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Gadget Wisdom

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Finding the Right File Synchronization Tool in Syncthing

Years ago, my first practical tool for file synchronization was a USB drive with a whopping 32 megabytes of storage. This was an issue for my mother, who, oddly for the time, just expected her files to follow her to every computer she went to. So I built a server to do just that. It was massive overkill for what it was actually used for.

Then came Dropbox. You installed an app and it synced everything in a designated folder to their servers. But Dropbox, like many services, became slower, bloated, etc.  So, I moved on to self hosting. First with Owncloud, and then with its fork, Nextcloud.  These platforms no longer bill themselves as file synchronization platforms, they bill themselves as ‘collaboration’ tools.

This is the problem that has taken me to look for a new solution that just does files. No more, no less. And while my instance of Nextcloud is still running, I am giving Syncthing a try. Syncthing requires no central server. It ticks all the security boxes: open protocol and encryption.

I installed a copy on my server, which allows me to synchronize the files there and back them up, in addition to syncing the various computers that need the files. It also, being peer to peer, allows me to have different folders synced to different systems, which allows for a bit more independent flexibility than the centralized systems, but also a bit more setup time.

Syncthing works perfectly on a local network, but has some challenges on the public internet. There are two services Syncthing provides for thi: A discovery server and a relay server.

Syncthing runs several public discovery servers, which assist in helping instances find themselves, but you can run your own. Discovery servers are safe enough to use publicly, although using them can identify that a device exists. The other server is a relay server. It allows relaying between devices that may be on different networks. The information is encrypted, so it is unlikely a malicious one could do much more than disrupt communication.

But regardless, I set up my own private discovery and relay server, and neither can be used without a token that I have to manually add to each device when setting them up. So, it is as secure as I can make it.

It remains to be seen if it will fully suit my needs, but so far, it is lightweight, flexible, and dumps all of the unnecessary cruft I do not want.

Published on November 24, 2025
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The Future of Linear Television: ATSC3.0

In the future streaming has created, where content is accessible on demand whenever we want, it is sometimes easy to forget linear television still exists. No longer, aside from live sports, must we watch shows at a prescribed time. But that itself is a loss. There is no morning after water cooler conversation at a specific time. Some streamers still do release one episode per week, but some adopt the model of dumping entire blocks at a time on streaming. You can watch almost any show..except that one you can barely remember from your childhood that mysteriously can’t be found anywhere.

There are solutions to this though. Someone created Ersatz TV…which allows you to turn your media library into a complete TV channel. So you can create your own linear content.

There is also subscribing to cable. You can still do that. But cable isn’t necessarily the value proposition it once was. People are abandoning it in droves.

And finally, there is the final option, broadcast TV. The airwaves are meant to be public and available to all without subscription. Broadcast is also at risk though. The latest standard for brodc ast in the US is ATSC 3.0. Some may remember the transition to digital broadcast, or ATSC 1.0 twenty years ago. The government gave out coupons for external tuners, and new televisions stasrted to get tuners over time. That is not happening this time.

NextGen, aka ATSC3.0

ATSC 3 actually allows for encryption, which was originally promoted as a way to add additional services, but now many broadcasters are encrypting their regular feeds, while running older ATSC1 transmissions alongside. Meanwhile, with no mandate to provide tuners, only higher end televisions are being built with ATSC 3 support, yet the government seems to be accepting lobbyists’ push to move forward on discontinuing the older standard beginning in 2028. Despite the current administration, which tends to be pro business, often over consumer, the FCC is considering public comment in its notice of proposed rulemaking. Specifically whether they should reconsider the lack of a mandate for ATSC3 tuners in new TVs as they did in 2002 and whether they should mandate unencrypted broadcast channels as originally intended before encryption technology was a consideration.

So, our only hope for free to watch television is currently in the hands of the FCC, who will hopefully come up with something fair, or to make our own station…which only our families can watch. I will give them credit, however, they so far are acknowledging there may be a problem, but that does not mean they will actually do anything about it. They don’t have the track record of making consumer friendly decisions, or when they do, ensuring they actually result in what is intended.

That program to give people free tuners as part of the conversion was difficult to navigate, and confusing for people. It took years to resolve itself. That was why the FCC tried to let the market handle the migration this time, but corporations aren’t offering tuners to the people who use them the most, they aren’t lowering hurdles to the manufacturer.

