Home Automation
How to Automate Your Existing Window Blinds | Smart Home Blinds Guide (2025)
Learn how to automate your existing window blinds without replacing them. SwitchBot, IKEA FYRTUR, and SOMA smart shades compared with installation tips.
DIY
13 articles
Home Automation
How to Build a DIY Presence Sensor with ESP32 and ESPHome | Under $15
Build a DIY presence sensor with ESP32 and LD2410B mmWave sensor for under $15. ESPHome firmware, Home Assistant integration, step-by-step guide.
Coronavirus
3 Household Materials That Filter Out Viruses (DIY COVID-19 Face masks)
The CDC and White House now recommend wearing a homemade face mask when you venture out of your house. These recommendations specifically refer to homemade masks, to avoid diminishing the already depleted N95 face mask supply - desperately needed by hospital and front-line workers repeatedly exposed to the Coronavirus COVID-19.
Gadgets
Optimal Netgear Orbi Router Settings for Signal Strength and Speed
To access these settings, login to orbilogin.com (while connected to the network), click the Advanced tab, then choose Advanced Setup from the left sidebar menu. These settings are only available if your Orbi is in 'Router mode'.
Buttons
The Ultimate Guide to Buttons for Hubitat & SmartThings
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.
Cable Management
Cable Management Tools for DIY Home Automation Projects
Black extension cord running along a white baseboard? Matrix of cables hanging from your new flat screen? Three power strips plugged into each other in the closet? These types of finishing touches can detract from the hard work and hours it took to setup. A few simple additions focused on cable management, like cable clips or raceways, can give any project a professional appearance.
Apps
How to Optimize Your Home WiFi Network for Speed
In addition to router brand, home size, and internet service provider (ISP) speed caps, there are a number physical factors - inside and outside - which can affect performance and speed of the WiFi network in your home. It's important to think about these factors when placing access points, and mesh network nodes, around your house.
Apps
Control Existing Window Blinds with Voice & App
This is the simplest, most cost-effective way to automate existing window blinds, without professional installation and programming.
Gadgets
Z-Wave Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Fire safety is, arguably, one of the most important aspects to home ownership. Not only are you responsible for yourself, but also everyone else living in the home. If your home is not already equipped with hardwired smoke detectors, it's simple to add wireless smoke detectors to SmartThings (or any Z-Wave home automation system) for less than $50.
Apps
WebCoRE Automation for SmartThings
WebCoRE is capable of executing automation flows using inputs from any Z-Wave or Zigbee device connected to your SmartThings hub. Explore pistons...
Apple Guides
3 Steps to fix Frozen MacBook on Startup
If your MacBook or MacBook Pro is frozen and unresponsive, save yourself a trip to the Genius Bar by following these simple reset steps.
Door Locks
Top 3 Smart Z-Wave Deadbolts for Home Automation
For both standard and non-standard doors, or doors with decorative door handles, you should consider adding a deadbolt-only smart device to the door to enable remote control and access. A smart deadbolt is simply a locking mechanism that fits into the existing deadbolt cut-out in your door, and connects to the internet to allow for remote access and programming.
Home
Ring Floodlight & Spotlight Cams for Smart Home Security
The Ring Spotlight cam combines motion-activated security lighting with Wifi security camera. The perfect addition to any smart home with...