Kyle Niewiada
@crypticcitrus.bsky.social
I enjoy programming, music, and working on personal specialized projects.
Some of my favorite shots from the last month. 📷
Taken with my phone held up to my binoculars.
Taken with my phone held up to my binoculars.
July 7, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Some of my favorite shots from the last month. 📷
Taken with my phone held up to my binoculars.
Taken with my phone held up to my binoculars.
Today I modded my 2016 Bose QC 35 headphones and DualShock 4 controller with USB-C ports. I continue to reduce the number of different charging cables I need to keep out.
The Bose QC 35 uses a pre-assembled board from starkdrive and the DS4 uses a USB-C board from ElecGear. Both are working great!
The Bose QC 35 uses a pre-assembled board from starkdrive and the DS4 uses a USB-C board from ElecGear. Both are working great!
June 22, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Today I modded my 2016 Bose QC 35 headphones and DualShock 4 controller with USB-C ports. I continue to reduce the number of different charging cables I need to keep out.
The Bose QC 35 uses a pre-assembled board from starkdrive and the DS4 uses a USB-C board from ElecGear. Both are working great!
The Bose QC 35 uses a pre-assembled board from starkdrive and the DS4 uses a USB-C board from ElecGear. Both are working great!
Earlier this year I built a smart coaster prototype to help remind me when I haven't had a drink of water in a while. Since then, I've received over 700+ reminders!
I wanted to make a nicer version. So I did.
Here is my revision using black walnut and a fully hidden sensor using a clever trick.
I wanted to make a nicer version. So I did.
Here is my revision using black walnut and a fully hidden sensor using a clever trick.
The Smart Coaster That Keeps Me Hydrated
Forget smart water bottles! I created a ‘temporarily permanent’ smart coaster to solve my dehydration woes. If I’ve lost track, my coaster nudges me to drink water, and refrains when I’ve kept up.
www.kyleniewiada.org
June 17, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Earlier this year I built a smart coaster prototype to help remind me when I haven't had a drink of water in a while. Since then, I've received over 700+ reminders!
I wanted to make a nicer version. So I did.
Here is my revision using black walnut and a fully hidden sensor using a clever trick.
I wanted to make a nicer version. So I did.
Here is my revision using black walnut and a fully hidden sensor using a clever trick.
I turned my security cams into AI bird detectives! 🦉🎤 My new blog post guides you through setting up BirdNET-Go & @home-assistant.io for 24/7 backyard bird tracking, custom dashboards, and alerts. Learn how to identify every chirp!
#AI #BirdNETGo #HomeAssistant #Birding
#AI #BirdNETGo #HomeAssistant #Birding
Backyard Bird Tracking With AI-Powered BirdNET-Go
Turning security cameras into AI bird detectives! How I use BirdNET-Go & Home Assistant for 24/7 bird detections & alerts. Identify every chirp!
www.kyleniewiada.org
May 27, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I turned my security cams into AI bird detectives! 🦉🎤 My new blog post guides you through setting up BirdNET-Go & @home-assistant.io for 24/7 backyard bird tracking, custom dashboards, and alerts. Learn how to identify every chirp!
#AI #BirdNETGo #HomeAssistant #Birding
#AI #BirdNETGo #HomeAssistant #Birding
Last year I heard mice scratching overhead at 2 AM with a newborn in my arms. Did I want to climb into the attic daily to check traps? Nope.
Here's my journey into automating pest control notifications using a (now extinct) Z-Wave mousetrap (+ an easier option).
#HomeAssistant #Automation #Z-Wave
Here's my journey into automating pest control notifications using a (now extinct) Z-Wave mousetrap (+ an easier option).
#HomeAssistant #Automation #Z-Wave
Automating Attic Pest Control
Automating mousetrap notifications for hard-to-reach areas (like my attic) that I don’t want to check daily.
www.kyleniewiada.org
April 14, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Last year I heard mice scratching overhead at 2 AM with a newborn in my arms. Did I want to climb into the attic daily to check traps? Nope.
Here's my journey into automating pest control notifications using a (now extinct) Z-Wave mousetrap (+ an easier option).
#HomeAssistant #Automation #Z-Wave
Here's my journey into automating pest control notifications using a (now extinct) Z-Wave mousetrap (+ an easier option).
#HomeAssistant #Automation #Z-Wave
Last week I discovered BirdNET-Go.
github.com/tphakala/bir...
This awesome project continuously monitors the audio from my camera microphones and uses AI to identify the birds surrounding my house.
Today I spotted a beautiful Osprey pair overhead, and BirdNET-GO confirmed it.
#Birds #BirdNET
github.com/tphakala/bir...
This awesome project continuously monitors the audio from my camera microphones and uses AI to identify the birds surrounding my house.
Today I spotted a beautiful Osprey pair overhead, and BirdNET-GO confirmed it.
#Birds #BirdNET
March 30, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Last week I discovered BirdNET-Go.
github.com/tphakala/bir...
This awesome project continuously monitors the audio from my camera microphones and uses AI to identify the birds surrounding my house.
