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Are you looking for budget friendly options to equip your smart home? In today’s article I will be reviewing three low cost Zigbee Sensors which work with SmartThings. The ThirdReality smart devices are easy on the wallet and easy to set-up. They are also compatible with Zigbee equipped Echo devices. Welcome to Bud's Smart Home where we provide tutorials and reviews for devices which work with SmartThings and Amazon Echo apps. Join me and discover how easy it is to achieve the comfort, convenience and security from a well designed smart home. As we begin our review of the economical line of ThirdReality smart devices let me mention that the three sensors which I am reviewing today, the Motion, Leak and Door contact sensor, are all powered by two AAA batteries rather than the typical coin type batteries. Each device is shipped packaged with batteries, instructions and mounting screws. These sensors are extremely easy to setup with SmartThings and with other Zigbee capable hubs. To setup the sensor in the SmartThings app, just insert the batteries; Open your app and tap the plus sign to add a device; and then tap scan nearby. It's that easy! To install them on your Zigbee capable Echo devices it is just a matter of asking Alexa to discover the device. If Google or Echo devices are already connected to your SmartThings app, then the ThirdReality devices will be automatically added to your Miss A App once they are paired with your SmartThings App. Let's begin today’s review with the ThirdReality Motion Sensor. This sensor is advertises as pet friendly. This is accomplished due to the higher detection angle and a shorter detection distance. The sensor is capable of detecting motion up to 30 feet away. The two AAA batteries can last for 2 years in typical usage. The sensor has a larger profile as compared to the most other motion sensors; however you can purchase this motion sensor for fewer than 20 dollars. Next, let me present the ThirdReality Zigbee Door Contact Sensor. Using the 2 AAA batteries as a power source, this door sensor provides convenient protection for up to 2 years. Because AAA batteries are larger than nickel cell batteries, this sensor has a greater presence than most other contact sensors. Even so, the sensor is priced reasonably at less than 20 dollars per unit. The ThirdReality Zigbee Leak Sensor not only provides water leak alerts via the SmartThings Home Monitor (STHM), the sensor also features a built in alarm which sounds at an ear piercing 120 decibels. The built in alarm ensures that you will get leak notifications even if your internet is down. As with the door sensor, the leak sensor is powered by two AAA batteries. The upside of this is that you get worry free protection for up to three years. As with the Third Reality door and motion sensors, the leak sensor is also larger in presence then most other leak sensors. However this smart device can also be purchased for less than 20 dollars. If you’d like to view and purchase any of these economical ThirdReality smart devices or you want to find other SmartThings compatible devices, just check out the links listed below. 🛒- Third Reality Zigbee Motion Sensor 🛒- Third Reality Zigbee Contact Sensor 🛒- Third Reality Zigbee Leak Sensor

Recently I reviewed a fantastic roller blind made by Zemismart. Today I’ll be reviewing blind selections which are offered by SmartWings. SmartWings blinds and shades are powered by a Zigbee motor. These blinds have a distinct advantage over other smart blinds. Read on to learn more... Today I’m reviewing the SmartWings line of window treatments. These motorized window blinds and shades are custom made to your specifications. By following the SmartWings measurement guide, you can easily determine the proper width and length for either an inside or outside window application. SmartWings offers fashionable shades which provide a reduction of noise as well as a measure of thermal insulation. These shades are suitable for the living room, bedroom, study or a business or home office. Blind Types: The blinds are offered in various light filtering levels to include 50, 70 and 100% light filtering. The 100% blackout blinds are ideal for daytime sleepers and they also work great in media room applications. The blinds are equipped with a lithium battery, which provides a cordless design that is safer for children and pets. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery will supply power to the blind for 4-6 months of daily operation. The motor is quiet, operating at less than 35 decibels. SmartWings blinds also work with other Zigbee capable devices including the Echo Plus 2nd Generation, Echo Show 2nd Generation, Echo Studio, the Echo Show 10 and the Echo 4th Generation devices. SmartWings also offers a HomeKit Smart Motor which is compatible with Apple TV, HomePod, iPad and iPhone. They even have a blind motor that can be controlled solely by the provided remote. SmartWings offers a wide selection of window treatments. You can choose from Woven Wood Shades, Zebra Shades and Roller Shades. Each shade and blind is offered in a variety of colors and textures. SmartWings sent me is the 100% Blackout Safari Roller blind. The Fabric color is Midnight. The blind is coated with a rubberized backing that blocks 100% of the exterior light. The blind is powered with a SmartThings compatible Zigbee Smart Motor. It was nicely packaged and was shipped with installation and instruction manuals, a wireless remote, mounting brackets and