How do you use SmartThings?

[pasusan]

I'm interested in how SmartThings can be used. Do you do lights, monitors, cameras?

Do you use it all the time or only when you're gone RVing?


I think this doorbell looks cool - you can even talk to people at your door whether you are home or not. Ring Video Doorbell Pro

You can apparently use this with SmartThings or stand alone with its own app.

[joebedford]

I must confess I don't use IoT devices. I know "they" are out to get me.

[rockhillmanor]

What I am seeing more of now are the "knob" controlled transmissions, especially on Chrysler products

..

They didn't have computers back then...so how'd they do it?

:B

[rockhillmanor]

Tvov wrote:
....My wife's Ford Fusion has the "auto-darkening" rear view mirror and side view mirror - very cool, and works awesome....

....What I am seeing more of now are the "knob" controlled transmissions, especially on Chrysler products. Nothing wrong with that (heck, I drive fire engines with push button transmissions), just odd to me. With today's electronic transmissions, there is absolutely no reason to have a shifter on the steering column or floor....

LOL.

What's old is new again! :C

My 1999 Chevy Tahoe has the auto darkening rear view mirror and side mirrors. I HATE them you can't see what is really behind you or coming up along side of you!

Push button gear shifts as are old as it comes. I think it was in the 60's my Dad had a Dodge with push buttons. My brother inherited that car and had to keep a butter knife in the car to get the buttons unstuck to come back out! :B

[Tvov]

I have just figured out how to use the calendar on my "smart" phone. I think I was one of the last people in my area to even get a smart phone.

Love the camera on the phone. Now we always have a camera with us!

I have come to love and appreciate all the "smart" technology on my truck... it is approaching 10 years old, and everything still works. I don't think I will ever have a vehicle again that doesn't have a keypad on the door! Absolutely love that, and it has "saved" us many times.

My wife's Ford Fusion has the "auto-darkening" rear view mirror and side view mirror - very cool, and works awesome. The smart phone interconnect system with the car we don't use, played with it, but so far haven't used it. Also, we do not talk or text on the cell phone while driving, so that feature is useless to us (being in the fire department responding to car crashes caused by cell phone use will do that to you).

I don't know about the keyless car systems using a key fob. I've had friends many times run into odd situations using those. So for now I still prefer the old metal key.

What I am seeing more of now are the "knob" controlled transmissions, especially on Chrysler products. Nothing wrong with that (heck, I drive fire engines with push button transmissions), just odd to me. With today's electronic transmissions, there is absolutely no reason to have a shifter on the steering column or floor.

As to our house? Virtually no "smart" systems. I have a home based business and wife works remotely from home 1/2 the week so we are always in and out of the house. We are good friends with our neighbors so we watch each other's property.

What I would like to install are remotely controlled outdoor lights. So when we hear something outside we can turn on outside flood lights without having to go across the house to the switch panel. Also so when we arrive home at night (like from camping trips) we can turn on floodlights using our phones. Still looking into this!

[austinjenna]

I have the smart things hub and its used all the time. I have a few water leak detectors by the sump pump, under the sink, washer etc.. that will trigger a siren and send out text messages as well. Also the thermostat can be controlled with it. For light switches etc.. I use Kasa (TP-LINK) which can also be hooked up to Alexa so yo can say Alexa turn on the living room lights, or turn up the temperature xx degrees.

[pasusan]

guidry wrote:
Very, Very rarely does a crook pick a lock. 99.9% of the time they just kick in the door or break a window to get in. Either the front or back, depending on neighborhood activity, dogs, bushes, etc. Also, 99% of the time they knock on the front door or ring the doorbell first to see if anyone is home. Thus, it is a good idea to have some sort of video doorbell that notifies you if someone walks to your front door. You can then answer through the speaker and just tell them you are busy in your home office and wont be opening the door for them. They will just go to another home to try.

You know - I'm just wondering if the crooks are getting used to these video doorbells. Maybe they won't believe we are home if we respond from afar... On Amazon alone there are over 38,000 customer reviews on the different Ring doorbells available. Apparently lots of people have them!

