How can i post?

I am new - just joined. Went to create first topic and it keeps telling me new users can only include 2 links in posts - even when I don’t have any links in the post at all…

Confused?!?!

you posted this question?
Can you just ask your question here?

My question was (under Hardware category):

I am a complete noob (so take it easy on me).

I am looking to move onto hass.io platform. It will run on Win7 computer/server which is always on (HTPC) and connected to LAN (wired) with various wifi devices on that network.

My home automation/device setup currently is:

Google Home and google Mini (wifi)
Ring Doorbell (wifi)
Broadblink Mini and Pro (wifi) - for IR and RF, integrated into Google home natively
Xaomi socket switches and powerboards (wifi) - not integrated into goolge home and controlled by Xaomi app
3asmarthome light switches (zigbee) - http://www.3asmarthome.com/zigbee-smart-dimmer-switch (on dimmable, with own bridge) - integrated into Google Home natively

So i assume i need a zigbee USB stick (local device) to talk to the zigbee devices? Are there any specs I need to ensure it has or are all of them fine? I am thinking of the following as an example - will that work?:

Are there country specific standards/specs? I am in Australia.

Will coverage/reception be an issue in terms of location of the hass.io server and the USB zigbee stick? or is it true that because zigbee is mesh-based as long as one zigbee device is within range of the USB stick it will work?

Thanks

Any zigbe dongle should be ok as long as windows driver available.

Zigbe reception should not be issue

I don’t think you have to worry about any standard. Wifi yes but zigbee should be no issue

What does “signed dongle” mean?

Added by keyboard… just “any”

And I just need the sniffer - not the downloader?

If you’re a self-described noob, I’d suggest running Hassio on a Pi rather than trying to get things running on a Win7 PC. Hassio/Pi is a popular deployment and you’ll find the most help for that on the forums.

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Yeah but I don’t have an RPi, no experience with one, and if I already have a win7 machine running and am familiar with windows, doesn’t seem to make sense to get a RPi at this time…?

It doesn’t make sense to try and run HA on Win7. Get a Pi particularly if you want to learn.

Also - better to assign a category to this thread or it’s pretty much going to be invisible in the forums.

It doesn’t make sense to try and run HA on Win7

Why?

as per

You won’t find it at all easy on win7. A RPi is a much better choice.

Hassio has primarily been developed for RPI, there are no instructions on howto install Hassio on WIndows. Check the docs, there is even a warning about installing HA (not Hassio) on Windows;

The Microsoft Windows platform is not a primary target to install Home Assistant. Also, not all tools and third-party modules will work.

ok. so where do i start with Rpi? Like what do i need to buy and how do i set it up with HASS? and do i still get a zigbee USB sniffer for the Rpi or something else?

Yes. Need zigbee dongle

If use raspberry pi get the Pi, a 5vdc power supply, a SD card >2GB and wifi dongle if you can’t plugin Ethernet.

Flash SD card with hassbian or Hass.io and your off

A another option you can install Linux side by side with windows or replace windows on you PC. You can then run HA.

Don’t want to discourage either.
You can install on windows as well but support may not be there. If your up to task, HA is built on python image so I would guess running standard docker run command with regular image will work

Docker run -p 8123:8123 -v /folder_on_pc/config:config homeassistant/home-assistant:0.68.1

or create a linux VM inside windows? would it have access to the networking and usb interfaces of the windows machine?

i am seeing lots of variances like Banana pi, orange pi…what are these? does any one work?

To be a little more specific…

5vDC Power Supply that delivers at least 2.5amp - 3 or more pref
SD-Card - high quality like Samsung EVO Plus 32gb. DON’T skimp on this or you will be forever buying SD-Cards and complaining.

Also note the RPi 3B has wireless built in. Further note the new Pi3B+ is NOT compatible (or at least not without some other skills) with Hassio. So if you want to run Hassio, get a Pi3B. I don’t recommend using a lesser Pi than that.

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i can run it wired - so assume a raspberry pi3 is fine?