Today I spotted a beautiful Osprey pair overhead, and BirdNET-GO confirmed it.
#Birds #BirdNET
github.com/tphakala/bir...
This awesome project continuously monitors the audio from my camera microphones and uses AI to identify the birds surrounding my house.
Today I spotted a beautiful Osprey pair overhead, and BirdNET-GO confirmed it.
#Birds #BirdNET
Apologies for any post spam. I just migrated all of my old posts away from Twitter.
March 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Apologies for any post spam. I just migrated all of my old posts away from Twitter.
I built a smart coaster to battle my dehydration woes. When I lose track, my coaster nudges me to drink water through @home-assistant.io, and refrains when I keep up.
It went from an idea to a fully built prototype in 48 hours using wood, glue, an ESP32 board, and a ToF sensor through ESPHome.
It went from an idea to a fully built prototype in 48 hours using wood, glue, an ESP32 board, and a ToF sensor through ESPHome.
The Smart Coaster That Keeps Me Hydrated
Forget smart water bottles! I created a ‘temporarily permanent’ smart coaster to solve my dehydration woes. If I’ve lost track, my coaster nudges me to drink water, and refrains when I’ve kept up.
www.kyleniewiada.org
February 24, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I built a smart coaster to battle my dehydration woes. When I lose track, my coaster nudges me to drink water through @home-assistant.io, and refrains when I keep up.
It went from an idea to a fully built prototype in 48 hours using wood, glue, an ESP32 board, and a ToF sensor through ESPHome.
It went from an idea to a fully built prototype in 48 hours using wood, glue, an ESP32 board, and a ToF sensor through ESPHome.
My toddler is absolutely obsessed with @yellowcard.bsky.social and has put me as one of their top listeners on YouTube music. I'm glad they have a bunch of songs. Rock on little dude.
February 4, 2025 at 12:49 AM
My toddler is absolutely obsessed with @yellowcard.bsky.social and has put me as one of their top listeners on YouTube music. I'm glad they have a bunch of songs. Rock on little dude.
I did it! Nearly 3 years after purchasing it, I finally beat Ring Fit Adventure on the Nintendo Switch! All while reaching my goal of finishing it before 2024 ended. 💪
It took ~150 gaming sessions and a lot of sweat. But we got there. 😎
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
It took ~150 gaming sessions and a lot of sweat. But we got there. 😎
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I did it! Nearly 3 years after purchasing it, I finally beat Ring Fit Adventure on the Nintendo Switch! All while reaching my goal of finishing it before 2024 ended. 💪
It took ~150 gaming sessions and a lot of sweat. But we got there. 😎
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
It took ~150 gaming sessions and a lot of sweat. But we got there. 😎
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
I did it! Nearly 3 years after purchasing it, I finally beat Ring Fit Adventure on the Nintendo Switch! All while reaching my goal of finishing it before 2024 ended. 💪
It took ~150 gaming sessions and a lot of sweat. But we got there. 😎
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
It took ~150 gaming sessions and a lot of sweat. But we got there. 😎
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
December 20, 2024 at 1:46 PM
I did it! Nearly 3 years after purchasing it, I finally beat Ring Fit Adventure on the Nintendo Switch! All while reaching my goal of finishing it before 2024 ended. 💪
It took ~150 gaming sessions and a lot of sweat. But we got there. 😎
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
It took ~150 gaming sessions and a lot of sweat. But we got there. 😎
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
AI supercharged my quest to unearth the forgotten history of Soo Machine & Auto, sparked by a family connection. Explore my findings & how AI (NotebookLM) transforms research, breathing life into the past.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2024/09/soo-machine-and-auto-ai-aplified-legacy/...
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2024/09/soo-machine-and-auto-ai-aplified-legacy/...
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
AI supercharged my quest to unearth the forgotten history of Soo Machine & Auto, sparked by a family connection. Explore my findings & how AI (NotebookLM) transforms research, breathing life into the past.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2024/09/soo-machine-and-auto-ai-aplified-legacy/...
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2024/09/soo-machine-and-auto-ai-aplified-legacy/...
Never miss trash day again! I built a DIY system with Bluetooth beacons & @home_assistant that automatically reminds me when to take out the trash (and tells me when they've been emptied!) ♻¸�
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2024/06/bluetooth-beacon-waste-bins/
#homeassistant #smarthome #D...
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Never miss trash day again! I built a DIY system with Bluetooth beacons & @home_assistant that automatically reminds me when to take out the trash (and tells me when they've been emptied!) ♻¸�
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2024/06/bluetooth-beacon-waste-bins/
#homeassistant #smarthome #D...
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
#RingFitAdventure #NintendoSwitch
This past summer I started tracking my final utility, water. I'm tracking water consumption for my whole home and irrigation with @home_assistant using @esphome_ and my @OpenSprinkler controller.
You can read about my project here:
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2023/10/tackle-tracking-wate...
You can read about my project here:
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2023/10/tackle-tracking-wate...
