All Questions
2,187
questions
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
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
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 ...
- 493
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
37
votes
16
answers
8k
views
Where can I harvest energy in my home to power my wireless sensors?
I was reading this article, "Five Building Blocks of Self-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes" (shared on IoT Meta) about energy harvesting in IoT.
It lists a couple of harvestable energy sources ...
- 7,453
36
votes
5
answers
3k
views
What is the difference between IoT and "Industry 4.0"?
When reading about IoT, I often stumble upon the phrase "Industry 4.0". But what is the exact definition of it? Is "Industry 4.0" just a phrase for an IoT application in an industrial environment?
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
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 ...
- 8,220
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
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
30
votes
5
answers
40k
views
Can I ask Alexa to turn off its microphone by voice command?
Is it possible to build a custom skill that would be equivalent to pressing the microphone on/off button on the top of the Amazon Echo?
I know from this article on How-To Geek that such voice command ...
- 7,453
30
votes
3
answers
20k
views
Is the Amazon Echo mic mute a hardware switch?
I recently got my hands on an Echo Dot.
I'm hesitating to install it, since I'm concerned about my privacy.
According to Amazon's privacy notice, they may use all data they capture.
I've noticed ...
- 403
30
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Intercepting web traffic going over cellular network
If you can plug a device into the wall, or use it in Wi-Fi, it's easy to see the traffic with software like WireShark.
But it seems more tricky to do it with a device that uses LTE/3G or other ...
- 800
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 ...
29
votes
3
answers
778
views
What are the best security practices to secure a remote IoT camera?
I have done a bit of home automation such as building a remote camera that can be turned on via SSH locally and publishes images on a Raspberry Pi run Linux server.
I'm curious, though, as to what ...
- 875
28
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How can I check if my IoT devices are infected with the Mirai worm?
I've recently heard about the Mirai worm, which infects vulnerable routers, IoT devices and other internet-connected appliances with insecure passwords. Mirai is suspected of being the cause of some ...
- 18.1k
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
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
25
votes
2
answers
30k
views
What is the difference between MQTT and Web Sockets, and when should I use them?
What are the major differences between MQTT and Web Sockets?
When using IoT for home automation - control and monitoring access over different devices, which one of them should be used when Rest API ...
- 693
25
votes
8
answers
6k
views
As a Computer Science student, how can I develop skills for an IoT job outside of formal education?
In order to do well in a Computer Science related field, a college student has to do much more than just getting a degree—they must go above and beyond to be competitive with others in the field.
As ...
- 259
25
votes
2
answers
842
views
Is CoAP still used for IoT devices?
I did a prototype project for work a few years ago that utilized the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) for communicating with an Arduino board over a mesh network, but we put the brakes on the ...
- 355
24
votes
7
answers
21k
views
Why doesn't the Amazon Echo respond to advertisements or reports about Alexa?
I previously asked about what you can do if Alexa is triggered by a television programme, but recently I realised something strange: The Echo does not respond to the voices in adverts for the Echo, ...
- 18.1k
24
votes
3
answers
948
views
How can I properly test my device's PCB antenna?
I'm in the middle of testing a Z-Wave device I created with a PCB antenna. I want to make sure that the antenna has a good range and the signal strength generated is strong enough and comparable to ...
- 776
23
votes
4
answers
34k
views
How can I dim or turn off the light of the Philips Hue bridge itself?
I have a Philips Hue bridge 2.0 in the bedroom.
At night the blue light from the Philips Hue bridge itself is way too bright for a bedroom.
How can I dim or turn off the light of the Philips Hue ...
- 331
23
votes
2
answers
13k
views
Can Mosquitto support multiple brokers?
I've been considering Mosquitto for a MQTT message broker for a home IoT network, but I'm concerned that the broker could be a single point of failure which could bring down my whole network if it ...
- 18.1k
23
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Making a smart light switch
I want to make a home automation system, and I need some computer-controllable switches. The reason I can't use relays is that I also need the switches to be switchable manually and not ...
- 339
22
votes
7
answers
1k
views
How do I shut down IoT devices without a power button?
