Our friends at Aukey have come up with some goodies for you this month.
2 lucky winners will each receive an Aukey tech bundle worth £100 in our competition below, and there are great discount voucher codes so everyone else can grab a bargain for a limited time too. Just click through using the links below and use the codes to grab a bargain. Hurry as they expire between 18th & 24th January 2018…
AUKEY Extension Lead Power Strip with USB
Take 50% OFF the Aukey Extension Lead Power Strip, 4x mains outlet & 4 USB Ports.
Use the code NWYZCPXY at checkout to make it £9.49. Offer ends 18th January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY USB C Hub with HDMI
Take 50% OFF the Aukey USB C Hub with 4 x USB 3 ports plus HDMI v1.4.
Use the code NWYZCPXY at checkout to make it £20.99. Offer ends 18th January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Take 50% OFF the Aukey Mini Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker.
Use the code NWYZCPXY at checkout to make it £7.49. Offer ends 18th January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY 28W Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports
Take 50% OFF the Aukey Waterproof Foldable 28W Solar Charger 28W with USB.
Use the code NWYZCPXY at checkout to make it £20.49. Offer ends 18th January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY Headless Mode Quadcopter Sparrow Drone
Take 68% OFF the Aukey Headless Mode Quadcopter Sparrow Drone.
Use the code SSTTEN7A at checkout to make it £19.99. Offer ends 22nd January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY Laptop Cooler
Take 57% OFF the Aukey Quiet Fan Laptop cooler with 2 USB Ports and Blue LEDs.
Use the code SHDNXSDB at checkout to make it £9.99. Offer ends 22nd January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY RGB LED Projector
Take 65% OFF the Aukey 1280×800 Projector with Remote Control and Wi-Fi.
Use the code IL5Q5XX8 at checkout to make it £99.99. Offer ends 24th January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY Fast 30W USB Car Charger
Take 50% OFF the Aukey Fast Car Charger with Quick Charge 2.0 and AiPower.
Use the code NWYZCPXY at checkout to make it £6.49. Offer ends 18th January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY Micro USB Cables to USB 2.0
Take 50% OFF the Aukey Micro USB Cable to USB 2.0 – 2 x 1m/3.3ft Black.
Use the code NWYZCPXY at checkout to make it £2.79. Offer ends 18th January 2018.
No products found.
AUKEY 25W Bluetooth Speaker with Subwoofer
Take 34% OFF the Aukey Bluetooth Speaker With Dedicated Tower Subwoofer.
Use the code DM94VXHC at checkout to make it £45.99. Offer ends 20th January 2018.
No products found.
**Competition CLOSED**
Congratulations to our winners –
For a chance to win on of two Aukey tech bundles valued at £100 each, simply Like the Automated Home Facebook page then comment below with your best piece of smart home tech advice or an idea you’d like to implement (you must complete both steps to be entered).
The competition is open to anyone with a UK postal address and closes at midnight on 25th January 2018. Check out full T&C here and Good Luck!
Last update on 2024-04-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If it’s your first venture into Smart Home tech, do some research. Find out what can be done and work out what you want to do, and then look at the tech that’s available to let you do that. Although Smart Home tech has some cross-compatibility, not all of it does and you could find yourself being locked in to a particular vendor or brand.
Also, it’s worth bearing in mind what light fittings you buy! If you’re intending to have smart lighting, some smart bulb types are cheaper than others (and some fitting have no smart bulbs available). Of course, you can always go down the smart switch route if you are replacing your light switches too!
So you want to automate your home? Success is not measured by what you want or do. Make sure you start by implementing something that has your partner’s agreement and that he/she can seevreal benefit. Getting that buy-in and support is critical for the support ot of the first project and will open the way to additional projects. Never forget automation is not for automation sake, but to enhance your life and/or that of others.
Be aware when looking at drop in replacement smart lighting switches to control existing lights that its not UK standard to have a neutral available to the switch, its switched live only.
As such you will have to rewire your light switches if you want to put anything smart in there as you cant power things from live only.
Think big, but start small.
Decisions made at the start in terms of protocols that your preferred devices will use, can introduce problems / dependencies further down the line.
See what you can do easily and more importantly – cheaply, to get started. Once you’ve learned your lessons, limitations of your home, (wiring setup / WiFi coverage etc), drawn up plans, divide into small manageable projects that build into a complete smarthome, and conquer!