They should have learned after they let encryption happen to cable. You used to be able to tune cable channels with your TV, but then the cable companies started encrypting, and wanted you to rent a box from them. So, the FCC required they offer the encyption as a plug in device called a cablecard, so you would be able to return to using the tuner in your TV. But like the ATSC 3.0 tuners, the TVs that offered cablecard support were higher end and you couldn’t buy an external tuner with some rare exceptions. And trying to find someone at the cable company to give you the mandated cablecard was equally hard. The FCC finally eliminated the cablecard mandate in 2020. I still have one, and I am sure my provider will force me to give it up any day now. In deciding to give up the cablecard, the FCC cited apps that could be run on multiple devices as giving people the freedom to watch on the device of their choice, but that is still a limited experience.

Hopefully broadcast television doesn’t go the same way.

Published on November 14, 2025
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A Tale of Two 3d Printer Companies: Anycubic Support Disappoints

I don’t have high expectations when it comes to technical support. I get frustrated at times with customer service in general. Sometimes, I seem to know more about the product than the representatives of the company that makes it. I can accept that, but usually I feel like they are trying to help me, not wasting my time.

I have several 3D Printers now. All of them have had problems at some point. Printers heat plastic to high temperatures, have a series of motors to move the pieces around…these are parts that wear over time. I’m not surprised that things fail over time.

I own two Anycubic Kobra 2 Printers. The Kobra 2 Plus and recently I bought the Kobra 2 Max. Both were purchased during good sales, so below MSRP. These are the exact same printer, except can print up to 320mm, the other 420mm. In the modern age, 3D Printers are starting to have cameras built in to monitor the print remotely. The Kobra series, even the new Kobra 3 line, offers a port to add a camera, and they sell it an inexpensive one as an accessory, but it is not included standard.

The Kobra 2 Plus has been a workhorse. It hasn’t broken, it rarely clogs and I only had to replace a degraded piece once. The Max, after calibration, has been about the same. There are opportunities to improve the print quality slightly with setting changes, but it is reliable. Reviews however, have gone both ways, with people either finding the Kobra 2 line wonderful or horrible.

After using the Plus for a long period of time, and getting the Max, I opted to finally get the camera. The device shows it detects a camera is connected, but it can’t be viewed in their Android app. It asked me to check if a camera was connected. When I had temporarily plugged in a Logitech camera to the Plus last year, it did work. I tried other cameras, and same. So, I assumed this was a software issue, and contacted Anycubic Support.

At the point I write this, I have been talking to them for the nearly the whole month. The rep has ignored every question I asked, continually asked questions I already answered, and finally, decided that I must need a new motherboard. When I asked if he meant two new motherboards, and asked how that would help the situation, he asked if I’d modified the printers in any way, which I hadn’t. Not that I didn’t consider it, considering that the software support for the Kobra 2 line is so limited that I transfer files to the printers on a USB drive, despite them having network connections.

Let’s contrast that with Elegoo. I also own a Centauri Carbon. It is a newer printer that was the rage to preorder this spring and summer. It produces high quality prints, and worked solidly to the point I picked it to print more and more. And it supports network printing from Linux, my chosen operating system, so no USB drive. They have no support for the Carbon in their app, but because the Carbon has open network control, someone wrote a third party Android app and I can monitor the built in camera.

So, 100% closed system on one printer, partially closed system on the other one. I am not a purist, but when someone figured out how to get the Kobra 2 line to actually support remote connections, Anycubic’s response was to close the hole, which is indicative of their approach.

The Carbon broke. It suddenly wasn’t printing correctly. It clogged and then wouldn’t work reliably even after I cleaned it up. When I dismantled it, I found the entire hotend assembly, which is the part of the printer that heats and distributes the melted plastic, was bent. I replaced it and contacted Elegoo. They asked for a picture, I sent it to them. They explained to me what they thought happened. They offered me a replacement hotend because the part failed so atypically. They have none in their US warehouse, which is a massive complaint people have about it, they not only offered to send it to me from their Chinese warehouse, they told me that if I got charged duties on the import, they’d reimburse me. They had a tracking number to me quickly.

