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[macrock-blog1]

How I Make My Own Smart Door Lock!

When I came to college and stayed in a dorm one thing I thoroughly enjoyed was the electronic card access system.

I felt that I was truly living in the information age when I moved to a campus apartment I was very sad to find out that I had to use a key when entering and leaving everyday I had to suffer using keys I also had friends who were lazy and didn't bother to lock the door.

I miss the convenience of an electronic lock if this were 2014 I would have bought an elegant solution like lockitron or kevo because it wasn't I had to do this the hard way since I wanted to continue to use the technology.

I already had I looked online and set my sights on HIDs largest reader a maxi box it is used at several locations on campus for parking and retails for $400.

The long range allows drivers to scan their cards with ease I set up an alert on eBay and eventually escorted from a junkyard sale for just $13 the large coil size allows it to read through the wall exposing nothing on the outside next I wanted a deadbolt that can be controlled remotely this morning industry deadbolt was the cheapest.

I could find with a remote control is actually fairly complex with its own worm gear microcontroller antenna and radio receiver but all of that is transparent to the user with a bit of experimenting I found out that I could apply a voltage and the remote would transmit the stage was now set all I needed now was a microcontroller and state machine.

I created one state for each permutation and two more for locking and unlocking I read my diagram in lucid chart and fleshed out the transitions from this diagram.

I wrote the program to run on the microcontroller in practice the state machine works very well can even handle weird cases like this one at home the situation is a bit different instead of a dead bolt there are solenoids and furthermore there are two doors instead of one on the upper floor there is a magic button and when pressed it closes a low voltage AC circuit and causes the solenoid pin to buzz.

This buzzing sounded ugly at commercial buildings unlocking the door produces an elegant DC click I did some experimenting and rewired the house the end result was that now instead of wasting time fidgeting the keys the doors would click and I could simply push them open this really helps when it's dark outside to top it off.

I wanted to log all entries to the Internet my first prototype had an incredibly long chain that proved to be unreliable and hard to set up but with 2013 came the advent of the electric in pins ively this made my chain much shorter and much easier to program with the pin counts so low.

I could remove the Arduino completely to make the front end for my logs I started with the basic HTML page and just to did elements from here. I use the XY's a JavaScript REST API to update these elements to the latest values I then used a little bit of CSS in an open source JavaScript timeline to display history of entrances and exits all in real time. If I wanted to I could add a bunch of other features I could create more keys for lockouts and for friends I could have used Bluetooth 4.0 I showed that my lock used to trigger other devices I'll leave it up to your imaginatio.

If you don’t have the time and knowledge to build your own smart door lock then head over to this review and buy a smart lock for your home.

[macrock-blog1]

Top 10 Most Expensive Weddings Ceremony In The World

Think your dream wedding is gonna cost too much? You certainly won’t feel that way after watching this video. Join Macrock.tumblr.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Most Expensive Weddings Ceremony In The World.

For this list that we’ve gathered here today, we’ll be looking at the astronomical price tags some celebrities racked up to join in holy matrimony. We not only looked at who spent the most money, but how that money was spent in creating the most lavish ways to love, honor, and cherish a significant other. You may now kiss your checkbook.

10. Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel (2012)

Estimated cost: $6.5 million

How much would you spend to keep your big day private? When you’re young, in love, and Justin Timberlake, the answer is many millions. Set at the picturesque Borgo Egnazia in Italy, Timberlake called his special day with Jessica Biel, “magical,” and even serenaded his bride-to-be down the aisle.

However, no one got to catch a glimpse of that magic until the couple released the photos to People Magazine. How did the bride and groom keep things so secret? It’s reported that Timberlake booked the entire hotel where the ceremony took place AND told the paparazzi “Bye Bye Bye” by paying neighboring businesses to shut down during the ceremony.

9. Liza Minnelli & David Gest (2002)

Estimated cost: $3.5 - $4.2 million

Why settle for a DJ when you can get a 60 piece orchestra? We never expected anything less from Liza Minnelli. The actress/singer spared no expense for her fourth, and final, marriage when she walked down the aisle with David Gest. Elizabeth Taylor served as the Maid of Honor while Michael Jackson stepped in as the Best Man.

Surrounded by over half a million dollars worth of flowers and several hundred guests. Who each received personalized favors that read “Liza and David 4ever�� it was a picture perfect ceremony for the new bride and groom... who separated the very next year.

