What is Reddit's opinion of
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub?
From 3.5 billion Reddit comments
By popularity on Reddit, this product is:
174 reviews of this product found across Reddit:
I've done it both ways, it's far easier with a USB stick. Not only that, but you eliminate a possible point of failure by removing smartthings. There's a combo zwave and zigbee usb stick on amazon that you can also connect smart bulbs to.
Edit: Added a link
I personally really like this HUSBZB-1 stick, it's worked great for me so far.
I think it's worth getting the combo stick—then you at least don't have to buy yet another stick later if you ever want to add a few Zigbee devices.
For WiFi connected devices, just make sure to plug your device in using ethernet if at all possible, since it'll benefit from the additional bandwidth and not conflicting with other devices or Z-Wave & Zigbee.
Make sure you put the stick on an extension cable—it's best to keep it away from the main unit to avoid interference.
I think you want the: Nortek HUBZ1 There are lots of people that like the Conbee sticks too, but I found this one to be very reliable and has the added benefit of working with zigbee and zwave. You can probably find it somewhere else a bit cheaper. I think I got mine for around $30
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_R6Z4R7R0TN478D7QY1BN
Thanks again.
I know I’m drifting from the specific topic but… last question (probably!). Did you use the Nortek? Unless I have the wrong model, I believe this is the only solution for both Zigbee and Z-wave that doesn’t require soldering, etc.
We only have one Z-wave but being that it’s a front door lock we’d hate to replace it. We can convert it to HomeKit but then it loses geofencing features. It costs almost as much to replace as probably everything else still on Zigbee.
Late to the game, but figured I'd add my 2 cents.
If this is the combo Z-Wave / Zigbee USB Stick you're using, it will not work with Zigbee2Mqtt. I have the exact same stick and tried to transition from ZHA to Zigbee2Mqtt recently and found out it's just not supported right now. And I do not know if they plan on supporting it in the future.
So unfortunately, installing the stick on a RaspPi in hopes of running Zigbee2Mqtt may not be a viable solution.
I really don't think you need to worry about where your USB hub is located though. Z-wave and Zigbee are both mesh networks, and work quite well. They're on a completely different frequency from Wifi, so your network isn't going to make a difference here (But it also doesn't cause interference with Wifi devices and vice versa).
As I said, the mesh works quite well for both. Most all devices that are connected to mains power (light switches, wall outlets, etc) act as a repeater. So long as you have enough repeaters spread out around the house, there's no need to worry about your coverage or where the central hub is located.
For Zwave, I use Zooz light switches as my repeaters. For ZigBee, I use Sengled smart outlets. But you can mix and match all you want.
My server is in the garage, and I still get perfect signal and instant updates on devices clear on the other side of the house.
Aqara sensors do not require the "Aqara Hub". They are powered by z-wave, so any z-wave hub should work.
Personally, I use the HUSBZB-1 USB Hub with Home Assistant for my Aqara door and motion sensors and it works great. Though I don't own any wall switches, I would imagine it's the same as the sensors.
I bought this one last year and I haven't had an issue with getting Z-wave devices on it. I haven't migrated any ZigBee as of yet. I am not sure if there is a newer version out yet though and it doesn't seem to support the latest Z-wave security features. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o03\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you're running HA, or willing to switch I would recommend the HUSBZB-1 linked below. Added benefit is that you can isolate as much of your smart home as you can or would like to, and less lag/latency between button/switch and response if you keep everything local.
I got this one from Amazon
It is a usb stick with zigbee and z-wave. So far it is great BUT it only works with ZHA (zigbee home assistant) it doesn’t work with Z2M (zigbee2mqqt). So before buying any Zigbee component do research to what is compatible with.
There are a lot of opinions between ZHA and Z2M I prefer ZHA since is the “easiest” integration plug the stick find the device and go for it. Newer devices require HA to be updated so Z2M will get the devices working faster (that was my experience with the new E1 Aquara door window sensor, it was not until the HA December update that it worked with ZHA while Z2M had it way faster).
So like everything in HA do a bit more research first to avoid been bitten later.
I'm trying to get the goconnect running because it supports both z-wave and zigbee. I could also try the Conbee II, but then I'll have to return the goconnect and order the conbee and I'm impatient when it comes to shipping, lol.
I just bought this (https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/) and it controls all the Sengled bulbs I got in the house without having to use that hub which connects to their cloud service that was down for 2 days last week.
Installed Home Assistant and that Zigbee/Zwave stick and I couldn't be happier, also makes the lights respond faster since it doesn't need to go their servers and back to turn on a light in my house lol
It is this one that was recommended here. Reception has been good, not really sure how to quantify it but this is located very centrally in the house and I haven’t noticed any problems.
Modem is located annoyingly in the living room because it’s fiber and I can’t move it easily so I just ran a network cable into the unfinished basement through the wall then up into the bottom of the SMC which you can see in the bottom left corner.
I’ve used it for a few years with no issues. It’s been way more stable than the legacy z-wave integration. I don’t have IKEA or hue devices though, so ymmv. This is the dongle I have: https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
Get a Nortek and don't look back. Have been using mine for 4 years. 39 Zigbee and 43 Zwave devices on it with no issues. Running ZHA.
Yea I want either zigbee or zwave (don’t have any devices of either yet) as I don’t want a ton of WiFi bulbs. I do already have a couple WiFi ones I use outdoors. But only because i didn’t know any better.
I’m going to eventually grab the zwave + zigbee usb dongle hub to help get started and not have to use a bran diet specific hub. Although I guess if I do use hue I could use their hub.
I personally use the EL ZZH stick you linked with Home Assistant/zigbee2mqtt and it's been fantastic. I also have a separate zwave stick (Aeotec Z-Stick Gen5 Plus) for zwavejs2mqtt.. I've seen a lot of praise for the HUSBZB-1 though, which does BOTH zigbee and zwave in a single dongle. Not sure how it stacks up against dedicated dongles for each protocol though... I do know know that you don't sacrifice compatibility and with 2 separate sticks plus devices acting as repeaters range isn't a problem. What I'm not also sure about is how well it would handle a lot of clients. I've been meaning to look in to it more but I'm already happy with the performance of the EL ZZH stick and the Zstick and have plenty of USBs so haven't bothered with it. Just throwing out the HUSBZB-1 because I haven't seen it mentioned here yet.
Oh cool... That's great.
Then yeah... I'd grab a pi 4 (I actually started mine on a whim just using a different micro SD card so I wouldn't lose RetroPie!) and throw home assistant on there. They have great setup instructions.
I wouldn't mess with external access just yet - that's where most of the complexity comes from... For now, just get the basics working and get a feel for it. Next I'd probably get this: https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
Note that's not the one I have, I have separate sticks for ZigBee and zwave, but I hear good things about this.
Once you have that, I'd get zwavejs setup and the zha integration (if you have any ZigBee stuff) and just play with the basics. Home assistant has a great app too.
There tend to be a few tricky areas with home assistant. The first is just run of the mill getting used to stuff. The second is secure external access. For that, overwhelmingly, the easiest thing is the duckdns integration and using it to get your ssl cert. For more advanced stuff, you'll likely also want to set it up as a dns server and a reverse proxy. There are add-ons for that stuff too.
I’m sure there are others, but I am currently using this hub. I have multiple aqara devices paired with the ZHA integration. It also doubles as a zwave hub.
what made you choose the Aeotec over a HUSBZB-1 which has both zwave and zigbee in it? Limiting yourself to just z-wave seems too frustrating and so many things work well under zigbee
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_DY31C0ADV4TY60BSY148
I'm using one of these for both zwave and zigbee. I've convinced quite a few of my coworkers to go down the same path and most of us our super happy! With the exception. Of my boss who's wife now has a new honey do list of automations :D
I have added them via HA. I also push them to Google via HA. I am using GoControl USB Hub ( Amazon.com: GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub: Home Improvement ). The other Zigbee items work fine. It is weird that only one of the Cree bulbs works as they are all in the same fixture.
