Home automation has been a hobby of mine for decades. I started using X-10 over 30 years ago, but migrated to Insteon and a Universal Devices ISY994 around 20 years ago. I replaced the ISY with the latest Eisy earlier this year.
Over the last week, I set up Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi and I am in the process of integrating everything. There is some redundancy between the ISY and HA, but HA also integrates things that the ISY doesn’t and HA has a nicer GUI.
Here are some pictures:
The R Pi and system monitor
Lighting and Ring
Weather and home energy usage
Both the Eisy and HA are open source Unix variants so I can SSH in and do some config directly.
I still can't get it to make me a sandwich, but it will order a pizza for me.
------------------ "Ain't no rest for the whiskers."
I don't usually like "covers" or tribute bands ...
I don't either, but these guys are exceptional. (I hope I haven't posted them here, before.) (Their guitar player, Richie Castellano, also plays with Blue Oyster Cult, and does most of this band's production.)
And one more. This one was recorded with most everyone in separate places. Hence the "quarantine edition" tag. (They also frequently swap "guest performers" in and out.)
These folks are prolific as hell. On You Tube, look for "Band Geek" or Richie Castellano ===================================
To the original topic, I don't care much about automating stuff in my house, other than maybe opening gates and such. The less interaction with the cloud, the better. But we only recently got decent broadband, so I'm in the process of building out the WiFi, and installing security cameras. (Farm environment. Lots of critters - and predators.)
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-05-2023).]
This is something I've kind of been interested in... but not entirely sure that I want it connected to the internet. Can this app you're running (WG) run on the Pi without needing internet access? I'm looking for something that has a fancy LED screen and can integrate with my old complete-home security wiring. Every door and window is perma-wired with security wiring, so I'd love to take advantage of that too. I've not really started looking... just have a lot of other things, but I am interested in it.
This is something I've kind of been interested in... but not entirely sure that I want it connected to the internet. Can this app you're running (WG) run on the Pi without needing internet access? I'm looking for something that has a fancy LED screen and can integrate with my old complete-home security wiring. Every door and window is perma-wired with security wiring, so I'd love to take advantage of that too. I've not really started looking... just have a lot of other things, but I am interested in it.
My network is a combination of several systems. Some require an internet connection and some don’t, with the caveat that most will require the internet to download or update.
Lighting is done with Insteon switches and dimmers, which are controlled by a Universal Devices Eisy. With the exception of updates, no internet is required. There are many choices for lighting and switches, but to me, the Insteon/ISY system is the most versatile and robust, although it is a little less intuitive to configure and is not as well known. The Eisy (ISY) will also handle some of the better known standards for those who prefer vanilla, but we drive Pontiacs, not Toyotas.
Voice control is handled by “Alexa”, and my cameras and alarm are from Ring. Both run through Amazon servers. I avoided this up until I realized that if you have an Android phone, you are already being tracked and snooped. In the words of Uncle Frank, “No way to delay that trouble comin' every day.”
The Rpi runs Home Assistant which is free and open source, and also free of charge. It can integrate hundreds of devices and systems, some of which require an internet connection.
This stuff is not exactly “plug-n-pray”, it helps to have some computer experience, search savvy and patience, but I am a hobbyist. It is something to play with when it is 115o outside.
If you are a Linux guy, and I don’t mean Mint or Ubuntu, you will have no problem.
My network is a combination of several systems. Some require an internet connection and some don’t, with the caveat that most will require the internet to download or update.
Lighting is done with Insteon switches and dimmers,
Voice control is handled by “Alexa”, and my cameras and alarm are from Ring. The Rpi runs Home Assistant which is free and open source, and also free of charge. It can integrate hundreds of devices and systems, some of which require an internet connection.
This stuff is not exactly “plug-n-pray”, it helps to have some computer experience, search savvy and patience, but I am a hobbyist. It is something to play with when it is 115o outside.
If you are a Linux guy, and I don’t mean Mint or Ubuntu, you will have no problem.
OHHH Yeah..they will be coming for you, right at the beginning...
OHHH Yeah..they will be coming for you, right at the beginning...
They can’t find the guy who killed Seth Rich, planted the pipe bomb on Jan 6, leaked the Dobbs decision or stashed the coke in the West Wing. I ain’t worried.
"home automation enthusiasts" often have problems and never know until way too late... ⚠️⚠️⚠️ R Pi and related SBC often have big security problems because users setup them "wrong" and/or OS have bugs or just missing whatever service/software to protect them. Or User added some software and use Amazon and other "clouds" etc that have problems.
Other IoT "Products" can be way worse... Amazon and other "Clouds" can shut down your account without warning. Like Amacon recently did to 1 user covered by Rossman Amazon accuses customer of racism & shuts down their smart home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s Or kill the whole "cloud" because sold, bankrupt, etc. or just on a whim like Google often kills many projects. Data/video to the "Cloud" can be saved and do anything the "cloud" co what do to w/ it. Devices themselves like Ring Cams have big security problems too.
