Welcome to A.J. Elsinga! on A.J. Elsinga

Protect Your Digital Life: Home Backup Mastery

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, A.J.and Alex discuss the critical importance of data backup and automation in today’s digital age. They explore various backup solutions, including NAS systems and the ZFS file system, emphasizing the need for secure data management. The hosts share personal experiences with automation tools and gadgets, highlighting the significance of testing backups to ensure data integrity. They also provide practical tips for effective data management and the importance of having multiple backup copies across different media.

The Power of LLMs, Home Automation, Local AI & Real-World

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this video, we delve into the fascinating world of large language models (LLMs) and their practical applications, especially in home automation and personal productivity. We explore how AI can augment our daily routines by automating tasks like managing air quality, controlling lighting, and even assisting in the development of software. Our discussion highlights the potential of running these models locally to enhance privacy and responsiveness, emphasizing that with the right hardware—such as powerful GPUs or specialized chips—you can operate complex AI systems right within your own home 🌐.

Email Evolution : A Journey Through Tech

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this podcast episode, AJ and Alex delve into different aspects of the digital communication world, specifically email and their recent 3D printing projects, custom-designed 3D inserts for slat walls, the TARDIS and more.

🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips:

Ice cube machine
Measuring wheel

® Brands or solutions mentioned (not in order)

🤝 Join the Conversation: We’re not just here to talk at you—we want to connect with our community! Have questions or experiences about 3D printing, or home automation? Want to share your own tech journey? Drop a comment below, and let’s start the discussion!

Clean Air and Clever Gadgets: A Breath of Fresh Tech

Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In todays episode, Alex and AJ are discussing presence detection versus motion detection in their home automation setups.

Takeaways:

Importance of Clean Air: AJ and Alex emphasize the importance of clean air inside homes, especially during winter, when indoor air quality can deteriorate due to heating, cooking, and other activities.
Methods for Clean Air:
- Air Monitoring: Using air monitors to keep track of CO2 levels and other pollutants like particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
- Air Filters: The benefits of using air filters, such as HEPA filters, to remove particulates and volatile gases from the air.
- 3D Printing Considerations: The importance of using filters and air extraction systems when 3D printing materials like ABS and PETG, which can release harmful fumes.
Workshop Dust Control:

Home Automation: mmWave Revolution, Real-World Challenges

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In todays episode, Alex and AJ are discussing presence detection versus motion detection in their home automation setups.

Takeaways:

mmWave Technology as an alternative to PIR for detecting presence, even if the person is not moving significantly.
mmWave response slower than PIR, but the combination is good
Automations are annoying when it is not working properly
Home automation can be expensive, with numerous small costs accumulating over time

🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips:

3D Printing Magnets Tip: When starting 3D printing and incorporating magnets, AJ suggests printing a specific tool that helps in orienting the magnets correctly. This tool ensures the magnets are inserted in your prints with the right orientation, preventing issues with alignment and adhesion. https://makerworld.com/en/models/60890-embedded-magnet-dispenser-tool-for-3d-prints?fprofileId-63102

Benefits of Standing Desks and Workspace Optimization

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode of NTVN, New Tech Vintage Nerds, AJ and Alex discuss standing desks and their uses, preferences, and assembly experiences, while standing.

Takeaways:

Discussing standing desk benefits, such as such as better posture, a more dynamic presentation style in virtual meetings, and improved overall well-being while working from home.
Personal Experiences with standing desks, including the types they use (two-legged vs. four-legged) and the challenges and benefits they encountered.

Automating HomeTech, Launching a YouTube channel: Vikash

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode of NTVN New Tech Vintage Nerds, hosts AJ and Alex invite special guest Vikash to the table. The trio dives into a variety of tech topics, from the challenges of home automation with Sonos speakers to the intricacies of digitizing VHS tapes. They explore the world of 3D printing and the balance between high-end tinkering versus plug-and-play solutions. The conversation shifts to Vikash’s personal journey in tech and his motivations behind creating valuable content on YouTube. If you’re into home automation, DIY tech projects, or considering starting a YouTube channel, this episode is packed with insights and tips that you won’t want to miss.