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This past summer I started tracking my final utility, water. I'm tracking water consumption for my whole home and irrigation with @home_assistant using @esphome_ and my @OpenSprinkler controller.
You can read about my project here:
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2023/10/tackle-tracking-wate...
You can read about my project here:
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2023/10/tackle-tracking-wate...
I receive push notifications when the mail arrives at my house by using a Z-Wave contact sensor to trigger an automation in @home_assistant. It's supposed to have a 5 year battery life! Here's my write-up. https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2022/10/mailbox-alerts/
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I receive push notifications when the mail arrives at my house by using a Z-Wave contact sensor to trigger an automation in @home_assistant. It's supposed to have a 5 year battery life! Here's my write-up. https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2022/10/mailbox-alerts/
Want to hear a good pun? Here's how I "transformed" our old doorbells to send us smart alerts using @home_assistant and some @usa_shelly Shelly 1 relays.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2022/07/doorbell-alerts/
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2022/07/doorbell-alerts/
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Want to hear a good pun? Here's how I "transformed" our old doorbells to send us smart alerts using @home_assistant and some @usa_shelly Shelly 1 relays.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2022/07/doorbell-alerts/
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2022/07/doorbell-alerts/
After a chunk of research, I'm happy to say I've cornered affordable options for water-leak detection and temperature monitoring inside @home_assistant using an SDR. I've posted my choices, device templates, and automations on my website.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2021/10/affordable-wate...
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2021/10/affordable-wate...
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
After a chunk of research, I'm happy to say I've cornered affordable options for water-leak detection and temperature monitoring inside @home_assistant using an SDR. I've posted my choices, device templates, and automations on my website.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2021/10/affordable-wate...
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2021/10/affordable-wate...
Thanks to the "Notifications for Android TV" @HomeAssistant integration, I can see who is at the door while watching TV.
Also, no one rings doorbells anymore. :(
https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/nfandroidtv/
Also, no one rings doorbells anymore. :(
https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/nfandroidtv/
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Thanks to the "Notifications for Android TV" @HomeAssistant integration, I can see who is at the door while watching TV.
Also, no one rings doorbells anymore. :(
https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/nfandroidtv/
Also, no one rings doorbells anymore. :(
https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/nfandroidtv/
Having trouble launching the #GoogleAssistant on your #Android work profile because you can't set the default assistant app? I think I have the solution to get around that without resetting. #Bug https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2021/04/android-work-profile-assistant-bug/
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Having trouble launching the #GoogleAssistant on your #Android work profile because you can't set the default assistant app? I think I have the solution to get around that without resetting. #Bug https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2021/04/android-work-profile-assistant-bug/
Our house has an old shower drain that hasn't been made in decades. Rather than cutting our toes on it or retiling the shower floor, I decided to recreate it.
I think I did pretty well.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4725691
#3dprinting #functionalprint🖨️
I think I did pretty well.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4725691
#3dprinting #functionalprint🖨️
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Our house has an old shower drain that hasn't been made in decades. Rather than cutting our toes on it or retiling the shower floor, I decided to recreate it.
I think I did pretty well.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4725691
#3dprinting #functionalprint🖨️
I think I did pretty well.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4725691
#3dprinting #functionalprint🖨️
In July I posted about how I was monitoring my older 240V electric dryer with a vibration sensor and @esphome_. After overcoming incorrect alerts I switched gears to use a CT clamp with a split-phase meter for unequivocal monitoring.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/09/dryer-notification-...
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/09/dryer-notification-...
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
In July I posted about how I was monitoring my older 240V electric dryer with a vibration sensor and @esphome_. After overcoming incorrect alerts I switched gears to use a CT clamp with a split-phase meter for unequivocal monitoring.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/09/dryer-notification-...
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/09/dryer-notification-...
Since my washing machine and dryer are missing buzzers, I've tapped into using @esphome_ to monitor their states using power and vibration readings. Now I receive a friendly broadcast on my Google Homes when they are done.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/07/appliance-notifications-throug...
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/07/appliance-notifications-throug...
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Since my washing machine and dryer are missing buzzers, I've tapped into using @esphome_ to monitor their states using power and vibration readings. Now I receive a friendly broadcast on my Google Homes when they are done.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/07/appliance-notifications-throug...
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/07/appliance-notifications-throug...
I recently switched over all of my smart plugs in @home_assistant away from Z-Wave to @esphome_ and I couldn't be any happier with that decision. My new plugs are more accurate, reliable, and easier to manage.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/07/replacing-z-wave-with-esphome/
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/07/replacing-z-wave-with-esphome/
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I recently switched over all of my smart plugs in @home_assistant away from Z-Wave to @esphome_ and I couldn't be any happier with that decision. My new plugs are more accurate, reliable, and easier to manage.
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/07/replacing-z-wave-with-esphome/
https://www.kyleniewiada.org/blog/2020/07/replacing-z-wave-with-esphome/
Google Meet's new noise cancellation allows me to run my robot vacuum without requiring me to mute my mic.
March 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Google Meet's new noise cancellation allows me to run my robot vacuum without requiring me to mute my mic.