All Questions
177
questions
34
votes
7
answers
3k
views
What classifies a device as IoT?
IoT stands for Internet of Things.
Would a fitbit or device that connects to a mobile phone or computer through Bluetooth the be considered IoT? What about radio controlled devices?
What classifies ...
- 571
19
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Selecting a microcontroller for a battery operated data collection project
I am planning to measure water level in a well, which is about 10 m deep with maximum water level up to 5 m. My plan is to use ultrasonic sensor HC SR04 to measure depth, transmit it via ZigBee to a ...
- 403
18
votes
6
answers
8k
views
How do I avoid port forwarding when exposing IoT devices to the external Internet?
I received some good answers in the question What do I need to create my own personal cloud for IoT devices? and one of the things that I understood from there is that I need to "expose" my HUB or ...
- 545
13
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Contacting Arduino through internet without port forward
I have an Arduino board connected to a Wifi network which have internet access. What I want is, I need to contact this Arduino board from any other network without the help of port forwarding in the ...
- 231
21
votes
4
answers
28k
views
Can Alexa ever speak without being prompted?
I was recently asked if Alexa can ever speak without prompting, so I thought it'd be helpful to ask here to make sure I'm right; as far as I know, Alexa will never, ever speak without the wake word, ...
- 18.1k
26
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Is there a big jump between prototyping on a Pi, and using a microcontroller?
This question asks, amongst other things, if there is a big learning curve between using Python on a Raspberry Pi to prototype an endpoint, and using a microcontroller.
Clearly there is a big ...
- 10.3k
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the typical network topology for an IoT network?
I see several questions asking about details of an IoT network, including this one about port forwarding for example. I think it would be useful to ask about what might be considered the typical ...
- 10.3k
35
votes
5
answers
61k
views
How to use English Alexa Skills on my German Echo Dot
I want to use English Alexa skills on a German Echo Dot. But when I switch to US English to access English skills I get this problem:
Die ausgewählte Spracheinstellung stimmt nicht mit den ...
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20
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Is the Amazon Echo 'always listening' and sending data to the cloud?
Several news sources such as Intellihub and CEPro seem to suggest that Amazon's Echo home assistant constantly listens to conversations and sends them via the Internet to Amazon's servers. CEPro ...
- 18.1k
15
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Why do I need hubs for some devices when automating my home?
When you get started with automating your home, you quickly find out that many devices need a hub or bridge to function correctly. For example, the Philips Hue bulbs need a bridge, August Smart Locks ...
- 18.1k
129
votes
4
answers
15k
views
How can I stop Alexa from ordering things if it hears a voice on TV?
According to The Register, lots of Amazon Echo devices were accidentally triggered by a presenter saying 'Alexa ordered me a dollhouse'.
Telly station CW-6 said the blunder happened during a Thursday ...
- 18.1k
55
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Securing small home automation setup
I have a small home automation lab (that I keep saying I'll expand, but haven't). In this setup, I have a control system to control lights (utilizing the x10 protocol), blinds, a Nest thermostat and ...
- 653
38
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Can I monitor my network for rogue IoT device activity?
In order to mitigate or manage the risk from having some of the devices on my home network compromised, is it feasible to monitor network traffic so as to detect a compromise?
I'm specifically ...
- 10.3k
36
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Is there a fully open source platform for IoT presentation and visualization?
I have decided to use the AWS IoT communications platform in order to talk with our sensors.
However, when it comes to visualization, I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary to reinvent the wheel.
As ...
- 1,215
22
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Is there any advantage in encrypting sensor data that is not private?
Some sites, such as this article on end-to-end encryption for IoT, suggest that all traffic sent across the IoT network should be encrypted, saying:
Enterprises, government agencies and other ...
- 18.1k
18
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Is it better to control smart lights or smart light switches/fixtures?
IoT enabled light bulbs have been on the market for a while now. The Philips Hue is probably the best known. But I think controlling bulbs directly is a rule-maintenance disaster waiting to happen. ...
- 2,422
16
votes
11
answers
10k
views
What's the difference between the Internet of Things and the traditional Internet?
What is the difference between the Internet of Things and the traditional Internet? Without the IoT, previously we could communicate with components in various remote monitoring projects with ...
