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  1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  2. <feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  3.    <title>Simon Arlott</title>
  4.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:0</id>
  5.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/" />
  6.    <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://feed.nom.is/atom10.xml" />
  7.    <updated>2025-05-11T21:51:27Z</updated>
  8.    <subtitle>Computers: The cause of and solution to all of life&apos;s problems</subtitle>
  9.    <generator uri="http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/">Movable Type 4.381</generator>
  10.  
  11. <entry>
  12.    <title>Zigbee fridge/freezer door alarm</title>
  13.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2025/05/11/zigbee-fridgefreezer-door-alarm" />
  14.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:128</id>
  15.    <published>2025-05-11T20:11:04Z</published>
  16.    <updated>2025-05-11T21:51:27Z</updated>
  17.    
  18.    <author>
  19.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  20.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  21.    </author>
  22.    
  23.    
  24.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2025/05/11/zigbee-fridgefreezer-door-alarm">
  25.        <![CDATA[ <p>After leaving the freezer door open all evening twice in hot weather in previous years I started working on a fridge/freezer door alarm to warn me if this happens again. My model of fridge/freezer happens to have convenient anchor points for this:</p>
  26.  
  27. <p><a href="/assets/2025/05/11/20240623_211852.jpg"><img src="/assets/2025/05/11/20240623_211852_t.jpg" width="640" height="238" alt="Fridge with optical switch sensor mounted on the bottom corner near the door which has a cable tie mounted on a post underneath. The cable tie blocks the optical sensor when the door is closed." /></a></p>
  28.  
  29. <p>Using an ESP32-C6 I've made the "<a href="https://github.com/nomis/eightfold-seal">Eightfold Seal</a>" device that supports two doors and a buzzer alarm with increasing frequency when the door is left open. It communicates using Zigbee allowing remote configuration and status information, as well as the possibility to cancel the current alarm if the door is intentionally left open.</p>
  30.  
  31. <p><a href="/assets/2025/05/11/hass_eightfold_seal_controls.png"><img src="/assets/2025/05/11/hass_eightfold_seal_controls_t.png" style="float:left;" alt="[Home Assistant list of controls for the Eightfold Seal device: cancel/enable switches for the alarm and configuration of timing for the two alarm stages]" width="300" height="525" /></a> <a href="/assets/2025/05/11/hass_eightfold_seal_sensors.png"><img src="/assets/2025/05/11/hass_eightfold_seal_sensors_t.png" style="float:left;" alt="[Home Assistant list of sensors for the Eightfold Seal device: current alarm and door open/closed state as well as uptime and Zigbee uplink information]" width="300" height="473" /></a><br style="clear: both;" /></p>
  32.  
  33. <p>When either door is open even slightly, this is detected and the buzzer will sound after a delay. Here are some videos with the buzzer configured for no delay to demonstrate the sensitivity:</p>
  34.  
  35. <p><video controls="" playsinline="" width="640" height="296" aria-label="Fridge door being carefully opened very slightly resulting in a buzzer sounding until the door is closed again"><source src="/assets/2025/05/11/20250507_111459_fridge.mp4"></video><br /><video controls="" playsinline="" width="640" height="296" aria-label="Freezer door being carefully opened very slightly resulting in a buzzer sounding until the door is closed again"><source src="/assets/2025/05/11/20250507_111722_freezer.mp4"></video></p>
  36.  
  37. <p>I had to print a custom lower profile insert for the freezer door because there's a mat nearby and very little clearance below the door because of that:</p>
  38.  
  39. <p><a href="/assets/2025/05/11/20250507_111235.jpg"><img src="/assets/2025/05/11/20250507_111235_t.jpg" width="640" height="296" alt="Freezer door which has a cable tie mounted on a post underneath. The door is open and a floor mat is immediately below the door." /></a></p>
  40. ]]>
  41.        
  42.    </content>
  43. </entry>
  44.  
  45. <entry>
  46.    <title>Right When Tested™</title>
  47.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2025/03/22/right-when-tested" />
  48.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:127</id>
  49.    <published>2025-03-22T11:46:51Z</published>
  50.    <updated>2025-03-22T13:24:27Z</updated>
  51.    
  52.    <author>
  53.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  54.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  55.    </author>
  56.    
  57.        <category term="Internet" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  58.    
  59.    
