We talk about Zigbee - The Smart Panel

[@RC534]

Thanks for this exploration on Zigbee implementation. I concur with the observation that more powered Zigbee devices means a better quality signal. I have been adding 230V Zigbee wall switches in my house and the signal strength across the house has been getting better and better.

[@patrickhitthaler3030]

I noticed Connor and Tez did a project for a disabled client - maybe that could be a topic for a future talk. I work for Social Services and although I've been pushing for smart homes for a long time, what we can offer is very limited. It would be interesting ţo see what's out there to make the life of a disabled client / elderly client easier (beyond smart lights and music).

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

This is one of the topics we plan to cover, and a really good use case for smart technologies. Do you have any specific areas we should cover or questions you'd like to ask?

[@wwolfram33]

This is great information. Bring these guys on more often!

[@markloughtonUK]

I have multiple apps that scan for wifi SSIDs but how do you detect zigbee networks ?

[@BobSmith42]

They talk about scanning Wi-Fi networks and see what channels most of those networks are on in the 2.4ghz range. There are 14 wifi channels (depending on where you are in the world), and 26 ZigBee channels. Metageek had a really good article that shows guys Wi-Fi and ZigBee channels overlap. You just have to figure out where the best channel is on your area with the least interference from Wi-Fi networks.

[@robRobblah]

really great content. The format is great. keep it up!

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

Thank you!

[@rogeroshea3490]

Great video I have been using Aqara for 2 years (over 50 devices) never had an issue in Apple home

[@BobSmith42]

Thank you! This was a great video packed with ideas!

[@LuxeiaLtd]

We're glad you enjoyed it!

[@SmithyScotland]

From my research, the issue with acara devices is they don't use "standard" zigbee. They've eityher hacked it or partially reverse engineered it. Their sensors don't reroute is an example. The biggest thing that's made a difference on my network is pairing the device with the nearest router, using the Z2M web interface to only allow pairing with the specific router device. Love these chat videos.

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

I'm embarrassed to admit how long it took me to start pairing things with the nearest router 🙈

[@markloughtonUK]

I didn't realise it was possible to pair to particular routers. I normally just hit the main pair button 😂

[@chrisc_1012]

​​@@HomeAutomationGuyWait, what? I didn't know this was a thing, I thought the whole point was that it was a mesh and would just pick up the strongest signal, and if the right product type, would then also route it on further too What happens if the device multiple things are paired to goes down or is replaced? Seems to completely miss the point of a mesh if things are paired to a specific device

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

@@chrisc_1012 That's definitely how it is *supposed* to work, but unfortunately it isn't always the case.

[@shiPham0705]

love these type of videos!

[@LuxeiaLtd]

We're glad you're enjoying them!

[@jaap7374]

I can't find the document you refer to at 2:33. Maybe I'm blind...

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

I forgot to attach it, my bad! It's there now

[@dpn1604]

I have the exact opposite experience with sensors. Hue was apauling and I have aqara everywhere and they've been rock solid.

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

My Aqara ones have been rock solid as well!

[@LuxeiaLtd]

It's really interesting seeing how different everyone's experiences are with products!

[@plproductions8887]

Hi these videos are so interseting and look forward to more in the future. By the way can't seem to find the document of supported devices in the description.

[@LuxeiaLtd]

We're glad you're enjoying them 😄

[@kevinhenryviii]

Some great advice here. 👍🏻 Well done.

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@LuxeiaLtd]

Thank you!

[@Luisp_1024]

How do you handle backups or restoring a home if switching hardware when using OS? Thought you can only restore backups on the supervised version

[@LuxeiaLtd]

You can still take and restore backups with the OS. A backup is automatically created every 3 days and uploaded to a Google Drive. If anything ever happens, we can use this off-site backup, but we always take a manual backup before making large changes or running updates.

[@Luisp_1024]

@@LuxeiaLtdinteresting. I was trying to switch my home from a VM to direct OS on a mini PC and what stopped me was that I read I wouldn’t be able to upload a backup to start with. I also read that the Google Drive feature was only on the supervised version. Is this not true? Also, why do you guys go directly with OS and not a VM? Just curious

[@LuxeiaLtd]

@Luisp_1024 Add-ons and backups are available for both OS and Supervised. Home Assistant has a comparison table somewhere online that shows you what the different install methods have access to. We do it with the OS to minimise issues and callouts. Using a VM is just another point of failure for us to handle.

[@Luisp_1024]

@@LuxeiaLtd Dang. I should have just gone ahead with the installation. Weekend project! And I agree. The less points of failure the better. Also, on the Aqara piece, I've learned that Aqara devices work best with their hub vs Z2MQTT or ZHA (with ZHA, I was getting disconnects like Alan mentioned). I have a bunch of smart plugs around my house which makes my mesh network pretty solid. I also have 2 Zigbee hubs. The UZG gateway for non-Aqara Zigbee devices and the Aqara Hub M3 for Aqara devices. Everything works extremely solid with 98% - 99% uptime with no issues. I also have 5G wifi smart plugs for the hubs as well as my mini PC to ensure i can reset them from outside of the house in case HA gets funky and need to reboot.

