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Started By
Message
Favorite Smart Home device(s).
Posted on 7/29/25 at 10:46 am
Posted on 7/29/25 at 10:46 am
Randomly thinking about this earlier. I think one of my favorite devices has to be remote garage door opener/closer. The second has to be smart ceiling fan switches. We also have Zemismart curtain rods that are really great. Before Alexa/Amazon ended their support of IFTTT it was the "weavelor" to control our Levolor blinds.
What are yours?
What are yours?
11
Posted on 7/29/25 at 10:59 am to Lonnie Utah
I've been putting cheap zigbee motion sensors all around the house. I love those little things 
Also have used the hell out of my Sonos Z100 and Z80 amps
Also have used the hell out of my Sonos Z100 and Z80 amps
This post was edited on 7/29/25 at 11:51 am
Posted on 7/29/25 at 11:37 am to Lonnie Utah
Most smart devices aren't smart. They're just convenient. I only have one smart device that’s truly smart: my Rachio irrigation controller. It uses the FAO Penman-Monteith equation to compute reference evapotranspiration (ET0) from real weather data. That’s pretty damn smart.
I have two birds on the smoker. The temperature is being maintained with help from the Thermoworks Smoke x4 and Billows system. It's just kicking a fan on and off to supply more oxygen to the fire. Convvenient, not that smart.
My fleet of Alexa devices are probably my most used smart devices.
I have two birds on the smoker. The temperature is being maintained with help from the Thermoworks Smoke x4 and Billows system. It's just kicking a fan on and off to supply more oxygen to the fire. Convvenient, not that smart.
My fleet of Alexa devices are probably my most used smart devices.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 1:12 pm to TAMU-93
quote:
It's just kicking a fan on and off to supply more oxygen to the fire. Convvenient, not that smart.
So what makes a device smart?
It's a device that gathers inputs (in this case temp sensor), processes the input (in this case checking the inputs against set values), preforms an action based upon the results of the processing (in this case opens/closes the bellows). ETA: I'm ASSUMING there's a microprocessor in there, but I don't specifically know.)
While you're right that the device is convent, it is also "smart" by the definition of a smart device.
This post was edited on 7/29/25 at 1:15 pm
Posted on 7/29/25 at 1:28 pm to Lonnie Utah
I like our X-Sense Smart Home system.
This post was edited on 7/29/25 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 7/29/25 at 2:46 pm to Lonnie Utah
quote:
So what makes a device smart?
It's a device that gathers inputs (in this case temp sensor), processes the input (in this case checking the inputs against set values), preforms an action based upon the results of the processing (in this case opens/closes the bellows). ETA: I'm ASSUMING there's a microprocessor in there, but I don't specifically know.)
While you're right that the device is convent, it is also "smart" by the definition of a smart device.
I get what you're saying, but I think I also see where TAMU is coming from.
I have 3 categories in my "smart" home mental model: remote control, automation, and truly "smart". I guess the difference is not so much in the edge devices themselves, it's more in how you use them.
In the window blinds example, if they are motorized and have connectivity but you just use an app to open/close them when you want, that's just remote control. If you set a schedule for them, or have them react to lighting in the room, that's automation. If they, in combination with other devices, intelligently react to light/temp/occupancy/etc to balance the lighting and temperature needs of the room and house, now we're getting into "smart" territory IMO.
Probably a pointless distinction, but it's one I can't help making.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 3:03 pm to Lonnie Utah
I liked my little cluster of nest v1/v2 until I learned Google is just going to zap them here in another 7 weeks. Now prob the garage opener. We leave our big door up all the time but it always closes at 9pm. I’d like to bring my pool and patio automation into home assistant instead of on its own island but that’s way down the project pipeline.
My biggest project this year has been to tie in qwen, frigate, langchain, and MySQL to ask a custom agent via custom Alexa skill about anything that has gone on around the house. Not the most useful or accurate thing ever made but it’s futuristic as hell. Gotta rebuild the describer and context caching part because my workstation made way too much heat and had to go. The agent part just goes through Gemini. I’d be super easy to add a couple microphones and whisper model so I could ask Alexa about anything we’ve ever talked about, but I’d rather have a wife.
My biggest project this year has been to tie in qwen, frigate, langchain, and MySQL to ask a custom agent via custom Alexa skill about anything that has gone on around the house. Not the most useful or accurate thing ever made but it’s futuristic as hell. Gotta rebuild the describer and context caching part because my workstation made way too much heat and had to go. The agent part just goes through Gemini. I’d be super easy to add a couple microphones and whisper model so I could ask Alexa about anything we’ve ever talked about, but I’d rather have a wife.
This post was edited on 7/29/25 at 8:05 pm
Posted on 7/29/25 at 3:55 pm to Lonnie Utah
Lutron caseta switches
Posted on 7/29/25 at 4:21 pm to Lonnie Utah
I was able to snag one of those MyQ garage door keypad cameras for 15 bucks at some junk store i walked in... brand new in box. Its pretty cool.. Have wanted one for a while and planned to just buy it until i stumbled upon it while peaking my head into a liquidation store.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 5:31 pm to Lonnie Utah
There's a ton of cool stuff out there, but my smart sprinkler has no shite saved me tens of thousands of dollars. And I don't need to touch it. Then, Wyze light bulbs. Not sexy or interesting, but the automations get used every single day.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 5:31 pm to The Eric
Outdoor power stake thing for all the Christmas lights, automation. Remote controlled deadbolt for letting the neighbor lady in when we're out if needed. And various smart plugs attached to devices kids use so I can turn them off. Does the Deco app count? Disconnecting kid devices from the internet when I want is also handy.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 5:52 pm to Lonnie Utah
they're creeping back all over my house like weeds again
THEY KEEP PULLING ME BACK IN
HITS
i really like the eufy locks; very inexpensive, long lasting battery life and they get the job done
the wifi dehumidifier from costco is nice since its in my crawlspace so i can see what the humidity levels are and know if its running from the beach.