  60.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2025/03/22/right-when-tested">
  61.        <![CDATA[ <p>Two months ago, I had a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber_to_the_x" title="Fibre To The Premises">fibre internet connection</a> installed by <a href="https://www.openreach.com/">Openreach</a>, which should be much more reliable than the existing copper line, but it didn't work properly. Within 2 minutes of first being connected it had lost communication entirely and then experienced intermittent packet loss throughout every day making it unusable. After 6 engineer appointments (and they didn't even show up for the last one) they continued to blame my router as being of the "incorrect type" and "overcomplicated".</p>
  62.  
  63. <p>They're supposed to have a service level guarantee of 48 hours but it took 47 days for them to fix this fault, which was caused by fibre cables being swapped somewhere in the Openreach network. Most of that time was spent convincing them that there is in fact a fault somewhere in the <a href="https://www.btwholesale.com/">BT Wholesale</a> or Openreach network that needs to be fixed. It would be nice if the monopoly provider of connectivity in the UK had better processes.</p>
  64.  
  65. <a href="/assets/2025/03/22/Right%20When%20Tested.webp"><img src="/assets/2025/03/22/Right%20When%20Tested.webp" width="640" height="3730" alt="Network status graphs showing intermittent packet loss for 47 days, with a Seymour Skinner meme overlay stating: A fault in my network? No, Right When Tested™" /></a>]]>
  66.        
  67.    </content>
  68. </entry>
  69.  
  70. <entry>
  71.    <title>Shrinking shampoo bottles (again)</title>
  72.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2025/02/16/shrinking-shampoo-bottles-again" />
  73.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:126</id>
  74.    <published>2025-02-16T11:24:53Z</published>
  75.    <updated>2025-03-26T08:47:41Z</updated>
  76.    
  77.    <author>
  78.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  79.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  80.    </author>
  81.    
  82.        <category term="Consumer Products" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  83.    
  84.        <category term="Shrinkflation" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  85.    
  86.    
  87.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2025/02/16/shrinking-shampoo-bottles-again">
  88.        <![CDATA[ <p>Alberto Balsam have brought out "new" 300ml bottles of shampoo that Tesco sell for almost the same price (£1) as the previous 350ml bottles, so you now pay the same price for less. They did the <a href="/2016/01/30/shrinking-shampoo-bottles">same thing 9 years ago</a> so the commitment to reducing plastic use is a farce because the product now comes with just 60% of the shampoo it originally had.</p>
  89.  
  90. <figure style="float:left;"><img src="/assets/2025/02/16/Alberto_Balsam_350ml_red.jpg" alt="Alberto Balsam Raspberry Shampoo (350ml) [Source: Tesco]" title="Alberto Balsam Raspberry Shampoo (350ml)" height="350" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">350ml<br />£0.95 (2024)</figcaption></figure>
  91. <figure style="float:left;"><img src="/assets/2025/02/16/Alberto_Balsam_300ml_red.jpg" alt="Alberto Balsam Raspberry Shampoo (300ml) [Source: Tesco]" title="Alberto Balsam Raspberry Shampoo (300ml)" height="350" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">300ml<br />£1.00 (2025)</figcaption></figure>]]>
  92.        
  93.    </content>
  94. </entry>
  95.  
  96. <entry>
  97.    <title>Modifying the IKEA TRÅDFRI Shortcut Button</title>
  98.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2023/09/24/modifying-the-ikea-tradfri-shortcut-button" />
  99.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:125</id>
  100.    <published>2023-09-24T14:22:12Z</published>
  101.    <updated>2023-09-24T14:54:04Z</updated>
  102.    
  103.    <author>
  104.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  105.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  106.    </author>
  107.    
  108.        <category term="Computing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  109.    
  110.        <category term="Electronics" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  111.    
  112.    
  113.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2023/09/24/modifying-the-ikea-tradfri-shortcut-button">
  114.        <![CDATA[<p>With the Zigbee remote-controlled lights and sockets I now needed a way to switch them that's more convenient than a mobile phone. There are various solutions available for this but the best looking one I could find is the IKEA TRÅDFRI Shortcut Button that can be used with any Zigbee coordinator. I can use these to switch lights on and off, play/pause music and turn speakers on/off.</p>
  115.  
  116. <p><img src="/assets/2023/09/24/20230924_154231.jpg" width="320" height="320" alt="White push button with a ceiling lamp pictogram that has been coloured in by hand" /></p>
  117.  
  118. <p>They work well but the battery management in the first version of the firmware isn't great and they regularly lose network pairing information for me when the battery runs out so I upgraded to the latest firmware (which is documented as fixing this issue).</p>
  119.  
