Tell me what smart home gadgets you have?

Brian_Pamo

Hi all
After Christmas we are moving to a new home that needs a lot of renovation work internally.  Of course, that was reflected in the price.  We have enlisted an architect to draw up plans to knock down/move/relocate internal walls etc and we plan to overhaul most systems including full a full rewire.  We are fans of technology so we fully intend to make the house as smart as possible, including all appliances (we have to leave our existing appliances in the house we are moving out of) etc.  So...Just for the fun of it...and to be nosey...please tell me what smart home gadgets you have.  What are the best gadgets you have bought? Are there any gadgets that you regret buying? Any devices/appliances that you love/hate? Any you love to show off to the inlaws?
Thanks all.

J_B

When we built our house in 2006 we had it hard-wired with data points in each corner of each room linking back to an Anitana box under the stairs  - we still like that. Hard wired still gives a better connection than wireless, remember.

We also have a central vacuum system which I like but Mrs B thinks it too much hassle and uses her Lidl cordless one!

We also have a monitored burglar alarm.

At our holiday rental apartment in Wales, we have Hive which is good to switch the heating on before you leave home and it's warm when you arrive (maybe not relevant so much when you are in residence)

EssexExile

I'm the smartest thing in this house. Hold on, the wife's saying she doesn't agree.

JJ_Egan

No all top secret .

greyteam1959

None.......

debitcardmayhem

Just light switches, when they are on they hide so mrs DCM can't switch them off.

flashg67

Smart bulbs and sockets linked to google home devices - the OH likes being able to ask google to turn the electric blanket on before she goes up to bed!

onomatopoeia99

While I've installed ethernet points to every room in the house except the bathroom, all wired back to a data cabinet in the boiler cupboard, I don't really consider those "smart home" things, more like avoiding the terrible bodge that are powerline adapters and getting a stable and secure network.  If you're doing a complete renovation I'd say put ethernet cabling in everywhere, unless you buy into the "powerful wifi" guff that some ISPs peddle.

JustAnotherSaver

JJ_Egan said:

No all top secret .

Didn't see that kind of response coming on a thread like this.

Honest. 

getmore4less

I put some connected heating/water controls in a while back, handy for off schedule changes when out but decent standalone programmable stats can provide most of the functionality. 

Wanting hot water temp/time control limits options of heating systems. 

Need to get them integrated into something generic as the company(OWL) want service fees for their platform.

Got 2 WiFi bulbs this week to have a play as needed a replacement lamp anyway and there was an offer £2.30 each. 

Security needs looking at whatever direction you go.

As said by others get the place wired up so cabled connections are always an option for higher bandwidth items or extra WiFi access points. . 

Brian_Pamo

onomatopoeia99 said:

While I've installed ethernet points to every room in the house except the bathroom, all wired back to a data cabinet in the boiler cupboard, I don't really consider those "smart home" things, more like avoiding the terrible bodge that are powerline adapters and getting a stable and secure network.  If you're doing a complete renovation I'd say put ethernet cabling in everywhere, unless you buy into the "powerful wifi" guff that some ISPs peddle.

Hi. Thanks for advice. Just curious to how this works...
Question 1: So, Imagine my broadband comes in at the front of my house under the lounge window. What do I do...take an Ethernet cable to a hub/switch hidden away and then distribute an Ethernet cable from there to every room? 
Question 2: Supposing I do route an Ethernet cable to every room (and it terminates at an Ethernet socket on the wall) do I then plug a mini router or such into that socket to supply that room with wifi? Otherwise how can we use our iPhones whilst lay in bed?
thanks