Reddit reviews Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub 2nd Gen.

The windows have a IR reduction film on them which reduces 97% of the infrared light coming through... so the evening sun setting over the water doesn't bake the room.

They are also double-paned, and the inner pane is an ElectroChromic layer, which can provide rapid visible-light tint at the push of a button - perfect for when its's time for sleep or the sun is just too bright the next morning after a night at the bars.

But why use buttons? An Amazon Echo Dot built into a nook in the wall can communicate with a SmartThings hub in the small hand-carved-wood electronics cabinet (out of frame here) and not only activate the EC windows but also the motorized track on the wooden shutters outside - for those times when you do want total privacy. A simple voice command makes it happen. It even anticipates your needs with daily schedule settings so the soft morning light can wake you up by retracting the shutters and setting the EC glass to transparent each morning at dawn. A Nest thermostat keeps everything balmy or cozy depending on the time of day, or day of the week.

While you're in the bath, of course, the Dot will play your current Audible book from your Kindle collection over the built-in-ceiling speakers using its Bluetooth radio, or switch to that classical Pandora channel you've been cultivating for years when you're tired of the book and just want to rest.

Finally, the two small lights in the alcoves in the rear wall are actually multi-colored and dimmable wifi-connected LEDs, so they can flash various colors when different events happen, such as the local fruit-&-vegetable vendor bringing your semi-weekly order to your gate downstairs or getting a phone call from a particular person in your favorites list.

You live a comfortable life.

Link for the lazy.

Samsung Smart Things Hub - Amazon

There are a lot of options out there for basic home automation. None are particularly cheap, but also not outrageously expensive. As a thought, if I were going to set this up in my place, using what I have in place:


SmartThings Hub

z-wave compatible outlet

z-wave compatible door sensor


Have the outlet turn on every time the door sensor closes and turn off when it opens.

As an alternative, you could use a motion sensor in the room, but some people may find that a bit creepy.

You can definitely get outlets and various sensors cheaper in other places, such as monoprice.

It sounds like we might have similar coffee machines (here's mine). I like to have mine come on an hour before I wake up to give the group head and portafilter time to come up to full temp. The cheap and simple approach would be to plug in one of these and call it a day.

In my case, I'm using a SmartThings hub along with a Z-Wave switch which allows me to schedule the on/off in a little more intelligent manner, while also monitoring power utilization and allowing me to integrate control into additional environments. For example, the Rocket will only turn on if somebody is home at 5am as there's no sense starting coffee for an empty house. I also can control it with the Amazon Echo with "Alexa, turn on the Rocket". Unfortunately I can't say "light the Rocket" yet but I've filed a feature request :D

In this use case SmartThings will work fully local so it should avoid some of the cloud reliability problems people have experienced recently. You could do the same with several other hub or software options available as well as this is a very standard use case.

Good luck, and good coffee!

Here is the link.

Hub on Amazon

I use this for my ceiling fan: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Required-Fixtures-Anywhere-HS200/dp/B01EZV35QU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1500032800&sr=8-3&keywords=smart+switch but you're also going to need a smart things hub (or any other compatible hub) unfortunately google home can't act as the hub for all the smarthome stuff.
Smart things : https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-Hub-2nd-Generation/dp/B010NZV0GE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500032886&sr=8-1&keywords=smart+things

With those two I can just say "Hey google turn on the fan"

EDIT: it appears that switch just uses wifi now and not zwave, eliminating the need for the hub

While the official website does ship to Canada, it's expensive.

• Microsoft Store but out of stock.
  
• Amazon.com (US) ships to Canada: $99 + $8.27 + $13.27 customs.
  
  When I did my (non-ST) build, most of my stuff came from the US. US parcel receivers such as CBI USA and newer services like Cross Border Pickups are the way to go.

The reviews are horrible on Amazon http://smile.amazon.com/product-reviews/B010NZV0GE/ref=acr_dpx_see_all?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

If you can stretch your $50 budget to $83, then you can get one smarthings hub and one GE outlet

I did this a couple weeks ago. Easy to set up; works great.

