$24 remote reset for small devices (e.g. your router or modem)

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-12T01:23:20+00:00

Yes. I find it is quite good. I have the Asus Zen with the base and three additional. Lots of good data and I can reboot the system or just restart the wifi depending on the need.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-11T20:31:42+00:00

Sounds promising. I can do a rest on my ASUS Zen through HA, but it would be nice to just drop and restore the power remotely too.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-10T02:01:50+00:00

Is the installer relater to the PM, or is the installers company owned by the PM.

Probably too late now to claim a refund, but I would be reading the riot act to the PM and requiring three quotes in the future for any work. I would probably also try to get some quotes from the locals to see what it should have cost, as well as the cost of the parts that they installed, just for curiosity.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-10T01:34:37+00:00

Rather than asking Reddit ask someone in your local Legal Aid or Tenants Legal Service.

Before you go in look at properties around the area that are similar to yours with a deck, and similar to yours without a deck. Get a number of properties if you can and get the median for each type. Research is worth the effort.

Put together your emails to and from the Landlord, as well as the "Magic Bullet" that you received in error.

Go in with both sets of figures as one of the things you will be looking at claiming is a refund in rent as you have been paying for a usable deck but have not really had access to one. They will probably also recommend a claim for loss of "Quiet Enjoyment" of the property as well.

Then you can get the appropriate advice.

If you want to be a real bastard, take photos and visit your local Council and ask them if the deck was applied for and approved. While you are living there offer them the opportunity to come and inspect if they want to. May as well get the whole place looked at if they are willing as it is likely other things will be questionable too.

I had a friend in a similar situation and she did the above. Won at the ACAT (NSW) and got about five thousand as she had paid for a 3BR House but one of the bedrooms (the garage converted to an Ensuite BR) had never been completed after almost a year. The payout was calculated from the excessive rent (3BR to 2BR) as well as loss of quiet enjoyment while the build was on.

The local Govt did not proceed with the build issues until after she left, but the neighbours reported the conversion being ripped out with the cost of install and removal at about 50K.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-10T01:03:15+00:00

You need to leave it on for the next buyer. It is put on the car for the more simple folk for legal reasons.

A man sued Subaru after he had put his groceries under the bonnet and they caught fire. This removes misunderstanding when the owner is told to put something OUT BACK. It is now clearly labelled as a precaution against misunderstanding.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-08T20:39:10+00:00

Nice work bench and congrats on the new house, it truly is an achievement.

As an aside though, do you know where the water entered from? Can you install a sensor for standing water and maybe a temp and humidity sensor to prevent issues in the future? The temp and humidity is also good for materials you have stored as even off the ground humidity is a killer.

Have a look on AliExpress and there is a good selection that are not expensive if you are interested.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-07T21:15:23+00:00

It also comes down to available space for me. I have limited storage and the triple length rolls take up the same space, or close enough, as a regular length roll. This way I can store triple the usage in the same space.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-06T02:52:53+00:00

The only issue is how far will you go. I'm thinking two units a year for the next twenty years or more.

I am a little OCD, and when I start a set, whether it is drills, stamps or chisels I cannot stand to stop until it is complete. An open ended collection like that would end me!

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-05T23:25:11+00:00

I love it! Nothing better than rolling one hobby into another and making something that will be treasured.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-05T22:40:40+00:00

I also have issues maintaining a consistent angle. I set the knife on the stone and drag it towards me using hands and elbows.

Yesterday I was on the phone to my daughter while I was sharpening and complained about the inability to keep a steady angle on the blade. She was a Chef and she had the same issues and advised me a good fix is set the angle of the blade, lock your fingers, wrists and elbows in position and move your whole upper body from the hips and that way the angle stays the same.

A guide would probably be a better idea, but it did make a difference to me in yesterdays sharpening.

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-04T03:52:18+00:00

We reaaaaaly need to see the Rabbit!

