We're getting close to releasing a maintenance update. No functional changes, but it will extend the security updates for another two years.
There's more testing to do, but hopefully that will go smoothly.
I hope to have another update out soon after that, which will be the same deal: no functional changes, but yet ANOTHER two years of security patches!
When I say long term support, I mean it!
And I'm big on stability too. No arbitrary changes for no particular reason, no breaking stuff or taking away features. It juat works. Day in and day out.
#HestiaPi #thermostat #IoT #OpenHardware #electronics #OpenSource #FOSS
So it's going to be one of those days, huh?
Went to assemble a new unit and after soldering in a few pins, I discovered the bin of 1x20 header pins was labeled incorrectly. They're all 1x18 pins. Whoops!
At least I didn't get all the way to the end before I noticed. A couple pins lost, most were salvaged.
Nice! It's unfortunate that the person running that website is collecting people's email addresses when clicking the "getting started" button. Glad to see there is a self-hosted option buried on the github page. Not sure why there is any other option... ☹️
A rare look at the #EU version of the #HestiaPi with the 240V AC -> 5V DC power adapter (the black rectangle in the photo).
Everything else is the same hardware. It also uses the same software, just different settings.
I hate to ship these across the ocean, but there's literally not a single person, #hackerapace or #Makerspace in the EU who is willing to build these #OpenSource #thermostats. So I make them available, and ship them all the way from America.
I just found the nostr:nprofile1qqsfvzdsjdzsm4lq47ecjcv6ekhju6sddqtujd2j7wg3upd4ptnnu0gpremhxue69uhkummnw3ez6ur4vgh8wetvd3hhyer9wghxuet59uq3kamnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wdaexzmn8v4cxjmrv9ejx2a30qyfhwumn8ghj7ur4wfcxcetsv9njuetn9urtpvzu episode about sovereign smart home!
https://fountain.fm/episode/r8I8AbFqwJc5f8Y0UvCF
Brilliant work lads!
If you want an easy to use recommendation for getting started, I maintain an open source (hardware and software) smart thermostat. Just connect it to the wall and go through wifi setup like any corporate device except everything remains private. Very good for those family members who don't want to feel like they have to run a server and be an IT pro.
The HestiaPi runs OpenHAB out of the box, but you could build an SD image to run HomeAssistant if you prefer that. For those who do like to tinker, the forums are full of people who have customizations.
Build the hardware yourself, pay someone at your local hackerspace to build one, or if neither of those work, I guess I could ship across the ocean for ya. I normally only ship to North America, but I could make an exception.
If you're still in the market, the HestiaPi has this feature. You decide how far off from the set points is tolerable.
I make smart thermostats and they don't require the internet. They'll work fine when your local wifi is down too.
This is the kind of reliability people should be able to expect from everything they buy, but it seems to only exist in open source projects.
The only smart home thing I have is the thermostat, and that's only because it's not corporate made
Our honeywell home Thermostat is not working out in the greenhouse; Are there any modern thermostat controller solutions? https://www.allforgardening.com/1488793/our-honeywell-home-thermostat-is-not-working-out-in-the-greenhouse-are-there-any-modern-thermostat-controller-solutions/ #greenhouses
HestiaPi
Couldn't agree more about local control and breaking free of the big tech overlords!
Yes. It can be used without network capabilities.
The software works with an ethernet connection using a USB on-the-go adapter and USB ethernet adapter, and that's how I do development.
Unfortunately, there is a mechanical limitation that prevents the models that I make over ethernet. The connector for the LCD screen blocks access to the USB micro port.
If you go without a screen, you could use an USB ethernet adapter.
It'd be pretty weird to have a thermostat with no UI and it'd put you in a weird situation where a network outage would stop you from adjusting the thermostat, but it's doable.
In summary you've got three options for a WiFi-free HestiaPi:
- dumb thermostat
- screenless thermostat
- DIY hardware and using the HestiaPi software
By default the pi will serve up a wifi access point for the initial setup, but if you hop on the community forums, we can help you disable that.
What do #Nest owners think about #Google's decision to not only kill support, but also make the smart thermostats into dumb thermostats?
Is it fair for them to take away the features you paid for?
Will you get another smart #thermostat from the same company again?
Are you in the market for alternative #smart #thermostats?
#IoT #tech #technology #PlannedObsolescence #waste #recycle #repair #repurpose #reuse
Help wanted: test the latest release of the #HestiaPi SD card image.
https://community.hestiapi.com/t/debian-12-bookworm-image-testing-v1-5-dev/2104
If you have a device, plea help. We're trying to get more people to test this out. The new image should work just like the previous version except it'll get another 2 years of security updates.
No new features, just stability and long term support.
Less than 2 weeks left until the old #Nest #thermostats go through their metamorphosis to become dumb thermostats.
Honestly, it might be a win for the owners in terms of #privacy. But if they want a wifi enabled thermostat that is open source and will never abandon them like this, please suggest a #HestiaPi.
