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This is why I warn everyone to only buy devices that use a standard like Z-wave or Zigbee and ideally use a hub that works locally. I first got into IoT/SmartHo
by joshstrange 5y ago
This is why I warn everyone to only buy devices that use a standard like Z-wave or Zigbee and ideally use a hub that works locally. I first got into IoT/SmartHouse stuff with SmartThings but I only would buy Z-wave/Zigbee which paid off in spades when I moved to Home Assistant. All my devices came over and the manufacturer didn't matter.
Wifi IoT devices are terrible IMHO. Yes, they are easy to add and cheap to buy but you are left juggling 3-4+ apps even if they all talk to Alexa/Google/Siri. Also you are putting god-knows-what on your network. Yes, you can put them on their own vlan but still, I do not like devices in my house that can phone home even if they can't see my local devices.
Stick with Z-wave or Zigbee (ideally pick just 1 or 1 main one) and if you want a nicer onboarding then SmartThings is fine but Home Assistant is probably more attractive to people on HN. At least if/when SmartThings goes under you can move your devices to a new hub.
- MrStonedOne 5y ago
- margalabargala 5y agoI just started automating my house, mostly with ZigBee. For WiFi stuff- setting up ESPHome and programming ESP32s to do whatever it is I want them to do (report sensor values, twiddle gpios to control an h-bridge, whatever) is stupid easy. Highly recommend anyone who's been meaning to try ESP32s but hasn't yet take the half hour to try it out.
- joshstrange 5y agoESP32 is my 1 exception to my "No WiFi rule". Really I use that rule as a blanket statement since 99.9% of what people are talking about when they have a WiFi IoT device is crap. I don't personally have any ESP32 devices but I'm not opposed and at some point I want to play with them. I've heard very good things about them on the various subreddits and on the HA podcast.
- margalabargala 5y agoI was skeptical at first, then I assumed it would be too hard to set up, then I gave it a shot and was pleasantly surprised in every way. They're cheap and worth grabbing a few to play with, and when you find time to play with them, you will get farther with them faster than you thought you would.