Sensor.Community is a contributors driven global sensor network | Hacker News Reader

Sensor.Community is a contributors driven global sensor network

sensor.community

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I’m really happy to see this here. I fully endorse this project. I came across it a couple years ago as a workshop at 3c. The goal is better transparency on pollution data . My city does collect some data but it’s not very detailed or localized. These devices can measure pollution/temp/humidity and even noise. Pollution is measured in ppm per minute (default) resolution. These devices are also very easy to set up. No soldering necessary. Only requires a nearby 2.4ghz wifi network.

This is the new luftdaten.info, right? Probably more focused on worldwide than just Germany?

Sounds good, I really like the idea. I think the German name held it back from getting adopted abroad. In my city there's only 3 sensors.

PS: I'd build my own sensor but the problem is sourcing all these components from different sources. It'd help sooo much if there was just a simple kit to order! Building the sensor is not an issue, ordering the components is.

I think there are sources that will give you a kit that can submit environmental data. I've been looking at 'Enviro+' with a Particulate Matter Sensor from Pimoroni or PiHut, for example. Currently out of stock.

Ah thanks, I'll have a look. Yeah Pimoroni has great stuff like that full colour EInk screen too, but most of their stuff is perpetually out of stock :(

There is a package offer, but I believe it’s EU-based.

Also, in the guide, the shopping list links are all directed to AliExpress. When I built my sensor a couple years ago, it didn’t take more than a couple weeks to get everything I needed. Some of the pieces you can even source right from you local hardware store or might even have in our junk box.

FWIW, the firmware has improved to include more hardware, which you can find on Amazon too (not just AE). I accidentally purchased the wrong thermometer and humidity sensor. When I updated the firmware several months ago, I saw my sensor hardware was supported.

I didn't see the package offer? I'll look again. I am in the EU.

But yeah Ali is the problem for me. Ordering from Ali is such a PITA. Waiting for all these parcels to trickle in, missing the postman for some of them and having to go to the post office to pick them up. Getting hit with import charges for some of them...

I'd really prefer to buy the whole thing in one go. I'd have one running on my balcony already then. But I'll have a look again to find that kit.

The idea is great but the execution is so bad. Their APIs are very bad at both retrieving and posting data. (There are 50 different IDs for the same measure point, often hardcoded for certain sensors). The documentation is virtually non-existent except a few GitHub hints, mostly in german. They really need to shape up to get this going better!

At first I thought this is some kind of generic contributors driven sensor network for all kinds of data. I thought this might be really cool.

What do you mean? That's really what it is :) Mainly for air pollution data, but it looks like they are expanding to other stuff like noise.

Radiation would be cool

Water pollution too.

Being HN hugged to death right now, give them a little time here...

Now just add a cryptocurrency to it and you have a great SaaS business with a vibrant reseller market

All luck for the resellers

But you, your business and your actual equity investors will be rich

I would kill for this to have footfall data

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