Henry McLean-Low – Smart Home Geeks https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk Smart Home Thu, 06 Aug 2020 09:03:10 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.13 https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cropped-house-512-237998-32x32.png Henry McLean-Low – Smart Home Geeks https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk 32 32 5 Best Smart Home Hubs 2020 https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/guide/5-best-smart-home-hubs-2020/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/guide/5-best-smart-home-hubs-2020/?noamp=mobile#respond Tue, 14 Jul 2020 15:48:04 +0000 https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2513 What once seemed like science fiction is now a reality: we are building smart homes. However, the more smart devices we buy, the more apps are overloading our mobile phones and tablets – so much clutter! The latest solution is the smart home hub. These smart home hubs are quickly becoming the brains and hearts […]

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What once seemed like science fiction is now a reality: we are building smart homes. However, the more smart devices we buy, the more apps are overloading our mobile phones and tablets – so much clutter!

The latest solution is the smart home hub. These smart home hubs are quickly becoming the brains and hearts of our smart houses, removing digital clutter from our lives.

What is a Smart Home Hub?

Smart home hubs are systems that help you control multiple wireless devices in one spot. If you have smart home features like locks, security cameras, and garage door openers, a smart home hub will put them on the same wavelength. Now, instead of opening up ten different applications for ten different smart home devices, you only need to open up one.

Common Questions About Smart Home Hubs

Unless you’ve owned a smart home hub before, this gadget is worth examining. The last thing you want is an exhaustive trial-and-error with hubs that only “sort of” work for you.

Best Smart Home Hubs 2020

Do I Need a Smart Home Hub?

Just because you have multiple smart home devices doesn’t mean you need to invest in a hub.

If your smart devices use your home’s Wi-Fi, you can download a third-party, multi-tasking app that will bring these apps together without a hub. IFTTT and Yonomi are great examples.

If you’re using smart home devices manufactured by the same company, you may be able to use their app without having to buy a physical hub, like the Amazon Alexa and Honeywell Home apps.

However, if you are using smart devices from different manufacturers or that connect wirelessly using different methods – Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, etc. – look into a smart home hub that connects most, if not all, of them.

Product Recommendations: The Best Smart Home Hubs

Our suggestions for the best smart home hubs balance practicality with modern wants and needs. Keep in mind that, generally speaking, smart home hubs are never “best.” Even the top choices have some major cons.

Samsung SmartThings Hub (V3) – Buy here

If I personally needed a smart home hub, this is what I would go for. SmartThings Hub’s sleek, compact design makes a great addition to the home and can handle a wide variety of technology: Ring doorbell; Ecobee; Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistants; Samsung TV; Bose speakers, and more. It works on Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi protocols. It does come in a little high on price at £159, but for what you’re getting, it’s a worthy investment.

Pros:

  • iOS, Android, and Windows compatible
  • Easy-to-read app user interface
  • App automation features allow communication between devices

Cons:

  • Works for UK- and US-based technology only
  • Possibly pose some limitations for programmers and Alexa users
  • USB port on the back of the device is virtually useless

Amazon Echo Dot (v3) – Buy Here

Amazon Echo Dot is technically a smart speaker first, smart home hub second. Still, because of Amazon Echo’s versatility, it can give Alexa and smart home users all the control they want. With Wi-Fi and Zigbee connectivity, you can connect Philips Hue, Sonos, Hive, and Arlo smart home products. This Echo Dot runs at £49.99, making it a good mid-price choice. It would certainly be worth my money!

Pros:

  • When you purchase Echo Dot, you are purchasing a reliable and trustworthy brand
  • Strong voice assistant features
  • Compatible with Fire OS, iOS, and Android

Cons:

  • Although it uses Wi-Fi, not all Wi-Fi protocol smart home devices can be connected
  • Not as powerful as other smart home hubs

Tuya Zigbee Smart Gateway HubBuy here

The Tuya Zigbee hub is an affordable option that will get your technology working together in harmony. (Now if only we could get the kids working together in harmony!) At only £29.97, the features and ratings are impressive.

