Smart Devices

There are any number of devices around to perform just about any task you could imagine or wish for so you might get a better response if you gave some indication of what you had in mind.

Wow Pete thank you really appreciate you taking the time to respond.  Need to read & digest fully but wanted to say thank you straightaway.

Will keep you updated

Thanks again Ellie 

Hi it's a bit I don't know what I don't know.  Early days so just finding out if it's feasible & if anyone had any experience.  Pete's reply has given me a lot to think about.

Thank you for replying 

Ellie 

First thing to do is watch a few videos and decide what devices, doors, lights, blinds you want to operate.

I had Google Home for about a month before I turned it off. It was controlling a couple of Smart Bulbs. It had difficulty recognising light bulbs from the same manufacture in the same room. Both different names. Only one would come on. Worked fine if I pretended 1 bulb was in a different room.

Then it started getting confused. Ie. “Turn hall light on” Google Home announced it could not find the light or declared it had turned it to 1%. Resetting the Google Home sorted the problems for a while. I think the main problem was connecting to the cheap Smart Bulbs.

I have an Apple TV that works as a Home Hub. So i switched to Apple HomeKit. 50€ for a Phillips Hue hub and 2 Smart Bulbs starter pack. Setup was easy. Turn on the Apple TV hub software. Turn on the bulbs, name them, set room. Job done.

I have a standing light in the hall. Comes on with a voice command or press of the HomeKit App button. I can turn it on/off from the car. Set it to turn on when I enter the building. Put it on a timer etc. Same with the 2nd bulb in the bedroom. The 2 original none HomeKit bulbs I can build a Siri shortcut to launch their App and turn them on/off. Not supporter by Apple isn’t really a problem.

Next on the list is to buy a Smart plug. So I can have the electric fire turn on/off in the winter. I would like Smart Locks, problem is I live in a apartment block. I would have to go through 3 security doors with keys before I get to my automated door. 

My friend in the UK has gone full Smart Home with Alexa. Spent a lot of money on kit. He has Smart Locks on the doors, lights, blinds and central heating. He wanders about the house and lights turn on/off as he enters/leaves a room.

I would start with whatever system is most convenient for you. The choices are Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit. Buy a few Smart Bulbs. Get connected. Smart Bulbs are good for turning lights on/off when you are not around, arrive home etc. Possibly a few Smart Plugs.

Start small. Plan for what you might want. 

Smart Home technology has been around for a long time. From the clap for lights on/off in the late 1990’s. Full server with a control panel in the early 2000’s. Now it’s cheaper and easier to set-up.