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Tim Wilkes

Running Containers on a Synology DS1821+: Getting Started with Portainer

Turn your Synology DS1821+ into more than just a file server - run Docker containers with ease! Learn how to set up Docker, install Portainer as your first container, and unlock the full power of self-hosted applications.

Book Review: 3D Printing and Maker Lab for Kids

3D Printing and Maker Lab for Kids is a hands-on guide that blends creativity with STEM. Packed with projects, visuals, and kid-friendly explanations, it’s perfect for families, educators, and beginners looking to explore 3D printing in a fun, approachable way.

Firefly iii to Paperless NGX

Automate your finances and document management by linking Firefly III to Paperless NGX with Node-RED in Home Assistant. This flow uses webhooks and APIs to pull receipts from Firefly III and upload them to Paperless NGX automatically, keeping your records synced without manual effort.

Zen and the art of IPv6

Running Zen Internet with a Cisco router? You get a native /64 IPv6 by default—but request a /48 for proper subnetting. Enable IPv6, add Google’s DNS, and configure DHCPv6 PD with ipv6 dhcp client pd ZEN-PD. Test with ipv6.google.com. Clean, native IPv6—no tunnels, no hacks.

Fallout Sign - With added Home Assistant.

I made a fallout sign on my 3d printer following a diy video, but changed the led strip and microcontroller to avoid soldering. Added bonuses: home assistant control and wifi!

🐦Home Assistant - It's for the birds! [Part 2]

Automate music for your feathered friends with this smart Home Assistant setup! Our BirdMusic automation plays soothing tunes at 9 AM and stops at 8:30 PM—but only when the birds are home and people aren’t. Learn how to set it up using Music Assistant and a simple YAML script.

🎵 How to Install Music Assistant for Home Assistant: Your Ultimate Guide

Bring multi-room audio to your smart home with Music Assistant for Home Assistant! This guide walks you through installing and configuring Music Assistant to stream music, manage sources like Spotify, and control playback across devices. Perfect for audiophiles and automation fans!

Home Assistant - It's for the birds! [Part 1]

If you are looking for a post that is bashing home assistant, you have probably come to the wrong place. Recently I was asked to look after a flock of birds. The only trouble here was that I was away for some of the time. This time I set up cameras to monitor the birds.

Car Automation using tasker

I upgraded from an old Audi A3 to a BMW 1-Series after a nightmare trip with two punctures. Lesson learned: check your spare tire regularly. I use Tasker, an Android-only app, to automate tasks like launching music and navigation apps when using Bluetooth.

Uptime Kuma and kestra - Fixing issues within minutes.

Integrating Uptime Kuma with Kestra via webhooks enables real-time issue detection and automated remediation. Uptime Kuma monitors services and triggers Kestra workflows to resolve incidents, reducing manual intervention, improving reliability, and ensuring faster, more efficient operations.