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James Derrick

@jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy

24 followers 5 following 60 posts

Chartered Engineer, architect, technologist, Newbiggin dinghy sailor, cyclist and #OSM volunteer cartographer (17 years!) based in Northumberland, England, UK […] 🌉 bridged from ⁂ mastodon.social/@jamesderrick, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact

Posts Replies Media

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026

#HomeAssistant and especially #ESPhome make so many useful projects possible. Instead of taking a week to stand-up a new embedded development board, I installed ESPhome on an ESP32 relay board in about 15 minutes using the new IDE and build server! The […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Home Assistant interface screen shot showing a drop-down list of heat pump SmartGrid modes, currently set to Free Running.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026

Instead of spending £450 on a Daikin HomeHub and Modbus to control the SmartGrid mode of my Altherma 3 heat pump, a £15 ESP32 module with two relays, #ESPHome, and 6x wires now gives #HomeAssistant LOCAL control. #ESPhome has a new IDE which is really good, displays documentation, makes […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/08/2026

@dlakelan Help the community help you with a bit more detail... ASHP? Gas? Oil? Wood? 240V / 220V / 110V/ 24V? WLAN/ Zigbee/ Z-Wave/ ModBus? A good start would be... works-with.home-assistant.io

works-with.home-assistant.io

Works with Home Assistant

Works with Home Assistant helps clearly indicate which devices provide the best smart home experience, both now and in the future.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/08/2026

#ActiveTravel in action - #Brompton personal teleport cycle, then a train to #MakerSpace Newcastle. Around here, 1950s cycling infrastructure seems better than 2020s, likely as designers still rode, wheeled, and walked.

Green folding bicycle on a railway station platform, with a Hitachi 80x set approaching at high speed on the ECML.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/07/2026

After spotting a new #openstreetmap `amenity=post_box type` `post_box:design=digital_drop_box` in the wild, I've [uploaded a picture to the wiki](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:post_box:design) . It is like a post_box:design=parcel but with a large overhanging black solar cap (complete […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/07/2026

Well, that was an unexpectedly excellent evening - thanks to the organisers of the #HomeAssistant meetup in #newcastleupontyne ! Sort of anticipated techy conversations, but not the range of subjects and depth of interest. 😁🤯 Really enjoyed the company, and community discussion. Great thanks to […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/04/2026

What a difference when you use a proper ESP-WROOM-32. Flashed and connected immediately - no wasted two days of wondering what was going wrong. On the bright side; I now know how to use a wire-wrap gun, and v2 #ESPsomfy will be a neater job for […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Android connection dialogue showing a good WLAN connection to a ESPSomfyRTS captive portal SSID for initial configuration. (Hence no Internet - that comes next.)

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 31/03/2026

Don't be tempted to use ESP32-C3 SuperMini modules. I found out too late that the WLAN PCB antenna is utterly mince on some very cheap copies. Out of 5x modules, not one would reliably broadcast a visible AP, nor connect. Even this promising antenna hack only got one on the network […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/03/2026

After finding #BitWarden doesn't have an "Export Folder" option, I've written some Python to process an unencrypted JSON vault and extract ONE folder to a new file. github.com/FloatingBoater/bitwarden… This is enough to extract creds to share, without setting up organisations (my […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/03/2026

@ilumium @CoMaps @organicmaps What are you sharing though? Location? Address? Gazeteer? #OpenStreetMap feature? For a location, the URI geo:) works, but is hard to type in without error. For shorter links, Plus Code) uses variable length, so locally you type less. MapCode) also has short […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 23/02/2026

@tomchadwin This gets to the difference between #Coding and #SoftwareEngineering Software Engineering has writing code as only about 20% of the life-cycle. The rest is taken up with requirements analysis, specification, test specification, testing, and in-life maintenance. If you put "black […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 10/02/2026

@gazza-d.bsky.social Agree. Regional pricing would achieve this - why should Scotland pay for peaker gas plants in Kent serving the ever increasing density in London? And why does Electricity suffer all the tariffs, when it is Gas that pollutes more?