It operates on both Zigbee and Wi-Fi protocols, can connect up to 50 devices, and is completely wireless. The hub works strictly with ZigBee 3.0 and Tuya products. Therefore, this is the hub to consider if you are planning on making the switch from a basic home to a smart home. Take a look at ZigBee and Tuya smart home devices, first.

Pros:

  • Works with Alexa and Google Home assistants
  • Tuya Smart Hub app works as a remote control for all your linked products
  • Compact and wire-free

Cons:

  • Only works with ZigBee and Tuya 3.0 products
  • Zigbee protocol may be slower than other available protocols

Broadlink RM Pro+Buy here

At £41.99, it looks like a spaceship, but it’s really one of the better smart home hubs you can buy. Using IR and RF protocols, it supports 80,000+ different products. This means you can control the dishwasher, A/C, and TV all in the same place at the same time! Broadlink’s app will easily turn your smartphone into a remote control for everything in your house. You just have to make sure these products also use IR/RF protocol – not Bluetooth®.

Pros:

  • The app works for iOS and Android devices, smartphone and tablet
  • Connected by Wi-Fi so you can control your smart devices from anywhere
  • Works with Amazon Alexa and Google assistants – but with limited functionality

Cons:

  • Limited protocol support
  • Will not work around obstructions

LaJao WiFi Smart Plug SocketBuy here

This smart home “hub” is quite affordable at £13.99. Plug it in any socket and connect to Wi-Fi. You’ll be able to sync Amazon Alexa and your Google Home and use the eFamily Cloud app to control the devices on your smartphone. There are special Wi-Fi requirements that you have to follow and it will only control household appliances, but it’s a great alternative to the larger-than-life smart home hubs out there.

Pros:

  • Small and out-of-the-way
  • Fireproof and built with overload protection
  • Easy, reliable set up

Cons:

  • Specific Wi-Fi requirements for both plug and smartphone
  • Works only with household appliances

Conclusion

Take a look at your smart home devices first, buy the smart home hub second. While appealing, the Echo Dot won’t do you much good if you can’t pair it with anything. Sure, the Tuya Zigbee hub is an affordable choice, but do you own any of their products? Your home is smart, but you’ll have to be a little bit smarter to get everything on the same channel.

But… What is Smart Home Hub Protocol?

When looking for your smart home hub you will see a lot of protocol talk. Protocol simply refers to how a device sends data to another device on a particular network. Knowing the protocol your devices use will help you find a compatible smart home hub.

Zigbee & Z-Wave: These protocols are similar enough to pair together. Z-Wave is generally the faster option and is compatible with more devices, but both operate on radio frequencies that won’t interrupt your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth® connections. This makes them popular protocol choices for smart home devices and hubs.

Bluetooth®: This wireless protocol is found in almost every wireless technology and wonderfully suited to smart home devices. It generally has a limited range of connectivity, so you’ll have to keep distance into consideration.

Wi-Fi: This one is straightforward and familiar. If your device can connect to the internet wirelessly, it’s using Wi-Fi.

There are other protocols, but these four are the ones you’re most likely to come across.

What Should I Look For in a Smart Home Hub?

Unless it’s a proven piece of junk, it’s hard to pick the best smart home hub for your needs. It’s easy to give you some direction while searching, though.

Protocol: Think about the protocol your smart home devices use and the smart home hub supports. If you can check off most of your devices on the smart home hub, then already you’ve found a worthy option.

Smart Speaker Compatibility and Voice Control: If you want to control your devices using voice commands or connect your smart speaker to the hub, find a smart home hub that explicitly states it responds to voice commands and is compatible with Amazon Echo, Google, or Apple.

Smart Home Devices: Instead of searching for a third-party hub, buy a hub made by the manufacturer of your smart devices. This will reduce compatibility issues. Also, if you are just controlling house functions, look for a hub that is made to do this well. If you want to include music and TV, you need to make sure the hub is capable of taking those things on.

Windows: Sadly, hubs will most likely support iOS and Android, but very few support Windows products.