You can make one yourself, buy a kit, or buy a prebuilt unit. If it ever breaks you can #repair it. If it doesn't do what you want, you can customize it. #FOSS #OpenSource #OpenHardware ❤️
It warms my heart to hear from people who were about to build their own thermostat from scratch and then found out about the #HestiaPi project.
Now they can get a leg up on their #thermostat and just focus on the thermostat rules instead of the #hardware, #software and so forth.
Meanwhile, we get another collaborator and hopefully can integrate the new code that implements the additional features they want.
win-win!
#OpenSource is awesome.
Today I built and tested 4 thermostats and it took me well over 4 hours. Usually I'm faster, but an hour per unit is probably still a fair estimate.
Off the top of my head, I'd say it's somewhere around 130 solder joints. The new board design allows using Pi Zero 2 boards with pre-soldered headers. That that'll cut out 40 pins that I have to do by hand once I'm through my current stock.
If I sold more devices, I'd try creating a 3D printed jig to hold all the parts in at the same time. It just doesn't make much sense to do that when I sell so few units per year.
Just made a breakthrough in getting the v1.5-dev image created. It's now fully functional out of the box!
Next I need to manually poke around and make sure the unnecessary services have been turned off. After that I'll send it to the community for review and testing. Once any issues identified are fixed, then it will be sent to the project creator for final approval.
To people who expect software producers to dictate what users will get, this process may seem bureaucratic, but it's democratic!
Getting close to an updated firmware image based on bookworm. I have a #thermostat running with it, but I want to make sure the build process can be replicated in an automated fashion. When I die, I want others to be able to easily pick up my work. Plus, it'll be handy for the next O/S upgrade.
After it's reproducable, it will still need to go through community testing. If everything goes smoothly, I should have a final release in the next few weeks.
Yes. In fairness, they did support it for a decade, but the design decisions made in 2015 sealed their fate. They're not going to keep running their servers forever.
That's why the HestiaPi doesn't connect to any remote servers. It's all run locally so nobody can cut you off, not even me. That's simply a superior design.
Thanks for helping spread the good word. There's no ads for HestiaPi, no marketing budget, no sponsoring podcasts... just everyday people like you telling others.
I'd much rather give people a lower price and have word of mouth advertising than charge more and have a marketing budget.
The grassroots style fits with who I am, and I am NOT a startup founder, going into debt get explosive growth. I want something sustainable, not an exit strategy. If it limits my impact, so be it.
Big news: Permanent price drop & international shipping!
Down to $150 fully loaded, assembled, flashed and ready to plug & play in North America.
Also, I've enabled shipping to Canada and Europe. I hope I don't regret that. 😅
https://www.tindie.com/products/eternalsunshine/hestiapi-one-silent/
I'm ready to help people kick #Nest & #Google to the curb. 💪 Lets do this!
#FOSS #OpenSource #hardware #OpenHardware #electronics #FLOSS #RaspberryPi #HestiaPi #privacy #freedom #FreedomTech #thermostat #BigTech #DIY
Next month, Google is going to make some Nest thermostats not-so-smart.
This can never happen with a #HestiaPi. It's not even possible because it doesn't depend on some third party cloud service. Everything is run inside your home, and it's yours, forever. ❤️
The HestiaPi is also #repairable and #upgradable. In summary, it's better by design.
#OpenSource #hardware #OpenHardware #FOSS #diy #electronics
Once the current batch of components arrive, I plan on running the numbers to see if I can make a permenent price reduction.
I've been getting killed on shipping prices, but ordering in larger quantities helps mitigate that.
The other persistent problem is finding components in stock within 5-10% of the regular price. Building out a bigger inventory helps here too.
I'm optimistic. My goal is to get down to $150. Stretch goal is to hit $129.99 (the same price as Google's cheapest Nest)
Thanks, but I'm not into the "buy & sell bitcoin to make a profit" thing.
I'm not making these thermostats to try to get rich. I'm doing it so people have an alternative to the big companies who hoover up everyone's data, try to lock them into subscription services, and then end-of-life their products 3-5 years later.
The only reason I started selling HestiaPi units is because the one person who was building them was unable to continue dedicating the time and effort to make them available to the world. My choices were to limit the project to people with the skills, time, and inclination to build their own, or start building them myself. You can see the path I've chosen and I don't regret a minute of it.
I'm fine with being paid in bitcoin. I'd be happy to buy components in bitcoin. I'm just not into the trading thing.
I'm about to place an order for $700 in thermostat components. Weee.
Stocking up like this always makes me a little nervous. What if people stop caring about open source thermostats? What if I just spent all this money on parts that will just sit on my shelf?
On the flip side, what if I don't buy these parts? Then nobody can buy a pre-assembled HestiaPi, which means anyone isn't willing & able to make their own gets left behind.
And that's why I keep doing it. Leave no one behind! #FOSS #OpenHardware #hardware #OpenSource
The #HestiaPi is a #prime alternative to the corporate smart thermostats that you can buy on #Amazon.
It's also on sale from July 8-11, because I want people to invest in a #sustainable #thermostat instead of #PlannedObsolescence.
https://www.tindie.com/products/eternalsunshine/hestiapi-one-silent/