Dad, the engineer

‪@1st_ProCactus‬ used my DRE - smart speakers video as a source for this video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=APSsY3CSA...

A truly creative guy, and a criminally under viewed channel. Please check out his work!

2 days ago | [YT] | 5

Dad, the engineer

No, Dad Ruins Smart Speakers is NOT the same video that I released a few days ago.

I tried something new, where I show the fix for the problem, before I explain the problem. Dad Ruins Smart Speakers goes into the privacy problems of these devices, and the legal issues that Apple, Google, and Amazon have run into.

And then, one of the possible solutions just happens to be my Ditch Cloud Smart Speakers/local DIY. I love it when a plan comes together :p

5 days ago | [YT] | 22

Dad, the engineer

So, I decided to do something a little different. I've done the thing where I put out a video where I mention a problem, and then I follow it up with a video detailing the solution. Clearly, I can't be relied upon to keep the interval between those videos short. Just ask anyone waiting for the NVR videos (which I am still working on).

The experiment is to put out a video that shows loading Home Assistant, Ollama, StT/TtS components... and then setting up a little smart speaker. I did it all on a RPi 5, just to show that it could be done. YOU will use something better, and more appropriate for the task. Don't get hung up on it being on a RPi.

In any case, the video lets you ditch your cloud-connected smart speaker. Even if you think that it's private (which it might not be), there's still the issue of relying on cloud services to perform any task on the device.

You don't have to do that.

The video covers setting up a little $50 satellite device, and integrating it with a voice assistant in Home Assistant... all while hooking it to a completely locally-hosted AI LLM.

Completely self-hosted. Completely private and secure.

Let me know if you want more projects like these. I'm also checking to see if anyone wants a "nice" DIY smart speaker, that suitable for streaming music, acting as an intercom node in a home, and allowing local Bluetooth pairing. My house has an old intercom/music system, and I'm thinking of replacing each room unit with something modern.

Thoughts?

1 week ago | [YT] | 42

Dad, the engineer

Today I have a video on a (nearly) 4-foot-wide monitor. This one happens to be a great work-from-home monitor or homelab monitor, due to the ability to have 2560x1440 displays from two computers showing at once.

This is one of the first steps towards getting my test bench on-camera!

Check out the video, and let me know what you think about this unusual display

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 10

Dad, the engineer

In my latest installment, I keep working my way through my video backlog. In Nextcloud part 1, I got you loaded up with Nextcloud.

In part 2, I show you worthwhile applications to load on it, and show you how to configure desktop and mobile clients to access it from anywhere.

I even have a good start on part 3, which will add in enabling https by loading a certificate generated by Tailscale, and configuring a proxy to make it all work. Then we add in offsite backup, so you don't lose anything - regardless of what happens.

What else should go in part 3? Let me know.

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 58

Dad, the engineer

I've crushed hard on e-ink since my 1st-gen Kindle. Since then I've used dozens of e-ink displays, from 2 to 10 inches, in various projects. Black and white. 3/4/7 color. Full color.

I mistook the limitations of those displays as limitations of the underlying technology. Oops.

Check out what this @nbzwt did, in the linked video. Truly innovative, and massively impressive. Circuit design, firmware, interface work, and production on a consumer-ready product.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 33

Dad, the engineer

Out today is a new video on the fast and powerful Orange Pi RV2. Dual Ethernet meant that I wanted to load router software on it. RISC-V meant that OpenWrt was my only real option. Yes, you need a serial-to-USB dongle to complete the install, but it's easier than loading OpenWrt onto just about any existing router hardware.

The problems? It's a manufacturer build of OpenWrt. The on-board wifi isn't supported yet. That's really it.

The price was under $50. Right now? About $80. That doesn't feel great, but have you checked router prices lately? Eesh. CRAZY - and it makes $80 not nearly as bad.

Orange Pi RV2 (Amazon): amzn.to/3QdCDpO
RV2 case, heatsinks, and fan (Amazon): amzn.to/4dUIgRH

1 month ago | [YT] | 22

Dad, the engineer

A flat-earther made it into the comments of one of my videos. You can see the exchange here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCH0S...

So, my question is: have you ever met a flat-earther?

1 month ago | [YT] | 24

Dad, the engineer

I have a new video. It's marked as members-only, but don't worry - it releases for everyone tomorrow. I won't be doing member-only content, but I'm completing a requirement from a YouTube thing I attended.

1 month ago | [YT] | 86

Dad, the engineer

‪@neilhogg8034‬ Your video is almost here...

1 month ago | [YT] | 42