One moment playing with LoRa. Next, a Nintendo Switch controller to fixed.
LoRa Antenna measurements
Using my NanoVNA and a RF test Kit I learned something about measuring antenna.
Below a measurement of a unknown antenna, ITs off, I need to shorten the metal spring inside.
I’m running this Google Photos alternative for a week now, and I am pleasantly suprised.
The face detection had only 1 mismatch in my library.
Negatives?
Well maybe album management, it could be better or more flexible
Some search tests:
Amazing results!
Features (some)
Lets copy the rest of my photo libary to this server.
(Storage is on a 10Gbit fiberoptic iSCSI device)
Again … out of SBCs
Where are all these things in my home. Someone is stealing Raspberry Pi’s, ESP32 and other sensors.
(Probably me)
So I’ve got multiple projects running on one RPi.
All of the above are partially working. Code follows.
INMP441 is a tricky thing. I needed to do some bitbanging to get it working.
Loads of INMP441 info will be posted
Last year I’ve made a led pole with digital fireworks.
Time to replace for something else ..
I’ve made a mqtt 1-D game in december.
I needed to change a lot to the javascript on the website to fix some stuff.
The XMAS/Fireworks controller was often used, and I got notifications via my TV. (see other posts)
Now I want to see when MQTT movement when I’m in the livingroom.
So I programmed a Wemos controller to blink the internal when MQTT messages are received.
CODE:
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
const char* ssid = "WIFIAP";
const char* password = "WIFIPASS";
const char* mqtt_server = "MQTTBROKER"; // MQTT broker IP
const char* mqtt_topic = "game/tilt";
WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);
String lastPayload = "";
void setup_wifi() {
delay(10);
WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
delay(500);
}
}
void blinkLED() {
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW); // LED ON
delay(200);
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); // LED OFF
delay(200);
}
void callback(char* topic, byte* payload, unsigned int length) {
String message;
for (unsigned int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
message += (char)payload[i];
}
// Blink only if topic value changed
if (message != lastPayload) {
blinkLED();
lastPayload = message;
}
}
void reconnect() {
while (!client.connected()) {
if (client.connect("WemosClientMqttBlink")) {
client.subscribe(mqtt_topic);
} else {
delay(2000);
}
}
}
void setup() {
pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
setup_wifi();
client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
client.setCallback(callback);
}
void loop() {
if (!client.connected()) {
reconnect();
}
client.loop();
}
I’ve tested many opensource tools to have a personal own hosted spotify.
Now I have migrated to navidrome.
List of alternatives i’ve used:
I can access this with a browser or an android app named amcfy music.
Why?
I don´t have time posting other stuff, I’m balancing almost 10 projects at the same time ….
UPDATE : 20260126
I’ve been playing with LoRa for some time now, mostly with two adhoc LilyGO nodes.
After seeing a YT clip from Andreas Spiess I installed a meshtastic node on a Heltec V3.
Wanting more, I bought a Heltec V4 and an 8DBi (60cm) antenna.
Heltec V3 got a new home in Tyrone’s home.
Via meshtastic I communicated with a guy here in the neighbourhood.
I installed Meshcore and my LoRa playground grew!
A Nebra Helium Miner was bought, and repurposed !
There is a Raspberry CM3 in there (Compute module)
Some big antenna’s and a waterproof case.
Using POE to power the thing, the plan is to have this installation at a high point around my house. (LED pole?!? 🙂 )
Meanwhile I got these : Seeed Xiao Lora ESP32 modules
MeshTUI
My mobile Heltec V4, big antenna coming and battery operated, so I can add to https://mapme.sh
I’ve got a DIY Bat detector, today I designed and printed a Case for this PCB.
Below a link to the design files
https://media.henriaanstoot.nl/bat-case.zip
Next todo:
C53UiG+5HPaxD2HPaxD MikroTik hAP ax3 + with POE
I’ve been playing with all kinds of MicroControllers, but not this one.
Something new to learn.
The STM32 Nucleo-64 board provides a flexible way to try out the STM32 microcontroller. The Arduino Uno V3 can be connected as a shield.
STM32 excels in high-performance, deterministic industrial control with better real-time capability, lower power, and rich peripherals, using ARM Cortex-M cores, while ESP32 dominates IoT with built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, lower cost, easier Arduino/PlatformIO access, and strong community, but with higher power and less precise real-time control (Xtensa cores), making ESP32 great for connected projects and STM32 for industrial/precision tasks.
STM32 (STMicroelectronics)
Strengths:
ESP32 (Espressif Systems)
Strengths:
I’ve given people on the street control over my Xmas/Fireworks lights last month. (This month it is going to be converted to an interactive game)
I saw some LED strip dividers on Aliexpress, next year it’s going to have a star on top.
Like this….
Another LED related project I started today is a Whack-A-Mole game with multiple levels.
For this I need to convert a simple arcade button to a programmable multicolor version.
From single white LED to multi color, programmable.