New Tech, Vintage Nerds

In today's episode Alex and AJ are discussing presence detection versus motion detection in their home automation setups. Takeaways: * mmWave Technology as an alternative to PIR for detecting presence, even if the person is not moving significantly. * mmWave response slower than PIR, but the combination is good * Automations are annoying when it is not working properly * Home automation can be expensive, with numerous small costs accumulating over time 🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips: 3D Printing Magnets Tip: When starting 3D printing and incorporating magnets, AJ suggests printing a specific tool that helps in orienting the magnets correctly. This tool ensures the magnets are inserted in your prints with the right orientation, preventing issues with alignment and adhesion. Embedded Magnet Dispenser Tool for 3D Prints [https://makerworld.com/en/models/60890-embedded-magnet-dispenser-tool-for-3d-prints?fprofileId-63102] Mini Greenhouse Project: Alex mentions a project involving 3D printing a mini greenhouse called "Herbus," designed by Hands On Katie. It’s a comprehensive project that includes sections for planting herbs for the kitchen or small plants for a vegetable garden. Alex highlights adding technology and automation to the greenhouse, such as full spectrum LED lights for growing plants and potentially including an automated watering system. Herbus Mini Greenhouse [https://handsonkatie.com/herbus-s20-pro-x-ultra/] ® Brands or solutions mentioned (not in order): 1. Homey [https://homey.app/] 2. Home Assistant [https://home-assistant.io] 3. Aqara [https://www.aqara.com/en/] 4. Gardena [https://www.gardena.com/] 5. Husqvarna [https://www.husqvarna.com] 6. Hands On Katie [https://handsonkatie.com] 7. Herbus [https://handsonkatie.com/herbus-s20-pro-x-ultra/]

In this episode of NTVN, New Tech Vintage Nerds, AJ and Alex discuss standing desks and their uses, preferences, and assembly experiences, while standing. Takeaways: * Discussing standing desk benefits, such as such as better posture, a more dynamic presentation style in virtual meetings, and improved overall well-being while working from home. * Personal Experiences with standing desks, including the types they use (two-legged vs. four-legged) and the challenges and benefits they encountered. * Assembly and Setup Tips 🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips: ® Brands or solutions mentioned (not in order): 1. Gridfinity [https://gridfinity.xyz/] 2. Kickstarter [https://www.kickstarter.com/] 3. Zoom [https://zoom.us] 4. WebEx [https://www.webex.com/] 5. Microsoft Teams [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams] 6. Huddles [https://slack.com/features/huddles] 7. Hangouts 8. Flexispot [https://www.flexispot.com/] 9. Ikea countertop [https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/pre-cut-worktops-700419/] 10. Monster [https://monsterstore.com/] 11. Seasonic [https://seasonic.com/] 12. GeForce (NVIDIA) [https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/] 13. AliExpress [https://aliexpress.com/] 14. Apple MacBook [https://www.apple.com/mac/compare/] 15. LTT store (Linus Tech Tips) [https://www.lttstore.com/] 🤝 Join the Conversation: We're not just here to talk at you—we want to connect with our community! Have questions or experiences about standing desks, home office gear, or tech? Want to share your own journey? Drop a comment below, and let's start the discussion! 🔔 Stay Updated: Don't miss out on more tech insights and productivity tips. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content. 🗣️ Stay Connected with Us: * Twitter Chatter [https://twitter.com/newtechvintage] * Mastodon Musings [https://mastodon.social/@newtechvintagenerds] * Our hangout on the internet [https://ntvn.online] * Your favorite podcasting platform [https://ntvn.podbean.com]