The Bottom Line

Look for wireless hubs that are compatible with a wide range of protocols and can support your smart devices. You need to match the hub to the device, not the other way around. So don’t buy a hub strictly for thermostats if you want to connect your smart speaker, too.

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Sure Petcare Microchip feeder review https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/smart-pet/sure-petcare-microchip-feeder-review/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/smart-pet/sure-petcare-microchip-feeder-review/?noamp=mobile#respond Thu, 27 Jun 2019 06:52:21 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2240 Sure Petcare Microchip feeder review Intuitive appPortion control Training mode for nervous pets Lack of 3rd party integrations 4.1Next level pet tech! How it works 3rd part connectivity Cost Setup Reader Rating 0 Votes You might remember our review of Sure Petcares Smart Cat Flap? Well this is their latest product in their growing range […]

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Sure Petcare Microchip feeder review
Intuitive appPortion control Training mode for nervous pets
Lack of 3rd party integrations
4.1Next level pet tech!
How it works
3rd part connectivity
Cost
Setup
Reader Rating 0 Votes

You might remember our review of Sure Petcares Smart Cat Flap? Well this is their latest product in their growing range of smart pet products.

What does the Microchip Pet Feeder Connect do?

This is the smartest pet feeder we have ever encountered. The feeder is completely closed, only opening for the designated pet. This is done by reading the microchip in your pet, if you pet does not have a chip it also works on RFID collar tags.  They even provide one in the box.

That is not all it does, it also monitors the amount of food the pet has eaten. Great for keeping an eye on when they have eaten and exactly how much. 

It works with both wet and dry food and comes with a handy split bowl option allowing for a mix of two types of food. Allowing you to set portions for each type of food.

If like us you have no idea, have a look on your pet food packet and it gives you a good idea. If unsure ask your vet.

Once setup it has LED lights indicating the portion, ideal for making sure you are not over feeding. The food capacity is 400ml.

The feeder uses the same app as the Sure Petcare Microchip Cat Flap Connect. Creating a Smart Pet eco-system!

If you do not have the cat flap the feeder works just as well standalone.

One thing to note is the feeder cannot be shared with other animals, you need one per pet. However it is great for multi-pet households as it prevents stealing of food, a big issue with cats. You know which pet is eating which food and how much they have eaten.    


Sure Petcare Microchip Feeder

Sure Petcare Microchip Feeder

Check the Price on Amazon UK Check the Price on Amazon US

How easy is it to setup?

Setup is easy, the feeder connects to your WiFi via the hub. If you already have the Cat Flap Connect you can use the same hub. 

You do need batteries (4 x C) but these last up to 6 months on normal usage. This is handy as not everywhere you want to put the feeder has a spare plug.

We also spoke to Sure Petcare’s customer service team for additional tips and hints and they gave some brilliant advice. For example who knew bigger cats might find a flat bowl harder to use and putting a book under makes it easier for them!?

What does it connect to?

Like the other Sure Petcare products they only connect to each other, at present there is no 3rd party support. This is a shame as it would be good to ask Alexa whats going on with Ronnie or Roxie – our cats.

How much does it cost?

£119.99 (with no hub) – yes it is not cheap but then it does keep food fresher, preventing flies landing in the food. It also, like their smart cat flap connect, provides peace of mind.

You can also choose from 4 different colours for the mat and bows, a cute touch.

If you need the hub this is £49.99 and sold seperatly.

What is it like living with it?

It took 2 weeks for our cat to get used to using it, at first he was scared of the arch and the movement.

Sure Petcare have obviously thought about this a lot during development and testing and the feeder has a training mode. This slowly but surely moves the lid over a period of time, allowing the pet to get used to it.

One thing to note is do not rush this! We tried training mode over 7 days and it did not work, we tried again over 2 weeks and our cat slowly did get used to it. 

The app is great – you can quickly see exactly when your pet last ate and if you have the Sure Petcare smart cat flap, where they are.

The feeder comes apart, allowing easy cleaning – a lot of it is even dishwasher safe.  