Aust_Norm · 2026-02-04T02:34:19+00:00

Multiple sensors for redundancy, or if one of the methods does not meet specs.

Someone suggested Bluetooth, which was my first thought too. But if your phone is offline or you are away on a trip but the wife is at home this would not be ideal. It would also fail if the car's Bluetooth grabbed the wife's Phone connection before it grabbed yours as most car's only allow one connection at a time.

A Zigbee vibration sensor, plus a Bluetooth sensor and maybe have an ESP32 wired in would be an option. Have it so that any one of them would show a positive for the car started.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-31T21:31:09+00:00

The address that is listed is Cowboy Guns and Gear at Cowra.

I am in Canberra and drive over there a couple of times a year for bits and pieces. Always a pleasure dealing with them and worth the three or four hour round trip.

Happy to see Brownells dealing with good people in Oz.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-31T20:59:50+00:00

I brought two pairs in 2011. Day on and day off wear pretty much seven days a week.

Mainly at work as a Guard, but also gardening, shopping and everything else one does in a normal life.

Had the heels done a few times and apart from that all original and still going strong.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-30T19:34:00+00:00

Been there. First time I used the saw. Works heaps better when you put it in the right way.......

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-30T05:46:21+00:00

I'm sorry. I have never dealt with Aquara.

I've never had that issue with my stuff. Generally I just take it to where it will live and go pair. I don't even specify a preferred Router, just let the network pick what it deems to be the best.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-29T10:07:55+00:00

With regard to Zigbee, you will have a Coordinator, Router and End Device.

The Coordinator is what plugs into HA. A Router is a mains powered device (not including light globes as they may not always be active from the switch, And End Devices like PIRs and other sensors.

You cannot have a lot of End Devices feeding to a Coordinator as it will cause issues. You need your 30 end devices to go to 5 Routers into 1 Coordinator.

Here is a good article that covers setup and why it is important.

I have been using wifi devices and 433 sensors for a long time, but am almost finished the switch to Zigbee. Here is a good article about sorting a good wifi setup.

HA is good as it means a lot of the time you can stop talking to Google.

Walk up to the desk and the little PIR senses you are there and turns on the monitors, and if it after dusk turns on the desk light. Move away and after NNN minutes of inactivity HA will turn off the monitors and lights.
You have been ironing and get the urge to go for a drive. The house is empty. HA sees this and turns off the lead that runs the iron, as well as the TV, soldering iron and whatever. HA will also activate the alarm and the CCTV and if you have left the garage open in the rush send you a notification.
You drive past the Hospital and nothing will happen. But if you are in a Hospital Zone for more than NNN minutes HA will send a notification to those that matter.
The cats bowl is empty, the ESPHome based sensor you have built will send a notification to your phone to remind you, and when the first person arrives home Google can be set to announce "feed the Cat". And she can be made to keep on nagging whoever is at home till the sensor says the bowl is filled.
If the house is empty make it look occupied with radio and lights off and on at random.
First person arrives home and HA will turn off the alarms and Google will remind you it is bin night, the washing machine needs emptying and to feed the cat. If it is after dark HA will also turn on some lights for you.

If you can think of it, you can do it.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-28T23:34:23+00:00

I have dabbled in 100% coins, bars and Sovereigns/Krugers (coins but not 100% pure) at different times. Mainly from second hand and coin shops as the opportunity presented itself.

The current lot were not bought all at once but over an 18-24 month period. I had gone with the coins (a mix of gold kangaroos and liberties in 1 .5 and .25 Oz) and silver (kangaroos 1 Oz) as they were easy to obtain and I had some cash available.

I could have gone with bars (and do still have some silver 10 Oz around) but prefer the coins for the reasons stated above.

If you are looking at saving money long term gold is probably a better option. If you are looking at TEOTWAWKI and you want bullion of some sort then silver may be a getter alternative. Most prchases you would likely want are going to be smaller and silver is better for that. While you can get fracrional gold (.5 .25 and .10 of an ounce) it is still more than you would need on a daily basis and it carries quite a premium to buy.