In this episode of NTVN New Tech Vintage Nerds, AJ and Alex invite special guest Vikash to the table. The trio dives into a variety of tech topics, from the challenges of home automation with Sonos speakers to the intricacies of digitizing VHS tapes. They explore the world of 3D printing and the balance between high-end tinkering versus plug-and-play solutions. The conversation shifts to Vikash's personal journey in tech and his motivations behind creating valuable content on YouTube. If you're into home automation, DIY tech projects, or considering starting a YouTube channel, this episode is packed with insights and tips that you won't want to miss. Takeaways: * Alex's Experience with Home Automation: Alex talks about his automation setup using Sonos speakers, the problems he faced when the speakers stopped working, and how he resolved them by reintroducing the speakers into the setup. * Whole Home Audio Systems: The discussion shifts towards various audio setup strategies, including using HomePods and Home Assistant for automating music throughout the house. They also discuss systems like ZigBee and Z-Wave for motion sensors and other home automation elements. * VHS Digitization: Alex explains his process of digitizing old VHS tapes using an HDMI video converter and a capture box, as well as software like OBS and Handbrake for the actual digitization and encoding. He emphasizes the cost-effectiveness and quality improvement by using these specific tools. * Vikash's YouTube Journey: Vikash shares his journey of starting a YouTube channel focused on tech topics. He details how he decided to transition from traditional blogs to video content, his methodology for choosing topics, and the importance of not striving for perfection in the initial stages. He also discusses the tech he uses and his gradual upgrades over time. * Community Feedback and Improvements: Vikash highlights the importance of community feedback for improvement and stresses that good content is more important than having the best tech setup immediately. 🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips: 1. Vikash recommends the TV show "The Bear" for those interested in cooking and restaurant management. 2. AJ suggests exploring "Music Assistant," a tool complementary to Home Assistant for creating a whole-home audio system. ® Brands or solutions mentioned (not in order) 1. Sonos [http://sonos.com] 2. Home Assistant [https://home-assistant.io] 3. HomePod/HomePod Mini [https://apple.com/homepod] 4. Homey Pro [https://homey.app/homey-pro/] 5. Philips Hue [https://philips-hue.com] 6. Z-Wave [https://z-wavealliance.org] 7. ZigBee [https://csa-iot.org/all-solutions/zigbee/] 8. EcoWitt weather station [https://shop.ecowitt.com] 9. OBS - Open Broadcaster Software [https://obsproject.com] 10. Handbrake [https://handbrake.fr] 11. Joplin (note-taking application) [https://joplinapp.org] 12. Nextcloud [https://nextcloud.com] 13. Vikash.nl (Vikash’s personal website) [https://www.vikash.nl] 14. LinkedIn (professional networking site) [https://linkedin.com] 15. Music Assistant (related to Home Assistant) [https://music-assistant.io] 🔔 Stay Updated: Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content. 🗣️ Stay Connected with Us: * Twitter Chatter: https://twitter.com/newtechvintage [https://twitter.com/newtechvintage] * Mastodon Musings: https://mastodon.social/@newtechvintagenerds [https://mastodon.social/@newtechvintagenerds] * Our hangout on the internet: https://ntvn.online [https://ntvn.online] * Your favorite podcasting platform or on https://ntvn.podbean.com [https://ntvn.podbean.com] Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content.

Join AJ and Alex as they dive into the world of 3D printing, weather stations, and home automation. In this episode, they share their latest adventures with flexible filament, such as TPU, and discuss their use of various 3D prints like brackets for MacBooks and custom solutions for better storage and organization. The conversation transitions to weather stations, focusing on automation benefits, local data integration, and energy efficiency. Takeaways: * Flexible filaments like TPU are versatile but require longer print times. * Weather stations can significantly augment smart home automation by providing real-time environmental data. * Choosing a weather station with local data support can enhance reliability and control over cloud-dependent alternatives. * Integrate UV sensors in your system for personalized alerts and safer outdoor activities. * Tools like a filament dryer can drastically improve print quality, especially for hydroscopic materials. 🏠 What's on the Agenda: * 00:00 Introduction and recent 3D printing projects * 00:37 Challenges and solutions with flexible filaments * 03:31 Overview of weather stations and their role in home automation * 12:05 Benefits of using EcoWitt Witboy for real-time data * 33:30 Practical uses for UV sensors and soil moisture sensors 🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips: * Enhance 3D printing with a reliable filament dryer * Explore the benefits of advanced weather stations like the EcoWit for precise automation * Invest in localized data solutions to prevent automation failure during connectivity issues 🤝 Join the Conversation: We're not just here to talk at you—we want to connect with our community! Have questions or experiences about 3D printing, or home automation? Want to share your own tech journey? Drop a comment below, and let's start the discussion! 🔔 Stay Updated: Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content. 🗣️ Stay Connected with Us: * Twitter Chatter: /newtechvintage * Mastodon Musings: Mastodon Link [https://mastodon.social/@newtechvin] * Our hangout on the internet: NTVN Online [https://ntvn.online] * Your favorite podcasting platform or on Podbean [https://ntvn.podbean.com]

In this episode AJ and Alex talk about zone heating and automating it. 🤝 Join the Conversation: We're not just here to talk at you-we want to engage with our community! Have questions or tips about 3D printing, WiFi, or some other topic? Want to share your own home automation win? Drop a comment below, and let's start the discussion! 🔔 Stay Updated: Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content. 🗣️ Stay Connected with Us: * Twitter Chatter: https://twitter.com/newtechvintage [https://twitter.com/newtechvintage] * Mastodon Musings: https://mastodon.social/@newtechvintagenerds [https://mastodon.social/@newtechvintagenerds] * Our hangout on the internet: https://ntvn.online [https://ntvn.online] * Your favorite podcasting platform or on https://ntvn.podbean.com [https://ntvn.podbean.com]