Unlike the JetKVM, this new NanoKVM Pro, on connecting USB power and which came from the target machine, and the HDMI, this time a full-size HDMI connector, the target PC came up in my main PC browser (I found the address of the KVM from my router – I could…
Category: General
Text Adventure – Only 40 Years Too Late
You’re right – I’m bored – I’m waiting for a load of new toys to arrive to write about. I’ve just spent the day at the coast with an ex-Microsoft pal of mine, avoiding crappy weather inland and on my return home tonight, my Bengal cat was deeply involved in…
An Exciting Shelly and Sonoff Friday
It’s Friday (August 2024 – see October 2025 update at the end) and I got up VERY early this morning and in this entry I have new devices from SHELLY – a pair of SHELLY MOTION devices (about which I’m quite excited) – and a not-so-new but handy Shelly RGBW…
Cheap USB Cameras – any good?
I generally use a OBSBOT Tiny 4K Webcam – and lovely it is too. But today I was trying to download a manual for another product (Switchbot Smart Wall Panel) and as I could not on this occasion use my phone camera and the only way to get the user…
LD2410C Presence Sensor – First Steps & Beyond
The LD2410C is a mmWave presence/movement sensor that is really cheap, widely available and with a little help and unserstanding, makes a GREAT alternative to infra-red and ultrasonic detectors – and at the price is suitable for everything from human presence/movement detection in farly large rooms right down to light…
And Now, the Reolink Duo 3v PoE Security Camera
This one’s a monster. The camera can run from 12v DC or Poe – i.e. a POE adaptor running power through an Ethernet cable – so it’s a wired camera – not WIFI – and high resolution with it. The Poe Adaptor is not supplied but Reolink make them as…
Sonoff SNZB-01P Button – A Brief Revisit
This will be brief but I want to showcase a button that has proven to be very useful in my Home Assistant based home control. Yes I have everything controlled by my phone and/or PC. I even have an ALL-OFF onscreen button for night-time – but in reality – it’s…
Switchbot Smart Video Doorbell
This new video doorbell has an indoor unit with 4.3″ (109mm) colour screen, a 2K camera with all the usual features you’ll see in the link below – along with in-depth specs. There’s likely a model number somewhere but I can’t find it. This new super-duper video doorbell is looking…
JETKVM – Useful tool or not?
I’m writing this blog entry using my spare Windows 11 PC connected via JETKVM – so I’m sitting at my normal fast PC (all hardwired) with the JETKVM at full screen hence I’m seeing my secondary PC full screen and accessing it to write this log. Slight key lag, actually…
Remembering OKW Enclosures
Well, that title makes it sound like they’re no longer around – far from it in fact. For years, before I left the UK to spend more time in Spain, I used to use the company OKW for small project cases. I just happened to be bored last week waiting…
Sonoff Fusion Zigbee Smart Shutter Wall Switch
This new (September 29, 2025) Fusion Series (Orb-ZBRBS) wall switch uses internally a Sonoff Mini-ZRBS-E controller module. And that is exactly WHAT? – I hear you say? Well, it’s a new, sleek, 2-channel Zigbee-controlled wall switch designed to control roller blinds. The controller needs live and neutral in (slight problem…
ESP32-C3 and LD2450 – A Quick Look
If you’re looking for cheap presence-movement-sensing in ESP-Home, you may have, like me spent a while looking at YouTube only to get disappointed. Several videos on the subject are by one guy who leads you to his LD2450 project on the basis of subscribing to his channel to get source…
A New Year’s AI Treat + September Updates
After a set of eye correction surgeries, I’m currently in between tech projects, soon to recommence (beginning of 2025). In the meantime – no doubt many of you will either be actively using AI in your jobs or like me tinkering with it to find out what’s useful and what’s…
ANOTHER Sonoff BASIC – Gen 5 – BASIC 1GS
My first contact with Sonoff, years ago, was about all the original Sonoff BASIC and BASIC RF units – dirt cheap ESP-based smart mains power controllers. And they were basic, just an ESP8266 board with built-in mains psu controlling a relay with a common neutral. No frills, no sensors. I…
Switchbot S20 Lidar + AI Vacuum and Wet Cleaner
Ok, “remarkable” may or may not be premature – I’m still at the “stunned with my new gadget” stage. This new Switchbot vacuum has auto water refill, waste emptying and 90 day trash disposal intervals (OK, enough of the sales blurb). I just received mine and it is planned to…
Sonoff CAM B1P Outdoor Camera – New
This is the first of my post-holiday blog entries – nice to be back from the USA and at my desk. Model number? CAM-B1P. This new external WiFi camera from Sonoff comes with a built-in (approx 3m) lead with a USB-A plug at the end. At first glance at least,…
Gl-iNet Lafaer LWR01 Human Presence Detector
The Lafaer LWR-1 Human Presence Detector is a new device from Gl-iNet, more famous for their router products, many of which I’ve written about in here over the years. Just this month I wrote about their GL-RM1 Remote KVM product. And now, the Lafaer LWR01 wireless Human Presence Detector. This…
Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 and Dongle Max
Just a quick preview – Sonoff have been producing Zigbee dongles for a long time – I have the E and P models (USB). The new models are more expensive but have more to offer and they now specifically refer to Zigbee2MQTT – a clear break from the eWeLink-oriented approach…
Apollo R Pro-1 mmWave Multisensor
Have a look at my other Apollo blog entries – this is the latest device – read what it says on their website. Original blog entry June 2025 – see September updates at the end… Sorry – I just had to steal that promo from their website and no they…
Seeed 7.5″ ePaper Display – Learn with Peter :-)
I’ve been putting off writing about the Seeed Xiao display panel (ESP32 powered) as I could not initially figure out how to start the ball rolling – then this morning it started to fall into place. Here’s a product link that Seeed sent to me. The display is touted as…