Happy Saturday everybody! It's BBQ time!!! If you're interested in buying anything featured today it is linked below :) ... As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. By buying through any of the links below I will earn commission at no extra cost to you :) AMAZON ECHO 4TH GENERATION: UK: amzn.to/3eaiKZB US: amzn.to/3spreBe MAINS SMART LIGHT SWITCH (no neutral required) UK: Coming soon US: amzn.to/32i6elx FLIC BUTTON flic.io/shop?aff=65 MAINS SMART PLUG SOCKETS UK: amzn.to/3gff2Rp US: amzn.to/2Rx0CBC (US equivalent, doesn't work with Broadlink but does work with Alexa) PORTABLE SMART SOCKETS UK: amzn.to/3x0FnIN US: amzn.to/32rdueF BROADLINK RM4 PRO HARMONY HUB ALTERNATIVE FOR SMART HOME TV CONTROL UK: amzn.to/3dk74V8 US: amzn.to/3x1bDeL BEST SMART BULBS E27 white temperature Zigbee bulb (works with Echo 4th gen) UK: amzn.to/3tqKkZ5 US: amzn.to/3agbCde E27 Best value for money RGB colour WIFI bulb (works with any Alexa device) UK: amzn.to/3srjsa2 US: amzn.to/3snn8d3 E27 Best Colour saturation Wifi bulb (LIFX works with any Alexa device) UK: amzn.to/3uWCDKI US: amzn.to/3mRrV5j GU10 White temperature Zigbee bulb (works with Echo 4th gen) UK: amzn.to/32oi9hq US: Not Available GU10 RGB colour Zigbee bulb (works with Echo 4th gen) UK: amzn.to/3spukFm US: amzn.to/32jUZJh SHELLY GIANT VINTAGE BULB shop.shelly.cloud/shelly-vintage-g-wifi-smart-home-automation-1/?paulhibbert LED RGBIC strip WIFI (works with any Alexa device): UK: amzn.to/3e6KGxN US: amzn.to/33m14G4 ZIGBEE HUB AND SENSORS Full range: www.ajaxonline.co.uk/shop/?ajax=1&connectivity=zignito-hub NEST THERMOSTAT WITH OPENTHERM UK: amzn.to/32jVjHR US: amzn.to/3ad3KsL ECHO SHOW 10 UK: amzn.to/3lSuWBH US: amzn.to/39gE9Pf FIRESTICK 4K UK: amzn.to/2RuRQEb US: amzn.to/2OSblFM WIFI BLIND MOTOR UK: amzn.to/3tsLZNK US: amzn.to/3dsPdvr WIFI CURTAIN MOTOR (***CHECK CURTAIN TYPE BEFORE PURCHASE!!!***) UK: amzn.to/3uVMYqd US: amzn.to/32gZN26
Hi Paul, have you tried the quinetic switches - battery and wire free and they do units that work with she who etc etc. They also do modules that fit into mk and varilight grid modules - meaning they can look almost exactly the same as your normal switches...if you have any left 😉
Paul, I tried to order the Dystopian Attack Helicopter from Amazon, but it's not available for...20 years!! (Or is it only available to billionaires - right now?🤔)
www.amazon.co.uk/BroadLink-Required-Compatible-Included-Schedule/dp/B08MF9NQK5 Looks like amazon now has "MAINS SMART LIGHT SWITCH (no neutral required) UK: Coming soon"
*I like the old style Echo Dot because it's small also **Newest.Technology**, gives out decent sound and doesn't take up a lot of shelf space if you want to put it on beam in the workshop or shed.*
Bought this iPad for my daughter as she was due for a new one with a lot more space for her drawing and creating apps. ru-vid.comUgkxUGaHtKW8MwCql2fPyIm9-ftTqSMzKFFA It arrived in an official Apple box with an Apple charging cord. iPad is perfect with zero flaws. Seriously looks and functions as brand new. Also came with AppleCare. Couldn’t be happier! Thank you so much!! Will update this review if anything happens in the near future.