If you are going to use a SmartThings Hub you could use a Z-Wave bulb like this:

SYLVANIA SMART+ A19 Full Color + Tunable White LED Bulb, 60W Equivalent, Works with Amazon Alexa and SmartThings, 73693 (Formerly LIGHTIFY) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0197840KQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TdSNzbFQ85TS5

But it would require you have the hub, and an Ethernet connection.

Something like this would work without a hub (and avoid wifi issues mentioned above):

LE Dimmable A19 E26 LED Light Bulb 6W RGB 16 Colors Remote Controller Included https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007V1VOI8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NjSNzbZ8ZABDN

Yeah the hue hub will only control hue lights. You can get a SmartThings hub (on sale for $50 right now ) and also control your hue lights through it (either with or without the hue hub).

Samsung smartthings hub is on sale on amazon for a great price, and then you can get a GE zwave dimmer to go with it. Perhaps this is controversial to say in the IFTTT sub but i would add the switch to google home directly from the smartthings hub, which allows you to talk more naturally about your lights and avoids having to hard code a bunch of variations in IFTTT.

Setting up an automation system in your house requires 3 different areas:

1. Controlled "appliances"
   
   
2. A hub
   
   
3. A controller
   
   I am being specifically vague when I say controlled appliances because this group is vast and varried. You can have smart light bulbs, smart light switches, smart wall outlets, smart thermostats, various sensors, security cameras, and the list goes on and on.
   
   All of these appliances will have a communication system such as z-wave or wifi that allows it to connect to the hub and be controlled virtually.
   
   These can be extremely expensive, but most have gotten relatively cheap. For instance, the light switches I have are about $40 each. So, for about $40 per room you can completely automate the lights of your entire house.
   
   The Hub is simply a device that connects to all of the above appliances and allows you to control them virtually. I have a smartthigns hub. I really like it, but there are several other options that you can use. All have their benefits and drawbacks.
   
   As said above, the main job of the hub is to be the connection/control point for all of your appliances. The secondary bit is that each hub has a control OS that you interface with as a controller for your system. This will take two forms. First form is an app you can install on a tablet or smartphone that will allow you to set up routines or directly control every single connected appliance from wherever you are in the world. The second form (not on every hub) is a simple programming interface that gives you powerful customizing options to how you want to control your system. If you can imagine it (and code it) you can do it, pretty much.
   
   The controller group is also where the echo fits in. You don't need an echo, but it is an amazing addition. Typically having a smart system just meant you could control everything on cool customized timers, virtually from everywhere in the world, and from a centralized "remote" in your house instead of having to go to each device. With the echo you can skip the tablet "remote" all together and just speak to your house and it listens.
   
   I highly recommend diving into the world of an automated system. It is only a couple hundred dollars to get started and you can slowly build your system out over time. Check out /r/homeautomation for some more info too.

This is a pretty amazing deal when compared to amazon prices.

SmartThings Hub, $99

SmartThings Motion Sensor, $32

2x Sylvania Dimmable Bulbs, $16 each

Total value is $163. Some things to consider is that the bulbs are dimmable only. They are not color temperature adjustable. The motion sensor is also finicky, from what I've read

For number 3, you could replace the switch with a Z-wave dimmer switch:

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Dimmer-Z-Wave-12724-Amazon/dp/B006LQFHN2

And then get one of several hubs that works with the switch and Echo, like Smartthings for example:

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-Hub-2nd-Generation/dp/B010NZV0GE

That setup might let you use your current bulbs with Alexa without having to swap them all out for Phillips Hue or LIFX. I say "might" because not all dimmable LEDs work well with all dimmer switches. Probably want to buy the switch first without the hub and try it. This setup also has the added benefit over Hue lights of still being able to use the physical switch for dimming without having to add a Hue dimmer: https://www.amazon.com/Philips-458141-Hue-Dimmer-Switch/dp/B0167Z0P3I.

Get a smartthings hub and a door sensor.