fasteners. Fabric Types: SmartWings also sent me two sets of fabric samples. One set contains the rubberized blackout blind samples and the second set included a wide selection of light filtering shades. You may order these sample sets via my Amazon Store. These samples will help you match available shade textures and colors with your home decor. There is large variety of textures and colors, as you can see. SmartWings provides clear installation instructions which made it easy for me to mount my blind. The blind mounting brackets are equipped with channel clips that fasten in to a track on the rear of the roller shade housing. Once you mount the brackets on the wall, the blind is easily snapped in place. Waking the Motor: Once the shade is mounted, you must then wake the motor to exit sleep mode. To wake the motor, hold the programming button on the motor head until the motor jogs once. Using the provided remote, you can now test the pre-programmed upper and lower limits. If adjustments are required, just follow the provided instructions for adjusting the shades limits. SmartWings gets high marks for product installation and programming guides. The blinds are provided with four pamphlets to include a “Quick Start Guide”, a “Hardware Installation Guide”, a “Remote Programming Guide” and an Amazon Alexa Programming Guide”. The remote programming guide is fairly extensive providing detailed instructions for Adjusting Limits, Remote and Motor Pairing, Mirroring Remotes, Group Control of multiple shades, Adjusting Motor Speed, and more. Edge Driver Information: Before pairing your roller shades be sure to follow the instructions for adding the Zigbee Edge Driver which are contained in my blog post titled "How to Install SmartWings Zigbee Smart Roller Shades with SmartThings Edge Driver" Pairing the Motor with the SmartThings App: Although instructions specific to SmartThings are somewhat sparse, pairing the shade to the ST App was fairly straightforward once I discovered the proper paring selection within the SmartThings device list. To begin paring on the roller blind, just press the motor head programming button for 6 seconds until the motor jogs twice, then release the button. The red light indicates that you have entered paring mode. The motor led light will flash green 3 times to verify that paring with SmartThings is complete. So, do I recommend this blind? Absolutely! It is attractive, reliable and operates quietly during opening or closing. It can be controlled by a ST Routine, with Echo voice commands or with the provided remote control. You might be curious about how the blind compares to the Zemismart blind which I reviewed previously. The blinds are very similar. They are attractive, well constructed and very quiet in operation. However, if you are looking for an out-of-the-box, plug-and-play solution, then the SmartWings blinds are the better choice. The Zemismart blinds require knowledge for installing a custom device handler. This makes Zemismart blinds unsuitable for a novice smart home enthusiast. SmartWings are SmartThings friendly and they offer a wide variety of blinds and shades that are sure to complement your home. If you are looking to add smart blinds to your smart home, then these blinds are definitely worth considering. To view and purchase these attractive blinds, checkout my Bud’s Smart Home website or Amazon Store. To find my sites, just follow the links that are included with this video. Hey, thanks for joining me today. Until next time, keep automating and God Bless! SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades,100% Blackout with Zigbee Motor https://www.amazon.com/vdp/016cf81652124f889020db2ba5dfbb1e

Today I’m presenting the second generation Ring Alarm Motion Detector. This motion sensor's design allows you to easily mount it on flat surfaces or in the corner of a room. It is powered by two AA batteries. It is reported to be capable of ignoring pets, if the device is set to lowest sensitivity settings and is mounted at least 7 ½ feet. Unfortunately, the sensitivity settings are not an accessible option when the device is installed in the SmartThings App. However, the SmartThings App does provide the ability to monitor Motion, Taper Alerts and Battery status. The device has an impressive line of sight of up to 250-foot. You can also adjust the device’s Re-trigger Interval in the device settings. This sensor is designed for indoor use at operational temperatures between 32° and120°F. It is equipped with Z-Wave S2 connectivity which provides enhanced security to all of the nodes to which it is connected, thus making it a powerful protection system for all connected Z-Wave smart devices. Ring advertises their device as compact. I would disagree with this characterization. Placing it side-by-side with the SmartThings Motion Sensor you can see that it is a bit more substantial. However, it is attractive in appearance and if your goal is to make intruders aware that they are being monitored, this will definitely do the job. Watch the following video to see how simple it is to get the Ring Alarm Motion Detector setup in SmartThings. How about Ring’s price point? As of the making this video the Ring motion detector is $10 dollars less than the original SmartThings motion detector, which is now made by Aeotec. Here are additional SmartThings compatible Motion Sensors and Window/Door Sensors that may be of interest. Well that is a rap for today’s episode. Until next time, keep automating and God Bless! NEXT ARTICLE - EDGE DRIVER LINKS AND INSTRUCTIONS!!

