Where did everyone go?
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Hello everyone,
(this is my point of view, highlighting MySensor pro's)I recently started with home automation, even though I have been tinkering with Arduino, STM32, etc for a while.
(As many have said) I am also one that do not like the unknown software running in a device connected to WiFi (MySensor Pro's). I also don't like to depend too much in companies that decide to discontinue a device (MySensor Pro's).
I considered the use of MySensor but in the end I went the Zigbee route using Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA under Home Assistant. After a while, I fully migrated to Z2M.
Currently, I am designing devices based on the ESP8266/ESP32 family, which I control (MySensor Pro's).Why didn't I chose MySensors?
Like ZHA, it required another bridge and a separate "network". I want to reach every corner of the house, so the more devices are on the same mesh, the better.In my perfect imaginary world, MySensors runs along ZigBee, talks to Z2M, and plays nicely with commercial options. (I know it is a lot of work).
Remember, I started last year, when there were other options. If I tried to do HA a few years before, I am pretty sure MySensors would have been my choice. I still have the nRF24 little modems around from when I was looking to the right solution.
MySensors developed a fully functional alternative to ZigBee, but Zigbee was standardized and gained traction.Thank you for your work.
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Hello everyone,
(this is my point of view, highlighting MySensor pro's)I recently started with home automation, even though I have been tinkering with Arduino, STM32, etc for a while.
(As many have said) I am also one that do not like the unknown software running in a device connected to WiFi (MySensor Pro's). I also don't like to depend too much in companies that decide to discontinue a device (MySensor Pro's).
I considered the use of MySensor but in the end I went the Zigbee route using Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA under Home Assistant. After a while, I fully migrated to Z2M.
Currently, I am designing devices based on the ESP8266/ESP32 family, which I control (MySensor Pro's).Why didn't I chose MySensors?
Like ZHA, it required another bridge and a separate "network". I want to reach every corner of the house, so the more devices are on the same mesh, the better.In my perfect imaginary world, MySensors runs along ZigBee, talks to Z2M, and plays nicely with commercial options. (I know it is a lot of work).
Remember, I started last year, when there were other options. If I tried to do HA a few years before, I am pretty sure MySensors would have been my choice. I still have the nRF24 little modems around from when I was looking to the right solution.
MySensors developed a fully functional alternative to ZigBee, but Zigbee was standardized and gained traction.Thank you for your work.
@chbarg In all honesty, I think ZigBee is much older than mySensors. It's a pretty old standard. But it was very expensive to use, but since Philips and Ikea used it in their smart lightning it has become very cheap. Zigbee is used in commercial products, whereas my Sensors is just a nice and - more reliable - option for those who like to build their own stuff. I say more reliable, because the Ikea stuff I use is not always available. At least I have troubles with it. Also the batteries in the remotes drain really fast. Specially when attached to the gateway and night directly to a device
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@chbarg In all honesty, I think ZigBee is much older than mySensors. It's a pretty old standard. But it was very expensive to use, but since Philips and Ikea used it in their smart lightning it has become very cheap. Zigbee is used in commercial products, whereas my Sensors is just a nice and - more reliable - option for those who like to build their own stuff. I say more reliable, because the Ikea stuff I use is not always available. At least I have troubles with it. Also the batteries in the remotes drain really fast. Specially when attached to the gateway and night directly to a device
@TheoL I do agree with your experience with the Ikea remote. I also have them connected to the coordinator and are draining quite quickly.
Many manufacturers still charge a lot for Zigbee devices.
Making your own Zigbee devices require a lot of learning. I have tried and failed (not as much dedication as it needed). The WiFi route seemed closer since I already had the network setup.
Convenience and mesh availability won in my case.
Is Thread a future possibility for MySensors?Again, talking from my very individual situation. I can see running over someone else's mesh would make MySensors a more attractive option.
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Hi Guys,
Newbie to RPi's, but have some knowledge of Arduinos.
I've installed WebThings Gateway and also the Candle files.
I'm connecting my Raspberry Original 7" Touchscreen to a RPi 4b 4gb.