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-Smart-Home-Hub/dp/B010NZV0GE

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Wireless-Attaches-Existing-32563/dp/B01KQDIUAW/ref=sr_1_8?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1549684336&sr=1-8&keywords=Zwave+door+sensor

Here is what my garage door report looks like:

https://imgur.com/a/5xMYJ1Q

Hub is also on sale at amazon and bestbuy.

Same with some of the multisensors.

So Just in case, Smartthings Hub is on sale, Usually sells at $100, but goes on sale from time to time for $70, Holiday Season its running $50. Again, Pretty useless until you pair it with Lights, smart locks, etc.,. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-Smart-Home-Hub/dp/B010NZV0GE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1511977843&sr=8-2&keywords=smartthings


IF he gots a Raspberry Pi or Arduino (Sounds like he dabbles in Robotics), you can also get some zwave or Zigbee Shields. Those are cheap.

The hub by itself is still on sale on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010NZV0GE
Unless you need every part of the kit that is cheaper.
Also the GE light switches are only $32 on amazon right now and pretty easy to install if you know how to turn off your breaker. So I would definitely go that route unless you want the floodlights to change colors (for Christmas or Halloween).

Also you can throw in an amazon echo or google home (I like it better already) and you can use your voice to set the thermostats control those outlets and control the floodlights.

Feel free to ask further questions.

I haven't bought anything at best buy in about 10 years so I don't know why they'd phase it out, but I bought my hub at Amazon, where it's in stock:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010NZV0GE

Yes, and it's half off today at Amazon and other places.

This it? Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub 2nd Gen. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NZV0GE/

If you want to go with hue then something like this is your option for controlling from the wall (as well as phone and voice)

Turn on the light switch, cover it so it doesn't get turned back off, and mount this next to it.

Or if you don't want to use hue and just want to control your existing light bulb in the fixture from the wall/phone/voice then this and this would work, or whatever switch hub combo works with google home

If a buy a bunch of GE branded Z-Wave switches, such as this one (I need the small switch style) : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VYCFXT4/

And I buy a Z-Wave hub, like the Samsung here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NZV0GE/

Will I need to have TWO android apps on my phone?

You want a Samsung SmartThings hub. It will let you automate just about any smart home gadget in response to motion, doors, etc and you can tell alexa to control things which are controlled by SmartThings. It opens up just about any automation possibility and greatly expands what alexa can control.

I have tried pretty much every home automation hub on the market and have settled on SmartThings as by far the best one.

Thank you so much for all the information! Is this one the right Smartthings? It seems wayyy less expensive than the other ones you listed.

Just in case you end up having to buy a new one, it's $50 on Amazon. Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NZV0GE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wdRKzbY1DK5X9

You didn't mention a budget, so how about 5 z-wave modules controlled by a hub. You could manually change which lamps are on, or have it automatically switch based on programmed events.

Out of the box solution? Get a smart bulb (plenty of reviews to determine which is best for you), a SmartThings hub, and if your phone doesn't handle location well, a presence sensor. With my phone there's no need for a dedicated presence sensor.

Hopefully someone can weigh in a good bulb option.

SmartThings hub: www.smile.amazon.com/dp/B010NZV0GE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8nxsyb8CV5CWS

Arrival Sensor: https://www.smile.amazon.com/dp/B00GM7V8I8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_vCxsyb4878G7S

Your scenario you want is very basic, so a small amount of research should be enough to get a solution going. My experience is with SmartThings, so I can't speak to other options.

https://www.amazon.ca/SmartThings-F-HUB-US-2-Samsung-Hub/dp/B010NZV0GE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503587687&sr=8-1&keywords=smartthings this is on Amazon.ca

What hub do you have?

One of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NZV0GE/ref=asc_df_B010NZV0GE5072239

I'm mostly sure those things are Ethernet only. But the product description is awful, so it may be wifi capable.

I use this in each of my bathrooms to turn on/off the lights and fans. Comes on instantly when they see motion.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KCYD9PC

You can also buy Wink hub

http://www.amazon.com/Wink-PWHUB-WH17-Connected-Home-Hub/dp/B00PV6GAI4/

or SmartThings hub

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-Hub-2nd-Generation/dp/B010NZV0GE/

along with a motion sensor. You can then set it up to turn on/off when you enter/leave your house and/or enter/leave a room. You can even set it up to slowly turn on the lights in your bedroom at a certain time to help wake up. There might be a delay with Wink or Smarthings of up to 5 seconds.

