Hi .... I am new to the Forum and am wondering if anyone has used Google Home to automate lights etc in their caravan? Cheers!
palaceboy said
09:13 PM Oct 7, 2018
I haven't used it at all thus far except for using Chromecast at home, which I intend to do on the road as well, by using two devices and using one as a Wireless Area Network.
How do you currently use google home for your Lighting, whats the benefits and what bulbs do you buy, or do you have to buy another interface in between the bulbs and the device. I assume your using a tablet or phone to control it? Any other applications you would use on the road via google home?
It's something I've not looked at yet, lighting via home. Haven't felt the need. There again our air con and fans and some lights come with remote controls, so I guess I should be looking at it.
Dickodownunder said
10:02 PM Oct 7, 2018
Wow,
You guys are kidding arent you.
I have a reasonably modern van and the all the lights are easily turned off by pressing OFF on any of the switch panels. We turn the lights on by the switches as needed. Our old van didnt have the OFF feature so we turned our lights off and on as required.
Our two TVs have remotes so that they can be turned off from the chair or bed as does our radio/stereo and our air cond and I cant think of other things that need to be turned on or off by Google.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Sunday 7th of October 2018 10:04:35 PM
Ausron said
10:17 PM Oct 7, 2018
Hi Palaceboy. Am just starting out with Google Home to automate lighting etc, but there is lots of info on line yet little on caravan. Generally either the bulb ha built in Wifi or for Led strings you get a controller which is wifi enabled. Buy through EBay much cheaper than in local stores.
Ausron said
10:26 PM Oct 7, 2018
Hi Dickdownunder. My intention is to have all my lights to be RGB/W and be able to create any colour or mix that I want. Necessary? No. Also, Iaim to eliminate multiple remotes and be able to control Tv stereo, air con etc by Voice command using Google or Alexa..
Can an is being done in houses so why not in a casravan?
Warren-Pat_01 said
10:46 PM Oct 7, 2018
Hi Ausron,
Welcome to the forum, I trust you, like most of us will put in some advice, hints, etc & get equal back in return as we travel around this great country.
However, I wouldn't trust Google being loose in my house (using Google minded computers is dramatic enough) - letting it control my van would be a waste of time as I'm happy with manually switching our limited lights on/off as required.
If I wanted flashing multiple colours going on & off all the time, I'd go to a Luna-Park or similar.
And if Mr Google get hacked, will you be dealing with Mr Putin, Xing Ping?
palaceboy, are you going to have room in your HiAce for this?
Ausron said
11:11 PM Oct 7, 2018
I guess its really a matter of Horses for Courses. Some like roughing it, some like just being on the road and some like bells and whistles. Different strokes for different folks!!
looking forward to a post from somebody who has set this up or similar.
Cheers
Radar said
08:52 AM Oct 8, 2018
Ausron wrote:
I guess its really a matter of Horses for Courses. Some like roughing it, some like just being on the road and some like bells and whistles. Different strokes for different folks!!
looking forward to a post from somebody who has set this up or similar.
Cheers
Hi and welcome.
A couple of years back we were camped near a couple, he was loud, they needed exercise but didn't go that far, anyone back to the story, they had a very common poptop caravan that had issues with the 12 volt electricals switches. I remember him telling me he operated it with his mobile phone as it was an easy fix, lights would blink here and then here just like a Christmas tree. Hidden in the back of my mind I think he was a school teacher and the caravan restoration was a hobby. So can be one one way or the other.
dogbox said
09:16 AM Oct 8, 2018
nothing like roughing it a bit
Dickodownunder said
10:21 AM Oct 8, 2018
Ausron wrote:
Hi Dickdownunder. My intention is to have all my lights to be RGB/W and be able to create any colour or mix that I want. Necessary? No. Also, Iaim to eliminate multiple remotes and be able to control Tv stereo, air con etc by Voice command using Google or Alexa..
Can an is being done in houses so why not in a casravan?
Probably no reason it cannot be done in a caravan.
Brother in law has it in his home and google now runs his life. I asked him does she assist with ablutions of a morning and I think he took slight offence.
Go for it mate if that is what you want or need and let us know how it goes..
Ausron said
10:27 AM Oct 8, 2018
Thank you for all your comments on lifestyle and experience, but I am still hoping to get info from someone who attempted this and what their experience was.
Cheers!