Also, share your projects so others on the UK can follow behind you… Lots, (almost all), of the well documented smarthome DIY builds are US based, so share the love. A strong community following behind you will benefit you back many times over!
When planning a smart home, avoid built in proprietary electronics, your house will last centuries, iPod wall mounted speaker connections wont. Look at what you are building into your walls, and think, okay, when this breaks, or becomes obsolete what am I going to do with that hole in my wall/ceiling. There is always an alternative.
Do lots of research and join various discussion groups such as the Automated Home Forum and various Facebook Groups. So many systems have their own hubs so very quickly you will end up with a a shelf or cupboard full of hubs (Hue, Smartthings, etc). Will each system work with each other? What are you wanting the end result to be? Will you be happy just to have your lights on a timer or do you want to geofence them so they come on when you arrive home? Most importantly, will everyone else in the house be able to operate what you will install?
Light bulbs are an easy first step into home automation. When considering different options don’t be limited by lack of a bayonet (B22) fitting on screw thread (E27) bulbs, use a converter from e.g. Ikea at ~50p each. My first bulbs were Xiaomi coloured bulbs controlled over WiFi, with a useful (if quirky) app.
When automating lighting go for smart switches rather than smart bulbs. Smart bulbs will just conflict with your existing switches (when switched off at the wall your smart bulbs won’t work. And when the bulbs are switched off by the app then your wall switches won’t work as normal).
Start simple. Use your existing wi-fi network to implement simple smart devices like thermostat, lightbulbs, etc. Understand them then map out and invest in the technology that will deliver you future smart home.
Smart tech is great, but be aware of the security implications of putting hardware online — if it’s on a network, it can be hacked, and a lot of devices have very poor security. Make sure you buy from reputable manufacturers.
Be aware that anything programmable is hackable. Always change the default password. You may think that no one would be interested in whether your light is on or off but any information at all is useful to hackers.
I would love a wireless extenion lead
When choosing a automated home equipment such as Alexa or Google Home, check which of these go with the tech you already have. Its a VHS versus Betamax issue all over again, we chose Alexa as all of our tech works with it
looks great would love a portable hub, would come in very handy for me
there is a good reason to wait for standardisation rather than trying the latest tech, remember betamax, etc how many mobile phone chargers are there out there in peoples draws, sheds etc.
always do your homework home tech is changing all the time, so many products to look into and do your research
Reasearch reasearch reasearch
Start small but think big! Make sure you need the technology.. make sure it will work for you and not hinder what your setting out to achieve ask people for advice ! Don’t waste money on things you won’t use
Consider future compatibility; just because “company X” says they are going to launch an additional module to add to your set-up, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will! As an optimist and early-adopter, I have been stung far too many times in the past by tech not panning out as planned.
Always do your research before installing anything. Lightbulbs are definitely the easiest option to start with easing you into a smart home with a product that is actually useful. Not all smart tech is needed so think about what would be useful to you
Ours is quite simple. Timers for the lights for security while we are away. We switch them on and off with an App
A smart thermostat means you can turn the heating on before you get home which can save you money and prevent pipes from freezing during an unexpected cold snap.
Never pay full price! With the wide range of products available there is no reason to pay full price for any smart home tech. Companies often offer you discount vouchers just for leaving items in the basket without purchasing them.
I would love to see a piece of technology that could check electrics are off when you leave the house such as hair straighteners or chargers! Or something that enables you to check the doors locked when your out 🙂
Smart heating can help the environment and save you money in the long term. It gives you precise control of how and when you heat your home and data on your energy usage so you can potentially make a serious dent in your monthly bills
I’d like to find a non-Wi-fi CCTV camera which will be able to see through glass.
Get advice from someone who knows first along with researching the topic. Then start simply and once that is mastered venture to more complicated products.
Smart products can be a lot of fun when they work well, make sure you do not accidentally order something you do not want without realising it though, I nearly did that once!!
I’d love a glow in the dark Fridge freezer 🙂
We use smart plugs! Can’t remember the website we bought them from but we use an app and it controls every power socket! Which is great for when we are on holiday and need to make sure the kids aren’t leaving lights on or TVs on while at college
I’d most like to hook up our lights to be controlled with our phones, would be helpful for making it look like there’s people home when the house is empty!
If you are going to have a lot of smart technology controlling your home plan carefully and ensure you protect your smart home behind a secure password on a secure server and that you know what you will do, or what alternatives you will have available, if a major system fault occurs.
