Originally Published: 8 April 2016 Initial Impressions HS-WD100+ Z-Wave In-Wall Switch/Dimmer by HomeSeer Price: $45 HS-WS100+ Z-Wave In-Wall On/Off Switch by HomeSeer Price: $45 This is a preliminary review of the HomeSeer Z-Wave Plus HS-WS100+ on/off switch and HS-WD100+ dimmer switch. I’ve also posted SmartThings Device Handler/drivers, Central Scene Notification Information, and some comparison images […]
Light switches might be the first thing that pops into most people’s mind when they consider automating their home. Controlling my lights is one task that I am certainly willing to delegate to a smart assistant to automate scheduled events, respond to activities in my house, and even support my verbal commands. The following table […]
Following is a preliminary review based on a week of operation of the Wink Hub 2 home automation hub, by Flextronics. This device sports several impressive features and I wanted to get the information I have to date posted. I will continue to update and add to this review as I put this device through […]
“All generalizations are false, including this one.” – Mark Twain Whether you call them controllers, smart home hubs, bridges, or gateways, user requirements are unique, and with the possible exception of tube socks, there is no single one-size fits all product for everyone. That said, each of the popular home automation controllers in the Home Automation […]
Originally posted: 19 June, 2016 At roughly the size of a nail file, the Strips door and window sensor is an innovative 3mm thin Z-Wave Plus sensor developed by a small team at Sensative, a start-up out of Lund, Sweden. I have been watching the progress of the sensor on Indiegogo for a while now […]
I think you can officially call it an obsession now for me. I’ve been suggesting a smart doorbell sensor for awhile now in the Must Have Home Automation Devices page as a means to receive phone notifications and trigger other actions when your doorbell is rung, but I keep running into issues finding the perfect […]
The smoke alarm is credited with being one of the greatest success stories in the history of fire safety. While well maintained conventional smoke detectors are extremely effective in saving the lives of occupants, they are all but worthless if no one is at home to hear them. Every time I see smoke or a […]
“Comparison is the death of joy” – Mark Twain The following table summarizes features of popular smart Home Automation controllers, hubs, gateways, and bridges. This table will continue to receive updates as data becomes available and new products are released. Apple HomeKit support is not included in the table criteria, as none of these products […]
It’s happened several times to me, in several homes – the dreaded water leak. I’ve had to repair the wall and flooring behind a water heater that burst at the seams, and had cabinet and flooring damage following a slower, but possibly more insidious kitchen pipe leak. Aside from the obvious damage to your own […]