Abundance of cash and free time? Home automation?

[Cruiser]

I have neither an abundance of cash nor free time but I'm sort of interested in all this wi-fi enabled home automation stuff. Any of you ignorant fuckers been dabbling in it? You like the results? Does it make your life easier? Any systems you particularly like of dislike?

FWIW, I recently installed a garage door opener that is wi-fi enabled and I like being able to check the open status as well as control it from my smartphone and that's what got me thinking about installing some more of this stuff. A wi-fi irrigation controller would be sweet. Maybe some wi-fi lighting. Dunno what else...

Skool me.

[irul&ublo]

digitaldeath loves his wi-fi controlled butt plug.


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[doughboyshredder]

If you're using the lift master app which I assume you are the easiest thing to do is get the outlet that's controlled through the app you can unplug anything you want into that outlet and control it the same way that you control your garage door that's the cheapest easiest kind of cool things you can do your irrigation on that for sure.

[DJSapp]

From what I've heard and seen, it's more of a one time party trick. The current tech means you'll spend more time configuring it and rebooting it, and troubleshooting it, than it would take to get off your rear and use a switch.

The thermostat automation is probably the most mature of them all, and the most practical. Lights, windowshades and garages though are a mess. Haven't seen a wifi irrigation controller yet, but I'm sure there is one out there.

[liv2ski]

How about resettable door locks for letting guests in?? That would be pretty cool. / threadjack

[adrenalated]

You should definitely simplify your life by buying more shit.

[Flyoverland Captive]

I had an X10 control unit ( basically a clock with four wifi channels) and used it to control lights, using x10 switches. It worked great for turning on porch lights, entry light, etc. it was nice to come home to a lit house; easy to change timing too. You can find X10 shit all over eBay cheap.

[iceman]

How about resettable door locks for letting guests in?? That would be pretty cool. / threadjack

There's a bunch, I was at a house with a Schlage keypad system that was Nest-enabled. It worked well. Most of these products are made by tech companies but Schlage is a lock company, I guess there's probably advantages to each.

[Timberridge]

I'd be scared that some signals would get crossed while I'm watching porn and the garage door and lights would be going up/down and on/off in rhythm.

[hutash]

I can use my smart phone to control my TV, but it is such a pain in the ass I just use the remote. I expect the rest of the "time saving" devices to be an equal waste of time.

[jgb@etree]

I had an X10 control unit ( basically a clock with four wifi channels) and used it to control lights, using x10 switches. It worked great for turning on porch lights, entry light, etc. it was nice to come home to a lit house; easy to change timing too. You can find X10 shit all over eBay cheap.

I've been using X10 for years, but it's definitely got it's limitations. I picked up an Insteon Hub and a bunch of accessories back in November but still haven't gotten around to setting it up. Supposedly it will also support all of my old X10 stuff, so we'll have to see. I might get around to setting it up one of these days.

http://www.insteon.com/insteon-hub/

[dtown]

Seems like some of the stuff would be a nice to have, others would serve a purpose. I would see the thermostat and irrigation pieces being good from an energy efficiency standpoint.

[concretejungle]

it was nice to come home to a lit house

You can just borrow my MIL. She turns every fucking light in the house on while she stays here.

[shroom]

this shit sounds terrible. I can't believe how much tech is going into houses/cars /whatever these days. that shit will break, all software breaks.

[Skidog]

Amazon echo. Alexa is pretty fucking smart. Pretty low price point entry.

[jon gaper]

If you keep buying all this unnecessary shit you will die before you retire

[MMP]

I use Total Connect for our security system but chose cameras and a recorder rather than streaming IP cams through the app. I also use My Q for the garage door. We have kids with cars so to be able to see who's home, confirm the alarm is on, and the door is closed is key. Need a Nest.

[liv2ski]

I googled "Nest" and got some thermostat related stuff, but not a through explanation. What is this nest you guys speak of? Reason I ask as is I have a nightly/weekly rental that I would like to be able to remotely reset the key pad password to and tell the property manager to beat it. I figured I am looking for something wifi enabled so I can communicate to the key pad. Any such stuff yet?

[iceman]

I googled "Nest" and got some thermostat related stuff, but not a through explanation. What is this nest you guys speak of? Reason I ask as is I have a nightly/weekly rental that I would like to be able to remotely reset the key pad password to and tell the property manager to beat it. I figured I am looking for something wifi enabled so I can communicate to the key pad. Any such stuff yet?

I tried to tell you that yes it exists with my post above, here is another link: http://www.gokeyless.com/keyless-entry-rental-locks.php

The ability to give and revoke access is cool. You can grant access to a renter and have their access expire whern they leave. But you can give the cleaners or property managers a different code(s) that won't expire until you want them to. And you can see who went if you are waiting for example for a plumber to go there you can give him a temp code that will expire and also see if he actually went in the place and when. It's good stuff.

[liv2ski]

^^^^Thanks for the link Iceman. That is exactly the link I have been searching for.

[Alaskan Rover]

Just get HAL.

[BmillsSkier]

Just get HAL.

HAL?

I prefer a WOPR.

[Alaskan Rover]

HAL?

I prefer a WOPR.

WOPR is obviously too easy to hack into..

But how about the TIA (Total Information Awareness) system that Dick(head) Cheney was trying to initiate... possibly with the help of Deep Blue.