9

Upgrade your humble letterbox with push notifications

TUTORIAL

pip install https://github.com/nithinmurali/

pygsheets/archive/master.zip

To authenticate with the Google Sheets API, the

script uses OAuth, so be sure the oauth2client is

installed on your system by typing:

pip install --upgrade oauth2client

Once that’s done, you’re ready to install the main

Python script from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/paulfp/Letterbox-

Push-Notification.git

This will download the script into a new directory

called Letterbox-Push-Notification within the Pi

user’s home directory. Make sure the magnetic

sensor is in the closed state and you can now run

the Python script like this:

cd ~/Letterbox-Push-Notification

python letterbox.py

When you first run the script, there will be a

brief pause whilst it connects to Google. Once

done, you’ll see ‘Letterbox is closed’ printed to the

Terminal. Test it out by moving the magnet away

from the switch and back again. When you do this,

Right

For a less obtrusive

look, pop open the

case to reveal the

magnet, and stick

this to your letterbox

Below

Position the magnet

and switch with

Blu Tack and, once

you’ve confirmed the

distances are correct,

you can use some hot

glue to hold in place

It’s a good idea to set

a static IP on your

network (outside

your router’s DHCP

range), so that

weeks later and after

several reboots,

your Pi will still be

accessible via the

same IP address.

QUICK TIP