8. Elizabeth Taylor & Larry Fortensky (1991)

Estimated cost: $2 - $4 million

A Hollywood legend and a construction worker: a combination no one expected, but a union that led to one of the most talked about weddings of the 90s. The ever-glamorous Elizabeth Taylor married her seventh – and final – husband, Larry Fortensky, in 1991.

While the two only stayed married for five years, their wedding was a huge, celebrity packed event, especially with it taking place at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. MJ, by the way, also stood in as the Father of the Bride. Who wouldn't skydive into a wedding like this to snag some pictures?

7. Wayne Rooney & Coleen McLoughlin (2008)

Estimated cost: $8 - $8.8 million

This world-renowned footballer started dating his wife-to-be, columnist Coleen McLoughlin, at the age of 16. Unbeknownst to the couple, their teenage dream would become a happily ever after. While the guest list hovered around 60 people, Rooney paid for all of their expenses, which included: private flights to the gorgeous city of Genoa, luxury hotel rooms, and a private yacht for the reception.

The groom also hired Coleen’s favorite band, “Westlife” which was reported to cost about $700,000. The couple now live in sweet marital bliss with two children and fond memories of their dream wedding.

6. Vikram Chatwall & Priya Sachdev (2006)

Estimated cost: $20 million

Nicknamed “The Turban Cowboy,” it was a surprise to everyone to see Vikram Chatwall, a successful hotelier and actor, getting married ¬– though pressure from dear ol’ dad and falling for model, Priya Sachdev, may have helped him say “I do.” Vikram was known for his partying lifestyle, so of course, his own wedding would be a lavish affair where money was no object.

Reportedly lasting for ten days and in three different cities with festivities beginning on Valentine’s Day, the wedding was viewed by 600 guests, with big names- including former US President Bill Clinton- being flown from 26 different countries around the world.

5. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan & Sheikha Salama (1981)

Estimated cost: $45 million

If you think your ideal venue is too pricey, think again. Not only was this prince's wedding a weeklong event; it took place at a 20,000-seat stadium built specifically for the occasion. Oh, and it came complete with 20 bedazzled camels and other outrageous wedding flare.

At least the couple, when they went horseback riding to various towns, gave food and other goods to their people. We bet the two still talk about this moment, even after over 30 years of marriage... and the realization that, adjusted for inflation, their wedding would cost 100 million dollars today.

4. Prince William & Kate Middleton (2011)

Estimated cost: $34 million

Probably the grandest ceremony this millennium, people waited with baited breath for this fairy tale marriage to come to life. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and the eldest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, began dating Kate Middleton in 2003. Despite breaking up in 2007, the two got back together and were engaged in 2010.

This led to a huge, televised wedding, complete with 2,500 guests at Westminster Abbey and people lining the streets to try and catch a glimpse of the couple. While the ceremony garnered a hefty price tag, an estimated 32 million dollars went to security alone.

3. Kim Kardashian & Kanye West (2014)

Estimated cost: $12 - $30 million

She’s a reality TV star. He’s a Kanye West. While we’re not surprised at the hefty price tag of the wedding, we are surprised that it was somehow more extravagant than the two-part television event of Kim and Kris Humphries’ wedding. 

The Kardashian and West union may not have been televised live, but it was still a phenomenal event, with a $500,000 wedding dress, $250,000 to transport guests to the ceremony in Italy, a seven-foot tall wedding cake, and a reception that took place in two different countries. That Italian venue, by the way? $410,000!

2. Vanisha Mittal & Amit Bhatia (2004)

Estimated cost: $78 million

When you’re the only daughter of the owner of the world’s largest steel company, sit on his board of directors, and marry one of the most influential men in Britain... you’re entitled to a fabulous wedding- a fabulously expensive one! In this five day spectacular event, the wine alone cost 1.5 million dollars! 

Flying in top chefs to prepare over 100 dishes, host and charter 1,000 guests, a stunning venue, security, and the various performances that went on throughout the week, and you’ve got yourself a $78 million extravaganza!

1. Prince Charles and Lady Diana (1981)

Estimated cost: $110 million

A real life fairytale wedding, our number one pick is the most legendary wedding that the world has ever seen. With 3,500 guests –1,000 more than turned out for Prince William in 2011– the wedding took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral. 

Billed as the wedding of the century, around 750 million people watched the event on TV with 600,000 more lining the streets to try and catch a glimpse of the couple. From Diana’s breath-taking dress ¬– complete with a 25-foot train – to the 30 cakes and abundant amount of security, it was the most expensive wedding of all time.