- Joined
- Nov 7, 2006
- Messages
- 726
I haven't seen a topic on this and I know some of you out there have to have tried it out. Was curious who here also has jumped onboard the smart home tech train. I started off last fall with the Ring video doorbell and was hooked. I then got a few Ring cameras and the alarm system (cellular backup and battery). What was even better is that I got alarm monitoring for $100 a year (which includes unlimited storage for the videos generated from the several cameras). The alarm companies talk trash about the DIY systems, but they have to because they are losing to them so badly. The DIY systems really cut costs and are every bit as good as the ones sold way over cost.
I also got a few smart plugs, a Nest learning thermostat, and smoke & carbon monoxide detector that talks to the thermostat and shuts off the fans if an alarm is detected. The smoke alarm also doubles as a hallway night-light. The thermostat can be voice controlled and learns your usage. Also got some smart locks and smart garage door opener (so freaking nice to not have to carry keys anymore). Everything is logged and notifications are sent every time a door/lock is opened or closed so I have a full record of everything that goes on. I plan on getting a device that plugs into the breaker box that keeps track of power usage at every outlet and device. Allowing me to see if a device is using more power than it should (and going bad), or if something is causing an unusually high bill. With the price of energy going up, I figure its smart to make better use of it and not waste it.
Now, I know some of you will freak out about the next piece, but the security concerns can be mitigated. I also got a few Alexas to control everything. Which is super helpful as I can make timers, lists, play music everywhere, intercom different rooms, and set routines for shutting everything down and locking all doors with nothing but a single command (set condition 1 lol). Alexa has a guard mode now that uses the assistants as listening sensors when you leave and can allow you to listen in if something is detected. While Alexa does listen for the wake word, it only records when the wake word is spoken, and you can disable to option to send said recordings to Amazon and deleted anything that is recorded. For super-sensitive conversations, you can press the manual mute button so it won't listen for the wake word. Yes, it is probable that someone could still listen, but with proper network security you can make it more trouble than it is worth. For me personally, the risks are outweighed by the functionality and ability at your disposal. Using verbal commands for some things is awkward at first, but once you get into it it is very handy. I use the multiroom music ability to its fullest and love it.
This tech makes it simple and cost-effective to secure your home compared to what the same tech would have cost just 5 or 10 years ago using the same type of tech but without the smooth integration of today's offerings. Now the caveat to all this tech is you need a good network for it to function safely and securely. For those interested in getting on board, make sure you have a good network and internet connection. Personally, I wanted to go hog wild so I put in full shielded CAT 6 with shielded connectors and will have shielded keystones (the wall jacks) soon. You don't need shielded, but it helps to eliminate the possibility of interference from power cables in your home and ensures you keep a fast connection throughout your network. To keep things fast I went for the gigabit internet connection and bought my own router and modem (separate, never do a combo) so I don't pay any rental fees. Having your own devices saves you money in the long run and leaves you in full control of your network. They even have some amazing tools for you to control and lock down your devices. For those that are of course security conscious, I put all of the smart home tech on its own guest network with a shit hard password to crack. So if they get in through a security flaw, they aren't going to get into the home network without starting over. While I went for the Ring ecosystem, I do like Nest's security cameras a lot (probably better than the Ring ones but I am not sure yet). Though with the recent purchase by google I would wait a while before investing so they can sort things out. I even got some UPSs (uninterrupted power supplies) for the important devices so they aren't affected by short brown or blackouts. Though their connectivity when I am away is dependant on the internet connection being stable. The negative to all this tech is that you can't (in most cases) mix and match ecosystems. Where you can you better not mind having a dozen apps for everything. They are getting better with it though. Ring I think is compatible with over 60K IoT (Internet of Things aka smart home shit) devices, and the Alexa Echo Plus can be used a smart home hub for many ITTT devices as well.
Most Importantly, when I travel or have to leave my son at home to run to the store, I know everything that is going on at home from anywhere there is an internet connection. I can let family in remotely, I can lock them out, talk to them, see who keeps littering on my lawn (damn kids), or catch someone who is trying to get in. Keep in mind, all of this tech won't stop someone, but I want to make it as difficult as possible to either get in or get away with it.
What does anyone else have or use? I am interested in the Nest ecosystem and how well it works (security-wise). I know a lot of this sounds expensive, but if you keep an eye out for the many sales (Prime Day, Black Friday, and more) you can really get some great deals and cut your expenses almost in half. I figured this would be a good place to answer any questions for those that are thinking about it to those that have it and use it. This post went on longer than I anticipated, but I wanted to try an answer as many questions as I could think of to save time lol.