  120. <p>One of the often requested features on these buttons has been the ability to set an action on a double press (as well as the original single press and long press gestures). The later firmware versions have added this feature.</p>
  121.  
  122. <p>Unfortunately to implement a double press requires delaying the reaction to a single press. Lights that would previously change instantly now take about half a second to do so which is visibly slow and irritating when you know that it used to be faster and doesn't have to be this way.</p>
  123.  
  124. <p>Trying to get IKEA to fix this is likely to be impossible and they don't provide any kind of email-based support that would allow complex technical issues to be communicated. Even if they could be persuaded that there was a need to make a change it could take months or years before they implemented it.</p>
  125.  
  126. <p>I don't want to wait that long before I can upgrade all of my push buttons to get better battery management, so I've decompiled the latest firmware and determined what to change to be able to disable the double press feature and remove the 400ms delay on single presses:</p>
  127.  
  128. <p><a href="/assets/2023/09/24/20230923_162631_t.jpg"><img src="/assets/2023/09/24/20230923_162631.jpg" width="640" height="256" alt="PCB from inside the IKEA TRÅDFRI Shortcut Button, with pins soldered onto the debug contacts at several different unusual directions and angles. Jumper wire cables are attached to most of the pins." /></a></p>
  129.  
  130. <p><a href="https://github.com/nomis/ikea-tradfri-e1812">Full details on the firmware modifications and accessing the flash.</a></p>]]>
  131.        
  132.    </content>
  133. </entry>
  134.  
  135. <entry>
  136.    <title>Zigbee multi-channel light controller</title>
  137.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2023/09/04/zigbee-multi-channel-light-controller" />
  138.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:124</id>
  139.    <published>2023-09-04T20:00:00Z</published>
  140.    <updated>2023-09-24T14:21:06Z</updated>
  141.    
  142.    <author>
  143.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  144.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  145.    </author>
  146.    
  147.        <category term="Computing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  148.    
  149.        <category term="Electronics" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  150.    
  151.        <category term="Home" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  152.    
  153.    
  154.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2023/09/04/zigbee-multi-channel-light-controller">
  155.        <![CDATA[<p>With a recent <a href="https://github.com/nomis/samsung-oven-sync-time" title="Script to sync time on Samsung ovens">oven purchase</a> I only had one device left that required the clock to be manually synchronised - a timer that I use to turn a light on in the morning. Having had to replace some remote controlled sockets with Zigbee variants I decided to do the same with the light timer so that it can be controlled by a computer that always has the correct time.</p>
  156.  
  157. <p>That worked ok but I wanted more integration with the light switch and since my living room lights could already be remotely switched by a different system I have consolidated both of them into a single light controller. There aren't any existing solutions for this that can handle multiple lights <em>and</em> multiple switches (you can have one relay/switch, or multiple relays plus multiple switches but Zigbee doesn't guarantee good integration in that scenario).</p>
  158.  
  159. <p>Using an ESP32-C6 I've made my own solution, the "<a href="https://github.com/nomis/candle-dribbler">Candle Dribbler</a>" that satisfies my obscure requirements for how remotely controllable light switches should behave:</p>
  160.  
  161. <p><a href="/assets/2023/09/24/20230903_200912.jpg"><img src="/assets/2023/09/24/20230903_200912_t.jpg" width="640" height="296" alt="Left to right, low down on the wall: Opened double gang box with glowing red relays inside and 4 light switches on the front. Open single gang box with ESP32 microcontroller board hanging out of it. Open single gang box with cables hanging out." /></a></p>
  162. <p><a href="/assets/2023/09/24/20230924_122255.jpg"><img src="/assets/2023/09/24/20230924_122255_t.jpg" width="640" height="314" alt="Left to right, low down on the wall: Double gang fitting with 4 light switches labelled (FB M, LR C, LR L, LR R). Single gang box with ESP32-C6 inside behind a transparent plastic cover. Single gang socket with power supply." /></a></p>]]>
  163.        
  164.    </content>
  165. </entry>
  166.  
  167. <entry>
  168.    <title>Making the under-counter Fridge/Freezer more efficient</title>
  169.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2022/10/15/making-the-under-counter-fridge-freezer-more-efficient" />
  170.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:123</id>
  171.    <published>2022-10-15T14:56:51Z</published>
  172.    <updated>2023-05-18T21:58:14Z</updated>
  173.    