[magicbus]

mich800 wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:


If your dumb enough to leave your FOB in the car, then you basically deserve to have your car stolen - happened to a friend of mine - I told him the truth - that he was a dumba$$. He agreed. Recovered the car and keeps the fob in his pocket.

Who in their right mind would intentionally leave the fob in the vehicle? I guess some still have no idea how these push button start and passive entry works. Fob in the car = the vehicle cannot be locked. But I guess he learned the hard way.

My guess is we have another pair of opinions not based in fact.

In fact, we leave our fob in the car all the time but gee, we lock the doors using the exterior keypad.

It is just another application of technology. Some trust the locks on their front doors and some of us trust the locks on our car doors. If 'they' want the car they will just drag it onto a flatbed. The alarm will be ringing if they break in or lift it, sadly I doubt anyone will notice.

Dave

[delwhjr]

turbojimmy wrote:

2oldman wrote:

turbojimmy wrote:
There is zero evidence that "smart homes" increase the chance of a break-in. It's quite the opposite, actually.

Yeah, that's just a rant, which new things often elicit.

I figured as much but felt compelled to call it out anyway. I've heard that shaking one's fist at the offending new thing often helps.

You must also invoke some deity and say special words!:B

[delwhjr]

Using technology always comes with its own set of problems. Whether it is the new tech or the old. I evaluate what it can do for me and the cost. If I think it is a benefit, I will try it. If I don't think it will help, I stay with the old.

The funniest thing I have heard with the new tech was the thief who only took the WiFi enabled cameras and doorbell. Then got caught when they tried to make it work and it connected to the original owner and showed where it was through the camera.

[turbojimmy]

2oldman wrote:

turbojimmy wrote:
There is zero evidence that "smart homes" increase the chance of a break-in. It's quite the opposite, actually.

Yeah, that's just a rant, which new things often elicit.

I figured as much but felt compelled to call it out anyway. I've heard that shaking one's fist at the offending new thing often helps.

[mich800]

2012Coleman wrote:


If your dumb enough to leave your FOB in the car, then you basically deserve to have your car stolen - happened to a friend of mine - I told him the truth - that he was a dumba$$. He agreed. Recovered the car and keeps the fob in his pocket.

Who in their right mind would intentionally leave the fob in the vehicle? I guess some still have no idea how these push button start and passive entry works. Fob in the car = the vehicle cannot be locked. But I guess he learned the hard way.

[guidry]

Very, Very rarely does a crook pick a lock. 99.9% of the time they just kick in the door or break a window to get in. Either the front or back, depending on neighborhood activity, dogs, bushes, etc. Also, 99% of the time they knock on the front door or ring the doorbell first to see if anyone is home. Thus, it is a good idea to have some sort of video doorbell that notifies you if someone walks to your front door. You can then answer through the speaker and just tell them you are busy in your home office and wont be opening the door for them. They will just go to another home to try.

[2012Coleman]

For starters, picking a lock the old fashioned way isn’t all that difficult. If you do a quick Google search, you’ll not only come across a ton of tutorials on how to do it, but you’ll also be greeted with places where you can buy your own lock picking tools literally anyone can do this with just a little bit of practice. So why would a thief go through the trouble of figuring out how to hack your specific smart lock when they could just pick it, as they always have?

If your dumb enough to leave your FOB in the car, then you basically deserve to have your car stolen - happened to a friend of mine - I told him the truth - that he was a dumba$$. He agreed. Recovered the car and keeps the fob in his pocket.

I recently got wireless enabled programmable thermostats. I love them. Can set programmable times for heating cooling in both zones and modify them from my phone if needed. You will have to hack my WiFi password to get at them - good luck.

I have Blink cameras also connected to my WiFi. They send notifications when motion is sent along with a video. I can use my phone to look at various points throughout my house - garage, shed, office, bedrooms, wherever I have a camera and WiFi/wired coverage.

I think technology is cool, and it is to be embraced, not feared.

[2oldman]

turbojimmy wrote:
There is zero evidence that "smart homes" increase the chance of a break-in. It's quite the opposite, actually.

Yeah, that's just a rant, which new things often elicit.