[Greatdane84]

Looking for any recommendations for items that ill be replacing.

-door locks
-thermostat (nest and Honeywell have neat iPhone controlled)

[M_Six]

Beware of Nest. They just entered a data sharing agreement with Google (who owns them). And anything you do on a cell phone can be hacked. That app on the commercials (AT&T maybe?) where the guy locks his doors remotely is scary. If he can lock them remotely, someone else can open them.

[Rotorocious]

Crestron

[W Cole]

The only smart lock actually available is the Kevo. The only other one actually being offered for sale is the lockitron but it is back ordered through the end of summer (at best). I pre-ordered my lockitron 2 years ago and just received it but it does not have full functionality and is pretty much still a beta product - the auto unlock feature does not work so I have to use the app on my phone manually which is less convenient than just using a key.

[kevinbahnz]

yeah, i preordered the lockitron in may of 2013 and i'm still waiting for it. The nest is nice when I can change the temp when I'm half asleep in bed.

[Kwando]

My friend uses a thermostat called Ecobee. I haven't followed up with him about it but at the time he commented highly about it.

[NormE91]

I have a Nest and two Nest Protects. Love their products.

I heat with oil and I know the Nest paid for itself the first year. My only complaint is that I never have to touch it! Once it learns your routine it takes over. The biggest benefit for me is that I have an old house with radiators. With a traditional thermostat, if I set it at 67 it would heat until 67 and turn off. The radiators keep throwing heat, and suddenly the house is at 73-74. After a week or so Nest figured this out and stops the heat early enough so the house reaches the programmed temperature without going over.

The Nest Protects are more for peace of mind. If there's a fire or CO2 event while I'm not home it sends a notification to my phone. It makes me feel much better about my dogs being home alone.

Aside from those items, I also installed Ethernet cabling throughout my home and a patch panel/switch in my basement. Tivos, computers etc just work better and more reliably on Ethernet than wifi. I still use wifi for many things, but the wired connections are bulletproof.

[MisterSkiMask]

Nest is pretty cool, I bounce between house and cabin, it is very nice to preheat or pre-cool

And you can set it to the minute when you want heat on, I have it kick on about 15 minutes before I have to get up in the winter, very nice

I also use wemo light switches and whatnot

[BzsBimmer]

http://canary.is

[wrickem]

I've got a Nest thermostat and 2 Nest Protects. All 3 of them work like they should. The thermostat has worked flawlessly for about a year and a half now. I also like that if I need to adjust the temperature when I am in bed, I just reach over to my phone and do it, I don't have to climb down the stairs. It looks good too, better than a crappy piece of beige plastic on my wall.

The Nest Protects are good too but they took the function where you "wave" your hand to cancel it away. That was the main reason I got them. I was tired of waving a dishrag at the old one when something cooking set them off. Now I have to press the button to shut it up.

I'd get them again.

[Greatdane84]

Thanks for the replies I'll look up "Creston" as I'm not familiar with that.

I'm on the wall between the Nest and Honeywell Lyric. I read a review from a A/C tech who really broke down the pros and cons and I guess the nest has a +/-6 degree variance... That just sounds kinda crazy. Also I did read about the privacy changes with google, but the privacy is locked tight unless u give google permission.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by Greatdane84

Also I did read about the privacy changes with google, but the privacy is locked tight unless u give google permission.

I have this beachfront property in Arizona I'll sell you. You might also be interested in this bridge I'm building soon.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by NormE91

I have a Nest and two Nest Protects. Love their products.

I heat with oil and I know the Nest paid for itself the first year. My only complaint is that I never have to touch it! Once it learns your routine it takes over. The biggest benefit for me is that I have an old house with radiators. With a traditional thermostat, if I set it at 67 it would heat until 67 and turn off. The radiators keep throwing heat, and suddenly the house is at 73-74. After a week or so Nest figured this out and stops the heat early enough so the house reaches the programmed temperature without going over.

The Nest Protects are more for peace of mind. If there's a fire or CO2 event while I'm not home it sends a notification to my phone. It makes me feel much better about my dogs being home alone.

Aside from those items, I also installed Ethernet cabling throughout my home and a patch panel/switch in my basement. Tivos, computers etc just work better and more reliably on Ethernet than wifi. I still use wifi for many things, but the wired connections are bulletproof.

You are correct with wired being the gold standard for data communications. But a properly implemented wireless system can be just as reliable as a wired system. You do have to spend a bit more to get a better wireless system but the nice part is you're not tied down to decisions you've made about the cabling locations. While I do have my house wired for Ethernet, I spend most of my time on my wireless network. If you do put in wiring for Ethernet, I wouldn't do anything less than Category 6 or 6a.

Another option people are utilizing is MoCA networks which utilize RG6 coax cabling for network connectivity. Speeds of MoCA networks top out at round 200 Mbps. I have a MoCA system running in my house for my DirecTV receivers and it's been working very well.

[Rotorocious]

Originally Posted by Greatdane84

Thanks for the replies I'll look up "Creston" as I'm not familiar with that.

I'm on the wall between the Nest and Honeywell Lyric. I read a review from a A/C tech who really broke down the pros and cons and I guess the nest has a +/-6 degree variance... That just sounds kinda crazy. Also I did read about the privacy changes with google, but the privacy is locked tight unless u give google permission.

Basically a real complete home automation system. Instead of just a module for the ac/heat.

Tons of add ons , can do way more than thermostat control.

[NormE91]

Originally Posted by Rotorocious

Basically a real complete home automation system. Instead of just a module for the ac/heat.

Tons of add ons , can do way more than thermostat control.

I've used Crestron before in a business setting for AV and lighting controls, and it's a very powerful platform. It's also quite expensive and complicated, and usually involves professional setup and maintenance. Do they have a simpler home product line?

I'm using Harmony in my home and it's gotten much better over the years, and it's relatively easy to set up.

[NormE91]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

You are correct with wired being the gold standard for data communications. But a properly implemented wireless system can be just as reliable as a wired system. You do have to spend a bit more to get a better wireless system but the nice part is you're not tied down to decisions you've made about the cabling locations. While I do have my house wired for Ethernet, I spend most of my time on my wireless network. If you do put in wiring for Ethernet, I wouldn't do anything less than Category 6 or 6a.

Another option people are utilizing is MoCA networks which utilize RG6 coax cabling for network connectivity. Speeds of MoCA networks top out at round 200 Mbps. I have a MoCA system running in my house for my DirecTV receivers and it's been working very well.

Thanks for the comments on MoCA. My Tivos support MoCA but I haven't tried it and haven't spoken to anyone using it.

[Greatdane84]

Originally Posted by NormE91

I've used Crestron before in a business setting for AV and lighting controls, and it's a very powerful platform. It's also quite expensive and complicated, and usually involves professional setup and maintenance. Do they have a simpler home product line?

I'm using Harmony in my home and it's gotten much better over the years, and it's relatively easy to set up.

I'm using the harmony ultimate right now after having used the harmony 1100 for 5 years. Kinda regret switching but too late now. I will admit the the Philips hue control with the harmony ultimate is nice. I have it setup so when I select watch movie it it dims the lights which seems cool. It's got it's pros and cons

[John 070]

Sure let thieves rob you remotely