New Tech, Vintage Nerds

A.J. & Alex

We like to talk about all the new tech, even though we’re a bunch of seasoned, vintage nerds.New Tech, Vintage Nerds, a fresh podcast hosted by two seasoned technology enthusiasts with decades of experience between them. As ‘New Tech, Vintage Nerds’ unfurls, we invite you to partake in this audacious journey with us. We promise tales of technological wizardry, discussions that go beyond the surface level, and an occasional comedic interlude as we navigate the quirky side of tech culture. So, sync up your calendars, dear listeners, for a regular dose of discovery—all through the lens of two vintage nerds who have not only lived through the evolution of the tech industry but continue to remain at its pulse, ever curious, forever learning, and perpetually sharing the chronicles of tech, both new and old.

  1. 1 MAY

    Clean Air and Clever Gadgets: A Breath of Fresh Tech

    In today's episode Alex and AJ are discussing presence detection versus motion detection in their home automation setups. Takeaways: Importance of Clean Air: AJ and Alex emphasize the importance of clean air inside homes, especially during winter, when indoor air quality can deteriorate due to heating, cooking, and other activities. Methods for Clean Air: Air Monitoring: Using air monitors to keep track of CO2 levels and other pollutants like particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). Air Filters: The benefits of using air filters, such as HEPA filters, to remove particulates and volatile gases from the air. 3D Printing Considerations: The importance of using filters and air extraction systems when 3D printing materials like ABS and PETG, which can release harmful fumes. Workshop Dust Control: Dust Extraction: Both emphasize the significance of having a dust extraction system in workshops to control wood dust and other particles. DIY Solutions: Descriptions of custom-built or modified systems such as dust cyclones and shop vacuums to manage dust effectively. 🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips: Teleprompters: Using a teleprompter allows reading scripts while maintaining eye contact with the camera. Elgato Stream Deck Pedal: Using a foot pedal to control teleprompter scrolling, Zoom mute, and video controls enhances productivity. The pedal can start/stop scrolling of the teleprompter and can be configured for other uses like muting during Zoom calls. ® Brands or solutions mentioned (not in order): Philips Hue Raspberry Pi IKEA Zigbee Homey Home Assistant AliExpress Synology Dust Commander TrueNAS Gigabyte AMD EPYC 3151 Elgato Stream Deck 🤝 Join the Conversation: We're not just here to talk at you—we want to connect with our community! Have questions or experiences about 3D printing, or home automation? Want to share your own tech journey? Drop a comment below, and let's start the discussion! 🔔 Stay Updated: Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content. 🗣️ Stay Connected with Us: Twitter Chatter Mastodon Musings Our hangout on the internet Your favorite podcasting platform

    44 min
  2. 12 APR

    Automating Home Tech and Launching a YouTube Journey with Vikash

    In this episode of NTVN New Tech Vintage Nerds, AJ and Alex invite special guest Vikash to the table. The trio dives into a variety of tech topics, from the challenges of home automation with Sonos speakers to the intricacies of digitizing VHS tapes. They explore the world of 3D printing and the balance between high-end tinkering versus plug-and-play solutions. The conversation shifts to Vikash's personal journey in tech and his motivations behind creating valuable content on YouTube. If you're into home automation, DIY tech projects, or considering starting a YouTube channel, this episode is packed with insights and tips that you won't want to miss. Takeaways: Alex's Experience with Home Automation: Alex talks about his automation setup using Sonos speakers, the problems he faced when the speakers stopped working, and how he resolved them by reintroducing the speakers into the setup. Whole Home Audio Systems: The discussion shifts towards various audio setup strategies, including using HomePods and Home Assistant for automating music throughout the house. They also discuss systems like ZigBee and Z-Wave for motion sensors and other home automation elements. VHS Digitization: Alex explains his process of digitizing old VHS tapes using an HDMI video converter and a capture box, as well as software like OBS and Handbrake for the actual digitization and encoding. He emphasizes the cost-effectiveness and quality improvement by using these specific tools. Vikash's YouTube Journey: Vikash shares his journey of starting a YouTube channel focused on tech topics. He details how he decided to transition from traditional blogs to video content, his methodology for choosing topics, and the importance of not striving for perfection in the initial stages. He also discusses the tech he uses and his gradual upgrades over time. Community Feedback and Improvements: Vikash highlights the importance of community feedback for improvement and stresses that good content is more important than having the best tech setup immediately. 🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips: Vikash recommends the TV show "The Bear" for those interested in cooking and restaurant management. AJ suggests exploring "Music Assistant," a tool complementary to Home Assistant for creating a whole-home audio system. ® Brands or solutions mentioned (not in order) Sonos Home Assistant HomePod/HomePod Mini Homey Pro Philips Hue Z-Wave ZigBee EcoWitt weather station OBS - Open Broadcaster Software Handbrake Joplin (note-taking application) Nextcloud Vikash.nl (Vikash’s personal website) LinkedIn (professional networking site) Music Assistant (related to Home Assistant) 🔔 Stay Updated: Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content. 🗣️ Stay Connected with Us: Twitter Chatter: https://twitter.com/newtechvintage Mastodon Musings: https://mastodon.social/@newtechvintagenerds Our hangout on the internet: https://ntvn.online Your favorite podcasting platform or on https://ntvn.podbean.com Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content.