StewG said
12:24 PM Oct 8, 2018
We have a Google Home Mini and apart from a bit of entertainment early in the piece, it is mostly turned off now. I have no need for it. Sometimes it is nice to get away from modern technology and get back to basics. If you want to control lights, etc. with Google (because you can), go for it.
palaceboy said
12:28 PM Oct 8, 2018
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Hi Ausron, Welcome to the forum, I trust you, like most of us will put in some advice, hints, etc & get equal back in return as we travel around this great country.
However, I wouldn't trust Google being loose in my house (using Google minded computers is dramatic enough) - letting it control my van would be a waste of time as I'm happy with manually switching our limited lights on/off as required.
If I wanted flashing multiple colours going on & off all the time, I'd go to a Luna-Park or similar.
And if Mr Google get hacked, will you be dealing with Mr Putin, Xing Ping?
palaceboy, are you going to have room in your HiAce for this?
One of these
Ahh not just the HiAce, two stand alone annexes as well. I've already got one of these..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoAuN1QqxNw (turn your sound down the soundtrack is damn excruatiting_
I'll be using Google home in and around my van and annexes for sure, mostly and probably exclusively only for chromecasting. Might get a a led rope or two though, hadn't thought about it until Ausrons post.
When it comes to tech, i'm interested. I'd say it's my main interest/hobby and a possible income source for me once I retire.
I''m taking two quick erect annexes. 1 Laptop, 7 terrabytes of media, and 3 android devices, although one is the wifes. (Maybe swap that fish for a series of just about anything you want to watch ;) So at this stage googlehome and chromecast is a mustl
Ausron has got a point, people will start moving into "smart caravans" Not many at first but a decent number years down the track.
Going to have to learn about antennas and boosters though for remote 4G for media.
-- Edited by palaceboy on Monday 8th of October 2018 12:32:30 PM
denmonkey said
03:27 PM Oct 8, 2018
Hey Ausron,
I Can't see any reason why this wouldn't work.
although it needs to be on a wifi network to operate right ?
This means you would be tethering to your mobile device for any network access and if you're out camping you may not have that.
So in certain places you could rule out using it for streaming content like music.
Also I'm not sure how the control of the lights etc work, whether it be via the wifi network or otherwise.
So I think you would need a wifi router to be connected to your phone for the access and then the devices and google device connected to that to create a network.
I could be off here. I remember setting one up for my nephew a last xmas but that was just a basic set up.
I didn't look into the control options.
Re the light control, I was looking at the mi light option for doing the inside and outside lighting.
These can be used with the remote or by wifi from your phone.
They also have zones, so have plenty of options for control and effect.
I guess that would be an advantage to the google option, no running wires around .
You may need to adapt the globes/lights though, as I'd be unsure if they will work out of the box in the van unless you're using the 240v fittings.
Were you thinking 12v or 240v ?
Can you get a 12v google home ?
At the end of the day mate, it's your van and you can go what ever you want with it.
I also get that sometimes it's more about getting the stuff, making the stuff or figuring out how the stuff works rather than it having any real practical use.
Just remember to post up some pics of the results. I'd be interested in that :)
palaceboy said
04:10 PM Oct 8, 2018
denmonkey wrote:
Hey Ausron,
I Can't see any reason why this wouldn't work. although it needs to be on a wifi network to operate right ? This means you would be tethering to your mobile device for any network access and if you're out camping you may not have that. So in certain places you could rule out using it for streaming content like music.
Also I'm not sure how the control of the lights etc work, whether it be via the wifi network or otherwise. So I think you would need a wifi router to be connected to your phone for the access and then the devices and google device connected to that to create a network. I could be off here. I remember setting one up for my nephew a last xmas but that was just a basic set up. I didn't look into the control options.
Re the light control, I was looking at the mi light option for doing the inside and outside lighting. These can be used with the remote or by wifi from your phone. They also have zones, so have plenty of options for control and effect.
I guess that would be an advantage to the google option, no running wires around . You may need to adapt the globes/lights though, as I'd be unsure if they will work out of the box in the van unless you're using the 240v fittings. Were you thinking 12v or 240v ? Can you get a 12v google home ?
At the end of the day mate, it's your van and you can go what ever you want with it.
I also get that sometimes it's more about getting the stuff, making the stuff or figuring out how the stuff works rather than it having any real practical use.
Just remember to post up some pics of the results. I'd be interested in that :)
I'm told, although not experienced that you can get 4G coverage by Telstra in places where you wouldn't expect it now. That could mean the Local Wifi Network issue is just about solved?
