Help a Beginner Set Up His New Home

Hardware
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1

I just moved into a new home and am looking to move into the Home Assistant world after very lightly playing with Google Home and SmartThings. I am reaching out to ask for hardware recommendations for how I should move forward. I am looking to accomplish the following:

  1. Set up a professionally monitored security system
  2. Control some lighting
  3. Control some appliances
  4. Perform light automations
  5. Integrate exterior security systems (possibly including doorbell cam)
  6. Stay away from use of 3rd party apps
  7. Price IS a concern - want to stay middle of the road in cost - think best value
  8. Integrate voice commands with Alexa devices
  9. Control thermostats

Right now, my house has few automation items. It has a Chamberlain garage door on MyQ, a handful of light switches on Hubspace, and some Samsung and Maytag appliances.

My question is, as I move forward, what specifically do you recommend for hardware? I need basically everything except what I mentioned above (and I’m fine replacing the light switches if needed). What do you recommend for:

  1. HA hub (HA Green or something else)?
  2. What dongles do you recommend?
  3. What thermostats?
  4. Security system components?
  5. Light switches
  6. Outdoor cameras
  7. Doorbell camera
  8. Keyless door locks
  9. Sensors
  10. HA display (if i decide to mount one) - have an old iPad I could use for this

Can somebody help a brother out? And if it’s better to keep the security system out of the HA environment altogether, just say so. However, I’d still be open to recommendations.

2

You have not said where you are located. That will matter for recommendations.

For me, it is very important to have a high WAF (Wife Approval Factor) in everything I do with HA.

To get that, I have to have everything work even if HA is down. Meaning that a light switch should turn on/off a light still. Of course, automations won’t work during that time, but she can still flip a switch.

For example, I use smart switches. All closet lights turn on when the door opens and off when it closes through HA. But, if HA is down, she can also hit the switch when she opens the door.

3

I live in Virginia Beach, VA (USA).

I’m ok with the WAF. She doesn’t really care as long as it’s not excessive or intrusive into our lives (i.e. no indoor cameras). And I’m with you on having the light switches and other things like that. I don’t want to be walking through my house depending on having my phone with me to do stuff. I want it to be so that it complements the way we live while also working for my mom when she comes to visit (not technically savvy at all).

4

Now, my requirement is local first (and only if possible).
So, MyQ went into the garbage and was replaced by RATGDO. I have two doors, so two devices.

Smart switches normally require a common wire be available. There might be some that don’t. I think I remember seeing that somewhere. But, I’m a huge fan of Zooz devices. I use the Zen77 which are dimmers. I don’t use the dimmer on any of them. But, can. The latest firmware has a flag to flip so it is just on/off.

I use Zen04 plugin outlets for floor lamps, etc.

I have a Zen20 power strip for the TV stand. Five outlets individually controllable. Two USB that cannot be turned on/off except for the full strip on/off.

ZST39 LR 800 Long Range USB Z-Wave controller.

I use Yale Assure Lock 2 Z-Wave (YRD450-ZW2). I have three and they just work. Setup is a bit odd. Don’t install them first. They need to be close to the Z-Wave coordinator to pair. Then install them into the door.

My cameras are all POE Reolink. I have another server running Blue Iris Software for the NVR and linked into HA. For my doorbell, I have a door-in-a-tunnel kind of thing. So doorbell cams were horrible. Reolink has a cam that can be turned 90 degrees and has a ‘corridor’ mode. I use the motion of the camera for DB notification.

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Door sensors are all Aqara magnets. Zigbee.

Zigbee controller is SMLIGHT SLZB-MR1U POE.

Thermostat is GoControl GC-TBZ48 which I don’t think is made anymore. Not sure if they have replaced it. I love that it is very basic and controllable.

Display …
Some Android tablets
Some RPIs with screens
A mini PC with two different displays and dashboards

That might be a good start :slight_smile:

ETA:
I forgot the HA machine. I have never ran it on an RPI or HA device. I have a server (regular PC used as a server. Don’t spend a bunch on a server) running Proxmox and HA runs in a VM there.