Question

I just bought my first home and I’m looking into making it a smart home piece by piece. I have no idea what I’m in for? The internet is driving me in circles! What is the best thing to start with? I am currently in the process of hanging all of our TVs with slim full motion mounts and I want to install recessed outlet boxes behind them. I would like smart outlets and I’m lost looking at all the different companies that make them. What do I do? Also I am going to upgrade to smart lights, switches, thermostat, etc. etc. please help.  

Answer 1

I've been doing it for five years and my best advice is to sit down and make a game plan, you can build over the years and I recommend Z-Wave. If it's a new home it's almost unlimited what you can do, I would probably go with The habitat as a HUB because of local control but SmartThings is as good.  

Comments

@unkindly729 Z-Wave is really good compared to zigbee.  

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GE Zwave outlets are good with Smarthings hub. Don’t go Wink, I have one but they aren’t really updating it ever.  

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@sarita10 I like leviton and yes Wink is currently a risk

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Ge seems to fail after 3-4 years so I have seen

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@mickel I like Z-wave. For cameras it depends on if you want wires/wireless and integration or standalone. Garage door my q is a good option. When you want to start a project I would look it up on the groups and a lot of people have asked about different products.  

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@unkindly729 they're all pretty much the same it's like choosing a Ford Chevy or Dodge personally I've never heard of a Eaton never use a GE leviton and lutron is what I use but I have an older home but you can't get the levitan's with different-colored switches covers and they make the outlets as well so you're staying uniform if that's what you want to go with if you choose Z-Wave it's compatible with most hubs whether they're here 5 years from now or not

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@balzer myq is solid!  

Answer 2

This is always a tough question. Similar to @mickel I would plan out some of what you want to do and try finding a brand that covers most of those smart items. There are several good companies for switches, plugs, etc. for hubs it depends on how much you want to tinker. If you just want to add things and move on to the next probably SmartThings but if you want to tinker either home Assistant or habitat. Once you figure out what hub you want to go with join that group as many have tried failed and succeeded many projects you may want to try.  

Answer 3

I'm far from an expert as I've only been doing this for 2 months. As I'll retire in 5 years, I'm trying to figure out now what I want to put in whatever house I retire in. I only have lights & motion sensors now. I suggest figuring out if you want your system to run local or in the cloud. Next, the radio frequency you want all your devices to use (zigbee, zwave, wifi etc. ) to communicate to each other/hub. Right now, I'm using home assistant running on a raspberry pi with a zwave/zigbee USB hub. I also have some wifi devices. So far, I'm leaning towards a completely local (or as local as possible) system & zwave. Just my limited 2 cents. :)

Answer 4

Ubiquiti dream machine and one access point pro to start.  

Answer 5

Zwave on the switches but putting them behind a TV wont accomplish much as so many of the newer TV's can turn on with voice control.  

Comments

I after I would say a harmony hub would be a better option to automate processes such as switching inputs for different devices.  

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I couldn't agree more @balzer just was more offering to what I thought was the initial question of @unkindly729

Answer 6

Go with smart switches, less expensive than buying a bunch of bulbs. Stay with one protocol, such as zwave.  

Answer 7

I am personally also of the opinion that Wifi switches are more the future than zwave, Just my opinion own both in my home but won't buy anymore zwave moving forward. No issues with Zwave I just know wifi as a protocol is going no where.  

Comments

And also pick a voice assistant early can surely change your approach on how you layout the home and what products you purchase. Can make strong arguments for any of them. Personally a fan of the Aword and Smartthings for Integration.  

Answer 8

Go for a platform that offers plenty of community addons or integrations. My favorite is HomeAssistant, but also Hubitat is ok and even with smart things you will not miss. Don't go just for one brand. Buy what you like, platform should support it! Choose zwave or zigbee. Zwave has benefits, but devices are more expensive and is less standardized so pay attention when buying stuff over internet. With the devices that are constantly connected to the power, you can also go with wifi. Trend ia wifi anyway. Just buy good rooter and access points!  

Answer 9

These videos may help https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=Lzp93jbfLzQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEW...vTGIk