The reporting is helpful as allows you to see if it is normal or not for you pet to have eaten.

One important thing to understand is you can’t simply put the feeder down and expect them to immediately accept it. Some pets will take to it immediately but ours did not, this resulted in a lot of time and care to help him adjust.

After all when introducing anything to a pet it can take time for them to adjust to it. Now we have it all setup it is a brilliant addition to our smart pet echo system! 

What are our final thoughts?

This is next level pet tech! The insight you get into your pets eating behaviour is unbelievable.  

However, we can’t help but think this could go further, for example alerts if you pet has not eaten or is suddenly eating a lot more. 

That said this is impressive and what it does do, it does very well!
 

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Retrotouch IOTTY Smart Switch Review https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/smart-lighting/retrotouch-iotty-smart-switch-review/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/smart-lighting/retrotouch-iotty-smart-switch-review/?noamp=mobile#respond Thu, 13 Jun 2019 13:48:07 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2224 Stylish smart switch Stylish glass finishAlexa, Google & SiriIFTTTNo hub Deep switchNeutral required 4.1Overall Score How it works 3rd part connectivity Cost Setup Reader Rating 0 Votes What does the Retrotouch IOTTY Smart Switch do? The switch replaces your existing switch and makes it smart by connecting to your home WiFi. It connects directly to […]

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Stylish smart switch
Stylish glass finishAlexa, Google & SiriIFTTTNo hub
Deep switchNeutral required
4.1Overall Score
How it works
3rd part connectivity
Cost
Setup
Reader Rating 0 Votes

What does the Retrotouch IOTTY Smart Switch do?

The switch replaces your existing switch and makes it smart by connecting to your home WiFi. It connects directly to your WiFi without the need for a hub or controller.

Note: To install it you need a neutral wire in your switch.

Once installed you can control the switch via the app (Androdi and iOS). The app is packed with features:

  • Energy monitoring – to keep an eye on consumption
  • Geolocation – turn on or off the device when you leave or arrive home
  • Sunrise and sunset – control the device based on the sunset and sunrise
  • Rooms – controlling multiple switches in one room
  • Scenes – set scenes with one button press
  • Weather – control the device according to the local weather
  • Notifications – receive alerts when used
  • Sharing – share with members of your household
  • Away mode – fake your presence but turning on and off randomly

How easy is it to setup?

Installation was easy, the only thing to be aware of is this is quite a deep switch due to the tech inside it. This means if you have a lot of wires in your switch or a shallow back box it can be tight!

It is also worth noting you require a neutral wire for the switch to work. If unsure check before you buy.

What’s the connectivity?

The Retrotouch IOTTY smart switch connects to Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri allowing voice control:

“Alexa turn on living room light”

As well as IFTTT with 6 pre-made applets as well as being able to make you own and connect iotty to your smart home.

IOTTY on IFTTT

How much does it cost?

The switches start from £69.99 for a single gang switch.  It is also available in white or black finish.

What is it like living with it?

Simple and stylish! It’s great to be able to control the actual light switch not just the bulb like standard smart lighting. This means you can always control it, unlike smart bulbs where one flick of the switch and the bulb is dumb.

The other great main selling point is it works with all bulbs, even if not dimmable. This is why you need the neutral wire.

The switch itself really stands out due to the back lit glass, the only thing we found frustrating was the size of the switch as this prevented us putting it in a few rooms without changing the back box.  

Being able to control the brightness of the backlight is a nice touch especially if installed in the bedroom.

What are our final thoughts?

This is a stylish, feature packed switch!

A different approach to making your home lighting smart. The only one big consideration is the required wiring, neutral at switch, although we appreciate this is a limitation of the tech not this actual switch.