What other information would you like to see? I will try removing the sensor real quick today as a test.
I’m assuming you’re aware, but you will need a dongle to use zigbee/zwave. I’m using this one and it’s working for multiple devises in both Zwave JS and Zigbee HA integrations.
Like someone else said, if it mentions being compatible with zwave or zigbee, it will almost certainly work with HA with a dongle. I’m currently using a couple Aqara temp sensors with the zigbee dongle I mentioned before and they work great.
> Keep in mind good Zwave network architecture when you are setting things up. Lots of requests for power monitoring can slow a big network down.
Any resources you'd recommend for a good z-wave architecture? This is the first time I'm diving into home automation. I've only done some rudimentary stuff so far, like using couple of TP-Link smart plugs in my rented apartment to create time-of-day based automation and they use WiFi.
I'm planning to use Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi and get a Nortek GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub
Besides the light switches, I'd also be using some motion sensors (maybe Wyze, haven't explored much yet).
The Nortek z-wave/zigbee USB. It worked pretty seamlessly. Z-wave worked right away, but I had to reboot HA for zigbee to work (kind of stupid on my part that I didn't think to do that).
For zigbee I have a centralite perl peq thermostat, 6 window/door sensors and two temperature/humidity sensors. I got this usb zigbee/zwave adapter that works with raspberry pi and HA. I think there is also a way to use the ST hub as a zigbee receiver for HA.
I run Home Assistant on a Pi with HASSos, and use the Nortek HUSBB-1 as a USB stick hub (both Z-Wave and Zibgee).
Haven’t had any issues with it personally, but others have suggested a USB extender to get some space between the stick and the Pi
It’s the only hub I’ve used for Z-Wave, so I can’t say it works better than others, but can definitely confirm its works haha
You’d need a zwave compatible hub to capture the data.
I’m using that same meter with Home Assistant installed on a raspberry pi with this zwave usb dongle.
The pi doesn’t need internet to read the data from the meter but you do need a network so you could connect to the Pi and read the data from it.
If you don’t want the Pi to be on any network, you could have the pi’s WiFi be an adhoc network. That would be like a private 1-to-1 WiFi network that you’d connect your phone to whenever you’d like to see the metered info. Then you’d disconnect from it to go back to normal data.
I use this with home assistant. It solves that issue but it takes some time to research and get set up. Most things that are zigbee or zwave or even wifi are compatible. I have it running on my home nas/server but you can just as easily set it up on a raspberry pi. Hope that helps.
I bought mine from Amazon, it was $80 AUD, seems to have dropped to $40 AUD. Here it is
I switched from SmartThings to Home Assistant. I am using a rPi4 with a usb zigbee/zwave stick. I started with my zwave devices 1st. I excluded them from my current network and then added them to HA. Then went to ZigBee.
I was missing webCoRE. Did some quick research and found Node-RED. I now have 100% of my network local and running flawlessly. I am very happy with HA. Took about a week to get everything moved over and all my automations setup again. I have around 40 nodes I needed to switch over.
You already have Home Assistant so why not add Zwave and Zigbee to it, I switched from Samsung Smartthing to HA a few months ago, and it is smoother because it is all local and not on the chopping block like STs. I just added this and it works well...
It was the husbzb-1 from amazon. You have to set it up on a PC or raspberry pi via homeassistant. It’s not incredibly complicated (their are plenty of guides) but it’s not plug and play by any means. The benefit of it is you can pretty much use any smart device and integrate it into HomeKit.
I originally got it for sengled BR30 bulbs just cause Phillips hue is so expensive in that size. $10 vs $25 a bulb.
So it should work with the stick I use?
Seems this or a DIY with NodeMCU is the way to go. I do have a couple of ESP8266 boards laying around and a couple of project cases... I may do one of each just to compare.
I should note that the Wyze lock it Zigbee not Z-wave but if you go with a stick like this one Here you would have both.
I have that one installed on a Pi 3B working near perfect with my Zigbee bulbs, most of my issues are more related to Kasa than anything else...
If you like to tinker and have an old laptop lying around install Home Assistant on it and purchase a Zwave/Zigbee hub like this: https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8. You can use all your existing WIFI devices and it seamlessly connects with Alexa when using Nabu Casa.
This. I moved from ST to Home Assistant using a Z-Wave+Zigbee USB stick (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8) and moved everything over. HA is way more customizable than ST, even when leveraging webCoRE.
It does take a bit to get everything in, but once you learn the system, it's very smooth.
This is the dongle most people use. It has both zigbee and z-wave radios:
I just purchased a new house and had been planning on using home assistant. It is the only option I've seen that can give an integrated picture across all the potential platforms you have. I wasn't sure from the reviews, but this USB dongle is what worked for me for some of my existing z-wave and zigbee devices.
Otherwise, wifi switches are so much cheaper than when I did this 5 years ago. All the new switches I'm buying to use with HA are TreatLife switches from amazon when on discount (~$10-$12 each), that I then flash with Tasmota using TuyaConvert. The wifi and zwave switches all feel much more responsive to commands compared to smartthings that I was coming from previously.
Using the wifi siwtches is a little more work, but is worth the savings imo. TuyaConvert is a bit technical, but you should be able to get through it after fumbling through it the first time. Having a raspberry pi on hand can make it a bit easier. It isn't "programming", just following steps and configuration.
MyQ is cloud only, but it looks like it can work locally via HomeKit (you need to buy an additional bridge for it). I just bought Insignia HomeKit opener from BestBuy and use it via HomeKit controller in HA.
I also use combo ZWave/Zigbee stick: GoControl CECOMINOD016164... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
It runs just fine on Pi, but I’ve just moved all my stuff to a VM (currently running on my desktop while I’m waiting for NUC to arrive).
If I can't find a solution, I will order an HUSBZB-1 to connect with all my ST devices instead of using the ST hub.
I highly recommend just buying this stick so that you have the flexability for both zigbee and z-wave. z-wave stuff works better in homeassistant but zigbee lights and switches are way cheaper and more common. For the most part zigbee works fine for me, I have all my lights and about half my switches on it using that switch and outside of bugs during homeassitant upgrades have not had a single issue with it.
I can't speak to the ST sensors per say, but I do use the Iris stuff (second generation) from Lowes (door/window sensor, motion sensor) using a Linear HUSBZB-1 USB dongle.
I bought a $40 USB stick with a ZWave and Zigbee radio and it can control almost any light out there. Hue, Tradfri, Sengled, Osram, Cree, Smart Things, Iris, etc, etc.
Home Assistant has support for Zigbee...
Using this controller: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Which would be the same as using Z-Wave comparatively?
If you do want strictly Z-Wave, Aeotec offers a rgbw bulb but it is not cheap.
I am using the Linear HUSBZB-1 stick on unRaid with a homeasssitant docker. It handles zigbee and z-wave. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8
I have it controlling a few zigbee lightbulbs and z-wave dimmers. I am very new to this, but it has wokred well for me with a few zigbee bulbs and z-wave dimmers. I think homeassistant only works with zigbeee home automation (ZHA) right now, so Zigbee Light Link (ZLL) devices like philips hue, etc. will not work directly with this stick.
I only have a few ZWave devices right now, but I haven't had any issues with speed or reliability with the combo stick. This is the one I have, and it's pretty popular for Home Assistant.
Yes, if the bulbs were controlled via Home Assistant whether it was the UI, automations, scripts, etc, they were great. It just didn't update the state when I used the dimmer, which made most of my automations involving those lights useless (I have it set so a floor lamp connected to a Lutron Caseta plug-in dimmer turns on whenever the Hue lights turn on).
