All posts by fash

IOT / Domoticz

ESPHome HA notification helper

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A while ago I made a little notify thingy using an LCD display, LED, button and a buzzer.

V1
V2

Some friends of mine made one also, and today I was talking to a new guy.
I could not find this project on my site .. again .. so I’ll post it now.

Some things it does right now

  • Front door opens
  • Door bell rings (because my lab is in the garden)
  • Girlfriend is 10Km away, so let’s start cooking
  • Garage door opens (friend of mine uses this to know when kids arrive)
  • More .. because it’s very easy to customize in Home Assistant

Doorbell pressed: Led starts blinking, backlight LCD enabled, text displayed on LCD, Buzzer sounds (or plays a RTTTL ringtone)
LCD backlight on and buzzer beep until acknowledge button pressed.

Heating for brewing: temperature on display, led on when temperature reached. Press acknowledge to start timer.

….. etc

CODE:

esphome:
  name: lcdalarm
  friendly_name: LCDAlarm
  on_boot:
    priority: -100.0
    then:
      - lambda: 'id(lcddisplay).no_backlight();'

esp8266:
  board: d1_mini

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "OOpDzMu0VvfWAnJXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXKNDa74OJ1Cc="

ota:
   - platform: esphome
     password: "627992017XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX738c2a3"

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Lcdalarm Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "z9dZXXXXXXXX7a"

captive_portal:
web_server:
  port: 80

i2c:
  sda: D2
  scl: D1
  scan: true
  frequency: 400kHz

light:
  - platform: binary
    name: "Status LED"
    output: light_output
    icon: "mdi:led-on"
    id: led


binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      inverted: true
      number: D5
      mode:
        input: true
        pullup: true
    name: "LCD Button"

text_sensor:
  # Create text input helper in homeassistant and enter id below
  - platform: homeassistant
    entity_id: input_text.lcd_display_text
    id: lcd_display_text

  - platform: wifi_info
    ip_address:
      id: ip_address
      name: IP address
    mac_address:
      id: mac_address
      name: Mac address
    ssid:
      id: connected_ssid
      name: Network SSID
    bssid:
      id: connected_
      name: Network Mac

sensor:
  - platform: wifi_signal
    id: wifisignal
    name: wifi-signal
    update_interval: 300s

globals:
  - id: backlight_on
    type: bool
    initial_value: 'false'
  - id: flash_beep_on
    type: bool
    initial_value: 'false'

switch:
  - platform: template
    name: "LCD Backlight"
    id: backlight
    restore_mode: RESTORE_DEFAULT_OFF
    turn_on_action:
      - globals.set:
          id: backlight_on
          value: 'true'
      - globals.set:
          id: flash_beep_on
          value: 'false'
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).backlight();
      - delay: 5s
    turn_off_action:
      - globals.set:
          id: backlight_on
          value: 'false'
      - lambda: |-
            id(lcddisplay).no_backlight();
    lambda: |-
      return id(backlight_on);

  - platform: template
    name: "Flash and Beep"
    id: flash_beep
    restore_mode: RESTORE_DEFAULT_OFF
    turn_on_action:
      - globals.set:
          id: flash_beep_on
          value: 'true'
      - globals.set:
          id: backlight_on
          value: 'false'
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).backlight();
      - lambda: |-
          id(buzzer).turn_on();
      - delay: 0.75s
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).no_backlight();
      - lambda: |-
          id(buzzer).turn_off();
      - delay: 0.75s
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).backlight();
      - lambda: |-
          id(buzzer).turn_on();
      - delay: 0.75s
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).no_backlight();
      - lambda: |-
          id(buzzer).turn_off();
      - delay: 0.75s
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).backlight();
      - lambda: |-
          id(buzzer).turn_on();
      - delay: 0.75s
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).no_backlight();
      - lambda: |-
          id(buzzer).turn_off();
      - delay: 0.75s
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).backlight();
    turn_off_action:
      - globals.set:
          id: flash_beep_on
          value: 'false'
      - lambda: |-
            id(lcddisplay).no_backlight();
      - lambda: |-
          id(buzzer).turn_off();
    lambda: |-
      return id(flash_beep_on);


  - platform: restart
    name: "Restart ESPhome"

output:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: D3
    id: buzzer
  - platform: gpio
    pin: D6
    id: light_output

display:
  - platform: lcd_pcf8574
    id: lcddisplay
    dimensions: 16x2
    address: 0x27
    lambda: |-
      if(id(wifisignal).has_state()) {
        if (id(lcd_display_text).state != "") {
          it.print(0, 0, id(lcd_display_text).state.c_str());
        }
      } else {
        it.print("    ESPhome        booting...   ");
      }

