Smart homes are on the rise. For a while, people thought the idea was nothing more than a gimmick (some people still think that way), but recent product launches have shown that smart home automation The battle of the smart home hubs:What's out there and what's next? Battle of the Smart Home Hubs:What's Out There and What's Next? Read More begins to fulfill its promises..
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Any smart hub discussion eventually comes to SmartThings, so we're going to cover this from the start. the SmartThings Hub requires an Ethernet connection to work properly, but can connect to devices using WiFi, Z-Wave, and ZigBee.
What are you doing? Basically, the SmartThings Hub is a central controller that can be configured and programmed to operate multiple devices. How do you control these devices? Through an Android or iOS app that you need to install on your smartphone. There is no web interface available at this time.
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SmartThings offers a variety of products that integrate seamlessly with the hub:Humidity Sensor (alerts when humidity is detected), Motion Sensor (alerts when motion is detected), Open/Close Sensor (alerts when windows or doors are opened or closed or drawers), among others.
But the great thing about SmartThings is that they are constantly expanding support for non-SmartThings products. For example, the hub can control Belkin WeMo switches in 3 ways. The Belkin WeMo can "Smarten" your regular household lamps. 3 Ways Belkin WeMo Can "Smarten" Your Regular Home Lamps. We take the time to look at the possibilities to convert your usual home. Lamps in smart lamps. Read more . If you want an all-in-one hub, SmartThings is probably your best bet.
the Insteon Hub is a great starter product for beginners who are interested in basic home automation without going to the extreme. The hub connects to all kinds of Insteon products, which can be controlled via your smartphone or computer.
Devices can be scheduled to turn on or off based on the time of day. Email and push notifications are available for event triggering, such as when a device needs repair. For deeper functionality, the Insteon hub can be hacked (but we don't recommend it unless you know what you're doing).
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The Insteon Hub has been around for a while. It started out on rocky terrain, so it has a reputation for being shit, but its products have made huge improvements in recent years. They are the best ? Maybe, maybe not. Are they bad ? No way.
Insteon products include thermostats, wall outlets and switches, door locks, energy monitors, motion sensors, leak sensors, wireless cameras and more. It's worth checking out if you want a simple hub with a wide network of available products.
the VeraLite it's an affordable home automation system that won't confuse you with complexity. It is built with Z-Wave compatibility and can interface with hundreds of products, even if they are not Vera branded. One hub can control up to 70 devices at a time.
Once the VeraLite is connected to your home network using the accompanying cable, it will configure itself automatically. VeraLite can actually function as an Internet router, although this functionality will be disabled if VeraLite is connected to a router (instead of a modem).
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At that point, VeraLite will connect to the Z-Wave devices in your home and you can control them through your smartphone. Like Insteon, VeraLite can be configured to send text and email notifications for certain event triggers.
The Vera store sells Z-Wave compatible devices ranging from thermostats to energy meters, lamp modules to dimmer switches, motion sensors and door locks.
A large part of the pushback against smart home automation involves issues of privacy, security, and the proprietary nature of home automation protocols. And if you oppose all that? Is there any option for you? Yes there is!
openHAB is an open source home automation system that is both hardware agnostic and protocol agnostic. It can run on any device that is capable of running a Java Virtual Machine and can interface with all kinds of home automation technologies, always with more support.
Control over smart devices is possible through Android and iOS apps, as well as through a web interface on computers. The downside (or upside, depending on how you look at it) is that openHAB is incredibly heavy on the DIY side of things.
If you like to play, experiment and learn through failure, you'll love this. If you are a big supporter of the open source philosophy, what is open source software? [MakeUseOf Explains] What is open source software? [MakeUseOf Explains] "Open source" is a term that gets thrown around a lot these days. You may know that certain things are open source, like Linux and Android, but do you know what that implies? What's open... Read More If you just want a plug-and-play solution without much thought, the involvement and learning curve may be too steep.
the Lutron Smart Bridge , which is part of Caseta's wireless system, is one of the less popular hub solutions because it is not as mature or flexible as its competitors. It's not that it's bad , but limited support for connected devices is a real hurdle when looking to buy a hub.
But depending on your circumstances, it may still be worth buying. Lutron's strength is in the areas of lighting control, shading, and energy savings, which is why the Smart Bridge only connects to Lutron devices that control lights, shades, and temperature.
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Everything is controlled via smartphone using the Lutron app. The Smart Bridge must be connected to a WiFi router using an Ethernet cable. Setup is incredibly easy.
So really, the price is only justifiable if you really like Lutron's product line. However, they do have some very cool offerings like dimmer switches, timers, fan controls, automatic shades, and various types of sensors. If power and lighting are your primary concerns, Lutron may be the way to go.
Of all the hubs on this list, Staples Connect Hub it's definitely the one that will leave a small dent in your wallet if you don't include openHAB. At this price level, it's not even an investment, cheap enough that there's no risk in trying it.
If you don't want to buy it online, you should be able to find it at your local home improvement chain, like Home Depot or Lowe's. Local electronics chains can also carry it, like Best Buy.
Staples Connect Hub supports devices that use Z-Wave, Clear Connect, ZigBee, and WiFi protocols. This gives you great freedom to choose smart devices that are affordable and not have to be pigeonholed into a particular brand.
All you have to do is connect the Staples Connect Hub to your WiFi router and you'll be given a tutorial on how to set it up.
If you want the freedom to mix and match different devices, go with SmartThings Hub (the most popular option) or Staples Connect Hub (The cheapest option). For those who support open source and don't mind the difficulties of DIY, go with openHAB . If simple and direct is your priority, Insteon Hub you won't be disappointed.
Smart homes are just getting started What is a smart home? What is a smart home? We recently launched a Smart Home category on MakeUseOf, but what is a smart home? Read more . People scoffed at smartphones when they debuted, and now people can't live without them. These centers are just the beginning. Not sure which devices to start with? Try These Smart Home Gift Ideas 7 Gifts For The Smart Home Enthusiast In Your Life 7 Gifts For The Smart Home Enthusiast In Your Life Whether you know a smart home enthusiast, or just think one of your friends or knowledgeable family members would appreciate A little more connectivity in your life, these seven gifts will be appreciated! Read more.
Do you have a smart home hub yet? If so, how has your experience been? If not, what would drive you over the edge and convince you to get one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
