dev@falkp.no's Blog

dev@falkp.no's Blog http://falkp.no/blog/ Projects, notes, linux, privacy, etc. en-us Sat, 21 May 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2022/05/21/bad_battery_choice.html http://falkp.no/blog/2022/05/21/bad_battery_choice.html <![CDATA[Bad battery choice]]> Bad battery choice

Shelly sells a smarthome sensor called Door/Window2. It works well, use wifi, is very configurable and can be used locally, without cloud. Unfortunately they’ve chosen a weird, expensive battery option, CR123A. It can cost around 70 NOK (~10 USD), and does not exist as a rechargable option. And you need two of them! So what do you do if you only have one left?

Battery, ESP and cover

]]> Sat, 21 May 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2022/05/16/solar_panel_to_dc_heater.html http://falkp.no/blog/2022/05/16/solar_panel_to_dc_heater.html <![CDATA[Solar panel to DC heater]]> Solar panel to DC heater

In Norway electricity is the most popular form of heating for households at 96% (source). Pure 230V AC is a very high-level energy, and we don’t really need that precision for heating.

This is a project to see if easy, not-perfect, locally generated energy can be used to lower the heating bill.

Disclamer: this is mostly for fun. A more economic aproach would be insulation, heat pump, put on a sweater, etc.

outside

]]> Mon, 16 May 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2022/04/12/openwrt_on_altibox_vlan.html http://falkp.no/blog/2022/04/12/openwrt_on_altibox_vlan.html <![CDATA[OpenWRT on Altibox VLAN]]> OpenWRT on Altibox VLAN

An ISP in Norway, Altibox, serves up VLANs for VoIP, IPTV and internet. The included router gives no control or options for LAN management. I only use the internet service, so I replaced it with a generic router running OpenWRT. I found no straight forward answer to how to configure it, so here it is.

]]> Tue, 12 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2021/08/28/bluedo.html http://falkp.no/blog/2021/08/28/bluedo.html <![CDATA[BlueDo - Bluetooth proximity automation]]> BlueDo - Bluetooth proximity automation

Lock your desktop, mute music or run any other command when leaving your PC. There are dozens of apps like this. This one just aims to make it beautiful, modern and easy.

Read more...

]]> Sat, 28 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2020/10/24/check_commander_curses_interface_for_checkmk.html http://falkp.no/blog/2020/10/24/check_commander_curses_interface_for_checkmk.html <![CDATA[Check Commander - Curses interface for Checkmk]]> Check Commander - Curses interface for Checkmk

A curses interface for checkmk. I named it Checkmk Commander, but Check Commander is easier to say.

Read more...

]]> Sat, 24 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2020/04/11/checkmk_plugins.html http://falkp.no/blog/2020/04/11/checkmk_plugins.html <![CDATA[Checkmk Plugins, part 1]]> Checkmk Plugins, part 1

Some of my checkmk plugins, Webchecks, Blacklist and SQL Dump. Easy deployments.

]]> Sat, 11 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2020/04/01/non_invasive_graphing_of_energy_usage.html http://falkp.no/blog/2020/04/01/non_invasive_graphing_of_energy_usage.html <![CDATA[Non-invasive graphing of energy usage]]> Non-invasive graphing of energy usage

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”

Reducing energy usage is hard if you can’t see it. Here’s a cheap way to graph home or office energy usage.

By reading data from the energy meter, one can get super accurate, real-time usage data.

Energy graph

]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2020/04/01/graphing_x_aircontrol_from_trox_technik.html http://falkp.no/blog/2020/04/01/graphing_x_aircontrol_from_trox_technik.html <![CDATA[Graphing X Aircontrol from Trox Technik]]> Graphing X Aircontrol from Trox Technik

Modern buildings have advanced HVAC systems, but they keep the data for themselves. Let’s fight that. =)

Temperature, CO2, airflow.

Read more...

