ᐅ Which smart home system is best for our new build?

I would choose something integrated purely for aesthetic reasons. A fingerprint scanner with a toy-like doorbell above it that looks cheap just doesn't look good. You have to look at it every time you enter the house!

Just add the Doorbird LAN chime to complete the setup. So, PoE to the doorbell and then again to the chime, and you’re done.

In terms of appearance, I completely agree with you that an integrated system—like a doorbell combined with a fingerprint reader (ekey)—looks much better and more high-quality.

However, the xline alone doesn’t look particularly premium either. It’s acceptable, but as far as I know, the housing is made of plastic.

My issue with, for example, the Doorbird is that you can’t display it on smart displays.

We want to set up either an Echo Show or a Nest Hub in the living room (depending on which voice assistant we choose). Unfortunately, we don’t have a suitable spot for the small Doorbird indoor unit. I would have liked for the video to be shown on the smart display and to be able to speak with whoever is at the door through it.

Alternatively, a phone notification would be helpful if the smart display is too far away or if I’m out and about.

I believe wireless systems are a very good choice. If you are thinking about Alexa, Wi-Fi doorbells, and so on, you probably won’t be satisfied with KNX.

On one hand, KNX is a true smart home system, designed to operate blinds, lights, and other devices autonomously. On the other hand, adding Wi-Fi to the system undermines the security advantages of fixed wiring.

Any dedicated KNX user will cringe when they see terms like "mobile phone control" or "Alexa."

KNX is programmed once and then runs independently, without the need to constantly press buttons or keep an app open. However, to make this work, you have to invest significantly. I would say a genuine smart home with KNX, truly superior to a wireless system like Bosch’s, doesn’t come under 25,000 to 30,000 EUR.

@xMisterDx Yes, KNX would have started at 20,000€ (about $21,700) with our electrician, which is unfortunately too much for us.

That’s why we need to look for a wireless smart home system.
We don’t mind manually controlling a few things ourselves,
but we would like to automate some functions via voice command or even fully automatically if possible.

Ideally, the shading should operate completely on its own.

Pacc666 schrieb:

@xMisterDx Yes, KNX would have started at around €20,000 (about $22,000) with our electrician.

Unfortunately, that is too much for us.

That’s why we have to look into a wireless smart home system.
We don’t mind operating some things manually ourselves,
but we would like to automate some functions by voice control or even fully automatically,
if possible shading so it runs completely on its own.

Even though I think that’s more of a “I don’t want to do this” price... I also believe that for the €10,000 (about $11,000) for the other system, it would have just been a wired Bosch Smart Home... consider an hourly rate of €50 (about $55) and 40 hours for programming and system testing plus handover documentation... that already accounts for €2,000 (about $2,200).

@xMisterDx I also think this is more of a defensive offer.

The electrician prefers to install Free@Home instead of KNX.
He is offering Free@Home for about 10,000€ (11,000 USD), but KNX starts at 20,000€ (22,000 USD).

However, I don't believe Free@Home would be worthwhile because it has many limitations.

All prices are quoted WITHOUT programming (I can do that myself).