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/01/2026

@gazza-d.bsky.social You've just cost me £4 on a second-hand book store! 🙂 Lucinda Lampton had a good TV series on the same subject.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/01/2026

@gazza-d.bsky.social I was about to switch to Clik until finding the bulk pack of 10x tubes on my shelf (and road bike) all have non-removable cores. That was after destroying the core on my main bike... 🤦

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/12/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social The WCML is full, the ECML is worse, so LETS BUILD HALF A BRIDGE by cancelling HS2 connections! 🤦 I hope other parties blight the "released" land by pledging to CPO it back. The Dept For Cars built EWR, but no trains for 12 months - showing stupid or malice! The only […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/12/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Good headline, bad facts. "Underinvestment in track capacity creates congestion without HS2" isn't as good click-bait is it? The track is simply too full to run additional passenger services, but the schedulers can just about fit non-passenger services which can be bumped […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/11/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Lumping all of the levies on electricity, and not gas was stupid, so want to see the detail on that. If the fuel escalator is frozen and the EV per mile goes up, there will be polite, silent, electric, riots! No tax on eBSO though, so more shopping on two wheels.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/11/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social To save you the effort... youtu.be/tcmVMqzjfco?si=qxoC-Oc7Pcv…

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/11/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social The PITA is Ashington new station is built as a terminal station (buffer stop at the North). A park+ride at Woodhorn would be nice, but even a basic platform at Woodhorn would be enough without a branch line to Newbiggin itself. The cost difference between a platform, and […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/11/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social The more sensible action would be to move "polluter pays" fees from just Electricity, to both Gas and Electricity. Why should low-carbon electricity pay for gas pollution? Oh, the same reason the road fuel escalator doesn't escalate!

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/10/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social My issue was employers sign up to a crap portal scheme selling BSOs at vastly inflated prices... slightly cheaper than just walking into a shop and avoiding all the paperwork. 🤦

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/10/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Get the kettle on just in case! 🙂 There's just time to charge the laptop, USB battery, EAPC, phone, etc so they aren't under any time pressure during safe isolation. Northern Power Grid seem to take a few weeks for a site survey to increase the service fuse ('cause 60A was […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 20/10/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Do you know about the NLS collection? maps.nls.uk/geo/explore As you'll guess, I use it to understand current features to improve an even bigger map - #OpenStreetMap !

Georeferenced Maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Was thinking the centre of gravity looked a bit high! If only I still had the red Moulton Standard I did up and sold in the 1970's. Still, the Brompton has Romulan Cloaking Technology (also known as an IKEA dimpa bag).

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Looks like a Brompton G Line after an accident with a welder!

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Not heard of that model - Ohme, Zaptec, Hypervolt, Zappi, etc but not "Sync" www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Cab… Cheap installs T-off the meter tails with an external extra consumer unit (DSO + IET banned installs in the meter box). IMHO […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/10/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social I'v be interested in what EVSE you are looking at? I've recently had a new consumer unit fitted especially for EVSE/solar/battery/ASHP, but several "chargers" have nice hardware but the software... Some makers say no official API for integration, forcing reverse-engineered […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/10/2025

#Android16 is now so clever that if you have a calendar event, it switches Modes to Event. This silently blocks incoming calls, which is a problem if the event WAS AN INCOMING CALL! 🤦 #UserError #RiseoftheRobots

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/09/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social One requested for Xmas - ta for the suggestion! 👍 🚴‍♂️

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/09/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Implementation and motives are really important for digital identity management. The GOV.UK app works well to access stuff like passport renewals. Estonia has secure digital ID which makes accessing HMG services easy, secure, and convenient. Forcing "Ihre Papiere bitte?" […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/09/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Looks a lot better quality than £29 would suggest! The MOLLE straps on the front would work with a 3d-printed GoPro clip base.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 23/09/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social A sage once said, "You don't stop cycling when you get old; you get old when you stop cycling"! 😉

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/09/2025

@fedora Just this week I have removed two unused Win11pro install partitions and reclaimed the space for more Fedora 42. Share, and Enjoy! (and know where your Towel is...)