Edit: I use a Galaxy S9+, which works very well with everything I have mentioned. Also, I made sure to put my Wifi router in the middle of the house to ensure full coverage. I did a lot of running cables in the attic and down the walls but it was completely worth it and I would do it again. Some of the devices I have use PoE (Power over Ethernet) and required me to get PoE capable switches, but again, totally worth it and found for some decent deals. Where I could I use ethernet on everything. Where I can't I use wifi.
I also got a few smart plugs, a Nest learning thermostat, and smoke & carbon monoxide detector that talks to the thermostat and shuts off the fans if an alarm is detected. The smoke alarm also doubles as a hallway night-light. The thermostat can be voice controlled and learns your usage. Also got some smart locks and smart garage door opener (so freaking nice to not have to carry keys anymore). Everything is logged and notifications are sent every time a door/lock is opened or closed so I have a full record of everything that goes on. I plan on getting a device that plugs into the breaker box that keeps track of power usage at every outlet and device. Allowing me to see if a device is using more power than it should (and going bad), or if something is causing an unusually high bill. With the price of energy going up, I figure its smart to make better use of it and not waste it.
Now, I know some of you will freak out about the next piece, but the security concerns can be mitigated. I also got a few Alexas to control everything. Which is super helpful as I can make timers, lists, play music everywhere, intercom different rooms, and set routines for shutting everything down and locking all doors with nothing but a single command (set condition 1 lol). Alexa has a guard mode now that uses the assistants as listening sensors when you leave and can allow you to listen in if something is detected. While Alexa does listen for the wake word, it only records when the wake word is spoken, and you can disable to option to send said recordings to Amazon and deleted anything that is recorded. For super-sensitive conversations, you can press the manual mute button so it won't listen for the wake word. Yes, it is probable that someone could still listen, but with proper network security you can make it more trouble than it is worth. For me personally, the risks are outweighed by the functionality and ability at your disposal. Using verbal commands for some things is awkward at first, but once you get into it it is very handy. I use the multiroom music ability to its fullest and love it.
This tech makes it simple and cost-effective to secure your home compared to what the same tech would have cost just 5 or 10 years ago using the same type of tech but without the smooth integration of today's offerings. Now the caveat to all this tech is you need a good network for it to function safely and securely. For those interested in getting on board, make sure you have a good network and internet connection. Personally, I wanted to go hog wild so I put in full shielded CAT 6 with shielded connectors and will have shielded keystones (the wall jacks) soon. You don't need shielded, but it helps to eliminate the possibility of interference from power cables in your home and ensures you keep a fast connection throughout your network. To keep things fast I went for the gigabit internet connection and bought my own router and modem (separate, never do a combo) so I don't pay any rental fees. Having your own devices saves you money in the long run and leaves you in full control of your network. They even have some amazing tools for you to control and lock down your devices. For those that are of course security conscious, I put all of the smart home tech on its own guest network with a shit hard password to crack. So if they get in through a security flaw, they aren't going to get into the home network without starting over. While I went for the Ring ecosystem, I do like Nest's security cameras a lot (probably better than the Ring ones but I am not sure yet). Though with the recent purchase by google I would wait a while before investing so they can sort things out. I even got some UPSs (uninterrupted power supplies) for the important devices so they aren't affected by short brown or blackouts. Though their connectivity when I am away is dependant on the internet connection being stable. The negative to all this tech is that you can't (in most cases) mix and match ecosystems. Where you can you better not mind having a dozen apps for everything. They are getting better with it though. Ring I think is compatible with over 60K IoT (Internet of Things aka smart home shit) devices, and the Alexa Echo Plus can be used a smart home hub for many ITTT devices as well.
Most Importantly, when I travel or have to leave my son at home to run to the store, I know everything that is going on at home from anywhere there is an internet connection. I can let family in remotely, I can lock them out, talk to them, see who keeps littering on my lawn (damn kids), or catch someone who is trying to get in. Keep in mind, all of this tech won't stop someone, but I want to make it as difficult as possible to either get in or get away with it.
What does anyone else have or use? I am interested in the Nest ecosystem and how well it works (security-wise). I know a lot of this sounds expensive, but if you keep an eye out for the many sales (Prime Day, Black Friday, and more) you can really get some great deals and cut your expenses almost in half. I figured this would be a good place to answer any questions for those that are thinking about it to those that have it and use it. This post went on longer than I anticipated, but I wanted to try an answer as many questions as I could think of to save time lol.
Edit: I use a Galaxy S9+, which works very well with everything I have mentioned. Also, I made sure to put my Wifi router in the middle of the house to ensure full coverage. I did a lot of running cables in the attic and down the walls but it was completely worth it and I would do it again. Some of the devices I have use PoE (Power over Ethernet) and required me to get PoE capable switches, but again, totally worth it and found for some decent deals. Where I could I use ethernet on everything. Where I can't I use wifi.
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