Home Monitoring/ Smart Homes the thread!!!

Shifter wrote:
Donan wrote:

What's the best Home Heating System? I'm reading allot on 'ductless' systems and how much they can save you. I have a forced air system now, with a really bad temperature control(recommendation?). Will replace that, but was wondering if I should go whole hog on heating system that will save me money (soon, not long term).

Thanks

Ductless heat pump systems are the way to go these days. Can heat and cool and are very efficient. You would have to crunch the numbers and see if it makes sense money wise. If it's just the controls (thermostat) you're having trouble with you can always replace it. You can spend anywhere from 20 to 100+ and it's an easy install.

If someone might be building in the future... how would geothermal compare?

I got a Google Home this weekend and we bought a new TV for our bedroom that has a chromecast inside it already (besides being a smart TV).

The Google Home is pretty cool although I hope in the future different google accounts can be hooked up to it.

I was able to start a netflix movie on that tv through voice command!

karmajay wrote:

I got a Google Home this weekend and we bought a new TV for our bedroom that has a chromecast inside it already (besides being a smart TV).

The Google Home is pretty cool although I hope in the future different google accounts can be hooked up to it.

I was able to start a netflix movie on that tv through voice command!

Nice!! I'm very curious to see how well it works over time. I'm not sure how much I would use one, but I really want one. After I get more smart things in my house I think I will be able to justify it.

karmajay wrote:

I got a Google Home this weekend and we bought a new TV for our bedroom that has a chromecast inside it already (besides being a smart TV).

The Google Home is pretty cool although I hope in the future different google accounts can be hooked up to it.

I was able to start a netflix movie on that tv through voice command!

Wow, very cool. I had no idea TV's were coming with integrated Chromecasts. Thinking of getting a Google Home also but i'll probably wait until the next gen is released. I also need a couple of more smart things in my house for it to make sense.

So for some reason my Google Home totally reset and I had to re-set it up. Good news: It must have been an update because while setting it up it said it can now recognize multiple users by their voices! I have not tried it yet though.

karmajay wrote:

So for some reason my Google Home totally reset and I had to re-set it up. Good news: It must have been an update because while setting it up it said it can now recognize multiple users by their voices! I have not tried it yet though.

This is what I have been waiting for. Let us know how it goes!

manta173 wrote:
karmajay wrote:

So for some reason my Google Home totally reset and I had to re-set it up. Good news: It must have been an update because while setting it up it said it can now recognize multiple users by their voices! I have not tried it yet though.

This is what I have been waiting for. Let us know how it goes!

I've read that it still does not support multiple accounts for reminders and calendars though! Furthermore, if you have an Android phone in range of Home and you ask it to remind you, the Home will say "I can't do that" instead of letting the phone do it.

Google frustrates me to no end with their products. They should've leapt over Alexa right out of the gate.

Just bought my first home and would like to make security my first priority. Any recommendations for a DIY smart home security setup? If it helps, I've used mostly apple products thus far (iphone, mac mini for media, apple tv) but I'm not married to any particular brand.

I think there has been a lot of good stuff on the web posted about the Nest camera. For like 3 month (I think) it is auto loaded to the cloud from the camera and you can view it all or just "events" i.e. when movement occurs in certain zones.I also think you can talk through it as well.

I have the Netgear Arlo setup at home. You can program cameras to set off an alarm if there's motion, along with a bunch of other fancy options. Overall I really like it, but if you want actual perimeter security I'd supplement the cameras with a real thing.

I second the Arlo cameras. I have 2 currently and love them. You can connect up to 15 on the same network. You also get free 7 day cloud storage for your cameras for anything under 5. If you hit 5 cameras you need to pay monthly for the service.

I have Arlo as well, and it is a good product. My only complaint is the the wireless coverage around part of my house isn't the best. The Arlo and Arlo Pro kits run on their own WiFi -- it won't be off of your main WiFi. I have Netgear Orbi (mesh-like) for my main wifi network, but unfortunately the Arlo's cannot be extended off of it.

Yeah I was careful to set up my cameras with a good WiFi signal to the Arlo hub. For a large installation you might need more than one hub though, and I'm not sure how well such a setup works. Maybe a repeater?

Anyone have experience with the Honeywell Lyric line of thermostats and home security? I've decided to go with Apple Homekit due to already using apple products, but the compatible options are pretty lean at the moment. I think Lyric might be the only security option right now.

Sadly no. There's an Insteon hub that's homekit-compatible, so that unlocks the full Insteon line, but their coverage for security is pretty slim.

I won a Honeywell smart thermostat a couple years ago, but that was just before having our kid.

It's still sitting in the box. :\

I swapped out the 50 year old mechanical thermostat in this house with a programmable one when we moved in. Took all of about 15 minutes. I do sometimes wish we had one that was remotely controllable though, so I could turn it off/down when we went on vacation and back on a few hours before we got back to the house. Walking into a blazing hot/freezing cold house after a long trip isn't really the greatest, though it's less of a bother now that our kids are a bit older and don't lose their minds over it any more.

Just got my Ecobee3 hooked up with my new ac installation.

It's working okay, but there a couple of small issues.

1. Auto mode (ac & heat) kicks the whole system off. Both ac and heat seperate settings work. I don't know why, but it's frustrating. Is it possible my system doesn't support it?

2. Apple Home is hot garbage! I'm glad I'm not married to that as a hub going forward. The app is unbelievably confusing. It's showing several more icons than it should be for this one device. I can't believe Apple shipped such a disaster - and as part of their os too! Cripes.

PaladinTom wrote:

Just got my Ecobee3 hooked up with my new ac installation.