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/08/2025

@stooovie I've heard that IKEA is about to release a new range of devices based on #Matter / #Thread which may be interesting for #homeassistant users: www.theverge.com/smart-home/701697/… The two-button IKEA RODRET plus a custom […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/08/2025

For #OpenStreetMap mappers in the #UK seeing #LoRaWAN back-haul transceivers appear on utility_pole and street_light infra apparently, they are apparently operated by #ConnexinLTD and used by several water utilities for remote metering. I've according added […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

LoRaWAN communications kit boxes with a solar panel and antenna on top of a 6m high wooden pole in a street scene.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/08/2025

For #OpenStreetMap mappers in the #UK seeing #LoRaWAN backual transceivers appear on utility_pole and street_light apparently, they are apparently operated by #ConnexinLTD Newly created Wikidata:Q135981913 entry! communication:lorawan=yes […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 23/07/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Nexus now uses #openstreetmap , the Northumberland Line uses #OSM map data - why use GMaps? The only feature they have is mass live traffic data, but for active travel Slurp isn't that useful.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/07/2025

@WilliamNB Testing a new 3d-printed helmet mount for a WillCam. This means a standard GoPro stick-on shoe works with both a WillCam (carist monitoring) and a GoPro ( #OpenStreetMap survey).

Cylindrical action camera mounted on a 3D-printed arm clipped to a cycle helmet.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/07/2025

@Edent Thanks for the app tip - I always thought of the GDS as the "Good Guys", and the GOV.UK app seems a decent attempt to sign-post into the many departmental system front-ends. Might have to look to see if the GDS podcast is still going...

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/06/2025

#OSM tagging conundrum for LoRaWAN remote utility meter reading base stations (Part 2) Add-on to an existing street light pole. This is a bit harder as it is both a street light, AND a base station: highway=street_lamp lamp_mount=straight_mast lamp_type=LED […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Metal LED street-light pole with a radio antenna, equipment box, and mains power connection in a residential street.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/06/2025

#OSM tagging conundrum for LoRaWAN remote utility meter reading base stations (Part 1) Dedicated wooden pole, radio base station, solar power. Best I can come up with is: height=5m man_made=utility_pole material=wood utility=water communication:lorawan=yes […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Wooden utility pole with a radio aerial, solar panel, and equipment box on a residential street.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/06/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Looks like the South Shields coast road is getting lights: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyrndl… I'll look out for them when peering South from Newbiggin Sailing Club! We can often see Marsden, Souter, and car headlamps on the cliff road (even at 26km) from the bar.

South Shields: Lamp-posts approved for coast road near The Leas

Street lighting will make it 'safer and more accessible' for cyclists, say South Tyneside Council.

James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/06/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social That'll be this bridleway: www.openstreetmap.org/way/27223789 Use it to survey West Brunton for #OpenStreetMap , and for half the year it is rutted and very muddy as shaded. I'd hope low-level columns and motion-sensitive luminaires might help reduce the light […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 13/06/2025

@Edent The key is the requirement - do you need a physical device, or a test platform? Google AOSP is moving from Pixel devices as hardware targets to a virtual Android device “Cuttlefish” as its reference. This suggests a virtual Android device is a valid test platform for some purposes […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/05/2025

Interesting article on #TheVerge about #openstreetmap 🗺️ encouraging gamers playing transport simulations 🚋 for fun to contribute back: www.theverge.com/games/672035/opens… Creating open-licensed data has always surprised - from flight simulators to these transport […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/05/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social You will never see an exhibit at the National Railway Museum about ROSCOs for the simple reason that they are little more than parasites on the whole industry. Procurement buys the wrong rolling stock ('cause a bank wants to), Government tells a franchisee to use the wrong […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/05/2025

@gazza-d.bsky.social Caring for those in need is an important marker for a civilised society. Sadly, cost-cutting drives layers of outsourcing and obfuscation rather than a living wage for well-trained and respected carers - regardless of their birth place. Root-cause fixes like tracking border […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/05/2025

@reconbot #homeassistant can emulate an ancient mechanical time switch for HVAC control. You can also add "special" event text to give multi-zone control - "@ground First Second @Third", then use a value template to switch: `{{ '@ground' in trigger.calendar_event.description }}` You can add […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/04/2025

@blindcoder * Matter + Thread replace non-IP protocols with mass acceptance due to multi-cloud support and rigorous compatibility testing. * More ordinary folk realise the importance of the fundamental principles of privacy, choice, and sustainability: www.openhomefoundation.org * […]

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James Derrick @jamesderrick.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/04/2025

@williamnb.bsky.social Here's a load of crowd-sourced information from a canal boating point of view: canalplan.org.uk/waterway/pp9g The good bit about canals is that apart from lock flights, the gradient is very gentle!

canalplan.org.uk

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – Gazetteer – CanalPlanAC

Waterway gazetteer for Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal showing places on the waterway