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NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

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Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#101

Post by bastawhiz »

kelnos wrote: post #64

I'm a little confused, because this looks like you're just swapping one proprietary service (Google) for another (NoLongerEvil). Despite their name, we have no idea if NoLongerEvil is evil or not. Why should I trust them? I don't know them at all. Why will they be immune to the regular economic pressures surrounding any connected online service? What will stop them from adding tracking or other anti-features? Even if…

> Google is at least the devil we know, here.

Google has left these devices essentially completely unusable. You're not trading up Google because Google already abandoned these devices by shutting off the lights. Even if you don't agree with how robust their service is, they're offering you the ability to turn what's effectively e-waste into an operable device.

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#102

Post by zzo38computer »

I would want a thermostat that does not connect to the internet or any wireless communication at all (with the possible exception of an outside temperature sensor if it cannot be connected with a wire; the one that the people installed (I did not have a say) does not have an outside temperature sensor), and does not have a lighted display or a colour display. I had thought to use Atmel AVR. However, to do that, I think that, first I would need test cases so that an emulator can be written.

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#103

Post by skybrian »

bastawhiz wrote: post #101
kelnos wrote: post #64

I'm a little confused, because this looks like you're just swapping one proprietary service (Google) for another (NoLongerEvil). Despite their name, we have no idea if NoLongerEvil is evil or not. Why should I trust them? I don't know them at all. Why will they be immune to the regular economic pressures surrounding any connected online service? What will stop them from adding tracking or other anti-features? Even if…

> Google is at least the devil we know, here. Google has left these devices essentially completely unusable. You're not trading up Google because Google already abandoned these devices by shutting off the lights. Even if you don't agree with how robust their service is, they're offering you the ability to turn what's effectively e-waste into an operable device.

Why do you say it's unusable? Our Nest thermostat seems to be working fine as a normal (offline) thermostat. I don't see a reason to replace it.

I'm not even sure when I would want a network-enabled thermostat. We inherited it from the previous owners.

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#104

Post by fukka42 »

pandora-health wrote: post #15

If your boiler supports OpenTherm then get this thermostat controller https://github.com/Alexwijn/SAT Weather comp + low load comp + PID which means your room temperature works at the precision range supported by your temperature sensor. In my case, within 0.02 Celsius. Saves energy and makes your house more comfortable. Operated via home assistant. See real time data in Grafana https://gasboiler.grafana.net/public-d…

Any good multi zone ones for home assistant?

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#105

Post by skybrian »

danimal88 wrote: post #23

It is pretty outrageous that a company who purports to care about the environment turned this into a pile of garbage for the average user to save on some cloud hosting or devops. Or even worse, to sell the next generation.

It's not e-waste unless for some reason you want to throw out a working thermostat just because it doesn't have network access.

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#106

Post by gruez »

subscribed wrote: post #99
gruez wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I would expect a newer device would have the trust root pinned in hardware (TPM, etc) and firmware updates would be have been authenticated. All those things cost money in hardware or development time, so companies basically never bother. You're probably also letting all the stories about DRM on phones or whatever color your experience on IOT as a whole. TPM basically makes no sense to implement on anything that's n…

Secure phones use it. IPhones (Secure Enclave), Pixels (Titan M2).... Yeah, that's not much....

"TPM" =/= Secure Enclave =/= Titan M2

You could argue TPM can work as a generic term for security coprocessors, but on a technical forum that makes as much sense as saying the pixel tablet is an "iPad".

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#107

Post by atm3ga »

>Do NOT use this firmware on any thermostat that is critical for your heating or cooling needs.

Also, carefully consider its use with propane or natural gas HVAC units. Many can reach dangerous temperatures very quickly. Many years ago we had a thermostat failure that caused our HVAC to not shut off. While it had an over-heat cut-out, it was for temps above 200F. Because the unit had an oversized blower, it caused our home to reach dangerous temps as we slept, including our kids room which was a good 20F hotter than our bedroom. Luckily we woke up and the kids were okay.

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#108

Post by Aurornis »

skybrian wrote: post #103
bastawhiz wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google is at least the devil we know, here. Google has left these devices essentially completely unusable. You're not trading up Google because Google already abandoned these devices by shutting off the lights. Even if you don't agree with how robust their service is, they're offering you the ability to turn what's effectively e-waste into an operable device.

Why do you say it's unusable? Our Nest thermostat seems to be working fine as a normal (offline) thermostat. I don't see a reason to replace it. I'm not even sure when I would want a network-enabled thermostat. We inherited it from the previous owners.

Google disabled cloud services, and therefore the app. The remote control features were a key reason many bought these.

Can you edit schedules directly on the thermostat? From what I recall, much of the functionality required the app. That can’t be used now.

If you’re only using it as an analog dial to set the temperature, you won’t miss anything. However the majority of functionality is now gone from the devices.

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#109

Post by userbinator »

atm3ga wrote: post #107

>Do NOT use this firmware on any thermostat that is critical for your heating or cooling needs. Also, carefully consider its use with propane or natural gas HVAC units. Many can reach dangerous temperatures very quickly. Many years ago we had a thermostat failure that caused our HVAC to not shut off. While it had an over-heat cut-out, it was for temps above 200F. Because the unit had an oversized blower, it caused ou…

That's just a disclaimer. The same could be said of the original ;-)

No "smart" thermostats for me --- I have a round Honeywell that's been working perfectly for several decades.

Re: NoLongerEvil-Thermostat – Nest Generation 1 and 2 Firmware

#110

Post by 1970-01-01 »

morshu9001 wrote: post #61
1970-01-01 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nest before Google (Nest Gen 1 and 2) was a small tech startup.

That doesn't really make it better, unless they had a stricter privacy policy.

They did!

https://web.archive.org/web/20120108154346/http://www.nest.c...

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