- 185
16
votes
7
answers
1k
views
What IoT services are available for storing/sending/publishing generic data in the cloud?
What IoT services are available for storing/sending/publishing (and opposite operations) generic small amount of data in the cloud?
I am looking, for example, for a service where a device could store ...
- 269
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How do consumer IoT devices typically enable Internet connection?
As far as I know there are 2 general methods for enabling remote (Internet, not LAN) access to IoT devices:
Via a server that the device polls periodically (e.g. MQTT)
Direct remote access
I'm ...
- 253
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What happens if Mosquitto runs out of memory to store QoS 1/2 messages?
In MQTT, messages with QoS 1 or 2 must be delivered at least once (QoS 2 messages must be delivered exactly once). If the client is not connected, the broker must store the message until the client is ...
- 18.1k
8
votes
1
answer
291
views
Will changing my user name and password block Mirai attacks?
I've recently been reading about Mirai, malware whose source has been revealed which is designed to infect IoT devices. It is appears to be a serious threat to security compromised Internet of ...
- 4,642
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Extreme modification suggestions for a Wi-Fi enabled hairbrush?
L'Oreal have launched a Wi-Fi enabled hairbrush, which is an IoT device.
I am wondering how I can repurpose it.
I am looking for serious suggestions as to how I could modify it, or connect it to ...
4
votes
3
answers
229
views
Would interconnected spaceships be part of IoT? [duplicate]
Because mankind is probably going to become an interplanetary civilization during this century:
Would a spaceship using quantum teleportation hardware that provides IPv6 connectivity between its ...
- 173
48
votes
9
answers
10k
views
What is the simplest programmable IoT device that can connect to Wi-Fi?
I am trying to build a cheap asset tracker that can be powered by a battery pack. All I need the IoT device to do, is to connect to known WiFi network access points. I have access to the backend ...
- 725
32
votes
5
answers
3k
views
When to use Wi-Fi over Bluetooth or vice versa in an IoT system?
Basically when it comes to IoT, the two main communication methods which come to my mind are either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. I know that there are others as well like ZigBee, Z-Wave but I would like to ...
- 7,453
29
votes
7
answers
44k
views
How much power do smart sockets consume themselves?
I see a lot of Wi-Fi sockets or plugs etc, but no one ever mentions how much power they consume themselves. They are typically connected to Wi-Fi constantly, waiting for commands. Does this not take ...
27
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Could a blockchain really prevent malware in the Internet of Things?
This article claims that using a blockchain-based security system for an IoT network would prevent some types of attacks:
Blockchain technology may help offer an answer. Gada observes that blockchain ...
- 18.1k
21
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What do I need to create my own personal cloud for IoT devices?
This is a subject I have been thinking of for a while, especially because the "IoT" concept has been floating around a lot lately.
I will start with what I mean when I say "IoT". I know that the term ...
- 545
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to change the Amazon Echo wake word?
Is it possible to change the Amazon's Echo wake word from "Alexa" to something else? If so, how can I do that?
19
votes
4
answers
649
views
What factors to consider when selecting an integrated wifi MCU for a low powered edge device?
The motivation for this question comes from the fact that some time ago I created a simple proof of concept (PoC) IoT edge device using a microcontroller and a CC3100 Wifi network processor. One of ...
- 1,490
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Secure Home Network Partition for IoT Devices
What is the best approach to partitioning IoT devices from non-IoT devices at home?
I have heard that setting up separate networks, one for IoT devices and one for everything else, is a good ...
- 281
16
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How can I easily configure Wi-Fi on a smart device without a screen?
I'm making an IoT device that will serve a web app over WiFi which can be accessed to control it.
I would like to make it easy to set up. For example, the easiest way I can imagine is as follows; all ...
- 263
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What, exactly, makes SPECK and SIMON particularly suitable for IoT devices?
For some IoT devices, the data that needs to be sent is confidential, and hence sending it in plain text is not acceptable. Therefore, I've been considering how to encrypt data sent between IoT ...
- 18.1k
12
votes
4
answers
60k
views
How to enable detailed logging of Mosquitto broker on Windows 7?
I have a previous question and to get closer to a solution I want to enable Mosquitto broker logging on Windows 7.