Before describing how to set-up the Sengled sensor, let’s briefly review the features of this device. I’ll share with you the features which I like, as well as those which I desire to see improved. As stated previously, the Sengled door sensors are directly compatible with SmartThings. They connect out of the box without the need for a custom device handler. The sensors use the Zigbee protocol. Devices using the Zigbee protocol are very easy to install. The protocol supports a large number of nodes and it is also power efficient, which results in longer battery life. The sensor receives its power from a single CR1632 battery, and the sensor is rated for 12 to 24 months of operation, depending on the level of activity in your home. The sensors are unobtrusive, being smaller then most other contact sensors. They measure .89 inches wide by 1.93 inches high. The sensors are also economical. I purchased the two pack option at a cost of about $15 per sensor. There are a couple of improvements I would recommend. I found it difficult to access and remove the battery as compared to most other contact sensors. The sensor case is impossible to open with out the use of a pry tool. As a matter of fact, the device pamphlet recommends the use of a dime or a flat head screwdriver to open the sensor case. Additionally, the metal slot in which the battery is inserted holds the battery very snugly. You definitely need a small screw driver to push the battery out of the holder. Putting the difficulty of battery changes aside, I find this device to be a fantastic sensor for my SmartThings ecosystem. In the following video I demonstrate the simple steps to pair this sensor with the SmartThings hub. If you’d like to view and purchase Sengled products or other SmartThings compatible devices, just check out the following links. These and other smart devices can also be access via this website and my Amazon Store. Until next time, keep automating and God Bless! 🟡 Smart Devices Featured: Sengled ZigBee Door & Window Sensor 🟠 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

If you read my prior article, you learned how easy it is to pair Sengled Door Sensor to the SmartThings Hub. In today’s article I am reviewing the Sengled Smart Plug. This plug works out of the box with SmartThings, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Let’s get started. Hello! My name is Bud. Welcome to Bud’s Home Automation where I publish smart home content related to the SmartThings & Alexa Apps. When presenting home automation instruction, it’s my desire to show viewers how easy it is to achieve the comfort, security and convenience which results from a properly automated smart home. I use the SmartThings/Aeotec hub with compatible smart devices in my smart home setup. I also use several Amazon Echo voice assistants. SmartThings/Aeotec hub will allow you to begin your journey to a powerful, secure and convenient smart home. As I begin my review of the Sengled smart Plug, let me make clear that I have not received any financial incentives from Sengled to review or promote their products. The Sengled device that I am reviewing today was purchased by me. Before showing how to set-up the Sengled Smart Plug, let’s briefly review the features of this device. I’ll share with you the features which I like, as well as those which I desire to see improved. The Sengled Smart Plug connects directly out of the box with SmartThings without the need for a custom device handler. The sensor uses the Zigbee protocol. Devices using the Zigbee protocol are very easy to install. The protocol supports a large number of nodes and it also power efficient. The one concern about this plug is its physical size. This device is fairly large. Because it is rather large, you limited to using one Sengled Smart Plug in a standard two plug outlet. Before I give my final thoughts on the Sengled Smart Plug, let me demonstrate how easy it is to add this plug as new device in the SmartThings App. So here are my final thoughts about the Sengled Smart Plug. When I compare the Sengled Plug to other ZigBee Plugs previously reviewed, I initially did not place the Sengled Plug at the top of the list. If you would like, watch my YouTube video titled, SmartThings Compatible Zigbee Plug Review for a more in depth review of smart plugs. In that video I give the Sonoff S31 Lite Smart Plug top honors. The Sonoff plug has an innovative design. The plug is narrow in height, so you can stack two Sonoff smart plugs in one standard wall outlet. Also the Sonoff plug has a really great price point. However, while researching Amazon reviews for the Sengled Smart Plug, I found that Sengled also makes a Zigbee smart plug that is similar in design to the Sonoff S31 Smart Plug. So not only can you place two Sengled smart plugs in a standard two plug outlet, this alternate version of the Sengled Smart plug is competitive in price when compared to the Sonoff plug. This smaller Sengled plug