Internet Of Things / IoT / Connected Home / Smart Houses

Yes that sensor I believe - I didn't buy the display. I'd assumed I broke something but thanks for pointing out that might not be the case...

newb question. If I wanted to try an Amazon Echo setup in my office at home (spare room)

Am i better just getting the small echo dot or getting the sonos with built-in echo? I already have a sonos 1 on my desk which I use for music etc..

I'm not desperate for another sonos speaker but I can repurpose the current one if the combined version gives a benefit over just adding the dot.

Then what else should I get? - I have two desk lamps in the room and a couple of things plugged into sockets i'd like to control.

The dot is fine for voice but it's not great for listening to music. The normal echo is much, much better sounding. If you're looking at either then keep an eye out for deals, they get reduced quite often (or if you just want a taste I have a first gen dot I've been meaning to sell for cheap).

Obvious things are lights (Hue are a popular option, I also have a Hue first gen bridge that I've also been meaning to sell for cheap if you're interested), plug sockets and heating. The Amazon website has a whole selection of stuff that can be linked with Alexa.

Worth considering what you're planning on using for music and whether an echo or some other smart speaker (or a dumb speaker plugged into an echo) would be better value/quality.

Anyone got experience with the Aurora Aone system?

I haven't used it. When I started looking at it for smart light switches it looked really expensive and difficult to buy which didn't convince me to look any further until it's more established.

Is there a lamp available that will connect to wifi so I can have set up to IFTTT-type services, turn on and dim remotely, put on a timer etc but also has a manual switch that will turn it off if it's on, and on if it's off (rather than being downstream so only turning it off if it's on)... that also looks like a normal lamp?

Having a lot of trouble finding one. Don't have any smart home stuff set up yet

You don't need a smart lamp, just a smart bulb.

I've got Lifx bulbs on a couple of normal lamps and they do all you mentioned.

Not the switch bit - smart bulbs need a permanent on state.

Sonof switches can be wired with state switching , but need to be flashed with e.g. tasmota first.

Not exactly out of the box stuff.

Not the switch bit - smart bulbs need a permanent on state.

stelfox just asked about a manual switch that turns it off if it's on, on if it's off.

Lifx bulb in lamp goes off if you switch the lamp off (obviously). Then when power is restored, i.e. the on switch, then light comes on, and back onto the schedule I think(?)

Philips Hue do a few
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Beyond-7120231PH-Table-Expansion/dp/B00NBP05QA
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FGNCNJS/ref=psdc_3764796031_t2_B00NBP05QA
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TPKQ6DG/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1

Not sure if the middle one has its own switch, think it does.

Or buy this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-929001173761-Wireless-Installation-Free-Exclusive/dp/B0748KLR39/ put the bulb in a normal lamp and just use the little remote.

I think I interpreted Stelfox's requirement a little differently and needing the switch to be smart too

Most smart bulbs seem to have a state (that can be programmed if needed, with some bulks) with power being restored at the switch, but it needs a smart(er) switch to allow the bulb to be used if the power is off.

stelfox just asked about a manual switch that turns it off if it's on, on if it's off.

The problem is the latter part of your statement, "on if it's off".

A smart bulb won't reliably do this - if the bulb has power but is in the "dark" state by its IoT controller, flicking the switch will remove power and have no effective impact on the state of the bulb.

if the bulb has power but is in the "dark" state by its IoT controller, flicking the switch will remove power and have no effective impact on the state of the bulb.

Ah yes, fair point

You need three devices.

1. A smart bulb (Or two)
   
2. A controller (remote switch) which you use in place of the lamp switch
   
3. The relevant gateway or bridge for the router
   
   

Put the remote next to the lamp and use that in place of the lamp switch.

Something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/TR%C3%85DFRI-Gateway-Kit-White-Spectrum/dp/B0728FJJY7
Or all the colours from Hue
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7157262

Personally I’d get the hue kit from Argos, once you get one lamp done you’ll want more, they can all work from the one remote.

Yeah you've nailed it. I want to be able to turn it on manually without having to get my phone out, when the schedule is for 'off'

@aggi Yeah I did see the Beyond one, but at £250 was a bit much. As you and @Ramsaye say seems the best option is Bulb + remote.

I am very tempted by smart lighting, auto quick dimming in the evening would be brilliant. All our ceiling lights are chandeliers though (no queen of Versailles) so just lamps for now!

Thank you everyone!

Why not shelly1 in the ceiling rose?

https://youtu.be/WPq-Lf6HGqU

If it’s for a lamp, a smart plug will do it (although they’re incredibly ugly).
Leave the lamp inline switch on and use the app/timer/IFTTT/button on the plug to control the bulb.
We have a couple of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GWWRK1C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eX4MCbJTDP3SK

Yeah you've nailed it. I want to be able to turn it on manually without having to get my phone out

You do realise that flicking the switch twice will turn it on? It's just a bit annoying.

(You can set the bulb to illuminate when it receives power on after power off, well you can with Hue at least, it's the default setting)

But if it's turned off then you lose all the smart functionality (scheduling, turning on remotely, voice control, etc)

You misunderstand me.

Approach lamp which is extinguished. (due to being off in software not power)

Flick switch and nothing happens.

Hmmmmm.

Flick again, it turns on.

Ahhhh, light.

Only issue (with the Hive bulbs at least) is that they default to 100% when doing that.

I appreciate why, cos if you'd inadvertently set it to 1% it'd be pretty useless. Still annoying tho', being able to change the default would be very useful.

Zigbee plug sockets - are there any?

2 gang wall socket

That's fine so long as you only want to turn on using a switch and not off.

@Brun that's changed now (you may need the 2nd gen hub). You can choose the brightness to either be on full, the last state or a custom level of brightness/colour.

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No I didn't realise that. I don't have any smart gear

Still have the problem of turning it off again. Turn off at switch, bye-bye scheduling, right?

lol 'aaaah light'