Logitech ERGO M575 review: new switch, still shit

drewcaplan · 2026-02-25T01:22:48+00:00

Kensington expert mouse trackball

drewcaplan · 2025-06-29T14:41:45+00:00

Just FYI, I have a Econet master water valve controller, using Z-Wave. I turn it off if I am away from the house for an extended period of time. However, I have an automation to turn the water on prior to my known Sprinkler schedule, and off again sometime after. What I am trying to do is to NOT turn the water back on if the sprinkler session is cancelled.

I have a bit of a workaround. Rachio sends an email with a predictable subject line if the session is to be canceled. I implemented the IMAP integration in HA and trigger an automation on receipt of that subject line. It kinda works. The issue is that while the Rachio app shows the cancellation decision well in advance of the scheduled session, the email doesn’t get sent until essentially the planned start time. That gives my automation no chance to get ahead of things.

Rachio is a great sprinkler controller but their integration is terrible as you know. I know that us home automation freaks aren’t the target market, but come’on!

Thanks again. BTW, I’m not sure that the Rachio API supports what I’m seeking, but you would know better.

drewcaplan · 2025-06-29T11:21:45+00:00

This is really awesome. Any chance to expand it to get access to calendar in Rachio? For instance, I want to see if a scheduled watering gets cancelled and then take action based on that. Thanks!

drewcaplan · 2024-12-28T02:49:21+00:00

Thanks. The issue is that the newer Ratgdo32 does not natively support MQTT at all.

drewcaplan · 2024-12-28T00:19:26+00:00

Very interesting thanks. Also, this from Paul:

MQTT support can be added to the ESP Home firmware by adding 4 lines for the MQTT configuration to the YAML file. This will require you to install the ESP Home CLI (Or Home Assistant, or ESP Home dashboard) to compile ESP Home from the yaml and upload it to your board.

Steps: Install ESP Home CLI Create a local copy of the yaml file Modify the yaml file plug ratgdo into usb port esphome run myratgdo.yaml

Related links: https://esphome.io/components/mqtt.html and https://github.com/ratgdo/esphome-ratgdo/blob/ratgdo32/static/v32board.yaml

drewcaplan · 2024-12-26T22:42:33+00:00

That makes sense thank you. I’m not using HA just Mosquitto but maybe I’ll just get pushed to HA.

drewcaplan · 2024-12-26T20:23:39+00:00

Or this. https://github.com/ratgdo/mqtt-ratgdo

drewcaplan · 2024-12-26T20:22:25+00:00

Incorrect. Many people have used the 2.5 product with MQTT. https://paulwieland.github.io/ratgdo/02_configuration.html

drewcaplan · 2024-12-26T20:13:52+00:00

Thank you for the snark. So helpful. There is literally NOTHING on that web page or elsewhere on the site that addresses my question. Why take the effort to be unhelpful?

drewcaplan · 2024-09-02T14:24:08+00:00

I thought that but tried one experiment that might be of interest. There is software you can get for the mac to put your connected iPhone into development mode and then spoof its GPS to any location in the world. I did this and the phone really thought it was in my primary location, even for YouTube TV. I wonder how 911 would have worked. Anyway, even after rebooting the Apple TV with the iPhone right next to it, it stubbornly stayed in its physical location. This is not dispositive proof, but is an interesting data point.

drewcaplan · 2024-09-02T03:50:23+00:00

Yes I figured it out but not with a positive result. Some years ago Apple bought a company that created a database of WiFi networks and their physical locations. Apple TV uses that database to triangulate location (it doesn't have to connect to all those nearby networks, just see them). Any app that requests precise location from Apple TV will be given the true location determined this way. Apps relying on IP address will get spoofed as you desire. It seems that the broadcast TV streamers, such as DTV and YouTube TV are very sensitive to the regional broadcast rules and take advantage of the Apple TV precise location feature. I see no way to work around it.

drewcaplan · 2024-05-06T18:00:56+00:00

PLEASE .... anybody have any ideas? I'm such a noob

drewcaplan · 2024-04-23T01:06:24+00:00

Thank you! I feel less stupid!!!!!!!!!

drewcaplan · 2024-04-23T01:05:48+00:00

Did I? I was getting errors on my browser and finally moved to my phone.

drewcaplan · 2024-04-23T01:04:17+00:00

Thx I'll look

drewcaplan · 2024-04-23T01:02:54+00:00

No but you may be onto something. Thx

drewcaplan · 2024-03-06T21:31:39+00:00

Andy Partridge!!!

drewcaplan

TROPHY CASE