The Carbon is not without controversy itself. They were so popular at the price point they were shipping out versions, discovering engineering issues, then correcting them for the next batch, leaving some of the earlier people who ordered it with problems. They promised automatic material switcher(AMS) support, but have experienced issues in delivering the product, and they are already launching a Carbon 2. Elegoo has a reputation for abandoning products and moving on to the next thing. But that’s the internet complaining, I have had no issues.

So far, Elegoo has done everything users asked, and risks alienating their customers due lack of long term commitment, but they gave me good support when I needed them. Anycubic produced good hardware, but their support…we are 21 days in and they just asked me for the serial number of the printer. They previously asked for video of the Android app not working…not sure how “Make Sure Your Camera is Connected” as an error message is video worthy.

I have 2 Anycubic Printers, not sure I’m inspired enough to buy from them again. I’ve left relationships with companies for less. There is always Bambu Labs, which people love, and I do like my A1 Mini.

 

Published on October 30, 2025
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Why This Digital Camera Might Be the Best Gift for Kids in the Age of Phone Bans

 

Across the U.S., schools are starting to push back against student smartphone use — and parents are listening. Sparked in part by the debate following Jonathan Haidt’s bestselling book The Anxious Generation, a growing number of districts are restricting or outright banning phones during the school day.

But that leaves parents asking a question: what can we give kids instead?

There’s one surprisingly perfect answer — the return of the digital camera.

The Case Against Phones for Kids

Haidt’s The Anxious Generation argues that the rise of constant digital stimulation, social media, and smartphone dependency is directly tied to anxiety, depression, and loneliness in young people.

Many educators agree. Schools from California to New York have implemented “Yondr” pouches or mandatory lockers for phones. The movement isn’t about anti-technology — it’s about reclaiming attention, creativity, and real-world connection.

That’s where devices with a single purpose come in — tools that help kids engage with the world rather than scroll through it.

Rediscovering Real Photography

Before the smartphone, photography was its own kind of adventure. You picked a subject, framed a shot, and waited to see what you captured. Today, a dedicated camera — especially one designed for kids — brings that magic back.

One of the best new options for that purpose is the Digital Camera for Kids (link), a compact, fun, and durable model that’s built to spark curiosity without distraction.

It’s small enough for a backpack, rugged enough to survive a fall, and best of all — it doesn’t come with notifications, games, or the endless scroll of social media.

Why a Digital Camera Makes a Great Phone Alternative

Parents are looking for screen-free or low-screen ways to give kids creative freedom. A kids’ digital camera checks every box:

? Encourages Creativity

Instead of selfies and filters, kids can focus on composition, light, and storytelling. You might be surprised how creative they become when they’re not chasing likes.

? Builds Focus and Patience

Taking photos intentionally — instead of just snapping endlessly — helps kids slow down and see their surroundings differently.

? Promotes Outdoor Play

When children have a camera, they naturally go outside more. Whether it’s birds, pets, or clouds, they start looking for subjects instead of screens.

? No Distractions

There’s no social feed, no messages, no pings. Just a device for capturing moments — the way photography was meant to be.

? Teaches Responsibility

Owning their own camera (especially one that’s sturdy and simple) helps kids take care of their gear and understand the value of technology as a tool.

Spotlight: A Great Starter Camera for Kids

The Digital Camera for Kids available on Amazon is one of the best-reviewed options for parents looking for a child-friendly photography device.

It’s designed for ages 6–12 and includes:

  • Full HD video and photos (so they can make short movies, too!)
  • Shockproof housing and ergonomic grips
  • Rechargeable battery via USB-C
  • Expandable storage with microSD cards
  • Simple, intuitive menus for beginners

Parents love that it’s durable, inexpensive, and fun — without being another gateway to social media.

If your child loves to explore, this camera turns curiosity into creativity.

? View it now on Amazon ?

The Bigger Conversation: Raising the “Unplugged Generation”

Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation has reignited a much-needed conversation about how digital life is shaping childhood. He argues that social media and constant phone use have rewired adolescence, trading independence and real-world exploration for isolation and comparison.

You don’t have to agree with every argument in the book to recognize the problem. Even adults admit they struggle to set boundaries with their devices.