also has energy monitoring capability as well. Both Sengled plugs discussed today have very good product reviews. They are also verified to work flawlessly with the SmartThings App. Permit me one final note on the Sengled “power usage” feature. Contributors on the SmartThings Community forum have stated that the Sengled plug’s energy reporting doesn’t appear to be fully accurate. It is suggested that energy monitoring may be a rough calculation based on the length of time that the plug is in service. So that is a rap on the Sengled Smart Plug. I trust you found today’s article helpful. If you’d like to view or purchase these or other SmartThings compatible devices, just check out the following links: 🟡 Smart Devices Featured in this Article: 🛒- Sengled ZigBee Smart Plug (Lg) 🛒- Sengled ZigBee Smart Plug (Sm) 🛒- Sonoff ZigBee Smart Plug Find Many More SmartThings Compatible Devices on my Amazon Store Until next time, keep automating and God Bless!

Is it time to add motorized roller blinds to your SmartThings set-up? If so, are Zemismart blinds worth the investment? Are they compatible with SmartThings? I’ll be tackling these questions and more in today’s episode. Hi. I’m Bud. Welcome to Bud’s Home Automation. I am a YouTube Creator who enjoys researching and installing smart home devices for the SmartThings and Alexa Apps. I also create automation solutions with a focus on products which are compatible with SmartThings and Alexa. Today I’m reviewing the Zemismart Blackout Roller Shade. This is a Smart Window Blind that comes equipped with a rechargeable Zigbee Motor. Zemismart reached out to me to do this review and was kind enough to send me this unit. They also agreed to supply me with an optional solar panel. The blind is made of polyester fabric. It is a full blackout blind. It is offered in white, beige, grey and dark grey. The sample shade I received is dark grey. The shades are offered in widths between 60 and 150 centimeters, which translates to 24 to 59 inches. The length is standard at 178 cm, or 70 inches. Content Received from Zemismart Let’s look at the items I received from Zemismart… Zemismart states that its smart blinds work with Google Home, Amazon Echo, Broadlink and other Zigbee capable hubs. The blind is equipped with wireless operated tubular motor that is powered by a rechargeable, built-in lithium ion battery. The battery is rated for over 500 up/down cycles on a single charge. Charging the Blind Motor: Before you begin installing your blind you must change the blind motor. The blind motor will receive a full charge in approximately 4 hours. My blind was delivered with a 10 foot charging cord which has standard USB on one end and a micro USB on the other. Zemismart did not provide a power brick, so I used my camera’s USB power brick to charge my blind’s battery. Installing the Blind Mounting Clips: While the blind was charging, I anchored the provided blind mounts to my wall. I mounted my blind directly behind my existing curtain rod. I had intended to secure both of the rail mounting clips to my wall studs. However, due to the need to evenly space the clips, I was only able to secure the left clip to a stud. I used the provided drywall anchor to secure the right clip. There is ample clearance between the rod and the blind, when the blind is fully opened in the top position. The roller blind is fully concealed from view when the curtain is placed mounted on the curtain rod. Installing the Custom DTH With the mounting clips in place, let’s now login to the SmartThings Account where I’ll show you how to install the Custom Device Type Handler for the Zemismart Zigbee Blind… (See video for details on how to install the Custom DTH) Add the Blind to the SmartThings App With the device handler installed, you can now add the blind to your ST App. First you must place the blind in pairing mode. To place the blind in paring mode you must tap the programming button rapidly four times and then hold the button down on the fifth tap. You’ll note that a red light flashes each time you tap the programming button. While holding the button down on the fifth tap, you’ll see a green light appear and begin to flash. Also, you will see the blind motor jog forward and back to confirm that the paring has started. You can release the programming button at this point and then tap the option to Scan for nearby devices within your SmartThings App. Shortly after you begin scanning, the green paring light will stop flashing and the blind will jog a second time as confirmation that the blind was paired successfully. Now this is where I got stumped during the initial set-up. Although the blind motor was supposedly paired, my ST app stated that there were no devices found. So I signed into my ST Account to see if the blind was present under the Devices tab. I did not see my Zigbee Blind in the list, but I did find and a new device called Thing under the My Devices tab. Assigning the DTH in the My Devices