I know there are illegal signal boosters you can buy that really work, not that I'm advocating that. It just means that you need to work on your connectivity in remote places.
So how many people actually spend a lot of time in remote places where there isn't coverage to set up a network.
Beyond that there are IR and RF direct controllers that I know android devices have apps or even inbuilt software for.
Your right in it's as enjoyable if not more so setting these things up than using them.
-- Edited by palaceboy on Monday 8th of October 2018 04:10:52 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
05:19 PM Oct 8, 2018
Sheesh whats the wife for ? Lol
Mike Harding said
06:39 PM Oct 8, 2018
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Sheesh whats the wife for ?
Washing - Ironing - F****** - Etc
yobarr said
07:02 PM Oct 8, 2018
Mike Harding wrote:
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Sheesh whats the wife for ?
Washing - Ironing - F****** - Etc
Hi Mike. Thats Fighting is it?
Aus-Kiwi said
07:58 PM Oct 8, 2018
Flame suit on ahaha .
Dickodownunder said
08:35 PM Oct 8, 2018
Well after thinking about a couple of observations and then watching the Ch 7 news tonight I decided to do a bit of research.
Rockylizard would be proud of me..
The report covered the security problems which may exist using Google home etc.
Here are some of my personal observations and a few links to other reports re security.
A bit of internet research has revealed some disturbing factors about Google Home and other systems. I have recently gone off of Facebook due to some disturbing observations. Maybe Google as a search engine has more control over us than we know....
Recently my daughter, my wife and I were camped next to a very heavy snorer and we could hear him easily during the night. The next morning we were talking about his snoring and then up on my daughters Facebook page came a suggested cure for snoring by a Facebook suggested web site. Last night my wife was talking to a friend about scanning all our family photos to a file so that we have the photos forever then low and behold, this morning on her Facebook page came a link to a sponsored link to an app that provides the ability to store these family photos. Both these results came from our conversations and not searches, so really, is this how our future world will be. Our search history to these people is now old hat as far as our privacy is concerned.
This to me at least is very disturbing.
Below I have placed a couple of links that may make at least a few think about using Google Home and the like regarding our long term security.
There was another report on Chanel 7 news tonight but I can not find a link to it at the moment.
I think that the less we encourage these invasive sites and services into our personal lives the better we will be.
I also find it amazing that after going off Facebook about a week ago I have received a message from a friend that he has received a Friend Request from me when we are already friends on the FB page.
The term very dodgy **** comes to mind...... Can our search engines even know what we are typing on these member only forums?
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 8th of October 2018 08:38:52 PM
Ausron said
09:54 PM Oct 8, 2018
HI StewG,denmonkey, and of course Palaceboy and Dickdownunder.
Firstly to Dickdownunder, I quite agree and share your concern over the intruvisiveness of Facebook and Google Home and the items which mysteriously suddenly suggest things complimentary to ideas thoughts you shared with others. big Brother is certainly out there. .. but depending on your level of concern perhaps you one should not use a mobile phone as they cancertainlytrcan certainly track that and dont use a Credit Card either.
Forgettingaboutpersonalsecurity for the minute ...... To me the main advantage if Google Home istheabis the ability to control compatible Smart devices such as lights , TV sound system. AC etc devices by Voice command. My research clearly indicates that for Google Home to do its thing,it needs access to AI (Artificial Intelligence) and thus needs to have Internet acces. WithInternet access comes the risks Dandownunder warns about.
So my quest is to se if I can setup Google Home in a caravan using a Telstra 4G dongle to provide a constant WiFi networkforGooglfor Google Home to recognise and thus function.
Alternatively, I will then seek a means to get the same result (Caravan Smart automation with Voice Control) without the risk to personal privacy.
Ideas? Comments?
Cheers
palaceboy said
10:45 PM Oct 8, 2018
Dickodownunder wrote:
Well after thinking about a couple of observations and then watching the Ch 7 news tonight I decided to do a bit of research.
Rockylizard would be proud of me..
The report covered the security problems which may exist using Google home etc.
Here are some of my personal observations and a few links to other reports re security.
A bit of internet research has revealed some disturbing factors about Google Home and other systems. I have recently gone off of Facebook due to some disturbing observations. Maybe Google as a search engine has more control over us than we know....
