Howdy All!
A solid turnout for the first Home Automation SIG, where we covered everything from air quality monitors to fart fans and offline servers. Here’s what went down:
Jason – Hub-Minded Tinkerer
Jason walked us through his approach to home automation – focused on reliability, offline capability, and smart lighting across detached spaces. He uses Blue Iris to monitor his security cameras and is all about getting devices to work without the cloud whenever possible.
Kenneth – Health-Driven DIY
Kenneth described a tool he built to help manage his Type 1 diabetes, showcasing how personal health challenges can fuel awesome innovation.
Jon – ???
Jon does something Jason understood – and we all kind of nodded along. He also recommends Home Assistant Green or Yellow as a great entry point.
Steve Kruger – OG Electronics Guy
Steve’s been building electronics since grade school. These days, he’s deep into custom home audio gear and still hands-on with his hardware builds.
Evan – Office Air Inspector
Evan brought in an air quality monitor that he runs from his office. Always good to know when your air is trying to kill you.
Tom – Automation Powerhouse
Tom described one of the coolest setups of the day:
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If one smoke detector goes off, all the lights in the house turn on.
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His shower light also flips on the bathroom fan – thoughtful, practical automation.
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Suggested using a Synology NAS for photo backups.
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Recommended Plex, a free, open-source media server to organize personal media collections.
Jordan – Renter’s Mindset, Owner’s Intent
Jordan is thinking through how to apply home automation while renting, with a focus on privacy and security.
Michael Leonard – Lighting With Rhythm
Michael built a lighting system that automatically adjusts based on his personal timing and habits – think sunrise alarm clock meets sci-fi hallway.
Side Notes and Nerd Nuggets
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X10 – the OG home automation tech
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Z-Wave – widely recommended for its reliability
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Zigbee – mentioned for battery-less switches that work via mechanical magnets
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General agreement that Home Assistant is the way to go, especially for local/offline control
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A server = a computer that does one thing well. Don’t overthink it.
James – SwitchBot + Matter Protocol
James shared how SwitchBot lets him automate lights while still maintaining physical switch control. He connected it using the Matter Protocol, integrating it cleanly with his home wiring – a flexible solution for both digital and analog interaction.
Want to Get Started?
Recommended beginner-friendly gear:
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Home Assistant Green or Yellow
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Raspberry Pi 5
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Optional: Zigbee-based switches or devices for added flexibility
Next Meeting Goal:
Bring a functioning version of Home Assistant – or at least some working code – for the next meeting on Tuesday September 16th at 7pm in the MPR. It’s the third Tuesday of every month. See you there!
Let’s build some wild stuff!
Zoom link of the recorded meeting will be added later.
@michleon100 @jamesfreeman @TravisGood @bwatt @taylor.gates @Rennay @Jon @Jordanva2
