We are looking to put together a helpful blog on our site. We want to create a space that offers genuine, practical value to newcomers starting their journey.
I have had a look in the getting started section here, and done some searching too, but we would love to collate a list of topics you feel would have helped you early on. It does not have to be specific to Hubitat; it could be general to protocol, particular device types, room layouts, or anything else you feel is worth others knowing.
That it’s not a race. Add one piece here, one piece there. Eventually, you’ll get to a point that everything you want automated is automated, and you can leave things as is. (I haven’t reached that point yet… )
If you need multiple of something, standardize on as few variations/models as possible.
For instance if you need smart switches and dimmers, just buy all identical dimmers unless that won’t work for the given load. ( still kicking myself for mixing Inovelli switches trying to save s few bucks. )
My number one reason for delving into home automation was my children’s complete and total inability to turn off lights. Specifically the bathroom light that controlled the exhaust fan located fifteen feet from where I would sit and watch TV in the evenings. It was builders grade and loud AF.
I tried switches with motion sensors, but those would shut off while they showered. That led me to SmartThings. The cloud nature of that solution was woefully disappointing.
Luckily something in the SmartThings Forums lead me to Hubitat. I jumped in during their first year and was relieved to see they fulfilled every promise that the other platforms made and broke.
Hubitat and their management has continued to stay true to the mission; nothing short of them being complicit in the Epstein files could turn me away from them. (Sorry, for going there, but it would literally take sex trafficking children to derail my loyalty at this point.)
Disagree on new 2.4 GHz devices (with local control). These now appear rock solid using their local interface. The LAN protocols have been improved and disconnects are now uncommon. Without a internet connection, they still work great.
When buying WiFi devices, make sure they are relatively new and that they have a LOCAL interface in Hubitat.
Funny, my advice would be the exact opposite. I have so many different brands of devices, I never try to keep with one type of device. As long as the devices stick to protocol specs, there really shouldn't be issues. I have had no issues with all my mixed brand devices working together.
If you like a brand and the pricing, sure, stick with it. My tendency has been to buy what is on sale when I need to buy them, leading to mixed brands.
I didn't think at first how the cost of the hub compares to the cost of devices. I never planned to have so many devices, but now here I am with hundreds of them.
Adding up all the devices puts the cost of the hub in perspective. The hub is such a minimal part of the overall cost of home automation. Really, spending $50 more on a pro hub, assuming you will use it for 2-3 years, comes to about $0.35 a week extra. Just buy the highest level hub you can, as the cost gets diluted over time. It is a worthy investment, compared to all the money we spend on devices.
I have not added up device costs, but I must be around $1000 at this point.
Oh, that is the beautiful thing about this ecosystem is that it’s phenomenal at getting different devices to play nicely together which helps prevent vendor lock-in. (HUGE PLUS). From a personal device configuration and support standpoint, its just much easier to learn the quarks and details of 1 device type rather than many. It also means you probably have a spare laying around should 1 go bad.
My personal mistake was that I mixed Inovelli Red and Black dimmers based on where I thought I would want/need scene control. (The black switches look the same, but don’t have scene control so they’re cheaper). I wish I’d just bought all Red dimmers.
Biggest thorn has been Z-Wave. It works, but not as reliable for me as Zigbee devices have been. Needs occasional rebuilding of the routes. Not at all like Zigbee that is typically maintinance free and self-healing. I no longer add Z-Wave devices to my home.
That all systems can and will malfunction (whether cloud or local). Always allow for manual manipulation of critical controls (Lights, Garage Doors, Locks, etc.) that will not require a hub or smart app for when, not if, that happens.
Just be aware that no matter how awesome you think your home automation implementation is, or how “skilled” you are at putting all of these things together in a functional system, your wife will never be as excited about it as your are. Even though she will use the system in some fashion every day, she will frequently complain about the cost, the occasional malfunction, the amount of time you spend each week tweaking it…..
I wish I had listened to the more experienced users when I first started. They all tried to convince me that keeping it simple is the best way to go.
Unfortunately, I had to learn that lesson the hard way through my own experience. Over time, I’ve discovered that KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is one of the most important principles in home automation—and also the hardest, because it forces you to really plan ahead before you build anything.
The more complex an automation becomes, the more opportunities there are for things to break, stall, or become a nightmare to troubleshoot. In my experience, complexity is the enemy of a smart home, while simplicity is what makes your setup dependable and sustainable for the long run.
Start small when venturing into anything new, whether it be a new type of device or a new brand. There are some things you will only learn after introducing a device into your own setup, so don't spend up big straight away. Be willing to change if things don't work out.
Try to buy devices that have a broad range of compatibility across home automation platforms and/or options for control. E.g. devices that are compatible with HE, HA and their own platform. Manual control outside of automation platforms is also nice, e.g. for blinds. Depending on your preference, compatibility with Google and Alexa may also be something worth checking, if that's something you are interested in. This broad compatibility can help you adjust your approach in the future if you want to or need to.
Be willing to run automation platforms side-by-side to provide more options, but try to still limit the number of platforms you run, to keep the maintenance involved to a minimum.
I recall hearing something along those lines, but I recall it being specific to Ubiquiti, which is confirmed in the post you linked to.
I have the same occasional issues with Z-Wave with my unmanaged TP-Link switch right next to my to Hubitat hubs (one being a C8 Pro with antennas further away from the switch), that I had when a switch was in a different location.
Not so much because of the reliability of the equipment but in the reliability of the service providers. To many have closed up shop leaving their customers to wither on the vine. Even the largest. Looking at you Google.
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