March 5, 2019 at 10:21Ant hill or fortress? I’m building a house for the price of an apartment. 4 part. Comfort or need for gadgets at home?
Part 1. Construction
Part 2. Heating
Part 3. Electricity
In previous issues, I talked about the stages of building a house, without which it would be impossible to settle and more or less comfortable living. This time I want to talk about devices that make life in your own home more comfortable and safer. This will include everything from access to the World Wide Web to devices that alert you to water leaks. Settle down more comfortably, and I'll start. And for those who prefer not to read but watch, I made a video.
So, let's begin. Perhaps one of the first factors for a comfortable stay in the house, after all engineering systems, is the availability of Internet access. To solve this problem, I chose a trusted manufacturer of routers, which recently changed its name from Zyxel to Keenetic. I chose the Giga model. Why not Ultra? Well, at least because I don’t have devices with AC protocol support, and the speed that the Giga model provides for wireless interfaces at 2.4 and 5 GHz is more than enough. But why I chose her can be argued for a long time. As soon as I drove into the house, I had communication only through the wireless provider Yota. I inserted a 4G modem into the router and a connection appeared. At least the Internet was there, although the speed was noticeably floating, and there was no white IP. Then I found a local provider who handed me the fiber. Here the SFP port available on the router was already useful and I did not have to use a media converter. Minus one device - minus the point of failure. The SFP module plugs directly into the router's port and speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second immediately become available.
But this did not end there. I already wrote how I configured IP-telephony on the routerand transferred it to this model - between several houses began to operate their own telephone service and calls became absolutely free. In addition, by connecting a USB DECT adapter to the router, the router also turned into a base station of DECT phones, which means that almost any cordless handsets of this standard can be connected for conversation. And finally, so that the router does not stand idle in vain, I connected an external hard drive to the free USB port, to which I transferred Asterisk for telephony. There I set up the work of the torrent rocking. Interestingly, even with the issued gray IP address, you can connect to the router through the Keenetic Cloud service and make settings or upload download links. You come home, and a freshly downloaded movie is already available on your hard drive. In general, this router is a truly versatile combine,
Even during the construction, I put an all-weather video surveillance camera on the site. It was she who allowed the builders to be monitored in real time and saved from several serious errors. She survived the direct sun and rain well, and now she is experiencing frosts - so far no problem. For such a task, I decided to try a young brand, the daughter of the well-known company Hikvision, manufacturer Ezviz. The video that was shot during the construction of the house in the splash screen was made on the C4S model. There are two modifications to this camera: Wi-Fi or PoE. The first is enough to provide power and connect it to the network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The second one works only via Ethernet, but can be powered by the same cable, without requiring the laying of additional wires with power. The camera is a dome, so you can twist it before installation as you like,
Assessing the functionality of the camera, I took a more advanced model Ezviz Husky Air. This is no longer a dome, but also an all-weather device that can connect to the network both via cable and Wi-Fi. But I didn’t choose a camera for that. It is endowed with a built-in microphone and a rather loud speaker. Therefore, if you hang it in front of the entrance, you can observe suitable visitors and chat if you are not at home. There is also an alarm mode when the camera turns on a siren that neighbors will definitely hear. The rest of the set is standard: recording to a microSD card, IR LED for shooting at night, a hinge that allows you to rotate the camera as you like. Interestingly, the camera is equipped with antennas, so you can count on reliable reception at a decent distance from the router. By the way, it’s possible to choose between a camera with a matrix of 1 or 2 megapixels, which gives a picture in 720P or 1080P. You can also choose a camera option with a focal length of 2.8, 4 or 6 mm. The larger the focal length of the lens, the narrower the viewing angle. For the given values, the following options can be selected: 2.8 mm - 103 ° (horizontal), 118 ° (diagonal); 4mm - 87 ° (horizontal), 104 ° (diagonal); 6mm - 54 ° (horizontal), 62 ° (diagonal).
It should be noted that when I selected the camera, I did not have a white IP address, so I was looking for a device with cloud support. During the story of the mass blocking of IP addresses by Roskomnadzor, Ezviz experts in Russia connected to the problem and quite quickly started the server in Russia, releasing an update to the user application, so that online viewing did not particularly hurt, but the recording locally did not stop at all. This is a big plus in comparison with other Chinese cameras, whose technical support is located behind the Great Wall of China and it will be problematic to reach them.
When I already drove into the house, it was time to equip comfort and network infrastructure. Of course, it’s convenient to download torrents using a router, but why not get hold of a home server with much more functionality? I already had experience creating a home server based on Windows, FreeNAS, but I wanted to stop serving the device and start using it. Therefore, I switched to a ready-made solution - NAS from QNAP. I chose the QNAP TS-251A model. Initially, a small amount of data was planned, so a couple of disks should have been enough. But as the appetite comes with eating, the range of tasks began to grow: in addition to downloads, data storage, synchronization, our own cloud and other things, I wanted to start a virtual machine. Then it was decided to organize a digital video recorder and write video from IP cameras to the server, and not just to flash drives.
