February 26
-February 26, 2021, 9:00 AM Pacific Time
A few weeks ago, my wife and I signed a contract on a piece of land, so we hope to build a new house within the next year. Of course, HomeKit will be an important part of it. I plan to rethink everything about the HomeKit environment of this new house and start over from a software perspective. Do you want to build a new house? Join me to get tips and tricks for creating a HomeKit environment during house construction. Some products will be installed by the builder, but I will install other products after I move in.
The first thing I have to consider is what I want to do for the home network. For our Apple TV, I will use CAT6 cables in every TV position in the home, but there are still many things to consider. I am currently using two
The router powers my home network. However, I am considering switching to
Profit from it
. Since its release, HomeKit router technology has not changed much, so I am not 100% sure what I will do here. In the past few years, I have always liked AmpliFi Alien, especially when I leave home, it comes with a built-in VPN.
I have many kinds
In the past few years, so I may continue to use it at the front door. I like to use
For our back door, so I might buy another one for our new house.
Among all the HomeKit products I own, being able to automatically unlock the door is by far the best smart home experience.
Outdoor cameras are something I must consider. I
This
, But with the new version, I do have the opportunity to install wired cameras, so I don’t have to worry about powering them. I can install a few
, But if I want to replace the camera in the future, I have to plug the power cord back into the attic.
For the sake of simplicity, I may continue to use the eufy camera, but this is of course something to consider. You have to weigh never worry about battery life (or install battery
), or there will be more challenging time to upgrade the camera in the future.
I have been using
In our current home, and when I
It, it is not compatible with HomeKit. I plan to have an electrician install
Instead of the usual Chime, you still have to install the standard Chime.
Although the comfortable doorbell is great, I want to be able to use the motion sensor on the door to run HomeKit automation functions.
In the past year, I could not say enough good things. I will continue to use the right of abode, but I may switch to the Smart Security Suite version, which does not include a built-in camera/motion sensor in the base station. I like the features of iota, but I will install this version in the wiring closet so that these features are not needed.
I will continue to use
. I would rather not have to drill holes in my own door, these strips will also work well on existing systems. I will continue to use abode’s advanced monitoring features, thanks to the peace of mind it brings, LTE backup and 24/7 monitoring stations.
I will add some room motion sensors, glass break sensors, keyboards and smoke detectors to complete my system. HomeKit compatibility improves the usability of the system because you can use their motion sensors and door sensors as triggers inside HomeKit to trigger automation.
I currently have two thermostats. One is the nest and the other is the nest
. You might think that this is a simple decision for HomeKit compatibility, but for
, Nest thermostat is compatible with HomeKit. My wife prefers the Nest app to the ecobee app, but I know Nest looks like
Enter the Google Home application for a long time. I like the Nest app, but I don’t want to use the Google Home app.
I plan to have one
In every room in my new house, because they are essential to make the most of HomeKit. No need to rely on the iPhone to access HomeKit through Siri, anyone in my family can control the smart home experience with just voice. In the few months of using HomePod mini, it has become one of my favorite Apple devices.
We are now discussing our plans with the builders, but I plan to start buying products because I see them in
All seasons.
I will build a brand new "home" in HomeKit to eliminate any "cruel" software in the current home.
HomeKit is Apple's home automation application/framework that allows you to control connected accessories via iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod and Siri.
HomeKit Weekly is a series of articles focusing on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything related to Apple's smart home framework.
Bradley lives in Chatanooga, Tennessee, where he manages Apple devices for a private school.
Tips, feedback, corrections and questions can be sent to Bradley@9to5mac.com.
Sonos Roam portable speaker with AirPlay comes out
Leaked photos provide a new look for the upcoming AirPods 3
Video: 30 Mac tricks for new settings
9to5Mac Daily: March 10, 2021