I have;
5v to 5v
Gnd to Gnd
HDMI to HDMI
Now the Candle literature states to connect the USB from the Display to the USB on the Pi, but which USB port?I'd be grateful for some direcion on this. Also It seems odd to have the 5v and Gnd, wouldn't the USB (when connected), provide the power?
Dizzwold.
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Hi Guys,
Newbie to RPi's, but have some knowledge of Arduinos.
I've installed WebThings Gateway and also the Candle files.
I'm connecting my Raspberry Original 7" Touchscreen to a RPi 4b 4gb.
I have;
5v to 5v
Gnd to Gnd
HDMI to HDMI
Now the Candle literature states to connect the USB from the Display to the USB on the Pi, but which USB port?I'd be grateful for some direcion on this. Also It seems odd to have the 5v and Gnd, wouldn't the USB (when connected), provide the power?
Dizzwold.
@Dizzwold I see lots of different screens out there, but when I search for "Raspberry Original 7" Touchscreen" it's not HDMI. I can't find a Raspberry Pi branded touchscreen that is HDMI in a quick search. Could you share a link?
However, it's most likely that the USB would be needed for the touchscreen part of it. HDMI couldn't carry that info easily, at least. (I'm not very familiar with the standard, and I don't know the limits of what info it can pass back through CEC.)
The USB cable could provide power, but maybe the limit through an individual port is too low and it needs the beefier connection? Maybe it uses both?
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In regards to the "Where did everyone go?"...
Personally when I look at the MySensors github and see Issues and PRs being created but no one is doing anything with them, that's a bit of a turn off.
When I look through the PRs I see a lot of "good stuff" there yet there is no movement.
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Hi Guy's,
This is the display I have;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B014WKCFR4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've reinstalled webthings gateway, candle, candle manager, mysensors, voco, seashell (typed in the command line). I don't have any sensors or things as yet and I've not uploaded a floorplan. I have a small TV connected by HDMI and the Raspberry officail 7" touchscreen (800 x 400).
I get the candle splash screen, but then nothing but a blank screen, also on the 7" touchscreen the candle splash is upside-down.
Do I not see anything as I've not uploaded a floorplanand/or have no sensors or things?
How do I rotate the touchscreen?
Dizzwold.
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Hi Guy's,
This is the display I have;
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B014WKCFR4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've reinstalled webthings gateway, candle, candle manager, mysensors, voco, seashell (typed in the command line). I don't have any sensors or things as yet and I've not uploaded a floorplan. I have a small TV connected by HDMI and the Raspberry officail 7" touchscreen (800 x 400).
I get the candle splash screen, but then nothing but a blank screen, also on the 7" touchscreen the candle splash is upside-down.
Do I not see anything as I've not uploaded a floorplanand/or have no sensors or things?
How do I rotate the touchscreen?
Dizzwold.
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Hi Guys,
I've searched for a Candle smart home forum and this is the only place I can find.
Can you please direct me to the correct forum?
I've already made an appology on the following thread;
https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/10634/candle-the-privacy-friendly-smart-home/10
I'm sorry.
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What I miss is the creativity. In the beginning everybody had crazy ideas and build awesome projects. I'd like to see that back xd
@TheoL It comes in waves...
A lot of the energy over the "crazy ideas" peaked interest in the commercial world to capitalise on the IoT craze, a financial example of IFTTT.I'm nowhere close to smart on development as the majority here, having bought (not developed and built) solutions to my own specific needs, experimenting only on the margins, but with the MySensors and Domoticz environment core as it was central to what I required for other things, data acquisition and on-site containment.
However, I strongly suspect a second wave of interest is about to land as the chicken of the brick walls erected for commercial interests (a la Apple) come come to roost.
Proprietary protocols and incompatibilities are a nonsense in this digital age, as is the "Cloud" being pivotal to whether Light Switch A turns off Light Switch B, and whether device Z is incorporated.I'm certain the "crazy ideas" will return, it's only the when which is at issue ;)
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Hi Guys,
I've searched for a Candle smart home forum and this is the only place I can find.
Can you please direct me to the correct forum?
I've already made an appology on the following thread;
https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/10634/candle-the-privacy-friendly-smart-home/10
I'm sorry.
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@TheoL It comes in waves...
