenna and its cable were almost coming apart. After adding some metal to reattach the 2 it worked again for a moment. So bought a soldering kit and got on soldering, forgetting to turn the module off (idiot). Just realised it when a small spark came out as soon as pen touched the cable. Guess that meant something went wrong as now the gps does not fix, as if the antenna isn't there.

Ooh there was a spark? It wasn't heat that caused the issue then...
I think the iron generates heat by having a large current flowing through it, so yeah, touching that to a live electronic circuit; definitely a bad idea!

What I thought but disconnected the wrong Arduino at the time. Too many cables

Looks like Microsoft are looking to get more involved here. Windows 10 is going to be compatible with Rasberry Pi and have various Arduino functionality.

Anyone using one of these, or something similar? Any cop? http://efergy.com/uk/engage-hub-kit

I'm thinking of getting one as Eon are convinced I use 200% more power than other people in similar homes in my neighbourhood and are billing me as such, and I can't yet tell if it's because they're ignoring my dutifully-provided meter readings or if I really am using a ridiculous amount of energy. (Also because I am fond of gizmos)

I've got a different Efergy monitor (the e2 Classic), but it's not internet connected. I've saved the cost of it several times over by simply becoming aware of how much energy things use.

Mine is supposed to be able to download data to a computer application via a USB link, but the software for this was incredibly flaky and eventually I gave up. Coincidentally, I downloaded a new version from their website a couple of weeks ago, so I might give it another go.

My receiver unit does store daily usage for the previous seven days and shows an 'instant' reading. This was the most useful thing when I first got it - going round the flat turning things on and off to see what they used.

I connected the wattson years ago and understood what power everything uses so I actually stopped using it when the battery died. Pretty cool little thing tho no idea what they do now
http://www.diykyoto.com/uk/aboutus/wattson-classic

Mine is supposed to be able to download data to a computer application via a USB link, but the software for this was incredibly flaky and eventually I gave up.

Yeah, they still seem to be selling versions that do that - or maybe I'm thinking of one of the OWL devices? I like the idea of the web dashboard rather than a standalone app - less risk of having flaky desktop software forced onto me. Efergy seem to be the only company with a web dashboard and a sensible API at the moment, unless there's somebody else I haven't seen.

@pharoahsanders

I connected the wattson years ago and understood what power everything uses so I actually stopped using it when the battery died.

Heh, yeah, can imagine it has limited repeat-view value. But then people said the same thing about Fitbit and I'm still using mine!

Cheers both, sounds like it'll be useful so I'll pick one up.

Let's hope the security on this is pretty good. Camera designed to track who is at home and who's not https://www.netatmo.com/en-US/product/camera#last-view

Anyone using "smart" blinds/window shades.

I need to replace various blinds and am pondering getting something that can also be controlled remotely. There doesn't seem to be much out there though other than proprietary systems. I'd like something which is a bit more controllable.

Dear internet of things, please make sure there is a cold beer in the fridge if I am using strava..

But seriously, it would be cool if based on the exercise that you are doing, or have planned in to your calendar, that your shopping what adapted to meets the according calorific needs you have specified..
#algorithmsforbeer

I have zero doubt that that kind of tech is well on its way. You should be writing ideas like that down!

Discovered a bit of a flaw in this connected home malarkey.

Went away for a few weeks but somehow managed to accidentally unplug my router as I was leaving. Security camera didn't work, I couldn't turn my heating off, lights didn't turn themselves on and off, I couldn't access the stuff I had on my server, ...

Surely thats a wetware error rather than hardware or software?

Hey guys ! I'm a little new here, but we just arrived in our own new house and I'm looking for a smart thermostat. The netatmo precisely because i'm don't want the nest for privacy reasons (Am i at home ...).
@aggi, you installed one if I don't make mistakes, still happy ? Anyone else having a thought ?

Yes, I've had one for about a year. I haven't bothered with using their recommended settings, I just use it for setting a weekly schedule (much easier to do online than on a thermostat/boiler) and adjusting the temperature from my mobile (e.g. if I'm working late or going out I'll turn it down, if I'm heading home early I'll turn it up).

It's not the most sophisticated but it's all I need. The other bonus was that I could fit it myself which was very easy. Instructions are here if you haven't seen them https://www.netatmo.com/en-US/product/thermostat/installation

Ok thanks @aggi for your feedback. I made more research and I may be tempted by a more classic thermostat without cloud things but which could be easily connected to a pi for monitoring the temps and sending instructions.