IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

It takes 5 cloud services to hear my doorbell

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Theme 1 – Cloud dependency and vendor lock‑in concerns
Many commenters worry that relying on proprietary cloud services (e.g., Samsung SmartThings, Ring) leads to recurring fees, loss of control, and fragility when companies change pricing or shut down APIs.

  • “the upcoming Samsung SmartThings API pricing means things will have to change soon.” – vghaisas
  • “Imagine paying a Korean company five bucks a months so you can get a notification on your phone that your fridge needs a new water filter.” – artisinal
  • “Sadly, it seems that the prudent business decision is to lock your customers into your ecosystem.” – cortesoft
  • “Equipment that is tied to someone else's cloud is an astonishingly bad idea.” – johnhtodd

Theme 2 – Effectiveness vs. privacy of video doorbells/CCTV
Opinions split on whether cameras actually deter crime or merely invade privacy and annoy neighbors, with some citing deterrence value and others questioning real‑world impact.

  • “I fail to see the relation between a video doorbell and stopping a burglar. Burglars wear masks.” – artisinal
  • “It's video surveillance, it makes it more likely they'll go elsewhere. That's literally the whole point of Ring.” – ezfe
  • “Cameras deter crime. Not ALL crime. Criminals aren’t stupid and will simply go burgle someone that isn’t recording.” – schumpeter
  • “People steal things from stores which have had cctv for decades… I have no idea why people think these goofy webcams have any effect other than invading the privacy of your neighbors.” – mathisfun123

Theme 3 – DIY, local‑only, and hacked solutions
A strong thread advocates building or repurposing simple, offline devices (wireless buttons, copper‑wire bells, hacked IoT gear) to avoid clouds and subscriptions.

  • “So I built my own: a basic wireless button sends a radio 433 MHz signal… No Wifi, no Internet, no cloud, no apps.” – mrb
  • “Personally I have a button outside my front door… No cloud required.” – artisinal
  • “My first adventure was with an Amazon Echo Dot 2… I’ve got that wired into my home local AI brain.” – VladVladikoff
  • “Amazon had these little Dash buttons… I hacked one so I could… record the moment i started and finished feeding my infant.” – KPGv2

🚀 Project Ideas

Generating project ideas…

Local ESP32 Doorbell Controller with Custom Chime and Home Assistant Integration

Summary

  • Provides a fully local doorbell that plays any MP3 from an SD card when a wireless button (433 MHz) or wired contact is pressed, eliminating reliance on cloud services and subscriptions.
  • Core value: low‑latency, privacy‑preserving, user‑configurable chime with optional Home Assistant automation for lights or notifications.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience DIY smart‑home enthusiasts, privacy‑conscious users, anyone wanting to replace cloud‑dependent doorbells
Core Feature ESP32 reads button input, triggers MP3 playback via I2S DAC/SD card, publishes MQTT event to Home Assistant
Tech Stack ESP32 (Arduino/ESP‑IDF), 433 MHz receiver or GPIO input, I2S amplifier, micro‑SD card, optional local MQTT broker
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN user mrb built exactly this: “a basic wireless button sends a radio 433 MHz signal, and my receiver … triggers an off‑the‑shelf playback PCB module that reads an MP3 off an SD card … No Wifi, no Internet, no cloud, no apps.”
  • Addresses complaints about the “5‑cloud services chain” and latency (BLKNSLVR) by keeping everything on the LAN.

Universal RF 433 MHz Doorbell Receiver with SD Card MP3 Player and MQTT Bridge

Summary

  • Turns any inexpensive 433 MHz wireless button (e.g., cheap e‑bay buttons or hacked Dash buttons) into a customizable doorbell chime that works offline.
  • Core value: plug‑and‑play receiver that plays user‑chosen sounds and can optionally notify Home Assistant without any cloud dependency.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Users with existing 433 MHz buttons, hobbyists seeking a low‑cost, retrofit doorbell solution
Core Feature Decodes button ID, plays MP3 from SD card, sends MQTT message for HA integration
Tech Stack ESP32 or STM32, 433 MHz receiver module, micro‑SD card, I2S DAC/amplifier, optional MQTT client
Difficulty Low‑Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • throw234259 noted: “Here in east europe, 90% of devices you find on eshops are cheap chinese buttons with AAA batteries… The sound is not customizable.” This device adds that missing feature.
  • Solves the desire expressed by multiple commenters for a simple, locally‑controlled chime without subscriptions.

Retrofit Chime Adapter for Video Doorbells (Blink, Ring) that Triggers Local Chime and Provides Local Notifications

Summary

  • Small hardware add‑on that detects a press on an existing video doorbell and activates the mechanical chime (or a local speaker) while also publishing a local event for Home Assistant, removing the need for a separate cloud chime or subscription.
  • Core value: preserves video doorbell functionality while delivering instant, local audible feedback and avoiding extra cloud services.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Owners of Blink, Ring, or similar video doorbells who want an audible indoor chime without buying vendor‑specific chimes
Core Feature Monitors doorbell trigger voltage/current, activates relay to ring existing chime, publishes MQTT event for HA
Tech Stack ESP32, optocoupler/current sensor, relay driver, optional speaker/I2S amp, MQTT client
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • vghaisas said: “Yeah, a Blink chime is definitely a solution. But after feeling like I got a great deal on a cheap doorbell, I didn't want to buy yet another thing from them.”
  • Directly tackles latency concerns (BLKNSLVR) and the annoyance of relying on multiple cloud services just to hear a doorbell indoors.

Repurposed Amazon Dash Button / ESP32 Doorbell Button for Local Home Automation

Summary

  • Uses a modified Amazon Dash button (or a cheap ESP32‑based button) to publish a local MQTT event when pressed, which Home Assistant can map to any action: play a chime on any speaker, flash lights, or send a local push notification.
  • Core value: ultra‑low‑cost, wireless button that enables fully local automation without any cloud account or subscription.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Hackers with spare Dash buttons, DIYers wanting a inexpensive wireless trigger for home automation
Core Feature Button (custom firmware) sends MQTT payload; Home Assistant automation plays MP3 on local speakers or triggers other actions
Tech Stack ESP32 (or reflashed Dash button with custom firmware), local MQTT broker, Home Assistant
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • KPGv2 described hacking a Dash button: “I hacked one so I could… send a ping to a server via a simple click.” This idea repurposes that same concept for a doorbell.
  • VladVladikoff wanted “a button I could slap when I sit down at my desk that sets off an hour timer”; the same button can serve as a doorbell trigger, showing flexibility.

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