https://www.briandorey.com/ Latest Smart Home projects and other tech blog posts from Brian Dorey 2026 Brian Dorey Sun, 01 Nov 2026 17:48:13 Z video-capture-vintage-computers https://www.briandorey.com/post/video-capture-vintage-computers How we capture video from vintage computers and games consoles, using a SCART to HDMI converter, a 1980s analogue TV tuner and a second-hand Kramer VP-770 scaler feeding into OBS. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:08:46 +0100 project-nomad-survival-computer https://www.briandorey.com/post/project-nomad-survival-computer How to turn an old low-power PC into an offline knowledge server with Project NOMAD on Debian 13, including a standalone Wi-Fi access point. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 10:29:39 +0100 blog-is-twenty https://www.briandorey.com/post/blog-is-twenty This year has two website anniversaries. It's twenty years since the first post went up on this blog, and thirty years since I built Virtual Swanage, the community site for my home town Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:59:02 +0100 pick-place-software-hardware-2026 https://www.briandorey.com/post/pick-place-software-hardware-2026 It’s been nine years running our DIY pick and place machine using the same software and it’s time for some upgrades to the software as well as changes to the hardware with an Elgato Stream Deck and new picker nozzles Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:38:13 +0100 solis-inverter-rs485-ethernet-bridge https://www.briandorey.com/post/solis-inverter-rs485-ethernet-bridge Using a Microchip/Atmel ATmega32U4 to create a ModBus to MQTT Ethernet Bridge for a Solis 1.5kW Solar PV Inverter to log data with Home Assistant Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:35:41 +0100 custom-steel-frame-network-rack https://www.briandorey.com/post/custom-steel-frame-network-rack Upgrading Our Home Network Rack: Custom Steel Frame Build, 10Gb Switching & UniFi Setup Sat, 09 May 2026 19:16:17 +0100 switching-to-mac-after-30years https://www.briandorey.com/post/switching-to-mac-after-30years After using Windows as my primary computer operating system for over 30 years, I am finally switching to Apple Mac as my daily driver computer and operating system. Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:52:55 Z adjustable-pcb-holder https://www.briandorey.com/post/adjustable-pcb-holder Building an adjustable 3D printed PCB assembly jig to hold circuit boards when soldering Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:38:52 Z shimano-di2-bluetooth-keyboard-mod https://www.briandorey.com/post/shimano-di2-bluetooth-keyboard-mod Modifying a Shimano Di2 road shifter to control virtual shifting in Rouvy and MyWhoosh and a smart trainer using Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 module as a Bluetooth Keyboard Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:46:21 Z shimano-di2-zwift-click-mod https://www.briandorey.com/post/shimano-di2-zwift-click-mod Modifying a Shimano Di2 road shifter to control virtual shifting in Zwift and a smart trainer using Zwift Click v2 controllers Sat, 15 Nov 2025 16:56:08 Z