Beginning to transition to a smart home

[Tre4ISU]

We recently just bought a new house and we need a few things like a doorbell, possibly a security system and cameras. I figure since neither one of us has more than an echo dot, it's a good time to figure out what path we want to go down. I've looked at Nest and Ring but I'm just wondering what some of the experts think is the right direction to go here. Like I said, we have just about nothing invested so we are a blank slate.

 

[3GenClone]

The best investment I’ve made was actually with our Schlage deadbolt lock on our front door. It’s been really great not having to carry around house keys & I can lock my door with a push of a button (on the lock itself). Its Smart-capable, but requires a Samsung hub so it’s not compatible with my Amazon Echo devices. I haven’t purchased that hub yet ($50), but I haven’t had the need to lock/unlock the door with my phone or via voice command yet.

 

[alarson]

For lights, i've been a fan of the caseta lights system. As opposed to something like hue, you install them in place of your existing switches, so you still have the option of using built-in dimmer switches but also get the smart abilities.

Its not as simple as screwing in a hue bulb, but changing out light switches is relatively simple, And if a bulb goes bad you don't have to pay hue prices just to replace it.

 

[Cychl82]

We recently just bought a new house and we need a few things like a doorbell, possibly a security system and cameras. I figure since neither one of us has more than an echo dot, it's a good time to figure out what path we want to go down. I've looked at Nest and Ring but I'm just wondering what some of the experts think is the right direction to go here. Like I said, we have just about nothing invested so we are a blank slate.

We put the Nest in all our new homes and seems to be something that all buyers really enjoy as an extra feature.

 

[3TrueFans]

Buy a hub first is my piece of advice, decide on zigbee vs zwave, There are a number of competing hubs with pros and cons, Samsung SmartThings, Echo Plus, Hubitat, homeassistant is Open source more DIY, Apple HomeKit.

There are tons of devices that are WiFi and don’t need a hub, but your whole system will end up being piecemeal and annoying to make a cohesive home. They also will have congestion issues when you get a lot of devices added. Zwave and zigbee devices create their own mesh network, the more devices you get the stronger the network gets.

I’m using a Samsung hub with echos for voice commands, slowly adding more devices. I just got it setup so I can control my garage door with Alexa and SmartThings sends my wife and I a text if the garage got left open past a certain time at night.

 

[Rabbuk]

Buy a hub first is my piece of advice, decide on zigbee vs zwave, There are a number of competing hubs with pros and cons, Samsung SmartThings, Echo Plus, Hubitat, homeassistant is Open source more DIY, Apple HomeKit.

There are tons of devices that are WiFi and don’t need a hub, but your whole system will end up being piecemeal and annoying to make a cohesive home. They also will have congestion issues when you get a lot of devices added. Zwave and zigbee devices create their own mesh network, the more devices you get the stronger the network gets.

I’m using a Samsung hub with echos for voice commands, slowly adding more devices. I just got it setup so I can control my garage door with Alexa and SmartThings sends my wife and I a text if the garage got left open past a certain time at night.

this sounds like dr. seuss.

 

[3TrueFans]

this sounds like dr. seuss.

Make sure your Snortle doesn’t clash with your Zimbat.

 

[Rabbuk]

Make sure your Snortle doesn’t clash with your Zimbat.

Either that or new pronouns.

 

[3TrueFans]

The best investment I’ve made was actually with our Schlage deadbolt lock on our front door. It’s been really great not having to carry around house keys & I can lock my door with a push of a button (on the lock itself). Its Smart-capable, but requires a Samsung hub so it’s not compatible with my Amazon Echo devices. I haven’t purchased that hub yet ($50), but I haven’t had the need to lock/unlock the door with my phone or via voice command yet.

I don’t have one yet but the lock should work with Alexa even if it needs a hub, I know some of the Schlage ones do for sure. But maybe only certain models?

 

[Dopey]

This sounds cool, but complicated. What's the benefit? Energy efficiency, security, convenience, etc?

 

[ISUAgronomist]

This sounds cool, but complicated. What's the benefit? Energy efficiency, security, convenience, etc?

Make it easier for the Gov't to listen in and take over control of the entire house

 

[imaclone2]

I hate when my schlage doesn't work.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

The best investment I’ve made was actually with our Schlage deadbolt lock on our front door. It’s been really great not having to carry around house keys & I can lock my door with a push of a button (on the lock itself). Its Smart-capable, but requires a Samsung hub so it’s not compatible with my Amazon Echo devices. I haven’t purchased that hub yet ($50), but I haven’t had the need to lock/unlock the door with my phone or via voice command yet.