If the light in your daughter's room is a lamp that's plugged into a an outlet as opposed to a fixture, maybe a battery backup would work? I'm not sure though...I know whenever my UPS loses power and switches to the battery, it beeps like crazy, so that might not be much better....
Honestly I think your approaching this the wrong way you really need to figure out what your home automation hub is going to be and make sure it supports everything you want then go from there with hardware. I would recommend homeassistant it sounds like your fairly technical so you shouldn't have a problem getting it set up. If you do homeassistant you can then grab this https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-Linear-HUSBZB-1/dp/B01GJ826F8 which supports zigbee and z-wave. Homeassistant allows you to use all types of devices and more are added every few weeks, so you should be able to pick whatever fits your needs. Instead of picking something that integrates with the hardware you already have.
I'm in the process of doing this right now. I got the Nortek z-wave/zigbee usb stick.
Now I'm debating whether it's best to remove all the devices at once or just try to move them over one by one - I have a lot of light switches and although it's going to be a dreadful process, leaving SmartThings will be well worth it.
*edit: lights -> light switches
Yep, that's what I use now, although I'd actually recommend this one. It have zwave and zigbee radios for the same price, and HASS is building out zigbee support right now, so you'll be able to use more devices in the future.
I feel like openzwave is super annoying and opaque to configure, but once it works, it works.
I've wondered the same thing about the SmartThings hub (would it make zwave shit easier to deal with?) but ultimately the ST hub uses the cloud which I'm not into. Why add an extra cloud-supported link that costs money when the HASS openzwave support is currently making big improvements.
I used the breaking changes update to zwave in that update as an opportunity to switch to this fairly cheap zwave/zigbee combo stick. https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-Linear-HUSBZB-1/dp/B01GJ826F8
Unless you need something in the new HA versions... don't update. Or make a backup of your config so you can have a 'stable' version and a 'tinkering' one.
Personally, I run Home Assistant on a Pi 3, and I love it. I'm primarily a zwave home, but if I did things over again, I'd get this combo zwave/zigbee stick and invest in more zigbee stuff, since it's a little cheaper.
I picked up this guy. It’s a zwave/zigbee usb hub. Integrates well into HA and several zwave and zigbee devices work just fine.
I find a mix of both is fine.I got the GoControl HUSBZB-1 and haven't had a single problem. Using both Zigbee lights and Z-wave (Zooz) plugs for energy monitoring.
That entirely depends on your requirements. Every one is buying into some garden and which one changes which set of things work. I haven't played with SmartThings. I have seen the bits and parts however and it's reasonably good. It's enough that the enthusiast can figure out what's going on.
Here's my list:
- Swedes do Apple? IKEA. Their hub isn't the best, but if all you care about are lights, blinds, generally "things you can turn off and on" -- IKEA does a half decent job. Their home smart lights are quite nice and have some neat features. Integrates nicely with HomeAssistant, however the hubs can be a little flaky and it has VERY rigid ideas of what lights do. If you aren't ready to commit to a hub quite yet, you can just pick up the bulbs and remotes (in sets) and they work independent of the hub, which you pair to a bulb and it just "figures it out". You can migrate everything but the hub over to any other Zigbee system as well.
- The "Can I buy it at Walmart" option: Phillips Hue. While just lighting, the Hue stuff is good, if not remarkably reasonable. There's one catch however: Their system is galaxy-brain limited. There's plenty of things that hook onto it, but there's limitations. Also, until about a year and a half ago, it took a whole round trip through Google to get your lights turned on or off. There's been some horror stories from my friends about the longevity of the hubs themselves.
- Hipster: Wink. They've been around for some time but haven't caught on as much as SmartThings. I haven't played with it.
- The best all-around not asking questions "I just want the fucking thing to work" hub? Amazon Echo. Several of the newer echos have Zigbee and Z-Wave integrated in, such as the Echo gen3. They're a little limited in that they're very much "hands off" devices, but if you wanted to automate someone who was comfortable with an Alexa device in their home, it's the most simple way. Plus, you can get things that work with both systems (Innr, IKEA, Gledopto, etc. all make Zigbee devices and there's so many Z-Wave devices out there there's literally zwaveproducts.com to sell them) and basically anything listed as "Works With Alexa" in Amazon is going to support that hub.
- "I want my general contractor to probably maybe know what the fuck is going on" hub? Lutron Caseta. Hands down the most easily findable smarthome setup you can do. So common you can walk into Home Depot and the tech isn't just in the "smart home" section it's in the fucking lighting section all on its own like a beacon of "SO YOU WANNA AUTOMATE LIKE THE BIG BOYS?" Pair it with sensors over Z-Wave or Zigbee or something else and a controller like Home Assistant or OpenHAB and you've got yourself a home automation system that can compete with some of the big kids in the room for the cheap.
- The DIY option with lots of choices: Zigbee2Mqtt and HomeAssistant. Using the commercially available cheap zigbee routing stuff, Zigbee2MQTT makes your zigbee devices talk mqtt with whatever you want. That means, really, HomeAssistant or OPenHAB. Both are fine options but there's always the chance your devices are going to flake out at 2AM
- The DIY solution but where the lights work out of the box: Phoscon. Zigbee only, but built by Dresden Eletronik, it's a Software Defined Zigbee. There's some cool things you can do with it but the killer feature is that it works out of the box with a lot of hardware. I haven't gotten a Zigbee device that didn't eventually have support, and most of the issue is that the Phoscon approach is to only care about devices that are inherently known to the developers. This works fairly well and most lights work out of the box, but remotes and some other things can be tricky. It works well with HomeAssistant and with other integrations, since there's an open API for you to hook onto. The developers are also really cool about adding new devices, since they make their primary bread and butter off people buying other hardware they sell.
- The DIY option where you get your hands dirty: HomeAssistant or OpenHAB with several radios strapped to it. Something like the GoControl stick on a Pi with HomeAssistant has plenty to work with but there's lots of rough edges if you aren't looking closely. Zwave is a lot easier than Zigbee in this case, but the GoControl stick has both radios in it so you get a bit of the best of both worlds.
Get a USB Z-Wave/Zigbee hub and pair it to HA then expose the entity to HomeKit.
This is the one I use - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/
Yeah using ZHA with this stick
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_xgJ.FbC4SC1WR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I’ve been happy with this one- https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
Has Zigbee too.
Get one of these. I run Aquara devices with Home Assistant with no problems. Even the little cube thing works! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8
I have over 15 devices in my network and I'm using these from Amazon. no drops, no issues https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8
Yeah I already had a stick for all my other Z-wave and Zigbee devices.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
nope. I have a zigbee stick in my HA server.
it does zwave and zigbee (HUSBZB-1)
I have been running this stick on HA without issue for over a year now.
you should probably ask in /r/homeassistant
however, i use https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8 because i use a mix of zwave and zigbee devices
The gold standard for a combined Zigbee/Z-Wave dongle is the Nortek HUSBZB-1. I've been using it for about a year and a half, and it's rock-solid.
I like the HUZBZB-1 stick because it works well with HA and supports both Zigbee and Z-Wave.
I have an overpowered PC running Windows that I use as a Plex server. I installed VirtualBox on it and run Home Assistant as well. Works really well and, if nothing else, is free to try to see if you want to move that way.
I think this is the guide that I followed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVqyDtEjudk&t=190s
And I eventually ended up with this stick that controls my ZWave and Zigbee devices: https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
Certainly
hub: /r/homeassistant with a Zwave/Zigbee stick
Door Locks: Schlage on Front door and Backdoor / garage door Yale Locks
Garage Door: 2 of GoControl Garage Door Openers
Cameras: Arlo Pros
They all are Zwave (except for the cameras but they still link to /r/homeassistant) and with HASS I have some scripts that run the actual automations. It all seems more complicated than it really is too. You could have it up and running in a day easily. I shopped the prices and bought almost everything on sale so the prices look high on those (I only linked amazon for ease of linking). I started with HASS on a Raspberry Pi 3b but have moved it to a NUC because I really enjoy Home Automation so I'm always looking for faster and stronger. If you ever have any questions feel free to PM me I could discuss HA (and football) for hours on end!
