Author: sparta

The increasing expense of smart devices, subscription services, and smart home technology has prompted individuals to seek budget-friendly, adaptable options. This is precisely where Raspberry Pi excels. This compact, low-cost computer can perform functions usually carried out by expensive commercial equipment or recurring third-party services. With the appropriate software, you can transform a Raspberry Pi into a smart home hub, personal cloud storage, or a cost-free home security system. There are numerous ways to enhance your bedroom with Raspberry Pi projects and then extend those improvements throughout your home.

The attraction is clear: you have ownership of the data, hardware, and total control over it. And you obtain all of that without expensive ongoing fees. A Raspberry Pi can store all your data at no expense whatsoever. Additionally, many commercial monitoring systems and smart devices restrict crucial features behind subscriptions. With a Raspberry Pi, you can centralize control independently and evade long-term expenses associated with closed platforms. So let’s explore some Raspberry Pi project concepts that can help you save money!

**Smart Home Hub**

Transforming your Raspberry Pi into a smart home hub is not just a functional endeavor, but it can also lead to significant savings. You won’t have to spend on pricey proprietary hubs or continuous subscription charges. A Raspberry Pi can enhance your smart home by utilizing open-source software like Home Assistant. It will connect and manage lights, sensors, plugs, thermostats, and more. Commercial smart home hubs and ecosystems typically require hundreds of dollars upfront and often come with a monthly subscription fee. By choosing this DIY Raspberry Pi project, your principal expense is just the hardware, as the main software is free.

To configure your Raspberry Pi smart home hub, begin by installing Home Assistant’s image on a microSD card or an SSD. Then, follow the setup instructions to integrate smart devices into your network. Home Assistant can automatically detect many smart devices if they are Wi-Fi compatible. If not, you can enhance compatibility using Zigbee or Z-Wave USB adapters. But the savings don’t stop there. Did you know that establishing a smart hub can also minimize energy waste? This configuration allows your systems to operate only when necessary, leading to reduced energy expenses.

**Free Pi-hole Network Ad Blocker**

If you’re looking to enhance your internet experience with a cost-free ad blocker, consider converting your Raspberry Pi into a Pi-hole network ad blocker. Pi-hole is complimentary, open-source software that serves as a network-wide DNS sinkhole. It will block ads and trackers for every device linked to your home network. The best part? You won’t have to subscribe to any cloud service or individual ad-block application. Once you set up Pi-hole on your Pi and router, there are no recurring fees. This is far superior to a subscription-based DNS service, which frequently incurs extra charges for advanced features. Moreover, you don’t even need the latest hardware; you can reutilize an older Raspberry Pi for this project and save some funds.

Begin by installing the Pi-hole software on your Raspberry Pi and configuring the router to direct all DNS requests from connected devices (phones, computers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles) to the Pi. Once operational, Pi-hole will intercept DNS requests and block those that align with known ad-serving and tracking domains. This means ads won’t be downloaded in the first place. Consequently, the webpages you wish to access will load faster, and your network will consume less bandwidth. This way, you can also minimize data usage on capped connections and save money.

**Rain and Flood Detection**

Preventing water damage before it escalates is crucial. The potential costs of replacing furniture and appliances or repairing house construction following a flood are daunting. Average water damage claims can exceed $10,000 or more. Installing sensors to detect moisture or rising water levels early is among the wisest decisions a homeowner can make. You can also install motion sensors throughout your home while undertaking this project. Transforming your Raspberry Pi into a rain and flood detection system is not only economical but also simple.

Connect a basic water or rain sensor to the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO pins and write a brief Python script to monitor them. You don’t need to be a programmer to achieve this. Numerous scripts are readily available online (e.g., GitHub), even at no cost. When a sensor identifies hazardous water levels, whether it’s a leak or rainwater accumulating where it shouldn’t, the Raspberry Pi will alert you via email, text, or smart home dashboard. You can even blend this into your smart home system so that the water valve or sump pump activates automatically.

**Cloud Storage**

If you want to have complete control over your data without subscribing to services such as Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox, you could convert your Raspberry Pi into cloud-like storage. Yes, services typically

new framework for the Big Bang Theory informed by recent findings.