@@hornetIIkite3 yes, probably 1% or less of people would like to run it on a pc. Plus. it's not easy for the common person. I spentcountless nights to troubleshoot problems on my raspberry pi (and I'm not exactly a n00b). There's home assistant blue, which is great, but if you live in Europe, you are out of luck
We have run the Alexa and Google home setups for a bit and ultimately ended up favoring the Google home. While your comments on device support are accurate we haven't felt limited with Google home. More importantly the devices simply worked without needing to build routines or use overly long voice commands. For example I have a combination of smart switches and bulbs in my living room. Some of the switches are named "lamp" etc. since a floor lamp is connected. I can simply say "hey Google living room lights on" and the bulbs plus switches named lamp will all turn on. This required zero customization on my part. It was more accurate and easier to follow-up on with questions and transfer results to my phone. Pairing with calendar functionality, easy integration with RU-vid and streaming ended up sealing the deal for us a few years ago. I think they are both great, but if you want to just use things without tinkering, you or your kids access RU-vid a fair bit, you like smart phone integration and use Android... and you don't plan to order Amazon products via voice command... Google home has been the better choice for us.
Radio 2 this morning was on about them wanting to change the format of the champions League.... Dermot said "it's corporate greed!!"... Had a little chuckle to myself 💰😉
This! Yes, it's nerdy. Yes, it can be tedious, but it is so nice to have everything under one local roof with a dashboard that shows only the things you want and need Edit: I forgot something. HOME ASSISTANT! HOME ASSISTANT! HOME ASSISTANT!
So I’ve recently started trying to get home assistant setup. Downside is every time I log on to it all I can hear in my head is you shouting “home assistant!’ 😂😂😂
Hi , I started my smart home journey only 4 months ago after I got a gift, Amazon Echo dot 3rd gen , from my cousin. Smart Home all brands items are not available in my country. I started automation with Sonoff devices only. Amazon does not allow us to use its Alexa app but somehow i manage it. Thanks for your video, it's always inspiring. I am from Bangladesh, one of your fan among hundred thousand subscribers.
The Harmony Hub is the greatest home theater solution ever... I hope they still support it. I don't care about the automation stuff, as far as Harmony is concerned. Just let me control all of my disparate HT components...
I've been going through some smart home communities in my area, and I've been coming across many people that simply refuse to use Alexa as more than just a voice assistant, someone asked in that community if a certain zigbee motion sensor could work with his Echo 4 and all the answers he got was to use the Echo as a voice assistant and buy a zigbee gateway. I honestly can't wrap my head around this, why would people want more gateways when their Echo 4 can do all they want? Mindsets like these is why I think the range of compatible products with the Echo 4 will never be big enough, because there will always be people pushing for separate gateways.
Amazon Alexa is the best for home automation, it has the most skills. Echo dot 4th generation has zigbee builtin (to control my blinds, doorlock, etc.). Also, Google can't add a device to more than 1 room or group; example: kitchen and family room are adjacent to each other and I want the lights in both room to turn off if I say all, as well as independently turning off either room. Alexa is inexpensive so I bought 8 to equip every room with Amazon Alexa for voice control so that I can just ask 'turn off the lights' and the echo in that room knows to turn off those lights and not other lights in the house. Google app's fonts are really really really tiny for my old eyes. All 8 of my Amazon Echo devices have a clock... very convenient to tell the time or see a timer's countdown. or better sound, I have a few of my Amazon Echo dot 3 with clock output the sound via its 3.5mm headphone jack to my Denon HEOS speakers. New home automation users who want zigbee to communicate with blinds, door locks, lightbuilbs, etc. can just buy the Amazon Echo 4th generation with builtin zigbee.
Been trying to kill my smart home addition, but I can't unsub from your channel. It's just cool not being alone at the center of the Venn diagram between "total friggin' nerd" and "absolute cheapskate".
