discussion General Home Automation / Home Assistant thread

[Bond007]

are there any smartishly dumb LED light bulbs, indoor primarily? something that doesn't require a hub or bigger software platform than a simple app that can run on any device in the house?

something that is P2P, doesn't require connection to my WiFi?

I might be missing something, but I am not sure I totally understand your requirement. No hub, no software platform, and no wifi, but still connected to several devices around the house? Unless I misunderstood, I don't know if that would be possible.

 

[Lysrin]

are there any smartishly dumb LED light bulbs, indoor primarily? something that doesn't require a hub or bigger software platform than a simple app that can run on any device in the house?

something that is P2P, doesn't require connection to my WiFi?

I don't know about the second requirement, no WiFi, but I have a Geeni bulb that doesn't require anything else but being screwed into a socket.

But as @Bond007 said, it still needs WiFi, but nothing else.

 

[Marzipan]

@Bond007 @Lysrin hi guys, I realize in hindsight my question was poorly worded and asking for something really dumb. I realized that if more than one person wanted control of anything smart, no matter how dumb it could be, you'd need a central station for each user to connect and interact with.

who makes the smartest dumb platform that's easy for idiots to use and maintain?

 

[Izerous]

Honestly just have everything going through google home right now so it can all be controlled via voice by anyone in the house or anyone with a device invited to the house.

 

[Marzipan]

Honestly just have everything going through google home right now so it can all be controlled via voice by anyone in the house or anyone with a device invited to the house.

that's an idea...and my wife and perhaps my FiL would adapt to use, but poor Nana, she would be so confused to hear our yelling commands into the thin air, etc. heh!

 

[Lysrin]

that's an idea...and my wife and perhaps my FiL would adapt to use, but poor Nana, she would be so confused to hear our yelling commands into the thin air, etc. heh!

You don't have to yell You can access everything through the Google Home app on the device and turn on or off whatever you like, and even make automations that control several items at once. For example at Christmas I set up several automations like the following with our smart plugs:

- Turn on daytime Christmas lights - turned on the tree and inside lights, but nothing in the windows.
- Turn on all Christmas lights - turned on the tree, inside lights, lights in the window, etc.

You get the idea...

You could of course say "Hey Google... turn on daytime Christmas lights", but you can also just click on that automation in the Home app and it does the same thing, Very non-techie friendly once set up.

Apple Home has similar set up options. I haven't experimented with that yet, but Google Home works on iPhone as well, you just need to jump through more hoops if you want to talk to it. You need Google Assistant installed and then set it up so you can trigger from Siri for voice. But that's a separate topic...

If you buy devices, make sure you check what system they are compatible with. Some work with Google Home, Apple Home, or both as I understand.

 

[Marzipan]

You don't have to yell You can access everything through the Google Home app on the device and turn on or off whatever you like, and even make automations that control several items at once. For example at Christmas I set up several automations like the following with our smart plugs:

- Turn on daytime Christmas lights - turned on the tree and inside lights, but nothing in the windows.
- Turn on all Christmas lights - turned on the tree, inside lights, lights in the window, etc.

You get the idea...

You could of course say "Hey Google... turn on daytime Christmas lights", but you can also just click on that automation in the Home app and it does the same thing, Very non-techie friendly once set up.

Apple Home has similar set up options. I haven't experimented with that yet, but Google Home works on iPhone as well, you just need to jump through more hoops if you want to talk to it. You need Google Assistant installed and then set it up so you can trigger from Siri for voice. But that's a separate topic...

If you buy devices, make sure you check what system they are compatible with. Some work with Google Home, Apple Home, or both as I understand.

WHAAAT?

 

[Bond007]

Agree with @Lysrin . I am not sure what brands don’t require registration for initial setup, so maybe others can jump on that.

I have 3 “smart” outlets (typically connected to lamps, but I have plugged other things in occasionally), 2 smart bulbs, a google nest audio, nest mini, and chromecast audio.

After initial setup through the respective brands and linking them to my google account, I control all of it through voice or the google app. All of it on my wifi network. I don’t know if that answers anything or not, but that is my limited “smart” devices setup.

 

[JD]

I think newer Hue bulbs have Bluetooth, that might be your best bet if you want hub-less and WiFi-less. That ties it to a single phone though I'd presume.

Going the hub route, if you got something that supported Zigbee and Z-Wave, that should all remain local if that's the concern. You could look at Hubitat: https://hubitat.com/

You can get buttons too and map them to automations so voice/phone/etc isn't needed.

 

[lowfat]

I think newer Hue bulbs have Bluetooth, that might be your best bet if you want hub-less and WiFi-less. That ties it to a single phone though I'd presume.

Going the hub route, if you got something that supported Zigbee and Z-Wave, that should all remain local if that's the concern. You could look at Hubitat: https://hubitat.com/

You can get buttons too and map them to automations so voice/phone/etc isn't needed.

I believe the BLE bulbs need a hub that supports them. Like an Amazon Echo. The Echo itself controls them.