By giving kids tools that focus their attention outward, like a camera, microscope, sketchbook, or instrument, we help them build independence — without handing over a gateway to the entire internet.

? The Anxious Generation on Amazon ?

What Schools Are Doing — and What Parents Can Do Too

More than a dozen school districts have enacted phone-free school days, and early results are encouraging:

  • Students report better focus in class
  • Teachers see improved behavior
  • Social interactions are more positive and in-person

At home, parents can build on that progress. Creating “phone-free” times and spaces — like dinner, homework, or weekends outdoors — helps reinforce that balance.

Replacing the phone with something purposeful, like a digital camera, ensures that creativity isn’t lost when screens are put away.

Building Better Digital Habits Starts Early

Going phone-free doesn’t have to mean going tech-free. It means teaching kids that technology should serve creativity, not consume it.

A simple, single-purpose device like the Digital Camera for Kids gives them freedom to explore and express themselves — without the noise of the online world.

Pair it with a copy of The Anxious Generation for yourself or another parent, and you’ll see why this conversation is so important.

Let’s make curiosity cool again.

 

 

Published on October 26, 2025
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The Great Debate: One Big Computer or Several Smaller Computers

As part of my renovation project, as I make my new apartment into my own, and upgrade the infrastructure elsewhere in the building, I had several new lines run for cameras, all of which feed into Frigate, which I have mentioned previously. Frigate requires processing power, and I worry my server is taking on too many tasks that require the same resources.

The Problem

This brings me to my latest debate. Do I get one or more efficient computers with power efficient processors that can reliably handle low level tasks, or a single beefier computer? Technology has caught up to this while I was just letting my server run, because it just worked. Most home servers are idle most of the time, as you aren’t getting the demand a server with many users would receive, even with a full household. My NAS is running on an N100 CPU with 32GB of RAM.

The N100 has 4 cores, which is akin to having 4 different CPUs.  My server is running a processor that is a few generations older, with 6 cores. The benchmark of the N100 is about 1/3 of the score given to the older processor, but also uses a 10th of the power consumption. The NAS has an average usage of 3% CPU, as a NAS needs RAM to cache data, but serving it takes very little in terms of capacity.  By comparison, the server with the more powerful processor, running Jellyfin(a media server), Immich(photo server), Frigate(NVR), and more, is averaging 20% of more.

Plenty of CPU Maybe, but what about GPU?

Some of this involves hardware transcoding, using the GPU, to transcode video streams for Jellyfin. Frigate can use the GPU to run object detection. So, purchasing a Mini PC means another GPU, and the CPU can handle some low demand services. The alternative is to go for a an external GPU. However, the used computer my beefier CPU is in, is one I bought refurbished, only to discover that the PCI-E slot I would need to do that was not soldered onto the motherboard for some reason, which brought me to the idea of dividing the server, rather than replacing it entirely.

Multiple Computers…but in Software? Virtualization

Some people who have homelabs opt to go in a completely different direction. Virtualization. They have multiple virtual computers running on one server. There are advantages to this in that you can tear down a virtual computer and replace it, you can back up each piece separately. That leaves one with a lot of choices. I’ve read dozens of opinions and talked to several people about this.

Is more hardware better than virtualization? And if the idea of a low power CPU is to reduce energy costs, how does more than one of them help?

Final Thoughts and a question

As a final thought, having multiple pieces of hardware increases complexity, and thus maintenance time, but independent hardware means a failure in one system doesn’t mean a failure in another, the same isolation virtualization offers.

I have gone back and forth on a conclusion. I have seen people who run their entire infrastructure on a mini PC. That may be good for many people, but some might find themselves straining under the load.

But, what do you think? Am I better off upgrading or bifurcating?

Published on October 23, 2025
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Going Paperless in 2025: Taming my Document Collection with Paperless-NGX

Going Paperless

After setting up a new local photo organization system with Immich, I wanted to tackle the next big challenge: digitizing and organizing my documents. The fact that I still have a long way to go cleaning up my photo collection proves that even the best tools only work if you actually use them regularly. These projects can take a lot of time to set up and migrate your existing data into them, but after that maintenance time drops significantly.

Exploring Paperless-NGX for Document Management

To prepare for this new organizational project, I’ve been testing Paperless-NGX, an open-source document management system. It’s designed to help you digitize, tag, and organize paper documents, PDFs, and even emails.

