Home automation unify

Nellsbells20

Hi there,

So I've bought quite a lot of home automation devices and want To create a way of controlling all devices via 1 app, eventually I would like to add an iPad with a good looking user interface with all devices and activities on...
What is the best way to do this... is there an app I can buy or do I need some kind of expensive hub to control it all?

I've noticed thing like the Panasonic hub and Samsung hubs exist but both don't cover all of my devices I believe ?


Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,
Neil

Devices I have are:
Living room entertainment system containing
Pioneer sc lx 87 9.2 receiver
Sony 50" led tv
Benq full hd projector
Sky
Apple TV
Amazon tv
Sony PS3
Sonos connect
Harmony elite

Server
Mac mini running as plex media server

Multi room audio
Sonos connect in living room and bedroom
Play 1 in bathroom
Play 3 in kitchen

Smart home devices
Amazon echo dot x 2 (living room and dining room)
Philips hue (living room/ bedroom/ dining room)
Nest thermostat (living room)
Logitech harmony hub

cmclean

The best way and although many will say it's expensive....but it really isn't. Is to use a proper home automation system.

Control4, Crestron etc

giffordpikes

It depends how much control you want. With apps you can get basic controls and integrations for harmony, sonos, philips hue and alexa through a few apps, yonomi, stringify, IFTTT and Yeti are a few examples. They are a good start to get you into it. I personally use stringify and IFTTT for most things and Yonomi for voice control of sonos through alexa.

If you want better controls and deeper integrations then yes you will probably need a hub. As far as I am aware panasonic only controls their stuff but I could be wrong. Better bets are Samsung smarthings and wink2. I like the look of Athom homey but haven't taken the leap yet. I have also looked at vera too. All have pluses and minuses.

If you are feeling teccy another option is raspberry pi and download some free software like open hab or Domoticz.

Bl4ckGryph0n

Athom Homey - it was an easy choice for me - most advanced and complete multi protocol system on the market with great user interface when required.

shango

How has homey come along? I bought one at launch but returned it as I felt it was not ready for retail, the far field mics really didn't work well.

The interface and control and integration with other devices showed a lot of potential though

Bl4ckGryph0n

I’ll be honest with you, the microphones and voice recognition are not a patch on Amazon or Google or Siri. I was annoyed by that at first but then it downed on me that it is pointless having that in the controller anyway. I mean there are 16 rooms in my home excluding the outbuildings. There is no way giving voice commands to the controller is going to work from every room without additional devices. And you can integrate the Homey skill in Amazon and voila it becomes available everywhere.

I also learned something else; automation isn’t useful when you need to apply manual intervention. It’s is actually crap and becomes geeky. When I get my wife and children onboard and even pass the granny test is when automation is fully automated with no intervention required.

You know when your cctv system détecte motion AND it is human, AND it is after sunset THEN increase light levels by front door. IF the doorbell is pressed AND motion is detected AND light levels are such THEN increase light level in HALLWAY but only WHEN before midnight OTHERWISE keep it to night level.

That is just one of many scenarios, imagination is the hardest part. But once no interaction is required then it is no longer geeky and it supports our action. Totally got my wife onboard now.

eddiem74

Vesternet just posted a review recently.

Athom Homey REVIEW - One Home Automation Controller to RULE THEM ALL! / Vesternet | Vesternet

DoodleBox

Just wondering if a HUE bridge is required or not with the Athom Honey Hub?

If it doesn't, then I suppose it supports nearly every other smart-type of light bulb and various other devices that I'm interested in...

Here's a post I uploaded yesterday,  what would your thoughts be ??

Bl4ckGryph0n

I've never tried it without it. Main reason is that there are fun Hue apps as well that will require it. And as my main router is in the garage it is no big deal to have multiple hub to provide the full functionality. In theory it should be fine as Homey supports zigbee. All the switches/dimmers/bulbs can easily be utilised in any of the workflows that you create just like any other device.

DoodleBox

Thanks for that.
The Homey looks like the mother of all controllers - that hopefully will cater for my needs (wants !!)