CODE: RTTTL (Use passive buzzer!!!!)

esphome:
  name: lablcd
  friendly_name: LabLCD

esp8266:
  board: d1_mini

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "ga17mNCtxdiXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX70a5W0VPZR51Q="
  actions:
    - action: rtttl_play
      variables:
        song_str: string
      then:
        - rtttl.play:
            rtttl: !lambda 'return song_str;'

ota:
  - platform: esphome
    password: "84013b9XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX5401039f7c"

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Lablcd Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "nnzXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXCb"

rtttl:
  output: rtttl_out
  on_finished_playback:
    - logger.log: 'Song ended!'


captive_portal:

i2c:
  sda: D2
  scl: D1
  scan: true
  frequency: 400kHz

light:
  - platform: status_led
    name: "Status LED"
    icon: "mdi:led-on"
    pin:
      number: D5
      inverted: true

binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    name: "Push Button"
    pin: 
      number: D4
      inverted: true
      mode: 
        input: true
        pullup: true
    on_press:
      - homeassistant.service:
          service: homeassistant.toggle
          data:
            entity_id: input_boolean.esphome_notification_lcdlab_push_button

text_sensor:
  # Create text input helper in homeassistant and enter id below
  - platform: homeassistant
    entity_id: input_text.esphome_notification_lcdlcd_display_text
    id: lcd_display_text

  - platform: wifi_info
    ip_address:
      id: ip_address
      name: IP address
    mac_address:
      id: mac_address
      name: Mac address
    ssid:
      id: connected_ssid
      name: Network SSID
    bssid:
      id: connected_
      name: Network Mac

sensor:
  - platform: wifi_signal
    id: wifisignal
    name: wifi-signal
    update_interval: 300s

globals:
  - id: backlight_on
    type: bool
    initial_value: 'false'
  - id: flash_beep_on
    type: bool
    initial_value: 'false'

switch:
  - platform: template
    name: "LCD Backlight Lab"
    id: backlight
    restore_mode: RESTORE_DEFAULT_OFF
    turn_on_action:
      - globals.set:
          id: backlight_on
          value: 'true'
      - globals.set:
          id: flash_beep_on
          value: 'false'
      - lambda: |-
          id(lcddisplay).backlight();
    turn_off_action:
      - globals.set:
          id: backlight_on
          value: 'false'
      - lambda: |-
            id(lcddisplay).no_backlight();
    lambda: |-
      return id(backlight_on);

 
  - platform: restart
    name: "Restart ESPhome"

output:
  - platform: esp8266_pwm
    pin: D8
    id: rtttl_out

display:
  - platform: lcd_pcf8574
    id: lcddisplay
    dimensions: 16x2
    address: 0x27
    lambda: |-
      if(id(wifisignal).has_state()) {
        if (id(lcd_display_text).state != "") {
          it.print(0, 0, id(lcd_display_text).state.c_str());
        }
      } else {
        it.print("    ESPhome        booting...   ");
      }


Computer, IOT / Domoticz

Mac Address scanner for my home.

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I bought 4x Xiao-S3 mini controllers. I want to place these all over my house to scan for Bluetooth and Wifi Clients. So I can do a location search for Mobile Phones, Keys and more.

Also the Bluetooth tags I used for the Scanner Game can be used!

I want to post a location to Home Assistant, But I also played with 3D view.

Using MQTT I can subscribe to the topic locator/scanner1/ble or locator/scanner1/wifi_clients

Problems I ran into.

Too many duplicates, fixed.
Can not scan Wifi when connected, so I connect every 30s.
Could not find all wifi clients, needed to scan all channels!

CODE

#include <WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
#include <BLEDevice.h>
#include <BLEScan.h>
#include <BLEAdvertisedDevice.h>
#include "esp_wifi.h"

const char* mqtt_server = "MQTTSERVER";   // change to your broker
const int   mqtt_port   = 1883;
const char* mqtt_user   = "";
const char* mqtt_pass   = "";

const char* ssid     = "MYWIFI";
const char* password = "MYWIFIPASSWD";

WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);

#define MAX_BUFFER 200

struct DeviceRecord {
  String type;   // "wifi_client" or "ble"
  String mac;
  int rssi;
};

DeviceRecord buffer[MAX_BUFFER];
int bufferCount = 0;