Paperless-NGX offers:

  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for searching scanned files
  • Intelligent auto-tagging
  • Email ingestion based on custom rules
  • Web and API interfaces for easy access

At first glance, it seems to check all the boxes for a powerful local document management solution.

Getting Documents into Paperless-NGX

Aside from the built-in email import (which can be customized with rules), most documents still have to be manually uploaded or scripted. That’s not ideal—but it’s workable.

I plan to start small, using it for:

  • Tax documents
  • PDFs of manuals
  • Old paper files I can safely shred afterward

Once those are in place, allowing me to gain more of an idea of how I want to configure the system, expanding the system will be easier.

Remembering Old Tools (and Why They Disappeared)

Years ago, I paid for a service that automatically downloaded PDFs of my statements from banks and shopping sites and saved them to a service so I could bring it to my server. Unfortunately, that service was discontinued—and I’ve yet to find a truly comparable replacement that securely transfers those files to my own server. There are some limited alternatives, but they seem more for accountants than personal use or are incredibly expensive for the need.

There are still some cloud-based alternatives, like Docgenie, which can automate downloads and organize statements. But with privacy and longevity in mind, I’m focusing on self-hosted options.

With Paperless-NGX, I can at least manually download and archive them locally, keeping full control over my data.  If a site can email documents, that’s another integration opportunity—Paperless-NGX’s email ingestion can extract and store attachments automatically.

Building a Sustainable Digital Archive

Yes, the process takes effort. Migrating and organizing data is tedious at first, but once it’s done, ongoing upkeep should be minimal.

Like with photos, the key is developing a system that’s easy to maintain. Once everything is centralized and searchable, the payoff is huge: less paper clutter, easier access, and full control of your information.

Published on October 19, 2025
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Improving Performance on This Site with a New Widget

In the sidebar of this site, I have links to another affiliated site, Mechdreams, where various keyboard themed items are available for sale. Specifically some posts I made showing off various keyboards I had constructed. I thought it would be nice to have pages for some of my construction, where I could talk about these items.

I did this quickly with the built-in RSS widget in WordPress/ClassicPress, but discovered that despite the fact that it is supposed to cache this information, it was regularly polling my other site, asking for a copy of the latest list. The RSS format is not dead. It is still in use every day, including by me to read sites.

The RSS Widget clearly has not been updated in some time, and could definitely use some enhancements. I decided to write some new widgets to display feeds from different sources. I had a few prerequisites for this project design:

  • No Scraping of Content – I am not going to write code designed to extract anything other than a link preview. This is designed to share related content, not keep people away from those sites.
  • Reasonable Caching – The code should not be constantly polling other sites and should act in a friendly manner
  •  Good Visual Design – The initial version of the code is very simple, but I think I can go beyond over time a simple list.

A link preview is a common web element that shows information about a link, such as title, featured image, or summary.

The sources I’m interested in supporting, in order, are:

  • The WordPress REST API
  • RSS
  • JSONFeed

WordPress REST API

If you are looking to syndicate content from a WordPress or ClassicPress site, the built-in REST API provides data in a format that can easily be interpreted for a single page or a feed. Discoverability for links directly to the REST URL representing a page of posts has been in WordPress for about five years. I contributed the code after a conversation with one of the REST API maintainers some years ago, as I was looking to generate better link previews for a different type of citation.

People don’t seem to think of the WordPress REST API as a feed source, but it is one. And it is the first one I wrote for this project.

RSS/Atom

The RSS protocol is the classic standard for syndication. And it does hold up, although it has its limitations. Depressingly, more and more sites are foregoing offering RSS or Atom feeds, or if they do, actually showing you how to get to them.

JSONFeed

JSONFeed was an attempt by Brent Simmons and Manton Reece to create a syndication format using JSON, as opposed to XML, which is what RSS and Atom use. Most modern APIs use JSON in 2025. While regrettably, JSONFeed never took off, you never know. It is also similar enough to RSS and Atom to make it easy to add.

Future Enhancements

The original RSS widget supported showing the title, date, a summary, and the author. I would like to return to add featured images and better ways to display the information. But for now, the new functionality is there.

