I like wired better than wireless in every case. If you have any locations where you want security cameras I would provide for them in addition to televisions, computers, and other electronics. In particular I would include cat6 to locations where you would have flood lights etc. on the outside of your house to provide for future POE cameras. Make sure that your ethernet runs go back to a place that is suitable as a wiring closet including appropriate space for rack mounting nas, media server, video network controller or other hardware you may desire. The wiring closet should also be where cable, phone, fiber, etc. come in and are distributed to the rest of the home/property.
rgc6075k
joined 1 year ago
I've had good success using Hubitat. Like you I tried the Google Home path but, we soon became convinced we were being spied on via the assistant to send us advertising emails and we found it rather creepy when it would join into conversations uninvited. Gmail was another issue in business as customers with gmail addresses had emails from us manipulated to insert ads for other Google services. I don't trust "free" big tech cloud offerings. With Hubitat I have created home & business security that was both local and without subscriptions using sensors and sirens. I set up my own sprinkler timer and controls which has been very handy when working on sprinklers in the yard as I avoid trips to the garage to turn various zones on or off to flush lines & etc. by simply using a "dashboard" on my Android phone. Slightly funky interface though it offers some very powerful capabilities which I believe could perform all of the functions you describe. It is a smaller company with frequently miserable documentation and website. The community seems a bit cliquish and someone new might find themselves scolded for posting a question in the wrong group or not having read the right documentation. It works great once you figure it all out. It has integrations which allow Google or Alexa but I've never liked talking to things that aren't real people. I have a google home hub, google speaker, and google home mini all collecting dust after multiple undisclosed privacy intrusions from Google. Those were particularly irritating when emails to customers were modified without notice by Google which resulted in complaints and confusion just because the customer had a gmail address and used a Google client. 6-bit answer I guess.
With the brands you mention, I've always been very satisfied with B&H Photo pricing, customer service, and policies.
I have found that many homes wired to code fail to have outlets, etc. located where they are most useful. It used to be that you had to have an outlet within 3 feet of a door and every 10 feet after that. Too many outlets end up behind the middle of the couch or bed and not in the best place for access after furniture is in place. Do your best to envision furniture and countertops and their placement and use. Both ends of the couch, both sides of a bed, etc.. Also, don't put too many outlets on an single circuit in a kitchen or shop area.