]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2020/04/01/argos_gnome_shell_extensions.html http://falkp.no/blog/2020/04/01/argos_gnome_shell_extensions.html <![CDATA[Argos, GNOME Shell extensions]]> Argos, GNOME Shell extensions

Argos is a free GNOME version of BitBar. Both lets you run any script to create an icon in the panel (or Mac OS X Menu Bar). You can see lots of plugins here: BitBar plugins.

One renegade host

]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2020/02/29/veml7700_in_esphome.html http://falkp.no/blog/2020/02/29/veml7700_in_esphome.html <![CDATA[VEML7700 in ESPHome]]> VEML7700 in ESPHome

I have a VEML7700 digital light level sensor, which is not supported by ESPHome, but can be used as a custom i2c component. This is how:

]]> Sat, 29 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2020/02/01/nordlux_crap.html http://falkp.no/blog/2020/02/01/nordlux_crap.html <![CDATA[Nordlux lamp. Incompetence or planned obsolescence?]]> Nordlux lamp. Incompetence or planned obsolescence?

I got this lamp from Nordlux, model 6315. It came with unreplacable LEDs, meaning you have to throw it away when they run out. Apparently the LEDs are rated for 30.000 hours, but will they last that long?

Nordlux at Bauhaus

Overview

]]> Sat, 01 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2019/12/22/zfs_encrypted_home.html http://falkp.no/blog/2019/12/22/zfs_encrypted_home.html <![CDATA[ZFS on laptop with encrypted /home]]> ZFS on laptop with encrypted /home

With Ubuntu 19.10 it’s simple to get a workstation with boot and root on ZFS. But what’s missing from the install is encryption. This is how I did it.

I suggest you first have:

basic zfs knowledge
good linux knowledge
no important data on the target system
more than 4 GB RAM
SSD or better

]]> Sun, 22 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2018/11/23/ninjabox.html http://falkp.no/blog/2018/11/23/ninjabox.html <![CDATA[Ninjabox]]> Ninjabox

Overview

Untrickable laser alarm, with an easy-to-knock-out fusebox.

A tribute to (the alarms in) Mark of the Ninja.

Fusebox

]]> Fri, 23 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2018/05/25/car_logger_part_3.html http://falkp.no/blog/2018/05/25/car_logger_part_3.html <![CDATA[Car-logger - part 3]]> Car-logger - part 3

Overview

A self-hosted, real-time, inexpensive open source car tracker built with Raspberry Pi Zero W, Nextcloud, and optionally Home Assistant.

Plan

]]> Fri, 25 May 2018 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2017/12/19/volumio_nfc_build.html http://falkp.no/blog/2017/12/19/volumio_nfc_build.html <![CDATA[Volumio based radio with NFC]]> Volumio based radio with NFC

Overview

Volumio based internet radio, controlled by NFC, built in an old speaker.

Complete speaker

]]> Tue, 19 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2016/11/09/so_hell_has_frozen_over.html http://falkp.no/blog/2016/11/09/so_hell_has_frozen_over.html <![CDATA[So Hell has frozen over…]]> So Hell has frozen over…

So here we are, Hell really has frozen over…

]]> Wed, 09 Nov 2016 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2016/08/17/radios_part_2.html http://falkp.no/blog/2016/08/17/radios_part_2.html <![CDATA[RadiOS part 2]]> RadiOS part 2

Overview

See RadiOS part 1.

So I started making a prototype to figure out if I could “sense” both selections with GPIO pins, while the designer started modeling and rendering suggestions for the physical design. The solution chosen was to first set all volume control pins to high, and check which channel control points registered as on, then reverse (control points high, check volumes).

]]> Wed, 17 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2016/05/31/weather_via_finger_an_update.html http://falkp.no/blog/2016/05/31/weather_via_finger_an_update.html <![CDATA[Weather via finger, an update]]> Weather via finger, an update

Overview

I meant to write this post in Febuary, but never had the time.

Something exploded at Tuesday 2016-02-16.

I created the finger weather service in 2012, and announced it at Reddit. It got some mentions in Norwegian blogs, and i gathered a few regular users. See old stats in previous post.