A lot of devices, such as connected fridges, security cameras, Raspberry Pis, Arduinos and my Nest thermostat don't have power buttons.
What is the preferred way to disconnect them from power? What ...
- 800
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
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why would IPv6 be necessary for the IoT?
I recently ran across this quote from Security Intelligence about the Internet of things and IPv6:
Analysts predict that there will be 30 billion connected “things” by 2020, yet the IPv4 address ...
- 4,642
22
votes
5
answers
15k
views
Which backend database is suitable for the IoT implementation
I have to provide the IoT service for my customer. MQTT, Kafka and Rest Services components will be used to ingest the data from the devices to the database. I need to do some analytics over the data ...
- 337
22
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Repurpose ADT sensors
My wife and I just purchased a new house and the ADT Security sensors were still installed, but no keypad panel. After speaking with a Rep on pricing and logistics, we decided not to continue the ...
- 1,817
22
votes
1
answer
8k
views
How do I configure Alexa to access a REST API?
I have several lights connected to relays which are connected to a wiolink
I can turn the lights on and off through the REST API, like so:
curl https://us.wio.seeed.io/v1/node/GroveRelayD0/onoff/[...
- 551
21
votes
7
answers
13k
views
Cheap IoT microcontroller with PoE
Can anyone recommend a simple micro-controller with some I/O (<8) that can be powered using PoE, something cheap like Raspberri Pi Zero. The requirements are:
Support PoE integrated. No power ...
- 951
21
votes
3
answers
686
views
Safety of a smart switch on a fireplace
Would it be unsafe or considered "bad practice" to replace a gas fireplace switch with an IoT enabled smart switch?
I would like to think there would be no issue, but, I want to make sure that it's ...
- 1,817
21
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Working with Rust on the ESP32
I would like to build a gateway device which will use the ESP32. This should connect to the ModBus TCP port of a Sensor. For this purpose, I would like to use the Modbus Rust implementation, which ...
- 313
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
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
21
votes
5
answers
10k
views
How to write custom Alexa Skills without 'Ask xxxx'
I am currently using fauxmo to send custom commands to various devices to turn them on/off (For instance I have a WiFi to IR converter to control my Tuner & TV) and I can turn the tv on/off with ...
- 313
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?
21
votes
1
answer
180
views
Can I use my Pebble to interact with Belkin Wemo devices?
My house makes heavy use of Belkin Wemo switches and bulbs. I would like to be able use my Pebble to turn on a number of devices.
There are apps that will integrate with Wemo, but they require a ...
- 801
20
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is my Samsung Smart TV vulnerable to the "weeping angel" attack?
On CNet, there's a report about Samsung UNF 8000 smart TVs being vulnerable to a hack developed by the CIA:
In June 2014, the CIA and UK's MI5 held a joint workshop to improve the "Weeping Angel" ...
- 18.1k
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
20
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Battery backup for small IoT devices?
I'm making a number of small devices such as temperature sensors, RF433 transmitter and receiver (for controlling and receiving devices => MQTT) mostly using EPS8266.
They work fine, and are USB ...
- 436
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Confusion about client-server connection establishment in MQTT
According to the specifications, it is always the client who should establish connection to a server.
Client:
A program or device that uses MQTT. A Client always establishes the
Network ...
- 7,453
20
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Can an MQTT client subscribe to a topic created by itself?
In my understanding, in MQTT a topic is created once a client publishes something with the corresponding topic name.
There is no need to configure a topic, publishing on it is enough.
From here.
...
- 7,453
20
votes
1
answer
373
views
Are there any initiatives to prevent IoT obsolescence?
I've been reluctant to invest in many IoT devices, especially externally managed/subscription based devices because of issues having to deal with the closure of management services due to issues like ...
- 875
20
votes
3
answers
15k
views
Is there any open source firmware or OS for IP camera like openwrt for routers
Is there any open source firmware or OS for IP cameras like OpenWrt for routers.
I need an OS or a firmware for IP cameras in order to communicate with our cloud service easily. I have some ...
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