Smart home thread
 

Anyone else having fun working up some of the “smart home” stuff?

I use an amazon Alexa. Well better said the wife and kids do. I set up a Harmony hub and remote and lutron light switches to integrate the various devices into a single command group.

“Alexia, I want to watch TV.” TV on, input av1 set box on, sound system on to level 4, change to 504.

Alexia, I want to watch Netflix. TV on. Hdmi2 Sound on. Fire on, ping remote , room lights to level 5.

Real easy to go from there.


So far so good Things have gone on as advertised. I expected more cloud related issues but so far No.

Just make sure you update the firmware of all the devices and install a good firewall and packet sniffer.

Yes! Connected homes are a cyber security nightmare.

Yea, ^ what they said.

I just almost complete my built-in A/V cabinet. I'm running a Harmony Hub in it with Harmony Elite remote. Next I'll be building flush raised panel doors to complete the cabinet. This built-in is in the entrance to our mudroom which is connected to the family room where TV and ceiling speakers (Martin Logan) are installed.

Attachment 56949Attachment 56950

I’ve done a little smart, but for different system. I have all of my exterior lights on Lutron Casetta switches with blue tooth connectivity. I have all but one set to turn on at dusk based on my zip code. All turn off at 11:30. Or can be controlled via bedside table remote switches or phone. One driveway flood is set to turn on when I come home if after dusk. Another side benefit is I can see what lights are on and control them from anywhere in the world with internet.

System was as easy as replacing switches and has been error free. 5 circuits investment was about $300 total.

Vranko,
Looks nice, but I don't see vents for cooling in there. If you're going to put in doors, your equipment will last longer with adequate cooling.

Will do. What risks do I have with the present equipment other than the alexa?

Personally, I find the whole idea of voice control worthless and a gimmick </get off my lawn>

I use home automation to simplify and automate everyday tasks. I run free Axial home automation software on my server (it stays on 24x7 and has battery backup) in combination with an array of Z-wave and older X10 switches and modules (slowly replacing these with z-wave also). The server software has an app interface so I can access all my lights and thermostats from my phone. It has a powerful scenes editor that is capable of way more than I use it for. I have some lights that come on at dusk and go off at dawn and in the summer the temperatures are raised during the day and lowered at night (not for any savings, just for our comfort).

But mostly this is to fix the idiotic way my house it wired. For example, the dining room has a wall switch at the entrance that turns on fireplace lights at the end of the room, then a separate switch half way down the wall the turns on accent lights at the other end of the room and finally another few feet down the wall a switch the controls the lights over the dining table. Z-wave allowed my to group all the lights together so that the switch at the entrance now turns off and on all the lights in the room, while I can still control lights individually with other switches.

Same in the kitchen. There were separate switches for 6 main recessed lights, 2 island recessed lights and light over the sink. Each switch is located in a different corner of the kitchen. Turning lights off and on was a nightmare. Z-wave allows me to group the switches so a single switch at the entrance turns on and off all the lights.

In the living room I have several rails of overhead lights that were way too bright when turned on. Now they are all preset to come on at partial brightness. The lights behind the TV are set to come on and go off with overhead lights.

In the home theater the lights are controlled with an Aeon Labs remote control so I can dim them from the couch without having to get up.

My server is also running video surveillance software connected to outside IP cameras at the front door and in the backyard. The software automatically records HD video of any movement on the cameras and emails me screenshots. Great for knowing when someone is at the door or when a delivery arrives. Turns out it's also great as wildlife cameras, capturing countless foxes, cats, squirrels and other assorted animals :)

I run a combination of Insteon, Zmodo, generic IP cameras and a iSmartAlarm system. Kinda of tried various solutions as the technology improved over the years. So, I have a hodge podge of systems and not excited about anyone in particular.

iSmartAlarm - monitors doors and windows.
Insteon - Used primarily for Garage monitor snd control lights and garage doors (remotely too). I have cameras and control modules. Cameras to monitor garage and various rooms above the garage and control modules to open and close garage doors and turn on/off lights, ceiling fans, etc.
Zmodo - Cameras around the perimeter of house/garage with motion detection and recording.
Misc IP cameras (kinda duplicates some of the other systems....)

The Insteon system works with Alexa. Seems to work ok and allows me to turn lights on an off a various locations. I find it a little cumbersome to use. You have to speak clearly and need to be fairly close to the Alexa. She is hard of hearing when yelling across the room....lol

I like the Insteon (although kinda of proprietary tech and you must use its own devices). I have to ability to program how I want devices to work. I can make a switch control light all over the place without direct connections to those devices.

There are probably better systems out there, but I have already made an investment in what I have. So, until they stop working or become obsolete, they will have to do....

Just started using a open source product called iSpy to monitor camera. Still playing around with that for now.

Also, I have a bunch of X10 components that are a little antiquated.... Should put on Ebay...

Yeah, I forgot to list my Simplisafe alarm system with indoor cameras. I like these because 1) unlike my outdoor cameras they have good 256 bit security and 2) they have physical shields over the lenses that open and close (loudly I might add) so you can tell if someone is trying to watch you and 3) you can give the dispatch center the ability to view the cameras during alarm so if something is really going on (i.e. fire or break-in) they can call the cops or fire dept without having to waste time trying to reach us.

As far as camera apps go, I tried a bunch also, I finally settled on Onvifer, it was the most stable. Because our master bedroom looks over the back yard we can't tell what's going on out front. My solution (and the main reason I started down the camera path) was an IP camera at the front door and an old LCD monitor in the bedroom being fed by an old firestick. There are ways to install any Android app onto a firestick and Onvifer was the only one that I can leave for months at a time and it never crashes and never disconnects. If it does disconnect it automatically reconnects without any intervention from me.