    1h 4m
  3. 3 APR

    Adding a weather station to your home automation system | NTVN

    Join AJ and Alex as they dive into the world of 3D printing, weather stations, and home automation. In this episode, they share their latest adventures with flexible filament, such as TPU, and discuss their use of various 3D prints like brackets for MacBooks and custom solutions for better storage and organization. The conversation transitions to weather stations, focusing on automation benefits, local data integration, and energy efficiency. Takeaways: Flexible filaments like TPU are versatile but require longer print times. Weather stations can significantly augment smart home automation by providing real-time environmental data. Choosing a weather station with local data support can enhance reliability and control over cloud-dependent alternatives. Integrate UV sensors in your system for personalized alerts and safer outdoor activities. Tools like a filament dryer can drastically improve print quality, especially for hydroscopic materials. 🏠 What's on the Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and recent 3D printing projects 00:37 Challenges and solutions with flexible filaments 03:31 Overview of weather stations and their role in home automation 12:05 Benefits of using EcoWitt Witboy for real-time data 33:30 Practical uses for UV sensors and soil moisture sensors 🔗 Gear Up with Our Top Tips: Enhance 3D printing with a reliable filament dryer Explore the benefits of advanced weather stations like the EcoWit for precise automation Invest in localized data solutions to prevent automation failure during connectivity issues 🤝 Join the Conversation: We're not just here to talk at you—we want to connect with our community! Have questions or experiences about 3D printing, or home automation? Want to share your own tech journey? Drop a comment below, and let's start the discussion! 🔔 Stay Updated: Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content. 🗣️ Stay Connected with Us: Twitter Chatter: /newtechvintage Mastodon Musings: Mastodon Link Our hangout on the internet: NTVN Online Your favorite podcasting platform or on Podbean

    57 min
  4. 22/11/2024

    Do you want a tinker printer or a 3D printer? Bambulab P1S

    FINALLY! A new episode. It took a bit to get this out there. Not because we didn't record it, but because A.J. found excuse after excuse not to edit and publish it. Lucky for you he finally found the time and finally felt like doing the stuff that needed to be done. This episode Alex and A.J. talk about their new 3D printer and how it is holding up after a month of running almost constantly. Listen to them talking about the good and the not so good (if any?) of the Bambulab P1S. 🏠 What's on the Agenda: 00:00 Introduction 00:30 What did you automate this week? Spoiler: heating / cooling / screens/shades 10:43 A.J.'s New 3D Printer: Bamboo Labs P1S. And Alex' as well 56:44 Tips - YouTube channel Proper Printing - Knipex 🤝 Join the Conversation: We're not just here to talk at you-we want to engage with our community! Have questions or tips about 3D printing, WiFi, or some other topic? Want to share your own home automation win? Drop a comment below, and let's start the discussion! 🔔 Stay Updated: Don't miss out on more tech insights and life-enhancing tools. Hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to get notified about our latest content. 🗣️ Stay Connected with Us: Twitter Chatter: https://twitter.com/newtechvintage Mastodon Musings: https://mastodon.social/@newtechvintagenerds Our hangout on the internet: https://ntvn.online Your favorite podcasting platform or on https://ntvn.podbean.com

    1 hr

About

We like to talk about all the new tech, even though we’re a bunch of seasoned, vintage nerds.New Tech, Vintage Nerds, a fresh podcast hosted by two seasoned technology enthusiasts with decades of experience between them. As ‘New Tech, Vintage Nerds’ unfurls, we invite you to partake in this audacious journey with us. We promise tales of technological wizardry, discussions that go beyond the surface level, and an occasional comedic interlude as we navigate the quirky side of tech culture. So, sync up your calendars, dear listeners, for a regular dose of discovery—all through the lens of two vintage nerds who have not only lived through the evolution of the tech industry but continue to remain at its pulse, ever curious, forever learning, and perpetually sharing the chronicles of tech, both new and old.