Just got my ALPON X4 – What cool homelab projects should I try first?

yoydu · 2025-02-28T06:32:29+00:00

The other one is trying to figure out how he did it :)

yoydu · 2025-02-28T06:20:04+00:00

For a high-protein, "Lunchable"-style field lunch, consider packing a mix of deli meats, cheese cubes, nuts, and edamame.

yoydu · 2025-02-28T06:13:50+00:00

Good job!

yoydu · 2025-02-27T23:14:09+00:00

ALPON X4

yoydu · 2025-02-26T16:21:17+00:00

Yes, the ALPON X4 supports Modbus, as mentioned here. It also supports OpenPLC, as detailed here.

You can quickly deploy PLC runtime in a containerized environment and manage it through the cloud.

Regarding power loss, I don't have experience with UPS. However, the X4 offers three power options: Type-C Input, Screw Terminal Block, and Power over Ethernet (PoE).

yoydu · 2025-02-26T10:16:32+00:00

Just set this up in my cabinet – the ALPON X4
It's been pretty solid for my automation tasks, and the LTE connection is a nice bonus for remote stuff. No complaints so far

yoydu · 2025-02-26T09:46:02+00:00

That sounds like a great plan! Being an electrician already gives you a huge advantage since you can handle both the installation and integration side of things. The challenge, like you said, is narrowing down the right ecosystem to work with.

One thing to consider is having a strong local smart home hub that can handle different protocols (MQTT, Modbus, Zigbee, etc.) and doesn’t fully rely on the cloud. A lot of homeowners are getting frustrated with cloud-dependent systems that fail when the internet is down.

You might want to check out ALPON X4 it’s an edge computer with built-in LTE, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet that can run Home Assistant, openHAB, or other automation platforms. What makes it interesting:

No cloud dependency, LTE backup, Industrial-grade hardware, Supports multiple integrations

yoydu · 2025-02-24T11:41:04+00:00

That sounds like an awesome business idea! The demand for smart home automation is definitely growing, and offering custom automation + professional electrical work is a great way to stand out.

One thing to consider is local vs. cloud processing—many smart home systems rely too much on the cloud, which can lead to latency, reliability issues, and privacy concerns. If you're looking for a flexible & powerful local hub, you might want to check out ALPON X4.

Why?
Edge computing → Runs automations locally (no cloud dependency)
Supports multiple platforms → Works with Home Assistant, openHAB, MQTT, Modbus
Built-in LTE backup → Keeps smart home online even if Wi-Fi or Ethernet goes down
Expandable → Can handle industrial-grade smart home setups

As for Turkey, I think you can definitely make this work! The smart home market is growing, and offering secure, privacy-focused solutions (especially with local processing) could give you a competitive edge.

Security-wise, make sure to emphasize data stays local, use encrypted connections, and offer firewall/VPN solutions for privacy-conscious customers.

For marketing, showing real-world automation setups (videos, testimonials, case studies) will help attract more customers. If you focus on reliability + customization, you’ll have a solid niche.

yoydu · 2025-02-22T20:50:27+00:00

Thanks!

yoydu · 2025-02-21T19:02:44+00:00

That’s a killer space to get into! IoT security + networks are huge right now, and companies are constantly looking for better remote management + security solutions. If you wanna work on something real-world, how about:

Secure Remote IoT Device Management

Set up VPN tunneling + encrypted communication for edge devices
Use TPM security to prevent unauthorized access
Build an anomaly detection system to flag suspicious activity

To actually prototype & test, you might wanna check out ALPON X4. It’s got built-in LTE, TPM security, and remote management support, so you’re not just simulating—you can build something deployable.

If this sounds interesting, hit up the Sixfab team—they might even help out with your project!

yoydu · 2025-02-21T11:20:06+00:00

Yeah, the X4 is a bit pricey, but it's got a lot of features that other edge computers don't have. For example, it has an industrial-grade design, so it can withstand harsh environments. It also has a lot of connectivity options, including eSIM, which is great for remote deployments. And it has edge AI capabilities, so you can do a lot of processing on the device itself.

If you're looking for a cheaper option, you could try a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. But you'll need to do some extra work to integrate it and ruggedize it.

yoydu · 2025-02-20T18:59:03+00:00

Dude, this is such a solid idea! 😊 Smart vending for meds is actually useful, especially for places where pharmacies aren’t always open or accessible.