A lot of the energy over the "crazy ideas" peaked interest in the commercial world to capitalise on the IoT craze, a financial example of IFTTT.I'm nowhere close to smart on development as the majority here, having bought (not developed and built) solutions to my own specific needs, experimenting only on the margins, but with the MySensors and Domoticz environment core as it was central to what I required for other things, data acquisition and on-site containment.
However, I strongly suspect a second wave of interest is about to land as the chicken of the brick walls erected for commercial interests (a la Apple) come come to roost.
Proprietary protocols and incompatibilities are a nonsense in this digital age, as is the "Cloud" being pivotal to whether Light Switch A turns off Light Switch B, and whether device Z is incorporated.I'm certain the "crazy ideas" will return, it's only the when which is at issue ;)
@zboblamont I'd never have my house logic or my data in the cloud. Logic means you can't do much if you're internet is gone. And data, well I don't want all data like when I'm at home in the cloud :). But maybe I'm old fashioned
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@zboblamont I'd never have my house logic or my data in the cloud. Logic means you can't do much if you're internet is gone. And data, well I don't want all data like when I'm at home in the cloud :). But maybe I'm old fashioned
@TheoL Old fashioned perhaps but self-reliant.
I avoid cloud services as much as possible, hence the early choice of MySensors, Domoticz and a dedicated router, still trundling away on a UPS 24/7 in the background through the many power cuts.
I may not have internet, and may well be sitting in the dark, but can still see what's happening in and around the house.I'd thought recently to get replacement "smart" light switches for this place and the radio equipped version might solve a potential rewire, but on discovery the "smart" solution depended on a server thousands of miles away, it was back to the drawing board.
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@TheoL Old fashioned perhaps but self-reliant.
I avoid cloud services as much as possible, hence the early choice of MySensors, Domoticz and a dedicated router, still trundling away on a UPS 24/7 in the background through the many power cuts.
I may not have internet, and may well be sitting in the dark, but can still see what's happening in and around the house.I'd thought recently to get replacement "smart" light switches for this place and the radio equipped version might solve a potential rewire, but on discovery the "smart" solution depended on a server thousands of miles away, it was back to the drawing board.
@zboblamont That's what I love about my sensors. I created my own "SMART" lights, whit fairy light led strings. To provide sufficient light and are manual operable as long as they have power xd
Lately I have to turn off some of my Ikea lightbubles after each update of the gateway. As they are greyed out in the app. If you're not on time replacing the switch batteries, getting everything setup again is a nightmatr
I do use Inter For Things. Like wether prediction for watering the garden. But It's not bad if it misses one day.
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I started building various sensors and control functions based on Mysensors quite a few years ago. Some I use originate from the solutions published at the build sections, others are of own design. At that time very few affordable off-the-shelf products were available.
My main controller is OpenHab and MySensors data are sent/received using MQTT. The other part of my IoT network is based on Z-Wave and once getting this mixture to work it just runs with very few hiccups. Main problems are nearly always associated with upgrading to new software versions, especially OpenHab has taken lots of time during conversions.
So for the moment I have everything I need running, it runs very stable and is in a "maintenance" state. Time is limited so focus and activity has had to shift to other things but I try to follow the forum.
For me Mysensors has been a great experience and I will continue using it if other similar sensors/functions are needed. I like building the Mysensors items myself and will not choose anything else if an own project can succeed.
With heaps of IoT things and systems available off the shelf to reasonable prices I think MySensors has to focus on robustness, simplicity and good guides so enthusiasts being tired of the complexity and non-compatibility of commercial solutions are willing to dig out the soldering iron and learn how to make own things.
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In regards to the "Where did everyone go?"...
Personally when I look at the MySensors github and see Issues and PRs being created but no one is doing anything with them, that's a bit of a turn off.
When I look through the PRs I see a lot of "good stuff" there yet there is no movement.
@chey said in Where did everyone go?:
Personally when I look at the MySensors github and see Issues and PRs being created but no one is doing anything with them, that's a bit of a turn off.
When I look through the PRs I see a lot of "good stuff" there yet there is no movement.
I had the same observation and was wondering if we could do anything about this.
I maintain a dozen of open source projects and I know how unpredictable the contributions can be with life getting in the way and priorities changing. However, MySensors appears to be a project with relatively active user base and many people willing to contribute.
