First thing I would recommend is Cat6A (at the least) and ethernet ports everywhere, before the walls go up. The more the better. Never hurts. If you plan on outdoor cameras, run some Ethernet through to the outside of the house where you can add PoE cameras. You would want to hardwire everything where applicable. The key to a stable HomeKit is a solid network all with a wired backhaul. I recommend a UniFi system for your networking needs with AP’s.IS there such a person? Someone here perhaps?
Building a new home...too much changing so fast. Still working a full time career and lots to do with building the home...could use the help.
May I ask why you want to use Alexa for your entertainment? AppleTVs are great for the Apple ecosystem and deep integration. You can get notifications on screen for door locks and such. Also rich notifications right on the TV if someone rings the doorbell or there’s motion. You also get Siri control for the AppleTVs and able to stream cameras in full view and HomeKit accessory control. Apple products are best when you go all in. The more you have the better it gets. Then there’s the little stuff like being able to control an AppleTV right from an Apple Watch (if you have one). I’m just scratching the surface.Well I had planned on wiring for a PoE camera system, I plan on seperating my home automation from my entertainment automation. Using Siri for the house and Alexa for music/movies and entertainment.
Wanting Siri to control Flood lights, door locks, garage door, and blinds, would add mood/accent lighting to that.
Already planning on hardwire for multizone speakers and home theater-along with PoE cameras.
seconded.May I ask why you want to use Alexa for your entertainment? AppleTVs are great for the Apple ecosystem and deep integration. You can get notifications on screen for door locks and such. Also rich notifications right on the TV if someone rings the doorbell or there’s motion. You also get Siri control for the AppleTVs and able to stream cameras in full view and HomeKit accessory control. Apple products are best when you go all in. The more you have the better it gets. Then there’s the little stuff like being able to control an AppleTV right from an Apple Watch (if you have one). I’m just scratching the surface.
LOL. Ok go with Matter!Why Lutron switches? Caseta requires a hub. I much prefer Leviton 2nd gen switches with Matter support.
I ditched Alexa also, got HomePods but Siri royally sucks ass for nearly everything and k do miss Alexa but I’m holding out for Apple getting off their ass to fix it and maybe with the new AI rollout it’ll actually work. I don’t trust Amazon and won’t go back to Alexa.
If i can convince you of nothing else, consider the reliability advantage of one wired connection from a very reliable 'hub' with zero reliance on WiFi/2.4 for each switch, versus 30-50+ switches, all individual clients relying on wifi... the choice should be obvious.Well hold up just a little. I actually haven’t upgraded the Leviton switches to matter yet as I do have concerns. I bought them thinking they’d be a bit more future proof. So I’m just using the HomeKit version of their firmware…
I did consider Caseta but the limit on number of devices and range concerned me for the size of my home.
I have a dedicated 2.4 IOT only network in isolation. Everything has its pros and cons, I agree.
You can, as long as the hub is on the network, it adds as a separate 'bridge' in Homekit.I don’t doubt you are probably right. I remember seriously considering Caseta and there was a reason I didn’t go with it but it’s been a long while since I delved into it. Can you have more than one hub if range is an issue? That might have been why.
In any case, I have probably only 12 switches and it works fine for me. Nothing on it is mission critical.
I think they earned the warranted hate (at the time) from the companies that tried to sell lay-folks with an all-in-one 'hub' cloud home automation solution. These companies were ill-fated and not prepared or well funded enough to provide long term support and cover cloud costs to keep their required backend services up.A lot of people are against hubs and bridges but I use them whenever applicable. So you pay a few tens of dollars for a hub but in return, you get the best reliability and speed for accessories available (next to hardwiring). I never understood the resentment towards hubs. I put as little on WiFi as possible. (Except for LIFX switches Those are tits for HomeKit.)
Fair enough. My first hub based products were Hue and up until iOS 17, has been headache free. I’m 99.99 % sure this is a HomeKit issue.I think they earned the warranted hate (at the time) from the companies that tried to sell lay-folks with an all-in-one 'hub' cloud home automation solution. These companies were ill-fated and not prepared or well funded enough to provide long term support and cover cloud costs to keep their required backend services up.
Historically, these type of proprietary hubs inevitably failed and took with them the confidence of consumers who have no clue what any of this stuff is, all they know is they paid a lot and it never worked right. Plus, now no one will touch it. Thats how 'hubs' got a black eye.
But it doesn't help that some manufacturers, like Philips and the Hue Hubs have royally screwed up with firmware updates and app changes too! Or other manufacturers that did not offer local LAN control and had outages/breaches/product sunsets and business model failure. If it relies on the cloud... youre whole setup is at mercy of the manufacturer's backend. Lutron is sane, has local control, solid firmware and radio tech. No bells and whistles!