Recently my daughter, my wife and I were camped next to a very heavy snorer and we could hear him easily during the night. The next morning we were talking about his snoring and then up on my daughters Facebook page came a suggested cure for snoring by a Facebook suggested web site. Last night my wife was talking to a friend about scanning all our family photos to a file so that we have the photos forever then low and behold, this morning on her Facebook page came a link to a sponsored link to an app that provides the ability to store these family photos. Both these results came from our conversations and not searches, so really, is this how our future world will be. Our search history to these people is now old hat as far as our privacy is concerned.
This to me at least is very disturbing.
Below I have placed a couple of links that may make at least a few think about using Google Home and the like regarding our long term security.
There was another report on Chanel 7 news tonight but I can not find a link to it at the moment.
I think that the less we encourage these invasive sites and services into our personal lives the better we will be.
I also find it amazing that after going off Facebook about a week ago I have received a message from a friend that he has received a Friend Request from me when we are already friends on the FB page.
The term very dodgy **** comes to mind...... Can our search engines even know what we are typing on these member only forums?
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 8th of October 2018 08:38:52 PM
Understood and research I've been doing as well. First point is that Google Home is also an app that one uses to control in home devices. It's not always Alexia the intelligent home assistant. I personally dont have one of those assistants but do realise that your phone could well be listening for all we know. In fact the security services have been using phones as in home bugs for probably over a decade now in certain circumstances. But lets not get paranoid yet. There currently is a fake facebook scam going around which is re the freind request as per here....https://www.hoax-slayer.net/pointless-got-another-friend-request-from-you-facebook-cloning-warning/ So honestly I wouldnt worry about that one at present. It's everywhere on the net at present.
The otherside of this coin is tracking, you can be tracked everywhere and when we go cashless, something that I personally have taken on board because it's so secure and easy inasmuch as you cannot lose your money as the bank does in any fraudulent use of your card. There again it's the ultimate in potential for big brother control as well.
As for tracking conversations on forums, well I wouldn't rule anything out. I'd say the security services can definitely do it, once that door is opened then other organisations can probably do it as well. It's a lot like security cameras in public places. The net is public as well.
It's going to be a hard one to avoid, and to do so is a lot like being King Canute and trying to stop the tide.
-- Edited by palaceboy on Monday 8th of October 2018 10:54:09 PM
Dickodownunder said
10:56 PM Oct 8, 2018
I do understand that financial institutions may track and record our purchasing activities including locations and while not absolutely comfortable with this I accept this however when I have suspicions of my personal conversations being overheard by organisations that are not even allied to me apart from eavesdropping for their personal gain then this is creating much concern to me, at least on a personal level,
palaceboy said
11:03 PM Oct 8, 2018
Ausron wrote:
HI StewG,denmonkey, and of course Palaceboy and Dickdownunder. Firstly to Dickdownunder, I quite agree and share your concern over the intruvisiveness of Facebook and Google Home and the items which mysteriously suddenly suggest things complimentary to ideas thoughts you shared with others. big Brother is certainly out there. .. but depending on your level of concern perhaps you one should not use a mobile phone as they cancertainlytrcan certainly track that and dont use a Credit Card either.
Forgettingaboutpersonalsecurity for the minute ...... To me the main advantage if Google Home istheabis the ability to control compatible Smart devices such as lights , TV sound system. AC etc devices by Voice command. My research clearly indicates that for Google Home to do its thing,it needs access to AI (Artificial Intelligence) and thus needs to have Internet acces. WithInternet access comes the risks Dandownunder warns about.
So my quest is to se if I can setup Google Home in a caravan using a Telstra 4G dongle to provide a constant WiFi networkforGooglfor Google Home to recognise and thus function.
Alternatively, I will then seek a means to get the same result (Caravan Smart automation with Voice Control) without the risk to personal privacy.
Ideas? Comments?
Cheers
For me personally a voice controlled intelligent assistant connected to the net, is a bridge to far in the security stakes. I understand that my various devices could be listening in, but I wont be leaving the door wide open at this stage anyway.
I'll stick with controlling any smart device with my smart phone or tablet at this stage. Which admittedly could well be listening in. in fact prompted by Dickdownunder I'm going to research if Google home on a smart phone "always" opens that door. Probably does admittedly. Although there could be a way of turning that off.... Like google tracking and facebook tracking.
palaceboy said
11:06 PM Oct 8, 2018
Dickodownunder wrote:
I do understand that financial institutions may track and record our purchasing activities including locations and while not absolutely comfortable with this I accept this however when I have suspicions of my personal conversations being overheard by organisations that are not even allied to me apart from eavesdropping for their personal gain then this is creating much concern to me, at least on a personal level,
Bloody good point mate. You've nailed it. Although It's not going to stop me personally using the net the way I currently do.