I’m no fan of social media, and try to stay away. But apparently someone recently noticed the service and tweeted about it. Then blogs. Since I have regularly received “thank you” mails due to one of the random messages at the bottom (Mail a “thank you” to finger@falkp.no if you like the service.).

]]> Tue, 31 May 2016 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2016/05/31/using_finger_service_the_wrong_way.html http://falkp.no/blog/2016/05/31/using_finger_service_the_wrong_way.html <![CDATA[Using finger service the wrong way]]> Using finger service the wrong way

Overview

If you’re doing this, you’re doing it wrong…

2016-05-31 10:19:45.493314 Client 92.x.x.192 hamburg, germany/hamburg/hamburg
2016-05-31 10:19:48.443380 Client 74.x.x.189 greensboro, united_states/north_carolina/greensboro
2016-05-31 10:19:56.733260 Client 50.x.x.50 beaverton, united_states/oregon/beaverton
2016-05-31 10:19:56.745653 Client 50.x.x.50 beaverton, united_states/oregon/beaverton
2016-05-31 10:19:56.759656 Client 50.x.x.50 beaverton, united_states/oregon/beaverton
2016-05-31 10:19:56.819283 Client 50.x.x.50 beaverton, united_states/oregon/beaverton
2016-05-31 10:20:16.287744 Client 5.x.x.13 kaiserslautern, germany/rhineland-palatinate/kaiserslautern
2016-05-31 10:20:35.182942 Client 85.x.x.140 katowice, poland/silesia/katowice
2016-05-31 10:20:47.029550 Client 193.x.x.226 oslo, norway/oslo/oslo/oslo

Read more...

]]> Tue, 31 May 2016 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2016/05/23/your_own_ruter_no_realtime_monitor.html http://falkp.no/blog/2016/05/23/your_own_ruter_no_realtime_monitor.html <![CDATA[Your own Ruter.no realtime monitor]]> Your own Ruter.no realtime monitor

Overview

By request, a quick how-to on setting up your own realtime monitor for ruter.no, Oslos public transit.

Ruter realtime example

]]> Mon, 23 May 2016 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2015/02/26/android_with_as_little_closed_source_as_possible2.html http://falkp.no/blog/2015/02/26/android_with_as_little_closed_source_as_possible2.html <![CDATA[Android with as little closed source as possible - part 2]]> Android with as little closed source as possible - part 2

Overview

Read part one of Android with as little closed source as possible, Life without US cloud services and Androids privacy invasiveness if you’re wondering why I’m doing this.

This is an update on how to live with a free and open (Android based) phone.

]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2015/01/10/nogapps2.html http://falkp.no/blog/2015/01/10/nogapps2.html <![CDATA[µg - A plugin-based replacement for gapps (updated)]]> µg - A plugin-based replacement for gapps (updated)

This is a follow-up of Nogapps - A replacement for gapps.

The NOGAPPS project has been renamed to µg, and the part that interessts me the most, off-line, libre, coarse localization is called µg Unified Nlp.

]]> Sat, 10 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/12/13/graph_no___weather_forecast_via_finger.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/12/13/graph_no___weather_forecast_via_finger.html <![CDATA[graph.no - Weather forecast via finger]]> graph.no - Weather forecast via finger

The idea

Yr.no has a brilliant hour by hour view. A simple picture where you get all info you need for planning your next 48 hours.

Yr.no

They also give out all their weather data for free! Having a special fascination for the command line, I wondered if I could represent the same information in a basic, ASCII, 80x22 terminal.

]]> Sat, 13 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/11/06/google_knows_where_you_are_by_default.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/11/06/google_knows_where_you_are_by_default.html <![CDATA[Google knows where you are by default]]> Google knows where you are by default

Even if you don’t use any Goolge services directly, Google will know a lot about you. For example when using the libre web browser Firefox from Mozilla. Let me quote from their site: “We’ve always designed Firefox to protect and respect your private information.”.

Geo location example

When using a location service, one get the message “Would you like to share your location with <website>?” when it should really say “Would you like to share your location with Google and <website>?”. This is stated if you “Learn more…”.

