The BEST Smart Home System money can buy!
It’s time to narrow down my smart home system and ONLY use the best! Here’s what I decided to stick with and why.
Order my shirt here: https://smarthomesolver.big3creative.com/
Raspberry Pi 4 with 8GB RAM: https://amzn.to/486n1b1
Z-Wave & Zigbee USB dongle: https://amzn.to/3TbBqhY
USB extender: https://amzn.to/41bY0Jn
I also have a Home Assistant SkyConnect plugged in but I’m still using Zigbee and Z-Wave devices so I haven’t used it outside of testing: https://www.home-assistant.io/skyconnect/
Home Assistant Yellow: https://www.home-assistant.io/yellow/
Home Assistant Green: https://www.home-assistant.io/green/
Pixel Tablet with the Home Assistant dashboard I’m using: https://howl.me/cjZ0hLVy62I
(affiliate links)
More about Alexa vs Siri vs Google, watch this: https://youtu.be/ZkuKvYQQjlg?si=kGluJ5mcI2HK0Sem
More about Google Script Editor: https://youtu.be/CaDGz8S7dvY?si=LgB8WHGc2vEl3X8e
My smart home favorites: https://www.amazon.com/shop/smarthomesolver
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0:00 Intro
0:15 Too many systems 😬
1:32 On the chopping block
3:13 Best user-friendly system
4:53 Best hub (the brains)
8:17 My HA setup
9:47 Home Assistant Time Warp
———
MUSIC
All of the music throughout is by Nihilore.
Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7LVYQYkdLFkkpJiGdkzX9K
Ending song is The End by EVA.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6UIs5b0zSXztIW5GHkCTkK
Is Apple really bound to support their ecosystem longer than Google? I feel like that’s hard to argue. Apple is rather notorious for employing business practices that highly encourage if not outright force you to need to upgrade to the newest model within a couple of short years. The lawsuit they were hit with over their bad battery life as well as throttling performance on phones 2 years and olfer "to save battery" is an obvious example that comes to mind. The other thing with Apple is that everything they sell is locked into a proprietary ecosystem, and except for some uncommon exceptions, once you go Apple, you kind of have to stay Apple or be prepared to replace a LOT of different tech all in a short timeframe. Obviously, Apple Home seems to be the biggest exception to this with a surprisingly diverse selection of compatible 3rd party hardware and accessories options. However, what happens if Apple does discontinue their support of Apple Home? What if they simply stop supporting the Apple Home OS version you have, and you’re unable to update it unless you upgrade your hardware to the next generation of products? You would be forced to switch ecosystems or just buy all that new hardware. The thing with Google is that even though they might not offer software, OS, and technical support for their products to the same degree that Apple does, Google’s software and OS are ultimately open source, or it is at most a slightly modified version of their base open source software/OS. So, even if Google were to scrap the Google Home product line and software sweet completely, there would still be software/firmware/OS support for the (now) legacy hardware via 3rd party online communities such as individuals or groups on GitHub or even small non-profit organizations of developers who jump in as one option among potentially very many similar to the Linux community and the common way that Linux distros are almost all developed by non-profit developer organizations that operate entirely off of donations. This fundamental difference between Apple and Google is what leads me to feel that even though Apple’s official support of their products has a very real chance of being supported for a longer extent of time than Google’a official support of their products, high quality, professional quality support in general is almost certainly greater with Google products once you consider the difference in their basic business philosophies concerning their proprietary versus open source natures.
What if the house is split between Apple and Google? I can’t wait until Linux phones are stable and all this nonsense can be a thing of the past 🤷🤦
Edit: I love these videos, they’re to the point with detail, family friendly and bonus dad jokes 👍
Can you list all the items you talked about with price and where to buy?
Can I know if there is any recommended specs for home assistant?
Great content,
I was wondering why didn’t you go to docker installation of HA, while trying to make a user management features and add whatever you want to your home
Have you tried Fibaro? It’s a polish company and it’s z-wave based! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Im struggling as I have two homes. I use Google in CA, but I am struggling with what to do in CO.
Privacy? 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Do you remember the photo roll back of deleted photos that apple mistakenly revealed after ios update? 😂😂😂😂😂
Do I have to remove google home stuff and keep echo speakers since I have a ring doorbell?
Google is terrible. Basically Google = no privacy and stolen data. Apple may be ok, but I have an Android phone. Apples phone just suck. Home Assistant is OK.
My question is, what other system can I use that works with eufy cameras, and Android phones, that’s not Google or Apple, but is still private?
That one question is what’s holding me back from going nuts with Smart Home tech.
I wish someone would come out with a video on how to convert from totally using Alexa to home assistant. Do you have any suggestions? Everything I have right now runs on Alexa.
I personally use HA and Google
I installed HomeAssistant to take a look but I’m lost.
How do I import everything from HomeKit to Home Assistant to get started?
I added HomeKit service in Home Assistant but nothing is imported. Did I missed something?
Thanks a lot 😊
Crestron custom? Crestron Home? Control4? Money can buy a lot more than these cheap DIY systems. You’ll never see this off the shelf stuff in a high end home.
Question: what WiFi router or routers would you recommend for Apple HomeKit these days? Thanks!
Who is this guy?
I love the skit. I’ll look at using it with Google. Anything that ties you to a specific platform is a non-starter.
Question will probably not get answered however what’s your preference for a Zigbee Dongle and what software are your running on the Zigbee Dongle?
I would really love to see how you would use Google Home with Home assistant for us android users.