love the racchio; maybe my fav new gadget this year
meross garage door controller; cheap, simple and reliable
still love my sonos setup even after they broke my system (and heart) last year
reollink is a rock star. all local controlled PoE; everything from doorbell to cameras
x-sense; i had no smoke detectors in the house and it sets up its own network of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. love it!
honeywell TCC - simple, does the job, never fails
MISSES
irobot 405 app sucks. its 'lost' my house mapping twice now and very sluggish; cool design & ux, poor execution
dishwasher home-connect and delohngi coffeemaker app are inexplicable and unnecessary. i guess its nice the dishwasher tells me when i need to add rinse-aid.
THEY KEEP PULLING ME BACK IN
HITS
i really like the eufy locks; very inexpensive, long lasting battery life and they get the job done
the wifi dehumidifier from costco is nice since its in my crawlspace so i can see what the humidity levels are and know if its running from the beach.
love the racchio; maybe my fav new gadget this year
meross garage door controller; cheap, simple and reliable
still love my sonos setup even after they broke my system (and heart) last year
reollink is a rock star. all local controlled PoE; everything from doorbell to cameras
x-sense; i had no smoke detectors in the house and it sets up its own network of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. love it!
honeywell TCC - simple, does the job, never fails
MISSES
irobot 405 app sucks. its 'lost' my house mapping twice now and very sluggish; cool design & ux, poor execution
dishwasher home-connect and delohngi coffeemaker app are inexplicable and unnecessary. i guess its nice the dishwasher tells me when i need to add rinse-aid.
This post was edited on 7/29/25 at 5:57 pm
Posted on 7/29/25 at 7:19 pm to CAD703X
Sonos was the bomb before the app update, I switched to Denon (two speakers, not 8 like I used to have.)
Eufy is underrated. Rachio was my first sprinkler controller (I had more than 8? zones), but I switched to Wyze, although it has a nominal cost for the weather sub unlike Racho at the time.
Eufy is underrated. Rachio was my first sprinkler controller (I had more than 8? zones), but I switched to Wyze, although it has a nominal cost for the weather sub unlike Racho at the time.
Posted on 7/29/25 at 8:04 pm to Lonnie Utah
quote:
While you're right that the device is convent, it is also "smart" by the definition of a smart device.
Oh I agree, that it's a smart device by the generally accepted definition of "smart device". That's why I listed it. It's not smart by my definition, which is poorly defined due to my own lack of smarts!
Posted on 7/30/25 at 7:20 am to CAD703X
quote:
dishwasher home-connect and delohngi coffeemaker app are inexplicable and unnecessary. i guess its nice the dishwasher tells me when i need to add rinse-aid.
I bought a microwave without knowing it had wifi and an app, so when I noticed I went ahead and set it up to see if it can do anything cool. Turns out all it does is allow you to do all the same cooking functions as the keypad attached to the box you just put food in. No usage logs, no automation hooks, nothing. I can't imagine ever using the app.
I figured at least since it has wifi it can set its own time after a power blink.
frickING NOPE it doesn't do that.
Posted on 7/30/25 at 7:22 am to Korkstand
Posted on 7/30/25 at 8:00 am to Korkstand
quote:
I bought a microwave without knowing it had wifi and an app,
When we remodeled our basement, we added a small kitchenette with a microwave, Fridge and Range. The range connects to Smart things. While you can set the temp, cook time etc, the real advantage is it sends a notification to the app that the oven has finished preheating.
Posted on 7/30/25 at 8:38 am to Lonnie Utah
The ones I use daily:
-Alexa app/devices to control lighting, electronic devices like the TV, thermostats, Ring doorbell & security system
-MyQ system & app to remotely open and close garage doors and MyQ garage camera to monitor Amazon Key deliveries.
I'm about to place my home on the market and need to purchase a good Wi-Fi enabled deadbolt doorlock w/keypad for the realtor to gain access with a separate PIN when showing the house.
-Alexa app/devices to control lighting, electronic devices like the TV, thermostats, Ring doorbell & security system
-MyQ system & app to remotely open and close garage doors and MyQ garage camera to monitor Amazon Key deliveries.
I'm about to place my home on the market and need to purchase a good Wi-Fi enabled deadbolt doorlock w/keypad for the realtor to gain access with a separate PIN when showing the house.
Posted on 7/30/25 at 8:49 am to Lonnie Utah
I dont have any that I can think of and I like that the best. I believe my washer and dryer can connect to the internet but that is stupid.
EDIT: I am interested in a smart irrigation controller. I cant deny that.
EDIT: I am interested in a smart irrigation controller. I cant deny that.
This post was edited on 7/30/25 at 8:51 am
Posted on 7/30/25 at 9:05 am to notsince98
quote:
I believe my washer and dryer can connect to the internet but that is stupid.
Our washer dryer are in the other end of the house. It's nice getting a notification that they washing is finished without an annoying buzzer going off.
quote:
I am interested in a smart irrigation controller.
I've had good luck with our B-hyve. The best part here is the irrigation company give us a rebate for putting it in (but we live in a desert). It interfaces with the local weather to regulate watering days and times. I use the app on my phone exclusively to control it.
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