[@Luisp_1024]

@@LuxeiaLtd Dang. Should have gone ahead and installed. Weekend project I guess. And agreed. The less points of failure the better. On the Aqara front, I've noticed that Aqara devices just don't play too nice with other hubs. I ended up getting an Aqara Hub M3 and paired my Aqara devices through it on channel 25 I believe and then I have the UZG-01 for all my other non-Aqara Zigbee devices. They all play well and no drop-offs with 95-98% response with no issues. I also use 5G wifi plugs (Tuya...I know, but couldn't find anything else), to be able to toggle the hubs or Mini-PC in case HA is not playing nice.

[@VEE727]

Have you done a video on setting up a new router for smart home? If not, can you do that?

[@LuxeiaLtd]

We are planning to cover home networking soon!

[@ashmistry]

Hi Alan...great video. Please can you link in the description the list of products and also link to the SM light controller you spoke about.

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

Sorry! The description has been updated now 😊

[@kefalboy]

I have made a project for a client with over 103 devices Z2M, 113 ZHA and around Zwave all in the same house and I never had a problem that a device got disconnected. All the mesh networks are solid and responsive. If you use proper quality parts and main units, you will never have a problem.

[@LuxeiaLtd]

I agree with using quality devices and ensuring you have a strong mesh with sufficient routers. However, even with all of this, you can still run into issues, and I think it is shortsighted to say otherwise. Always prepare for the worst, even if you've done everything right, because then you can't really go wrong.

[@stevehurcombe]

How do go about replacing a sensor when it fails? Especially when it's used in automations. Do you rename the old one? Or delete it before adding the new one?

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

I remove the old one, and then make sure I name the new one the same - paying close attention to the entities. My automations then continue functioning as normal then.

[@LuxeiaLtd]

We do exactly what Alan has said too!

[@MitchOfCanada]

would love to hear how someone has done a motorized theatre screen, i have a 12 foot 2.39:1 to a RV awning tube. Thinking of a blind Tubular motor, with weights to balance it when its down so the motor doesnt have to pullup the whole weight of the screen.

[@jameshendry3571]

Great follow up video. I have been a big fan of the pre-flashed Tasmota devices from Athom and also flashing ESPs with Tasmota and installing sensors. Is this something you've tried commercially or would try commercially?

[@schford]

Another enjoyable video, a few points I am really unsure about the discussion around colour of devices. I am unsure why anyone would buy a smart light switch - one should buy a proper dimmer module or switch and put it behind the light or behind the switch and just use any plate you want. I also see so many of these videos around zigbee issues, I have two homes run on z wave - one has been running for 7 years no with zero issues. Sure the modules are slightly more expensive but the range is greater and everything just works, if you'd like more info for a video let me know!

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

Sometimes it's really hard to fit the relay modules into the wall spaces. But yes, those are valid points!

[@schford]

@@HomeAutomationGuy yup the majority of mine in the UK are with the lights which also takes care of not having a neutral in a back box where as in France they are mainly in the wall.

[@bogorad]

For me, the only real downside of Zigbee is the 2.4GHz band. If you live in the middle of a big city, in an apartment complex with hundreds of misconfigured ISP routers, it's hell.... and batteries!

[@LuxeiaLtd]

This is very true! There is one project we did where we used Z-Wave for this exact reason, as the 2.5GHz band was too saturated to create a stable network.

[@brianmorgan7207]

Can you tell me how they bill the clients? Is it by the hour, by the installation, are there annual fees? I have done my house with HA and my large campus church with HA and have two members of the congregation that would like me to set up their house. My business model would be to charge an annual fee. The first year would include all the installation, but the client would buy all the equiptment. There would be a fix number of automations during the first year. The next year there would be an hourly limit for addtional automation, installations of new equiptment, etc.. Included in the annual fee would be any work required to keep the system operational. Also, would be user training and WAF issues. Thoughts?

[@extemos6476]

Hi Sir thank you for all the videos you make. Do you have a video to show how to access your home assistant remotely as a Docker container. I'm able to access it on the HA OS using zerotier add on. But I don't know how to do it on docker. Can you please poin us the right direction. Once again thanks you for the content.

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

Sign up to Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa! Not only do you get remote access, but you are directly supporting the development of the Home Assistant platform!

[@kennethojeke5119]

I am using some unbranded TUYA zigbee sensors and they work fine. The Moes Star ring switch failed a random.

[@michaelthompson657]

Is the guy on the left from Newcastle? Sounds like a Geordie like me!

[@LuxeiaLtd]

He sure is!

[@michaelthompson657]

@@LuxeiaLtd cool, I thought so! It’s so hard to find actual people to talk to about smart homes and home assistant apart from online!

[@gregormartynus6178]

I wish you would have a team in Los Angeles! I’m having such a hard time to find anyone who even heard of Home Assistant. I’d have loved some professional help for the initial setup.

[@LuxeiaLtd]

Maybe one day! 😄

[@jwheeler91]

Biggest takeaway for me is that my avoidance of wireless smart devices was worthwhile.

[@HomeAutomationGuy]

Hard wire all the things you can is my strong suggestion!

[@LuxeiaLtd]

Most definitely. You will never beat hard wired!