Originally I have started the broker manually as follows:
mosquitto -p 1883 -v
-v ...
- 7,453
9
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Should I use special characters in MQTT topics?
I have used MQTT to connect all my ESP8266 units but I have a general question regarding topics. According to www.hivemq.com:
"Leading forward slash" / should be avoided.
Spaces should be avoided.
...
- 634
9
votes
4
answers
15k
views
How to enable WebSockets on Mosquitto running on Windows?
I have a Mosquitto broker up and running on my Windows machine. I don't remember if I installed it with Web Sockets support (Cause I didn't knew what that was, or if I needed it). But seeing now my ...
- 713
8
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Automatically open a garage door when approaching by car?
There is this thing I noticed in my neighborhood: when Sam is waiting for his not-so-automatic door to open, he stops the traffic for 20 or 30 seconds, due to the street configuration.
I want to buy ...
- 338
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How does the Norton Core increase the security of a "smart home"?
Symantec is releasing a new router, the Norton Core, which they describe as "The secure router for your connected home."
I found out about this while reading an article on Engadget, but their ...
- 18.1k
7
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Alexa Speaking Without Being Asked
Last night at midnight Alexa scared me silly. I had the volume up from playing music earlier, and she shouts out "I'm sorry, I don't know how to do that" without being prompted. Why is this? The only ...
- 71
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Does a battery-powered light switch exist to control a smart plug?
I have an apartment with no light switch or ceiling light for the living room. I have a lamp that's plugged into the wall. Because it's an apartment, I can't just install a physical light switch.
All ...
- 161
6
votes
1
answer
400
views
Increasing the range of an RF module
I am working with a RF-LORA-SO 868Mhz module.
I read this article that says the range of this module could go up to 50km. But I would need to connect an antenna to my LoRa module. This article I ...
user5399
6
votes
2
answers
263
views
Is it ever a good idea to 'roll your own' protocol for IoT device communication?
I've heard many people mention that their embedded IoT devices aren't powerful enough to process known protocols, like HTTPS or even TLS security for sockets.
Instead, they turn to creating their own ...
- 18.1k
6
votes
1
answer
709
views
Connect CNC machine to AWS IoT
I want to connect my CNC machine with AWS IoT within a system that contains a robotic arm and sensor. The CNC machine is connected to a laptop and runs with Python code. I want to use MQTT to make the ...
- 603
4
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Can I upload code to NodeMCU without using micro USB?
Is there any way for me to upload code to NodeMCU without using micro USB?
I tried to connect RX TX (NodeMcu) along with TX RX (Arduino) but it failed.
- 59
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why is access denied when using the Unified Write Filter on Windows 10 IoT?
I'm using Windows 10 Enterprise IoT 64-bit and am trying to run the following command in the command prompt:
uwfmgr.exe get-config
The result is always "The command failed (Access is denied.)." ...
- 39
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
POST messages in JSON to mosquitto MQTT not being received from node-RED mqtt node
Not sure how much better I can phrase it in the question but i'll try to explain to the best I can.
What I am trying to do:
Using IFTTT Webhook to POST a JSON message in MQTT Format.
POST URL: test....
- 161
3
votes
1
answer
252
views
How do IOT platforms like Blynk, ThingSpeak etc. communicate with hardware (e.g. ESP8266) without port forwarding?
I use port forwarding if I want to access my local server NodeMCU from internet. However if I use IOT platforms like Blynk, ThingSpeak... then I dont need to care about port forwarding. We can access ...
- 131
2
votes
1
answer
485
views
How Smart Home devices communication works
I have a big doubt that I'm not able to solve.
Basically, I want to understand how the smart device that I have in my home communicate with their servers, or better, how their servers can call its ...
- 23
46
votes
6
answers
15k
views
When and why to use MQTT protocol?
I am developing a device which measures temperature, humidity and mass. Currently it uses HTTPS to upload data to a remote server. Now I know that there is a protocol called MQTT which is claimed to ...
- 7,453
39
votes
12
answers
49k
views
Are there any smart electrical plugs with an open API?
My friend and I are in a university and we have been asked by the agriculture professor to create automated watering systems for plants. We want to have control over the grow lights so are there any ...
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