list Once you have paired your blind, you need to log back into your SmartThings IDE at account.smartthings.com. Click on the My Devices tab. Find the new device called Thing in the device list. Click on the device called Thing, and click Edit. Change the Name of the device from Thing to Blind. Add the word Blind the field provided for the Label name. Leave the Zigbee ID and Device Network ID as is. Change the Device Type Handler to the Zemismart Zigbee Blind, which is the name of the Custom Device Handler we added. Assign the appropriate Hub and Group. I assigned my Blind to my Kitchen Group. Once these device changes are saved in the ST IDE, you should get a confirmation message on your from your Amazon connected voice assistant that the Blind has been added. You may now go back into your SmartThings App to finish the blind setup. Entering the Blind Settings in ST App Before attempting to operate your blind with the ST App, you must first populate the settings section. Start with the settings that I give you, then if you discover the blind is working in reverse, meaning that the blind opens when you tap the close button, then you simply need to reverse the settings. To access the blind settings, open you SmartThings App and Tap on the Blind device. Tap on the ellipsis in the upper right hand corner. Tap on Settings and enter the following values. Please note that the blind motor will jog after you save each setting value to confirm the setting change: Set Preset position to 50. Please note that you must delete the set value and enter it again to enable the save button. Set Direction Set to Forward Set Replace Open and Close commands to Replace Set App opening, closing Change to Forward. This changes the direction of the blind in the ST App. Set RC opening, closing Change to Reverse. This changes the direction of the blind on the Remote Control. Test you blind’s operation using the App and echo commands. Make necessary changes in your ST App settings. Setting Blind Limits: With the blind setup in your SmartThings and Alexa Apps, you may now set your blind’s upper and lower limits. Your blind can be programmed for up to six blind positions. All positions can be fine-tuned or deleted separately. There is a program button on the back of the remote. To program the first limit, press the Down button on the front of the remote to move the roller motor to the lower limit position. Then press the programming button on the back of the remote for one second. The blind motor will jog once. Fine tune the lower limit position by tapping the up or down buttons. When you have the blind at the desired limit position, press the programming button on the back of the remote to save that limit position. The motor will jog once to confirm that the limit position is set. Press the up button to position the roller motor in the top limit position and repeat the programming process for the upper limit. While using the remote, if you find that the blind is operating in reverse, meaning it closes when you tap the Up button, you can correct the direction by holding the center stop button on the face of the remote for five seconds. The blind will jog. Then tap the down button. The blind will jog a second time to confirm the direction change. Optional Solar Panel As mentioned previously, the Zemismart folks were gracious enough to send me a solar panel. The document supplied with the solar panel stated that the panel will fully charge the roller motor following two days of full sunlight. However, when attempting to attach the panel’s power cord to the blind motor I realized that there was no way to connect it. The panel’s power cord is equipped with a Micro DC Power Adapter; however the roller motor has a Micro USB port. So I needed an adaptor to supply solar power to the motor. I purchased a Micro DC to Micro USB adapter on Amazon. This adapter enabled me to connect the solar panel power supply cable to the blind motor. Since our kitchen window faces to the west, my wife requested to have the blinds set to close 30 minutes before sunset and then open again at sunrise. I made two separate automations to accomplish these actions, one for Sunrise and a second for Sunset. If there is interest expressed by an ample number of Subscribers I will do a brief video on how to set-up these automations. Final Thoughts and Recommendations Do I like this blind? Absolutely! I love this blind. My wife is extremely happy with the blind as well. It is attractive, reliable and very quiet while opening or closing. It can be controlled by the ST App; With my Echo devices; Or with the provided remote control. Do I recommend this product? Absolutely! Is this product for all smart home enthusiasts? It depends. If you are an experienced smart home owner with some extra cash then this is a must have in my book. However, it you are a smart home beginner who is looking for an out-of-the-box plug and play solution then this product is probably not for