(I can’t copy your questions in this stupid iOS app, so answers aren’t numbered)
I use Home Assistant and use the zwave USB stick you mention. All of my zwave stuff works great (20 devices). I recently bought a signer usb stick on amazon HUSBZB. I have not had time to set it up in Home Assistant.
Have you seen all the things Home Assistant integrates with? You can search here to see everything that works.
Home Assistant has a great HomeKit integration that can surface all of your devices in Home Assistant to HomeKit. I also have HA connected to google so I can control everything through google Assistant. (Also works with Alexa). The HA forums are really useful too and r/homeassistant.
From my research, the video doorbell market isn’t great. Some HA users will say doorbird, but I have no experience—just what I found in my research.
I think all Nest devices work with HA (again, I haven’t used them but they appear in the components list on HA).
I use UniFi Cameras and they work okay. But you have to do some scripting if you want motion alerts to be sent to HA, which could then be automated or sent to your phone.
Good luck. It’s a bit of a learning curve, but once you learn you’ll be glad you put in the time. Also, check out these YouTube channels: DrZzs, digiblurDIY, the hookup,
Phoscon Conbee II direct deConz integration with no MQTT. Zwave with a GoControl USB stick . I tried using ZHA for Zigbee on the GoControl but it had mesh issues that were resolved by the Phoscon Conbee II. I also scattered four Zwave outlets and one switch to increase my Zwave mesh in the house for my Yale locks.
Get one of these and you will be all set
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8
Zwave and Zigbee. Been working perfectly for me over six months now. Zero issues
Waiting on https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ (tried to kill referral link on mobile)
Had to go to my PC instead of trying to type this all up on my phone lol
> I have a very basic html css background - How hard is loading the software, and coding and all that?
My field is Sys Admin so that gives me a leg up, but I feel like the setup is very simple. You don't have to use any coding (with YAML, mentioned later) for basic setups, but I think if you delve into more complex automations that require scripts things can get hairy.
Please note that since my setup is using a Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant's operating system with a GoControl Hub any references I make will be based on that.
So the steps were roughly as follows: (if anything is unclear or needs elaboration let me know and I'll circle back)
​
Install Home Assistant
- This is HA's instructions (which were very smooth to follow) and it includeshardware requirements
Install GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1
- This provides interfacing between a PC and Z-Wave/ZigBee network devices; It connects via USB. So I use it in order to integrate Z-Wave/ZigBee devices such as my Aqara Motion Sensor into Home Assistant. This device made it so that I did not need to purchase an Aqara Hub/Gateway in order to integrate their peripherals
- It's pretty plug n play, and upon plugging it up to your Raspberry Pi, fromHome Assistant's GUI you should see it listed under Supervisor > System > Hardware
- There will be two serial entries to take note of:
- /dev/serial/by-id/usb-Silicon_Labs_HubZ_Smart_Home_Controller_81300660-if*00*-port0 - Z-Wave
- /dev/serial/by-id/usb-Silicon_Labs_HubZ_Smart_Home_Controller_81300660-if*01*-port0 - ZigBee
- Note the distinctions in the names, because when you add the GoControl as anIntegration for ZigBee and Z-Wave you’ll want to add them with its serial. This isbecause while the GoControl’s ZigBee and Z-Wave can be added as Integrationsby referencing their USB port ex: /dev/ttyUSB0 (see Supervisor > System > Hardware) if those ports change for some reason: loss of power, plugging it into a different USB port) it will break any ZigBee and Z-Wave integrations; However the serial is static
- Once the Hub is installed you’ll have two new entries under the Configuration which may be selected to search and add a device to your integrations (much like pairing a Bluetooth device)
- ZigBee Home Automation
- Z-Wave
So in the case of my <em>Aqara Motion Sensor</em> it’d be added as a ZigBee device which will appear under my <em>Zigbee Integrations</em>
Setup your Automations
- Upon completion setting up Hassio, your hub, and integrating devices within Home Assistant's interface there are configurations which includes building Automations. It has a guided version which can be skipped if manually building an automation is preferable.
- HA also uses YAML on the back end for quite a bit I think, so when you create Automations for example, within its GUI, it's saved in YAML formatting which is accessible and editable remotely (WinSCP for example), or installing the File Editor add-on from the GUI. It's really nice because depending on your level of comfort you can create automations with either method. I don't want to go too far down the rabbit hole but my screenshot examples will help frame things
- Here's an example of the automation that turns on my kitchen lights when motion is detected, and how it appears in HA's GUI
- Here's the same automation, but in YAML
​
- id: '1592506138121' alias: Kitchen Lights On description: '' trigger: - device_id: 8f9e1a8df8b048c1bd4b04b9cc941c47 domain: binary_sensor entity_id: binary_sensor.lumi_lumi_sensor_motion_aq2_191d7502_ias_zone platform: device type: motion condition: [] action: - device_id: 2f8c7f172dc04fd6b0d652779dd25827 domain: switch entity_id: switch.kitchen_top type: turn_on - device_id: 1025067ec1ed4dec88e8415a58450dd4 domain: switch entity_id: switch.kitchen_2_top type: turn_on
​
Hopefully I haven't left anything out to get you up and going should you decide to do so.
Home Assistant Community is a great resource for help
Reddit's Numbered List leaves a lot to be desired :(
To see a unicorn in real life, you need to lure the unicorn from hiding by offering it something it cannot resist. In other words, you need to renovate something at home and integrate Alexa/Google into the design or finishing effects that make it irresistible.
I posted this back in Feb, but will provide a shortened version here. Link to previous post is below. We did a basic reno on our bedroom where we installed brick on the back wall, painted, window treatments, etc. Then, on a day I had off that she (my unicorn AKA Wife) didn't, I snuck out and bought several new Philips Hue bulbs and their light strips. The lighting was installed behind the dresser and bed backboard so I guessed its called recessed or indirect.
Then, for the piece de resistance, I setup an Alexa routine so when I say "Alexa, make the bedroom great again", she turns on the lights to red, and starts playing a selected song from Amazon prime music, to set the mood.
Trust me, the unicorn appears. She rolled her eyes at the setup, but loves the lighting overall. We just use the standard white colour most times. But, it's cool to show off when guests are over or you are trying to set a mood.
----------------------------------
Nice on the Zigbee. Me too! I bought the device shown below for this. No devices as of yet, but I'm researching door locks. I read that Zigbee devices use less power than WIFI and hope to be able to avoid frequent battery changes. A colleague recently ordered some xiaomi Zigbee devices. Waiting for feedback from him to see if he recommends them. He is interested in door and temp sensors for round one. In his case he is going to try an alternative to HA named Openhab, but will be using the item in my link below.
----------------------------------
*** Refs:
- Link to bedroom renos post
https://www.reddit.com/r/alexa/comments/ereo6c/make_the_bedroom_great_again_advanced_valentines/
​
- *** Link to Raspberry Pi - Zigbee module
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This guy is what you want: https://smile.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-Linear-HUSBZB-1/dp/B01GJ826F8/
I have a combo z-wave/zigbee radio attached to Home Assistant that it uses to manage those networks.
I can personally recommend the HUSBZB-1. Adding ZigBee and Z-Wave support in less than 5 minutes was one of the best HA decisions I've made, opens up so many options.
I use the HUSBZB-1 with Home Assistant. Been working solid.
First off, I will not hesitate to help you the best I can and I want you to know that it is okay to keep this thread going.
