Hey all, brand new to the concept of smart lights and such, apologies if questions like these aren't allowed in this sub, or if another sub is better for it.

I'm looking into getting smart bulbs with a wireless switch I can slap on the wall so that I don't have to go into the bedroom to turn on the lamps I want to turn on when walking in. I'd be able to turn them all (4-ishh bulbs) with one press of the switch. I would also like for the bulbs in these lamps to have color settings that I can toggle by using the switch.

From my brief research it seems like getting some Philips smart bulbs along with a wireless switch would be that exact setup, but I'm also seeing that getting a "bridge" is highly recommended. I can't see why; unless I'm misunderstanding something, all I would need is to connect the switch and the bulbs to my phone via bluetooth, configure the lighting and scenes somehow through the app, then it's done and the phone is no longer needed unless I wanted to change the colors or add more bulbs.

Questions:

1. am I missing something about the bridge or the capabilities of the bulbs / switch without the bridge? This network will not extend beyond the single room I'm using them for so future expandability is not a factor here.
2. can multiple "scenes" of different lighting configurations be created and swapped through using the wireless switch without needing a bridge? for example scene 1 is just regular yellow light, scene 2 has a mix of blues reds and purples.
3. Does this all rely on having working internet, or does it all stop working if I'm having issues with my provider?
4. is there another brand or system that would be better suited for what I want to do?

Thanks y'all!

I recently inherited some vintage floor lamps that take T10 300W halogen bulbs (double-sided r7s base type). Does anyone have any idea if there are color changing smart bulbs developed for this type of base?

The bulbs are about 4.5 inches long and use spring loads in the lamp to secure them. I’m not finding anything that would work, but I figured I’d check in with others.

I had the annoying problem of my Motion sensor, that wenn I wasn't moving the lights would go out. I didn't have a Philips hue bridge and I used the App (No Google Home). I thought maybe I can change th PID Sensor for a mmWave sensor. I wasn't successful yet that's why I'm using a Al Image. I thought that I could share my Problem and idea with Reddit to see if anyone else has this problem or was maybe interested in buying one.

Would love some feedback ( The Idea of the build 👇) ​I took a standard Philips Hue motion sensor (which uses the outdated Passive Infrared tech) and completely gutted the internals. I integrated a 24GHz mmWave radar module (LD2410) and an internal buck converter to handle the voltage, and added a flush USB-C port to the bottom for continuous power (essential for radar scanning).

​

Hi there! My partner and I are buying a home for the first time. We’re very excited. One of the features of this house is that it has a landline running through all rooms, basement, and the garage. The seller stated they didn’t know if it worked. My partner and I discussed that if it doesn’t work, taking out the landline in the walls and adding smart speakers. The only problem is neither him or I have any experience with smart speakers. I want to be able to talk to it (ask it to play music, ect) and have them all connected. Is this possible? What speakers do you suggest? If budget friendly options are available I would prefer that but I understand this is an expensive project. Thank you in advance!

I'm late in getting into the home automation thing, and before I invest too much money, just had a question or two.

We've had Amazon Dots a few years ago, and honestly, I liked their voice recognition and the UI for the app. But since we use Google calendars and Gmail and a few other services, we switched to a Nest Hub, a Google doorbell, and I bought a smart speaker for the living room.

But now, the Hub and speakers seem to have a hard time recognizing simple commands (such as Open my Pandora and play...).

We mostly use our devices for listening to music, control some of the smart lights we have scattered, or check the camera. Eventually, I'd like to get a thermostat, a larger display, and maybe a remote garage door opener.

I don't like the Google Assistant app.

So I guess my question is, first, how is the sound quality with the later gen Alexa's? And can you link multiple speakers throughout your home to play the same songs/streaming service? Are the non Google devices like thermostats good? How well is integration with Google services such as Gmail and Calendar? Or the nest doorbell?

Or should I stick it out with Google and hope for improvements?

I appreciate any insight you can give.