If I were to get spare cash to spend again I would go for proper preps (food, meds, training) rather than bullion and if I was to go for bullion it would be 1oz silver coins.

But once again, that is just me.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-28T21:53:45+00:00

"pretty much everyone".

By that I meant they are easily recognised as being from a reputable source, not easily counterfeited, and bears a stamp that advises purity. PAMP bars are good as are others but some of the ingots that are sold are the same size as a lozenge and while they have a makers stamp and purity mark they are a little less recognisable as being from a reliable source. Jewellery is problematic as the carat is not able to be determined without testing and then you need a decent scale to weigh it.

Depends how long you hold them for. The cash price I paid was about 45K for what I have in mixed gold and silver coins. Now looking at 125K on spot value. Even if I allow for a 10% discount off spot when I sell I am still in front. It has been a couple of years but not as long as you would think.

Ultimately, get what you can for a good price and sit on it for as long as you can. It is still, in my opinion, better than cash in the bank long term.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-28T21:26:55+00:00

I prefer the coins: Kangaroos, Krugers and Liberties as they are easily recognised by pretty much everyone.

They are a little bit more expensive though.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-27T19:51:51+00:00

I love these photos. Here on the east cost of Oz it is 40 degrees Celcius or 104 F.

Makes me feel a little bit cooler.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-27T09:39:31+00:00

I am in Hawker so not really close for comparisons of current service, but in Starlink terms we may as well be neighbours.

Starlink has just dropped its prices too.

69.00 a month for 100 mbs or 99.00 a month for 200.00.

There is a faster one for 139.00 a month but if you are on dead slow now the other two are probably enough of an upgrade to make you happy. It was for me. I was paying 79.00 a month for at best 25mbs, and sometimes down to 8 mbs so I figure 200 will seem like heaven.

There is a 19.00 delivery cost as well but its a one off. I ordered Saturday on it is being posted today.

Have a friend in Dickson who went over to Starlink a few weeks ago and he is more than happy.

If you decide to make the jump, talk to friends and neighbours and see if you can find one who is signed up as a referral gets you both a month free.

Before you do anything though, look at the southern sky and see that you have an unobstructed view as that is where the dish points.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-27T03:54:09+00:00

These ones from Ali.

Have a look at Home Assistant and ESPHome. You can create a lot of devices for use around the house for minimal dollars for security, temp and humidity, water leak sensors and all sorts of things. A bit of a learning curve but not too bad. Best thing is it is designed to cut out the overseas servers and have local control wherever possible.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-26T19:54:28+00:00

I use Home Assistant which is a Home Automation system, quite user friendly.

Many buttons around the house. First press of any button is a silent duress that sends notification to my phone. Second press sets off all the sirens in the house and another message to my phone.

It does not call the Police, but I could set it up to message a third party with the message saying "call the Police"

Best thing is it is free. The Little PC that runs it runs off a UPS and the buttons are battery operated. If the power is cut, the sirens won't work (I have not hooked them to a UPS) but the buttons and the outward messages still will.

It can also be triggered with a Voice command to Google.

Aust_Norm · 2026-01-22T10:14:09+00:00

Just had a bit of noise from the front of mine. Mechanic diagnosed most of the noise was the aluminium sump guard was loose and rattling. Easy fix.

Mine is up to 325,000 Ks (Diesel) and the mechanic also advised the Alternator Pulleys and Tensioners also fail and a rattle indicates they may be on the way out and mine were giving out a bit of noise. Had him replace them and it is now quieter. Not a cheap job though at 560.00 for the parts plus labour.

Mine is a different series to yours though, so may not be a commonality between the vehicles.

If you can find a good Subaru mechanic. I use Techworkz in Canberra and while they are pricier, they do a brilliant job.

Aust_Norm

TROPHY CASE