Gavin Campbell from HomeTech.fm joins this week and it’s mostly Home Assistant conversation. We open with a new bar gadget from Dave McCabe that I picked up at Dave’s new site, https://www.warpedboards.com/ Then, Gavin talks about why he moved away from Hubitat and is now using Home Assistant full-time. However, there still might be some good uses for that Hubitat box yet! Thanks for listening!

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg562

Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #562 of Home Gadget Geeks brought to you by the Average Guy Network.

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Popular Tags: Podcast, Home Gadget Geeks, Home automation, Smart home technology, Internet of Things (IoT), Home appliances, Home entertainment systems, Home security, Home energy management, Home renovation and DIY, Home gadget reviews, Home technology trends
 

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Links

Get more awesome creations from Dave McCabe at – https://www.warpedboards.com/

More on Home Assistant at https://www.home-assistant.io/

Show Segments

How Gavin got started with Home Assistant [7:35]
Hubitat and Zigbee? [11:04]
Home Assistant camera integration and notifications [14:50]
What’s the interface like? What are you using? [21:15]
One word to control all the lights [25:17]
What have been some of the positives and negatives about this transition? [30:49]
What’s going on with home automation and how does it play into the future? [35:00]
How many sensors do you need to have in your yard? [38:36]
Is it okay to put one of those smart devices in the bathroom? [43:19]
Recommendations for the Home Assistant app. [47:10]
How do you use Zigbee Z Wave? [51:25]
How to control the Z Wave antenna through Home Assistant. [56:21]
Does it make sense to have the app on other devices as well? [1:00:55]

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More from Chat GPT:
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Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that allows users to control smart devices and automate tasks in their homes. It was started in 2013 by Paulus Schoutsen, a software developer from the Netherlands.

Before Home Assistant, Paulus was frustrated with the limited capabilities of the smart home devices available on the market. He wanted a platform that would allow him to integrate all of his devices and create automations that would make his life easier. He couldn’t find a solution that met his needs, so he decided to create his own.

The first version of Home Assistant was written in Python and ran on a Raspberry Pi. It was designed to be easy to use and extend, allowing users to add their own components and integrations. Over time, the platform has grown in popularity and has become one of the most widely used open-source home automation platforms.

One of the key features of Home Assistant is its vast library of integrations. The platform can integrate with over 1,500 different devices and services, including smart lights, locks, cameras, and thermostats, as well as cloud-based services like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and many more. This wide range of integrations allows users to control all of their devices from a single platform, making it easier to automate tasks and monitor their homes.

Another key feature of Home Assistant is its automation capabilities. Users can create automations using a powerful, yet easy-to-use, rule engine. For example, they can set up automations that turn off the lights when they leave the house, turn on the heating when they arrive home, or trigger a warning when a door is left open for too long. The automations can be triggered by events, like the sun setting or a device being turned on, or by time-based schedules.

In addition to its ease of use and extensive integrations, Home Assistant is also highly customizable. Users can create their own custom components, write scripts, and even build their own dashboards using a web-based user interface. This level of customization makes it possible for users to create a truly personalized smart home experience that meets their specific needs.

Since its inception, Home Assistant has grown into a large and active community of users and developers. The platform has received contributions from thousands of people, making it one of the most well-supported open-source home automation platforms available. The community provides support and resources for users, including documentation, tutorials, and a forum for asking questions.

Home Assistant is a powerful and flexible home automation platform that was created out of a need for a better solution. With its extensive library of integrations, automation capabilities, and customizable features, it has become a popular choice for those looking to create a smart home. With a strong community of users and developers behind it, the platform continues to grow and evolve, providing users with a flexible and easy-to-use solution for controlling their homes.

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