For more information and to buy the switch, visit their website:
https://www.retrotouch.co.uk/smart-wifi-light-switch.html

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Philip Hue product releases leaked! https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/philip-hue-product-releases-leaked/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/philip-hue-product-releases-leaked/?noamp=mobile#respond Wed, 05 Jun 2019 11:41:53 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2216 Signify is rumoured to be expanding its Philips Hue range to include designer filament bulbs. As well as a smart plug that will be controllable from the Philips Hue app. The plug will be their first move into other products outside lighting.   The news comes from a leak via Dutch tech website iCulture. The […]

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Signify is rumoured to be expanding its Philips Hue range to include designer filament bulbs. As well as a smart plug that will be controllable from the Philips Hue app. The plug will be their first move into other products outside lighting.  

The news comes from a leak via Dutch tech website iCulture.

The funky bulbs will apparently be available in sizes: E27, ST19 and G93 with prices starting from £17.99. Based on the price we assume these will not be colour changing bulbs.

The leak also stated the bulbs would support Bluetooth, an interesting move and expansion on the current ZigBee support.  This would remove the reliance on the Philips Hue hub.

It also contained a full line up of product coming this year, highlighting Bluetooth coming to updated versions of existing products:

  • Hue White Filament with Bluetooth: € 19.95 / ~£17.99
  • Hue White Filament Edison with Bluetooth: € 24.95 / ~£21.99
  • Hue White Filament Globe with Bluetooth: € 29.95 / ~£26.49
  • GU10 (white) new design with Bluetooth: € 19.95 / ~£17.99
  • GU10 (white ambiance) with Bluetooth: € 29.95  / ~£26.49
  • GU10 (white & colour) with Bluetooth: € 59.95 / ~£52.99
  • Candle E14 with Bluetooth: € 19.95 / ~£17.99
  • Hue GO V2 with Bluetooth: € 79.95 ~£17.99
  • Fugato spot (multiple configurations): from € 89.95 / ~£79.99
  • Argenta spot (multiple configurations): from € 89.95 / ~£79.99
  • Centura recessed spot (multiple configurations): from € 64.95 / ~£57.99
  • Adore mirror lamp (multiple configurations): from € 149.95 / ~£132.99
  • Adore bathroom spot (multiple configurations): from € 49.95 / ~£44.99
  • Smart Plug: € 29.95 / ~£26.99

Signify normally release their new products at the IFA 2019 Trade show in September. We look forward to seeing what is announced!

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Works with Nest discontinued https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/works-with-nest-discontinued/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/works-with-nest-discontinued/?noamp=mobile#respond Tue, 07 May 2019 12:14:28 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2220 In a very surprise move Google has today announced ending the works with Nest program. The program will be replaced with the Works with Google framework. This is because Nest is merging back into the Google brand and company, rather than being a separate spin off. The Works with Nest program was designed to allow […]

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In a very surprise move Google has today announced ending the works with Nest program. The program will be replaced with the Works with Google framework. This is because Nest is merging back into the Google brand and company, rather than being a separate spin off.

The Works with Nest program was designed to allow tech to connect to Nest. As Google said:

“All you need is a Nest Thermostat, Nest Protect or Nest Cam. Add another product, like a light bulb, and they’ll start to notice each other, learn from one another and help you out – all on their own”

Google

The new program will still allow integrations but will require much stricter vetting and testing, not necessarily a bad thing! Google claim this has been done to address privacy fears.

However, the bad news is this will break all existing integrations powered by the existing program. This includes the much loved IFTTT as well as Amazon Alexa. Although we remain optimistic Google will find a way to integrate Alexa directly.

Works with Nest will be fully shut down on August 31 2019. We wait to see what updates we receive from IFTTT and Alexa.

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UNO: The first cross device USB Type-C magnetic cable funded https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/uno-the-first-cross-device-usb-type-c-magnetic-cable-funded/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/uno-the-first-cross-device-usb-type-c-magnetic-cable-funded/?noamp=mobile#respond Wed, 24 Apr 2019 16:00:21 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2203 UNO: The first cross device type-C USB cable now fully funded on Kickstarter. We know what you are thinking… this is not the first type-C USB magnetic cable. What makes UNO different is it has adapters for Lightning, Micro USB and Type-C. All connected via powerful neodymium magnets that are strong enough to hold an […]

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UNO: The first cross device type-C USB cable now fully funded on Kickstarter.