I totally agree with your concerns.
I've not really noticed those ads, there again I use ad blockers. They could be coming up and blocked.
denmonkey said
10:48 AM Oct 9, 2018
You dont need a google home for your device to be listening.
If you have google assistant on your phone or the equivalent on other devices they're always listening.
They need to be to know when you're talking to them.
I haven't checked out the links above but I do recall many moons ago when people discovered that the google option was recording your conversations which were being held in a data base.
The logic was that it would help it understand your voice patterns etc.
There used to be an option to delete those recorded files from the google system but I don't recall how to now. Ironically a google search could produce the answer. :)
Ausron,
no idea if you can operate it for voice control without network access.
on checking I found this
'Natural language processing is done on the Google servers. It can't understand you without the internet.'
So guessing it's not the ideal set up unless you'll always have access.
re the question on how often you're in a no signal area....often..bloody optus.
The point of going away is to be away from everyone else.
Unfortunately or fortunately, they tend to set up phone coverage for where everyone is :)
Ausron said
07:21 PM Oct 9, 2018
In summary: different people have different views and values ..... some Grey Nomads want to go off-road, off grid, off on their own and thus a Smart caravan is the last thing they want. Others will travel from Ciity to City and will want hi tech gizmos and be forever online .... and multiple degrees between. There is room for all views.
My query was to find out if someone had already attempted the particular scenario I was considering and so far no one has so indicated.
Thanks for all the new and confirming information re risks of Google Home and Assistant and their use.
I will try to set up using Google Home & Assistant using Telstra USB dongle ( mobile internet) and will then post again.
Also searching for a Ipsd /tablet approach using Wifi/Bluetooth without internet such as suggested by Palaceboy.
Take care
Dickodownunder said
10:10 AM Oct 10, 2018
Hi Ausron,
As I have indicated it would not be something I would be doing personally however as you say there may be many others that the technology would suit.
Apart from my concerns with security my immediate other thought would be actually how much internet data would a system like that consume.
The mobile dongles that are currently provided by the Telcos in Australia are, by comparison, data hungry units with very low capacities.
I mentioned my brother in law having Google Home at his house and he is on an nbn unlimited plan and probably does not care about its usage.
I currently have a Telstra dongle (only for one more month) and when I use it to watch Netflix or similar it uses more data per hour then does my phone on another provider even though that provider is a Telstra partner (Boost)
If I use that same dongle to stream through Chromecast it uses even more than if I watch the stream directly on my device.
I am not mentioning this to start another debate on what is the best provider (we have had enough of those debates on here in the past) but probably more as a question as to wether these Google services are in constant demand of your data every minute that they are operating.
I am virtually full time on the road and my only option for data is the mobile services offered by the Telcos as are most others even if only on a holiday trip.
Not finding anyone with a set up on here is probably frustrating but considering that even though this forum boasts a large membership there are many more caravan owners and travellers who do not participate on any forums at all.
Your search may go on...
Ausron said
10:27 AM Oct 10, 2018
Hi Dickdownunder
On the Road we have a Telstra USB dongle which is part of a family sharing arrangement to my wifes IPhone so it uses my Wifes mobile data which is about 30 gig. Unsure if mobile data is hungrier than fixed line... youd think a gig is a gig but,,,,,, as you know streaming Netflix or any movie is a big data user.... somewhere around a gig a movie I ve been told..
Yes I do believe that Google Home is almost constantly online given how quickly it responds.... I have only had Google Home for a short time so it will be interesting to see what my Home data consumption will be.
Take care
Dickodownunder said
11:49 AM Oct 10, 2018
I am guilty of having far too much time on my hands today and as the result I have found a conversation on a forum from about 18 months ago whereby the contributors are comparing Google Home usage with other similar systems.
I believe it is a US site so I do not know how relevant the statistics will be here in Aus.
Hi .... I am new to the Forum and am wondering if anyone has used Google Home to automate lights etc in their caravan? Cheers!
How do you currently use google home for your Lighting, whats the benefits and what bulbs do you buy, or do you have to buy another interface in between the bulbs and the device. I assume your using a tablet or phone to control it? Any other applications you would use on the road via google home?