Heres lookin at you Aqara. Throwing shade and calling you out over your insistence on cloud-only hub compatibility within Homekit.
Open source and local control for life!!!
HomeBridge
HomeAssistant
Frigate
never had a hue hub, but followed threads over the years of their blunders. They certainly arent the worst by far,Fair enough. My first hub based products were Hue and up until iOS 17, has been headache free. I’m 99.99 % sure this is a HomeKit issue.
I really gotta get into one of the open source platforms. I bought a HOOBs to start up on it a couple years ago that’s still sealed in the original packaging. Doing 60 hours a month in OT at work and my son’s travel hockey has put a damper on my plans. Everyone says it’s easy but I really have no idea how to begin. Guess I gotta find the time to research it. Even bought an iMac to use for it.
youch! you dont need an imac to run homebridge/hoobs!!Fair enough. My first hub based products were Hue and up until iOS 17, has been headache free. I’m 99.99 % sure this is a HomeKit issue.
I really gotta get into one of the open source platforms. I bought a HOOBs to start up on it a couple years ago that’s still sealed in the original packaging. Doing 60 hours a month in OT at work and my son’s travel hockey has put a damper on my plans. Everyone says it’s easy but I really have no idea how to begin. Guess I gotta find the time to research it. Even bought an iMac to use for it.
I needed (wanted) a desktop computer anyways for other reasons too- light computing stuff for work so just I stayed in the ecosystem and went with the iMac.youch! you dont need an imac to run homebridge/hoobs!!
put your hoobs on your network, find its IP address, and login to its web interface through the browser. wouldnt hurt to update it since its been in a box for a while...
ive seen you post a lot, and often find we agree! if you need help or tips getting off the ground with Homebridge, let me know! happy to help!
lol nobody is hating you. What you do is your business and doesn’t affect any of us in the slightest. I was just providing recommendations per your request. Also was curious what the rationale is for splitting eco systems. I believe you’re doing yourself a disservice when it comes to automations and scenes. You’ll have to switch between apps instead of having everything under one roof. If that’s your preference, then hey, be my guest.Keep it coming....
What is the issue with MATTER, Apple has said they will be compliant-is Matter or Apple not their yet.
I was wanting to make this system work being wired shades, but most likely use SimpliSafe, and Wifi locks.
I like using Alexa better than Siri for day to day stuff....but the mechanical workings of the home - Garage Doors, Door Locks, Shades, Flood Lights and some interior lights - APPLE
Home Theater, whole house audio - Wired and Alexa. Hate me all ya want.
Keep it coming....
What is the issue with MATTER, Apple has said they will be compliant-is Matter or Apple not their yet?
I was wanting to make this system work being wired shades, but most likely use SimpliSafe, and Wifi locks.
I like using Alexa better than Siri for day to day stuff....but the mechanical workings of the home - Garage Doors, Door Locks, Shades, Flood Lights and some interior lights - APPLE
Home Theater, whole house audio - Wired and Alexa. Hate me all ya want.
Also SimpliSafe doesn’t have native HomeKit integration. They were one of the companies that promised it in the past but never followed thru. Just thought you’d oughta know. There may be a HomeBridge plugin for it but I don’t know for sure. Maybe someone with more knowledge of HomeBridge can answer.Keep it coming....
What is the issue with MATTER, Apple has said they will be compliant-is Matter or Apple not their yet?
I was wanting to make this system work being wired shades, but most likely use SimpliSafe, and Wifi locks.
I like using Alexa better than Siri for day to day stuff....but the mechanical workings of the home - Garage Doors, Door Locks, Shades, Flood Lights and some interior lights - APPLE
Home Theater, whole house audio - Wired and Alexa. Hate me all ya want.
I actually (for the most part) prefer to keep home security and home automation separate. I just think HomeKit is far too fickle to be an integral component of home security.Also SimpliSafe doesn’t have native HomeKit integration. They were one of the companies that promised it in the past but never followed thru. Just thought you’d oughta know. There may be a HomeBridge plugin for it but I don’t know for sure. Maybe someone with more knowledge of HomeBridge can answer.
Gotchya… but OP mentioned having all the mechanical workings in HomeKit, including garage doors and window coverings (which I believe are a part of home security). At that point, might as well have the door locks in there as well.I actually (for the most part) prefer to keep home security and home automation separate. I just think HomeKit is far too fickle to be an integral component of home security.
Having said that, I would not object to allowing Apple HomeKit minor control of the security system. For example, simple arm/disarm of the otherwise isolated security platform.
/Jim