I’ve just updated the node node-red-contrib-timeout. This is as always, available at https://flows.nodered.org also at https://www.npmjs.com/package/node-red-contrib-timeout
In there, interested viewers will find that as well as the normal msg.payload showing the status, there is now also msg.countdown showing the remaining time in seconds.
Continue reading Node-Red-Contrib-Timeout
Today’s post got off to a good start with this colour sports watch with pulse, blood pressure and blood sugar level indication, but all of that is just icing on the cake – the watch is beautiful. I own a Gear S2 Classic and by comparison, many watches look pathetic and for a tiny fraction of the cost of the S2, my hopes were not high but I have to say the Goral S7 is lovely. The watch came from Banggood – details below…
Goral S7 0.96" IPS Color Screen Blood Pressure Smart Watch-- https://goo.gl/xStxH2
More Smart Wristbands -- https://goo.gl/sjjoFn
EU Warehouse -- https://goo.gl/kzCXCR
Continue reading Goral S7 0.96” IPS Colour Blood Pressure Watch
Sick of reading about other people’s home control? Want to make your own? Got some electronics and software experience? You’re going to LOVE THIS! Rock-solid home control, flexible, low cost, DIY.
Continue reading Home Control 2018 and ESP-GO
The M5 Stack looks to be a reasonable use of the ESP32 and for those who need to start from a boxed product with display, it might just have a bright future.
In a nutshell this is a pretty looking ESP32-based box with display and buttons. Do with it what you will. It needs low voltage and the basic unit comes with internal battery supply. instructions, 0.1” pin leads and a USB C lead for charging and serial connection.
The M5 Stack Extensible Micro Control Module WiFi Bluetooth ESP32 Development Kit or Core Module -- https://goo.gl/Ux6AHL
More Arduino Compatible SCM & DIY Kits -- https://goo.gl/QRDLD6
I just HAD to order one and so I thought I’d put a note in here for people into the ESP32 and I’m already seeing responses including a useful note from Bob H and comments from others. All in all I’m already convinced I need this gadget on my hallway wall even though I’m not yet entirely sure what to do with it. Perhaps people who are ahead of me might write in soon to save me re-inventing the wheel.
A long-awaited little tool turned up for me this morning, the ES120 motion control electric screwdriver.
The unit operates off an internal Lithium battery and charges by micro-USB. Operation could not be easier. Hold in the button and the screwdriver starts. It is also reverse-able, obviously. Direction is controlled by rotating the screwdriver while holding the button.
When plugged into USB on your computer, you can download and replace the firmware by entering DFU mode, instructions are provided in English and Chinese.
Here are relevant Banggood links (now working):
MINI ES120 Mini Motion Control Screwdriver -- https://goo.gl/P1bj9w
More Professional Tools -- https://goo.gl/gCKmcs
EU Warehouse -- https://goo.gl/kzCXCR
Continue reading Mini ES120 Motion Control Screwdriver
My latest tests – simple Node-Red code to check the ESP-GO updates as of this morning (v2.4.01) to quickly return temperature/humidity etc. after reboot and before sleeping. With static IP I have it down to around 3 seconds including the return MQTT confirmation. Unit can sleep up to 71 minutes.
This Xiaomi cigarette-lighter-sized car charger has 2 USB outputs totalling 2.4 amps output and is able to talk via Bluetooth to your mobile phone so that those without Bluetooth on the car radio can tune into a special low power FM transmission and pick up their phone music to play via the car stereo speakers. The unit came from GearBest – here’s the link…
Xiaomi ROIDMI 3S Bluetooth Music Car Charger: https://goo.gl/uzmHh6
Thr Roidmi website is out of date, featuring models 2 and 2s whereas the unit I have is model 3S. Operation requires little explanation. Once the unit is paired to your phone by Bluetooth, all sound output will go to the unit and be retransmitted by radio (FM) to the car radio. The unit also of course has 2 USB charging outputs which can be used for example to charge your phone or tablet.
The Roidmi 3S looks solid enough, if you are unfortunate enough not to have Bluetooth on your car stereo, it could prove useful. The brief instructions (which I didn’t need) were in English.
I must admit to being sceptical at first, I’ve seen similar units over the years promising to send music over FM and usually ending up with disastrous sound. This unit on the other hand has true, clear stereo and sounds GREAT with no interference from other stations, at least, not here in the Granada region of Southern Spain. My UK car has full Bluetooth but our little Spanish run-around has no Bluetooth and as the radio stations are Spanish, has, up to now been essentially useless. Now, we can stream our music from the phone to the radio – marvellous.
This morning’s mailbag brought a number of goodies including a new smart wrist band for Maureen, the Xiaomi MI 3, supplied by GearBest.
Here’s the link:
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Smart Bracelet: https://goo.gl/hKj4PN
Continue reading Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Smart Bracelet
I constantly have several computer projects on the go at once and thanks to the likes of WinSCP etc I can run several real and virtual computers on the same screen, all fighting for screen area and of course hide-able and re-sizeable. This has been the norm for some years.
Meanwhile despite tremendous advances in quality and (long overdue) increase in density), our TV screens have no such concept as virtual HDMI. How I would love to simply have one large screen attached to half a dozen gadgets using virtual HDMI inputs on the TV.
Reasonable?
I recently bought this low-cost Mini-router without having a clear idea of how to use it, other than to somehow get past the RIDICULOUS GEO-restrictions that providers such as the BBC and others put on their TV content. My MT300N (Mango) is yellow incidentally, like the photo. Only today after very carefully reading the instructions and comparing to other routers did I realise what a winner it really is.
Continue reading GL iNET MT300N V2 Mini Router
Regular readers will know that back in December I had a very full postbag one day and lumped several items together including the Owon Bluetooth multimeter. Well, I’d planned to give some of them more coverage but again, regular readers will also know that shortly thereafter I had a stroke which put me out of action for nearly three months. I’ve been back up and running for some time but late last month, a carpal tunnel operation once again reduced my writing ability – so I’m still catching up with my writing plans.
Today I pulled out the Owon meter and the reason I fell for this device is all coming back to me.
Continue reading Owon B35T+ Meter Revisit
Update July 15, 2018
It has been said before and will be said again that I often refer to the Arduino Nano when I mean a copycat Nano board OR copycat Mini Pro. Let’s complicate this a little and add in variations using the 168 and 328 chips.
Continue reading Nano Peripheral Continued Development