The latest commit to the
developmentbranch was more than 100 days ago (on July 27) and there are a bunch of pull requests that could be merge as they have had code reviews and they are very limited in scope and have little potential for introducing regressions.Is there a way that members of the core team (or people with commit access) could give commit access to new members that have shown interest in contributing? There is always a chance that new contributors will have different approach to deciding on what features go in and how the project is maintained (and potentially introduce regressions or bugs) but that's at the cost of moving the project along and having it live.
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@chey said in Where did everyone go?:
Personally when I look at the MySensors github and see Issues and PRs being created but no one is doing anything with them, that's a bit of a turn off.
When I look through the PRs I see a lot of "good stuff" there yet there is no movement.
I had the same observation and was wondering if we could do anything about this.
I maintain a dozen of open source projects and I know how unpredictable the contributions can be with life getting in the way and priorities changing. However, MySensors appears to be a project with relatively active user base and many people willing to contribute.
The latest commit to the
developmentbranch was more than 100 days ago (on July 27) and there are a bunch of pull requests that could be merge as they have had code reviews and they are very limited in scope and have little potential for introducing regressions.Is there a way that members of the core team (or people with commit access) could give commit access to new members that have shown interest in contributing? There is always a chance that new contributors will have different approach to deciding on what features go in and how the project is maintained (and potentially introduce regressions or bugs) but that's at the cost of moving the project along and having it live.
@kasparsd said in Where did everyone go?:
@chey said in Where did everyone go?:
Personally when I look at the MySensors github and see Issues and PRs being created but no one is doing anything with them, that's a bit of a turn off.
When I look through the PRs I see a lot of "good stuff" there yet there is no movement.
I had the same observation and was wondering if we could do anything about this.
I maintain a dozen of open source projects and I know how unpredictable the contributions can be with life getting in the way and priorities changing. However, MySensors appears to be a project with relatively active user base and many people willing to contribute.
The latest commit to the
developmentbranch was more than 100 days ago (on July 27) and there are a bunch of pull requests that could be merge as they have had code reviews and they are very limited in scope and have little potential for introducing regressions.Is there a way that members of the core team (or people with commit access) could give commit access to new members that have shown interest in contributing? There is always a chance that new contributors will have different approach to deciding on what features go in and how the project is maintained (and potentially introduce regressions or bugs) but that's at the cost of moving the project along and having it live.
@hek @mfalkvidd Sounds like a solid suggestion. Commercial products may come and go, but mysensors's continuity is part of its appeal. I suspect that many of the commercial products won't survive long term (many have already come and gone), so mysensors's strategy should be to remain the last man standing.
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@chey said in Where did everyone go?:
Personally when I look at the MySensors github and see Issues and PRs being created but no one is doing anything with them, that's a bit of a turn off.
When I look through the PRs I see a lot of "good stuff" there yet there is no movement.
I had the same observation and was wondering if we could do anything about this.
I maintain a dozen of open source projects and I know how unpredictable the contributions can be with life getting in the way and priorities changing. However, MySensors appears to be a project with relatively active user base and many people willing to contribute.
The latest commit to the
developmentbranch was more than 100 days ago (on July 27) and there are a bunch of pull requests that could be merge as they have had code reviews and they are very limited in scope and have little potential for introducing regressions.Is there a way that members of the core team (or people with commit access) could give commit access to new members that have shown interest in contributing? There is always a chance that new contributors will have different approach to deciding on what features go in and how the project is maintained (and potentially introduce regressions or bugs) but that's at the cost of moving the project along and having it live.
@kasparsd Yes, this is a very disheartening thing to see.
I would rather not have to maintain a local version with some of the fixes that I see talked about on the forums, but since there's no movement on the code, at least from looking at github, I'm left with doing a bunch of it myself if I want to incorporate the changes.
Especially bad when the changes are in a pull request and just languishing there. It's discouraging when I want to go work on something but I need to deal with the core mysensors code before I can even get to that step.
I mean, I'll deal with it cause I still appreciate mysensors and find it a net benefit, but I can certainly understand why some people either give up on it or maybe never pick it up in the first place, seeing stuff like that.