Adding a weather station to your home automation system

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Join AJ and Alex as they dive into the world of 3D printing, weather stations, and home automation. In this episode, they share their latest adventures with flexible filament, such as TPU, and discuss their use of various 3D prints like brackets for MacBooks and custom solutions for better storage and organization. The conversation transitions to weather stations, focusing on automation benefits, local data integration, and energy efficiency.

Takeaways:

Flexible filaments like TPU are versatile but require longer print times.
Weather stations can significantly augment smart home automation by providing real-time environmental data.
Choosing a weather station with local data support can enhance reliability and control over cloud-dependent alternatives.
Integrate UV sensors in your system for personalized alerts and safer outdoor activities.
Tools like a filament dryer can drastically improve print quality, especially for hydroscopic materials.

🏠 What’s on the Agenda:

Zone Heating - or - comfortable living

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alex and A.J. talk about heating in their smart homes

🤝 Join the Conversation: We’re not just here to talk at you-we want to engage with our community! Have questions or tips about 3D printing, WiFi, or some other topic? Want to share your own home automation win? Drop a comment below, and let’s start the discussion!

🔔 Stay Updated: Don’t miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content.

Do you want a tinker printer or a 3D printer? Bambulab P1S

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

FINALLY! A new episode. It took a bit to get this out there. Not because we didn’t record it, but because A.J. found excuse after excuse not to edit and publish it. Lucky for you he finally found the time and finally felt like doing the stuff that needed to be done.

This episode Alex and A.J. talk about their new 3D printer and how it is holding up after a month of running almost constantly. Listen to them talking about the good and the not so good (if any?) of the Bambulab P1S.

A personal homepage for your house? Easier than you think

Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

It’s Easier Than You Think To Make A Personal Homepage For Your House!

Can you find all your pages that you access regularly? Your router page, your home automation, your printer? Or are you using some kind of homepage, just like AJ and Alex?

In this video, we dive into the world of personalized homepages and why they might be the solution you’re looking for. Gone are the days of endless bookmarks and chaotic tabs-it’s time to streamline your internet experience!

Do you need a home lab? Yes you do!

Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Today, we’re diving into home labs: what they are, how to start one, and tips on sizing and power usage. And we briefly touch on the things we printed since the last episode.

🏠 What’s on the Agenda:

00:00 Intro
00:31 What did you print this week?
02:13 Let’s talk home labs / definition
11:19 Power consumption, performance, noise
23:26 Building your home lab today
41:41 Tip:Three-body problem on Netflix

🤝 Join the Conversation: We’re not just here to talk at you—we want to engage with our community! Have questions or tips about 3D printing, WiFi, or some other topic? Want to share your own home automation win? Drop a comment below, and let’s start the discussion!

The battle between ads and ad blockers, which side are…

Thu, 16 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The internet is full of advertisements. Without ads, the internet as we know it would not exist. Or is it?

🏠 What’s on the agenda:

00:00 Introduction
00:32 What have you printed since last time?
09:32 Ads on streaming services, reason for a YouTube subscription?
11:39 Pay the content creators
15:15 Not the only annoyance: personalized ads, dark patterns?
16:32 Source of income, way to pay for content
23:01 Want to get paid for your hobby? Influencing? Tell Sell or sincere?
28:08 Adblockers and blocking ads
33:10 Pay for content
36:03 Do you really want to pay for everything?
41:40 Tip: local notification—NTFY with mailrise
44:55 Tip: Smokeping

🤝 Join the conversation: We don’t just want to talk to you—we want to talk to our community! Do you have questions or tips about 3D printing, WiFi or something else? Do you want to share your own home automation profits? Leave a comment and let’s start the conversation!

What's your Storage solution at home? NASses

Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Alex and AJ discuss different Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions they had and what is important when selecting components.

🔔 Stay Updated: Don’t miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content.

Streaming or downloading — which team are you on?

Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Are You Team Streaming Or Team Downloading? Choose Your Side Now!

Is there something like too many streaming providers? Alex and AJ think that that is the case. Does that validate downloading from more or less illegal locations?

Ceph storage for your home? Why? Why wouldn't you?

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Alex tells about his endeavours with Ceph for his homebrew container solution on RK1’s. The outcome may surprise you.

🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips:

What's in your workshop? Tools, tech, and more

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

AJ and Alex answer a question of a listener on the different options for stream decks and the advantages of choosing one with buttons over dials.