// ====== BLE ======
BLEScan* pBLEScan;
const int bleScanTime = 3; // seconds

typedef struct {
  unsigned frame_ctrl:16;
  unsigned duration_id:16;
  uint8_t addr1[6];
  uint8_t addr2[6];
  uint8_t addr3[6];
  uint16_t sequence_ctrl;
  uint8_t addr4[6];
} wifi_ieee80211_mac_hdr_t;

typedef struct {
  wifi_ieee80211_mac_hdr_t hdr;
  uint8_t payload[0];
} wifi_ieee80211_packet_t;

void formatMAC(const uint8_t *addr, char *buf) {
  sprintf(buf, "%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X",
          addr[0], addr[1], addr[2], addr[3], addr[4], addr[5]);
}

// ====== Dedup ======
void addToBuffer(String type, String mac, int rssi) {
  for (int i = 0; i < bufferCount; i++) {
    if (buffer[i].mac == mac && buffer[i].type == type) {
      buffer[i].rssi = rssi;  // update latest RSSI
      return;
    }
  }
  if (bufferCount < MAX_BUFFER) {
    buffer[bufferCount].type = type;
    buffer[bufferCount].mac = mac;
    buffer[bufferCount].rssi = rssi;
    bufferCount++;
  }
}

// ====== Sniffer ======
void wifi_sniffer_packet_handler(void* buf, wifi_promiscuous_pkt_type_t type) {
  if (type != WIFI_PKT_MGMT && type != WIFI_PKT_DATA) return;

  const wifi_promiscuous_pkt_t *ppkt = (wifi_promiscuous_pkt_t *)buf;
  const wifi_ieee80211_packet_t *ipkt = (wifi_ieee80211_packet_t *)ppkt->payload;
  const wifi_ieee80211_mac_hdr_t *hdr = &ipkt->hdr;

  char mac[18];
  formatMAC(hdr->addr2, mac);
  int rssi = ppkt->rx_ctrl.rssi;

  addToBuffer("wifi_client", String(mac), rssi);
}

// ====== BLE CALLBACK ======
class MyAdvertisedDeviceCallbacks: public BLEAdvertisedDeviceCallbacks {
  void onResult(BLEAdvertisedDevice advertisedDevice) {
    String mac  = advertisedDevice.getAddress().toString().c_str();
    int rssi    = advertisedDevice.getRSSI();
    addToBuffer("ble", mac, rssi);
  }
};

void startSniffer() {
  WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);        // keep STA mode
  WiFi.disconnect();          // ensure not connected

  wifi_promiscuous_filter_t filter = {
    .filter_mask = WIFI_PROMIS_FILTER_MASK_MGMT | WIFI_PROMIS_FILTER_MASK_DATA
  };
  esp_wifi_set_promiscuous_filter(&filter);
  esp_wifi_set_promiscuous_rx_cb(&wifi_sniffer_packet_handler);
  esp_wifi_set_promiscuous(true);

  esp_wifi_set_channel(1, WIFI_SECOND_CHAN_NONE);
  Serial.println("Sniffer ON (starting on channel 1)");
}

void stopSniffer() {
  esp_wifi_set_promiscuous(false);
  Serial.println("Sniffer OFF");
}

void publishBuffer() {
  Serial.println("Connecting to WiFi for MQTT...");
  WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  unsigned long startAttempt = millis();
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED && millis() - startAttempt < 10000) {
    delay(200);
    Serial.print(".");
  }
  Serial.println(WiFi.isConnected() ? "\nWiFi connected" : "\nWiFi connect failed");

  if (WiFi.isConnected()) {
    client.setServer(mqtt_server, mqtt_port);
    if (client.connect("ESP32Scanner4", mqtt_user, mqtt_pass)) {
      Serial.println("MQTT connected");
      for (int i = 0; i < bufferCount; i++) {
        String payload = "{";
        payload += "\"type\":\"" + buffer[i].type + "\",";
        payload += "\"mac\":\"" + buffer[i].mac + "\",";
        payload += "\"rssi\":" + String(buffer[i].rssi);
        payload += "}";
        if (buffer[i].type == "ble")
          client.publish("locator/scanner4/ble", payload.c_str());
        else
          client.publish("locator/scanner4/wifi_clients", payload.c_str());
        delay(5);
      }
    } else {
      Serial.println("MQTT connect failed");
    }
  }
  client.disconnect();
  WiFi.disconnect(true, true);
  bufferCount = 0; // clear buffer
  Serial.println("Published & WiFi disconnected");
}

// ====== Setup ======
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);

  // BLE init
  BLEDevice::init("");
  pBLEScan = BLEDevice::getScan();
  pBLEScan->setActiveScan(true);
  pBLEScan->setAdvertisedDeviceCallbacks(new MyAdvertisedDeviceCallbacks());

  startSniffer();
}

unsigned long lastPublish = 0;
const unsigned long publishInterval = 30000; // 30s
unsigned long lastChannelHop = 0;
uint8_t currentChannel = 1;

void loop() {
  // BLE scan while sniffing
  pBLEScan->start(bleScanTime, false);
  pBLEScan->clearResults();

