Super newbie here. Need help with lots of stuff
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Hello guys. I'm currently building my own home and i want it to be kind of high tech and cool but i have actually never owned a smart device other than a smartphone and an old smart TV so i don't even know what exactly am i looking for. I will explain my idea and i am looking forward to somebody shining some light.
Sooo - i was thinking about getting a WiFi controlled AC, TV, Washing machine, Dryer and smart switches for the lights. I suppose i need some kind of a assistant that connects to the wifi and can control all of these. Also i want an audio system - for the TV in the living room aaaand i also want to have 2 speakers in the bathroom which i have no idea where i would connect. I guees i need some kind of a receiver and amplifier for them to work correctly. But i also want that reciever to be hidden somewhere so it ahould be small and it also should be able to connect to the wifi i guess.
So wgat exactly do i need so far. Would any wifi device connect to any assistant? Or am i lookng for particullar stuff... Will i be able for example to turn on my AC from outside the household for example when im at work? And can i also connect an alarm system of some type? -
Hello amnd,
It seems to me that the appropriate "assistant" for you is "Home Assistant".
HA is an automation system that has integrations for a lot of IoT devices, and the latest versions is getting much easier to set up as well.
It is however an open source project, which means that it may be a challenge to get going if you have no experience with things like raspberry Pi's or Linux.
HA is also working on their own controller, but as of now people mostly run it on mini-PC's or similar.
if you're completely green on electronics and coding, perhaps Homey is a better bet.
when you have a system like this, you can connect to appliances and IoT in different ways, it all depends on how smart the devices are, and how the company that makes them integrates to other systems.
Regarding speakers, you get all kinds of wifi speaker systems, depending on where an how you want it.
Most automation controllers can be reached from outside the home through an app. This system can in practice be your alarm system if you connect motion and door/window sensors.
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Concur on all points.
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Welcome to the forum!
Before you start buying stuff, it might be best to be clear in your own mind exactly what you want to be able to achieve. You've clearly done some thinking already, but lack of any actual experience may well lead you down the wrong path. So start with a modest set of requirements: let's say, lighting. This will allow you to experiment and experience some of the Home Automation issues that you may run across without spending a huge amount of money.
Do you have existing infrastructure which needs to be compatible? Are you, perhaps, in an Apple ecosystem? Or more of an Android guy?
There are, indeed, choices to be made. Even lighting, which sounds simple, isn't. Do you have clusters of lights the ceilings, controlled by one switch currently, or perhaps also a number of separate single work lights in several areas? They each demand a different approach. Wall switches may allow WiFi controlled relays be placed behind wall plates. Separate bulbs are perhaps more amenable to being replaced by radio-controlled bulbs such as Philips Hue, or equivalent.
Then you have to think about how to integrate these things, and there are many options. By experimenting in a relatively small way you will find out what suits you and then be in a position to scale up.
Good luck. There is lots of expertise here which is best tapped by asking specific questions, so it helps if you can provide details about your location, constraints, and your own expertise.
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well have you ever thought about hiring someone to save your life?
