Average Tech Blog | Home Automation with Samsung SmartThings

As you grow your home automation network, the need for triggers and automation using contact sensors becomes commonplace. There are a wide variety of options, but the Visionic sensor costs less than $20 online, which was the lowest priced SmartThings-native...

Motion sensors are valuable when it's important to know when people enter or exit a room. There are many options available, but when it comes to SmartThings, the simplicity and native compatibility of the Ecolink Z-Wave Plus pet-immune motion...

Before you buy a Schlage door lock for yourself, it’s important to determine which of the three types you need: Schlage Touch, Schlage Connect, or Schlage Sense. If you're shopping for a smart door lock from Schlage, you've likely seen...

The Logi Pop smart button is, by far, the most aesthetically pleasing IoT push button. However, this beautifully designed smart button requires an additional hub for basic remote operation. To achieve an experience comparable to a native SmartThings device, you'll need to use a custom device handler & smart app, on top of IFTTT web hooks.

After reviewing over 25 smart buttons for SmartThings and other smart home hubs, we thought it'd be helpful to single-out the top 3 buttons to date. The buttons we link to below are natively compatible with SmartThings, and utilize Z-wave, Zigbee, and sometimes both.

Once you've built your initial home automation network, you need to be able to control it! The default (and simplest) way to control Z-Wave and Zigbee devices is with a Samsung SmartThings hub. The SmartThings mobile app offers all...

The garage door is a common roadblock for home automation, because garage door openers are “dumb”, expensive, and not something you'd want to break. Have no fear! If you pair a SmartThings hub with the Chamberlin MyQ Garage Door Kit, you can control your garage door remotely, and check its current status. You can even automate it using IFTTT and webCoRE.

As you work to make your dumb home smarter, you've probably thought about home security. The most common security system in the US is a hardwired, professionally installed system monitored by ADT. ADT monitoring can cost $60+ and doesn't...

The Z-Wave Plus outdoor smart switch from GE is a reliable, heavy duty controller for lighting and appliances exposed to weather and the elements. Natively compatible with SmartThings, its compact, all-black enclosure and short 7.5-inch power cord can easily be concealed behind foliage and rocks, or mounted to an exterior surface.

WallMote Dual Button Remote Aeotec WallMote - Two Button Remote for Samsung SmartThings The WallMote from Aeotec is a sleek and simple dual-button remote control with Z-Wave Plus radio and...