Home Automation

[dsad1]

Curious if anyone on here is into home automation, and what you are using.

I was on smartthings for a while, but now fully on homeseer and haven't looked back.

I use it with Hue, myq, google, amazon, ecobee, doorbird, life360, sonos, harmony, life360, and blue iris. House has motion, open/close. temperture, and lux sensors everywhere triggering different things all the time.


Would like to know what others are using and how they are enjoying it.

[Grumpy Old Man]

I have some Sono's speakers on my covered front porch and back deck above the hot tub. I use a Nest thermostat and Nest smoke detectors. I won't be getting any of that shit that listens to me, Alexa etc. I have a friend into it and it's a bit creepy, both his love of it and the fact that it's always listening. I know that law firms are forbidding them in their offices for security reasons. I'm not paranoid, but I seriously suggest that everyone who's thinking about it think long and hard about what you bring into your home.

[dsad1]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Old Man

I have some Sono's speakers on my covered front porch and back deck above the hot tub. I use a Nest thermostat and Nest smoke detectors. I won't be getting any of that shit that listens to me, Alexa etc. I have a friend into it and it's a bit creepy, both his love of it and the fact that it's always listening. I know that law firms are forbidding them in their offices for security reasons. I'm not paranoid, but I seriously suggest that everyone who's thinking about it think long and hard about what you bring into your home.

It's technically not always listening, you have to trigger it to listen. At least that is what they say, are they lying to us? Very possible. But at the same time your phone, your tv, your computer, you car, can always be listening as well.

[Grumpy Old Man]

Originally Posted by dsad1

It's technically not always listening, you have to trigger it to listen. At least that is what they say, are they lying to us? Very possible. But at the same time your phone, your tv, your computer, you car, can always be listening as well.

Sorry, I don't trust Google or any of the others for that matter. I don't have hey Siri turned on, and fact only use Siri when I'm drinking and want to be an Ass.....try it sometime, Hey Siri, Google gay midget porn.....always good for a laugh.

I don't have a "smart tv" so it isn't listening, see Google porn. I don't think my computer is listening to me, I know my kids don't. Anyway, I know for a fact that Law Firms won't have Alexa in their offices. Just my paranoid 2 cents.....and remember, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you're not being followed.

[dsad1]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Old Man

Sorry, I don't trust Google or any of the others for that matter. I don't have hey Siri turned on, and fact only use Siri when I'm drinking and want to be an Ass.....try it sometime, Hey Siri, Google gay midget porn.....always good for a laugh.

I don't have a "smart tv" so it isn't listening, see Google porn. I don't think my computer is listening to me, I know my kids don't. Anyway, I know for a fact that Law Firms won't have Alexa in their offices. Just my paranoid 2 cents.....and remember, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you're not being followed.

I don't think your paranoid, I mostly agree. I myself have given up though, google knows more about me than I do. I decided at this point I might as well enjoy the convenience and not worry about it as much. Maybe deep down it also makes me a better person because I question if someone is always watching me.

[Grumpy Old Man]

Originally Posted by dsad1

I don't think your paranoid, I mostly agree. I myself have given up though, google knows more about me than I do. I decided at this point I might as well enjoy the convenience and not worry about it as much. Maybe deep down it also makes me a better person because I question if someone is always watching me.

Oh, you're being watched my friend.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Old Man

Sorry, I don't trust Google or any of the others for that matter. I don't have hey Siri turned on, and fact only use Siri when I'm drinking and want to be an Ass.....try it sometime, Hey Siri, Google gay midget porn.....always good for a laugh.

I don't have a "smart tv" so it isn't listening, see Google porn. I don't think my computer is listening to me, I know my kids don't. Anyway, I know for a fact that Law Firms won't have Alexa in their offices. Just my paranoid 2 cents.....and remember, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you're not being followed.

And who do you think owns Nest?......Google. I sparingly allow these cloud based systems into my home.

[zx10guy]

Nest users should take note:

https://www.cnet.com/news/google-cal...hone-an-error/

[Clark_Kent]

Unfortunately, I use the individual apps to control all of my products (Nest, Vivint, MyQ, Rainbird, Bose, Sonos, Leviton, etc.). I searched extensively for a single source home automation solution or hub but I couldn't find one to my liking. My issue is Homeseer, Intuity, Wink, and others do not support all products on the market so you're pushed into products you either don't want or like for the sake of having them all "connected". Perhaps something exists but I gave up looking some time ago and my current setup works just fine.