Now, I use the Nortek Zigbee/Zwave stick. I like it a lot because it controls zigbee and zwave devices and doesn't draw a lot of power. RPis
Do you have any other zigbee devices in HA yet? Is your Mi Zigbee something that provides zigbee information to home assistant and that HA can control? I'm not entirely familiar with it as a zigbee gateway, and it may limit what you can pair with it directly.
For my Zigbee control through Home Assistant, I use the Zigbee Home Automation integration
>I have a rpi laying around.
​
Not sure how you're getting $100-$300 for a zigbee hub when the USB models are only $50 or under.
i have a bunch of zooz and they are rock solid so far in the 10+ years. i also installed for clients too with HA n no complaints. this is the controller stick i use though https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8/
meanwhile.... my zigbee keeps dropping off and it's really annoying. as they drop off, i replace with the other new spare zig sensors i bought. once i run out of spares, i will be zigbee free. cant wait!
I run home assistant in a docker container and use a USB dongle for the zwave/zigbee connectivity (Amazon link to the one I have), but there are a million dongles you could use.
Checkout /r/homeassistant
Another great benefit of this route is that you can mix and match devices/brands and setup all the automation in home assistant.
I bought a 2-in-1 Zigbee/ZWave stick and a Sonoff and setup was simple and easy.
Is this one any good?
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RWF4R1QS546739A69NT0
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
Since you posted in the Home Assistant sub, I'm assuming you're using HA, and this is plug and play and covers your bases for both Zigbee and Z-wave (99% of all smart home devices are either Z-wave, Zigbee, or WiFi).
You can do better buying a dedicated Z-wave and Zigbee dongle, but if you're just starting out this is fine (and what I use).
I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8
I have one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8
It is pretty popular. I have no problems with it. I got it because it does z-wave and zigbee.
Although it's kinda old and there are newer chip versions for both radio versions. Others would recommend getting those, which is definitely a good idea if you don't care about ZWave. There are a bunch of posts around you can check out.
So I have actually been thinking about getting a M1S if I find one cheap just for the light and maybe alarm and to control it through homekit, so I am really curious if you try this.
Here's what I'm using for Zwave and Zigbee communication.
For Z-wave, I use this nortek one. It is supposed to do zigbee too but at the time i couldnt figure it out. 🤷🏿 It used to be cheaper...https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_8VS3AVQK3NFFKE4RMSFZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Zwave, I use HomeSeer SmartStick+. I had it laying around from my previous hub and it continues to be reliable with Home Assistant. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094WCHXHN/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_KSGQJH08Q2FQZRWQS9D9
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_ZGWASD92F5SVFTC2WDW1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Which USB stick do you have? I've been using the HUSBZB01 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8 and running 4 of those dimmer switches and not a single issue. No timeouts, no drop outs, never had to re-add them. Been running it for about six months and at the moment I won't buy any other dimmer except those. My friend has some Zooz and they are quite flaky.
This is a dual band dongle. It’s what works for me.
I'm using this one. I was pointed to this one last year.
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_898G6YJQ4W2TBWSC73H2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Those are only z-wave. I prefer the z-wave/zigbee combos - more options.
I use this guy for zigbee and zwave. Just make sure to get a usb extender for it, because it can interfere with wifi.
This is the same device I have - but not the same seller: https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8 You may be able to find a better price elsewhere though.
| Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub | $46.65 | $46.65 | 4.6/5.0 |
^Item&nbsp;Info | Bot&nbsp;Info | Trigger
this is an option but you’ll need HomeAssistant or an alternate system in place
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_28GZKAVH8S7WH552G4VK
I personally do not use it but I see that many recommend it for supporting zwave and Zigbee
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_1HGFQ56XY8CBMR3P2ECJ
I use a this ZigBee/Z-wave+ adapter on my pi4 running HomeAssistant and I've had zero issues.
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
Works great for both networks (zigbee and z-wave). Works out of the box for HA on the Pi.
you need a zigbee coordinator. You could use a hub which then talks tcp/ip (either direct or via cloud) to home assistant but you are better off adding a usb zigbee stick to your home assistant. Here's some options:
- Cheap and chearful but will get you started with zigbee: https://itead.cc/product/cc2531-usb-dongle/,
- If you want something more powerful you could get a cc2652 based stick like https://electrolama.com/projects/zig-a-zig-ah/.
- People also speak well of conbee II.
- Or you could get a combined z-wave and zigbee usb stick and give yourself more options that way.
I presume you can pass through USB devices to your docker instance on your synology? Home assistant would have to have direct control of whatever USB stick you get.
Not quite correct. tuya have zigbee devices (and probably a hub for those too).
/u/Sweet_Builder_5169, in short(ish) it is like this
1) if the device is wifi, and there is a HA integration for it, you don't typically need anything else
2) if the device connects via another standard (zigbee, z-wave, bluetooth, or anything more exotic than that) you need to make sure HA has the right radio for that standard. For instance, you could buy a husbzb-1 which is a zigbee and z-wave radio.
You then need an integration or add on that is able to use that radio. There's a few zigbee ones (ZHA Zigbee2Mqtt, deconz) and a couple of Z-wave ones too I think but I have no experience with those.
Then you could use just about any z-wave or zigbee device with that (for instance, I have philips hue, sengled and ikea zigbee devices all connected to my HA instance without any of their hubs.)
If you wanted to be doubly sure the zigbee device is going to play nice with your zigbee addon for HA, you can check here
3) some integrations will (expect to) speak to the hub of that brand. I believe if you use the ikea integration for instance (rather than just pair their zigbee devices to your own zigbee radio) it will speak to the hub either via the cloud or via local network, and then the ikea hub will speak zigbee to the sensors and devices. I try to stay away from this type of integration because there's more costs (have to buy the third party hub); more complications (do you set up automations on the 3rd party hub, or in HA) and potentially slower response times if it has to go via the cloud
You can check the integration's page on the HA website to see how it connects. Ideally you want either of the local options, not the cloud ones. This is for reasons of speed, privacy, and to take away any dependency on a 3rd party cloud. there's been lots of examples of 3rd party clouds just getting shut down, or suddenly starting to charge for the basic functionality you thought you had paid for. For these same reasons (and to avoid overloading your wifi network) I would steer clear of wifi devices because by nature they will want to speak to the internet. I prefer a local only protocol like zigbee, this give me full control of my setup.
Sell your Smart Things hub on e-bay.
Take some of that money and buy this (or something like it that has both Zigbee and Z-wave:
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8/
HA can run all Smart Things devices natively (they're mostly just Zigbee devices anyway) and you don't need the ST hub at all.
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_ZW43T9NBTG67VGT23D8C does both Z protocols.
Ah ok, yeah I bought a z-wave/zigbee combo hub (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8) and then this z-wave door sensor (https://www.amazon.com/Z-Wave-Magnets-Window-Sensor-DWZWAVE2-5-ECO/dp/B01N5HB4U5) Not the cheapest solution but the hub can be used for a lot of other devices if you decide to start adding more.
I've just ordered the Interfree ZFREE Smart Power Point. I'm going to find out if I can connect it directly to my ZHA setup in Home Assistant. I'm using the HUSBZB-1 controller, and have had success connecting Clipsal Wiser devices recently which aren't listed on the Blakadder community list, so I'm hoping this will also work.
Hopefully I'll be back here in a week or so to report how it goes.
You can take a look at HomeAssistant, you can run it in a Raspberry Pi and have as many lights as you want (not only Hue). I think there's an addon called DIYHue to control HomeAssistant devices with the Hue app (although you can just use the official HomeAssistant app if you prefer).
As a bonus, HomeAssistant has a much more powerful automation manager addon called Node-RED and can control many more devices such as door sensors, cameras, access points, curtains, TVs, temperature and humidity sensors and more via Zigbee, ZWave or WiFi.