I have one general question regarding your videos and smart home. Do you look into the security aspect of the products recommended and whether they expose your home to any hacking attacks? Although I am keen to move to a smarter home I do question how much I should expose my network to potential vulnerabilities
OK, you guys with your 220V psycho-killer electricity are both hilarious and scary. Here in the US there are lots of alternatives for replacing light switches and plug-in sockets. Lutron Caseta is probably the state of the art and not only can you completely rewire your home using the Pico remotes. A Pico remote can be placed anywhere, on a wall, like a light switch, under your desk, on your coffee table, etc. Each Pico is completely programmable and you can make them control any of the other Caseta switches (Dance! You puppets! Dance!). Each Lutron switch includes a dimmer (well... most of 'em do. There's a couple that don't). Each Pico switch is a dimmer and has a "favorite memory. MY favorite are the Pico's at the front and back door that shut down the whole house as you exit or turn it on when you return. The downside is the cost -- about $40 per switch. Pico's are less, but you'll find plenty of uses for them. Another downside, you'll need a Lutron Hub ($20 if bought with a switch/pico bundle) and you're limited to about 50 units. Once more downside (Damn you Lutron!) the Pico cannot trigger an Alexa routine, but all switches can be accessed via routines. By-and-large, you can get away with buying the Lutron PKG1W-WH kit with a switch and a pico ($60) which kinda drives the whole thing down to about $30 per switch (but only if you have a lot of three way switches, each actual connection requires a switch, not a Pico, the Pico's are just to extend the system and perform three way switching). Lutron also provides wall-wart's to control stuff that's plugged in (they call them "Dimmers"0. There's a dimmer switch on the wart, but you'll really just want a Pico to control it, so spend the extra $5 ($45 vs $49) to get fries with your burger...sorry... Pico with your dimmer. Another downside: If you want to control "off brand LED's" you'll need the more expensive Caseta switches (the ones with the center button). The PKG1W-WH switches work with most "mainstream" LED's, but if you have fussy overheads requiring GU10's or GU16's or those damn fussy halogen replacements, it's gets pretty pricey with PD-5NE-WH reaching $120 per switch! In addition to Lutron there are scads of other WIFI and Zigbee switches you can place in your wall.... and .... BONUS! 110V tends not to kill you! In places where I don't need the bulletproof performance of Lutron or the extension capabilities of the Pico switches, I've mixed in Kasa (about $15 per switch, no hub, but no dimmer, they seem to work OK with standard LED's). I've also used BN-Link smart plugs to control heaters and chillers. Kudos to the YoLink motion sensors. Also, love the RM-pro for all the one-off's. I prefer Ecobee over the Nest for the thermostat, but I have questions about their commitment to the marketplace (they recently rewrote their browser interface and it's horrible!) ... so maybe ignore that recommendation... +1 on the comment - be prepared to spend some cash... even if you go "the cheap route" you're easily in for several hundred dollars (minimum) as you start down this road to madness. Nice Job and thanks to Paul - Thanks for sharing your near-euro knowledge, always enjoy the vids!
Paul, great work making sense of all the noise in smarthome ecosystem. I lost it when your wife pushed the light switch, it’s a constant and impossible concept for my wife to grasp. She will happily talk to my Google hub all day long, but put a physical switch in front of her and she’s compelled to push it 😜
isn't it strange that I can walk into a room and switch a light on QUICKER than using my "mouth hole" and Alexa, BUT, I don't want to! I dont mind waiting 2/3 seconds....what a GEEEEEEEK I am 🤓🤓
I peeked out the window to watch the apocalypse but it was dark and quiet. It was then I realised my hue bulbs were not working. It truly is the end of the world.
It's not true that people who use Home Assistant always tell you they use Home Assistant. I should know because I use Home Assistant and I haven't mentioned that I use Home Assistant.
Sensational video Paul. I’ve been following you for years now after originally looking videos on controlling the cheap RF plug sockets. Its great to see Broadlink getting some love again. I totally agree that the RMPro is the single best smart home purchase I’ve made. I look forward to seeing your videos every Saturday and always have a chuckle whilst being informed. Thanks for your efforts.
Hi I was wondering if you have any smart sprinkler system suggestions. Everything you have suggested so far has worked great. I watch your channel all the time, for smart home advice. I am a long time fan ,and I want to say keep up the great job. thank you for everything you do to help people like me out👍
Love the shelly devices. In the US we have a neutral wire in our light switch boxes. Ive installed the shelly in multiple locations to control lights AND keep the functionality of the normal switch. (A switch becomes a toggle when attached to the shelly.) If the internet died, the toggle still works!! Great stuff!!