  174.    <author>
  175.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  176.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  177.    </author>
  178.    
  179.        <category term="DIY" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  180.    
  181.        <category term="Energy" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  182.    
  183.        <category term="Home" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  184.    
  185.    
  186.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2022/10/15/making-the-under-counter-fridge-freezer-more-efficient">
  187.        <![CDATA[<p>My existing fridge and freezer are over 20 years old and there are better insulated quieter models available that use less than half as much electricity.</p>
  188.  
  189. <p>Being under the worktop without any rear ventilation uses 25-30% more electricity too because the heat has nowhere to go. The fridge also becomes a freezer in the summer because the trapped heat at the back affects the internal thermostat resulting a feedback loop until my carrots are sitting in a frozen pool of ice.</p>
  190.  
  191. <h3>Not enough space</h3>
  192. <p>Before I can get a new fridge and freezer they need to fit under the worktop. There are two popular widths for these appliances (55cm and 60cm) and both of the existing ones are 55cm wide in a space designed for that size only. In order to get the models that I want to fit I need to find an extra 5cm of space because the new fridge is only available in 60cm wide.</p>
  193.  
  194. <p>The cabinets to either side are made of wood so I took one of them out and made it 5cm narrower:</p>
  195.  
  196. <p><a href="/assets/2022/10/15/IMG_20220904_155234_2.jpg"><img src="/assets/2022/10/15/IMG_20220904_155234_2_t.jpg" alt="[Kitchen cabinet now 5cm smaller with doors that are too large]" /></a></p>
  197.  
  198. <p>The cabinet doors are now too wide for the cabinet so one of them needs to be made smaller:</p>
  199.  
  200. <p><a href="/assets/2022/10/15/IMG_20220906_213430_2.jpg"><img src="/assets/2022/10/15/IMG_20220906_213430_2_t.jpg" alt="[Cabinet door cut in half with 8mm steel rod as dowels]" /></a> <a href="/assets/2022/10/15/IMG_20220907_125321_2.jpg"><img src="/assets/2022/10/15/IMG_20220907_125321_2_t.jpg" alt="[Kitchen cabinet with 5cm extra space to the left of it]" /></a></p>
  201.  
  202. <p>There's now an extra 5cm of space so I can fit a 60cm and 55cm appliance under the worktop.</p>
  203.  
  204. <h3>Not enough ventilation</h3>
  205. <p>The instructions for the new fridge and freezer come with warnings of damaging the compressor if there's no ventilation at the back. Some of the heat can escape over the top (to the front of the worktop) but not enough to stop an excessive build-up of heat in the summer.</p>
  206.  
  207. <p>I cut a long narrow ventilation hole in the back of the worktop and laser cut a cover for it out of plastic:</p>
  208.  
  209. <p><a href="/assets/2022/10/15/205_7696_2.jpg"><img src="/assets/2022/10/15/205_7696_2_t.jpg" alt="[Kitchen worktop leading into the dining room with a 6cm wide vent at the back of it]" /></a></p>
  210. <p><a href="/assets/2022/10/15/205_7707_2.jpg"><img src="/assets/2022/10/15/205_7707_2_t.jpg" alt="[Kitchen worktop from above with a 6cm wide vent at the back of it]" /></a></p>
  211.  
  212. <p>There's now enough ventilation for the heat to escape at the back. Be careful doing this with old appliances because my freezer immediately developed a condensation problem now that the excess heat was no longer warming the outer surfaces.</p>
  213.  
  214. <h3>New fridge and freezer</h3>
  215.  
  216. <p>With all the worktop and cabinet alterations complete, I can now install the new <a href="https://home.liebherr.com/en/gbr/products/household-appliances/floor-mounted-appliances-for-households/freestanding-and-tabletop-refrigerators/details/tp-1760.html" title="Liebherr TP 1760 Fridge">fridge</a> and <a href="https://home.liebherr.com/en/gbr/products/household-appliances/floor-mounted-appliances-for-households/freezer-compartments/details/gp-1376_89531.html" title="Liebherr GP 1376 Freezer">freezer</a>:</p>
  217.  
  218. <p><a href="/assets/2022/10/15/205_7745_2.jpg"><img src="/assets/2022/10/15/205_7745_2_t.jpg" alt="[Under-counter fridge and freezer below the kitchen worktop with a 6cm vent at the back aligned to the space between the cabinets and combined width of the two appliances]" /></a></p>
  219. ]]>
  220.        