In order not to change the entire drive, I just added an expansion unit with 5 disks, connected via USB 3.0. One drive was assigned to the DVR, another one for a family photo and video archive, since even FullHD video already takes dozens, or even hundreds of gigabytes, for one vacation.
Thus, the home server took its rightful place. It is regularly updated (automatically or manually), consumes little power, works instead of several devices at once (DVR, home server, DLNA server, own cloud, web server for business card sites, etc.) and has a capacity reserve, allowing you to count on a very long service life.
It is quite logical to switch from a video surveillance and data storage system to a security and warning system. I did not fall into paranoia and put mechanized shutters, volume sensors and perimeter intersections on the windows. Cloud cameras, which additionally write data to the server, are quite enough for me. But I decided to add a simple smart home system as well. Walking around the Securika Moscow exhibition at the Expocenter, I saw a familiar logo and went to the stand. On the wall were the sensors and controller of a smart home. It's nice that all the devices integrate perfectly with each other. The fact is that Ezviz, about the cameras of which I wrote above, released a set of wireless sensors and sensors for security. I got a starter kit, which includes the smart home controller itself, an opening sensor (on a door or window), an IR motion sensor and a radio remote control.
Interestingly, when a sensor is triggered, a dependent action can be taken for another device. For example, when the opening sensor is triggered, the siren will turn on and the photograph from the attached camera will fly to the smartphone. In order to avoid accidental operations, there are different operating modes (night, at home, at work, etc.). Once the water leakage sensor really saved: it was installed in the bathroom and when the hose of the shower cubicle, which was in a zone inaccessible to the eye, broke, it worked and turned on the notification on the smartphone. Then there was only a flooded bathroom and no more. By the way, the connected siren yells in such a way that it can be a little stunning near, and the neighbors will probably hear it.
I’d add that I would like to see actuators, such as a water stopcock or electronic lock, but these are already devices from a completely different price range.
I believe that for a comfortable stay in the house, in addition to basic needs, you need a few automated systems, but just as many so that life in the house does not turn into their maintenance. Therefore, I tried for myself to choose devices with the optimal ratio of functionality, reliability and cost. I would be glad if someone in the comments tells me what else I missed and without which I am not comfortable enough now. Or vice versa, my system is redundant and could be made simpler and with less effort. I’m also ready to share experiences and answer questions. Life in your home, after living in an apartment is a special pleasure!
Part 2. Heating
Part 3. Electricity
In previous issues, I talked about the stages of building a house, without which it would be impossible to settle and more or less comfortable living. This time I want to talk about devices that make life in your own home more comfortable and safer. This will include everything from access to the World Wide Web to devices that alert you to water leaks. Settle down more comfortably, and I'll start. And for those who prefer not to read but watch, I made a video.
Router
So, let's begin. Perhaps one of the first factors for a comfortable stay in the house, after all engineering systems, is the availability of Internet access. To solve this problem, I chose a trusted manufacturer of routers, which recently changed its name from Zyxel to Keenetic. I chose the Giga model. Why not Ultra? Well, at least because I don’t have devices with AC protocol support, and the speed that the Giga model provides for wireless interfaces at 2.4 and 5 GHz is more than enough. But why I chose her can be argued for a long time. As soon as I drove into the house, I had communication only through the wireless provider Yota. I inserted a 4G modem into the router and a connection appeared. At least the Internet was there, although the speed was noticeably floating, and there was no white IP. Then I found a local provider who handed me the fiber. Here the SFP port available on the router was already useful and I did not have to use a media converter. Minus one device - minus the point of failure. The SFP module plugs directly into the router's port and speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second immediately become available.
