Hello,
I am looking for a comprehensive smart home platform that can integrate devices from different manufacturers.
So far, I have come across the following options:
Home Assistant
OpenHAB
ioBroker
Which of these platforms is the best or most widely used?
It is important to me that it runs stably and allows for creating good automations.
Additionally, there should be a smartphone app available that can be used on the go to control the smart home or at least check the status of devices remotely.
Are all of these programs open source and available for free?
Which of these platforms would you recommend, or should we perhaps consider WiButler or Homee, which also support various wireless standards?
I am looking for a comprehensive smart home platform that can integrate devices from different manufacturers.
So far, I have come across the following options:
Home Assistant
OpenHAB
ioBroker
Which of these platforms is the best or most widely used?
It is important to me that it runs stably and allows for creating good automations.
Additionally, there should be a smartphone app available that can be used on the go to control the smart home or at least check the status of devices remotely.
Are all of these programs open source and available for free?
Which of these platforms would you recommend, or should we perhaps consider WiButler or Homee, which also support various wireless standards?
TaiiTvv schrieb:
Or we just use the bus cable for a possible later KNX installationIf you only use the bus cable without the necessary additional structured wiring, it’s not properly done. We would need to know what else is included in the 3000€ besides just the green cable next to it.i_b_n_a_n schrieb:
ask if there is anything that cannot be realized with KNX or only with incredible effort (expense)?Many things can be "incredibly expensive" with KNX depending on how you interpret that term. But since KNX is constantly evolving and certainly hasn’t just appeared on the market, you can really choose from a huge pool of devices and functions.You get a lot of additional features as soon as you expand the system with one component or another.
For example, the weather station provides many parameters that all the system components can access, thus broadening the overall functionality.
Regarding the "expensive" aspect, this usually refers to things like measuring values and consumption. All meters are really costly, whether for electricity, water, or whatever else.
Also, direct channel-by-channel connection of LEDs (e.g., strips) is not exactly cheap.
And of course, all the interfaces to other systems (Crestron, Modbus, Sonos, Hue, DMX, etc.) are extremely expensive.
@Mycraft thank you very much for your answers
The electrician is handling the conventional wiring.
For the conventional wiring, he runs the bus cable as a ring or spur line to all switch points.
He calls this a Free@Home preparation.
He also offered installation of the weather station (€800), power supply (€400), and Access Point 2.0 (€700) from Free@Home.
The electrician completely rejects a central installation.
So we are left only with the decentralized installation of KNX or Free@Home if we want a bus solution.
Or we could leave out the bus cables, save money with the electrician, and rely only on wireless.
What would be your advice?
I wouldn’t completely rule out Free@Home, even though it’s a bit more expensive and doesn’t have disadvantages. Installing it afterward yourself is much easier than with KNX, and programming is simpler too (even if there are some limitations). With Free@Home, my wife could even program something herself, which would be impossible with KNX.
With Free@Home, integrating bus and wireless devices is very easy.
The electrician is handling the conventional wiring.
For the conventional wiring, he runs the bus cable as a ring or spur line to all switch points.
He calls this a Free@Home preparation.
He also offered installation of the weather station (€800), power supply (€400), and Access Point 2.0 (€700) from Free@Home.
The electrician completely rejects a central installation.
So we are left only with the decentralized installation of KNX or Free@Home if we want a bus solution.
Or we could leave out the bus cables, save money with the electrician, and rely only on wireless.
What would be your advice?
I wouldn’t completely rule out Free@Home, even though it’s a bit more expensive and doesn’t have disadvantages. Installing it afterward yourself is much easier than with KNX, and programming is simpler too (even if there are some limitations). With Free@Home, my wife could even program something herself, which would be impossible with KNX.
With Free@Home, integrating bus and wireless devices is very easy.
Wired connections are always better than wireless in a non-mobile environment where a certain level of stability and durability is desired. Whatever wireless elements you want to add later can be integrated afterward.
Since F@h appeals to you in many aspects and is clearly a favorite among electricians, go ahead and have it installed that way.
Since F@h appeals to you in many aspects and is clearly a favorite among electricians, go ahead and have it installed that way.
Are you familiar with F@H at all?
I have a few questions and concerns.
Is it possible to control F@H with Alexa?
Especially voice control with Alexa?
For example, "Alexa, turn on the living room lights."
"Alexa, set living room blinds to 50%."
We can only prepare for F@H at this stage because we don’t have the budget for more right now.
I believe we could replace the actuators for the light switches and blind switches ourselves (push button + actuator at the switch) and connect them to the bus.
How can F@H be prepared optimally?
1. Use conventional wiring and run the bus cable to all switches (lights and blinds).
2. Have the power supply connected in the distribution board.
3. Install a weather station already.
(Where would you recommend mounting it on the satellite mast?)
Thank you very much for your help—your opinion and experience are very important to me.
I have a few questions and concerns.
Is it possible to control F@H with Alexa?
Especially voice control with Alexa?
For example, "Alexa, turn on the living room lights."
"Alexa, set living room blinds to 50%."
We can only prepare for F@H at this stage because we don’t have the budget for more right now.
I believe we could replace the actuators for the light switches and blind switches ourselves (push button + actuator at the switch) and connect them to the bus.
How can F@H be prepared optimally?
1. Use conventional wiring and run the bus cable to all switches (lights and blinds).
2. Have the power supply connected in the distribution board.
3. Install a weather station already.
(Where would you recommend mounting it on the satellite mast?)
Thank you very much for your help—your opinion and experience are very important to me.