Edit: Just noticed you mentioned false positives with pets and motion detection. You should be able to set the motion detection levels so that your pets don't activate the motion sensor. I have a motion sensor for my alarm and it's set enough so that it sees me move, but not my dogs. I haven't had the motion sensors for my lights in the bathrooms go off from the dogs, but my dogs don't go into any of the bathrooms much.

What's your tolerance for computer stuff? Do you know what a raspberry pi is? Is DIY attractive to you at all?

​

If no to above...

​

Out of the box solutions I do not have a lot of experience with. I am pretty sure Smart Things would be a good place to start. From what I understand, it can use Zigbee, Zwave and Smart Things devices. Zwave is likely the slightly more popular protocols. If you do not know, Zwave or Zigbee are basically just a couple different types of wireless connections. Sort of like bluetooth in a sense.

​

Then with that main hub, the world is your oyster. Contact sensors, motion, temperature, cameras. Customize as you see fit. All of that can be accessed through an app, I assume. Smartthings is a Samsung product so I would assume they have servers you can use for remote access, which would help with the security issues.

​

Let me know what else you're curious about

​

Also, I used Amazon.ca for ease of finding products. You can likely find similar products cheaper at any given time elsewhere.

​

Ya SmartThings Hub, It will find pretty much any Z-Wave or Zigbee Device. It might know what to do with it but it will show up as a "Thing". then you can write custom code to do whatever you want to do with it. there are a lot of people on Github that publish all sorts of stuff for devices. The smartthings interface actually allows you to publish to github directly from the smartthings interface. it is by far the most flexible DIY hub on the market. you can even use an
Arduino Xbee boards to make any sort of crazy thing you want to make.

Last question I swear .... Which one of these is better. I don't mind the price difference but one seems available everywhere (cheaper one) and the other I can only seem to find from that one place...

One

Two

So these things:

hub

[Outlet] (https://www.amazon.com/Enerwave-ZW15R-Receptacles-Interchangeable-Faceplates/dp/B01L30TJ98/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486664152&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=zwave+outlet&psc=1)

Anything cheaper? This is over $100

It's available... http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-Hub-2nd-Generation/dp/B010NZV0GE

I'd go with the following due to their ease of use & all the expandability doors that will open as a result:

• Ecolink Z-Wave PIR Motion Detector, Pet Immune (PIRZWAVE2-ECO) $28 @ Amazon - I own this & have 2 dogs. Read the directions & mount it at the appropriate height & have never had the dogs trigger.
  
• Samsung SmartThings Hub, 2nd Generation - $99 @ Amazon

SmartThings Hub would be the hub to control/connect your devices. A lot of people on this forum don't like them, but it works for me. There are many other ways to do this, but for my solution all you need is a Zigbee Hub of some sort.

Here's the thread where I was asking the same question. I arrived at the conclusion that I will be purchasing the Home Depot device once I can get my hands on it. See this for what it is and it has information on how to get it through repair parts method. Or this as the normal retail version, but it's constantly out of stock.


If you want to stick with just making the light bulbs smart instead, there's the Phillips Hue option is probably best or you'll want to look at the TP-Link, Lifx or Ikea one mentioned by 0verland3r if you don't want to bear the burden of the cost of a hub just to get started.