“One Strange Rock” provides plenty of enjoyment for anyone looking to binge the full series. It features scientific professionals, including astronauts, sharing insights and recounting their journeys. If the complimentary episode piques your interest, there are several options available to view the rest of the series.

If you have significant worries about privacy while navigating the internet, you might have come across the idea of utilizing a VPN for protection. VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, serves as a method to prevent external parties from tracking your online activities and effectively enhances the security of your connection. Setting it up on your mobile device is not overly complex, typically requiring just a straightforward app installation. Interestingly, one of the most dependable free VPNs for Android is actually integrated into the device and developed by Google. Named VPN by Google, this no-cost VPN service is a distinctive feature available on Pixel phones starting with the Pixel 7.

Similar to regular VPN services, VPN by Google establishes an encrypted and private connection via Google’s VPN servers rather than connecting directly to the internet. It masks your true IP address and location, replacing them with the server’s IP and location. This is what shields you from malicious entities and sites that wish to acquire your location information.

However, unlike other VPN platforms, VPN by Google comes with certain restrictions. Firstly, it does not permit you to select which server to link to. For example, you can’t opt for a Japan-based server, so you won’t be able to access content that’s restricted to a Japanese audience. Moreover, a Google account is necessary to utilize the VPN service. VPN by Google is also functional only in 30 designated home countries (the country associated with your Google account). These include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Singapore. It does function in additional locations while traveling, enabling usage in places like the Bahamas, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and even Antarctica.

How to activate the free VPN by Google on your Pixel phone

Activating VPN by Google on your Pixel phone is quite fast and straightforward through the Settings on your Pixel device. Follow these instructions:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Choose Network & internet.
3. Click on VPN.
4. Under the Built-in section, select VPN by Google.
5. Review the permissions.
6. Enable Use VPN on mobile network if you wish to activate VPN while on mobile data.
7. Click Use VPN.
8. Select Allow if you want VPN by Google to send you notifications.
9. Wait for the VPN to establish a connection.

Once you spot the key icon on your Android screen, it indicates that the VPN service is operational, and you’re set to begin browsing. To simplify the process of pausing and resuming the VPN later, you can add it to your Quick Settings. Here’s how:

1. Access Quick Settings by swiping down from the top of the screen.
2. Tap the pen icon.
3. Press and hold the tile for VPN by Google.
4. Move it to your preferred location in the upper section of the screen.
5. Press the back arrow to save your adjustments.

You should now see the VPN tile in your Quick Settings. Long-press on the tile to open the VPN by Google settings page, or simply tap it to pause or resume the VPN service.

How to set up VPN by Google on your Pixel

Although Google’s free VPN service may not be as feature-rich as many other VPNs available, it still provides some degree of customization. Here’s how you can set up VPN by Google to better meet your requirements:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Network & internet > VPN.
3. Select the gear icon next to VPN by Google.
4. To keep the VPN service perpetually active, enable Always-on VPN.
5. To ensure your device does not go online without initially connecting to VPN, activate Block connections without VPN and press Turn on to confirm.
6. Return to the VPN page.
7. Tap on VPN by Google.
8. To pause the VPN service when you’re connected to specific Wi-Fi networks:
– Under Advanced settings, navigate to Pause VPN on selected networks.
– Tap on the saved networks where you wish to prevent the VPN service from operating.
– Press the trash icon to remove the Wi-Fi network from the “pause” list.
9. To stop certain apps from utilizing the VPN service, allowing them to connect to the internet normally:
– Choose Exclude selected apps.
– Select the apps for which you do not want VPN running.
– Remove any app from the “excluded” list by tapping the trash icon.
10. To check the app information:
– Go to Notifications.
– Adjust the notification frequency under Notifications.
– Modify the permissions via the Permissions option.
– View the amount of mobile data used by the VPN service by tapping Mobile data usage.

Any adjustments made in the configuration will be automatically saved and applied whenever your VPN is active.

your TV’s HDMI port keeps track of your viewing habits through devices connected, such as game consoles and media players. 

To disable data tracking via HDMI on a Roku smart TV, go to Settings > Privacy > Smart TV Experience. In that section, you will find either “Use info from TV inputs” or “Automatic Content Recognition (ACR),” switch it off. By turning off these settings, you will limit the data being gathered and shared across your Roku streaming sticks and standalone devices.