I currently have my house setup with SmartThings but I’m interested in taking a look at Home Assistant and was wondering the best way to get started. Also, if I setup Home Assistant can I use all my devices with both systems and seamlessly move to Home Assistant if I choose?
To get started with Home Assistant should I install it on my Synology NAS or use a Raspberry Pi? I did purchase a Home Assistant SkyConnect.
I have smartthings and home assistant working together. You can add the integration for smartthings and all of your devices should show up in HA. Once you decide to move off of smartthings you would just need to make sure you have the correct radios like zigbee or z-wave on HA then you can move them over to just HA.
If you want to remove smartthings in the furtue you will need to make sure whatever device you use to run it can have the proper radios installed to it. I am not sure if you can do that on a Synology NAS.
I’ve got HA up and running on my Synology NAS but I’m unsure how to “connect” SmartThings.
I’m assuming there is procedure to pull my SmartThings hub information/devices into HA so I could then use it to control various deviced.
I was in the same boat and converted from SmartThings. I would start with the SmartThings integration and go from there.
I ended up getting a Home Assistant Green. I’ve integrated SmartThings and can see all the devices and entities in the SmartThings integration.
I looks like I can control everything as is, but figure I should move all my current devices (plugs, light switches, thermostats, etc.) directly into Home Assistant.
How exactly do I add my existing IOT devices into Home Assistant, do I have to delete them from SmartThings first?
Yes, it’s a bit of a long process depending on how many devices you have, but you have to remove them from ST first and then re-add them into home assistant. Most devices will be super easy, again, just long if you have a lot.
Any Zigbee or Z-wave devices will be very straightforward. Just remove them from ST (check the directions for your specific device if you have trouble removing/exluding) and then add the respective integration in HA and add them there. If you have any issues, just ask and someone will be happy to help. I moved from ST to HA a while ago and go everything moved in a weekend, the only downside if you’ll spend every day after tinkering with devices and automations once you find out what you’ve been missing!