Smart Home Automation the Internet of Things

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Setting up a smart home device, like a lightbulb, involves several steps, but the rewards far surpass the initial setup time. Smart Home Automation is growing in popularity because of its unparalleled convenience and enhanced security features. If you're looking for a skilled and trustworthy technician to handle your home automation installation and guide you through the process, reach out to me via the contact form at the bottom of this page. Let's turn your house into a cutting-edge home of innovation and peace of mind!

Whether it’s to have the lights come on at a certain time every day,  programming complex automations, or just telling the light to turn off rather than having to get up smart home automation has you covered.

The first piece of the home automation installation is determining exactly what you want to do.   If you’re brand new to automation I generally suggest to start with the lights.  In virtually all configurations we will setup the hardware (in the case of lights a smart lightbulb) using the manufacturer’s software, we then import the device into Alexa if desired.

 How much will you need to invest for your smart home automation?  It depends on your objectives.  These are the minimum requirements  

• A wireless router: A router that broadcasts in both 5 and 2.4 Ghz  
• Smart Hardware: Smart Bulbs, Smart Thermostat, etc.  
• A mobile device: A phone or iPad works best 
• Smart Software: This facilitates initial setup. Provided by manufacturer 
• A Smart Device Coordinator (Optional) - most common of these is Alexa

 Needed Devices:

• iPad
• Smart Hardware
• Alexa
• Stable Internet Connection

1. Make sure your Alexa is working correctly with your internet connection.
2. Screw the Lightbulb into the light.
3. Put the bulb in pairing mode (manufacturers documentation). 
4. Link the iPad to the temporary SSID that the bulb provides. 
5. Click next in the manufacturers Software. 
6. Wait for the software to find available wireless signals (SSIDs). 
7. Connect to the 2.4 GHz IOT Network by proceeding through clicking next.
8. Assuming the above was successful, give the device a name. 
9. Click OK or Complete to finish the installation on the manufacturer side. 
10. Test the functionality of the device (on/off, colors, etc) using software. 
11. With any luck Alexa will pick up the new device.  
12. In the event that Alexa does not pick up the device follow below steps: 
13. In Alexa, tap Devices 
14. Tap the plus sign (top right of Alexa app) 
15. Select Device Type (Bulb in this case)
16. Select the Device Manufacturer  (WYSE in this case).
17. Go through prompts making sure you answer them accurately.
18. Alexa will start a scan. When finished your device should appear.  
19. Click OK to accept device.
20. Classify the device by placing it in one or more rooms.
21. Test the device by voice and verify that it works (eg:  "Alexa Turn off Office Light")

If the above steps have your head spinning, your not alone. There are easily between 15-20 steps per device for *simple* home automation installations for each device .  The setup process can take a high degree of patience and attention to the device status at all times. 

It is also important to note that in between each device that you setup you should use a free tool such as Speedtest to make sure that your devices are not slowing down your network.  This is why it's recommended to have all your smart devices on their own 2.4GHz network.  I serve Watertown and the surrounding areas - all of which offer 1GBps or "1 Gig" internet speed.  I'd highly recommend the investment to insure a successful outcome.

 You may be asking yourself at this point if it's worth the effort to invest the time and money into whole home automation.  From my standpoint it is - but I'm a technology specialist.  You need to decide if it's worth it for you.  Here are a couple of scenarios that Whole Home Automation has helped me with in my daily life.

1. Every night during the winter seasons at Sunset I have my table lamp in my living room and my bedside table in my room turn on to ensure that if we are running late my dog is never at home in the dark when we are at work.
2. When at work and my dog is detected barking for more than one minute I will get an alert on my phone through the Alexa app.  The Alexa speaker will, automatically or at my choosing, play a short clip of me telling Maggie to stop barking and will play soothing music for 15 minutes. 
3. In an energy saving measure the Alexa Units that we use (we have one for each room) can act as motion detectors.  If it does not suspect motion in the room for approximately 30 minutes the lights can be programmed to turn off.
4. The best part is if you forgot to do something that is controlled by a smart device (such as turn on a light) all you need to do is open the Alexa app and you can turn on the device.  Whether down the street or across the country.