The best of all is that it's open source and gets continuous updates. It's truly a centralized smart home hub. Currently I'm using HomeAssistant connected to the Hue hub via the Hue integration because I don't have many lights, but in your case I'd definitely switch entirely to HomeAssistant + a Zigbee USB receiver so you wouldn't need the Hue hubs.
No need to pick between Zigbee and Z-wave, though. Get a 2 for 1 with a Go Control or similar:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8
While not Z-wave or Zigbee, picking up an ESP8266 or ESP32 (which is WiFi) will let you program knobs/buttons/switches in Arduino, report them via MQTT, and have HA understand them and act accordingly.
https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Internet-Development-Wireless-Micropython/dp/B081CSJV2V
Not plug and play or a turn-key solution, but you can make anything you can dream of and there are tons of tutorials and resources between this community and instructables.com.
If you're going the Home Assistant route, I'd suggest getting a USB hub. Avoid WiFi whenever possible, they congest your network and usually require a mobile app as well as some additional addon for HA.
I got HUSBZB-1 recently and it's been working great with my Zooz devices, and my SmartThings Motion Sensor. Managing the devices using Z-Wave JS in HA has been super easy too.
For Motion/Lux/Temp/Humidity, Light Switches, and Door/Window sensors I've been using Zooz devices. They've been fantastic so far, and TheSmartestHouse periodically has some great deals on devices (Snagged the new Zooz Window/Door Sensors for $18/each recently).
For Lights I primarily use Philips hue (Great color accuracy AND brightness). And then I have a bunch of MagicHome LED Light Strips that seem to work great with HA. Unfortunately the Magic Home Bulbs appear to have terrible control...
Though I agree with Murtoz about avoiding third party gateways if possible, I will say that the SmartThings hub has been great for me. I'm currently moving my devices from SmartThings to the HUSBZB-1 controller since currently SmartThings control requires internet access. However, I saw a few days ago that they recently announced that they will soon be supporting full local control. I don't know if that will translate to being 100% local for HA though, but hopefully it will.
I wouldn't get a third party gateway if you can help it, as HA typically offers better functionality than the 3rd party hubs.
Simply get a zigbee (or maybe combined zigbee & z-wave) stick for HA and then you have everything running locally without relying on having an internet connection, or some 3rd party cloud that you have no control over (plenty of examples of clouds being shut off, or open API calls being rate limited or turned off, etc). For this same reason you should only accept wifi devices if you really have no other option, and then you should try to get esp32 or esp8266 based ones and run esphome or tasmota on them so you keep local control.
I use the zzh zigbee stick and am very happy with it. Other good options are conbee II, or if your budget is tight, go with the sonoff one. If you also need z-wave, consider the HUSBZB-1 (but be aware z-wave sensors and devices are typically more expensive than their zigbee equivalent.)
As for sensors (motion, temp, humidty, door/window), I like aqara (but you should be aware they don't play well with all zigbee repeaters as aqara isn't quite standards compliant). For lights I like ikea for colour lights (Hue has better colours but sooo expensive), and ledvance (or lidl if they have them in your country) for basic white dimmable lights for corridors etc. Control wise I like the ikea remotes and dimmer switches.
Lastly, have a look at https://zigbee.blakadder.com/ to ensure zigbee device compatibility with your zigbee stack of choice.
I bought a GoControl HUSBZB-1 and love it. Works flawlessly on my HA RPi4. Never had to redo anything. Both Zigbee and Z-wave networks work great.
Home Assistant is your friend. Get a Raspberry Pi, a USB stick for Z-wave/Zigbee, and you can do stuff like this all day long. Check out r/homeassistant for a community similar to this one.
Warning: It's another rabbit hole, just like 3D printing.
Stuff to get:
Raspberry Pi 4
Z-wave/Zigbee USB Dongle: https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8/
Smart Power Outlet: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FJ5LHSN
Z-wave or Zigbee capable smoke alarm: https://www.amazon.com/Z-Wave-Detector-Carbon-Monoxide-Generation/dp/B08FFB233Y
There's a very very popular USB stick in this community for managing z-wave & zigbee devices called the "HUSBZB-1"... they are about $50 on amazon. ( sample link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )
(and, sidenote: that thing works equally well in a raspberry pi or a small form factor pc)
Obviously, the best place to locate that PC is the very center of your house, but that's not usually rational or feasible for most people, so for zigbee networks, we rely on range-extending devices. Most zigbee smart plugs also operate as "router" type devices and will extend the range and stability of your zigbee network. One of the first things you should do is pick up some inexpensive zigbee smart plugs and place them strategically throughout your house and integrate them with home assistant. I believe z-wave networks work the same, but I don't use any z-wave devices. Since they won't zwave and zigbee wont work to extend each other's networks, you basically want to pick one and stick with it - zwave is proprietary and usually more expensive. So you basically install the dongle, get it set up and configured (I remember this taking some effort but I succeeded) then installed the ZHA (zigbee home automation) integration in Home Assistant and started associating devices to my zigbee network.
For Bluetooth, you need something that supports BLE (bluetooth low energy) which most modern bluetooth implementations do. I ended up buying the ASUS USB-BT500 mainly because it supports Bluetooth 5.0 (futureproof) and is known to be compatible with linux and homeassistant, and it was cheap ($20). So I just plopped both those USB things in to gain access to all those things. For bluetooth devices, there really isn't an 'industry standard' for communicating with them, so you'll need specific integrations for specific devices. For example, I have a lot of Govee brand battery powered Bluetooth temperature gauges all over my house and I was thrilled to find that someone wrote an unofficial integration for them, so now I can ingest all that data into Home Assistant and do stuff with it.
Same goes for the wifi stuff. Just because it's wifi and it's listed as a 'smart device' doesn't necessarily mean it adheres to an industry standard and that home assistant can immediately work with it. What wifi devices do work do so through an integration of some kind.
You'll need to check out which integrations are available for all that stuff by checking either the official Home Assistant integrations. If it's not an officially supported integration, there are some community supported integrations through the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS). HACS will likely be the first integration you want to install in Home Assistant as soon as you get it running to unlock the vast catalog of additional community-supported projects and integrations.
I've had great luck with the HUSBZB-1, since it does both zwave and zigbee.
https://www.amazon.cm/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8/
Yeah, that is what I started off with (after using Smartthings originally). If you want to use an RPI, then you will want home assistant (https://www.home-assistant.io/installation/). Bunch of documentation here. Just make sure you have the rpi on a battery backup (UPS) as any power outage could corrupt things.
Below is the usb dongle I have. Adds both zigbee and zwave functionality
As people have said Home Assistant is the way to go. Here is the radio I use for ZigBee and zwave.
This stick
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_H199AACCQ5K89AGHPY9T
And this Integration
Z-wave JS
This is the one I use with zigbee and zwave all on one Dongle. Works flawlessly in homeassistant
This is what I run for both z-wave and zigbee with home assistant: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/
Works great
The current preferred method of integration is with z-wave js: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/zwave_js
Well, as long as you can directly pass the hardware to the VM (which is pretty doable in nearly any virtual environment nowadays), grab yourself a Nortek 2-in-1, and add the Zwave and Zigbee integrators within HA. (Someone will have advice on why this Nortek is a bad idea or a good idea -- and will likely have suggestions, which is good! Don't take my word for it, I just did what was easiest)
If you're just getting started with these kinds of devices, I've combed through a lot of different tutorials and found this one to be the easiest to understand. Read through it and dip your toe in the water by following along. :)
I did this about 2 years ago (but without Cables running anywhere), and have been very happy with my setup for the most part. My setup looks very much like MrakAttack08's comment, so I'll focus mostly on your specific questions.
> Google is in our confort zone, but Amazon seems to be more complete.
We have Google Assistants everywhere, used to control everything. It works great with everything we use, mostly through Home Assistant. I don't think you'll see a significant difference between Amazon and Google when it comes to smart home control.