The main topic of today is our workshop setups and the reasons behind our choice of tool ecosystems. We discuss the convenience of cordless tools and the cost considerations of battery swapping. The episode concludes with a discussion on the various tools found in their workshops, including routers and CNC machines.

What's connected to your computer?

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this podcast, Alex and A.J. discuss various devices connected to their computers. They talk about automation issues they have faced, including problems with home lighting and screen automation. They then delve into the topic of microphones and audio interfaces, sharing their experiences with different models. Next, they discuss their sound systems and switchers, highlighting the importance of having good audio quality. Finally, they explore the convenience of using stream decks for controlling various functions on their computers. The conversation covers various audio and video equipment used by the hosts. They discuss different versions of soundboards, the price differences, and the limitations of webcams. They also talk about using DSLR cameras, the Logitech Brio webcam, and the Sony ZV-1 camera. Additionally, they mention a car theft incident and share information about the Lexar card reader and docking station. The conversation concludes with a tip about using a reverse proxy for SSL.

Gardening with gadgets - automation in your garden

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Alex takes us through his garden where he did all kinds of automation, from mowing to water.

🏠 What’s on the Agenda:

00:00 Intro
00:28 What did you automate since last time?
05:34 What do you automate in your garden?
10:06 Automating the lawn mower?
13:35 Mowing in the rain
15:30 Irrigation
31:21 Biggest fail
31:29 The biggest gain
35:49 Tip: Rubber tractor wheels?

🔗 Relevant Links: Gardena smart irrigation: https://www.gardena.com/int/products/watering/sprinklersystem/smart-irrigation-control-sensor-set/970658401.html

Social Media: The good, the Bad, the very Ugly

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Is social media bad? AJ and Alex are getting to the bottom of it. Is it social? Bad? Who knows. AJ and Alex discuss social media’s positive and negative aspects.

Talking about it as a marketing tool for a personal brand or avoiding it as much as possible and only using LinkedIn for professional connections and a few Facebook groups for personal interests. They discuss the potential for antisocial behavior on social media platforms due to perceived anonymity and the lack of moderation compared to older internet forums.

pfSense, VLANs, and your home network | NTVN episode 8

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Unlocking Home Network Potential With pfSense Router And VLANs | NTVN Episode 8

Why would you use pfSense for your home network instead of the box your ISP provides you? Well, there are a lot of good reasons. Just listen to Alex what he has to say about it.

🏠 What’s on the Agenda:

00:00 Intro
01:04 What did you automate since last time?
02:23 Button+
04:12 What’s up with pfSense
08:49 Why a separate router instead of your ISP one
11:31 I am not running apps on it?
13:16 Not a standard home network
16:32 Two separate internet connections
19:15 Best practices, VLANs, cameras
22:22 Ready-made and GUI or DUY
26:46 Future things we hope for in pfSense
30:31 Things to improve in the setup itself, CARP?
31:32 Future hardware and power consumption
34:01 If you would start all over again?
36:27 What’s your advice for a starter on pfSense?

🔗 Relevant Links: pfSense: https://www.pfsense.org/

Podcast NTVN episode 7: Generative AI

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I thought it was a fun idea to have the article about the podcast episode I do with Alex on generative AI (genAI) written by genAI itself. In terms of language and wording, it looks nothing like what I would write. The description just ITCHES. So, should you come across such an article (from me), there’s a good chance it’s AI. I myself will continue to mention that.

Here we go:

A Cuckoo Clock, but Digital - Cuckoo in Home Assistant

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Since I absolutely detest the ticking of clocks, a cuckoo clock is not welcome in my house. That sound of gears turning, or even worse, the ticking away of every second, brrr. Fortunately, this is a cuckoo clock that can be switched off, as I’ve built it into Home Assistant. The clock has been cuckooing to my satisfaction for about five years now, without the need to wind it up.

Drones can't swim

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

You probably already knew, but for me, it was quite a thing: “Drones can’t swim.” Now I know, unfortunately having become wiser through damage and misfortune.

The Day

It’s been almost three years, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was a fantastic day. It was around 24 degrees Celsius, or about 75°F , fairly little wind. All in all, it was a great day for boating and flying the drone.

