- 3 Posts
- 53 Comments
1·2 months agoWhy not both? More automation is definitely cool, but also make the door work better for you. I hate that style of lock
First thing I did when I moved into my current home is to replace deadbolt with a key inside with a standard deadbolt with an inside knob
- better for emergencies - can always get out easily
- less likely to get locked out - does not lock automatically; from outside, I must have keys to lock door as I’m leaving
Look into the Shortcuts app. This is Apples answer to creating automations on your iPhone. While I’ve never tried this, I see that it can send actions to the HA app. Perhaps that will do what you want
So your options include
- use your HA dashboard
- create a link to an action or scene in HA
- configure HomeKit bridge and use a HomeKit dashboard
- configure HomeKit Bridge and use Siri
- Use the Shortcuts app to automate the HA app
HomeKit bridge also makes the devices available to Siri
What do you need the HomeKit device for?
I’m a light user of HomeKit so may not have run into the limitations yet. I use the HomeKit Bridge to expose a few light switches to HomeKit and then used AppleFamily to duplicate that to my kids. What little I use it for is fine without a HomeKit device
3·4 months agoAlso, check back in a month. Sometimes a domain squatter will just never at, hopin to flip it before the registrar takes it back
WiFi also usually means an internet portal, which impacts responsiveness, potentially violates privacy, and leaves you at the mercy of a company continuing to provide the service.
Zigbee is not just cheaper and uses less power, but it’s open and local so there’s not some company accumulating your data to sell and you’re not at their mercy
- what other measurements might you care about, for combination sensors?
- how frequent?
I have Shelby flood sensors in the basement, based on WiFi. They were cheap and the batteries last over a year. While they do have an online portal, the HA integration can read them locally. One of the things I get from it is a graph of temperatures, however the data points can be an hour or more apart.
The problem is buying means nothing about whether it is legit or whether a company decides they want it. It only means you reserved it. Any disagreements are hashed out after the fact in court. It’s not a game that individuals can afford to win vs a corp
Step 0). Decide if there’s anything you dont want on a common server.
I realized long ago that my projects sometimes stall out partway through. However some things need to just work, regardless of where I am in a project. HA is a great example of something that manages itself (so less advantage to the VM) and that I want always available, so even if I decide to go down a route like you are, HA stays independent, stays available
I’m not entirely sure what those movies are like, and don’t want to know, but ……
My Mom watches horrible Hallmark stuff constantly. As far as I can tell, every movie has the same plot, they are low quality, etc. The thing is they are simple feel good movies for her. She finds them relaxing and gets good feelings from them, perfectly appropriate for “entertainment “.
If there is any parallel here, my point is that you don’t have to appreciate them for your Mom to. Why does it matter whether you agree with the movies or not: do you love her? Do you want to help her with entertainment that makes her feel good /relaxed/entertained?
Yes, you should not be thinking about security in terms of an outside intruder here. Think about untrustworthy or potentially compromised devices.
- WiFi smart devices are notorious for calling home, possibly collecting data, even if you’re trying to use them locally.
- There have been botnets from unsecured video cameras, and even some compromised from before import.
- TVs report back what you’re using them for and when, even playing through hdmi, and some have been caught listening in to your private conversations.
How do you prevent these from happening, or limit what they can do? One way is to put them on a separate vlan without internet access (your HA or other hub can listen on multiple VLANs and be the gatekeeper) and without access to your computers.
That being said, for similar requirements, I found managing the more complex network to be too much hassle, and went back to a simple flat network
Not exactly the same, but I use the RM-4 with a mini-split AC in place of the remote, and it has worked well for years. You do have to place it somewhere line of site for the ir blaster but it has a very wide range
Setup was choosing a make a model, and everything mapped perfectly. In my case, it even reads the status and current temperature.
The one feature that I haven’t gotten around to trying is line power. I hate using batteries. However RM-4 also had a section on powering it directly that I wanted to try. In my case I have an Ecobee thermostat that I think I can grab power off of, and just mount the RM-4 on the wall right next to. However the batteries have lasted years so I never got around to it
EDIT: or maybe not. I have a Remotec RM-4. I don’t know if it is an ancestor to the Broadlink with the same name, but it’s a beige box. It’s local-only, with no WiFi or app
How long ago did you pull the module? I see dependency updates March 16
I don’t know if it’s true for cheap ones off Ali Express, but I always look for “appliance” plugs, as that will be easily searchable. Usually it means a 20a (in US) rated relay.
Actually, in reference to the other poster’s discussion about halogen lights, I did the same there. I have a set of halogen lights that’s pretty much at the threshold for common smart switches/receptacles/plugs, so used an “appliance switch” with a 20a rated relay, so I never head to worry about it. It’s really not worth going cheap for things that plug in
- They can’t potentially send my “real” WiFi credentials to someone who might exploit them.
- They can’t collect data on what is on my network or what I’m doing
- If one somehow has malware, they can’t harm most of my network or devices (there are well known exploits for cameras, for example)
- I can more easily limit the amount of bandwidth a poorly behaved device can use
Remember that once you give the password out, they likely have the password from now on. They will always have access until you change the password.
No, a lot of local traffic is not encrypted, especially residential. No, residential probably doesn’t use much authentication or separation of privileges.
It’s also a matter of saving on the wiring. I may not be (quite) that Uncle Dave, but I really regret a few places I pulled wire for a switch loop without the extra conductor for a neutral.
At the time, I rationalized it was already an improvement over what was there and I had no immediate use for the neutral. I believe the neutral wasn’t required by local code, only recommended, or I would have done it
Of course now I’m cursing my choice, trying to decide whether I need to go back and do it over, or whether I even can practically since it’s a two person job and my buddy retired to Florida. Wiring I pulled many years ago was great for dimmers, more convenient switches, and extra three-ways, but not so great for smart switches
Edit: looks like neutral wasn’t required until NEC 2011
Yeah, if we focus on high value items, it becomes much simpler. But what if there’s a disaster like a fire? One shirt is too cheap to worry about but having to replace all your clothes is expensive, so what’s a practical way to inventory that?
Looking at my home automation stuff, really the only expensive thing is my smart thermostat and it’s nit that expensive. However all the devices add up to several thousand dollars.
Maybe there’s a sense of type and volume or something, and video or photos, that would be sufficient to inventory everyday stuff
Actually, I’d also wonder how far insurance “replacement value” stretches. So many things I got on close out deals where the nearest remaining similar brand is several time the price
Bummer, but thanks for finding that update. It was always the risk.
I guess it means I won’t try Thread until get some switches or something to support a third iot mesh