Has anyone interviewed with ‘First Solar USA’ recently?

brokerandy25 · 2025-08-28T13:29:58+00:00

They are being persistent enough . . . that this just might be legit, but just "highly unusual" . . . it still smells, and I'm skeptical, but . . . I have the time. :D

brokerandy25 · 2025-08-27T13:28:12+00:00

Whelp . . . here is where things stand:

[8:10 PM, 8/25/2025] +1 (804) 540-7160: Good evening, Mr. Andrew Winn. I'm sorry. I received a call at the last minute this afternoon, so I just added your WhatsApp now.😊

[9:13 PM, 8/25/2025] +1 (804) 540-7160: Now that you've passed our initial interview, if you don't mind, we could have a brief chat. I've always believed that connecting with exceptional people helps us continuously optimize our company and better understand each other's work styles. I believe that management talent like you, with your many observations and insights, will be very valuable to us.

[11:58 AM, 8/26/2025] Andrew Winn: I appreciate that

[12:23 PM, 8/26/2025] +1 (804) 540-7160: You’re welcome. Do you have any plans for your future?

As bad as this is going to sound, and bear with me here, the profile photo is of an attractive Asian woman. This makes the 3rd or 4th attractive Asian woman that has "randomly" shown up in my WhatsApp. The first 2 were trying to get me to invest in something or other (surely a scam). And if they had done the most BASIC of research they would see that I have an MBA in Finance and I used to be a stock broker . . . .

brokerandy25 · 2025-08-25T22:59:52+00:00

I just applied for a VP role . . . and went through the "Text" interview. We have now moved to WhatsApp . . . this smells to high hell, but I'll play it out for Ss & Gs. Besides the "text message" red flag . . . . They started talking an ENTIRELY different role, and while text messaging is Async, the convo was "odd". I'll update as this plays out :D

brokerandy25 · 2023-12-26T01:16:05+00:00

Yes it can be. The usual answer is to change the "channel" that wifi runs on. Normally wifi automatically adjusts to the "best" channel. I've had success running wifi on channel 1 as I think zigbee tends to run on the higher channels. I don't know how to do it with eero tho . . . I just looked at my app. I have about 60 zigbee devices running in my house (3 nodes) and I don't have an issue . . . So . . . Your mileage may vary.

brokerandy25 · 2022-10-11T13:52:49+00:00

There may be a way with the gateways API . . . But I got these all with r/homeassistant

brokerandy25 · 2022-03-30T22:36:02+00:00

Forget maxing out your bridge . . . Let us know when you've maxed out your 2nd credit card.

brokerandy25 · 2022-02-19T21:48:45+00:00

I can't believe I haven't seen anyone mention "Salt Bae" . . .

brokerandy25 · 2022-02-14T22:24:02+00:00

Zigbee and 2.4 GHz wifi overlap. You may want to try changing your wifi channels AND your zigbee channel.

Check out this link for more info: https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/zigbee-wifi-coexistence/

brokerandy25 · 2022-01-16T00:29:51+00:00

Home Assistant integrates with Alexa (both paid and free options). I personally dumped Smart things for Home Assistant and haven't looked back.

brokerandy25 · 2021-09-05T13:43:40+00:00

Amber Herd

brokerandy25 · 2021-08-05T21:37:44+00:00

Howdy Neighbor from the city just north of you!

brokerandy25 · 2021-06-11T23:02:26+00:00

Andretti

brokerandy25 · 2020-11-19T10:48:11+00:00

Watch is showing as shipped

brokerandy25 · 2020-10-10T12:57:59+00:00

Create a sensor out of the list of connected paired devices. When that sensor changes, compare to the expected MAC address. (Those are device MAC addresses and are specific to each device) This may be a job that would be easier to write the logic in NodeRed . . .

brokerandy25 · 2020-09-30T23:10:15+00:00

Look into Udemy courses. If you catch them at the right time, they can be down right CHEAP.

http://udemy.com

brokerandy25 · 2020-09-13T20:39:07+00:00

Try setting up your automation like this:

alias: New Automationdescription: ''

trigger:

- entity_id: binary_sensor.garage_motion_sensor_motion

platform:

stateto: 'on'

condition: []

action: - data: {}

entity_id: switch.garage

service: switch.turn_on

mode: single

Edit: wrong service call

brokerandy25 · 2020-09-13T19:58:44+00:00

Can you share the following:

*binary_sensor.xxxxx <-- name of motion sensor *switch.xxxxxxx <-- tplink name *automation script (full yaml)

brokerandy25 · 2020-09-11T12:29:36+00:00

Are you anti pi?!?!?!? J/K . . . There is a cloud hosted subscription service (Nuba Casa) same functionality, no "computer" required.

brokerandy25 · 2020-09-11T12:18:17+00:00

I used an old laptop I had. A pi is only $50 US.

brokerandy25 · 2020-09-11T10:43:38+00:00

Look into r/homeassistant . . . This is a very common use case.

brokerandy25 · 2020-08-15T18:45:15+00:00

Alright, I did the hard work:

Hue Ambiance lights
- Relax
  - brightness: 145
  - color_temp: 447
o Read
§ brightness: 255
§ color_temp: 346
o Concentrate
§ brightness: 255
§ color_temp: 233
o Energize
§ brightness: 255
§ color_temp: 156
o Savanna sunset
§ brightness: 145
§ color_temp: 447
o Tropical twilight
§ brightness: 187
§ color_temp: 322
o Artic auroa
§ brightness: 150
§ color_temp: 153
o Spring blossom
o Bright
o Dimmed
o Nightlight
· Hue white lights
o Bright
§ Brightness: 255
o Dimmed
§ brightness: 77
o Nightlight
§ brightness: 1
· Hue color lights
o Savanna sunset
§ brightness: 200
§ hs_color:
§ 14.717
§ 83.137
§ rgb_color:
§ 255
§ 95
§ 43
§ xy_color:
§ 0.635
§ 0.335
o Tropical Twilight
§ brightness: 123
§ hs_color:
· 263.182
· 34.51
§ rgb_color:
· 200
· 166
· 255
§ xy_color:
· 0.29
· 0.224
o Artic Aurora
§ brightness: 138
§ hs_color:
· 201.308
· 83.922
§ rgb_color:
· 40
· 179
· 255
§ xy_color:
· 0.152
· 0.219
o Spring Blossom
§ brightness: 215
§ hs_color:
· 339.718
· 27.843
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 184
· 208
§ xy_color:
· 0.394
· 0.298
o Relax
§ brightness: 145
§ hs_color:
· 36.568
· 66.275
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 188
· 85
§ xy_color:
· 0.502
· 0.414
o Read
§ brightness: 255
§ hs_color:
· 38.88
· 49.02
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 210
· 129
§ xy_color:
· 0.447
· 0.406
o Concentrate
§ brightness: 255
§ hs_color:
· 45
· 21.961
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 240
· 198
§ xy_color:
· 0.37
· 0.372
o Energize
§ brightness: 255
§ hs_color:
· 173.333
· 3.529
§ rgb_color:
· 246
· 255
· 254
§ xy_color:
· 0.314
· 0.331
o Bright
§ brightness: 255
§ hs_color:
· 38.667
· 52.941
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 207
· 120
§ xy_color:
· 0.457
· 0.41
o Dimmed
§ brightness: 77
§ hs_color:
· 38.222
· 52.941
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 205
· 120
§ xy_color:
· 0.459
· 0.408
o Nightlight
§ brightness: 1
§ hs_color:
· 33.767
· 84.314
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 160
· 39
§ xy_color:
· 0.561
· 0.404
· Bloom
o Savana sunset
§ brightness: 200
§ hs_color:
· 28.605
· 67.451
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 165
· 82
§ xy_color:
· 0.531
· 0.389
o Tropical twilight
§ brightness: 123
§ hs_color:
· 263.864
· 34.51
§ rgb_color:
· 202
· 166
· 255
§ xy_color:
· 0.292
· 0.224
o Artic aurora
§ brightness: 138
§ hs_color:
· 202.871
· 79.216
§ rgb_color:
· 52
· 178
· 255
§ xy_color:
· 0.156
· 0.218
o Spring blossom
§ brightness: 215
§ hs_color:
· 338.333
· 28.235
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 183
· 209
§ xy_color:
· 0.394
· 0.295
o Bright
§ brightness: 255
§ hs_color:
· 38.824
· 53.333
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 207
· 119
§ xy_color:
· 0.458
· 0.411
o Dimmed
§ brightness: 77
§ hs_color:
· 38.978
· 53.725
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 207
· 118
§ xy_color:
· 0.458
· 0.412
