Sunday, October 16, 2016

Next step in whole home automation....

Making progress on the home automation front on the new home! Followed up the RING video door bell with the MyQ Universal smartphone based garage door controller.

MyQ smartphone garage door controller

Got the Chamberlain/Liftmaster MyQ for $99 at Lowe's and installed it in 15 minutes. One of the easiest installations.

Mounted the unit on the ceiling above the garage door controller, plugged in the power and got WiFi connected to the home network in 5 minutes using my iPhone. You have to first download the MyQ app and make bluetooth connection between the phone and MyQ router. And then follow the prompts to connect to home WiFi network. Easier if you have WPS supported router.

Next steps are to program the MyQ base (router) to act like one of your garage door remote controls. Once this is done, you mount the wireless sensor on the door itself that notifies the base whenever the door is left open.

And that's all you have to do and now over the cell network, you can remotely open the garage or make sure it is closed if you forgot to close when leaving for work or heading out of town. I drive back around atleast once or twice a week wondering if i had closed the garage door. Now i don't have to worry about that as i can set alerts to notify me when a door has been left open for a while.

Please leave your comments/feedback if you have one of these installed. Would love to hear about the pros and cons of the MyQ controller.

Next up in my automation journey are the Nest thermostat, Wink or Nubryte lighting controller (still undecided on which one to go with), kwikset or another electronic deadbolt lock! Stay tuned for more....

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

I just don't get it...

As I mentioned in my previous post, I got a new Ecobee thermostat, still sitting in as box, waiting for me to get off my rear and install it....

But as I read more about thermostats. I don't understand one thing, everyone gives you a rebate or recommends you get ONE, but I have two thermostats in the house. I am sure a lot of you have the same setup.... now, what good does one thermostat do for you?
To be honest, I don't know the answer to the question, and if you get two in your house, then it's a s $500 investment. You need to live in your home for years before you break even. Might as well stay with "dumb" thermostats. Well, I didn't have $500 laying around so I just purchased a Ecobee 3 thermostat. If you are reading this, I need your help, send me comments on how you are using your smart thermostat to save energy costs, what are you doing in terms of home/away scheduling etc. I don't have all the answer, would love to hear opinions.... AND how do the two talk to each other....