Not sure how I missed it, but I’m blaming Zooz PR :P. Apparently they announced their Z-BOX Home Automation Controller (HAC) about a month ago, and have just started selling it at The Smartest House. Normally, I would approach this sort of thing with extreme caution, but they are saying the right words around security, where the intelligence sits, etc., […]
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As a long-time Hubitat Elevation C-5 home automation controller user, I was really looking forward to swapping in their new C-7 hub and reviewing it. While it has worked out for the most part, it wasn’t as clean, easy, or simple as I expected. Device: 00:33 Features/Functionality: 2:24 Stability/Performance: 21:28 Migration: 24:30 Support: 24:45 Wrapping Up: 26:16 Tangent: 27:00 Back […]
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Hubitat has posted about an update coming to their hubs. Names Rules Engine 3.0 it sets to replace the current 2.5 version. That have added much more flexibility, for my use case. Having a script that is editable, else and elseif now available, and better changes to UI to handle all rules on one screen. (vs the multiple clicks it […]
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I started out in seeking a “smart” or automated home several years ago. I have owned and or/used several hubs from Wink to Home Assistant. I had settled on Wink for far too long and allowed its shortcomings to maybe make my house “smart” but far from automated. I have a wide range of devices from Nest, Leviton, Jasco, and […]
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I had a chance to chat with Hubitat at CES a few weeks ago and was very impressed with their home automation controller. What impressed me more, was their approach and passion for doing things right. So I’m very interested in their new Elevation hub. It checks all the right boxes, with Z-Wave/Zigbee radios, and Amazon Alexa/Google Home integration. Best […]
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I wasn’t familiar with abode’s iota security system, home automation controller (HAC), and camera system before meeting them at CES. Overall the system looks quite approachable, and is obviously more intended for users who prioritize ease of installation and user experience (UX) over flexibility. I don’t mean that as a negative, per se. Just something that would need to be […]
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I don’t remember seeing Zipato at CES last year, so when I noticed their unique Z-Wave ZIPABOX home automation controller (HAC) while roaming the show floor I made a point to stop in and have a look. With all the change in the smart home space it can be tough to select the right hardware; with the HAC the most […]
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Home automation has always been one of the most sought after pieces to anyone’s home or home theater environment—at least to our fans. Getting ready to watch a movie, you press a button and the lights dim, the curtains go down, and your movie collection shows up. In the past this was impossible to suggest without an exorbitant price tag, […]
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Home automation (HA) covers a wide spectrum of capabilities and devices, spanning the gap from placing a light timer on the fish tank to a complex system that manages many of the mundane aspects of lighting, HVAC and scheduled activities in the house or business. Historically these highly integrated systems, capable of things like automatically dimming the lights when watching […]
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