Internet of Things / Smart Houses

Doesn't seem to have it's own thread outside of the PC / Apple stuff.

All things 'smart' or IOT here?

To kick off:

1. Google Home available on 6th April in UK.

2. IKEA releasing their own smart lamps. Questions over how compatible they are with other ZigBee systems however.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.theregister.co.uk/AMP/2017/03/28/ikea_smart_home_products/

How about an internet of bikes?

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/260435/

Bugger. @Velocio merge / lock / delete pleze

Really looking forward to having to install a software patch at 3am because the house lights keep turning on and off.

Does anyone know how the Google Home Mini would compare to a Sonos Play 1 in terms of audio quality?

Nowhere near as good just because of the size difference.

The sonos 1 sounds really great. The Google home mini will undoubtedly not.

Yeah, the Home Mini will be rubbish compared to the Sonos 1.

I'm getting one in a week or so (that came free with a Pixel 2).

I'm getting one free too and was wondering if it could possibly replace my aging sonos. I thought not but thought google might have pulled a blinder. Never mind.

Does this mean that loads are about to appear on eBay for cheap?

I'd have one for fifteen quid.

Has anyone tried using home mini combine to chromecast audio? I have wired speakers in every room of the house, each connected to a chromecast audio, would be cool to have a mini in each room to control it

Yep that would be cool. Also, where you live I imagine your WiFi is uncongested?

Should work just fine.

Yep, no congestion at all. Cool, will buy one and try in one room first.

Does anyone have an IKEA wireless lights gateway. I need to connect some bulbs to one and get the firmware updated so that they will, hopefully, be Phillips Hue compatible.

Would rather not buy one if I don't have to.

Has anyone else managed to get this to work, with GU10 bulbs?

My heating engineer has contacted me to ask whether I want NEST or HIVE thermostat.
I intend to IoT some more bits (lights, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, etc)
Which is the Forum approved setup these days? (I'm erring to Nest)

I went with Nest, have 2 x thermostats and 5 x smoke alarms, and will prob get the smart doorbell when it launches, and have google home that it works with.

I think the thermostats are all much the same, I think the smart learning can work well if you are very routine based, but if you are as erratic as me, then they get a bit confused.

Ace, sounds like a similar setup to what I plan.

Cool. It start getting expensive... I looked into smart alarms and smart lighting.

To get enough Philips Hue bulbs would cost about £1500!

Innr bulbs work with the Hue bridge

You might look at smart switches, rather than bulbs, to save on spending.

Using a central home automation system would also mean mixing & matching bridges & protocols (zigbee, z-wave, hue etc...) - I use Homeassistant running on a Pi.

Next up - Jarvis, for voice control...

Yeah, what I would really like to do is change all my switches, but my lighting is a bit complex, for example I have 4 pendants and 4 spots in my lounge, controlled from 4 switches...

Talk to me about smart switches

About to have an extension and refurb of the house done. We had bought a few expensive smart bulbs the old house but smart switches seem a better way to control large numbers of lights.

Are there any switches that talk direct to the WiFi or do they all need to talk to a box that then talks to the WiFi. The belkin wemo seem to be like the latter option but not available for the UK market whereas light wave and energenie seem to need a box that the switches communicate with. Or am I misunderstanding this?

Most of them need a box of some sort to talk to, as far as I'm aware - some have their own, some can join to a hub system.

My setup is has a bunch of hubs and bridges for lights, switches, TRVs, and soon to be cameras, connected to the home network and all controlled over single interface