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Tim Wilkes

Tim Wilkes is a UK-based Enterprise Architect with over 25 years of experience in electronics, Linux, Security, and Unix systems administration.

🧩 Setting Up VLANs in Your Home Lab with UniFi Switches and Access Points

Learn how to set up VLANs in your home lab using UniFi switches and AC Pro access points. Improve network security, organize your IoT and lab devices, and even automate configurations with Ansible and Terraform — all on your existing UniFi gear.

How to Renew GitLab SSL Certificates in a Proxmox LXC with Certbot and Cloudflare DNS

Learn how to renew your GitLab SSL certificate in a Proxmox LXC using Certbot and Cloudflare DNS validation. This guide covers TurnKey Linux, deploy hooks, and automated HTTPS renewal.

Why Every UK Home Should Consider a Dehumidifier: Comfort, Cost Savings & Better Air Quality

A dehumidifier can reduce damp, cut heating bills, improve air quality, and help dry laundry quickly in UK homes. Discover why they’re eco-friendly, bathroom-safe, and ideal for winter—and find top Amazon-recommended models for every household.

📸 Breaking Up with Google: Importing Your Google Photos into Immich

Now that we’ve installed Immich in our “Breaking Up with Google” series, it’s time to fill it with your photos. Learn how to export your Google Photos Takeout and import everything into Immich—albums, dates, and all.

🧠 Automating Firefly III Categorization with Node-RED and Lightweight AI

Automatically classify and budget Firefly III transactions using Node-RED webhooks and a lightweight AI model like Phi-3 Mini. Real-time automation with minimal compute and zero manual tagging.

🏡 Breaking Up with Google: Making Nest Hubs Default to ImmichFrame in Home Assistant

Part of my Breaking Up with Google series — this guide shows how to make your Nest Hubs automatically display your ImmichFrame dashboard using Home Assistant. No more Google Photos: your private photo frame runs entirely on your own server.

📸 Breaking up with Google: Installing Immich and ImmichFrame with Docker Compose

Learn how to install Immich and ImmichFrame using Docker Compose to self-host your photos. This guide covers server setup, Redis, PostgreSQL, machine learning container, and a photo frame display — part of our Breaking Up with Google series.

🧠💡 Building a Smart Ambient Sensor Skull with Pimoroni Skull Kit + BME688 + Home Assistant

Turn your Pimoroni Skully Key into a glowing, air-quality-sensing smart device! Learn how to integrate the Skully with Home Assistant using ESPHome and a BME688 sensor to monitor temperature, humidity, and air quality—all while lighting up your home with colorful LED effects.

Installing Magic Lantern Firmware on a Canon DSLR: A Practical Guide

Bring new life to your Canon DSLR with Magic Lantern firmware. Learn how to install it on the Canon 550D, what gear you’ll need, and whether it’s time to consider a modern upgrade like the Canon EOS 90D or EOS R7.

From BMW ConnectedDrive to Bimmerdata Streamline: A Better Way to Connect with Home Assistant

BMW ConnectedDrive’s Home Assistant integration has broken, but Bimmerdata Streamline steps in with reliable automation, and data for a device tracker for car location. Here’s why Streamline is the future of BMW smart home integration.