Home Monitoring/ Smart Homes the thread!!!

Thanks for the update, Balthezor. After another week of research I've gone ahead and ordered the starter pack from Abode plus a couple additional sensors. The price can't be beat plus when I talked to Abode support they confirmed full Apple Homekit integration by January. Since I haven't seen official confirmation from either company I'll take this with a grain of salt, but even if that falls through full Nest integration is a really nice alternative.

mindset.threat wrote:

Thanks for the update, Balthezor. After another week of research I've gone ahead and ordered the starter pack from Abode plus a couple additional sensors. The price can't be beat plus when I talked to Abode support they confirmed full Apple Homekit integration by January. Since I haven't seen official confirmation from either company I'll take this with a grain of salt, but even if that falls through full Nest integration is a really nice alternative.

I hope you like it. I'm not even using the features to its full extent, but the geofencing automation works perfectly for me.

Balthezor wrote:
mindset.threat wrote:

Thanks for the update, Balthezor. After another week of research I've gone ahead and ordered the starter pack from Abode plus a couple additional sensors. The price can't be beat plus when I talked to Abode support they confirmed full Apple Homekit integration by January. Since I haven't seen official confirmation from either company I'll take this with a grain of salt, but even if that falls through full Nest integration is a really nice alternative.

I hope you like it. I'm not even using the features to its full extent, but the geofencing automation works perfectly for me.

After two shipping delays and a power supply recall, I finally got my Abode system setup last Friday. Simple but effective, really like it so far.

Anyone here into Samsung's SmartThings platform? I've gotten mine a year ago and have been extending it since, and while there are quirks, I do like it a lot.

Gorilla.800.lbs wrote:

Anyone here into Samsung's SmartThings platform? I've gotten mine a year ago and have been extending it since, and while there are quirks, I do like it a lot.

Tell me more! (although it seems it does not work with Nest)

For anyone in the Baltimore area, BG&E is giving away and installing Ecobee Lite smart thermostats (free of charge) in exchange for enrolling in their PeakRewards program.

karmajay wrote:
Gorilla.800.lbs wrote:

Anyone here into Samsung's SmartThings platform? I've gotten mine a year ago and have been extending it since, and while there are quirks, I do like it a lot.

Tell me more! (although it seems it does not work with Nest)

There are custom device handlers created by the community. For instance...

Any advice for having the ability to turn on hardwired exterior lights using a garage door opener? Is it possible, or another way to remotely turn them on/off while in the car? Especially this time of year when its darker when I leave for work/get home from work, it would be nice.

Rainsmercy wrote:

Any advice for having the ability to turn on hardwired exterior lights using a garage door opener? Is it possible, or another way to remotely turn them on/off while in the car? Especially this time of year when its darker when I leave for work/get home from work, it would be nice.

Chamberlain makes one. In fact, I bought one and can't use one like most home automation switches because I don't have neutrals in my wiring (I think).

EDIT: Here's the same thing without the keychain remote for less.

Rainsmercy wrote:

Any advice for having the ability to turn on hardwired exterior lights using a garage door opener? Is it possible, or another way to remotely turn them on/off while in the car? Especially this time of year when its darker when I leave for work/get home from work, it would be nice.

Wifi plugs/lights are getting cheaper all the time. Would that work for you?

Delbin wrote:
Rainsmercy wrote:

Any advice for having the ability to turn on hardwired exterior lights using a garage door opener? Is it possible, or another way to remotely turn them on/off while in the car? Especially this time of year when its darker when I leave for work/get home from work, it would be nice.

Wifi plugs/lights are getting cheaper all the time. Would that work for you?

To get it to do what he wants, you'd have to do some automation to monitor the garage door probably to know when to turn them on. My understanding was to have them come on with the same button press as the garage door opener.

If you did wifi, you'd have to also use your phone to log into whatever controlled them, or do IFTTT to monitor the door to turn on the lights.

What I linked to should do what he needs, assuming his wiring can handle it. I've got three pole switches with no neutral wire, and I couldn't get it to work properly, so YMMV with your house wiring. It's supposed to handle three way switches I think, but since my house wiring is too old to have been built with neutral wires as required by code, it doesn't work properly.

Delbin wrote:
Rainsmercy wrote:

Any advice for having the ability to turn on hardwired exterior lights using a garage door opener? Is it possible, or another way to remotely turn them on/off while in the car? Especially this time of year when its darker when I leave for work/get home from work, it would be nice.

Wifi plugs/lights are getting cheaper all the time. Would that work for you?

I just bought one of these for our xmas lights
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbrea...

works really well and ties into my Google Assistant/Google Home so I can just tell "Hey google turn on christmas" and it happens. I can also schedule through the iHome app on my phone. ALSO can activate the lights from anywhere since it's tied to my Home device.

This thread reminded me - I've been looking for a camera to keep an eye on my front door through a window. My research landed me on the Arlo Q, mostly because of the 7-day free cloud storage. DeThroned mentioned it earlier in the thread. Would anyone like to chime in if these are still a good buy? I'm also considering the Circle2 since it comes specifically with a window mount on top of being a solid choice. The 1-day storage is a turn-off, though.

I have 3 buttons on my garage door openers. was wonder if somehow it was possible to use those? Doesn't have to be the same button. Its a craftsman garage door opener(not sure who actually built it though )

Rainsmercy wrote:

I have 3 buttons on my garage door openers. was wonder if somehow it was possible to use those? Doesn't have to be the same button. Its a craftsman garage door opener(not sure who actually built it though )

The ones I posted should work, and you can sync to the same button as the garage door in many cases. Would possibly need the myQ controller. I think Craftsman openers use the same system, and rebrand it to their own name.

Arlo Q's are down to $130 today.

Semi-crosspost from the "this old house" thread...

