Choosing the BEST Hardware to Run My Smart Home
I’ve FINALLY found the best hardware to run my smart home. Here’s exactly how I have everything set up!
*Links in chronological order*
Beelink Mini S13: https://amzn.to/4mcclyV
USB Extension Cable: https://amzn.to/47w32p5
Zooz 800 series Z-Wave stick on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4158KKI on AmerDroid: https://ameridroid.com/products/zooz-800-series-z-wave-long-range-usb-stick-zst39-lr?ref=jpvafmyq
Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2: https://ameridroid.com/products/home-assistant-connect-zwa-2?ref=jpvafmyq
Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro on Amazon: https://amzn.to/45oucvi on AmeriDroid: https://ameridroid.com/products/z-stick-10-pro?_pos=1&_sid=5cf924c4d&_ss=r&ref=jpvafmyq
Unifi Dream Machine Pro: https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/udm-pro?a_aid=SmartHomeSolver
Server rack keyboard: https://amzn.to/45PYuIU
Server rack keyboard tray: https://amzn.to/46R2ji3
Patch Panel: https://amzn.to/45illwD
Patch Cables: https://amzn.to/4fzuJzv
(affiliate)
Second channel video about Mini PC: https://youtu.be/BRKJSH8a7bU?si=7iBHn9Y-BjcXZ46I
My smart home favorites: https://www.amazon.com/shop/smarthomesolver
My smart home shirts!
USA: https://smarthomesolver.big3creative.com/
International: https://smart-home-solver-shop.fourthwall.com/
FOLLOW ME
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0:00 Intro
0:17 What I’ve used
1:17 Mini PC
4:18 Z-Wave LR
7:02 Upgrading Z-Wave/Zigbee
8:29 Best wireless signal
12:06 Server rack updates
14:18 I’m getting old
———
MUSIC
Ending song is The End by EVA.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6UIs5b0zSXztIW5GHkCTkK
Is there a step-by-step guide I can follow that you have?
well if you read this comment get your grabby hands a SLZB-06M this version… it you can use it as an extender or a zigbee cordinator i use 2 in my house just plug it to usb c wifi and home assistant detects it… and the device to zigbee
i cant get home assistant to work though 🙁
$170 inexpensive?!???? 😂😂😂😂😂
do you use ZHA or Zigbee2Mqtt?
What tablets do you use for your dashboards?
Has anyone bought a smartphone from ameridroid? I’m hoping to get my hands on a de-googled phone.
Hi Reed, I live on the fourth floor and want to install a sensor in my mailbox downstairs. The Zigbee signal doesn’t reach that far. I used to rely on repeaters, but they keep getting stolen. I’m looking for a stronger repeater I can keep inside my apartment that still reaches the ground floor. Any suggestions? Thanks!
@SmartHomeSolver any value for money smart bulds? Currently got SmartThings but might change to home assistant soon.
WARNING: Backup and/or brace yourself if tying to upgrade from zwave js to zwave js UI following this and other guides. My whole zwave setup is now nuked and HA cannot ‘see’ my zwave usb stick despite restarts and synology (the VM host) driver updates. I’ve wanted an excuse to completely migrate away from zwave and go 100% zigbee and this is probably it.
In Arizona too but wanted to know if you got slammed by the storm on like Wednesday
Your video is exactly why I’ll never go with HA. This definitely makes smart home not fun.
Is it bad I want more of this?
Still trying to convince myself to jump into Home Assistant I’ve tinkered with it here and there. It’s just so much to it still my main platform is Apple, which I still could use at least the interface of the smart home, especially with my family and all.
It’s been a while! I took a little time off to hang with the kids while school was out but I have lots of great content coming up for you guys!
Someone needs a KVM switch
This deserves to go viral.
super timely, I am in the EXACT same situation with the same setup. Delays in lights responding is killing the experience.
I’m always very scared of migrating everything to a MiniPC… I also started with an Rpi3 and then moved on to an Rpi4. I like the Rpi for its power consumption and because there’s a huge community behind it, and the hardware can always be used in the future (they’re immortal). They also have a huge community and users you can ask for help. MiniPC? Too many variables… although honestly I think the Rpi5 is too expensive, so I’m trying to work up the courage to make the switch.
Sounds like you need an extender
I came for the thumbnail, stayed for the content.
Silly question. You are using the HA official matter usb dongle which includes zigbee 3? Why have another zigbee dongle unless you have lots of zigbee devices?
For weeks now I have the Beelink S13 on my wishlink to install HA not being sure to buy it. Now I am 🙂 thanks! I’m new to HA, can you also tell what usb key I need for Zigbee and Matter? I bought a Philips HUE bridge but it’s not needed anymore I read
ZwaveJSUI looks dope. Gonna have to make the switch
is there any good wireless human presence sensor with Zigbee long range?
Do you use seperate dongles for Zigbee and Z-wave?
What are your thoughts on Control4?
I wanted to connect the Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 to a motion sensor in the mailbox what sensor would I choose?
good knowledge content, thanks
That twist was unexpected!
What’s the little case you mention and minute 2:06?
I am curious, I noticed you and another channel both took your hard drive out, put into an external enclosure, installed HAOS and then reinstalled the drive into the host machine. That’s a lot of extra work, why not create a live Ubuntu usb and then use that to install HAOS onto the internal drive?
Do Unifi superlink devices work in home assistant?
Nice overview! very welcome! Thanks a lot for this
I bought the Home Seer long rage motion detector and home assistant zwa-2 and connected both through Z Wave JS UI but not Im stuck I dont know how to create automations with them since I cant see them in the entities list. What am I missing?
What are you using your old raspi4 for now? I also migrated my HAOS from the raspi4 to a proxmox VM recently too
How are you running HA? Bare metal?
Hey! Do you think the mini S was more than enough for a good home assistant setup? Ive been trying to decide between that and a SER 5. Always love the videos
Absolutely.
Good stuff, Reed!
This was helpful! I’m getting ready to migrate off of my old Raspberry Pi4 with mini-SD card storage (which honestly has worked just fine for 3 years and over 100 physical devices) and onto a Home Assistant Green – so this will be a helpful set of things for me to watch/think about as I try to restore a backup, get my Zigbee controller moved over, etc.
Everything about this video is perfect.
Thanks Reed, great stuff…
You explained that so well.
I want to step up the quality of my camera detection. Currently I can detect animals on my lawn and blast a horn to scare them away. But I want to use AI to detect specific animals (corellas) as currently it only does a simple animal detection with no discrimination. I know it can be done with HA AI image analysis, just haven’t found a solution.
I upgraded my home assistant onto a Nuc. I use an Smlight SLZB-MRW10 for my Z-wave and thread and an SLZB-MR4 for ZHA and Z2M
Making a router double as a paper towel holder is actually a genius idea
i’ve been waiting for a long time for you to talk about end of life (EOL) procedure for your home. Its one of the main reason why i’m so reluctant to do complex home automation
My beelink quit entirely as well, without the USB extender…
Wow, just wow.