Nice video
I went with HomeAssistant + HomeKit.
If you were to buy smart light switches for your house today, which ones would you choose?
Now, do one thats not sponsored by apple
I have a phone and tablet – android no computer. Say I buy home assistant. And have google home. What do I do tell me like I’m a idiot cause I haven’t found a video yet that makes sense. As an example I open the front door of my house and music plays from Spotify on my sonas and my Wiz lights go into certain setting. How do I do that ?
So where’s the video about getting going with home Zlassist
So inclusion get an iphone for Homekit if you want the best smarthome. I’m an andriod user and i was really hoping to hear more about that part.
OK HA – what thermostat do you recommend? Need to fix asap! What do I buy?
You should try out Homey Pro 2023 👍 Its both Easy to use and connects to almost everything.
Reed, with LG buying Homey do you think it will go down hill like it did with Samsung Smarthings. I currently have Smarthings and want to switch but don’t want to make the same mistake. Thanks
Have you tried Universal Devices EISY hub? Integrates everything (even old Insteon).
Amazing visuals and clear explanations, this is top-notch content! 8:20
Any thoughts on the Aqara Hubs?
lol that outro was gold 😂
smart home system
Hope this helped clear up any confusion on what I use! Another smart home tour coming soon, so make sure you’re subscribed 👏
I would never have Google for any reason. Google spies on you just like the phone. 😮
I love the title. Every persons house is different. Try doing wifi in my house guarantee you fail. My house is just a mere 1900 sq ft 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms to living rooms and a kitchen. BUT my house in 1950 started out at 700sq ft, so apparently i UTAH there is no building ethics or code, my house has 4 ad ons, but did they add it on like we do in normal states, nope, they left the brick walls and built 3 new walls and put brick on them. SO i have 4 walls that are 14 inches thick with brick and real 1950 studs. My base unit of a $400 wifi system is in direct line of my bed but in another room 20 feet away, still spotty coverage. My living room is through a couple rooms, and has a 14icnh brick wall, enough to add a satellite box, but kind of sucks even Alexa turns red with anger a lot, but the tv and laptop do ok. Walk out the back door 4 feet zero coverage, my mancave is 100foot away and i have a hard wire, for tv and internet but cannot get wifi even on my phone. Thought about hard wiring entire house, but what you think an attic looks like with 4 add ons that they didn’t pull the walls down and i found out even the old roof, no access to any add on rooms except for a newborn, oh and crawl space, nope foundations put in the way, even running a/c to my room required a jack hammer for hours for a 8 inch hole. Funny thing is from the outside its great, even the last 2 home appraisers gave us huge marks for how well maintained and even though i paid 160k its worth 500k now just wish i had better wifi for my xfinity cable internet at 500gb.
New to this entire field. What kinds of things do you automate that are truly worth the set-up and that you don’t really to do yourself?
Have you had a chance to get your hands on the LinkNLink iSG?
I’m a novice when it comes to smart homes, although I have a few bits. One thing I can’t seem to do (which I apparently should be able to) is to transfer my media between my google nest speakers. Could I circumvent Google by using home assistant if I were to add that does anyone know please? It was actually the reason I wanted smart speakers to begin with and I’ve never been able to get it to work!
There’s no sensible response from google regarding this. It’s like talking to a brick wall. I’ve been looking at Alexa/amazon, but as this video explains, adding subscriptions to everything is a big no no.
I don’t really know where to ask so if anyone responds, thank a lot!
It would be great if Youtubers would stop speaking in a tonality that someone would use when they’re talking to a group of children.
I still don’t get how they "work together". You add devises in HA then import them to HK. Can you do that for automations?
Is smartthings planning on bringing back advanced features?
I’m a very competent nerd. I learnt VBA to automate tasks in Microsoft Office/365. I have dabbled in video game dev. I have a fully bespoke and custom KWLP launcher integrated with Nova Launcher on my Android and it’s better for me than any launcher in existence. If you aren’t familiar with KLWP then look it up because it is a lot of effort and all front end ui-based dev via the phone only – so it’s very tedious and intensive.
So I’m happy to jump through some hoops for automation and convenience/perceived convenience.
Yet, even with you making Smart Home tech sound as simple and easy possible… It’s clear that it’s entirely just a waste of money.
Its a thinly veiled gimmick to get subscription money and extra sellable user data.
Even PC RGB lighting isn’t dependent on ecosystem mechanics anymore, not like smart homes are.
Every piece of smart hardware is prohibitively expensive, and adds up fast. Requires extensive fiddling to get working and then reportedly fails to work in perpetuity…
All so you can use your phone instead of getting up (an oversimplification I know).
Smart devices should be half their price, not come with privacy invading strings, and just work. It’s been over a decade since Hue came to market now. No excuse.
Only problem is Apple Home Kit is only for Apple Users. You can’t get that app on an Android, which over 60% of the U.S use. So what’s the "BEST" smart home system for a house with both Android AND Apple users? I think that’s probably a more likely scenario then a house filled with one ecosystem. Had me going though.
Considering what’s going on with Google Home recently, it seems like it should be on the chopping block more than Amazon.
Homepods are fine if you like low volume. When I still was using Apple, I couldn’t get enough volume out of the Homepod Mini for it to be useful. And, yes. Siri is not very good, but it sure is chatty!
Stan AleXa Copyers
If I ask Google to start a second timer while keeping the first one it just goes dump and cannot do it. Smart whatever is far from entering my home at this rate.
My sus smart home system