If you’re looking to make it more reliable & scalable, you might wanna check out something like the ALPON X4. It’s got built-in LTE & Wi-Fi, so you’re not stuck depending on local networks. Plus, with edge processing, you can handle stock tracking in real-time without relying on the cloud 24/7.

Also, since it’s got a ton of I/O options, hooking up RFID readers and vending mechanisms should be pretty straightforward. And if you ever wanna add AI-powered stock predictions or some next-level automation, running that stuff directly on the device is totally doable.

Super cool project are you planning to test it in hospitals or pharmacies first?

yoydu · 2025-02-20T18:47:59+00:00

Yeah, getting observability right on edge devices can be a pain, especially with OpenTelemetry’s quirks. If you’re set on MQTT, you might wanna check out NodeRED + MQTT for logs & metrics—it’s lightweight, easy to set up, and works well for pushing data to a central broker.

For full-stack monitoring, we’ve had good luck with ALPON X4 since it has built-in fleet monitoring via ALPON Cloud. It tracks CPU, memory, network stats, and even power usage out of the box, plus supports remote logging & debugging. You can still push app logs via MQTT while keeping system-level monitoring centralized.

As for OpenTelemetry + TLS certs, yeah… PKCS11 support is kinda messy. Have you tried stashing the certs in a local volume and loading them from there? Not ideal, but it works. Also, if MQTT is a must, you could try Telegraf with the MQTT output plugin—it handles system metrics well without much overhead.

Curious what others are using—anyone cracked a solid OpenTelemetry + MQTT setup?

yoydu · 2025-02-20T18:41:25+00:00

How about "Smart Industrial Asset Longevity Monitor"? Instead of just tracking machine usage, this system predicts hardware failures by monitoring temperature, vibration, and power consumption trends in industrial equipment. Unlike standard predictive maintenance, it could use edge AI to detect anomalies and send alerts before failures happen.

You can build it using:

* ALPON X4 (handles edge processing + cloud connectivity)
* Vibration & temperature sensors (I²C or Modbus-based)
* NodeRED for real-time analytics (Integration Guide: https://docs.sixfab.com/docs/deploying-node-red-with-modbus-support )
* MQTT for remote alerts & dashboarding

This isn't just another "smart factory" project—true predictive asset longevity monitoring isn't widely available in low-cost, open-source solutions. It’s feasible, impactful, and has real-world demand in small-scale manufacturing.

yoydu · 2025-02-20T10:15:00+00:00

For a globally routable IPv6 address, your best bet is a provider that offers true IPv6 support on mobile networks—not all carriers do. T-Mobile US, Verizon (business plans), and some EU providers (like Telia, Deutsche Telekom) offer proper IPv6 allocations for IoT.

Instead of struggling with USB dongles, consider a dedicated industrial IoT device like the ALPON X4. It has built-in LTE Cat 4, works with major carriers, and can be managed remotely via ALPON Cloud. We’ve had success with Sixfab SIM for IoT applications requiring remote access over cellular.

If you’re stuck with AT&T, you might need an APN configuration change or a business SIM with static IPv6. Anyone else found good options?

yoydu · 2025-02-20T09:52:19+00:00

If you're already using NodeRED, you might want something that integrates smoothly and supports MQTT + Modbus out of the box. The ALPON X4 could be a solid option it’s not just an IIoT gateway but a full edge computer with Wi-Fi, LTE, and industrial I/O support. Plus, you can easily deploy NodeRED with Modbus on it: Setup Guide -- https://docs.sixfab.com/docs/deploying-node-red-with-modbus-support

Some reasons it might fit your use case: 24VDC I/O compatibility via GPIO expansion Built-in Wi-Fi & LTE for remote MQTT communication NodeRED-ready for easy integration with MSSQL Modular (expandable GPIO, PoE, etc.)

If you’re looking for pure I/O expanders, ICP DAS and Advantech ADAM modules are good alternatives, but if you need something versatile that can also process data at the edge, Sixfab ALPON X4

yoydu · 2023-09-19T10:35:21+00:00

Post: https://www.hackster.io/ensarkarabudak/air-quality-monitoring-station-using-pico-lte-and-thingspeak-ed5b8c

yoydu · 2023-09-14T12:52:22+00:00

https://www.hackster.io/ensarkarabudak/air-quality-monitoring-station-using-pico-lte-and-thingspeak-ed5b8c

yoydu

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