  221.    </content>
  222. </entry>
  223.  
  224. <entry>
  225.    <title>Shrinking soap</title>
  226.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2022/07/09/shrinking-soap" />
  227.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:122</id>
  228.    <published>2022-07-09T14:54:54Z</published>
  229.    <updated>2022-07-09T15:46:39Z</updated>
  230.    
  231.    <author>
  232.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  233.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  234.    </author>
  235.    
  236.        <category term="Consumer Products" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  237.    
  238.        <category term="Shrinkflation" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  239.    
  240.    
  241.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2022/07/09/shrinking-soap">
  242.        <![CDATA[ <p>Johnson's have <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrinkflation" title="Shrinkflation">shrinkflated</a> their packs of soap from 4x100g down to 2x90g bars. This had been selling for £1 for several years so it was overdue for a simple price increase, but instead of doing that they've gone for the deceptive option of shrinking the product to make it appear cheaper when actually it won't last as long; the extra packaging will increase the overall cost and produce more waste.</p>
  243. <p>The price is still £1 but that now only gets you 180g instead of 400g of soap - an increase of 222% with more outer packaging per bar.</p>
  244.  
  245. <figure style="float:left;"><img src="/assets/2022/07/09/Johnsons_Soap_4x100g.png" alt="Johnson's Baby Honey Soap (pack of 4x100g bars)" title="Johnson's Baby Honey Soap (4x100g)" width="250" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">4x100g (2014-2022)<br />£1.00 (25p per 100g)</figcaption></figure>
  246. <figure style="float:left;"><img src="/assets/2022/07/09/Johnsons_Soap_2x90g.png" alt="
  247. Johnson's Baby Honey Soap (pack of 2x90g bars)" title="Johnson's Baby Honey Soap (2x90g)" style="padding-top: 122px" width="250" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">2x90g (2022)<br />£1.00 (55.6p per 100g)</figcaption></figure>
  248. ]]>
  249.        
  250.    </content>
  251. </entry>
  252.  
  253. <entry>
  254.    <title>Migrating Windows 10 from 512 byte to 4096 byte sectors</title>
  255.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2021/09/04/migrating-windows-10-from-512-byte-to-4096-byte-sectors" />
  256.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:121</id>
  257.    <published>2021-09-04T13:43:48Z</published>
  258.    <updated>2024-03-22T20:35:00Z</updated>
  259.    
  260.    <author>
  261.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  262.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  263.    </author>
  264.    
  265.        <category term="Computing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  266.    
  267.    
  268.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2021/09/04/migrating-windows-10-from-512-byte-to-4096-byte-sectors">
  269.        <![CDATA[ <p>I've recently changed from a SATA SSD to NVMe SSD for my Windows PC and there's a format option for the NVMe SSD to use 4096 byte sectors for better performance.</p>
  270. <p>The NTFS boot sector (at the start of the partition) contains references to the sector size of the disk. This is unnecessary information on more modern filesystems but NTFS is 28 years old. Changing the following little-endian values allows Windows to use the filesystem without needing to recreate it (instructions assume a 4K cluster size):</p>
  271. <table class="prettytable">
  272. <thead><tr><th>Offset</th><th>Size</th><th>Name</th><th>Modification</th></tr></thead>
  273. <tbody><tr><td>0x0B</td><td>2 bytes</td><td>Bytes per sector</td><td>0x0200 (512) → 0x1000 (4096)</td></tr>
  274. <tr><td>0x0D</td><td>1 byte</td><td>Sectors per cluster</td><td>0x08 (8 * 512 = 4096) → 0x01 (1 * 4096 = 4096)</td></tr>
  275. <tr><td>0x1C</td><td>4 bytes</td><td>Hidden sectors</td><td>The number of sectors preceding the partition<br /></td></tr>
  276. <tr><td>0x28</td><td>4 bytes</td><td>Total sectors</td><td>The partition size in sectors</td></tr>
  277. </tbody></table>
  278. ]]>
  279.        
  280.    </content>
  281. </entry>
  282.  
  283. <entry>
  284.    <title>Numeric Keypad</title>
  285.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2021/03/09/numeric-keypad" />
  286.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:120</id>
  287.    <published>2021-03-09T20:00:00Z</published>
  288.    <updated>2025-05-11T20:10:12Z</updated>
  289.    
  290.    <author>
  291.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  292.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  293.    </author>
  294.    
  295.        <category term="Computing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  296.    
  297.        <category term="DIY" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  298.    