Drones can't swim, Homey Pro, and Loxone/LoxBerry…

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Did you miss anything in the previous episode? Yeah, we did as well. We went totally off-script and forgot to talk about a lot of topics. So the topics for today are those that we wanted to talk about last time. Here we go:

Did you know drones can’t swim? Probably you already knew. Since AJ is all about empirical he also knows.. At least now he knows. Also in this episode more Homey Pro migration goodness from Alex and a bit about Loxone and LoxBerry from AJ.

AI Photo Digital Cleanup Day

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Every Wednesday, I post a photo/illustration created by AI with text and explanation.

I use Midjourney to create images and photos for my blog and other media. Today’s topic is AI Photo of the Week - Digital Cleanup Day.

The story

For an article about [Digital Cleanup Day]/2024/digital-cleanup-day), I needed a picture. In this case, it’s a bit hypocritical. Generative AI also uses quite a bit of electricity, which actually undermines a part of my article, but okay.

Digital Cleanup Day - Are you in?

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

“Digital Cleanup Day? What’s that?” you might be asking yourself. Then I have another question for you. Do you know “World Cleanup Day”? Once a year, on September 20th in 2024, there’s a global cleanup initiative in more than 190 countries. More than 50 million volunteers dedicate themselves to picking up as much litter as possible. But how does this relate to Digital Cleanup Day? Well, just as nature can be polluted by litter, so can your digital environment become a burden on the environment.

From Film to Digital - The Evolution of their…

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In episode five of NTVN, AJ and Alex share their experiences with various gadgets that capture life’s beauty, dig into some delightful nostalgia, and offer our insights on whether today’s smartphones can really match up to traditional photography gear. AJ discusses his transition from floppies to SD cards and his current preference for landscape over portraits, while Alex recounts his adventures in urban photography and wildlife captures. Plus, we get into the nitty-gritty of photo management, explore a diverse array of lenses, and consider the place of drones in our photographic toolkit.

AI Photo Wednesday - Smart Kitchen

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Every Wednesday, I post a photo/illustration that has been created by AI, with accompanying text and explanation.

I use Midjourney to create images and photos for my blog and other media. Today the topic is ‘Smart Kitchens’

The Story

For an article on how you can [make your kitchen smart]/en/2024/ai-foto-woensdag-slimme-keuken, I wanted to have a ‘signature’ image that screamed: SMART KITCHEN, but in an old-fashioned way. You could come across it in the cartoon “The Jetsons”.

How to make your kitchen smart - A practical guide

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

How can you make your kitchen smart? I’ll show you. It doesn’t mean you have to spend thousands of euros and replace all your appliances. No, it can be done with relatively simple means. It all depends on how far you want to go and what ‘smart’ means to you. For some things, I’ve included pseudocode, so you can also relatively easily incorporate this into your own smart home. You can do this with IFTTT (if-this-then-that), but you can also use Google Home, or Amazon Alexa. I do it with [Home Assistant].

3D Printing, Wi-Fi Wins, and Pi Clusters with Turing Pi 2

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In episode four of NTVN, AJ and Alex discuss their recent experiences with 3D printing, Wi-Fi setups, and the Turing Pi 2 cluster board. AJ had some failed 3D prints and ruined a build plate, but also had some successful prints, just like Alex. Alex printed a shelf support with a honeycomb design and a wall mount for a new device called “Homey.” AJ talked about his plans to upgrade his smart home system with a Loxone and LoxBerry setup and expressed his preference for wired connections over Wi-Fi.

AI Photo Wednesday - ChatGPT Editing htaccess

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Every Wednesday, I post a photo/illustration that has been created by AI, with accompanying text and explanation.

I use Midjourney to create images and photos for my blog and other media. Today the topic of AI Photo Wednesday is my article on using ChatGPT to edit .htaccess

The Story

In the Google Search Console, you can see the links from your website that are known to Google and are regularly visited. When Google visits these pages, it means that they can be found on Google if they are deemed good.

ChatGPT + .htaccess: simpler site migrations

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Using ChatGPT for Practical Website Migration Challenges: Navigating .htaccess and Redirects

ChatGPT and generative AI are increasingly making headlines. More and more, you hear concerns that it could be harmful to employment. Two lines later you read that AI is the solution for the labor market shortages. Yet another two lines claim that AI (or the people behind it?) do not strictly adhere to the legitimacy of the sources on which it is trained and can just as easily generate an ‘original’ work, including the signature of the painter or writer. These are precisely the topics I do not want to discuss.