We know what you are thinking… this is not the first type-C USB magnetic cable. What makes UNO different is it has adapters for Lightning, Micro USB and Type-C. All connected via powerful neodymium magnets that are strong enough to hold an iPad Air!

Unlike existing magnetic charger cables, UNO claim the magnets have been positioned to allow easy connection. Even if the tip is flipped 180°.

The cable supports QC4.0 and Apple fast charge allowing you to quickly charge your smart tech. As well as full USB 2.0 data transfer speeds of up to 480 Mbps.

To overcome the frustrating fray issue most cable owners are familiar with the cable is wrapped in anti-fray material.

ASAP Technologies are so confident in their cable they offer a full 10-year warranty! Longer than most people have their smart phone.

The cable is available now with guaranteed July shipping. Pledges, not prices as Kickstarter, start at £16.

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Tado Smart radiator Thermostat review https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/smart-thermostats/tado-smart-radiator-thermostat-review/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/smart-thermostats/tado-smart-radiator-thermostat-review/?noamp=mobile#respond Fri, 19 Apr 2019 10:00:26 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2164 Tado Smart radiator Thermostat review Room level heating controlSmart detection like open windowHumidity sensorAlexa, Google, HomeKitIFTTT Cost per thermostat 4.8Very impressive! How it works 3rd part connectivity Cost Setup Reader Rating 0 Votes Tado, the smart climate control company, has come along way in a short space of time. In this review, we are going […]

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Tado Smart radiator Thermostat review
Room level heating controlSmart detection like open windowHumidity sensorAlexa, Google, HomeKitIFTTT
Cost per thermostat
4.8Very impressive!
How it works
3rd part connectivity
Cost
Setup
Reader Rating 0 Votes

Tado, the smart climate control company, has come along way in a short space of time. In this review, we are going to be looking at the latest model of their Smart Radiator thermostat and starter kit – v3+.

What does the Tado’s Smart Radiator Thermostat do?

Tado’s Smart radiator thermostats are different to most smart home
thermostats, they do not work on a house level but individual rooms. This means you can control each room as you wish, for example if you want the nursery to be warm but your bedroom room cool this can easily be achieved. Assuming you have Tado installed in those rooms.

It is also a lot smarter than competitors, offering simple yet effective features – for example open window detection. As who wants to heat a room when the window is open?!

At the heart of Tado is the principle of energy and money saving. This is because Tado offers such detailed control of heating your home they claim you save energy and money. In the app there is a dashboard to track approximately how much energy you have saved and how each feature has helped towards the saving.

Other features include:

Weather Detection – Tado checks local weather reports to adapt to how it heats your home.

Geofencing – Both when you are leaving and returning home, interestingly this is not only done via your phone location. It also detects when your phone connects to your home Wifi to signal you are home – smart!

Tado comfort control

Comfort Control – Each thermostat detects humidity as well as temperature. Creating a simple visualisation of humidity and temperature to show air comfort.

Smart Schedule – Allowing scheduling temperatures for when you are home and away.

Stats & Analytics – Giving insight into what’s been going on in each room, plotted on a graph. Sadly there is no way to export the data though.

Repair Service – Through a national partnership with Help-link, as well aa thousands of local installers you can even find a local plumber.

Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat review

How easy is Tado to set up?

We know what you are thinking, surely this requires professional installation as its plumbing?! Wrong, install is DIY and easy.

First, you install the app and create a home, once created you add the thermostat and bridge.

To add the bridge you plug it into your router or network switch with an ethernet cable. You then scan the QR code on the thermostat and pair it with the bridge.

Next comes the fun part – you need to remove your existing radiator head. This is much easier than we expected, on our radiator, we basically twisted the metal ring on the existing thermostat. If unsure they have a helpful how to guide on their website.

Top tip – if water starts coming out you are twisting the wrong part. Removing the head does not make any water leak and just exposes the pin on the radiator valve.

Once the head is removed, you can use the supplied adapters to fit the Tado thermostat. We didn’t need any and it fitted directly to the radiator.

