#Bluetooth presence detector connected via wifi or PoE

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

fierce light
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I am looking ready to buy (not DIY) bluetooth passive scanner to track presence of devices. I don't want USB version. I need the device to work on WiFi or PoE.

Can you recommend specific device? Of course with HA integration.

sharp glen
fierce light
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I mean 230V (WiFi) or PoE (ethernet). Maybe battery (WiFi), but it depends how long it will work.

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Actually I don't believe battery will live reasonable time in such device.

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so rather 230V or PoE

sharp glen
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i use this type of setup for presence detection

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its usb for power with a small usb power adaptor

fierce light
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I see, USB charger to power USB dongle which communicate via WiFi?

sharp glen
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yeah

fierce light
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Is it something what I can buy and it will work or rather I have to have "fun" with firmware overwritting?

sharp glen
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you would have to flash it and set it up with some kind of presence detection setup. I use ESPressense

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there isn't really anything "out the box"

fierce light
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Can I flash it with something ready or have to do some settings / coding work?

fierce light
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hmm if I have to do the job anyway... is there something to flash working as PoE and connecting through ethernet?

sharp glen
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espressense wasnt super hard to set up but it took a little bit of work (but theres various videos on the subject) i think you can do simalar with just esphome these days but i havent tried it. theres also a system called Bermuda but i havent tried that one either

fierce light
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Thank you. At least I know I can't buy ready device.

sharp glen
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things like this for example

olimex-esp32-poe-development-board-the-pi-hut-105628-42067176685763_500x.png
fierce light
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I bought ESP32 around 1-2 years ago to learn coding this things and then my live changed. I didn't find time to start doing anything with that 🙂

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I see the point and direction, but it will have to wait then. I was hoping for something which I can plug and use, because lack of time.

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alternativly the USB for now 🤔

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Do you know if it make sense to scan devices through metal door...? I need minimum 10-15 meters, but I have metal garage door. Alternatively from attic where I have a little longer distance, but wooden obstacle only. All other places need PoE.

sharp glen
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BLE is not great at getting through stufff. i have multiple around the house for coverage and it also allows me to see which node is closest so i can detect what room the device is in (with varying luck to be fair)

fierce light
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yeah, the difference is I don't need to communicate. Only need to detect even the poorest signal. I don't know if / how much it change the distance.

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ha... BLE is 2.4 GHz. is it?

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in theory it should have range of 2.4 GHz WiFi

sharp glen
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not really

fierce light
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yeah, for sure it is not, but I don't know what I miss

sharp glen
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it is 2.4 yes but it doesnt mean its the same range. its a different technology

fierce light
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Bandwidth will be poor, but it doesn't matter

sharp glen
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BLE pings are a bit tempremental. they are designed to be low power

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so at bigger range and through objects they dont always work

fierce light
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I will have to test it then in different places if I can catch signal on time

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context: I am trying to detect my car to open gate 🙂

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as a first challenge (if we can call it like that)

sharp glen
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theres probably other solutions. if you have remote access to HA then you could track your phone via gps

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assuming your in the car when it approaches

fierce light
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I am on street where I need to open gate immediatelly without waiting. It is too slow.

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it is not enough precise with geolocation when moving in car

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and I need to open gate when I am close to the gate, not somewhere

sharp glen
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is complete automation a requirement?
would a button in the car be acceptable?

fierce light
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I wanted to make improvement, but this is not super critical.

sharp glen
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i was thinking having a bluetooth proxy as close as you can do the gate then just have a BLE button

fierce light
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I was thinking about something similar, but I assume (need to try) my car can be detect by scanning bluetooth, so then I don't need to press button.

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Part of the issue is when iPhone is connected to Car Play, then can't connect to house WiFi to detect my presence.

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So instead of detecting phone I need to detect car heh

sharp glen
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okay 1 moment i have an idea

fierce light
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👂

sharp glen
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so you have an independant device connecting to wifi which you can use as "car is at home" trigger

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if it connects quick enough to trigger the way you want/need it to is anyones guess but it may work

fierce light
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🤔

sharp glen
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if you already have wifi device deteciton then this would give the car a wifi device to detect

fierce light
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While we are in that topic let me do side question.

context:

  1. I have special power bank in car
  2. power bank is connected to dash cam
  3. I have issues with power in car, because camera drains too much energy. Each time when I start car, the batter start charging from 0.

From a long time I am looking device which will cut power to camera when car is parked next to home.

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for example it can base on WiFi connection. So if can connect to home WiFi, then cut power and if possible shut down itself. Until car turn on.

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but even cutting power to camera will be great

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this is something what I really need

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I have often issue with car battery, because of that.

fierce light
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perhaps I can detect WiFi SSID when car is turned on 🤔 no idea, I have to check this actually.

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I know my WiFi devices detect many cars wifi around as noise.

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perhaps mine have this too