Hello everyone,
I’m currently exploring the topic of smart homes and would like to gather some tips and suggestions.
Unfortunately, I had no influence on the electrical installation during the house construction.
I would like to install a display (TFT; tablet; etc.) in the entrance area. I want to visualize my smoke detectors (the ones that can connect to Wi-Fi), possibly some door and window contacts, as well as some lighting elements.
Which systems have proven reliable? Raspberry Pi with a tablet? Do you have any recommendations for me? How or what can I build myself?
I’m currently exploring the topic of smart homes and would like to gather some tips and suggestions.
Unfortunately, I had no influence on the electrical installation during the house construction.
I would like to install a display (TFT; tablet; etc.) in the entrance area. I want to visualize my smoke detectors (the ones that can connect to Wi-Fi), possibly some door and window contacts, as well as some lighting elements.
Which systems have proven reliable? Raspberry Pi with a tablet? Do you have any recommendations for me? How or what can I build myself?
I’m not 100% sure about this. Homematic components are also available from RWE, but these are not compatible with the CCU2. I’m not exactly sure about Telekom. Most likely, your best option is the CCU2 if you want to go with Homematic, or FHEM, although I found FHEM too complex. With the CCU2, you can start small by creating links and using the classic IF-THEN-ELSE sequences, and later move on to “real” scripts. There are plenty of templates available online that you can adapt. With FHEM, you dive straight into scripting and device configuration, which can be overwhelming. However, it does allow cross-system operation. Unfortunately, there are countless options but no perfect solution. At least with Homematic, I get the feeling of having a system that has been on the market for years and has solid forum support, which is very important to me.
I have had an RWE Smarthome system since October 2012. I moved it with me when I relocated to a new house and expanded it visibly there. This includes integration with the Buderus heating system.
What the device/system can do: It suits my needs perfectly, especially since I didn’t pay much for it. I only need basic functions. Nothing complicated. No screens. No radio controls or anything like that – I’m a bit old-fashioned and simply don’t need those features. My house is small, and the system’s range is sufficient for me.
I have:
- Lighting
- Heating/temperature/hot water information/thermal solar info
- Presence simulation
- Roller shutter switches will be added later
- A very small alarm system (which will be expanded)
At the time I built the house, I couldn’t have afforded KNX or similar systems anyway.
So, the RWE Smarthome is an affordable compromise in the range of 70/30%, with which I am very satisfied because the system’s capabilities cover my modest needs completely. In a way, you can "program" a few things through the interface (very basic) and achieve some simple tricks.
So far, I have had zero problems. No failures (apart from maintenance). I am happy with it.
Best regards,
Thorsten
What the device/system can do: It suits my needs perfectly, especially since I didn’t pay much for it. I only need basic functions. Nothing complicated. No screens. No radio controls or anything like that – I’m a bit old-fashioned and simply don’t need those features. My house is small, and the system’s range is sufficient for me.
I have:
- Lighting
- Heating/temperature/hot water information/thermal solar info
- Presence simulation
- Roller shutter switches will be added later
- A very small alarm system (which will be expanded)
At the time I built the house, I couldn’t have afforded KNX or similar systems anyway.
So, the RWE Smarthome is an affordable compromise in the range of 70/30%, with which I am very satisfied because the system’s capabilities cover my modest needs completely. In a way, you can "program" a few things through the interface (very basic) and achieve some simple tricks.
So far, I have had zero problems. No failures (apart from maintenance). I am happy with it.
Best regards,
Thorsten
Hello everyone
What do you think about the upcoming company "aiberry"?
I am currently looking for something for my new home as well. However, I don’t want to chisel channels into the walls or anything like that. Since I’m not very skilled in programming, I prefer something simple. I also don’t want a cloud-based system—I’m not interested in surveillance...
I found this company on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The device is called "SAM." You can pre-order it at a reasonable price.
What do you think—is it any good?
Best regards, Volkmar
What do you think about the upcoming company "aiberry"?
I am currently looking for something for my new home as well. However, I don’t want to chisel channels into the walls or anything like that. Since I’m not very skilled in programming, I prefer something simple. I also don’t want a cloud-based system—I’m not interested in surveillance...
I found this company on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The device is called "SAM." You can pre-order it at a reasonable price.
What do you think—is it any good?
Best regards, Volkmar
In my opinion, none of the systems work well without some deeper understanding. I haven’t looked into the Kickstarter system yet, but there is a risk that it won’t become widely adopted. Z-Wave, F20, and Homematic have been around for several years now with solid support, although you can never be sure that a system won’t eventually become obsolete.