Automation companies

[Cotswoldrunner]

Hi 

I like the idea of incorporating home automation but would ideally like one main system/ app are there any recommendations? If not for all of the below as much as possible 
Main things we want 

cctv 

gate access

Door bell 

lighting control 

audio (multi room) 

 

nice to haves on same system 

intruder alarm 

fire detection 

blind control 

 

[Pocster]

Z wave will cover pretty much all of that list . Cctv though cat5/6 cabling .

I use homeseer to control everything.

How technical are you ?

[Pocster]

Lighting I use z wave din controller 

audio per room raspberry pi with max2play 

doorbell ( camera and now audio ) I changed to doorbird 

Fire detector I’m keeping seperate I.e mains fire sensors with wireless connections to each other 

burglar alarm - easy ; with some code and homeseer 

Blind Control z wave relay to motorised blind ( I’ve no need for this but as a suggestion ) 

Hope that helps 

[James Newport]

Home assistant is a good option. It is software that allows you to control multiple different types of home automation equipment from many different vendors from a single interface. It's very flexible, but this makes it a little more hoop jumpy than an offering from say a company that specialises in just the lighting or just the heating. 

 

If you're doing a new build then you could consider a hard wired home automation platform (e.g. https://www.loxone.com/enen/ - someone posted a couple of months back with details of their incredibly nice looking setup), but if not then z wave/zigbee/wifi is the way to go. (Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8-VNIQQiQE&ab_channel=TheHookUp for a good overview)

 

[James Newport]

1 hour ago, pocster said:

I use homeseer to control everything.

Any info on how it compares to something like Home assistant? I like Home assistant, but if there's something better out there...

[Pocster]

Just now, James Newport said:

Any info on how it compares to something like Home assistant? I like Home assistant, but if there's something better out there...

Not used home assistant .

The problem I found with most home automation software is it had little support or was just too simplistic.

Homeseer has many flaws . But there’s a lot of users if you check the forum . I’ve yet too see a problem that HomeSeer can’t be made to solve - though it can be convoluted.

The fact you can script if you want or use the IDE for simpler things is good .

Depends how much you want to learn/tinker ; also for a ‘professional’ system you are going to need some real cash .

Homeseer equally can do any method you want ( not just z wave ) . I think it’s a free download and you get 30 days trial . Can run on raspberry pi if you wish but I prefer a headless i7 .

 

[James Newport]

Thanks. It all sounds pretty much the same as Home Assistant, right down to the flaws and the forum

[Wil]

I use Athom Homey to run my automation. As above for a level of tinkering required...

 

There's little fit-and-forget DIY automation. You need to pay £££ to get someone else to manage the pro systems if you're not willing to get too involved in the DIY world.

[Rob99]

I help self-builders and home owners, including a few off here, with equipment supply and DIY installations of Loxone.

If properly planned and installed it's very much a fit and forget solution and doesn't require expensive engineer visits just to change your dining room lighting moods!

If you want drop me a message if you have any queries.