Home Automation

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Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

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Google Home Mini died, time for a new system? (alien.top)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

8 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've enjoyed my home mini the last few years, with two Chromecasts, a Sensi thermometer and a few smart plugs. Controlling those my voice has been handy.

I've especially enjoyed the ability to find my phone with my Mini.

But now that it's dead, what other systems do the same, possibly better?

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

What type of phone do you have? That makes a difference.

My opinion (as I’ve been running all 3 for over 5 years) is that Amazon Alexa is better at receiving and completing commands, Google Home is better for answering questions and with people in the home who aren’t as tech savvy, and Siri is better for an overall smarthome IF your devices are compatible.

If you had no issues with Google Home and you’re using less than 5 smart home devices I’d say just pick up another mini.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Android phone.

So is 5 smart home devices around the cut off? If I wanted to do more in the future what should I be looking for?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I mean it completely depends on what you want to do. If you’re simply looking to control stuff via your voice regardless of amount of devices, Google Home or Alexa would both be perfectly fine. It’s when you start looking into automating your smart home devices you can get much more in-depth flexibility with other platforms.

I have around 80 devices and use Home Assistant so I can set up complex automations with various conditions.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Gotcha. I'm only running about ten items now, mostly on timers, and the added voice control that still interacts with my timers has been great, but also new to me this decade.

But I'm hearing that I can keep piling it on Google Home for a few more years until Google discontinues it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Not at all. I’ve got over 140.

The issue is more what you want them to do and how to want to interface with them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Gotcha. I had heard that too many on your wifi would be a problem and I should look to a specialized hub or some such.