Smart Home - automation

[nickwm21]

You will need each individual devices app anyway for setup and configuration.

Google home app will give you some control of smart devices linked. Organized by “Room” (location).

Alexa does have an app but I no experience with it. I assume it’s similar.

Each individual devices app can sometimes also link to other devices apps. For example on my Ring app I can see the status and have limited functionality of my Schlage lock and MyQ garage door.


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[warthog]

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You will need each individual devices app anyway for setup and configuration. Google home app will give you some control of smart devices linked. Organized by &ldquo;Room&rdquo; (location). Alexa does have an app but I no experience with it. I assume it&rsquo;s similar. Each individual devices app can sometimes also link to other devices apps. For example on my Ring app I can see the status and have limited functionality of my Schlage lock and MyQ garage door. Sent from my iPhone using [emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]][emoji640][emoji638][emoji638][emoji638]]TGR Forums

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Try the If This Then That app. Lots of these things work with that. ITTH basically turns stuff on and off based on what else is on and off.</p>
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It is pretty cool. It does start to get a lot like streaming services though, where before you know it you have 23 apps and no idea which to use.</p>
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I was at my FIL&#39;s friend&#39;s place in Naples once, and he had a pretty killer pad. Type of place Architectural Digest might showcase. Anyway, he knew I was in the electrical construction end of things, so he had a few questions. He had a pretty high tech older Lutron setup, where everything is programmed through scenes. All the switches were multi button nightmares. His question- Can you just tell me how to turn on my F&#39;in lights?</p>
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They have come pretty far since then, but it can turn into a tech jerk off really quickly. Get going in the Crestron home automation direction, and it becomes Tron. You are living in the computer.</p>
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[nickwm21]

I know an older couple who were sold the “smart home system” when they were spec-ing their Toll Brothers.

They have a straight up IT rack taking up half their coat closet with a full size ethernet switch, commercial style video gear for a security system, commercial style audio amp and pre-amp for the kitchen and yard speakers, etc…

All controlled via a clunky remote and an OS on the main TV.

It’s a disaster.


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[riser4]

Look on the bright side, that rack is probably a great space heater. Warmest closet in town. I bet it makes a great place to proof bread.

[Name Redacted]

Look on the bright side, that rack is probably a great space heater. Warmest closet in town. I bet it makes a great place to proof bread.

Bet the have to leave the door cracked with a fan or else the system will run like the TGRz...

[singlesline]

Look on the bright side, that rack is probably a great space heater. Warmest closet in town. I bet it makes a great place to proof bread.

My dream is to get a heat pump water heater that can share a closet with all my networking and IT/home gear.

All of that electronic stuff that gets annoyingly hot is now free hot water. The annoyance of a cool zone around the water heater is minimized by the heat of the electronics.

[AdironRider]

My dream is to get a heat pump water heater that can share a closet with all my networking and IT/home gear. All of that electronic stuff that gets annoyingly hot is now free hot water. The annoyance of a cool zone around the water heater is minimized by the heat of the electronics.

Sounds expensive when anything in that closet breaks. I kid I kid. That does seem pretty ideal though in concept.

In terms of my original question, I&#39;m leaning towards the following two solutions, both which supposedly work on alexa.

Thermostat:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J4C8871...oaAkabEALw_wcB
Lock:
https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Yale-A...-0BP/322081823
Any strong preferences against?

[riser4]

See, I grew up around hippies, my first thought was about the neverending quest to find a place for the loaves to rise.

[warthog]

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I know an older couple who were sold the &ldquo;smart home system&rdquo; when they were spec-ing their Toll Brothers. They have a straight up IT rack taking up half their coat closet with a full size ethernet switch, commercial style video gear for a security system, commercial style audio amp and pre-amp for the kitchen and yard speakers, etc&hellip; All controlled via a clunky remote and an OS on the main TV. It&rsquo;s a disaster. Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

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Sounds like Crestron Home stuff. Could be great for a few years, till it isn&#39;t.</p>
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I prefer the Caseta stuff and my Sonos, shitty app and all.</p>
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KISSS (Keep it semi-simple stupid)</p>

[jackstraw]

Yeah, one thing you can say about Lutron is the stuff works. And yeah, the old stuff took a computer science major to program and use, but the newer basic stuff is pretty intuitive. The RadioRA stuff can be a little more complex and you need to be a certified installer.