It's something I've not looked at yet, lighting via home. Haven't felt the need. There again our air con and fans and some lights come with remote controls, so I guess I should be looking at it.
Wow,
You guys are kidding arent you.
I have a reasonably modern van and the all the lights are easily turned off by pressing OFF on any of the switch panels.
We turn the lights on by the switches as needed.
Our old van didnt have the OFF feature so we turned our lights off and on as required.
Our two TVs have remotes so that they can be turned off from the chair or bed as does our radio/stereo and our air cond and I cant think of other things that need to be turned on or off by Google.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Sunday 7th of October 2018 10:04:35 PM
Hi Palaceboy. Am just starting out with Google Home to automate lighting etc, but there is lots of info on line yet little on caravan. Generally either the bulb ha built in Wifi or for Led strings you get a controller which is wifi enabled. Buy through EBay much cheaper than in local stores.
Hi Dickdownunder. My intention is to have all my lights to be RGB/W and be able to create any colour or mix that I want. Necessary? No. Also, Iaim to eliminate multiple remotes and be able to control Tv stereo, air con etc by Voice command using Google or Alexa..
Can an is being done in houses so why not in a casravan?
Welcome to the forum, I trust you, like most of us will put in some advice, hints, etc & get equal back in return as we travel around this great country.
However, I wouldn't trust Google being loose in my house (using Google minded computers is dramatic enough) - letting it control my van would be a waste of time as I'm happy with manually switching our limited lights on/off as required.
If I wanted flashing multiple colours going on & off all the time, I'd go to a Luna-Park or similar.
And if Mr Google get hacked, will you be dealing with Mr Putin, Xing Ping?
palaceboy, are you going to have room in your HiAce for this?
I guess its really a matter of Horses for Courses. Some like roughing it, some like just being on the road and some like bells and whistles. Different strokes for different folks!!
looking forward to a post from somebody who has set this up or similar.
Cheers
Hi and welcome.
A couple of years back we were camped near a couple, he was loud, they needed exercise but didn't go that far, anyone back to the story, they had a very common poptop caravan that had issues with the 12 volt electricals switches. I remember him telling me he operated it with his mobile phone as it was an easy fix, lights would blink here and then here just like a Christmas tree. Hidden in the back of my mind I think he was a school teacher and the caravan restoration was a hobby. So can be one one way or the other.
Probably no reason it cannot be done in a caravan.
Brother in law has it in his home and google now runs his life. I asked him does she assist with ablutions of a morning and I think he took slight offence.
Go for it mate if that is what you want or need and let us know how it goes..
Cheers!
Ahh not just the HiAce, two stand alone annexes as well. I've already got one of these..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoAuN1QqxNw (turn your sound down the soundtrack is damn excruatiting_
I'll be using Google home in and around my van and annexes for sure, mostly and probably exclusively only for chromecasting. Might get a a led rope or two though, hadn't thought about it until Ausrons post.
When it comes to tech, i'm interested. I'd say it's my main interest/hobby and a possible income source for me once I retire.
I''m taking two quick erect annexes. 1 Laptop, 7 terrabytes of media, and 3 android devices, although one is the wifes. (Maybe swap that fish for a series of just about anything you want to watch ;) So at this stage googlehome and chromecast is a mustl
Ausron has got a point, people will start moving into "smart caravans" Not many at first but a decent number years down the track.
Going to have to learn about antennas and boosters though for remote 4G for media.
-- Edited by palaceboy on Monday 8th of October 2018 12:32:30 PM
I Can't see any reason why this wouldn't work.
although it needs to be on a wifi network to operate right ?
This means you would be tethering to your mobile device for any network access and if you're out camping you may not have that.
So in certain places you could rule out using it for streaming content like music.
Also I'm not sure how the control of the lights etc work, whether it be via the wifi network or otherwise.
So I think you would need a wifi router to be connected to your phone for the access and then the devices and google device connected to that to create a network.
I could be off here. I remember setting one up for my nephew a last xmas but that was just a basic set up.
I didn't look into the control options.
Re the light control, I was looking at the mi light option for doing the inside and outside lighting.
These can be used with the remote or by wifi from your phone.
They also have zones, so have plenty of options for control and effect.
www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mi-Light-WiFi-RGBW-Controller-2-4G-Remote-IOS-Android-for-RGBW-led-strip-light/112028561894
I guess that would be an advantage to the google option, no running wires around .