The install guide has obviously been written for horizontal installs. If like us you install vertically the label saying top should face the front.

Once installed the thermostat calibrates and it’s done!

What is the connectivity?

Where this smart home tech is different is it does not connect to your home WiFi, as it does not need to. The hub or bridge as they call it connects to your house via ethernet to the bridge. The smart radiator thermostats connect to the bridge using radio (868 Mhz to be precise).

This means you do not have any of the issues surrounding WiFi bands – for example if you only have 5GHz and it only works on 2.4GHz. It also means there is no issue with connectivity or poor signal. We tested in a large house with the bridge downstairs and the radiator upstairs and had a full strength connection.

In terms of third-party connectivity Tado packs a punch offering the most popular voice assistants:

  • Siri / Apple HomeKit
  • Amazon Alexa
  • Google Assistant

As well as IFTTT, allowing you to connect it to any other supported tech on IFTTT. For example, if the bedroom temperature is too hot turn on the Wemo plug connected to a fan. If the bedroom is x temperature turn my Philips Hue lights red, and many more possibilities.

The Tado app is available on iOS 10 or above and Android 5 or above.


Tado Smart Radiator Thermostat

Check the Price on Amazon UK Check the Price on Amazon US

How much do Tado Smart Radiator Thermostats cost?

To get started with Tado you need the starter kit as this contains the bridge. This cost: £119.99 and comes with all you need as well as one radiator valve.

Tado Box UK

However, once you have the bridge you can buy additional smart valves at £69.99.

This is slightly expensive but if bought directly from Tado they offer a ‘12 month, Save money or your money back’ guarantee!

In addition, there is an optional subscription feature called ‘Auto-Assist’ for £2.99 a month or £24.99 a year. Auto-assist ‘joins up’ the features and automatically controls them, so for example rather than alerting you the window is open and the heating is on, it turns it off for you.

What is it like living with it?

Impressive! However, there are a lot of features and notifications but this is where the optional subscription can take the strain.

We did find we needed to adjust the temperature reported by the thermostat. As it was giving a very high temperature when compared with two other thermometers in the room. This will be due to the design, as with our install the thermostat was very near the radiator, where as if fitted horizontally it will be less near so picking up a lower temperature. Not an issue as this was easily changed in the app, by adding an offset value.

It is brilliant being able to control the exact temperature of a room. Comfort plotting is a great feature and clearly allows you to see how ‘comfortable’ each room is.

Alexa integration is seamless once you have set up the skill allowing you to ask;

“Alexa what’s the temperature in the bedroom”

What are our final thoughts?

This is a very well thought out bit of kit!

The only thing stopping us giving this 5 stars is the price is on the high side. We have over 10 radiators in our Smart test home if each had a smart thermostat it would quickly add up. However, this is offset by the 12-month energy saving guarantee, although you would need to save a lot of energy to fully offset the full cost.

That said the same could be said about any smart home tech, it’s not the cheapest solution you often want but the smartest. In terms of smart thermostats, we think we have found the smartest – meet Tado!

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Sure Petcare releases smart pet feeder https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/sure-petcare-releases-smart-pet-feeder/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/sure-petcare-releases-smart-pet-feeder/?noamp=mobile#respond Thu, 18 Apr 2019 10:20:27 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2189 Sure Petcare release their exciting new innovation a smart microchip pet feeder! The smart pet feeder connects to their existing Smart petcare app via the already released hub. As part of their expansion into the smart space and joining the Smart Cat flap. (Read our review of their Smart Cat flap here) The pet feeder […]

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Sure Petcare release their exciting new innovation a smart microchip pet feeder!

The smart pet feeder connects to their existing Smart petcare app via the already released hub. As part of their expansion into the smart space and joining the Smart Cat flap. (Read our review of their Smart Cat flap here)

The pet feeder goes further than any pet feeder before, allowing total control over which animal can eat what food – automatically.  All done via the microchip inside your pet or RFID collar tag. The feeder closes over the feed only opening for the chosen pet, this also keeps the food fresher for longer.