This may not supprise you, as Mozilla get 90 percent of its revenue from Google, and therefore use lots of Google services out of the box.

Mozilla started their own location service over a year ago with the goal to “Improve the privacy aspects of the geolocation service compared to the current market offerings.”, which is a good thing. It can be used by following this guide. My results has been varying.

MLS

Unfortunately Mozilla isn’t as open as they could be on this. They will not share their database. I recommend using OpenWLANMap instead, as they both are older than Mozilla Location Service and do share the database.

By installing this add-on you can transparently use OpenWLANMap in Firefox instead.

You can join in collecting data for both services by using Mozilla Stubmler app or OpenWLANMap app.

I’m not aware of any positioning for web browsers that works off-line, like one can on android using Nogapps.

]]> Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/10/16/nogapps___a_replacement_for_gapps.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/10/16/nogapps___a_replacement_for_gapps.html <![CDATA[Nogapps - A replacement for gapps]]> Nogapps - A replacement for gapps

I recently discovered nogapps, and it’s working great! Here’s an intro and how to use it.

]]> Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/09/30/cheap_diy_babycam_with_nightvision.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/09/30/cheap_diy_babycam_with_nightvision.html <![CDATA[Cheap DIY babycam with night vision]]> Cheap DIY babycam with night vision

Overview

When I did this project in 2012 babycams cost from NOK 2000 and up, so I decided to see if I could build one using a Raspberry Pi, an IR light and a very cheap webcam.

This will of course only be a level 0 night vision (active).

]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/09/29/car_logger2.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/09/29/car_logger2.html <![CDATA[Car-logger - part 2]]> Car-logger - part 2

Overview

Read part one of Car-logger first, if you haven’t.

]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/06/30/hangouts_no_one_left_out.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/06/30/hangouts_no_one_left_out.html <![CDATA[Google Hangouts - no one gets left out]]> Google Hangouts - no one gets left out

… except for anyone on Firefox OS, WindowsPhone, Amazon devices, Sailfish OS and any other device without Google Play.

Website.

</rant>

]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/05/09/radios_part_1.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/05/09/radios_part_1.html <![CDATA[RadiOS part 1]]> RadiOS part 1

Overview

In my opinion most radios, especially internet radios, have horrible interfaces. Small buttons, small displays, often touch, often several functions for each button.

So Erik and I set out to design a new, better radio for ourselves. Our main requirements were ease of use and a very physical UI. Something you’d want to touch and play with.

]]> Fri, 09 May 2014 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/04/22/car_logger.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/04/22/car_logger.html <![CDATA[Car-logger - part 1]]> Car-logger - part 1

Overview

I want to know where my car is. Especially if it gets stolen. Logs would be a bonus. Also, I have several outdated Android phones, which has all necessary hardware.

I don’t want to use Google (latitude) or other service providers (embedded hardware).
I don’t want to pay, unless I have to.
If possible, I’d like it to do more (explained further down).

Read more...

]]> Tue, 22 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0200 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/02/17/photos2.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/02/17/photos2.html <![CDATA[photOS 2.0 - a better photo frame]]> photOS 2.0 - a better photo frame

Overview

This is about improving photOS, mentioned in http://0p.no/2014/02/14/photos1.html.

When building this, price wasn’t a factor. If you want something cheap, you can still use this software with an old laptop or other recycled hardware.

]]> Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/02/14/photos1.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/02/14/photos1.html <![CDATA[photOS version 1.0 - a place for your phone to rest]]> photOS version 1.0 - a place for your phone to rest

Overview

A few years ago I wrote a collection of scripts for Debian/Ubuntu to make digital photo frames of outdated laptops. Lots of people have done this. What made photOS v.1 special was the idea that it was a place for your phone to rest. Meaning recharge, dump photos, and display photos on the big screen. All by just plugging in the power cable.

