The Smart Home

In this episode, Wes and Scott talk about the Smart Home — all the different tech available, how it works together, pitfalls to avoid, hardware, software, and more!

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Show Notes

2:25 - The tech

• Wifi devices
• Zigbee
  • Can operator on low power
  • Usually Cheaper
  • Water Sensor, door sensor, temperature
• iOS
  • HomeKit sucks
  • You need an Apple TV or iPad to access outside of your house

9:13 - Controlling your smart home

• Smart Things
• Home Assistant
  • Host your own
  • Lots of add-ons
  • You need to babysit it
• Android
  • Google Assistant
• Google Pixel squeeze to assistant is way better than saying “Hey Google”.
• Google Home
  • Google Home is awesome
  • Custom sayings with IFTTT
  • Custom via Routines
• Alexa

23:52 - Software

• Stringify
• IFTTT
  • Basic automations
  • Makers accounts
  • Web hooks to trigger actions
• Homebridge
  • Make non-iOS stuff work with HomeKit
  • Swipe up control is nice

28:15 - Hardware

• Light Switches
  • Leviton
  • Lutron
• Bulbs
  • LIFX
  • Philips Hue
    • AMAZING
    • Much cheaper now than before
• Blinds
• Chromecast — turn the TV off
• Plugs
  • Wemo
  • Leviton
  • Sonoff
• Power strip
  • Change each plug or have timers
• Thermostat
  • Ecobee 3 Lite
  • Ecobee 4 with Alexa
  • Nest
  • Nest-E
• Cameras
  • Ring Doorbells
  • Ring Flood Light Camera
    • Super slow to open the app
  • Wyze cameras
    • Small one
    • Larger Panning Camera
• Mesh Wifi
  • Google Wifi
  • Amplifi
• Fire Alarms / CO2
  • Nest Protect
  • Dumb
  • Lithium
• Garage Door Opener
• Non-connected “smart items”
  • Solar powered lights on a timer. No app needed, no WiFi connection needed
  • Roomba - meh. We play “find the body” when it comes home.
  • Locks - Code based lights

67:32 - What we want in the future

• Scott
  • Motion sensors
  • Door sensors
  • Locks
  • Blinds
  • More bulbs
• Wes
  • Fireplace
  • Constantly recording cameras
  • Sensors galore
    • Windows open
    • Doors open
    • Garage door
  • Zigbee Hub
  • Xiaomi Sensors
    • Gear Best

Links

• Sanity
• Stackbit
• Google Home Mini
• Amazon Echo
• Google Pixel
• Apple Homepod
• Raspberry Pi
• GearBest

××× SIIIIICK ××× PIIIICKS ×××

• Scott: Philips Hue
• Wes: All the recommendations from above

Shameless Plugs

• Scott’s Level Up Pro
• Wes’ Courses

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