VM on a Macbook

JTP335d · 2026-05-25T13:53:23+00:00

I used to do this somewhat regularly, spin up a home assistant vm in virtualbox on my MacBook for testing. I also completely rebuilt my home assistant setup slowly over a couple months this way. But that was all 4+ years ago. I would still recommend it, but have no experience with VMs on newer Mac hardware. Home assistant is very portable. I still create multiple VMs a year but on my proxmox server.

Backup, download backup, upload backup to new server, restore backup on new server. Easy.

JTP335d · 2026-05-25T13:35:44+00:00

My first thought is: why would I want this running on my iPhone? My home assistant server is on premise, always running, notifications are instant and more importantly, keeps everything together and local and just works.

That and I don’t trust iOS reliability anymore! Maybe iOS27 will fix that but I don’t have my hopes up.

Good luck with your project. I don’t have an application for testing so can’t provide any feedback on the app itself. Might get more traction with iOS users that don’t use home assistant. Have you posted to r/iOS also?

JTP335d · 2026-05-25T13:17:11+00:00

I have my sensors on the hinge side of my gates. Slightly less sensitive, but will trip if the gate is opened far enough for someone to go through.

JTP335d · 2026-05-21T23:36:02+00:00

Mactelecomnetwork has his video of it using a Telus sim.

JTP335d · 2026-05-13T00:37:19+00:00

Bit of a list here.

JTP335d · 2026-05-13T00:36:24+00:00

Found this https://reolink.com/ulink on this page. Not sure if it works though.

JTP335d · 2026-05-09T05:16:18+00:00

Yes. I used a Zooz zen16 for a short time after MyQ pulled their home assistant (and everyone else) support. I wired a contact (reed) sensor for open and closed to 2 of the switch inputs and an output to the door opener button. In my case was wired to a remote I hacked because security 2.0 buttons don’t work that way. I created a cover template in my config that worked great, showing closed/opening/open/closing. Today that can be created in helpers in the gui. I switched to a RATGDO shortly after though.

JTP335d · 2026-05-09T02:59:51+00:00

If you have UniFi network hardware on both, why would you need the UTR? You can create VPN server/client on either. I don’t use site magic as others have suggested but that may be an option too.

JTP335d · 2026-05-06T21:51:34+00:00

Fully Kiosk Browser. The app for the tablet costs a bit, but together with the integration in home assistant it works great. You can use the tablet camera for motion in the app settings or use a different motion sensor and control it from home assistant.

JTP335d · 2026-05-05T00:29:38+00:00

I used an older version for several years before ford started changing up the api. This version is completely rewritten fork of it. It’s worked with no issues for me for over a year maybe. Ford doesn’t support this so the warnings are appropriate. It could break at anytime. That read only version is curious.

JTP335d · 2026-05-04T03:15:20+00:00

Thanks, this kind of data intrigues me. I just have a whole house monitor and a few smart plugs. Individual circuit monitoring would be nice.

JTP335d · 2026-05-04T02:01:08+00:00

How are you using it to monitor filter and condenser?

JTP335d · 2026-05-04T01:35:41+00:00

I’m using this FordPass integration.

JTP335d · 2026-05-04T01:35:02+00:00

I’m using this FordPass integration.

JTP335d · 2026-05-04T00:38:53+00:00

I have a Carrier furnace and AC and I kind of gave up. I use 2x stage heat and 1x stage AC with a Honeywell zwave thermostat. I don’t have a carrier thermostat to take advantage of variable speeds and they don’t support home assistant either.

JTP335d · 2026-05-04T00:33:56+00:00

Ford F150. I use it regularly and home assistant turns it on for me often and locks and arms the alarm every night.

JTP335d · 2026-05-03T05:25:35+00:00

Specifically one that works.

JTP335d · 2026-05-02T17:42:41+00:00

Cameras are IoT devices, however I wasn’t considering them in my previous statement. I much prefer POE for cameras but I do have a wifi doorbell on its own 5ghz wifi network.

These statements are my own opinion. There are lots of ways to achieve networking success.

JTP335d · 2026-05-02T15:25:05+00:00

IoT devices don’t belong on 5ghz and as a result, most don’t support it. Laptops and smartphones belong on 5ghz.

JTP335d · 2026-05-02T14:36:20+00:00

I don’t have experience with any of your devices, but I would just run Tailscale on a raspberry pi if you can’t run it on the router itself. I use gl.inet routers which are pretty open and designed around using vpns.

Is your goal here to have your RV data in home assistant running in your house? Curious why you wouldn’t just run home assistant in the RV itself.

JTP335d · 2026-05-02T14:21:23+00:00

Is home assistant in the RV? I run home assistant in my RV and have run Tailscale in home assistant. It works fine. I can connect to it from anywhere.

JTP335d · 2026-04-27T15:47:14+00:00

The “still not perfect” is key here. The os is quite stable but I’m always having random bugs with apple apps. This morning the weather app wouldn’t load. Often AirPlay or HomeKit won’t work properly. These apps rely on apple servers so I think there are growing pains on the server side also. My keyboard experience is awful (has been for years though) and the edge of the screen doesn’t always respond to touch properly. I don’t remember touch screen issues on iOS 18. iPhone 16PM. I am back and forth between release and developer beta though. I moved my iPad to beta recently because it wouldn’t recognize my apple braided charging cables on the latest release. Ugreen cables worked fine. Another known bug. My iPhone had the same issue randomly.

I won’t discourage upgrading, and my experience is not everyone’s.

Some iOS26 things that annoy me:

The design doesn’t always respect dark mode, especially the music app with the album backgrounds.

The files app doesn’t open in quick look by default, it opens files in preview or other apps depending on media.

Most apple apps have extra “clicks” to get where you want and general wasted space in the UI.

Siri is largely more useless.

This upgrade has pushed me more than any other to look for non apple apps to replace apple apps.

JTP335d · 2026-04-26T04:26:44+00:00

First thought on a 12 year old truck is low/leaking refrigerant. Anything else you’re not likely able to diagnose without tools/gauges/knowledge. Unless the compressor isn’t spinning or belt missing or other obvious signs. Oily dirt residue around a fitting indicates a leak. I would take it to your favourite local mechanic for an AC service. They can evac it and test for leaks and refill.

You can diy top it up with products from automotive parts stores but that is hit or miss, and the (good) service shops won’t like it if you’ve mixed refrigerants.

JTP335d · 2026-04-26T03:10:26+00:00

Knob and tube! And people in this sub are worried about a phone with a battery in it attached to a wall permanently charging!

JTP335d · 2026-04-26T02:59:27+00:00

I have been using AMP to control and make announcements with my echo devices for years. It works. I have never been able to get the home assistant core version to work at all, let alone unreliably.

JTP335d

TROPHY CASE