There are lots of subreddits you can get in to for this kind of stuff. r/electronics , r/raspberry_pi , r/homeautomation . I recently have started to rig some stuff up. I have an Amazon Echo, a WiFi MagicLight for a bedside light, a WeMo switch for a bedside fan, allowing me for voice operation of both. A lot of home automation switches/lights/sensors run on local signaling systems through ZigBee or Z-Wave standards which require a central hub to manage. Think of it as kind of like a router for your home automated items. I haven't purchased one yet as I am taking everything a step at a time since I don't have the money to just automate my whole house at the drop of a dime, but from my research the Samsung SmartThings hub seems to be one of the more capable hubs on the market currently. From what i've read, it requires a little more tinkering to set some things up (appealing more to the tech-savy), but supports a lot more and is capable of much more than the other hubs on the market. If you are looking for a more easy to setup hub for your home, consider the Wink hub. Finally, if you have a bit more expendable cash at your disposal, the HomeSeer HomeTroller ZS2 hub appears to be a pretty good one along with their software for a home automation interface. Not sure if you were still interested in this stuff, regardless it is pretty neat to be able to voice control your home. As you can see it can be quite an expensive hobby/accomplishment/task whatever you want to call it, I recommend a refurbished Amazon Echo as a starting point and going from there. Cheers!

There are battery powered motion detectors that dont use wifi, but use Zigbee or ZWave (example). They're meant to be used with a hub (example), but it might be possible to make your own device using a zwave/zigbee shield to convert the zigbee/zwave data to wifi.

Personally if I went this route I'd just buy a hub since thats part of what they do anyways. You have less control obviously, but it works out of the box. Sending to your web server may require IFTTT or something in the middle, but it'd work. That may be more than you're looking to spend though

It's also $49 at Amazon and $47.95 on eBay

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-Smart-Home-Hub/dp/B010NZV0GE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511368376&sr=8-1&keywords=smartthings+hub

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-SmartThings-Hub-2nd-Gen-BRAND-NEW-/332450099224?afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

This is going to format like shit because I'm copying it straight from an email I wrote my sister.
The important bits: the hub is Samsung Smartthings, switches are mostly GE zwave switches, voice control provided by Amazon Echo.
Rolling it out across the whole house isn't easy or cheap, but it's worth it when you have someone over and you give the "turn on everything" command and you watch every light pop on, then do it in reverse.
This will get you started :)
>
> Switches: http://www.amazon.com/GE12722-Z-Wave-Wireless-Lighting-Control/dp/B0035YRCR2
>
> Add-on Switches (for 3+ way): http://www.amazon.com/GE-12723-Add-On-Switch/dp/B00RKJS8MQ
>
> Dimmer:  http://www.amazon.com/GE-Z-Wave-Dimmer-In-Wall-12724/dp/B006LQFHN2
>
> Fan: http://www.amazon.com/GE-12730-Z-Wave-Smart-Control/dp/B00PYMGVVQ
>
> SmartThings: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-Hub-2nd-Generation/dp/B010NZV0GE
>
> Door Locks: http://www.amazon.com/Schlage-Connect-Camelot-Touchscreen-Deadbolt/dp/B00AGK9KOG/ref=lp_511306_1_2?s=hardware&ie=UTF8&qid=1461284077&sr=1-2
>
> Thermostat:  http://www.amazon.com/Nest-Learning-Thermostat-Generation-Works/dp/B0131RG6VK/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1461284145&sr=1-2&keywords=thermostat+smart
>
> Echo (for voice control): http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1461284177&sr=1-1&keywords=echo
>

There are other things like motion sensors and garage door controllers that start opening up some really cool "routines."

Already good comments here, but TBF the best remote things are outlets and wall switches. That way if/when you hit a switch to turn something off the 'old' way it will still respond if you want it on.

Also, you need a hub. Smartthings or Wink.
The rest are worthless (Hue hub and all the other hubs). IMO Philips Hue is lame. If you want colored bulbs go get Sylvania lightify (cheaper, less crap in your house since it doesn't need its own hub).

Ideal starter setup would be an echo dot $50, a hub $100, two wall switches ($30ea) (for unswitched outlets) and a couple wall paddle switches ($30ea). That much hardware would set you back about $270, but would add a fair bit of fun and convenience.

not sure what you consider a decent deal, but the Hub is currently 25% off @ Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-F-HUB-US-2-Hub-White/dp/B010NZV0GE

I use reality https://charts.camelcamelcamel.com/us/B010NZV0GE/amazon-new.png?force=1&zero=0&w=725&h=440&desired=false&legend=1&ilt=1&tp=3m&fo=0&lang=en