homeassistant

Does anyone have experience integrating a Bryant mini-split Heat Pump? …. It’s made by Carrier so Carrier heat pump may be similar.

It looks like the strategy is

• install a “System Access Module”
• download Bryant home app
• set up and account
• connect the SAM to the account over WiFi
• there’s an integration which probably connects to the cloud service

This is going to be expensive, getting the SAM installed (new system so I don’t want to risk losing warranty by doing it myself) so I need to know what to expect and whether it is worth it

1. The unit has many modes and controls whereas traditional thermostat just holds a temperature. Will this let me automate additional modes like “dry”, fan speed, vent direction, etc?
2. Is there a better approach with local control? I have zwave, Zigbee, thread meshes so any of those would be ideal.
3. I have an old remotec ir blaster that I used on my previous ac, but have not yet tried on this one. Is that my only local choice?
4. Can anyone speak to ir blaster improvements since broadlink bought remotec? Is there anything worth buying an updated device?