But this did not end there. I already wrote how I configured IP-telephony on the routerand transferred it to this model - between several houses began to operate their own telephone service and calls became absolutely free. In addition, by connecting a USB DECT adapter to the router, the router also turned into a base station of DECT phones, which means that almost any cordless handsets of this standard can be connected for conversation. And finally, so that the router does not stand idle in vain, I connected an external hard drive to the free USB port, to which I transferred Asterisk for telephony. There I set up the work of the torrent rocking. Interestingly, even with the issued gray IP address, you can connect to the router through the Keenetic Cloud service and make settings or upload download links. You come home, and a freshly downloaded movie is already available on your hard drive. In general, this router is a truly versatile combine,
Video surveillance system
Even during the construction, I put an all-weather video surveillance camera on the site. It was she who allowed the builders to be monitored in real time and saved from several serious errors. She survived the direct sun and rain well, and now she is experiencing frosts - so far no problem. For such a task, I decided to try a young brand, the daughter of the well-known company Hikvision, manufacturer Ezviz. The video that was shot during the construction of the house in the splash screen was made on the C4S model. There are two modifications to this camera: Wi-Fi or PoE. The first is enough to provide power and connect it to the network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The second one works only via Ethernet, but can be powered by the same cable, without requiring the laying of additional wires with power. The camera is a dome, so you can twist it before installation as you like,
Assessing the functionality of the camera, I took a more advanced model Ezviz Husky Air. This is no longer a dome, but also an all-weather device that can connect to the network both via cable and Wi-Fi. But I didn’t choose a camera for that. It is endowed with a built-in microphone and a rather loud speaker. Therefore, if you hang it in front of the entrance, you can observe suitable visitors and chat if you are not at home. There is also an alarm mode when the camera turns on a siren that neighbors will definitely hear. The rest of the set is standard: recording to a microSD card, IR LED for shooting at night, a hinge that allows you to rotate the camera as you like. Interestingly, the camera is equipped with antennas, so you can count on reliable reception at a decent distance from the router. By the way, it’s possible to choose between a camera with a matrix of 1 or 2 megapixels, which gives a picture in 720P or 1080P. You can also choose a camera option with a focal length of 2.8, 4 or 6 mm. The larger the focal length of the lens, the narrower the viewing angle. For the given values, the following options can be selected: 2.8 mm - 103 ° (horizontal), 118 ° (diagonal); 4mm - 87 ° (horizontal), 104 ° (diagonal); 6mm - 54 ° (horizontal), 62 ° (diagonal).
It should be noted that when I selected the camera, I did not have a white IP address, so I was looking for a device with cloud support. During the story of the mass blocking of IP addresses by Roskomnadzor, Ezviz experts in Russia connected to the problem and quite quickly started the server in Russia, releasing an update to the user application, so that online viewing did not particularly hurt, but the recording locally did not stop at all. This is a big plus in comparison with other Chinese cameras, whose technical support is located behind the Great Wall of China and it will be problematic to reach them.
Home server
When I already drove into the house, it was time to equip comfort and network infrastructure. Of course, it’s convenient to download torrents using a router, but why not get hold of a home server with much more functionality? I already had experience creating a home server based on Windows, FreeNAS, but I wanted to stop serving the device and start using it. Therefore, I switched to a ready-made solution - NAS from QNAP. I chose the QNAP TS-251A model. Initially, a small amount of data was planned, so a couple of disks should have been enough. But as the appetite comes with eating, the range of tasks began to grow: in addition to downloads, data storage, synchronization, our own cloud and other things, I wanted to start a virtual machine. Then it was decided to organize a digital video recorder and write video from IP cameras to the server, and not just to flash drives.
In order not to change the entire drive, I just added an expansion unit with 5 disks, connected via USB 3.0. One drive was assigned to the DVR, another one for a family photo and video archive, since even FullHD video already takes dozens, or even hundreds of gigabytes, for one vacation.
Thus, the home server took its rightful place. It is regularly updated (automatically or manually), consumes little power, works instead of several devices at once (DVR, home server, DLNA server, own cloud, web server for business card sites, etc.) and has a capacity reserve, allowing you to count on a very long service life.
Security system and alerts
It is quite logical to switch from a video surveillance and data storage system to a security and warning system. I did not fall into paranoia and put mechanized shutters, volume sensors and perimeter intersections on the windows. Cloud cameras, which additionally write data to the server, are quite enough for me. But I decided to add a simple smart home system as well. Walking around the Securika Moscow exhibition at the Expocenter, I saw a familiar logo and went to the stand. On the wall were the sensors and controller of a smart home. It's nice that all the devices integrate perfectly with each other. The fact is that Ezviz, about the cameras of which I wrote above, released a set of wireless sensors and sensors for security. I got a starter kit, which includes the smart home controller itself, an opening sensor (on a door or window), an IR motion sensor and a radio remote control.
Interestingly, when a sensor is triggered, a dependent action can be taken for another device. For example, when the opening sensor is triggered, the siren will turn on and the photograph from the attached camera will fly to the smartphone. In order to avoid accidental operations, there are different operating modes (night, at home, at work, etc.). Once the water leakage sensor really saved: it was installed in the bathroom and when the hose of the shower cubicle, which was in a zone inaccessible to the eye, broke, it worked and turned on the notification on the smartphone. Then there was only a flooded bathroom and no more. By the way, the connected siren yells in such a way that it can be a little stunning near, and the neighbors will probably hear it.
I’d add that I would like to see actuators, such as a water stopcock or electronic lock, but these are already devices from a completely different price range.
Conclusion
I believe that for a comfortable stay in the house, in addition to basic needs, you need a few automated systems, but just as many so that life in the house does not turn into their maintenance. Therefore, I tried for myself to choose devices with the optimal ratio of functionality, reliability and cost. I would be glad if someone in the comments tells me what else I missed and without which I am not comfortable enough now. Or vice versa, my system is redundant and could be made simpler and with less effort. I’m also ready to share experiences and answer questions. Life in your home, after living in an apartment is a special pleasure!