In March 2020, just about the time the term “Covid” became a thing, I received several IOT units from a company called Meross (designed in California, made in China as I noted on one of the boxes) including the UK version of their MSS310 power-monitoring Smart Plug, their Smart Radiator…
Month: April 2022
Sculpfun S6 Pro High Precision Laser Engraver
Or how to assemble a new laser engraver when your only workbench is already full… Here’s Banggood’s link (no commission as usual – I do this for fun, not to run a business) and a variation on their description. SCULPFUN S6 Pro laser engraving machine, ultra-thin focus wood and acrylic…
UGOOS UT8 Pro Android TV Box – The Long Haul
I’ve had many TV boxes over the years and learned lots of things to watch for – like different versions of Android some of which have the full Play store, some don’t. Some last, others don’t. Some have hardwired Ethernet available, some don’t etc. I just discovered something early April…
More Mi – the Redmi Buds 3 Pro Earbuds
I’ve been impressed by and stuck with my UGREEN HiTune X6 Hybrid Active noise-cancelling earbuds for some time now – but yesterday, a set of Redmi Buds 3 Pro arrived in the post – so – firstly what do these Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 Pro earbuds look and sound like?…
Mi for Me? Redme Smart Band Pro and Watch 2 Lite
I can see it’s going to be one of those weeks. Until recently, I’ve seen nothing of note in the watchband space (to use my least favourite marketing word) since My Mi Band 4, then 5, then 6 which in their time IMHO beat the competition hands down. I’m wearing…
The Monday Postbag – Mijia Electric Precision Screwdriver
Here’s the link and official description – XIAOMI Mijia 350mAh 200rpm Electric Precision Screwdriver Type-C Rechargeable – 2 Gears Repair Tool with Magnetic Storage Case & 24pcs S2 Steel Bits Sometime in April 2022 this USB-C rechargeable screwdriver and bits set is/were on special offer, that might be dead by…
Just a Quicky – Tasmota Remota
This is a quicky because normally I only post about stuff I’ve spent far too much time on – but in this case I’m going to talk about a new(ish) APP in the Android Play Store. While playing with Tasmota on my home IOT system I just HAPPENED to stumble…
ESP32 Pico D4 Development Kit
I just made a short video (see below) about this ESP32-based board from Banggood…. and off-the-shelf it runs a set of 25 serial RGB LEDs and is VERY pretty with it. Of course, being me I had to go to the next step and try to put TASMOTA32 on it.…
Sonoff SwitchMate R5 (using Mini R3 as a Gateway)
SwitchmanR5 is a battery-powered multi-function wireless wall switch which needs a “gateway” to talk to normal IOT WiFi. There are a limited number of devices which can act as these gateways so so firstly, I opened my handy the Sonoff MiniR3 and plugged it into live and neutral. Immediately it…
LEDYi 24V LED COB Strip (For All Your Lighting Requirements)
Sorry about that, I remember a famous (at least in the Northeast of England) AD for J.T. Doves – a Builder’s Merchant who’s catch-phrase (in a Northern accent) was (and probably still is) J.T. Doves – for all your household requirements. I couldn’t resist paraphrasing that for the blog title.…
Switchbot – for the times you can’t just plug something in!
I’ve wanted a Switchbot for AGES and hey, ZBANX sent me a couple of Switchbot Bots to play with Back in 2022. Nice. I have a February 2023 update on the Switchbot thermostat at the end. In case it’s not obvious, the Bot is a little battery-powered box with a…
Xiaomi Redmi AC2100 and Xiaomi Mi 2100 Routers
This is just a story which started off badly but now with an increasingly happy ending. Be warned the blog entry is at in-depth WiFi router nerd level – and is probably going to expand over time – there is already some great feedback in here.. Back around May 2020,…