Got an Ideapad for $279.00

Title says it all. Except, I bought it at Staples, North Conway, New Hampshire.

This is discussed in more detail in subsequent postings to this blog.

Back in operation

I'm now in New Hampshire and looking at the twitter feed from the monitor, reconstituted on the new, clean Linux build. Cleaner environment, code, the works. I'm finding a slight memory leak, using the new total/free memory statistics. Follow @zouckhome to see what's going on.

Back to Text Messaging: new 'clean' puppy linux build

I found that the broadband wireless I mentioned in a previous post was not available in area: we are in a rural area shadowed by some hills, and the web site said we would not get a signal here. So, back to text messaging.

I decided to rebuild puppy linux for the Asus eeePC, and document what I did as precisely as possible so it would be repeatable.

Here's whats in the new build, burned to 4 GB USB flash memory stick ($6.99 at Staples):

Puppy Linux 4.3.1 iso file

Pet packages applied:

tcl-8.5.6
tk-8.5.6
tkcon-2.4
tcllib-1.11-i486
bwidget-1.3.1
modem_fix_pack_to_431-6

Development environment, in case needed (contains gcc, ld, CVS, etc.):

devx_431.sfs

For revision control, use RCS  versus CVS, siunce the later is too demanding regarding use as root, ownership, etc. Download rcs-5.8.tar.gz file, unzip it, run configure, make, make install to build and install. devx_431.sfs must be installed to do this:

rcs-5.8.tar.gz



Approximate steps to build:

• Download pup-431.iso, and place on bootable USB stick using Universal-USB-Installer-1.8.7.4 I downloaded for this purpose.
• Copy other pet packages from list above to USB drive with puppy linux
• Boot Asus eeePC with USB.
• Apply each pet package, place devx_431.sfs in /mnt/home directory and add to list of .sfs directories that will be mounted at boot time using setup.
• Reboot 

Various pet packages are here, and here

Utilities for Tracking Network Usage (by process, interface, etc.)

If I am to use the internet via a broadband wireless supplier (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) I need to keep control of how much data I use. Nethogs is a utility for doing so, on Linux (Ubuntu.) The web page contains references to still more utilities.

Ntop is a server that collects network interface statistics, but not by process. You communicate via a browser.

Nethogs screen shot:

Micasaverde: commercial, low cost home automation system

When I started this blog and development of a home monitoring system I could not find any acceptable systems available commercially, that were low cost and could be afforded by the homeowner. But it came to my attention today that the Micasaverde home monitoring  components might be the best choice for people who want to avoid development. And it might turn out to be the lowest cost way as well. There are a variety of sensors, cameras, door locks, and actuators to choose from. I have not reviewed the system in detail, but plan to do so in the near future.

Engadget has an overview of Z Wave home automation devices compatible with the Micasaverde controller.

A Good Option for Home Monitor Internet Connection

Today the New York Times' David Pogue reviewed the Truconnect 3G internet service and a couple of devices that can be used to connect to it. At $4.99/month and a flat rate of $0.039 per megabyte, the cost is very much in keeping with the home monitor recurring cost goals.

100MB/month would cost $4.99+$3.90 = $8.89, which is less than the approximately $10.00  I now pay for AT&T sim usage for 1000 text messages. Plus, there is much more flexibility with an internet connection.

The Truconnect 3G devices are a Mifi WiFi hotspot ($79.99) and a USB GSM modem ($59.99.)

The monitor design concept is to have a laptop connected to the internet via Truconnect, and to home monitoring devices like the Arduino or JeeLabs sensors/actuators. The monitor software could be very simple: just periodically store sensor data in files in a Dropbox folder, and read them using any browser or iPhone (with Dropbox installed.)

A webcam can also be used to capture photos of the property and place them in the folder. A fair quality photo can be created using only 50KBytes. That's 0.05 MBytes, so 2000 can be captured and saved per month using only 100 MBytes. That's about 66 per day.

Using Dropbox and an Inexpensive Internet Connection

Cost of wireless internet connections has declined to where you can get 100 MB/month for $15, and with the restrictions associated with text messaging, I have been rethinking the home monitor. What can be done with 100MB/month? That's ~3 MB/day. Bare temperature data requires very little. Pictures more, and videos even more. However, it seems reasonable to use the 100 MB to send several pics/day and lots of data.

One way of investigating this without much development effort is to use Dropbox as an area to place pictures and data files so they are available everywhere, privately. I'll be discussing this in the next few days, providing I have time, what with a sick dog to care for here in New Hampshire.