you. This solution requires some knowledge for installing custom device handlers and may not be suitable to the faint in heart. I also do not recommend this product for the cost conscious buyer. The cost of these blinds is still somewhat prohibitive for the average smart home owner, particularly if you are planning to equip more than a couple of windows. You can save some cash by purchasing Zemismart roller blind motors and installing them into your existing roller blinds. If you intend to purchase blinds for this particular motor size, you’ll need to purchase 38 mm hollow aluminum roller blinds. Such roller blind will accommodate motor size found in the Zemismart model AM25-ZB-FB. So that is a rap on the Zemismart Zigbee Roller blind. I trust you found today’s episode helpful. If you’d like to view or purchase these attractive blinds, just check out the links that accompany this video. 🟡 Smart devices featured in this article: 🛒- Zemismart Blackout Roller Shade (Amazon) 🛒- Zemismart Blind Product Link 🛒- Zemismart Roller Blind Motor 🛒- Zemismart Roller Blind Motor w/ Solar Panel

In today’s episode I will review the Sengled ZigBee LED Dimmable Smart Light Bulb. I’ll show you a practical use for this ZigBee bulb which works out of the box with SmartThings and Alexa. Let’s get cracking. The Sengled line of ZigBee smart bulbs are directly compatible with the Echo 4th Gen Plus, Echo Show 10, Echo Studio, SmartThings, Wink, Hubitat or the Sengled Hub. The Sengled ZigBee bulbs are not compatible with Philips Hue bridge system. A quick Pro Tip here with regard to determining device compatibility, if you view the information in the device description or on the device package, you are likely to see one of two different statements. The description will either state “Hub Required” or it may state “No Hub Required”. Be careful to look for smart home devices which have descriptions that state, “Hub Required”. This usually signifies that the device is using the ZigBee or Z-Wave protocol and that a ZigBee or Z-Wave capable hub is required to join the device. Aeotec and SmartThings hubs use both of these protocols. Sengled smart light bulbs can be controlled by voice with Alexa Echo or Google Home Voice Assistants. The standard Soft White bulbs which I am working with today are dimmable led bulbs which you can control in SmartThings automations or Alexa routines. You have the flexibility to switch them on/off and you may also adjust the brightness from 1% to 100%. You can also setup a group for all of your Sengled light bulbs and easily group control them with SmartThings, Alexa, Google Home and IFTTT. The Sengled LED bulb is equivalent to a 60-watt light in brightness and can save up to 80% energy. The Sengled line of ZigBee Smart Bulbs includes a variety of options to include Soft White, Daylight, Color Changing and Vintage Edison Bulbs. The entire line of Sengled ZigBee devices are directly compatible with the SmartThings & the SmartThings/Aeotec hubs. They are easily discovered by the SmartThings app without the need for custom device handlers. As for my recommended uses, ZigBee Smart Bulbs at best used in a lamp or light fixture that is not easily controlled with a wall switch. I am using this bulb in a closet which has a light fixture that is not controlled by a wall switch. Rather than twisting the bulb in and out to turn the light on or off, I have added a Ring Contact sensor to my door so that I can us the sensor to turn of light on or off when I open and close the door. If you’d like to view and possibly purchase either the Ring Contact sensor or the Sengled Smart Bulb, just check out the provided links that accompany this video. These and many other SmartThings and Alexa compatible devices can also be access via my Bud’s Home Automation website or my Amazon Store as well. Let me now demonstrate how simple it is to add this smart bulb to your SmartThings app. To add you Sengled ZigBee Bulb, Open the SmartThings app and press the Plus Sign on top-right of the Favorites page. Then, tap on “Devices”. Tap on the magnifying glass to search for “Sengled” and tap on Sengled when it is found. Tab on “Lighting” and then tap on “Sengled Smart LED ZigBee”. Select the hub and the room for Sengled ZigBee Bulb and then tap the word “Next”. Now, after ensuring that you have power to your light fixture, screw in your Sengled smart light bulb. The bulb will flash on and off to indicate that device discovery is in progress. When the bulb is connected to your hub you will receive a Success message within your SmartThings App. The bulb will pair to the Alexa App as well. You can now rename your device and write automations to control your new Smart Bulb. So that’s a wrap on today’s episode. Be sure to check out my other videos on this site for details about additional SmartThings and Alexa compatible smart devices. These can be viewed on this site and also on my website. Until next time, keep automating and God Bless!