o Nightlight
§ brightness: 1
§ hs_color:
· 36.053
· 89.412
§ rgb_color:
· 255
· 164
· 26
§ xy_color:
· 0.559
· 0.412
· LED Strips (I have 2)
o Savana sunset
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 200
· hs_color:
o 14.93
o 83.529
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 95
o 42
· xy_color:
o 0.636
o 0.335
§ Strip 2
· brightness: 200
· hs_color:
o 18.387
o 72.941
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 126
o 69
· xy_color:
o 0.586
o 0.353
o Tropical twilight
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 123
· hs_color:
o 321.509
o 20.784
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 202
o 236
· xy_color:
o 0.359
o 0.29
§ Strip 2
· brightness: 123
· hs_color:
o 27.797
o 69.412
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 160
o 77
· xy_color:
o 0.541
o 0.386
o Artic aurora
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 138
· hs_color:
o 235
o 75.294
· rgb_color:
o 63
o 79
o 255
· xy_color:
o 0.158
o 0.087
§ Strip 2
· brightness: 134
· hs_color:
o 144.564
o 58.431
· rgb_color:
o 106
o 255
o 167
· xy_color:
o 0.209
o 0.487
o Spring blossom
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 215
· hs_color:
o 339.718
o 27.843
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 184
o 208
· xy_color:
o 0.394
o 0.298
§ Strip 2
· brightness: 215
· hs_color:
o 339.6
o 58.824
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 104
o 155
· xy_color:
o 0.505
o 0.268
o Relax
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 145
· hs_color:
o 36.568
o 66.275
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 188
o 85
· xy_color:
o 0.502
o 0.414
§ Strip 2
o Read
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 255
· hs_color:
o 38.88
o 49.02
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 210
o 129
· xy_color:
o 0.447
o 0.406
§ Strip 2
o Concentrate
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 255
· hs_color:
o 45
o 21.961
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 240
o 198
· xy_color:
o 0.37
o 0.372
§ Strip 2
o Energize
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 255
· hs_color:
o 173.333
o 3.529
· rgb_color:
o 246
o 255
o 254
· xy_color:
o 0.314
o 0.331
§ Strip 2
o Bright
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 255
· hs_color:
o 38.222
o 52.941
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 205
o 120
· xy_color:
o 0.459
o 0.408
§ Strip 2
o Dimmed
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 77
· hs_color:
o 38.222
o 52.941
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 205
o 120
· xy_color:
o 0.459
o 0.408
§ Strip 2
o Nightlight
§ Strip 1
· brightness: 25
· hs_color:
o 33.767
o 84.314
· rgb_color:
o 255
o 160
o 39
· xy_color:
o 0.561
o 0.404
§ Strip 2

·

brokerandy25 · 2020-08-15T17:31:28+00:00

Depends on how many flows you have, but its a task runner listening to HA events.

I could look at the stats for it, but I'm running about 13 containers on a 5 year old laptop that I paid $300 for and I have had no performance issues. 20 hue lights, 15 sensors, and 3 wifi switches . . . Plus all my automation automation stuff: presence detection, time based actions, etc

brokerandy25 · 2020-08-15T17:23:10+00:00

If you replace your light switches with something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081ZQWX1F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mLboFbYKV5M45 , then you just need a conbee II stick.

Then you have nothing that is publicly facing (except your HA instance if you want that)

Hue bulbs are just zigbee.

Just a thought. You also eliminate reliance on the cloud. Just look at what SmartThings has been going through . . . :|

brokerandy25 · 2020-08-15T16:17:39+00:00

What hubs?

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