  299.        <category term="Electronics" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  300.    
  301.    
  302.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2021/03/09/numeric-keypad">
  303.        <![CDATA[<p>I've changed keyboard to one without a number pad so I've made my own numeric keypad using a <a href="https://ymdkey.com/">YMDK</a> kit and countersunk some black hex screws to make it look nice:</p>
  304. <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lp0/albums/72157718573682513/" title="Numeric keypad photos"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51016640458_f5eec21856_z.jpg" alt="Numeric keypad with black on white number keys and black on light blue mathematical/function keys" width="640" height="368" /></a></p>
  305. <p>There's an extra row on the top for additional keys and the LEDs on the bottom of the keypad light up to indicate the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Num_Lock">number lock</a> state.</p>]]>
  306.        
  307.    </content>
  308. </entry>
  309.  
  310. <entry>
  311.    <title>Modifying Logitech Z906 Speakers</title>
  312.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2021/03/04/modifying-logitech-z906-speakers" />
  313.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:119</id>
  314.    <published>2021-03-04T11:00:00Z</published>
  315.    <updated>2021-03-10T16:42:01Z</updated>
  316.    
  317.    <author>
  318.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  319.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  320.    </author>
  321.    
  322.        <category term="Computing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  323.    
  324.        <category term="Electronics" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  325.    
  326.    
  327.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2021/03/04/modifying-logitech-z906-speakers">
  328.        <![CDATA[<img src="/assets/2021/03/04/IMG_20210310_163142_2_t.jpg" alt="Logitech Z906 Subwoofer and a Speaker" width="640" height="479" />
  329.  
  330. <p>I bought these speakers before purchasing a standing desk because my existing speakers were attached by a fixed length cable. The cable had to be a certain length because the volume controls used capacitive touch all the way back to the amplifier/subwoofer.</p>
  331.  
  332. <img src="/assets/2021/03/04/IMG_20210310_161408_2_t.jpg" alt="Logitech Z906 Control Console" width="640" height="217" />
  333.  
  334. <p>These speakers have a separate controller console attached using a cable with a
  335. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-subminiature">DE-15</a> connector so it can be extended with any <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector">VGA</a> extension cable.</p>
  336.  
  337. <p>I turn the power on/off remotely with a keyboard shortcut but the speakers always turn on in standby mode. Having reverse engineered the protocol between the console and amplifier I could bypass this but the console itself would still not turn on. If it's not turned on then the volume control knob won't do anything.</p>
  338.  
  339. <p>By decompiling the firmware on the microcontroller inside the console I was able to find and modify a parameter that would make it turn on automatically when powered on. I also found a hidden feature to disable the automatic standby that happens after 2 hours and the procedure for enabling this (hold the "level" button for 5 seconds until the level change light goes out).</p>
  340.  
  341. <p><a href="https://github.com/nomis/logitech-z906">Full details on the interface, protocol and firmware access</a>.</p>]]>
  342.        
  343.    </content>
  344. </entry>
  345.  
  346. <entry>
  347.    <title>Cooling the HTC Vive Wireless Adapter</title>
  348.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2020/09/09/cooling-the-htc-vive-wireless-adapter" />
  349.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:117</id>
  350.    <published>2020-09-09T18:56:00Z</published>
  351.    <updated>2020-09-09T19:25:26Z</updated>
  352.    
  353.    <author>
  354.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  355.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  356.    </author>
  357.    
  358.        <category term="Virtual Reality" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  359.    
  360.    
  361.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2020/09/09/cooling-the-htc-vive-wireless-adapter">
  362.        <![CDATA[ <p>I've had problems with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Vive">HTC Vive</a> Wireless Adapter overheating for a while and mounted fans on top of it which cooled it down but still had instability with sudden power outages. Moving the fans from the 5V output to the 12V input (so that it doesn't require any power from the wireless adapter itself) appears to have helped.</p>
  363. <a href="/assets/2020/09/09/20200909_Vive_Wireless_fans.jpg"><img src="/assets/2020/09/09/20200909_Vive_Wireless_fans_t.jpg" alt="HTC Vive headset with Vive Wireless Adapter and two 40mm fans held on with cable ties" width="640" height="478" /></a>]]>
  364.        
  365.    </content>
  366. </entry>
  367.  
  368. <entry>
  369.    <title>Four! I mean five! I mean fire!</title>
  370.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2019/12/21/four-i-mean-five-i-mean-fire" />
  371.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:116</id>
  372.    <published>2019-12-21T09:55:51Z</published>
  373.    <updated>2019-12-21T11:02:57Z</updated>
  374.    
