{"id":20752,"date":"2017-06-02T21:13:39","date_gmt":"2017-06-03T04:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=20752"},"modified":"2017-08-02T15:21:32","modified_gmt":"2017-08-02T22:21:32","slug":"turn-your-home-into-a-smart-home-with-smartthings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/turn-your-home-into-a-smart-home-with-smartthings\/","title":{"rendered":"Turn Your Home into A Smart Home with SmartThings"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"smart<\/p>\n

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You’ve heard about lights automatically turning on on timers or when you enter a room.  You love the idea of pressing one button for your lights to dim and music to come on.  And wouldn’t be cool if your fan or heater automatically turns on for you when the room reaches a certain temperature?  Or get notified when someone is at your door or opens your door?<\/p>\n

What used to be a dream is now happening in homes all across America.  A smart home is much easier to create yourself than ever before – no need for a professional installer, you can do it yourself!<\/p>\n

There are many ways to automate your house.  These are the top 4 protocols (think tech languages) used today:<\/p>\n

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  1.  WiFi<\/strong> – as good as your WiFi signal in the home.  Can control devices outside of your home.<\/li>\n
  2.  Bluetooth<\/strong> – usually a strong signal but items needs to be within 60 -100 feet of your app to control.  Cannot be controlled outside of the home.<\/li>\n
  3.  Z-Wave<\/strong> – excellent protocol, compatible with 1,000’s of devices.  Can be used outside of the home.<\/li>\n
  4.   Zigbee<\/strong> – another excellent protocol.  Compatible with 1,000’s of devices and can be used outside of the home.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Based on the sheer number of products available as well as my own experience, I recommend going with the Z-Wave or Zigbee protocol.  Companies manufacture products that have either Z-Wave or Zigbee in them, but not both.  However, they do make the same product in Z-Wave or Zigbee.  <\/p>\n

    So, for example, I could buy the same Kwikset deadbolt in Z-Wave or in Zigbee.  When I began building my smart home, I used a controller that could only speak to Z-Wave products, so I chose only Z-Wave devices.<\/p>\n

    I’ve used Z-Wave for over 5 years for my lighting and door locks.  It’s a great tool in making my smart home.  We installed all GE Z-Wave light switches<\/a> in every room so we could control the lights.  We also installed Kwikset Z-Wave deadbolts on all of our doors.<\/p>\n

    But to connect these switches and locks to an app, you first need a “hub” or a brain that can control them.  <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    A SmartThings Smart Home<\/span><\/h2>\n

    For the past several months I have been testing SmartThings<\/a>.  What I like about SmartThings is that it unleashes you from the necessity to stay loyal to Z-Wave or Zigbee.<\/strong>  The SmartThings Hub actually can read both Z-Wave and Zigbee.  This is a great news.  Now it doesn’t matter what you buy as long as it has Z-Wave or Zigbee protocol in the product.<\/p>\n

    SmartThings, owned by Samsung, connects a wide range of smart devices and controls them to make life easier for you.  SmartThings, in essence, is the brain of your smart home.  You can connect all sorts of things to SmartThings…<\/p>\n

    Things You Can Hook Up to SmartThings<\/h3>\n