> if I go with Google and install the assistants, when I say "OK Google", how does it know which device I'm talking to? Will phones and assistants all reply at the same time?
Only the nearest google device will respond. Your phone may wake up when it hears the wake word, but if a nearby home device also hears it, only the home device will respond.
> what's the status on Zigbee?
First off, wired communication is always going to be more reliable than wireless. If you have the option, and truly want to minimize any connection issues, I recommend running cables to each door/window into a central cabinet where you can have a home automation hub read all of those signals.
Assuming you still have at least some need for wireless automation sensors, Zigbee and Z-wave are the two main home automation mesh protocols. If you go the Home Assistant route, which I highly recommend, you can also get a USB receiver like this one to handle both protocols so you can use whatever you find. Most likely you'll need z-wave for secure things like door locks if you choose to automate those. Zigbee tends to be cheaper. WiFi is also an option for many devices, though it tends to be a bit more battery hungry. To increase signal strength, both Zigbee and Z-wave support repeater devices. Many light bulbs use Zigbee, and many light switches use Z-wave (though I believe you can find the other protocol in each). If you have a few repeaters spread out around the house you should get good coverage.
> Camera doorbell & lock: Standard features. Good connectivity super important. Saving to cloud not too expensive.
Wyze makes good, cheap outdoor and indoor cameras with relatively cheap cloud storage options. They also have a doorbell and lock, I have no experience with either of those.
Eufy makes good cameras and doorbells with a solid local storage option and no cloud subscription.
> Smart vacuum
I have a Ozmo T8+ with a self emptying bin, object recognition and avoidance, and a mopping attachment. It's fantastic, and I can and do say things like "Hey Google, tell Deebot to clean the kitchen" and it works flawlessly. We rarely use the mopping attachment rarely, as it does take some planning - fill the water tank, add the rag, take the rag off and empty the water bin when it's done.
One caveat I think worth mentioning: Voice control isn't actually a great way to control most things most of the time. It's a good fallback for edge cases, but it's not a good primary interaction method. Smart light switches are usually better than smart bulbs for several reasons: if you're controlling more than 2-3 lights with one switch, a single smart switch is likely cheaper than the smart bulbs would be, and anyone can use a smart switch without messing up your automations.
Home Assistant has great automations to allow you to do pretty much anything you want with pretty much any trigger. As an example, when everyone leaves the house, all the lights turn off, the doors lock, and the Ozmo T8+ starts cleaning. We have motion sensors in most rooms to turn lights on and off, and automation to adjust lighting based on whether the TV is on or off.
this one works very well so far, with really good range
There sure are.
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
​
Also, check out Home Assistant. Has all the solutions you are looking for.
Everything looks good! But I would challenge your RF stick. Sounds fun to tinker with but unless you have an RF specific use case seems like an unnecessary purchase. Instead look up https://www.hadevices.com/ under the HUBS section to show you which hubs you may want to get for Zigbee. I personally have the HUSBZB which does both zwave and zigbee-works great.
I used to have Vera Plus for Zigbee and Z-Wave. Zigbee on Vera was a nightmare. Since then I have switched to GoControl HUSBZB-1 USB Hub for Zigbee. I have used it with RPI and then Intel NUC. No issues with pairing etc for various devices. The same GoControl stick also does Z-Wave, but I haven't switched over z-wave devices to it. I bought it here
I'm using the Nortek USB z-wave and zigbee combo and it works great, no problems. I also have a raspberry pi 4.
I might have to look again then at my setup.
My Raspberry saw the Zigbee coordinator right away but not the Z-Wave controller.
Using the Nortek that has dual capability:
The GoControl HUSBZB-1 USB Hub is a popular one and works great with HA. I use it as to many others on this sub. It handles both Zigbee and Z-wave at the same time.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/
Keep in mind that z-wave devices cost slightly more than zigbee because they have to be certified. This means that all z-wave devices can work together.
It is possible to have a Zigbee device that won't work with other Zigbee because they don't need an official certification but I have yet to hear about this or run into it myself. It's not something to worry about really.
Wifi devices are always the cheapest. Just if you ever plan to have a lot of devices at some point that you don't skimp on a wifi router. This is another reason I try to stick with Zigbee or Z-wave. Less my router has to deal with.
Have you looked at USB sticks? I have a HUSBZB-1 which can control Z-Wave and Zigbee devices. Love it. $45 on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_x7B8FbKT10PZA
Oh I'm not sure I've only had this one https://www.amzn.com/dp/B01GJ826F8 from amazon. Maybe someone else is aware of some difference that I am not, but I would guess there isn't one since the system sees this stick as 2 separate USB devices.
Yes - you will need a USB z wave/zigbee radio. People use something like this
If your going zwave then use one of these is all you need. Just plug into USB port
I use the Aeon Labs
Also, you'll need a usb z-wave stick for the rpi4 so home assistant can act as your zwave hub.
https://www.home-assistant.io/docs/z-wave/controllers/
These should all work. I use a Nortek branded one and it works fine too
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
Last I checked, and ordered last week, US Amazon still has them, GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_btKmCbDAS1HYD
Amazon has the HUSBZB-1 which does both Z-Wave and Zigbee at about $68 with free shipping
For the Wyze sensors, do I need the USB hub or would something like this work?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/ref=crt_ewc_title_srh_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A33RI86K4PO1EO
I want to plan ahead in case I end up getting some other items later on that use Z Wave
Get one of these and ditch your Hue. I did and couldn't be happier
HA is about automations as seen here: https://www.home-assistant.io/
first you need a laptop. i picked up an old 1 for free. most use a raspberry pi 4.
second, you need a receiver to receive signals from sensors like doors/windows/fire/water leak. most of these sensors are zwave. so you can get a zwave receiver https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8/ bonus this one does zigbee too!
third, start getting sensors for places or stuff you want to monitor. here's a zwave door sensor https://www.amazon.com/Recessed-Invisible-Security-SmartStart-Required/dp/B082PT71MM/
four, set up automations or rules. simple automations such as...turn on my living room lights when i open the front door after sunset. when motion is detected in my back yard and im not home, take a picture from the security camera in the back and send to my phone via Telegram. highly complex rules such as when my door bell rings, turn on the TV, show me the front camera on the TV, wait 30 seconds, turn off the TV. if im not home dont do that, just send me the front cam to my phone.nm
Yes. I got this dongle. It’s a combo of both Protocols. I haven’t used it yet so I don’t know if it’s good or not.
Get a HUSBZB-1, hook it up to HA. Home Assistant basically is a hub, and I've found it to be much nicer when it can deal with everything itself rather than needing to proxy through something else.
Sweet. Happy to hear. Waiting on https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ (tried to kill referral link on mobile)
Heh, I prefer to let people know who they're dealing with before they start throwing technical terms at me that I won't understand. Just to clarify, I was wrong about the humidity part, but the buttons are definitely temp sensors. I use one to monitor the temperature in the little one's room. No issues with connectivity, I'm in an apt myself so it works well for us.
I bought the HUSBZB-1 stick because it does zigbee and zwave and I wanted to be able to dip my fingers into both pies rather than have to buy an additional device down the road.
Not much more to say, I've had no issues so far. They seem pretty accurate for the temperature side of things, and the button automations were really simple to set up. My wife loves that she can just press a button and the light will turn on/off. We use to use Alexa or the phone app, this is much more convenient.
I'll be following the thread in case others have better solutions that I could add to my setup.
Edit for links.
This is the USB hub I bought.
These are the buttons. They were sold by Amazon when I bought them a couple of weeks ago, looks like third party sellers as I type this. A little more expensive at $15
I would say for starters, move this question over to /r/homeautomation ... they will have more knowledge to provide about the specifics you need.
Let me present you with some thoughts.
Your device protocol options would be Zwave, Zigbee, Bluetooth, or Wifi.