Anyone install a smart doorbell? I'd love one that was a motion sensor camera. I don't need to talk through the doorbell really, just see who is/was there.

manta173 wrote:

Semi-crosspost from the "this old house" thread...

Anyone install a smart doorbell? I'd love one that was a motion sensor camera. I don't need to talk through the doorbell really, just see who is/was there.

I have the Ring Doorbell Pro. Really happy with it. Don’t use it to talk but to see who’s there.

The ring is nice but I hate it when creepy little girls crawl through it to kill people.

Balthezor wrote:
manta173 wrote:

Semi-crosspost from the "this old house" thread...

Anyone install a smart doorbell? I'd love one that was a motion sensor camera. I don't need to talk through the doorbell really, just see who is/was there.

I have the Ring Doorbell Pro. Really happy with it. Don’t use it to talk but to see who’s there.

Yeah, after some research I think I settled on this one being the best choice... but I think I might just keep it a dumb doorbell as I do plan on building a new house sometime soon.

Does anyone have one of these?
https://www.wyzecam.com/

And if I bought one and had it shipped to you, would you mail it to me

stupidz won't ship to Canada...grrr...

I'll probably order one when I head down to Florida in March.

I don't have it but seen a couple of reviews that were pretty positive on it. For only $20 it might be worth the risk.

Anybody got a recommendation for a good button controller that would work with Smart Things? (Zwave) I got one of these minimotes, but I would like something a bit easier to find in the dark. Going to use it for bedroom light control.

MannishBoy wrote:

Anybody got a recommendation for a good button controller that would work with Smart Things? (Zwave) I got one of these minimotes, but I would like something a bit easier to find in the dark. Going to use it for bedroom light control.

I have several Xiaomi Buttons around my house. They're dirt cheap but robustly constructed. Because of a wonky Chinese Zigbee implementation they might be problematic to pair with your hub, but once they do pair, they work well. They require a custom device type handler and thus their events run in the cloud. Depending on your scenario, this may disqualify them from use a light switch, because a full second might pass between you pressing the button and the light actually turning on. But I've put one on my wife's nightstand where she controls her reading light with it, and she loves it. The button is matte white plastic that is easily paintable.

If you need something classier-looking, then I suggest to check out Fibaro Button. If you're willing to mount it on a wall, then both Fibaro and Aeotec have nice wall-switch-looking, battery-powered buttons.

Gorilla.800.lbs wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

Anybody got a recommendation for a good button controller that would work with Smart Things? (Zwave) I got one of these minimotes, but I would like something a bit easier to find in the dark. Going to use it for bedroom light control.

I have several Xiaomi Buttons around my house. They're dirt cheap but robustly constructed. Because of a wonky Chinese Zigbee implementation they might be problematic to pair with your hub, but once they do pair, they work well. They require a custom device type handler and thus their events run in the cloud. Depending on your scenario, this may disqualify them from use a light switch, because a full second might pass between you pressing the button and the light actually turning on. But I've put one on my wife's nightstand where she controls her reading light with it, and she loves it. The button is matte white plastic that is easily paintable.

If you need something classier-looking, then I suggest to check out Fibaro Button. If you're willing to mount it on a wall, then both Fibaro and Aeotec have nice wall-switch-looking, battery-powered buttons.

I've looked at those Xiaomi switches now that you mention them. I'll research the device handler situation. I don't have a problme manually loading a device handler if I need to, but I just want it to work consistently.

Thanks.

Forgot to mention the following fact on the Xiaomi switches -- since they have a low profile, flat base, and come with an adhesive backing, you can stick them on the wall, too.

groan wrote:

Does anyone have one of these?
https://www.wyzecam.com/

I bought two in December, they are pretty great. I used them while we were out of town over the holidays, one set up to monitor the main level (all three entry doors can be seen from the kitchen) and one to monitor the basement. Some pros and cons:

Pros:
The app is easy to use
The image quality is great
Notifications are available for motion detection, smoke/CO detection, and sound detection
Cameras are small and unobtrusive, and come with a magnetic articulated mount
$20!!

Cons:
Wired outlet plug-in only
Motion detection can be pretty sensitive, I've had changes in sunlight trip alerts
The sound quality is only ok
There is a "talk through the camera" feature, but the sound quality is pretty bad

Overall I'm really happy with them. I'd love to get a couple more but they've been sold out ever since I got my first two. They're not going to rival more expensive wireless setups, but for the price they're fantastic.

Boudreaux wrote:
groan wrote:

Does anyone have one of these?
https://www.wyzecam.com/

I bought two in December, they are pretty great. I used them while we were out of town over the holidays, one set up to monitor the main level (all three entry doors can be seen from the kitchen) and one to monitor the basement. Some pros and cons:

Pros:
The app is easy to use
The image quality is great
Notifications are available for motion detection, smoke/CO detection, and sound detection
Cameras are small and unobtrusive, and come with a magnetic articulated mount
$20!!

Cons:
Wired outlet plug-in only
Motion detection can be pretty sensitive, I've had changes in sunlight trip alerts
The sound quality is only ok
There is a "talk through the camera" feature, but the sound quality is pretty bad

Overall I'm really happy with them. I'd love to get a couple more but they've been sold out ever since I got my first two. They're not going to rival more expensive wireless setups, but for the price they're fantastic.

We got 3, love em so far. Basically agree with Boudreaux's pros and cons. Also cloud clips are only 12 seconds and can't be adjusted (for now). Customer support has been pretty responsive though.

Really dumb question in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...

If I currently have a dimmer switch, can I replace it with a smart single-pole switch? We never use the dimmer in that room.

PaladinTom wrote:

Really dumb question in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...

If I currently have a dimmer switch, can I replace it with a smart single-pole switch? We never use the dimmer in that room.

Yes.