All capable smart homes need a brain or central hub to control the vast array of smart devices that are available on the market. The SmartThings hub, now made by Aeotec is the best smart home gateway. The SmartThings-Aeotec Hub, previously available as the Samsung SmartThings Hub v3, offers the same fantastic compatibility as the former SmartThings hub. It comes with the ability to manage the former SmartThings sensors and is also equipped with the Zigbee and Z-Wave protocols. This allows you to wirelessly connect and control a huge range of smart devices, over 5,000 devices from dozens of brands, including voice assistants, lights and switches, speakers, cameras, sensors and more. Any compatible device that you connect to the hub can be included into automations which can be intelligently managed. The Aeotec/SmartThings Hub provides you the ability to monitor and control connected devices. You can create and run automations, using the SmartThings app on the Samsung Galaxy, Android, iOS, and iPadOS. You may also control connected devices and run automations using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice user interfaces. It's the easiest system for building a smart home because it's compatible with so many smart products. Whether from Aeotec, SmartThings, or a huge range of third-party brands, Aeotec Smart Home Hub supports certified-compatible devices which use Zigbee 3.0, Z-Wave Plus, Wi-Fi, and API technologies. Aeotec Smart Home Hub is compatible with products from brands including; cameras and doorbells from Aeotec Arlo, Nest, Ring, and more audio systems from Bose, Samsung, and Sonos door locks from Kwikset, Schlage, Yale, and others lighting from Aeotec Cree, Leviton, LIFX, Philips Hue Sylvania, and others thermostats from Ecobee, Honeywell, Nest, and others. Bud's Home Automation website maintains a list of devices which are compatible with Aeotec/SmartThings Hub. It is also a source for countless Aeotec/SmartThings smart home automations.

Currently the Samsung SmartThings Hub relies on executing many of its commands in the cloud. This means that at the time of this article, automations will not execute absent an internet connection. Even with an internet connection, carry out commands in the cloud sometimes results in latency issues. When this happens, smart home devices are slow to respond. However, Samsung is evolving its SmartThings platform with a new SmartThings Edge framework. This new framework will allow smart devices to work faster, more securely, and more reliably by taking the Internet out of the equation. SmartThings Edge is a new architecture development framework for developers of smart home products. It is being implemented to take advantage of the new edge computing movement. It will allow all automations to be executed locally, within the SmartThings Hub, rather than sending commands to the cloud. This will result in faster processing of commands for devices on your home network. This means that smart homes can function even when there’s no Internet connection available. Developers are beginning to create automations that will work on local networks only, or connect via local wireless communication protocols. When launched, SmartThings Edge will support ZigBee, Z-Wave, and LAN-based integrations. There are also plans to support Matter, previously known as Project CHIP. Matter is the name of a unifying connectivity standard that will be supported by a majority of smart home devices in the near future. According to the Matter website created by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, Matter is essentially a "seal of approval" that means smart devices work reliably together.