That's ignoring Ring makes all videos w/o notice to you available to Cops and others even when you don't pay for video storage. Eufy and many others have big problems too. Example: Eufy Lied. - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMe2K-bHSdI Stop Using Eufy Security Cameras NOW! (+ Anker & Soundcore) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4QRwpy84tA
And Ring, Alexa and other Amazon Cloud things use Sidewalk to bypass WiFi and can let everyone attach to one device that sees the cloud. So your WiFi can have data from "Neighbors" on your network even tho they can't use WiFi direct. (Sim issue w/ Xfinity Gateways that Default to being a Pubic Hotspot. You have no control but turn off the Hotspot service but Xfinity can turn it on again at will or next Gateway Upgrade/Update. When On is using Same Radios to create another Net and slows your service.)
So when people think having "cloud" cameras and audio in home is good... Including Xfinity and other "Security" cameras... don't be surprise when that "cloud" puts all of that on the Internet, sold/give to police often w/o notice or warrant, and worse.
Other IoT have problems or hack to be DDOS and spam bots etc.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
I migrated the Homeassistant instance from a Pi 3b (1gig ram) to a 4b (2gig ram) running from an SSD. It was a huge improvement in overall performance.
I 3D printed the Pi case, OLED display housing and stand for the SSD.
Now that I know I can make the SSD work, I will get an M.2 SATA stick and enclosure to replace the 2.5" SATA SSD.
How long will it be before kids wonder, "Why is it called a Disk Drive?"
[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 09-05-2023).]
"home automation enthusiasts" often have problems and never know until way too late... ⚠️⚠️⚠️ R Pi and related SBC often have big security problems because users setup them "wrong" and/or OS have bugs or just missing whatever service/software to protect them. Or User added some software and use Amazon and other "clouds" etc that have problems.
I doubt anyone is running much in the way of meaningful endpoint protection in their home environments. All of the 'free' options I know of are legacy definition-based operations, and provide little in terms of actual endpoint protection. Most EDR services are going to be cost-prohibitive for hobby labs, much less one that is going to make sense/be supportable in a mixed environment with potentially obscure Linux distros.
Security absolutely belongs throughout your environment, but unless you are keeping an irresponsible amount of personal or financial data on your home automation servers I'd argue the best defense for all of this limited externally-facing footprint with a reasonable gateway. PFSense, or if you want something a little more NGFW you could always use SophosXG Home. I think that's still a free option. If you have incoming connections you can double down by putting a reverse proxy in your DMZ and forcing everything incoming through it as well.
Truthfully, none of us make much in terms of compelling targets for any kind of non-government threat actor. Don't store sensitive information, make yourself a less-than-worthwhile target and monitor your traffic for C2 and you'll be more secure than anything on your endpoints is going to make you.
quote
Other IoT "Products" can be way worse... Amazon and other "Clouds" can shut down your account without warning. Like Amacon recently did to 1 user covered by Rossman Amazon accuses customer of racism & shuts down their smart home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s Or kill the whole "cloud" because sold, bankrupt, etc. or just on a whim like Google often kills many projects. Data/video to the "Cloud" can be saved and do anything the "cloud" co what do to w/ it. Devices themselves like Ring Cams have big security problems too.
That's ignoring Ring makes all videos w/o notice to you available to Cops and others even when you don't pay for video storage. Eufy and many others have big problems too. Example: Eufy Lied. - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMe2K-bHSdI Stop Using Eufy Security Cameras NOW! (+ Anker & Soundcore) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4QRwpy84tA
And Ring, Alexa and other Amazon Cloud things use Sidewalk to bypass WiFi and can let everyone attach to one device that sees the cloud. So your WiFi can have data from "Neighbors" on your network even tho they can't use WiFi direct. (Sim issue w/ Xfinity Gateways that Default to being a Pubic Hotspot. You have no control but turn off the Hotspot service but Xfinity can turn it on again at will or next Gateway Upgrade/Update. When On is using Same Radios to create another Net and slows your service.)
So when people think having "cloud" cameras and audio in home is good... Including Xfinity and other "Security" cameras... don't be surprise when that "cloud" puts all of that on the Internet, sold/give to police often w/o notice or warrant, and worse.
Other IoT have problems or hack to be DDOS and spam bots etc.
This is all true, but at some point you're putting bandaids on bullet wounds. If you are carrying a cell phone around and using it in any contemporary capacity (or are around those that do) you have already compromised your data in a much more significant way than your ring doorbell cam has. Same thing is true if you have a smart TV, speaker, remote, whatever that is passively listening or watching, hell or a car with OnStar.
I think it's a matter of understanding what data you are putting where and making your decision accordingly.
I love the data you're pulling and dashboarding. I lab constantly, but don't have anything set up for home automation outside of whats out-of-the-box with my cameras/thermostat. The data...this is a compelling use case.
Have you thought about putting something like open weather station up to pull into this? Would be super cool if that weather feed was generated locally.
[This message has been edited by NewDustin (edited 07-22-2024).]
