Can you imagine walking into your house, tapping a button on your iPhone to see the lights switch on, your AC turn into a more comfortable temperature and your favorite reality show come on your TV? Is it possible to convert your apartment into a high-tech penthouse and make it stand out in the crowd? Ben Green, one of the persons behind Push Controls was asked about what people should do when they’re planning turn their house into a smart home, irrespective of whether they’re building from scratch or going for a makeover.
There have been technological advanced and thanks to the high speed internet and the Internet of Things, it is now being possible to build a smart home from scratch. You can even purchase a run-down house and renovate and decorate it with high-tech smart devices seamlessly to convert it into a smart home where all your gadgets are connected with each other. Read on to know some tips on building a smart home from the scratch.
- Forget about going totally wireless
Initially, don’t think of going entirely wireless. Instead of going wireless, make sure you install a lot of Ethernet throughout your house. ‘Wireless’ will surely gain momentum in the near future but as of now, being wired is undoubtedly a more reliable solution. If the walls around your house are exposed, you may opt for burying Cat6 cable before the arrival of the plasterer. Don’t scrimp on that as you should run a couple of Cat6 wires to all the rooms in your house because it is not only good for transmitting data but it can even carry digital TV signals too.
- Stay aware of a busy network
Your Wi-Fi network is definitely going to get congested with time. Hence you should ensure checking the best channel to get your house system working on. You will get various free software to do that. If you install a Sonos system, you will see that it causes few issues which can only be solved once you add a Sonos Boost to mix and create a disparate network for your connected speakers. The brand new Sky Q system is also useful for creating a mesh network.
- Don’t worry about platforms
For the average consumer, smart home connectivity is definitely a confusing idea altogether. There are a few platforms like Nest, Wink, HomeKit, Z-Wave, Zigbee, Brillo and SmartThings which may form the standard for your smart home. But you need not worry about them as Google, Apple, Samsung and some other big tech names all want a share of this smart home pie. However, noone has set the standard yet as the genre is still new. There are many devices which work on multiple platforms. For instance Philips Hue lets you control your smart bulbs through iOS and Android. Philips Hue also works with HomeKit and Nest.
- Start off with the most necessary stuff
The main smart home tech gadgets are those that really work and at the same time they are the ones that you will call the most boring. Heating, lighting and security are the first 3 things to install. You can seek help of Nest route for installing your essentials. Get the full suite of Nest items like Thermostat, 2 cams and 3 Protects. You can cap it into one single app or you may also get your Nest kit working with smart locks and doorbell.
Apart from the above mentioned tips, remember to avoid all novelty items. Ask yourself whether or not you really need a coffee machine which turns on to make coffee when your Jawbone already wakes you from sleep? Or do you really require a washing machine which texts you once it stops spinning? Avoid all kinds of over-‘smart’ things and don’t take steps to streamline your life.
