+6 votes
by (630 points)
Hey y'all any recommendations for smart home tech to get? Current have Alexa and smart door lock and cameras on my house, but was thinking about getting a thermostat since I am about to change Electric plans so thinking about buying one. Was looking at the ecobee since I haven't heard any good news about Google nest since the name change. What other tech y'all recommend, not looking for fancy stuff more practical stuff that services a purpose already have a Roomba too :D thanks.  
Hey y'all any recommendations for smart home tech to get?

5 Answers

+5 votes
by (1.4k points)
 
Best answer
I like my ecobee. Also like having zwave light switches and plugs so alexa can control them, or one switch can control multiple lights. Have my front porch lights turn on when I arrive home. Etc
by (630 points)
@rap718 sounds cool, have you had issues with ecobee? And also which light switch you recommend? Would be nice to have the front lights in the house turn on at certain times we always forget to turn them on
by (1.4k points)
If you have a zwave hub I am a fan of zooz switches! No issues with my ecobee as long as I have solid internet and wifi.  
by (630 points)
@rap718 I have a Vivint Hub which supports Z wave but that's all I have in my house I was trying to look up smart switches that support 4 switches but man can't find many at all since in my living room one set of switching control light for the ceiling and then for outside and then have a single switch that turns on fan
by (1.4k points)
You mean you have 4 switches in a row? They should just be individual switches behind the 4 switch coverplate
by (630 points)
@rap718 he's that's what I meant 4 individual switches behind the plate so would need to buy 4 individual switches and connect it to my hub just looked it up I can connect any Z wave product to my Vivint Smart security hub.  
by (1.4k points)
You dont have to replace all at the same time. You can replace just the ones you want to zwave control. But the more control the better! The nice thing about zooz is once switches are controllable you can program 1 zooz switch to control multiple things. Ex: if I push up once on my switch it turns on just the light attached to it. But if I push up twice in a row, it turns on that light, plus two totally different lights. All configurable!  
by (630 points)
@rap718 hmm interesting, but you would still be able to turn off and on via an App correct like each switch individual
by (1.4k points)
Yep. App or alexa or by their switch. It's an extra ability!  
by (630 points)
@rap718 10-4 trying to figure out my options that won't break the bank since I'm trying to see if I can find a switch that will allow me to have one switch mounted but that one switch independently control 3 switches like 1 switch turn on phone and the two sets of outside lights like porch and front
+5 votes
by (1.9k points)
I’m also a happy user of Ecobees now for over 5 years.  
+4 votes
by (250 points)
Ecobee all the way! Bulletproof thermostats for automation.  
+1 vote
by (1.1k points)
I have gateway for garage doors (myq), schlage door locks, Alexa, harmony hub to control entertainment system, ge light switch, konnected diy alarm system, aeotech z wave adaptor, ring doorbell/floodl amp, I would recommend all of these devices but only because they work for me and my wife is able to use them. I have nest but i would avoid as you and others have mentioned.  
by (630 points)
@calvin1320 we have a Harmony bub, schlage dead bolt, MyQ garage opener, Alexa, and cameras around house plus the rumba same reason my wife can use it so that's why have that stuff sometimes she will call me to troubleshoot but I want to set up my outside lights and inside lights so debating on switches or smart bulbs. Also looking into an auto sprinkler system right now as well the sprinkler system atm looks like it will be cheaper than doing the switches and or bulbs in one hit switches and or bulbs easily be about a grand for my house -_-
by (1.1k points)
You could always invest in bulbs for the common rooms. You're not going to need it for every room.  
+6 votes
by (470 points)
Get a hub, such as smartthings or home assistant. Really good to link all together and run sweet automations between all devices
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