We got one this past spring and I wish I'd purchased it sooner. I like being able to choose different length passcodes. I also like the option to have multiple passcodes that you can let a friend or family member use while still keeping your original code exclusive to your immediate family.

For my daughter, it also provides the security of having her just opening the front door versus the garage door when coming home from school. I've never been a fan of having a kid access their house by a garage door, especially if there are no cars inside. I'm not super nervous, but it feels like a really easy was for someone to prey on a kid since they are so routine.

 

[BCClone]

I installed a card reader door lock. Don’t need to stay up until the kids get home. Just have to see when they swipe in.

 

[3GenClone]

My next Smart home device is going to be a NEXX garage opener. We have an older garage door that only has one wireless remote control and the exterior button pad doesn’t work when the temp is below 40-degrees. I could buy a universal opener for around $40, but this opener works with Alexa and also can be programmed via GPS. Right now I have some of my Hue lights trigger to turn on when I’m getting close to home so I’m hoping I can program something similar to have my garage open/close based on my phones proximity.


I’ve also been looking at getting at least one Wyze camera for security. They are super cheap ($20), and don’t require a subscription. They record to local SD card, are compatible with Alexa, can record when motion is detected, and can also be viewed live. The only problem is figuring out where to place it since it only seems rated for indoor use.

https://wyze.com/wyze-cam.html

Another must-have is replace some of your outlets with outlets+USB. They aren’t technically “smart” capable, but they are super convenient for charging devices. They only cost around $20-30 each and are really easy to install. We put some in our old house (bedrooms and living room) and I think that was a small selling point. I have some in my basement to charge my iPhone and my Xbox controller.

 

[CysRage]

Get a Smart thermostat. It's nice to be able to turn up (or down) the thermostat when we are on our way home from a trip and easily adjust the temperature schedule settings on my phone. We got ours for free after rebates since we got a rebate from MidAmerican for the gas furnace ($75) and Alliant for the electric AC ($75). We have the Emerson Sensi Thermostat.

We also have Ring Doorbell and Home Alarm system. The doorbell camera is nice so we know when it's solicitors at the door and see packages arrive. The package for cloud storage and the home alarm system professional monitoring is only $100 per year and I got all of the hardware for under $250.

 

[3TrueFans]

My next Smart home device is going to be a NEXX garage opener. We have an older garage door that only has one wireless remote control and the exterior button pad doesn’t work when the temp is below 40-degrees. I could buy a universal opener for around $40, but this opener works with Alexa and also can be programmed via GPS. Right now I have some of my Hue lights trigger to turn on when I’m getting close to home so I’m hoping I can program something similar to have my garage open/close based on my phones proximity.


I’ve also been looking at getting at least one Wyze camera for security. They are super cheap ($20), and don’t require a subscription. They record to local SD card, are compatible with Alexa, can record when motion is detected, and can also be viewed live. The only problem is figuring out where to place it since it only seems rated for indoor use.

https://wyze.com/wyze-cam.html

Another must-have is replace some of your outlets with outlets+USB. They aren’t technically “smart” capable, but they are super convenient for charging devices. They only cost around $20-30 each and are really easy to install. We put some in our old house (bedrooms and living room) and I think that was a small selling point. I have some in my basement to charge my iPhone and my Xbox controller.

I bought a $14 WiFi relay that’s Alexa compatible, wired it into my decade old garage door opener. I think Amazon links are still broken here but search for “EACHEN WiFi wireless I Ching relay” on amazon.

 

[Gunnerclone]

We recently just bought a new house and we need a few things like a doorbell, possibly a security system and cameras. I figure since neither one of us has more than an echo dot, it's a good time to figure out what path we want to go down. I've looked at Nest and Ring but I'm just wondering what some of the experts think is the right direction to go here. Like I said, we have just about nothing invested so we are a blank slate.

Sounds you moved in to a rough area. Good luck.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I bought a $14 WiFi relay that’s Alexa compatible, wired it into my decade old garage door opener. I think Amazon links are still broken here but search for “EACHEN WiFi wireless I Ching relay” on amazon.

 

[somecyguy]

I'll throw my 2 cents in on the camera side. I went with BlueIris software for managing our security cameras. https://blueirissoftware.com/

I'm not interested in paying a monthly fee or having someone watching footage of my property, so everything is local. Plus, I can add different cameras models/brands to it as I choose.