  375.    <author>
  376.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  377.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  378.    </author>
  379.    
  380.        <category term="DIY" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  381.    
  382.        <category term="Home" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  383.    
  384.        <category term="Scotland" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  385.    
  386.    
  387.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2019/12/21/four-i-mean-five-i-mean-fire">
  388.        <![CDATA[<p>These smoke alarms look like they're as old as the house itself:</p>
  389.  
  390. <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lp0/49252533306/in/album-72157712233457797/"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49252533306_dfdaf5c787.jpg" alt="Visibly aged smoke alarms" width="500" height="281" /></a></p>
  391.  
  392. <p>I put some other alarms up in 2015 and moved these ones into bedrooms but they were in need of replacing.</p>
  393.  
  394. <p>There are new <a href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/" title="Scottish Government guidance on changes to the law relating to fire and smoke alarms">minimum standards for fire alarms</a> in Scotland that <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2019/8/made" title="The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criteria) Order 2019">come into effect on 2021-02-01</a> that require interlinked smoke alarms in the main living area and hallways/landings as well as a heat alarm in the kitchen.</p>
  395.  
  396. <p>None of the other alarms are interlinked so I've replaced all of them with mains powered interlinked alarms. There's even a control panel to make the entire house start beeping or identify which alarm is detecting fire when it's not obvious:</p>
  397.  
  398. <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lp0/49252735982/in/album-72157712233457797/"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49252735982_37a7abaf80_w.jpg" alt="Control for Smoke and Heat Alarms with Test and Hush/Locate buttons" width="400" height="390" /></a></p>
  399.  
  400. <p>I'll automatically <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqQ6Z-HmAqY" title="Fire! Fire! | The IT Crowd (Channel 4)">get an email</a> if a fire is detected.</p>]]>
  401.        
  402.    </content>
  403. </entry>
  404.  
  405. <entry>
  406.    <title>Melbourne</title>
  407.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2019/10/22/melbourne" />
  408.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:118</id>
  409.    <published>2019-10-22T19:00:00Z</published>
  410.    <updated>2020-09-13T15:10:56Z</updated>
  411.    
  412.    <author>
  413.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  414.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  415.    </author>
  416.    
  417.        <category term="Australia" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  418.    
  419.        <category term="Melbourne" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  420.    
  421.    
  422.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2019/10/22/melbourne">
  423.        <![CDATA[<p>I'm just back from a holiday in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne">Melbourne</a>.</p>
  424.  
  425. <p>I've walked along the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarra_River">Yarra River</a>, around <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Park_and_Lake">Albert Park Lake</a>, through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Botanic_Gardens_Victoria">Botanic Gardens</a> and been up to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Tower" title="Eureka Tower">Eureka Skydeck</a>.</p>
  426.  
  427. <p>I visited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Zoo">Melbourne Zoo</a> and went on a tour of the <a href="https://sightseeingtoursaustralia.com.au/tours/1-day-great-ocean-road-12-apostles-tour/">Great Ocean Road</a>.</p>
  428.  
  429. <p>I went to all three days of <a href="https://aus.paxsite.com/">PAX Australia</a> at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Convention_and_Exhibition_Centre">Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre</a>.</p>
  430.  
  431. <p>I attended a performance of <a href="https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/">Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</a> at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Theatre_(Melbourne)">Princess Theatre</a>.</p>
  432.  
  433. <p>I took <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lp0/collections/72157712344444766/">several photos and a few videos</a>.</p>]]>
  434.        
  435.    </content>
  436. </entry>
  437.  
  438. <entry>
  439.    <title>Shrinking toilet paper</title>
  440.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2019/02/23/shrinking-toilet-paper" />
  441.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:115</id>
  442.    <published>2019-02-23T16:27:56Z</published>
  443.    <updated>2019-02-23T16:47:58Z</updated>
  444.    
  445.    <author>
  446.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  447.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  448.    </author>
  449.    
  450.        <category term="Consumer Products" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  451.    
  452.        <category term="Shrinkflation" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  453.    
  454.    
  455.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2019/02/23/shrinking-toilet-paper">
  456.        <![CDATA[<p>ASDA have applied some pre-Brexit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrinkflation">shrinkflation</a> to their own brand toilet paper "Shades So Soft". This time you get 10 fewer sheets per roll. That's 1¼ rolls less paper for the same price.</p>
  457.  