You may need to adapt the globes/lights though, as I'd be unsure if they will work out of the box in the van unless you're using the 240v fittings.
Were you thinking 12v or 240v ?
Can you get a 12v google home ?
At the end of the day mate, it's your van and you can go what ever you want with it.
I also get that sometimes it's more about getting the stuff, making the stuff or figuring out how the stuff works rather than it having any real practical use.
Just remember to post up some pics of the results. I'd be interested in that :)
I'm told, although not experienced that you can get 4G coverage by Telstra in places where you wouldn't expect it now. That could mean the Local Wifi Network issue is just about solved?
I know there are illegal signal boosters you can buy that really work, not that I'm advocating that. It just means that you need to work on your connectivity in remote places.
So how many people actually spend a lot of time in remote places where there isn't coverage to set up a network.
Beyond that there are IR and RF direct controllers that I know android devices have apps or even inbuilt software for.
Your right in it's as enjoyable if not more so setting these things up than using them.
-- Edited by palaceboy on Monday 8th of October 2018 04:10:52 PM
Washing - Ironing - F****** - Etc
Hi Mike. Thats Fighting is it?
Well after thinking about a couple of observations and then watching the Ch 7 news tonight I decided to do a bit of research.
Rockylizard would be proud of me..
The report covered the security problems which may exist using Google home etc.
Here are some of my personal observations and a few links to other reports re security.
A bit of internet research has revealed some disturbing factors about Google Home and other systems.
I have recently gone off of Facebook due to some disturbing observations.
Maybe Google as a search engine has more control over us than we know....
Recently my daughter, my wife and I were camped next to a very heavy snorer and we could hear him easily during the night.
The next morning we were talking about his snoring and then up on my daughters Facebook page came a suggested cure for snoring by a Facebook suggested web site.
Last night my wife was talking to a friend about scanning all our family photos to a file so that we have the photos forever then low and behold, this morning on her Facebook page came a link to a sponsored link to an app that provides the ability to store these family photos.
Both these results came from our conversations and not searches, so really, is this how our future world will be.
Our search history to these people is now old hat as far as our privacy is concerned.
This to me at least is very disturbing.
Below I have placed a couple of links that may make at least a few think about using Google Home and the like regarding our long term security.
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-20/google-homeamazon-tech-devices-threat-to-personal-data/9273550
nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2017/01/27/data-privacy-day-know-the-risks-of-amazon-alexa-and-google-home/
www.tomsguide.com/us/secure-google-home,news-27076.html
There was another report on Chanel 7 news tonight but I can not find a link to it at the moment.
I think that the less we encourage these invasive sites and services into our personal lives the better we will be.
I also find it amazing that after going off Facebook about a week ago I have received a message from a friend that he has received a Friend Request from me when we are already friends on the FB page.
The term very dodgy **** comes to mind......
Can our search engines even know what we are typing on these member only forums?
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 8th of October 2018 08:38:52 PM
Firstly to Dickdownunder, I quite agree and share your concern over the intruvisiveness of Facebook and Google Home and the items which mysteriously suddenly suggest things complimentary to ideas thoughts you shared with others. big Brother is certainly out there. .. but depending on your level of concern perhaps you one should not use a mobile phone as they cancertainlytrcan certainly track that and dont use a Credit Card either.
Forgettingaboutpersonalsecurity for the minute ...... To me the main advantage if Google Home istheabis the ability to control compatible Smart devices such as lights , TV sound system. AC etc devices by Voice command. My research clearly indicates that for Google Home to do its thing,it needs access to AI (Artificial Intelligence) and thus needs to have Internet acces. WithInternet access comes the risks Dandownunder warns about.
So my quest is to se if I can setup Google Home in a caravan using a Telstra 4G dongle to provide a constant WiFi networkforGooglfor Google Home to recognise and thus function.
Alternatively, I will then seek a means to get the same result (Caravan Smart automation with Voice Control) without the risk to personal privacy.
Ideas? Comments?
Cheers
Understood and research I've been doing as well. First point is that Google Home is also an app that one uses to control in home devices. It's not always Alexia the intelligent home assistant. I personally dont have one of those assistants but do realise that your phone could well be listening for all we know. In fact the security services have been using phones as in home bugs for probably over a decade now in certain circumstances. But lets not get paranoid yet. There currently is a fake facebook scam going around which is re the freind request as per here....https://www.hoax-slayer.net/pointless-got-another-friend-request-from-you-facebook-cloning-warning/ So honestly I wouldnt worry about that one at present. It's everywhere on the net at present.
