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The midwit home

(dynomight.substack.com)
416 points stacktrust | 1 comments | 12 Oct 23 16:31 UTC | HN request time: 0.255s | source
1. Ginden ◴[13 Oct 23 12:37 UTC] No.37869892[source]▶
I was already running home server, so for me, setting up smart home was relatively simple:

- Buy Zigbee USB dongle - Install Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT in Docker on server - Initial configuration

It requires basic technical knowledge, but after initial configuration it just works.

There were three major pains:

- Configuring camera (ONVIF is pure pain) - it works initially, but I physically plug-in cameras only when I'm going on holiday - Configuring voice assistant - Finding good ZigBee remotes - Price of Hue Wall Switch (DIY approach is possible by gutting cheap button)

Cameras and voice assistant troubles were arguably result of my "keep as much as possible within local network" approach.

Minor pains:

- Binding remotes to light bulbs, so they work even if server is down - Finding instructions how to bind certain ZigBee accessories (they have "just open our proprietary app and it will explain what to do" manual)