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January 27, 2021
Introduction 👋
A cikk magyar változatáért kattints ide.
Smart home systems are becoming increasingly popular and accessible, with many people diving into these projects during home renovations or when purchasing a new home. Unfortunately, it’s pretty easy to make expensive mistakes or wrong choices. In fact, there’s a significant amount of confusion around the topic even internationally, and it can be even more overwhelming in Hungary.
This page was created to share my personal experiences, show what and why I chose certain systems, how I set things up, and what to look out for—hoping this can help others as well.
It won’t be all-encompassing since I’ll be sharing my personal smart home project. There are other systems, standards, and devices out there, and it’s entirely possible that things could have been done better or differently.
But this is how I did it, and I’m satisfied with how it works.
What Will We Talk About Exactly? 🤔
The Apple ecosystem dominates our household, so from the start, we committed to using Apple HomeKit. Of course, not all available devices are smart and even fewer are natively compatible with HomeKit (especially in the EU market, including Hungary). So, after some creative solutions and careful device selection, we managed to integrate everything we wanted into this system. Therefore, I will focus on this journey, as it’s the one I’m most familiar with.
I’ll explain how this all happened in future posts. However, there are a few fundamental facts and considerations that everyone should consider before starting such a project.
Basic Principles 💡
1. Smart homes are expensive!
That’s just the way it is—if you want a smart home, it won’t be cheap. One of the most common problems stems from this: everyone wants to get it done for the lowest possible price.
But that’s not going to happen.
If you can’t accept this, starting the project will be pointless because it will only lead to frustration. Good devices come at a price. Suspiciously cheap options almost guarantee issues—whether it’s impossible to integrate them, they’re poor quality, or they require a level of technical knowledge and tinkering that most average users don’t have. If something seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
2. Commit to one ecosystem!
Choose the ecosystem you want to build your entire system around! In my opinion, the worst thing you can do is run multiple incompatible systems simultaneously. Of course, it’s possible—everyone has their preferences—but for me, it would be incredibly frustrating to turn the lights on with Siri, lower the blinds with Alexa, and start the air conditioning with Google Home. Once you’ve chosen your platform, consider which devices will be the central hubs and get those first.
3. Set realistic expectations!
I often see people buy devices they don’t fully understand simply because they have a “can-do” mentality. Usually, it is possible to make things work. Still, there are two major categories: either you pay for a natively compatible device or have enough technical knowledge (even as a hobby) to tinker with unofficial solutions without frustration. Don’t get involved with third-party and unofficial integrations unless you understand them and are willing to deal with potential issues. Since these aren’t official solutions, there will definitely be times when things need fixing. If you don’t understand it, you’ll only end up frustrated.
4. If there’s an ” out of the box” compatible device, buy that!
If you find a device already compatible with your chosen system (whether it’s HomeKit, Google Home, or Alexa) right out of the box, buy that one! These certified devices are more expensive, with rare exceptions, because they save you from the inevitable headaches you’ll face with integrating non-official accessories. Some manufacturers even place the platform’s logo on their products, only for you to discover later that it doesn’t work with your home system as expected. Do your research, look it up, and ask others for advice!
5. Consider environmental variables!
Even after all your research, you might find that things still don’t work as expected. That’s when environmental factors come into play, which can make the whole project even more complex. One of the most critical factors is adequate network coverage. No, the router provided by your internet service provider is rarely sufficient. No, occasionally, weak signals won’t cut it. When selecting devices, it’s also crucial to consider how well the technology works in densely populated areas (common culprits include infrared and radio signal devices). What works in a small house may not work in a 50-unit apartment building or a densely built residential area.
6. Some devices are better left unintegrated!
It’s not a great idea to integrate certain devices into any smart home system. For example, in my case, the alarm system is the one device that we control from its own app rather than HomeKit. Beyond the security concerns, there are practical reasons as well. The system cannot be natively integrated into HomeKit. I don’t want to bring it in with any unofficial device, as a potential malfunction could pose a greater risk than the theoretical benefits.
In the following article, I will discuss Hubs—the central controllers of the system and devices. Keep up!