Jason - it is the same in Australia. Our electrical system is 240VAC and mainly 10AMP. Our Light switches are size US format as well but our mechanical switch are up for off and down for on! I use Moes House Tuya light switches. They have a Zigbee range as well. The tuya response is instant through Alexa and consistently works 100%. The Tuya server is based in the US. All our generic hardware stores use the Tuya smarts in electrical fitments.
I have led panels so switching out the bulb could not be done. Switching out the light switch on the other hand was a big no-no from the wife because of "design problems". So since we have a 1story house with an accessible attic where all the light cabling can be seen, I searched for all the lighting cables, cut the switched wire going to it and I added a 2pair cable to the 2 exposed ends. Then I ran these cables to a central control box I made that is located above the router in the attica and I ran power to it also. There I would have the wire running to the lights, the wire that is operated by the light switch and a constant live wire with ground and null. Then I just added the yeelight dual relay to all lamps (see user manual). If the internet goes offline, then the switches can manually operate the lamps and if I have to reset some networking parameters on the relays I would just pop the plastic box off and press the 8 pieces of relays (btw 1 relay can operate 2 lights so they were a pretty good buy). On the long run, I found it a better solution since the smart home market is changing and if I decide to switch a vendor, I would have all the wiring in one place, or I could just take out or swap relay if they brake. When I think smart home I always want a manual/analog fallback. That is why when motorizing my shades I bought control relays that can be operated by switch/wifi/google home/ RF remote.
I'm in this position right now. Been in my new house for three weeks. I had my old place pretty well hooked up but this time I want it taken to the next level. I've messed with Home assistant whilst waiting to move and will have that as part of it. I like Echo in each room and car as the interface. I'd like to do a lot more than just lighting and security. Something actually smart. I've brought some of the components from my old place (LightwaveRF, Hue, Eufy doorbell, Lots of Alex's of various type's). I've a four zone heating system that I'm going to use nest to control (need four nests so not cheap) and there is an existing security system that I'll be adding too. I am aiming to make the house aware of what's going on and proactively manage itself as well as alert me if needs be. Lots to do now I've painted and got some furniture! Interesting video. Thanks..... and notice I've not referred to beef curtains this time! Love you! xxx
you'll hate me for saying this but after having an issue with a hue bulb in my dining room i had to contact their customer service (via twitter), not only was it responsive but they had things up and running within an hour, probably the best online customer service i've ever had to use (although tp-link are a close second).
On Alexa vs Google Assistant, a non native English speaker might want to consider trying both to see which one picks up your voice better. I can only trigger Alexa/Echo half of the time, but OK Google always works for me.
Try this smart switch : V-42B2206-001 its a battery and cable free switch that you could putt in the sealing if you so wanted to because there are no cables and you will never have to change a battery in it, it’s compatible with the casambi app and it have Bluetooth!
Thanks to this video and your recommendation I got the RM4 Pro. "THANK YOU!" And I was able to get a 315/433MHz unit from both Amazon and Walmart in the US. Since Samsung has dropped support for all their pre-2019 TVs I was screwed. Now not only is it doing the basics, it's running other gear that I didn't think of including. But for the life of me I can't get "She who shall not be named." to turn on my AVR. While watching this video again, I told "Her" to turn on "Shirley" and on goes the AVR. Thanks again. "LOVE YOUR SHOW!!" Beers soon?
Smart home 'industry' is missing a couple if big players who provide a robust platform covering all aspect of home automation and will compete with each other. We all end up adding bits from different companies, it causes frustration and costs us. If Google and Amazon did motion sensors, bulbs, smart hubs, doorbells, etc etc. Home assistant, SmartLife, Hue and like would disappear and we would at least have a robust enough platform which updates would not kill.
An “Ultimate Guide” in 2021 with zero mention of CHIP? I honestly thought this would be your first comment. I’m holding off on any expansions until there’s at least more info on this.