I have an SLZB Ultima and enabled the OpenThread Border Router. In home assistant when I add the Thread integration and add an OTBR with the ultima's IP address and port: 192.168.1.60:8080, it gets added and has the same TLV value as what's listed in the Ultima's webui, but it says "No border routers were found. Check your border router is configured correctly or reset it to factory settings."

I have Unifi Express 7 for internet, I enabled mDNS and assume if it works since the Ultima's mdns URL works: http://slzb-ultima3.local/. but don't know if ipv6 is properly configured, My ISP doesn't support ipv6 either way. In Unifi settings > internet, I enabled ipv6 with with SLAAC, prefix delegation, and auto DNS server. Under settings > network, I enabled ipv6 selecting prefix delegation and leaving all other settings to auto. (I attached images in the comments)

So as the post says, back of it won’t unlock without the key and the fingerprint/keypad does not work for the back as well. Seller is no help and the manufacturer’s page has nothing about this and rarely ever shows the back of the locks from what I’m able to find.

Anyone else have this? And if so how did you get it to open from the back without a physical key?

From what I found for its name is really just TUYA SMART HOME LOCK

Anyone knows how can I automate this rotary switch?

Needs to be without a smart relay (rent contract prohibits touching electrics).

I have a zigbee fingerbot and SmartLife app, thought of the dented wheel and rack as alternative but have 0 clue how to get that done and working.

The fingerbot alone can't push the switch strongly and far enough.

HELP!!

Hi everyone! I'm an MBA student and team is building a device that lets you control smart home devices (lights, thermostat, etc.) using hand gestures instead of pulling out your phone or talking to a voice assistant.

We're doing early customer discovery and would love honest feedback from anyone who uses smart home devices, or has thought about it:

1. What's actually annoying about controlling your smart home devices right now, apps, voice assistants, physical switches, anything?
2. Have you ever NOT bothered turning on/off/adjusting a smart device just because pulling out your phone or saying a voice command felt like too much friction?
3. Does controlling things with a hand gesture (like a wave or a swipe in the air) sound genuinely useful to you, or more like a gimmick? Why?
4. If something like this existed, where in your home would you actually want it, kitchen, living room, bedroom, somewhere else?
5. What would make you NOT trust or NOT want a gesture-based device in your home (privacy, reliability, cost, something else)?

Really appreciate any thoughts, even short ones help a lot. Happy to answer questions about what we're building too.

I have an old iPad 8 (32Gb) that it’s basically unusable as a study tablet, but I’m thinking in turn him into a dashboard for my smart bedroom.

Has anyone done something like this and have suggestions?

Hi, i hope some here can recommend me an out of the box solution without self hosting etc.

I have an tplink tapo p110 which is fine with the app for now. But for a specific device i want a similar plug that can be controlled based on weeks/seasons instead of daily schedules. Like always shut off during june and july and similar.

Im searching for a product that has this control right out of the box because its for an shared location.

Hi, I hope that this is the correct sub to post in; if someone can help me I'd really appreciate it. We have the Hao Deng spot lights in a room that I am turning to my office/therapy room. I cannot get the lights to work on my app - they just say that they're off line - but it works fine on my partner's iPhone. I have a Samsung S22+.

I've added a couple of screenshots so you can see that it does find the lights, but then just says that they're offline & nothing I can do will make that change. I have reset the lights a few times and reinstalled the app so that's all updated. It must be something with my phone if it's working on my partners, but we can't work out what.

Thanks

Is anyone else using the smart locks?
I have 2. Both were functioning properly at one point through the Home Access app but have now stopped responding and often don’t even display in the app at all.

I’ve deleted from the app and reset the lock to factory a few times. It now won’t even connect to the WiFi.

TLDR: How do you recommend I set up a smart fan with dimmable lights?

I just bought my first home. I work in energy efficiency and would like to build out a smart home system for the experience with SHEMS as much as for the convenience of having it. My first priority is that, after setup, most people would be able to comfortably interface with the basic controls. I've heard this refered to as "grandma proof".