]]> Fri, 14 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/01/31/brazil_like_monitor.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/01/31/brazil_like_monitor.html <![CDATA[Brazil-like monitor]]> Brazil-like monitor

Overview

In the movie Brazil you can see small, mostly black/white, stripped down, CRT monitors. I’ve also seen a store having CRTs in transparent cases. Somehow I think this is a cool retro look, so I built my own. Primarily to display weather forcast by my door.

Remember CRTs uses thousands of volts, so one should keep fingers away.

]]> Fri, 31 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/01/19/checklist_for_raspberry_pi_setup.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/01/19/checklist_for_raspberry_pi_setup.html <![CDATA[Checklist for Raspberry Pi setup]]> Checklist for Raspberry Pi setup

Overview

There are lot of small changes one should do for pis that will be in use over some time. I covered a few in Keeping A Raspberry Pi Alive. This post will serve as more of a complete checklist for myself, so it may be updated over time.

]]> Sun, 19 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2014/01/08/fanless_livingroom_entertainment.html http://falkp.no/blog/2014/01/08/fanless_livingroom_entertainment.html <![CDATA[Fanless livingroom entertainment]]> Fanless livingroom entertainment

Background

I recently made an effort to keep only fanless (or silent) devices in my livingroom. Including my media center / HTPC. This article will outline a few ways to achieve this.

]]> Wed, 08 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2013/12/31/androids_privacy_invasiveness.html http://falkp.no/blog/2013/12/31/androids_privacy_invasiveness.html <![CDATA[Androids privacy invasiveness]]> Androids privacy invasiveness

Overview

With Android you have two options of app management. With Google Play, or without. As Google is getting more and more invasive the latter option seems more tempting. Too bad they made sure it’s a poor one.

]]> Tue, 31 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2013/12/16/george_washingdone___a_motion_sensor_for_your_washing_machine.html http://falkp.no/blog/2013/12/16/george_washingdone___a_motion_sensor_for_your_washing_machine.html <![CDATA[George Washingdone - a motion sensor for your washing machine]]> George Washingdone - a motion sensor for your washing machine

Overview

When PiBorg launched the accelerometer/compass XloBorg, I imediately bought a couple. I had no idea what to use them for, but the price was right, raspberry pi was new, and it seemed like a fun “sensor” to play with. It remained in my drawer until this weekend. Over a few hours at a hackathon I created the WashingDone. A script to measure certain patterns of motion, to alert when the washing machine is done.

]]> Mon, 16 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2013/11/25/keeping_a_raspberry_pi_alive.html http://falkp.no/blog/2013/11/25/keeping_a_raspberry_pi_alive.html <![CDATA[Keeping a Raspberry Pi alive]]> Keeping a Raspberry Pi alive

Overview

http://raspberrypi.org is a great, cheap peice of hardware, but it has some limitations. Number one is the SD card. SD cards are not made for lots of rewrites to the same file.

]]> Mon, 25 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2013/11/25/life_without_us_cloud_services.html http://falkp.no/blog/2013/11/25/life_without_us_cloud_services.html <![CDATA[Life without US cloud services]]> Life without US cloud services

Overview

I’m not creating this list because I have something against the US or because I hate the cloud (or to get on a watchlist). I’m creating it because my work/hobbies. Also for economy, access to resources (unlimited dropbox!), performance (keep things local) interest in FLOSS and control of my data.

]]> Mon, 25 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2013/11/25/android_with_as_little_closed_source_as_possible.html http://falkp.no/blog/2013/11/25/android_with_as_little_closed_source_as_possible.html <![CDATA[Android with as little closed source as possible]]> Android with as little closed source as possible

Overview

Android seemed like an OpenMoko.org that could work. A phone running free software. Linux, and all the goodies that goes with it. However it took a bad turn. Not only was it just linux (no GNU), but Google seems to be locking it down. Replacing every app with a closed source one: Googles iron grip on Android.

See follow-up: Android with as little closed source as possible 2.

]]> Mon, 25 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0100 http://falkp.no/blog/2013/11/25/hello_world_.html http://falkp.no/blog/2013/11/25/hello_world_.html <![CDATA[Hello World!]]> Mon, 25 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0100