[dsad1]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

Unfortunately, I use the individual apps to control all of my products (Nest, Vivint, MyQ, Rainbird, Bose, Sonos, Leviton, etc.). I searched extensively for a single source home automation solution or hub but I couldn't find one to my liking. My issue is Homeseer, Intuity, Wink, and others do not support all products on the market so you're pushed into products you either don't want or like for the sake of having them all "connected". Perhaps something exists but I gave up looking some time ago and my current setup works just fine.

Out of the above, I think vivint would be the only one not supported by homeseer or smartthings.

[Clark_Kent]

Originally Posted by dsad1

Out of the above, I think vivint would be the only one not supported by homeseer or smartthings.

The Nest Lock by Yale is likely not supported either. I haven't found one that supports it. Some of these hubs support some of the Nest products but not all. The last I checked you had to perform some workaround for the Nest cameras to work with SmartThings. I wasn't interested in a hack to make it work. If something comes up with seamless integration, I'll jump on it. Until then, I'll control everything by the individual apps.

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

Unfortunately, I use the individual apps to control all of my products (Nest, Vivint, MyQ, Rainbird, Bose, Sonos, Leviton, etc.). I searched extensively for a single source home automation solution or hub but I couldn't find one to my liking. My issue is Homeseer, Intuity, Wink, and others do not support all products on the market so you're pushed into products you either don't want or like for the sake of having them all "connected". Perhaps something exists but I gave up looking some time ago and my current setup works just fine.

You should think about ditching that rainbird and get the hunter hydrawise. Instead of only being able to access it locally you can access any where. Also has leak detection and uses weather instead of just a rain sensor, this allows it to be proactive instead of reactive.

[Clark_Kent]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

You should think about ditching that rainbird and get the hunter hydrawise. Instead of only being able to access it locally you can access any where. Also has leak detection and uses weather instead of just a rain sensor, this allows it to be proactive instead of reactive.

Thank you for the tip but I'm not interested as it works extremely well for what I need it to do. The Hydrawise may very well be better but the Rainbird system I have has smart integration as well. I can access it anywhere in the world via the app to start, stop, modify zones, modify/set run programs, etc.

[RoarinRow]

Question for me is what home automation do I don't have. I have/had most all the popular home automation products. I would say my most used are:

- Nest Indoor and Outdoor cameras and Hello Doorbell
- Nest Thermostat and Smoke detectors
- August Smart Locks with bridge
- Alexa in home and cars
- Automatic OBDC adapter which integrates with IFTT apps - https://ifttt.com/
- Philips Hue with bridge
- IFTT automation integration
- Wink Hub with connection to lights, Wemo outlets, Chamberlain garage, etc.

With Alexa I basically control all my other remaining home automation products with voice commands and so do my kids.

Stuff I set and forget:
- Rachio Sprinkler System
- ECOVAC

What I don't have is Google Home or Alexa Show.

[Patrick303]

I'm trying to build out my home automation now. I use SmartThings primarily at my current house, but I'm moving into my new home next month and plan to switch it up. SmartThings has been decent and integrates with a lot of different brands, but it seems a bit slow to respond a lot.

In the new house I plan to use Ring and Apple HomeKit mostly. I'm going with Ring security system, PoE cameras, and doorbell. And I'm hoping Apple HomeKit will be able to cover most of my home automation: Yale Assure locks, Nest thermostats, Chamberlain garage door openers, smart TVs, Sonos, probably Hunter Douglas automated window shades, and Roomba. I know it won't support everything so I'll end up using a few of the separate native apps.

Has anyone wall-mounted an iPad for home control? I'm looking at different mounts available. So far I'm leaning towards the Magnetix mount (https://www.maclocks.com/magnetix-wall-mount.html) because it just uses a magnet so I can quickly remove from the wall and bring with me if I want to carry it into the kitchen to use to display a recipe or something. I just wish it was a bit more of a flush mount to the wall.