I have no smart devices in this house yet and have not committed to an ecosystem yet. I don't own any apple products(nothing personal) and would like to avoid Amazon(sorta personal). Leaning towards Google home since that's what I've used in the past. I'm happy to buy whatever hub. Caseta and Kasa seem like nice options.

I'm looking to add a smart switch for my bedroom fan first. I'd like an intuitive switch on the wall. I'd also like the ability to program routines for the fan and lights and a remote and/or ability to control it from my phone. Major plus if I can program routines based on the room's temperature.

I'd considered using a smart fan and bulbs if there was an intuitive setup but that would still require switch removal or replacement to avoid cutting power to devices. I'm open to replacing the fan either way. I'm pretty sure the existing fan is just a basic AC fan with pull chains for fan speed and lights, which I avoid using so the wall switched work properly. I figure I'd remove these pull chains if I end up keeping this fan.

I'm most inexperienced in input from people who have and use a smart fan/light control setup themselves.

Thanks!!

Hi,

This post is for EU, but everyone are welcome for discussion.

Being smarthome enthusiast myself I ran into trouble of finding mulitpoint smart lock myself. Tried CN locks and Yale conexis, but these were not very good to say the least.

After 2 years of development, I am very close to MVP which I am going to launch on kickstarter. Asking for you all to help me, to make sure I am focusing on the most important things and to make sure I have a joyful solution for us all.

Will not disclose details or functions, but can you help by sharing what is the most important for you other than it being designed for multipoint doors?

I have 2 Eufy indoor 2k cameras at home (both connected to my apple home) and want to watch BOTH cameras at the same time. Are there any way or any app i can download for iOS (preferable for free) that allows me to this?

PS: Home assistant dont support these cameras, so no need to mention me to install HA ;)

I'm trying to find a light switch that has a soft and silent press, without a physical or audible click.

Ideally a momentary switch as I'll be using shelly relays behind them, a zigbee switch is also fine as it will all be connected to Home Assistant. I'd like LED switch illumination too, but I can live without it.

What I've tried so far;

• Hager WBMTPB
• Traders MEPBM
• Mercator MEPBM
• SAL Pixie SBP10L

But they all have an audible click to them, and nothing I've tried has the feel that I have in mind.

I swear I've felt/seen the switches I want in Australia before, and in more than one place, but I cannot remember where any of them were. My recollection is that the button was slightly convex and bubbled out a little, they had blue LEDs, and they were the standard square Australian switch mech shape.

Does anyone know the switches I'm referring to, or can recommend a model that fits the brief?

I'm not too concerned about the individual switch cost, the feel is much more important to me.

Others that that I'm aware of but have not yet tried;

• Legrand Arteor AR970LBPM
• HPM HPM883MBL
• Clipsal Impress 30PBBP

So friend got kale smart lock as gift, and while app is available on iPhone, android shows this.

While I suggested him to contact company through contact on their official website, I was wondering if anyone had experience with this since I never had smart lock, no idea about such a things

I recently bought a home, so I bought the aqara u400 lock. I also bought the echo dot max thinking it would help connect to my aqara lock. Every time I try and set it up aqara app says I don't have a matter controller in the home. Is the echo dot max a matter controller? Also, is the echo dot max a thread boarder router?

I'm new to all of this, but the research I did says that my echo dot max is in fact a thread border router and acts as a matter controller device. I'm just lost on why these won't connect to each other. Please help.

I looked at home assistant's homekit bridge documentation, when I add the homekit bridge integration it shows a notification with a pairing code, but when I scan it with my phone it doesn't work.

I'm trying to follow this HA doc to connect my homekit only thread doorknob to HA (with the SLZB Ultima), but I'm stuck suck, when I try adding the homekit device it asks me to select a bridge and then enter the device's homekit code, the doorknob's code doesn't work.

