smart home solver Archives - Page 18 of 20

Automate with Phone Charger or Ambient Light – Home Automation Challenge Part 2

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

Ready for a home automation challenge? In this follow-up, I’ll solve challenges submitted by some of you. First, let’s make unplugging my phone a trigger for morning automations. Then we’ll figure out how to have the lights automatically turn on during the daytime, if it’s cloudy outside. Challenge accepted! LINKS (affiliate): SmartThings outlet: https://amzn.to/3ghnc92 SmartThings …

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Wyze Cam Outdoor is Good for $50… but not perfect

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

If you are like me, you have been waiting years for Wyze Cam Outdoor. It’s finally here, and I am taking an early look at how it works. I’ll compare its footage side-by-side with Wyze Cam v2, Eufy 2c, and Arlo Pro 2. I will also talk about its features, battery life, and how long …

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Best Switches and Buttons that Control Smart Lights

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

Turning on and off your smart lights with a switch or button is very convenient. There are a few options for this, so I will test the best ones for controlling your smart lights. I’ll also help you solve the problem of someone cutting power to your smart bulbs if they turn off a light …

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Smart Apartment Setup – 10+ Ideas that are EASY to move

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

If you want the best smart apartment tech, you’re in the right place. I’ll go through an entire smart apartment setup and share automation ideas. This video focuses on what’s easy to move and won’t cause any damage to the walls. You may be surprised at all of the possibilities with this minimalist setup! LINKS …

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Smart Home Automation Challenge – Budget vs Expensive

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

In this video, I will show you a few automations that I set up, both on a low and high budget. Now I can get alerts when my washer is done, and my lights flash when the doorbell rings. If you’re dealing with a smart home problem, I can help. I’m ready to tackle your …

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Should You Buy Eufy or Skip? Testing Eufy Cams in My Smart Home

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

Is Eufy worth buying into? Eufy is becoming a major brand in the smart home space. In this review, I’ll test the Eufy 2K Indoor Cam, Pan Cam, 2C Outdoor Cam, Floodlight Cam, and briefly show the 2K Battery Doorbell. If you’re thinking about building your smart home with Eufy products, this video will help …

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Alexa Blueprints Make Your Smart Home Easy to Use

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

Alexa Blueprints are a great tool for creating custom responses, making your Echo devices smarter. In this video, I’ll skip over the gimmicky options and show you practical uses for Alexa Blueprints in your smart home. I will also talk about custom coding Alexa skills, and what Google Assistant offers. LINKS (affiliate): Echo Dot 3rd …

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Light Strips in 6 Unexpected Places

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

Light strips help take your home to the next level. I’ll show you some unexpected spots for light strips that can brighten your home. I will also show how I used light strip channel systems to really improve my setup. Whether you are just getting started or already have LEDs everywhere, this video will give …

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Sweet Spot of Price + Features: Roborock S6 Pure

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

Where does the Roborock S6 Pure fit in? This video will go over its upgrades, and what it’s missing to keep the price lower. I’ll also compare some of the differences between the Roborock S6 Pure vs S5, S5 Max, and S6. These vacuums are all similar, but their subtle differences are important to know …

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Fixing Home Automations so your Family is NOT Annoyed

Leave a Comment / Article / By Jonathan Russell

As I’ve grown my smart home over the years, a few automations didn’t work for my family in real life. In this video, I’ll improve several automations to make them pass the “wife test.” Several of these ideas could make your smart home run more smoothly, too! To read more about how I set everything …

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