[dreamingat30fps]

I currently have one of the older smartthings hubs, but most of my recent devices have been wifi with alexa support. I'm honestly pretty frustrated with smartthings. It goes through phases where it just doesn't work reliably. Shit wont do what it's suppose to or theres a massive delay. Then it can work fine for months.

At this point I don't have many devices left that require smartthings like zigbee and zwave so I may have to switch off smartthings or switch out the devices I do have for wifi alexa devices. I find alexa integrated stuff way easier to setup, faster to respond and have less issues in general.

[GenXer]

I have several complimentary systems> most of which work with HOMEKIT

HUE for certain lights
WEMO for wall switches
Kasa for wall sockets -- they were selling them for $5 a piece
August lock
Alexa - Dots & Shows
SIRI -- Homepods + Apple devices
Apple TV act as a hub for HOMEKIT
MyQ garage
Honeywell Wifi thermostat
Wifi home alarm system
Wyze security cameras
Ring door bell camera
Harmony universal remote

I want to automate my gas fireplace switch but the system is DC operated with a battery back up so I don't know what to use with it. (the fireplace and gas valve can be controlled without main electricity.)

[Kolyan2k]

I use Ecobee for thermostats, much better then Nest. Lutron Caseta series of controls (the best), Eufy floodlights/cameras and doorbell, smart garage controls coming in March (new doors and side motors), bunch of Google Assistants (hub, speakers, and TVs, soundbar). I didn't bother with Euffy lock because I never use front door anyway and it already has code lock installed. Also bought GE smart plug to control humidifier in kids bedroom.
Would like to get smart blinds from Lutron but they are pretty expensive so probably gonna pass

[Mach550]

Is there a way to do home automation but all local? I'd like to get motorized blinds for my windows and then move in to other things like lighting. I don't want to bring alexa or whatever the other services are into my house.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Mach550

Is there a way to do home automation but all local?

Hubitat's main selling feature is running things locally. Check out their online community to see if the blinds you're considering are supported either natively or via a third-party integration...and whether that integration has any cloud dependency.

FWIW, Hubitat was started by a group of Samsung SmartThings owners who grew tired of Samsung's cloud crashing and breaking their smart houses.....

[Our03z4]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Old Man

I have some Sono's speakers on my covered front porch and back deck above the hot tub. I use a Nest thermostat and Nest smoke detectors. I won't be getting any of that shit that listens to me, Alexa etc. I have a friend into it and it's a bit creepy, both his love of it and the fact that it's always listening. I know that law firms are forbidding them in their offices for security reasons. I'm not paranoid, but I seriously suggest that everyone who's thinking about it think long and hard about what you bring into your home.

Only place I have Alexa is in the garage. I like that I can tell it to play music, change stations without having to use grungy hands and the biggest thing is it can call my wife if needed (say the car falls on me). I got it free from SiriusXM when I renewed so I figured that's the best place to put it. If it wants to spy on me yelling at rusty bolts then by all means.

I do have smart cameras by Wyze but only on the outside of the house, no way would I put cams inside. Our TV's are all smart but again none have cameras. My wife has considered it to watch our pets through the day since one has a life threatening illness but I'm not keen on the idea for multiple reasons.

I also have smart plugs for the garage which controls all the lighting and one inside the house. 3 smart bulbs are also on the system but I plan on changing those back in the near future.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Only place I have Alexa is in the garage. I like that I can tell it to play music, change stations without having to use grungy hands and the biggest thing is it can call my wife if needed (say the car falls on me). I got it free from SiriusXM when I renewed so I figured that's the best place to put it. If it wants to spy on me yelling at rusty bolts then by all means.

I do have smart cameras by Wyze but only on the outside of the house, no way would I put cams inside. Our TV's are all smart but again none have cameras. My wife has considered it to watch our pets through the day since one has a life threatening illness but I'm not keen on the idea for multiple reasons.

I also have smart plugs for the garage which controls all the lighting and one inside the house. 3 smart bulbs are also on the system but I plan on changing those back in the near future.

We have blink cameras mounted all the time outside. However since we travel a lot I have 2 extra blink cams that I keep inside a drawer when we are home but take them out when we leave for longer trips.