This instructional video will show how easy it is to pair the Ring Contact Sensor (2nd Gen) to the new SmartThings App. The Ring Alarm Contact Sensor uses the Z-Wave protocol. The set-up requires that go into your SmartThings account to update the Device Type. To access your SmartThings account simply go to https://account.smartthings.com The Ring Contact Sensors are affordable, at under $17 each when you by them in the convenient six pack. They are also very attractive and responsive. This will be one of my go to door/window sensors! UPDATE!! EDGE DRIVER LINKS AND INSTRUCTIONS!! ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ 🔴 Links for the various packs of the Ring Door/Window Sensor: 🛒 - Ring Contact Sensor 6-pack 🛒 - Ring Contact Sensor 2-pack 🛒 - Ring Contact Sensor 1-pack ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ 🔵 Purchase Aeotec and SmartThings compatible devices on my Amazon Store, The Popp.to website or via my Home Automation website: 🛒- Amazon Store 🛒- Save 10% on the Aeotec Hub for SmartThings 🛒- See Aeotec/SmartThings Hub @ popp.to ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ 🟢 Amazon Links for Aeotec/SmartThings Devices: 🛒- Aeotec/SmartThings Hub 🛒- Aeotec/SmartThings Motion Sensor 🛒- Aeotec/SmartThings Window/Door Sensor 🛒- Aeotec/SmartThings Water Leak Sensor 🛒- Aeotec/SmartThings Camera 🛒- Aeotec/SmartThings Smart Plug 🛒- Aeotec/SmartThings Button 🛒- Aeotec/SmartThings Range Extender ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ 🟠 How to support Bud's Home Automation: 🛒- Check out SmartThings Compatible Devices on my Amazon Store 💳 Buy me a Coffee via PayPal

Meet Astro, the household robot for home monitoring, with Alexa. Amazon Astro uses advanced navigation technology to find its way around your home and go where you need it. When you're not using Astro, it will hang out close by at the ready. Remotely send Astro to check on specific rooms, people, or things. Plus, get alerts if Astro detects an unrecognized person or certain sounds when you're away. Astro can also follow you with entertainment or find you to deliver calls, messages, timers, alarms, or reminders. Unlock even more peace of mind Activate your 6-month free trial of Ring Protect Pro to schedule patrols while you're away, proactively investigate detected events, and automatically save video clips in Ring's cloud storage. The subscription also lets you save and share video clips and review up to 60 days of video history. Link your Amazon and Ring accounts and add Astro to the Ring app to activate your 6-month trial of the Ring Protect Pro subscription. If you are an existing Ring Protect subscriber, your subscription will continue unless canceled. Alexa Together subscription (coming soon) Remotely care for aging loved ones, giving you peace of mind while helping them live independently. Set up reminders, manage shopping lists, receive activity alerts, and more. Designed to protect your privacy Turn off mics, cameras, and motion with one press of a button and use the Astro app to set out of bounds zones to let Astro know where it's not allowed to go. Astro comes with a detachable cup holder and can carry other items (sold separately) like a Ziploc container, the OMRON blood pressure monitor, and a Furbo Dog Camera that tosses treats to your pet. Meet Astro! Available exclusively by invitation on Amazon! Price: $999.99 or 5 monthly payments of $200.00 (Introductory price). After introductory period, price will be $1,449.99

Alexa can show you even more With a 15.6” Full HD (1080p) smart display and 5 MP camera, family organization and entertainment will look brilliant. You can choose portrait or landscape orientation. At-a-glance organization Use Alexa-powered widgets to keep the family on track with shared calendars, personal sticky notes, to-do lists, shopping lists, and assigned reminders. Alexa can help feed the fam Get daily recipe ideas, cook along hands-free with step-by-step instructions, add ingredients to your shopping cart, or simply order meal kits or takeout. Your smart home at your fingertips Add your most-used smart devices to the home screen for quick access, and see all compatible devices together on one dashboard. So much entertainment Catch up on your favorites with Prime Video, Netflix, and more. Or stream radio stations, podcasts, and audiobooks with Amazon Music, Spotify, and Audible. Your memories in full-screen With the Photo Frame feature, you can use your Echo Show 15 to display your albums from Amazon Photos or Facebook. Your day, your way Family members can create personal profiles and use visual ID and voice ID to see their specific appointments, reminders, recently played music, and more. Designed to protect your privacy Amazon is not in the business of selling your personal information to others. Built with multiple layers of privacy controls including a mic/camera off button and a built-in camera shutter. See it on Amazon! Echo Show 15 works in landscape and portrait orientation. You can mount it on a wall or display it on a compatible stand. Stands will be available when Echo Show 15 is released.