It's working okay, but there a couple of small issues.

1. Auto mode (ac & heat) kicks the whole system off. Both ac and heat seperate settings work. I don't know why, but it's frustrating. Is it possible my system doesn't support it?

2. Apple Home is hot garbage! I'm glad I'm not married to that as a hub going forward. The app is unbelievably confusing. It's showing several more icons than it should be for this one device. I can't believe Apple shipped such a disaster - and as part of their os too! Cripes.

You mean Apple Homekit?

Yeah I don't like it either. It's confusing and not very intuitive. Maybe I just don't know how to use it. Do you have an older HVAC system? I have a newer home and have two Ecobees and they work well.

Balthezor wrote:
PaladinTom wrote:

Just got my Ecobee3 hooked up with my new ac installation.

It's working okay, but there a couple of small issues.

1. Auto mode (ac & heat) kicks the whole system off. Both ac and heat seperate settings work. I don't know why, but it's frustrating. Is it possible my system doesn't support it?

2. Apple Home is hot garbage! I'm glad I'm not married to that as a hub going forward. The app is unbelievably confusing. It's showing several more icons than it should be for this one device. I can't believe Apple shipped such a disaster - and as part of their os too! Cripes.

You mean Apple Homekit?

Yeah I don't like it either. It's confusing and not very intuitive. Maybe I just don't know how to use it. Do you have an older HVAC system? I have a newer home and have two Ecobees and they work well.

Brand new system as of yesterday.

My biggest issue with Homekit is I can't seem to get it to connect remotely. I have a new Apple TV and that's supposed to somehow enable remote access to the home network for Homekit but it never works.

TheGameguru wrote:

My biggest issue with Homekit is I can't seem to get it to connect remotely. I have a new Apple TV and that's supposed to somehow enable remote access to the home network for Homekit but it never works.

Hmm. I didn't do anything on my Apple TV to get this to work. I just checked my iPhone from work and apparently it's working. Do you have an unusual router setup?

Also, I figured out all of the icons for the Ecobee: HomeKit creates separate "devices" for thermostats, motion detectors, and occupancy sensors. I sorted them all into appropriate rooms and it's a little more understandable. Not very intuitive for newbs though.

Darn, I closed on a house last week and was looking forward to getting Homekit running. Might have to reconsider after the feedback here.

PaladinTom wrote:

Also, I figured out all of the icons for the Ecobee: HomeKit creates separate "devices" for thermostats, motion detectors, and occupancy sensors. I sorted them all into appropriate rooms and it's a little more understandable. Not very intuitive for newbs though.

That sounds kind of like how the Insteon app works, though it also allows the creation of "scenes", which are arbitrary groupings of rooms/devices. I tend to work with these exclusively.

We recently renovated our house and wanted to make it as smart as possible and make sure the system was set up to grow with the technology as it gets developed.

I found this guide to be really useful.

Good luck!

lmk90 wrote:

We recently renovated our house and wanted to make it as smart as possible and make sure the system was set up to grow with the technology as it gets developed.

I found this guide to be really useful.

Good luck!

This is great, thanks for sharing.

Sticking with Homekit and have the August Smartlock arriving early next week. Was hoping Honeywell's Lyric security system wold be compatible with Homekit by now but the update appears to have been delayed. The previous owner had an ADT system installed so maybe I'll call ADT later today to see what their pricing looks like.

I just ordered Abode for our security system. I heard ADTs customer service and contracts are terrible. Abode is a flat fee for the equipment and if you want home monitoring, its cheap. Their deal right now is pretty good because it includes the a free year of home monitoring.

I have to try and get all my stuff to talk to each other. I got ecobee 3s, Arlo Pro, and a few smart plugs.

Balthezor wrote:

I just ordered Abode for our security system. I heard ADTs customer service and contracts are terrible. Abode is a flat fee for the equipment and if you want home monitoring, its cheap. Their deal right now is pretty good because it includes the a free year of home monitoring.

I have to try and get all my stuff to talk to each other. I got ecobee 3s, Arlo Pro, and a few smart plugs.

Let me know how it goes with Abode, please. ADT wanted me to sign a 36 month contract...nah.

mindset.threat wrote:
Balthezor wrote:

I just ordered Abode for our security system. I heard ADTs customer service and contracts are terrible. Abode is a flat fee for the equipment and if you want home monitoring, its cheap. Their deal right now is pretty good because it includes the a free year of home monitoring.

I have to try and get all my stuff to talk to each other. I got ecobee 3s, Arlo Pro, and a few smart plugs.

Let me know how it goes with Abode, please. ADT wanted me to sign a 36 month contract...nah.

Of course. I still haven't received it yet.

That's what ADT does. No upfront fees but a 36 month contract and if you leave...its bad news.

Just got my Abode system with the starter kit plus 9 more door/window sensors, wireless keypad, acoustic glass break sensor and an extra keyfob.

Set up was really easy. The gateway hub looks like a nice router. The window/door sensor is not as small as I think, but looks sleek. It looks much better than what Simplisafe offers. I'm not sure what sensors ADT uses.

Wireless keypad looks simple but sleek. Much better than the Simplisafe keypad. I don't think I need the glass break sensor. I got it because my front door has plenty of small windows, which someone could easily break and open the door. But I got a door sensor there too.

iPhone app is really nice and easy to use. Plus this is free. I know my local security company would charge extra for smart features/phone access. I think Simplisafe charges extra for this too, not sure.

I'm testing out IFFFT/Stringify with it now. Also, it has geofence features, so I might need to return the extra keyfob I got.