Looking to setup a Smart house

[Squirrel]

Been doing alot of research on different systems and mesh routers.  Was curious if anyone has a setup they like?

[Varking]

I have a two story and went with Eero for network. 

[PanthersATL]

Depends on what you define as a "smart home".  Not everything "smart" is a good idea.

If you're looking strictly at having improved WiFi, then there are decent mesh networks from Eero, Google Nest, and Netgear Orbi.    Be sure that whatever mesh you pick up supports WiFi 6 or WiFi 6E, even if you have zero devices that can utilize those protocols yet.

Improved wifi coverage will not improve your overall Internet speed.  That's a limitation of whatever plan you're on with your ISP.

Wired connections will (for now, at least) always be faster and better than wifi connections. Especially for work-related stuff like video calls or 4k (or 8k!!!) video streaming.

If your issue is wifi coverage, then maybe it's the placement of your existing wifi router than the need to go mesh. Always something to consider if mesh is the right choice to fix your situation or not.

As for smart-home devices, "Matter" is the catchword of the day (unless you're 100% Apple, in which case maybe all you need to do is focus on HomeKit)

Be careful -- folks have been able to hack into home internet setups through unsecured smart lightbulbs (not YOUR fault, but the bulb company's implementations).  And if the company behind the Smart devices go under, you're left with a bunch of non-working devices that don't have a server to connect to.

[lightsout]

I will always advise running Ethernet ports where you need them unless you're talking a space larger than 2,000sqft for wifi purposes. Smart home setups CAN be secure but the potential for them being hacked is too high for me to even entertain it seriously.

[OHYO]

I’ve installed several of these in bigger homes and detached garages and workshops. If it uses the same electric meter base it will work without speed being compromised. Easy to install and cheap.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter-Extender-TP-Link/dp/B084CZMYNM/ref=asc_df_B084CZMYNM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459410835726&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17503410592904228299&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013323&hvtargid=pla-919417978924&psc=1

[d-dave]

I use a Linksys mesh system and it has been FANTASTIC!  Never going back to those other struggles again!

As far as a smart home - you need to figure out what you want out of it.

For us: we wanted to have some smart switches/outlets, garage door openers and a couple nest thermostats.  It runs off our Google Home.  Our main usage is to manage our lighting on a timer and handle our temps while we're out for work and stuff.

If I were doing this again, I'd pass on smart thermostats and stick with a programable.  We end up leaving our system on a hard schedule instead of letting it make decisions.  In the summer, while we're out, it let's the entire house heat up.  It takes forever running the AC to death to get it remotely comfortable.  When all your walls, floors, furniture and stuff gets warm, it doesn't cool off fast enough.

The smart switches and outlets have been fantastic.  Being able to set up a schedule when we're out of town is great.  Setting exterior lights to come on when the sun goes down is cool.  For me, I always get paranoid that I didn't close the garage door.  I can open and close it remotely which eases my anxiety.  The kicker with all of that is making sure your hub is pretty solid.

[PanthersATL]

Like I said earlier, all depends what @Squirrelis trying to accomplish with a smart home setup.

 

[Squirrel]

So going to start off small. Just front door lock , door camera and setup a wifi mesh system.  

 

What I working with.  2 story house with basement  2900 Sq ft total.  Xfinity internet 1 gig.  

 

What I want to do in the future motion and voice command lights.  Build routines for arriving and departing the house.

 

 

So was originally leaning toward a Google ecosystem but seems like Google is switching things up right now and while matter is coming out just wanted a easy option right now.  So decide on a Amazon Ecosystem. 

 

Right now I have gotten the following some of which might be overkill specifically the router.

 

Router. NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri-band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System

Echo show 10

Ring door camera 

Ring security system

Yale Assure lock 2 door lock

Switchboard smart plugs 4 pack

 

Still need

 

Outdoor camera system did care for rings 

Some motion sensors

Water leak sensors

 

House came with 

Honeywell thermostat 

 

Installing most of them after work today.

 

Worried about xfinity interaction with the Orbi router. 

 

 

 

 

[d-dave]

On 4/26/2023 at 9:56 AM, Squirrel said:

Outdoor camera system did care for rings 

Try blink cameras.  They are part of the amazon eco system.  I've had them for years and they have been great - though not tied into my current security system.

With the water leak sensors - do you really need them?  Personally, I never saw a reason for them - I thought they were just a cash grab kind of thing.  I'm just curious if you have an actual need that I don't know about.

[PanthersATL]

1 hour ago, d-dave said:

Try blink cameras.  They are part of the amazon eco system.  I've had them for years and they have been great - though not tied into my current security system.

With the water leak sensors - do you really need them?  Personally, I never saw a reason for them - I thought they were just a cash grab kind of thing.  I'm just curious if you have an actual need that I don't know about.

There are inexpensive 9-volt water sensors that you can place near A/C and water heater units. While not smart-enabled, they'll do the job of alerting you (assuming you're home) of an issue.

Not everything needs to be smart.

Perhaps for a vacation home or BnB rental you're managing - that would make some sense for smart monitoring.

[d-dave]

8 minutes ago, PanthersATL said:

Perhaps for a vacation home or BnB rental you're managing - that would make some sense for smart monitoring.

Yep, that's a really good use-case I didn't think about