Posted on 20th Nov 2020 17:03:40 in Home Assistant, Smart, Tutorial
Smart homes often include little quality of life improvements such as automatically turning off the lights after everyone has left a room or reminding you of certain things. A challenge regularly faced by homeowners is the method of detection for determining that a certain situation has occurred. Sensors provide good feedback but are often hard to get in the right place or are simply too difficult to install in a certain location. Enter NFC, a technology that can embed an action into a sticker that can be placed anywhere!
Posted on 17th Nov 2020 16:07:50 in General, IoT, Smart
WiFi thermostats seem to have taken over the smart climate control market completely, with every listing for "smart thermostat" involving a WiFi connection. There's a good reason for that: they have a lower barrier to entry as they use the existing wireless connection most people already have installed. Since WiFi is typically used primarily to provide a connection to the internet to connected devices, it's logical that they would need the internet to function. In reality, it's actually a bit more complicated than that - some do, and some don't.
Posted on 14th Nov 2020 16:51:11 in General, Smart
When it comes to smart homes, the focus often comes back to being able to control the flow of electrical current from an AC socket, since most regular devices connect directly to power. They will then use a simple on/off switch to operate, which happens to be a great fit for automation as smart plugs can turn the power on and off while the switch stays on. Despite the focus on smart plugs, there is another, less popular option as well: smart power strips.
Posted on 12th Nov 2020 17:04:18 in General, Smart
One of the more interesting features of HomeKit is its ability to control devices either over WiFi or Bluetooth. While people will rarely have problems using the WiFi option, Bluetooth tends to suffer from a bit of a range problem. This is by no means restricted only to HomeKit, but if you are trying to set up a smart home with Bluetooth devices, there will certainly be frustration when the signal doesn't reach your desired location. Here are a few ways you can extend the Bluetooth range of HomeKit!
Posted on 10th Nov 2020 16:07:09 in DIY, General, Smart
Home security and alarm systems have been closely related since they were invented. In the context of a smart home, it would be nice to integrate the sensors and alarm state into a controller, such as HomeKit. Traditionally, the commercial alarm industry has been dominated by propriety systems that require monitoring to work. Luckily, more recently, companies have started building systems that integrate with other existing technology to create an integrated home.