this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2023
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Building a smart home in 2023, where to start? (kbin.social)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Hey all, we're moving into a new place soon and I want to start making it a smart home. I have some experience with wifi-based smart bulbs from TP-Link Kasa and a ring camera, but that's about it. I need to update the switches in the house anyway, so I figure that's a good place to start.

A few details:

  • The house was built in the early 60s, so I'm guessing no neutral wires. (It doesn't look like most of the switches have been updated since it was built)

  • All the bedrooms have overhead fans with just a single switch controlling them. Is there any way to use smart tech to control the fan and light separately? This isn't a huge priority, but would be nice even if it's in the distant future.

  • I use Google Home

  • While I consider myself probably technical enough to figure out and set up something like Homeassistant, complex automation is not my goal (right now). Voice command and remote command via smartphone is the primary concern.

  • I have no hubs/thread border router right now.

  • I'd very much prefer something that will last / something that I won't need to update or replace after a few years. (I'm not very familiar with the longevity of the software running some of these smart home options. I've had a couple Kasa bulbs for over 5 years, but I'm not sure if that's common or not.)

  • I think there are a lot of unknown unknowns for me. This is an area of tech I just haven't kept up with.

I'm just a bit lost, and with reddit gone I'm not sure what to trust. Any guidance on where to start would be very appreciated!

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[โ€“] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

When we first bought our house, my wife and I decked out the whole thing in "smart" features: home assistant, switches, routines, etc. Over time, we found ourselves using those features less and less often. The Google Home was listening and responding to my wife only about half the time, so most of the features were completely useless to her. Then it started triggering when it heard vaguely "google-like" words on the TV, much to my wife's chagrin.

We're currently in the process of selling our house, so we have spent the last several months getting packed up. One of the things we packed away a few weeks ago was the Google Homes. I honestly haven't missed them at all; if anything, it has been soothing not to hear them constantly triggered by someone on the TV saying phrases like "well good," followed by us trying to get the assistant to shut up.

The only things I've truly enjoyed in the long run are these: a smart switch on our gas fireplace (with a routine to shut off at bedtime), our array of cameras, and the smart lock on our front door. Those are the three things I will 100% be carrying on to our future home. As for the rest, I'm happy walking into a room and flipping the switch for myself.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Seems like your issue is mainly with voice recognition.

For a different perspective, I've set up my apartment with Home Assistant and smart lightbulbs a few years ago and it's honestly been really nice to have all lights become dimmer as night approaches, turn off automatically as I go to bed, then be woken up by my bedside lamp mimicking the sun (especially in the winter). Being able to access all lights via a mobile app has also been really useful.

Perhaps the sweet spot is to find where the "smart" home can help you with your routines?

I never really bothered with voice control as I don't like the privacy implications.