"IF" Amazon update their zigbee line up not when, they might just drop zigbee completely because let's be honest these big companies make some very strange decisions 😂
Zigbee is not going away. Just a glimpse at the recent hundreds of Chinese Zigbee sensor 2021 releases and improved Zigbee Version 3 in all Tuya Zigbee Hubs is overwhelming. Tuya will become compatible directly with Alexa. WIFI based IOT devices exceeding 30 require a very powerful router to control the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for required multiple access points. There is the simplified WIFI mesh system with multiple points throughout home. If you have automation for the medium size home you will exceed easily 100 devices - a mixture of WIFI and Zigbee of 200 devices is an unbelievably easy number to reach as a number for a family. Zigbee also save you money long term as the batteries are costless and can last up to 3 years in tiny devices. WIFI sensors tend to be bulky with larger more expensive batteries because WIFI is more energy hungry. The range is extended by mains powered Zigbee devices that act like repeaters on same Hub. I have a rule for my automation: Sensors should be Zigbee if possible because of these benefits. Wireless Zigbee hubs Version 3 are easily purchased in AUD$ example for between Network Wireless $20 to Network Wired $30. I favour independent from Alexa. MULTIPLE Zigbee USB sticks can inserted in any Pi computer configured with Home Assistant for less $5.00 each for Zigbee and directly talk to Xiaomi & Tuya Zigbee devices and many other brands.
Broadlink switches basically being an integrated switch plate makes them honestly the worst choice. They are so inflexible and don't even really make _real_ 2-gang, 3-gang, etc. light switches, or if they do, they don't match. They rule themselves out almost immediately. There's a reason other companies don't make switches like this.
Great info Paul! Question: I’ve been slowly adding stuff to my house over the past year. Smart lights, switches, blinds, nest doorbell battery and Google assistant. I’ve reached the point where I want to start adding motion sensors (I think zigbee is the best option here), and want to make add more automations and control, which Google assistant really lacks. I think my best two options are SmartThings or Home Assistant. For a somewhat beginner, will I outgrow SmartThings too quickly? Or is Home Assistant too complicated?
Right Hibbert. Got a challenge for you. Find me a better Harmony Remote now that Logitech is killing the brand. We all know the Hub is pants, but nobody seems to make a remote which can still be an essential part of the Smart Home setup... (just ask your wife)
You forgot to mention probably the most important thing, stick only with one brand. Having everything I'm the same app will take you to a all new level of automation and will save you from a lot of headache. I used to have many brands but now I just use tuya products(they have probably the most cheapest prices in the market and a lot of different products)
A welcome return of "Ooh...the ZigBee!". Wasn't aware of the news on Logitech. Despite their kit being overly pricey and a walled garden, their departure leaves a gap in the market for those who only want a single remote on the coffee table that can both trigger routines and operate every function of your kit. If only there was a remote like that which worked with my Broadlink RM4pro... (Yes, I know you can use your phone, but that's not the point)
I know nowt about Smart home setup, until I watched you. Not only did you have me wetting myself laughing but you actually taught me alot. I do have one question....? How many flipin plug oles have you got in your house for all these devices (serious question). Most houses I know of have at the most 2/4 13amp sockets in each room. How the he'll do you do it? A video is definitely needed for this. Teach us the way Smart on of the tube!!! 😀
So……. I hope this isn’t your real name. If it is? You might get a Liam Neesan type call from my wife. I took great pride in paying my credit card off. And all it took was ONE episode of your channel, and I’m shopping like I’m stocking up my imaginary dooms day bunker. Hahahahahaha Great, great channel. Have you got any alternatives to the flic switch? I’m just installed smart light switches. And down lights for bedside lamps. I have WiFi bulbs. But Sonoff do t have a switch that I need. Ie: flic. And I don’t want to splice the power cable because I don’t want anyone to see the switch. Hope that makes sense! Awesome channel. I’m addicted.
Thanks so much man! ❤️ Check out the video I did recently called "the death of smartthings". Ajax do a hub and a button that you could use instead of Flic. I'm not 100% sure if the button is use able in Alexa routines though, it may only be able to control tuya based devices.
Don't understand the hate for Harmony Hub, had mine for years and love it (use the version with the no LCD remote and the battery lasts basically forever). Incredibly simple to set up, profiles available for everything. Broadlink alternative doesn't support bluetooth meaning it can't control Fire TV stick right? Showstopper.
Finally got my weekly Hibbert fix in. Great video and really handy shopping list attached too. If I’m silent in the comments you know the missus has seen the receipts and buried me under the patio 🤪
cant wait for you do show and review the Broadlink 2 wire light switch :) if its as good as you make it sound it might be the switch I've been waiting for