You can run Zigbee devices and Node-RED with very little cost.
here is an example:
https://notenoughtech.com/home-automation/zigbee-hub-vs-zigbee2mqtt/
​
Zwave will require a zwave dongle or hub and software combo of some kind, HomeSeer, HomeAssistant, OpenHAB, etc. There is some Node-RED / openzwave implementation out there, but i have not tried it out. https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-openzwave
You can also build simple control devices using Sonoff devices with Node-RED and MQTT.
or theESP8266 / nodemcu with MQTT and Node-RED. The possibilities are limited to scope, budget, and imagination.
I believe this device will support both Zwave and Zigbee:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/
​
Most modern tablets will provide you with the touchscreen interface, as most automation software has a web interface. Apple iPads, Android tablets, and Amazon Fire tablets are all good choices, it just depends on your needs and amount of money you want to spend.
​
hope that helps you get started.
What are the advantages of this over Z-Wave / Zigbee with something like a usb stick and door sensors which have native HA integration?
Hm, just today I purchased on amazon:
GoControl Z-Wave + Zigbee stick: $38.74 Zee2 does not have Zigbee
Aluminium cases + heatsink + Power supply: $17.99 Zee2 has plastic case
Samsung 64G MicroSD: $12.99 Zee2 has only 8G MicroSD
Raspberry Pi3 B+: $37.98 Zees2 B
I am going to install free Home Assistant image on this. So my total is: 107.7 - 5% (amazon prime discount) = $102.32, and I am getting Zigbee, bigger storage, better case, better board with PoE. Not getting homeseer3 though, but will be using home assistant.
I fixed it but it's https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=zwave+stick&qid=1555880364&s=gateway&sr=8-5
Was doing it on mobile the first part got cut off
You can start here https://www.home-assistant.io/getting-started/
Hass.io is the free open source operating system. All you need is a piece of hardware to run it either a Pi3+ or any old spare PC, Mac or Linux...
If you are in home automation then you can purchase a USB piece to communicate with zigbee and z-wave hardwares. I bought this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
​
Then you can buy a Phillip Hue bulb to play with following the link below
https://github.com/vanviegen/hue-thief/
​
Anyway, going back to your current goal, you can either use Harmony or Broadlink but I feel Harmony is easier than Broadlink since it has Bluetooth and thousands of preset devices,...
Follow the link below for idea: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/broadlink-ir-google-home-on-off-switch/82929 I was like you just 10 days ago.
Nah they are "standard" zigbee. This is the combo I'm talking about: https://smile.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-Linear-HUSBZB-1/dp/B01GJ826F8/
For the Lowe's motion and door sensors, get a combo Z-wave/Zigbee adapter like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 You will be able to control both Zigbee and Zwave devices with a single adapter.
I'm in the same boat as you. Wink 2 is my zigbee/zwave radio. Though I am considering getting this guy for $40 and being pure HA
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-Linear-HUSBZB-1/dp/B01GJ826F8
What are your thoughts on that?
Here it is for much less:
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-Linear-HUSBZB-1/dp/B01GJ826F8
Back in stock shortly. Nortek, GoControl, Linear, they are all the same.
Here is the Zwave/Zigbee combo stick. It works well with HA:
Linear HUSBZB-1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ (Another seller has it a few bucks cheaper, but I linked to this one for the reviews.)
I'm pretty new to z-wave
Other than Aeotech z-wave stick, would this one work as well?
zwave and zigbee all in one is what i use
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-Linear-HUSBZB-1/dp/B01GJ826F8
I actually don't connect the 433/IR directly to the Pi, I loaded this software onto a cheap wifi board called a esp8266 (~$5-7). This syncs two way signals to Home Assistant over MQTT. I use it for controlling my A/V gear over IR mostly so I needed to position it in a different room than the Pi (not on my github yet bc I'm still fucking with it, but read their wiki pretty straight forward). Google around tho because people definitly just plug in the 433 stuff directly to the Pi.
https://github.com/1technophile/OpenMQTTGateway
Basically, if you are willing to do this easy DIY stuff and work in Linux on the Pi you can pretty much build projects like this for a couple of bucks for almost everything. You can incorporate ANYTHING into Home Assistant and a Pi. I did my whole apartment almost entirely using very cheap stuff from China + open source firmware. Look around on the HA forums
edit: a list of DIY things I've built ranging from useful to silly, to show some examples. I will write up blog posts for all these eventually. Definitely look at "ESP Easy" if you are interested, or the Milight Hub https://diyfuturism.com/2017/07/23/10-favorite-diy-iot-projects-using-the-esp8266/
I use this stick attached to my raspberry pi
https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-Linear-HUSBZB-1/dp/B01GJ826F8
I think the Z-Stick only does Z-wave and not Zigbee. This is the dongle I use. Linear HUSBZB-1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ocRtzb33GN2G1 It does both Zigbee and Z-wave.
It can, but you'd need something like this. I use one of these for my zwave devices, and I'll eventually put my zigbee bulbs on it as well. For any wifi devices, you should just be able to integrate over the local network. To get an idea of what's supported, check out their components page.
Why not just sell the z-stick and pick up that gocontrol device to plug into your RPI. The one device handles both zwave and zigbee. It's only like $40
Linear HUSBZB-1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_JjJfzbKDYWQBR
https://home-assistant.io/components/zigbee/
Then there isn't really any need for an extra USB stick you get 2 different standards in 1 stick and i don't think you would need a hue hub if you decide to get into hue bulbs.
I'm sure you could sell the zwave stick for almost as much as the other one costs.
Go with the Nortek HUSBZB1 . I haven’t had any compatibility issues and it has the added benefit of working with zigbee and zwave!
GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_GDGR3Q34NQQ3P8DJ2J5Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 You should be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. I got mine for around $30
>as little coding as possible
HA isn't for you. While you can do most things via the GUI, you need to have pretty deep knowledge of Linux processes (cron, folder structures, configs, etc.), Python, MQTT, in order to take full advantage of HA's capabilities.
However, if all you want is to control some lights, maybe a motion sensor here and there, then the GUI tools are probably enough.
>must retain Google home and Alexa integration
You can do whatever you want in HA and it won't affect Google/Amazon integrations. If anything, HA will enhance your experience. For example, set up automations on devices across vendors that don't normally have direct connections with each other, e.g. detect motion on your Samsung device then send a notification to Alexa.
>ability to control devices if my internet goes out
Depends. If the integration supports pure local push/local polls, then yes, you can. Certain other integrations require Cloud connections (e.g. Google Nest, Ecobee, etc.)
>ability to set device state after powered on
You can do this via HA, yes.
>a mobile interface / app that doesn't lag or hang
Yes, HA app is fantastic.
>report the incorrect bulb brightness
Depends on the vendor. For example, I've found that my TP-Link KASA switches regularly reports incorrect states and it takes exactly 30 seconds to poll for the correct states. It's a well-known issue.
>the ability to control zigbee devices so I can be fully rid of the smartthings hub
You'll need to purchase a dongle. https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8
What zwave dongle do you use for homeassistant? I am using GoControl CECOMINOD016164 HUSBZB-1 USB Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ826F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jAaEDbWJM6R3K
Might be controller related. I've not had a single device fail on zwave.
You're best served getting a 3- or 4-bulb starter kit that comes with a bridge.
Because the bulbs are basically Zigbee devices, you could use the bulbs without a bridge using a zigbee usb hub and Home Assistant's emulated bridge, but Google Home doesn't support it without a lot of extra work. You'll also lose the Hue app that makes manual control much easier.
Popular alternatives to GoControl CECOMINOD016164 H...
ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem | Approved for Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Charter Spectrum, & more | Two 1 Gbps Ports | 1 Gbps Max Internet Speeds | 4 OFDM Channels | 2 Year Warranty