Published on October 12, 2025
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Should You Upgrade Your Network to 2.5G or 10G For Your Home Network?

Technology marches on, and keeping up with the times always raises the same question: When is an upgrade worth the cost? I remember when I first moved to gigabit networking. Prices have dropped since then, but it still surprises me how many devices in 2025 are stuck on older, slower Fast Ethernet. For homelab hobbyists, choosing anything below gigabit today would be unusual. Above that, the choices are: 2.5G, 5G, and 10G Ethernet.

Future Proofing with the Right Cabling

As part of my recent renovations, I’ve been looking at ways to future-proof my infrastructure. The wiring I had installed is Cat 6, which has been the recommended standard for years and while there are newer options, Cat 6 supports higher data rates and distances, including 10G Ethernet up to 55 meters (180 feet)—more than enough for a residence.

But do you really need 10G? The cost-benefit question for home setups is still up for debate, though prices are slowly coming down.

The Internet vs. Local Speed

The first question is: what’s the speed of your internet connection? Even if it’s slower, there are still reasons to benefit from faster networking inside your home. For years, gigabit outpaced typical internet connections. But now, 1G and 2G internet plans are becoming more common—whether or not they actually deliver those speeds is another debate.

Why Faster Networking Still Matters

So why upgrade beyond gigabit? One reason is Network Attached Storage (NAS). I’ve written before about building a NAS. At the end of the day, a NAS is just a giant storage box—and when you’re pulling data from it, you want those files to arrive as fast as possible.

Serious homelab enthusiasts argue that now is the time to skip straight to *10G networking*. And there’s a solid case for that.

The Cost of 10G Hardware

A quick Amazon search shows this $33 PCI-E network card that uses a single SFP+ port. Dual SFP+ ports are only a few dollars more. I have an empty slot in my NAS, I could have this in there tomorrow. Switches with 10G ports used to be out of reach, but today I’m seeing options with 2.5G ports plus one or two SFP+ ports rated for 10G.

For those unfamiliar: SGP+ is a modular port that supports fiber optic or copper Ethernet modules, making it flexible for future upgrades.

A Hybrid Approach: 2.5G + 10G

My plan is to run a router with both SFP+ and 2.5G ports, with one of the 10G uplinks feeding a downstream 2.5G switch. That gives me:

  • A noticeable speed increase now
  • Flexibility to add faster devices later
  • The option to interconnect switches at 10G speeds

It’s not the full leap to 10G everywhere, but it’s a balanced, future-ready upgrade path for my homelab.

 

 

Published on October 9, 2025
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From a Garage Door Opener to DIY Weather Network

Many years ago, I started down a path that eventually led to my building and operation my own weather stations. Disney all started with a mouse, but my weather stations all began with a garage door that didn’t work properly.

It Started with a Garage Door Opener

When my garage door opener repeatedly failed, I decided to replace it with a model that had better range. For just a few dollars more, I could get one with smart capabilities. Why not? I thought—it would be nice to know whether I’d left it open. I later dropped that solution for an open alternative maintaining the same functionality.

After sharing this information with the other people in the building,  one day, in the winter, I was outside shoveling snow, and got a phone call. The person on the other end of the phone told me they knew I must be home because they got an alert that the garage door had opened and closed. I told them I was outside, and they’d know that if there was a camera. I installed my first IP based camera the following week.

From Cameras to Weather Stations

Not long after, another neighbor—snowbirding in Florida—called me to say they were using the camera to check the weather at home. I joked that if I set up a weather station, they’d get even more accurate information.

Fast-forward, I now run three weather stations in three different counties, all running WeeWx. Every time I show someone what I’ve built, they want one too.

Expanding the Weather Stations

Over the years, I’ve added sensors and refined my stations. Most recently, I standardized all three with AirGradient air quality sensors. I had first installed one during the Canadian wildfires, when smoke spread across the northeastern U.S.

Unfortunately, one sensor started reporting “apocalyptic” levels of dust—clearly wrong. After forcing a restart, it began reporting zero. Another failure. Luckily, I’d bought a spare particulate sensor, since they have only a three-year shelf life.

Moments like this raise two questions for me:

  1. Is it time to upgrade while I’m fixing something anyway?
  2. How do I better monitor these systems so I know when they are failing?