Check the Price on Amazon UK Check the Price on Amazon US

It weighs the food, making it easier to not over feed your pet and monitors if your pet is not eating and when they are how much. Very smart!

The Microchip Pet Feeder Connect is available now direct from Sure Petcare. Price depends on configuration.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook so you can see when we have reviewed the smart pet feeder! We can’t wait to get our paws on it. ff

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Ring delay smart lighting launch https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/ring-delay-smart-lighting/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/ring-delay-smart-lighting/?noamp=mobile#respond Wed, 17 Apr 2019 11:57:54 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2130 Since Amazon bought Ring they have been rapidly expanding. One such expansion was the announcement of a Smart Lighting solution that fully integrated with Ring. This will be using their recent acquisition of LED light company Mr Beam. The Ring light range includes: Ring Spotlight Ring Floodlight Ring Pathlight Ring Steplight Ring Smart Lighting – […]

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Since Amazon bought Ring they have been rapidly expanding. One such expansion was the announcement of a Smart Lighting solution that fully integrated with Ring. This will be using their recent acquisition of LED light company Mr Beam.

The Ring light range includes:

  • Ring Spotlight
  • Ring Floodlight
  • Ring Pathlight
  • Ring Steplight

Ring Smart Lighting – Spotlight, Battery-Powered, Outdoor Motion-Sensor Security Light

Check the Price on Amazon US

Ring Smart Lighting – Floodlight, Battery-Powered, Outdoor Motion-Sensor Security Light

Check the Price on Amazon US
Ring Smart Lighting – Pathlight

Ring Smart Lighting – Pathlight, Battery-Powered, Outdoor Motion-Sensor Security Light

Check the Price on Amazon US
Ring Smart Lighting – Steplight, Battery-Powered, Outdoor Motion-Sensor Security Light

Ring Smart Lighting – Steplight, Battery-Powered, Outdoor Motion-Sensor Security Light

Check the Price on Amazon US

They require a hub, in the same way market leader Philips Hue does.

All controlled from the Ring App and integrating with Alexa.

The new smart lights were supposed to be shipping this month to USA customers who had pre-ordered.

Today Ring sent an email to these customers pushing back shipping to May 2019. Offering the option of cancelling or keeping their order.

It appears Ring is still squashing final bugs, although good to see this is being done before release!

It will be interesting to see how these lights compare with market leader, Philips Hue new outdoor range.

For more information on Ring Smart Lighting visit Ring.com

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Remootio create inexpensive smart door solution! https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/remootio-create-inexpensive-smart-door-solution/ https://www.smarthomegeeks.co.uk/news/remootio-create-inexpensive-smart-door-solution/?noamp=mobile#respond Tue, 16 Apr 2019 11:53:10 +0000 https://smarthomegeeks.co.uk/?p=2125 If you are looking for an inexpensive way to control your gates and garage door new startup Remootio might be what you are after! Remootio is a smart box that takes control of your electronic gates or garage door allowing smart control them via your phone (iOS and Android). Using 256 bit end-to-end encryption .           Where […]

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If you are looking for an inexpensive way to control your gates and garage door new startup Remootio might be what you are after!

Remootio is a smart box that takes control of your electronic gates or garage door allowing smart control them via your phone (iOS and Android). Using 256 bit end-to-end encryption .          

Where the box is different is it comes with Bluetooth as well as 2.4Ghz – meaning you do not need a strong Wi-Fi signal at your gates or door for it to work. It also has no monthly fees!

The app allows you to manage virtual keys with 20 set keys and unlimited guest keys.

Remootio works with Alexa allowing you to use your voice to open your gates or close your garage door. Google integration is planned.

The manufactures claim install is easy and it supports most gates and door, working with 6-25V AC or 6-36V DC and has a normally open relay output. As well as 3 ports for accessories: doorbell, manual open button and gate status sensor.

Remootio is live now on Indiegogo, raising over 250% of their target. They have plans to go on general sale May 2019.

Keep your eyes peeled for a review here in the, hopefully not so distant future!

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