  // Channel hopping !
  if (millis() - lastChannelHop > 500) {
    lastChannelHop = millis();
    currentChannel++;
    if (currentChannel > 13) currentChannel = 1;
    esp_wifi_set_channel(currentChannel, WIFI_SECOND_CHAN_NONE);
    // Serial.printf("Hopped to channel %d\n", currentChannel);
  }

  // Every 30s
  if (millis() - lastPublish > publishInterval) {
    lastPublish = millis();
    stopSniffer();
    publishBuffer();
    startSniffer();
  }
}
3dprinting, IOT / Domoticz

LED String with 1D game

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I saw a game like this on the WHY2025, I wanted my own version.

Using Twang32, some other hardware and a tweaked sketch, I got this.

Up = move up
Down = move down
whack the stick to kill red leds (Metal part is a door spring)
(Tilting joystick also works as up/down)

Things changed:

  • Other hardware: MPU6050 for movement detection, Sound generation
    No clock on my LedString
  • Changed sketch, fastled, pins and libraries
  • Using IDE in 2025? .. downgrade ESP32 (expressive) to 2.0.11, and download Fastled to 3.9.0
    2025 libraries won’t work!
Computer, IOT / Domoticz

Antenna tweaking

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A while ago I was playing with LoRa (Long Range radio), I made a simple setup which worked good enough.

After that I installed Meshtastic

I also used OpenMqttGateway with LoRa.

I’ve been using antennas also with SDR(Software Defined Radio.

Some tests with SDR (Software Defined Radio)

Not happy with the performance, I bought a Nano-VNA.
(Vector network analyser)

Looks like 915 Mhz antenna

Due to the many options, I was lost at first. Maybe I have to ask Bigred.
Calibrating I get now, but I can’t easily calibrate an antenna with fixed cable.

Much to learn, but that’s what I want. 🙂

I bought a VNA/Antenna test board from Ali.

Feature:

  1. RF Demo Kit RF test board demo calibration board for learning Vector Analyzer and Antenna Analyzer test calibration.
  2. The board is fully integrated with 18 functional modules.
  3. Equipped with 2 UFL patch cords for convenient use.
  4. Each module is carefully selected for high quality and reliability.
  5. The board is small and lightweight, easy to carry.

Specification:

Product type: RF Demo Kit

  1. Filters:
    • A. Short low-pass filter (LPF): 30 MHz
    • B. FM high-pass filter (HPF): 100 MHz
    • C. Commonly used SAW band-pass filter (BPF): 433 MHz
    • D. Video ceramic notch (band-stop filter, BSF): 6.5 MHz
  2. RLC series and parallel circuits
    • Includes R, L, C and combination circuits
  3. Open/short and load calibration circuit
  4. Attenuation circuit

Package List:

  • 1 × RF Demo Kit Board
  • 2 × UFL patch cables

3dprinting, Computer, IOT / Domoticz, Tech

WHY2025

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In case of doubt .. MORE LEDS!

We went to WHY2025 a hackers camp in the Netherlands.

The first time I went was in 1997, with Bigred.
Many followed after that.
Tyrone, Bigred were also there from our old Crew.
Coline joined me several times since 2005.

I joined the Badge team, and was making spacers for the Badges in bulk using my 3D printer.
Also made some fancy cases.

Cases
Spacers

In case of doubt .. more leds!

Our campsite with 7m Led string
Must have more leds!

Nice weather, good friends. New friends. Booze. Food and Hacking.
We visited a lot of talks and enjoyed the music. (And fire)

I worked on: RSS feed on a epaper display, Midi monitor and the MQTT Pong website.

RSS Feed display

While waiting in line for the Badge:

A stone was passed from behind!
It was a ping request. We passed it forward, and 15 minutes later a TTL time exceeded stone came from the front of the line.
You gotta love those nerds!

Some other stones

The Badge:
This should have got much potential ..
Many misses, much to learn.

Sadly broken:

Our 7M Led string attached to Bigred’s Antenna.

Computer, IOT / Domoticz

BirdNet installation

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I bought Peterson’s Vogelgids, just for fun.
It’s an old version, but that’s on purpose.

Then I saw a little project named BirdNet Pi.
(I used the Android app already)

This is a Raspberry installation which recognises bird sounds. And gives you statistics about the detected birds.
Cool for identifying birds in my garden.

Next to do : Integration in Home Assistant

Bert Visscher has the same book.