Our smart home story — X10, Homey, Home Assistant & more

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Evolution of our Home Automation, X10, Indigo, KlikAanKlikUit, Homey Pro and Home Assistant

🔊 Tune in this week for a journey through home automation history with New Tech, Vintage Nerd! 🏠✨

Hello and welcome, tech enthusiasts and retro gear aficionados! In this episode, AJ and Alex delve into the evolution of home automation systems and explore their own tech-laden odysseys. 🤖🚀

AI Photo Wednesday: DRY

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Every Wednesday, I post a photo/illustration that has been created by AI, with accompanying text and explanation.

I use Midjourney to create images and photos for my blog and other media. Today’s topic is DRY. Want to read the article? Click here

The Story

DRY stands for Don’t Repeat Yourself. It’s a technique described as such in a book for programmers, but it fits just as well into the rest of your life. At least, that’s what I think. In [this article], I describe what it is.

DRY: Don't Repeat Yourself

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

While I was recently immersed in various Hugo-related tasks, I stumbled upon the abbreviation DRY. I had to look that one up for sure. DRY stands for Don’t Repeat Yourself, which basically means what it says — don’t repeat yourself.

Don’t Repeat Yourself

The principle of DRY goes like this: “Every piece of knowledge should have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system.” That’s quite a mouthful. DRY originates from The Pragmatic Programmer, a book about software development. Looking back, I do recognize the method. During my education, a long time ago, I used this approach. One of the things I applied it to was database normalization. Ultimately, information is stored only once, and you refer to the data whenever needed.

NTVN - S01E02 - Xibo dashboarding and plan your writing

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0100

THe second episode already of NTVN - New Tech, Vintage Nerds. It’s going great!

Watch on YouTube

AI Photo Wednesday: Discussions

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Every Wednesday, I post an AI-generated image with an explanation and story.

I use Midjourney to create images for my blog and other media. Today’s topic is Adding Discussions to Hugo.

The Story

I recently started converting my blog to a static page generator. I was a bit done with the speed of WordPress. Not that it’s necessarily WordPress’s fault, but the plugins I was using made adding articles a chore. It was frustrating.

Adding Discussions To Hugo

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I mentioned last time that in the meantime I’ve switched again, now from WordPress to Hugo. One of the things I missed was a way for you, the reader, to respond.

That’s now been resolved.

Static Pages

As I indicated in my previous post, I switched to a static page generator. One of the properties of static pages is that they are, well, static. You can obviously add JavaScript, but in principle, the pages are already generated. Therefore, hosts for static pages often do not have databases or the like to store comments. Now, you have to ask yourself if you really want that, because let’s face it, comments are not exactly ‘Big Data.’ So, you need to use something else, or not allow comments. Since I’m hoping for some interaction, I decided to add a comment system.

AI Photo Wednesday (on Friday): New Tech Vintage Nerds

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Every Wednesday, I post a photo/illustration created by Midjourney (generative AI) along with text and explanation. I tell the story behind the photo or illustration. When I have edited the image, I also share exactly what I did.

The Story

Alex Muetstege and I have recently started a podcast: ‘New Tech, Vintage Nerds’. Why vintage? Well, we’ve been around for a while, let’s leave it at that. Since I like to have some content on my own site, I’ve written an introduction for the podcast that will be posted tomorrow. Coincidentally, this is also the date that the first real episode of NTVN - New Tech, Vintage Nerds goes live. This week I wanted to post the photo after the podcast was posted, so that’s Friday. Want to know more about how and why Alex and I started the podcast? Then check out [this article]/en/2024/new-tech-vintage-nerds/ I posted yesterday.

NTVN - S01E01 - WLED, Gridfinity, Auto volume with HA

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0100

Our genuine, very first podcast episode. What will it be about, you might wonder? WLED, automatic volume control in Home Assistant, and Gridfinity. Since it’s our first episode, we need to make some waves in the podcast ocean. If you read the descriptions below, summon your inner ‘Amazing, Mike!’ voice and read it to yourself. You can probably recall this from the eighties.