  458. <figure style="margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px;"><a href="/assets/2018/05/12/ASDA_Shades_24_May_2018.jpg" title="ASDA Shades So Soft 24 Rolls (2018-05-02)"><img src="/assets/2018/05/12/ASDA_Shades_24_May_2018_t.jpg" alt="Contents: 24 rolls, 2 ply tissue. Average 200 sheets per roll. Sheet size 118mm x 104.5mm. Total area 59.18m²." title="ASDA Shades So Soft 24 Rolls (2018-05-02)" height="68" /></a><figcaption style="text-align:center;">59.18m² for £8.00 (2018-05-02)</figcaption></figure>
  459.  
  460. <figure style="margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px;"><a href="/assets/2019/02/23/ASDA_Shades_11_February_2019.jpg" title="ASDA Shades So Soft 24 Rolls (2019-02-11)"><img src="/assets/2019/02/23/ASDA_Shades_11_February_2019_t.jpg" alt="Contents: 24 rolls, 2 ply tissue. Average 190 sheets per roll. Sheet size 118mm x 104.5mm. Total area 56.23m²." title="ASDA Shades So Soft 24 Rolls (2019-02-11)" height="68" /></a><figcaption style="text-align:center;">56.23m² for £8.00 (2019-02-11)</figcaption></figure>
  461.  
  462. <p>They're still advertising it as <q><strong>Bigger</strong> Pack Better <strong>Value</strong></q> but now it costs 5% more to get the same amount of paper.</p>]]>
  463.        
  464.    </content>
  465. </entry>
  466.  
  467. <entry>
  468.    <title>Faster hot water</title>
  469.    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://nom.is/2019/02/16/faster-hot-water" />
  470.    <id>tag:nom.is,2011-03-15:114</id>
  471.    <published>2019-02-16T22:00:00Z</published>
  472.    <updated>2019-02-17T18:08:06Z</updated>
  473.    
  474.    <author>
  475.        <name>Simon Arlott</name>
  476.        <uri>https://sa.me.uk/</uri>
  477.    </author>
  478.    
  479.        <category term="DIY" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  480.    
  481.        <category term="Home" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  482.    
  483.        <category term="Plumbing" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
  484.    
  485.    
  486.    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="https://nom.is/2019/02/16/faster-hot-water">
  487.        <![CDATA[<p>The hot water in my house used to be provided by an immersion heater fed from a cold water tank in the loft (2 decades ago) and was distributed by 22mm pipe. When a gas boiler was installed the original pipes were left in place.</p>
  488. <p>Having recently had the boiler replaced (with a higher maximum hot water output) I investigated what I could do to reduce the time taken to get hot water out of the tap and discovered that the 22mm pipes leading out of the cupboard went further than expected.</p>
  489. <p>A 22mm pipe holds more than twice as much water as 15mm pipe so this results in a lot of unnecessary water in the pipes between the boiler and the taps. While this has little impact on the shower (mostly fed by newer 15mm pipe), it doubles the time taken for hot water to reach the tap in the sink because almost the entire run was in the old 22mm pipe (7 metres of it).</p>
  490. <p>Even at a fast flow rate of 6 litres per minute that's an unnecessary additional 13 seconds for the hot water leaving the boiler to come out of the tap in the shower room and an extra 8 seconds for the kitchen sink at 10 litres per minute.</p>
  491. <p>All of the 22mm pipes have now been replaced with 15mm pipes and the hot water now reaches the tap faster:</p>
  492. <p><img src="/assets/2019/02/16/boiler_before.jpg" alt="[Boiler with hot water pipes cut off]" /> <img src="/assets/2019/02/16/downstairs_before.jpg" alt="[Water pipe in 22mm branching off to 15mm]" /></p>
  493. <p><img src="/assets/2019/02/16/downstairs_after.jpg" alt="[Water pipe in 15mm branching off to 15mm]" /> <img src="/assets/2019/02/16/shower_room_sink_before.jpg" alt="[Pipe behind shower room sink in 22mm]" /></p>
  494. <p><img src="/assets/2019/02/16/shower_room_sink_after.jpg" alt="[Pipe behind shower room sink in 15mm]" /> <img src="/assets/2019/02/16/boiler_after.jpg" alt="[Boiler reconnected with 15mm hot water pipe]" /></p>]]>
  495.        
  496.    </content>
  497. </entry>
  498.  
  499. </feed>
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