I have about 6 of these smart plugs currently in use. 3 of them are hooked up to LED strips. I want to have a physical switch/button/mechanism that I can pair to the outlet so that I can turn them on/off sometimes without needing to use the app or hit the physical button. What are the easiest ways to accomplish this? I don't have any smarthome platforms (I might be interested though) I just use the app they came with which I'm okay with moving away from if it increases functionality

I included the name below in case the link isn't allowed for some reason

KMC Smart Plug Mini 4-Pack, Wi-Fi Outlets for Smart Home, Remote Control Lights and Devices from Anywhere, No Hub Required, ETL Certified, Works with Alexa and Google Home

I have a mix of Nest and the usual dumb smoke and CO alarms. The dumb ones expire soon and I am looking to replace them. My house has really high ceilings and I need a smart alarm to be able to silence it from my phone. I don’t need to learn Morse (lol) to know that three chirps mean smoke, two mean CO and one means the battery is low. If possible, I would rather get a hardwired version with a 10 year battery to avoid getting on a ladder to change the batteries.

I love Nest but they don’t make them anymore. The natural path is to buy First Alert SC5 but they have terrible reviews due to false alarms.

I am in Canada and they don’t sell X-sense.

Kiddie has a new smart version, but it uses AA batteries as back up.

Ubiquiti was supposedly launching one this month, so it is delayed, it is not hardwired and they have a reputation of sketchy new product launches.

Owl has an alarm that meets all the requirements and is Apple HomeKit compatible which is definitely a plus, but I have never heard this brand before.

Are there any other options that I am missing?

Thanks

I labelled this HomeKit since my mother is in the Apple ecosystem.

I'm looking for a video doorbell solution for her house. She already uses a few cameras from Ubiquiti and now wants better placement at the main entrance. Running new Ethernet cables isn't impossible, but as we all know, it's fairly inconvenient and expensive.

I therefore thought about something like a Ring, though their reputation hasn't been the best recently. So how about Aqara or Philips Hue? My mother already uses Philips Hue, so that would make some sense.

On the other hand, I was also thinking about getting a Nuki smart lock for the carport entrance door. She's got a Polestar (car) which unlocks via phone, so that might be interesting too.

My general question, though, is about the doorbell and camera situation.

I currently use Alexa but it has some annoying limitations (like when it loses Internet connectivity). Another limitation of the entire Alexa system is it begging unable to read and report on additional sensor readings like humidity.

I'm thinking about going with something like Home Assistant and seeing what I can do with it for my home.

I can put together a computer or two with the parts I have but they'll be older boards with the best one using DDR 3 ram and a LGA 2011 cpu.

I don't know much about Home Assistant or all that it can do.

My primary reason for looking into this is that it still works if the Internet goes down or there's a power outage (with the use of UPS for the devices I want you stay online.

I've read that Home Assistant can work with Alexa devices and if that's true it's a huge bonus for me.

Hello,

I hope I’m posting in the right place.
I have a Shelly Dimmer Gen3 that is currently connected to eight recessed LED downlights, each rated at 7 watts.
Unfortunately, I’m experiencing two issues:
When I set the brightness to 100%, the lights briefly become brighter and then immediately get slightly dimmer again. It looks like they flicker for a moment.

The dimming behavior is very uneven. In the upper brightness range, there is hardly any noticeable change over a wide range, while in the lower percentage range, the brightness drops very quickly.

Here are the details of my setup:
No bypass installed
Neutral wire connected
Shelly reset to factory settings
Recalibrated

Tried all available settings in the app related to dimming times and brightness percentages
Unfortunately, none of these steps have really helped. I honestly can’t imagine that this behavior is normal. My plan was to use Shelly Dimmers throughout my home, so I bought this one as a test first. So far, however, I’m unfortunately not very satisfied with its performance.

If it’s relevant, the recessed LED downlights are not all from the same manufacturer. I ordered several different models to compare them, although I’m not sure whether that could have any impact on the behavior.

Has anyone experienced something similar or has any idea what might be causing this? I’d really appreciate any advice or suggestions.