Today’s DIY smart home systems, from companies like SmartThings, Wink, Lowe’s Iris, iRule, Universal Devices, Vera, Insteon and others are fairly easy to install, setup and use. They’re also getting more affordable, so no longer are home automation systems only for the wealthy. Of course, there’s a difference between what a DIY smart home system […]
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Smart home systems, or home automation systems, once were expensive luxuries (and professionally installed and custom programed systems still can be), but today many DIY home automation products are actually very practical and reasonably affordable. If you hadn’t thought much about adding smart home devices to your home, here are seven home automation ideas for […]
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Home monitoring systems aren’t just for people who own large homes. A home is anywhere you lay your head down and toss your car keys at the end of the day. Even apartment dwellers want to keep an eye on their valuables when they’re away and want the sense of safety a security system can […]
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The home automation systems of today, especially the DIY smart home systems, differ from the professionally-installed systems of several years ago in that newer technology is primarily wireless. We’re all so accustomed to wireless access 24/7 through our home Wi-Fi networks and our cellular data networks that we expect our smart home systems to be […]
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One of the biggest challenges of adding technology to a home is finding and comparing the many options available. You can scour the Internet for hours and still leave scratching your head. While the selection of home automation systems may not be as immense as stereo speakers or smart TVs, it’s still impressive … and […]
Get the GuideIt’s one thing to hear about a home automation system from the company that manufactured it; it’s another to listen to the thoughts about the system from the people who actually use it. Manufacturers are quick to claim that their automation systems are easy to install and even easier to use, but are they really? […]
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Automating your home’s lights is one of this year’s biggest home technology trends. Every week there are new launches for individual products or whole house lighting systems designed to make it easier to operate and customize your home’s lighting. Once you’ve deciding that automated lighting control is something you want for your home, the next […]
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You use Siri to search for directions, to find nearby pizza shops and to send hands-free text messages, but wouldn’t it be nice to also use Siri for home automation or home control? Sure, there are some patchwork ways to do that, namely with apps like IFTTT and some clever hacking, but I’ve found those […]
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By Richard Soloway, NAPCO Security Technologies The stunning growth of “smart home” security systems at big box retailers has made it easier than ever for anyone to install home surveillance cameras, alarms, and the like. Many electronics manufacturers now offer home security products with Do It Yourself (DIY) installations, smartphone interfaces, and, most notably, low […]
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Among the many decisions you need to make when starting out on your first smart home automation project is choosing the wireless protocol you’ll implement in your house. Actually, most people choose a system, rather than the wireless protocol, and then need to shop around for devices that work with that system. Either way, there’s […]
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