The otherside of this coin is tracking, you can be tracked everywhere and when we go cashless, something that I personally have taken on board because it's so secure and easy inasmuch as you cannot lose your money as the bank does in any fraudulent use of your card. There again it's the ultimate in potential for big brother control as well.
As for tracking conversations on forums, well I wouldn't rule anything out. I'd say the security services can definitely do it, once that door is opened then other organisations can probably do it as well. It's a lot like security cameras in public places. The net is public as well.
It's going to be a hard one to avoid, and to do so is a lot like being King Canute and trying to stop the tide.
-- Edited by palaceboy on Monday 8th of October 2018 10:54:09 PM
For me personally a voice controlled intelligent assistant connected to the net, is a bridge to far in the security stakes. I understand that my various devices could be listening in, but I wont be leaving the door wide open at this stage anyway.
I'll stick with controlling any smart device with my smart phone or tablet at this stage. Which admittedly could well be listening in. in fact prompted by Dickdownunder I'm going to research if Google home on a smart phone "always" opens that door. Probably does admittedly. Although there could be a way of turning that off.... Like google tracking and facebook tracking.
Bloody good point mate. You've nailed it. Although It's not going to stop me personally using the net the way I currently do.
I totally agree with your concerns.
I've not really noticed those ads, there again I use ad blockers. They could be coming up and blocked.
If you have google assistant on your phone or the equivalent on other devices they're always listening.
They need to be to know when you're talking to them.
I haven't checked out the links above but I do recall many moons ago when people discovered that the google option was recording your conversations which were being held in a data base.
The logic was that it would help it understand your voice patterns etc.
There used to be an option to delete those recorded files from the google system but I don't recall how to now. Ironically a google search could produce the answer. :)
Ausron,
no idea if you can operate it for voice control without network access.
on checking I found this
'Natural language processing is done on the Google servers. It can't understand you without the internet.'
So guessing it's not the ideal set up unless you'll always have access.
re the question on how often you're in a no signal area....often..bloody optus.
The point of going away is to be away from everyone else.
Unfortunately or fortunately, they tend to set up phone coverage for where everyone is :)
My query was to find out if someone had already attempted the particular scenario I was considering and so far no one has so indicated.
Thanks for all the new and confirming information re risks of Google Home and Assistant and their use.
I will try to set up using Google Home & Assistant using Telstra USB dongle ( mobile internet) and will then post again.
Also searching for a Ipsd /tablet approach using Wifi/Bluetooth without internet such as suggested by Palaceboy.
Take care
As I have indicated it would not be something I would be doing personally however as you say there may be many others that the technology would suit.
Apart from my concerns with security my immediate other thought would be actually how much internet data would a system like that consume.
The mobile dongles that are currently provided by the Telcos in Australia are, by comparison, data hungry units with very low capacities.
I mentioned my brother in law having Google Home at his house and he is on an nbn unlimited plan and probably does not care about its usage.
I currently have a Telstra dongle (only for one more month) and when I use it to watch Netflix or similar it uses more data per hour then does my phone on another provider even though that provider is a Telstra partner (Boost)
If I use that same dongle to stream through Chromecast it uses even more than if I watch the stream directly on my device.
I am not mentioning this to start another debate on what is the best provider (we have had enough of those debates on here in the past) but probably more as a question as to wether these Google services are in constant demand of your data every minute that they are operating.
I am virtually full time on the road and my only option for data is the mobile services offered by the Telcos as are most others even if only on a holiday trip.
Not finding anyone with a set up on here is probably frustrating but considering that even though this forum boasts a large membership there are many more caravan owners and travellers who do not participate on any forums at all.
Your search may go on...
On the Road we have a Telstra USB dongle which is part of a family sharing arrangement to my wifes IPhone so it uses my Wifes mobile data which is about 30 gig. Unsure if mobile data is hungrier than fixed line... youd think a gig is a gig but,,,,,, as you know streaming Netflix or any movie is a big data user.... somewhere around a gig a movie I ve been told..
Yes I do believe that Google Home is almost constantly online given how quickly it responds.... I have only had Google Home for a short time so it will be interesting to see what my Home data consumption will be.
Take care
I believe it is a US site so I do not know how relevant the statistics will be here in Aus.
productforums.google.com/forum/