Smart home

cherryblossomzel

Is anyone using any smart home systems? I'm already using a couple of Amazon Alexa speakers and have an Amazon Fire TV stick. I'm also thinking about installing some lights that can be controlled via Alexa (Philips Hue??) and either Hive or Nest for heating control, via Alexa of course.

Does anyone have any advice or insights to give?

Thanks!!

Browntoa

Maybe avoid the Yale smart lock ...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6268379/People-locked-houses-Yale-smart-security-crashes.html

cherryblossomzel

Oh dear. Although in the article they say the doors can be opened in other ways?

I do think some of that is probably hysterical tabloid reporting.

Browntoa

The point is that nothings totally reliable , hives also had problems in the past with updates

cherryblossomzel

Absolutely. But the same is true for non-smart things. Normal door locks break too, or the people who use them leave their keys in hotel rooms hundreds of miles away (not speaking from personal experience or anything ).

elsien

cherryblossomzel wrote: »

Absolutely. But the same is true for non-smart things. Normal door locks break too, or the people who use them leave their keys in hotel rooms hundreds of miles away (not speaking from personal experience or anything ).

Also not speaking from personal experience but key safes can address that "oh !!!!!!" moment when you hear the door click behind you whilst frantically patting pockets.

I've no experience of the systems - my initial thoughts would be about how easy/difficult to install discretely (and where). And do I want Amazon linked in with everything.

Gers

I've got smart TP link light bulbs and smart plugs around the house. They are controlled by Alexa linked to the Kasa app. I find them / it extremely useful.

My setup will be regarded as at the extreme low level of what's possible. Suits me.

RumRat

cherryblossomzel wrote: »

Is anyone using any smart home systems? I'm already using a couple of Amazon Alexa speakers and have an Amazon Fire TV stick. I'm also thinking about installing some lights that can be controlled via Alexa (Philips Hue??) and either Hive or Nest for heating control, via Alexa of course.

Does anyone have any advice or insights to give?

Thanks!!

Go for it, although I don't like Amazon stuff, (each to their own), I use Google Home and find the whole thing just works.
It's quite nice and convenient having the lights and heating controls to hand wherever you are.

GunJack

smart home stuff?? Not with a bargepole, IMHO. IoT hacking has been on the rise (CCTV cameras anyone??) and I think is set to be a growth area...

tonyh66

GunJack wrote: »

smart home stuff?? Not with a bargepole, IMHO. IoT hacking has been on the rise (CCTV cameras anyone??) and I think is set to be a growth area...

CCTV cameras aren't hacked, they are just viewed because people put them onto open ip addresses. You are right that IOT hacking probably is a growth area so people need to be aware and secure their network properly.

RumRat

GunJack wrote: »

smart home stuff?? Not with a bargepole, IMHO. IoT hacking has been on the rise (CCTV cameras anyone??) and I think is set to be a growth area...

Imagine if the same had been said of PC's? Actually, I think it was..:)
As I said, each to their own, but, the genie is well and truly out of the bottle.
Most of the hacking has been to companies with public facing IOT's.