WiFi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Thread: Which is Best? When planning a DIY smart home project, choosing the correct wireless protocol for your devices is critical. The protocol determines device battery life, response speed, and compatibility. Let’s look at the best…
Solve Smart Home Network Overload Most standard Wi-Fi routers supplied by internet service providers are designed to handle 15 to 25 devices (phones, laptops, TVs). If you start adding dozens of Wi-Fi smart plugs, bulbs, and cameras, your router will…
Speed Up Your Smart Home Automations If you press a smart wall switch and the light takes 3 to 5 seconds to turn on, your smart home has a latency issue. High latency ruins the experience of automated living. Here…
Unify Your Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi Smart Devices If your smart home contains a mix of Wi-Fi plugs, Zigbee sensors, and Z-Wave locks, managing them through separate apps is a headache. A multi-protocol smart hub acts as a central translator,…
The End of Smart Home Brand Walls For years, buying a smart device meant checking the box for labels like “Works with Alexa,” “Works with Google Home,” or “Works with Apple HomeKit.” If you had a mixed household, some devices…
Connect Z-Wave Security Locks and Switches to Echo Amazon Echo speakers connect natively to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and some models include a built-in Zigbee hub. However, Echo devices do not have Z-Wave radios built-in. If you want to control Z-Wave…
Understanding the Fast, Low-Power Mesh Protocol Thread is the newest smart home wireless protocol designed specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung, Thread is a self-healing, low-power mesh network that is significantly faster…
Fix Offline Devices and Network Stuttering If you connect dozens of Wi-Fi smart plugs, bulbs, and cameras to your router, you may experience IP address conflicts. This happens when your router tries to assign the same IP address to two…
Choose the Perfect Controller for Your iOS Home Unlike other systems, Apple HomeKit does not use a proprietary hub. Instead, any Apple TV or HomePod speaker on your home network can serve as a “Home Hub.” A home hub is…
Take Complete Control of Your Local Smart Home Home Assistant is the ultimate open-source smart home platform. Unlike Alexa or Google Home, Home Assistant runs locally on a computer in your house, keeping your data private and ensuring your automations…
