If you are thinking of setting up a Zigbee network for your Home Assistant installation, the USB dongle (co-ordinator in Zigbee-speak) you choose will have a significant impact on how reliable your network ends up being. Which in turn impacts how much time you spend trying to troubleshoot your ...

Ever since I started setting up the VueVille DIY Smart Home, I have been focused on Z-Wave. Back in 2017 when I was starting out, Z-Wave was the only reliable DIY option for smart home enthusiasts who didn't want to rely solely on Wi-Fi.Zigbee was beginning to make a mark but lax ...

If you are planning to build your own DIY Z-Wave gateway with a laptop or Raspberry Pi and home automation software such as HomeSeer HS3, openHAB, Home Assistant or Domoticz, you will need a USB Z-Wave stick/adapter/dongle.These USB Z-Wave sticks are not a solution in and of themselves. They ...

I have always wanted a smart home. Even back when I was a kid, I dreamt about being able to just say things and then have it happen. A bit like Knight Rider, but with my house. Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology resulting in amazing gadgets like the Vera Plus, that dream is now coming ...