I have this same problem with anything I built. I’ve talked before about Uptime Kuma, which I use to make sure servers are up. However, Uptime Kuma does not deal with sensors not reporting data, or reporting insanely wrong data. I think I need another solution for that.

But in the meantime, what about upgrades? I went to the WeeWx database for ideas on what their default schema stores. I currently track:

  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • UV
  • Lightning Strikes
  • PM1, PM2.5, and PM10
  • CO2
  • VOC
  • NOx
  • Rain
  • Barometric Pressure

But there are prebuilt fields in WeeWx for:

  • Hail
  • Snow
  • Lead
  • Ozone
  • Sulfur Dioxide
  • Noise
  • Ammonia
  • Nitrogen Dioxide
  • Cloud Cover

There is a line between important statistics and gathering as much data as possible. Some of these, like ozone, are useful for urban air quality. Others, like snow still lack good consumer hardware.

For now, my temporary workaround is an simple snow gauge(a metal pole in the ground), planted outside within view of one of my outdoor cameras.

Reliability and Redundancy Challenges

A faulty sensor isn’t the only problem I’ve run into. I’ve had *Acurite Atlas sensors fail completely*, and those are much harder to repair. This raises more questions:

  • Should I install redundant temperature and humidity sensors for accuracy and reliability?
  • Can I create alerts for insane values (like volcanic dust levels) or for when sensors stop reporting entirely?
  • How do I best design fallback logic without sacrificing accuracy?

I already use Uptime Kuma to monitor whether servers are up, but it doesn’t flag incorrect or missing sensor data. Building alerts for bad sensor values is a different challenge.

What is Next For My Weather Network?

What began with a broken garage door opener has grown into a DIY weather network. As I expand, I face a balancing act: deciding which data is truly valuable, keeping sensors reliable, and planning upgrades smartly.

Every failure teaches me something new—about both the technology and the importance of monitoring the monitors themselves. The fun of DIY weather tracking as a hobby isn’t just in gathering data and using it; it’s in continually improving how that data is collected, validated, and shared

.

Published on September 30, 2025
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Home Automation Scenes For Smarter Routines
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How to Use Home Automation Scenes for Smarter Routines

What Are Home Automation Scenes?

One of the classic concepts in home automation is the scene. A scene is a preset that updates the states of multiple devices at once, saving you from juggling switches and apps.

Think of a theater scene: the television powers on, your speakers adjust to the right volume, the shades close, and the lights dim. One command, everything set.

Scenes are powerful—but designing them takes planning. Here’s how to think about scenes in any other automation platform.

Why Home Automation Scene Planning Is Tricky

Planning automations is one of the hardest parts of a smart home setup. You need to figure out:

  •  The trigger (time, motion, button, or voice)
  • The devices involved
  • The desired states

Home Assistant, like many platforms, makes this a little easier: you can set your devices the way you want them, then capture those states into a scene. Later, you can resume them all with a single action.

It sounds simple, but when you have dozens of lights, locks, and plugs, execution can be complicated.

Everyday Home Automation Scenes Worth Creating

You don’t have to start with complex routines. A few simple scenes can transform your daily life:

  • Dusk – Turn on outside lights, close blinds, and set indoor lighting levels.
  • Dawn – Open blinds, turn off night lights, start the coffee maker.
  • Good Night – Shut off lights, lock the doors, enable security devices.
  • Wake Up – Gradually raise lights, play morning music, and turn on smart plugs.

The real value comes when you think about what you do every single day—and automate that.

My Example: The Good Night Home Automation Scene

Here’s what happens when I activate my Good Night scene:

  • Turn on the noise machine to drown out background noises
  • Turn off bedroom lights
  • Turn off lights in other rooms
  • Check whether the apartment door is locked

Instead of walking through my home flipping switches and checking locks, one tap (or a voice command) takes care of everything.

Home Automation Scenes Make Smart Homes Actually Smart

Scenes aren’t just a convenience—they’re the glue that makes a smart home feel intelligent. By grouping devices into routines like dawn, dusk, and good night, you replace dozens of manual actions with a single one.

Yes, automation planning is personal. Everyone’s home and habits are different. But with a little thought, you can design scenes that fit your life perfectly. And once you do, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

 

Published on September 25, 2025
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