Hello everyone, havnt been on in awhile, but does anyone have a good place to look for info on ge...

[G+_Heath Reeder]

Hello everyone, havnt been on in awhile, but does anyone have a good place to look for info on getting started with home automation?  I already have a amazon echo, nest, and dropcam now i want to control my lighting first, then maybe add on some more items.  So i guess i need a hub to start, but whcih one?

[G+_Ben Reese]

I don't have any experience with any of them, but are you thinking more diy or out of the box?

[G+_Heath Reeder]

well i was thinking about just buying a hub, then seperatly getting some light bulbs, and then switches for other lights, as they ahve many bulbs in them.  I was going to get a wink hub, but while watching all about android, i heard them say wink was no more when they were looking at the echo

[G+_Ben Reese]

http://www.cnet.com/news/smart-home-showdown-wink-vs-smartthings/

 

SmartThings is the first that comes to mind, but I'm sure there are others that are just as good. Their hub is about $100 and I found a starter kit for ~$250 on Amazon: Samsung SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NZV14U/

 

My main concern is the security of connected home devices. I don't know enough to say SmartThings is insecure, but I don't know enough about it to say it's trustworthy either.

 

There are also open-source projects and that would allow you to take control of the security and updates. I don't know if that's better or worse. I'd like to see a Know How episode or series about maker/DIY/open-source home automation. That may be a conflict of interest though since SmartThings is a sponsor if the show.

[G+_Eddie Foy]

I Started with the old X-10s (still have a few devices)  But moved on to the Insteon.  Wall switches, outlets, etc. Keep in mind none of this stuff is secure. 

After a DefCon talk about Insteon and a DerbyCon talk about Zigbee/Zwave do not feel its secure from nearby attacks.  And WiFi is WiFi. The recent tea kettle 'hack' that pukes up your WPA/WPA2 password comes to mind.  Cheap is almost always going to be insecure.

 

I have a single point for access from the internet; a web page.

[G+_Ian Stringer]

Armando Ferreira? has some cool videos on it.

[G+_Heath Reeder]

well as far as security concerning near by people no biggie, i live in the middle of no where with no neighbors, does insteon work with echo, and zwave stuff

[G+_Scott W]

I use a VeraLite Home Controller: http://www.amazon.com/Mi-Casa-Verde-VeraLite-Controller/dp/B007005364/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449701582&sr=8-1&keywords=veralite

 

I also use the Mysensors.org plug in for the Vera and build my own sensors etc. 

[G+_james robinson (radiati]

I 2nd there Vera. Tons of plugins. Shouldn't need to code if you don't want to. I felt like I couldn't do anything on smartthings without a build account, and a lot of time.

[G+_Heath Reeder]

thanks for all the info, do you all happen to know if vera will work with the echo?  i assume since it works with z wave stuff it should

[G+_Heath Reeder]

I just did a little googlin and apparently someone did some hacking and worked out a way to make it work with echo, by running java on a server that emulates and hue gateway, then you set up some code for each individual device.  sounds like a fun project but not sure i have the time, if anyone has any experience with this let me know! Thanks

[G+_james robinson (radiati]

This would force me to buy an echo.