Test Equipment Anonymous

Zenith wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 9:40 am I suppose IoT stuff has its uses. Turning on the central heating remotely, so it's ready when you come home occurs.

Curiously I regard that as a prime example of why I am an IoT sceptic. Why heat an empty house? Just leave a sweater or coat on until it has warmed up

The one IoT thing I do have is a Ring doorbell; it was a Christmas present. That helps with my inability to hear doorbells, by sounding the vibrating siren in my shirt pocket. It also provides warning that a delivery is about to take place, or proof that it wasn't attempted.

tautech wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 10:26 am

Zenith wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2026 9:40 am I really can't see why anyone would wish to control a washing machine, dishwasher etc from a mobile phone, or pay extra for the feature.

Those with grid tied solar installations use remote and/or delayed appliance activation when they are at work and getting good solar output rather than have to pay the grid operator more for the power they generate for free from solar and get shit all for pumping it into the grid.

That does sound like a benefit.

IoT seems to be one of those things, which seems as if it ought to be useful and has a considerable Gee Whizz factor. Some people do find aspects useful, but it's not a Godsend to millions. Things like baby cams are definitely suspect. As I recall the Bosch washing machines with internet control were considerably more than those without it, although I doubt that was the only distinguishing feature.

Too many IoT add-ons are mere shiny marketing features. I don't object provided the IoT can be switched off without losing functionality.

If you do that with modern cars, you risk invalidating your insurance, FFS. Yes, the software controlling all of the car's wheels must be "up to date".

It reminds me of a lot of the projects that were published in the electronics comics years ago. A contraption to raise an alarm when your outside LPG bottle was getting low. A device to raise an alarm if the deep freeze had failed and was thawing out. Definitely of use to someone and interesting to skim through, but giving the impression of ingenuity desperate to find an expression.

"Making" and SBCs such as Raspberry Pi cater to the same sheddy, tinkering instinct the amateur electronics rags covered. It's a constructive interest and no bad thing. There's an IoT version of Windows 10 for Raspberry Pi, so Microsoft must have thought there was enough of a market and potential profits to be worth addressing. I suppose the modern freezer alarm would detect the freezer had failed and send a text message to your mobile phone. The maker could build it in at very little extra cost and claim it as a feature. I know someone who came home to a freezer full of rotting food, because while she was on holiday, poorly thought out and codged wiring in an outbuilding, had thrown the main trip in the house, which really shouldn't have happened. Possibly receiving a message would have enabled her to do something about it, but I doubt she would have come back from Italy or wherever, to deal with it.

Don't start me on the useless and potentially expensive extras with modern cars. The gas in the air conditioning in mine is exhausted. I asked about it at the MOT a week back, because I have heard that on some cars if the A/C doesn't work, there are problems with the cooling system as they are integrated. I was told that with this car that wasn't so, and if I didn't use the A/C it could safely be ignored. Depending on the gas, it would cost either £60 or £120 to recharge. In the UK I've found it pleasant two or three times a year, but nothing I can't live without. In Arizona it would be different.