Start small build up with confidence and keep up to date with security for hacks etc
Only buy what you will actually use/need – otherwise it is just wasting your money
Start small with things like a music system or smart light bulbs
Use your grandma, she is the perfect smart “thing” that you ca have to your home 😀
Do your research. Most expensive is not always the best and the cheapest may not always do the job it says it will or may be difficult to set-up.
In the planning stages, when selecting purchases… remember that the quality of the Wi-Fi Router will be at the heart of any smart home technology
an automated ironing service would be great
A Universal charger that could recharge everything
My biggest piece of advice is don’t struggle with home automation on your own. Utilise social media and join support groups on them (Facebook have loads of them) that can help you with problems and expansion and also give you up to date tips etc . I have Amazon Alexa, BT Hive, Cocoon home security and Tp link plugs so far and they all run like clockwork thanks to Facebook groups!
What a great selection of prizes ,fingers crossed
Research everything read reviews and do what’s best for u and your home
Always do plenty of research before buying any new tech and make sure it’s compatible with your existing equipment
I had a few Sonos players and then added an echo dot. It was fantatsic to just say what I wanted to play and suddenly the desire to automate and simplify began. Added light bulbs and wifi switches since. A simple light bulb schedule when I am away adds security to the house. I would say start simple and find something that would make your life a little easier; or fun, my daughter loves learning colours by changing the hue of the whole room.
Great giveaway fingers crossed.
I have a bar in my loving room with some led light strips in and around it but eventually I want to replace them with smart ones that react to music playing.
My tip is to do plenty of research on smart tech and look at reviews before purchasing. The best is not always the most expensive!
Do lots of research, just because something is a named brand, doesn’t mean it’s the best.
Fab prize giveaway!
Do you really want to sit on your sofa controlling everything with phone apps? You’ll get pressure sores. Get up and walk around.
Research on the internet first. Products, reviews, manuals and any Youtube clips, before buying.
Make sure you do the research before committing to purchases. There are plenty of reviews and advice available
Make sure when automating your home, that all your devices are compatible. It’s much easier if they can all be accessed through one App, or Amazon Dot/Google home rather than having a different app for each device
Always do your research and shop around, get advice from experts and scour the internet for information
Do your homework and make sure that you google and take reco,memdations amd advice from others before committing on an expensive venture to make sure that what you doing does turn out to be smart
I’d like to set up IP CCTV ameras in my home after seeing my friends system.
I’d like to have a thermostat on both floors of the house that automatically adjusts the radiators … it’s always freezing downstairs and red hot upstairs!
Get some advice from someone who knows what they are talking about and the get a ‘young’ tech savvy relative to set it up for you
the only socket in my bedroom is behind my wardrobe , so i have to plug an extension lead in to i can plug my alarm clock and hair dryer in, but i like to turn all sockets of when we are not in , a wireless extenion lead would be great
I’d like smart tech that knows when I’m almost home and puts the lights on, draws the curtains and makes me a cup of tea.
I would love wireless everything, TV, entertainment centre, lamps, irons etc
I would advise don’t get anything complicated if you are a newbie, my parents are both technophobes and got new phones, neither of them had a clue on how to use a smartphone and it was a steep learning curve. My mum is now a pro, but my dad is a lost cause!
I’m guessing the projector will be back in stock on the 25th 🙂
I’ve got some IP Cameras and smart plugs.
The cameras are on a non-connected network as I do not trust them to be secure, but they were quite cheap. They feed into my laptop which has iSpy security monitoring software running on it for recording and playback.
The smart plugs proved tricky, my internet connection is via my mobile through the hotspot feature. The Energenie smart hub requires an internet connection but only has a wired connector. A bit of lateral thinking and I managed to use an old wifi router and on my laptop bridged the internet wifi connection with the smart hub router connection and managed to get it working. It’s a bit of a kludge and isn’t particularly reliable but most of the time it works there are just rather a large points of failure now.
My advice would be to take the time to research your needs and the capabilities of the kit you are planning to buy. My equipment was bought on a very small budget which I knew would mean it would be trickier to implement but it was still possible. Oh yes and what am I using the smart plugs for at the moment? well those IP Cameras have a habit of crashing and going offline. The old trick of switch off and on again is a perfect use case for a smart plug and saves me having to traipse to where the camera is located to reset it! 😀
I would definitely say do your research and the next smart kit I would like to try is something to control our heating system. We put the timer on but on some occasions we finish work earlier or later than planned so the timer doesn’t always coincide. It would be nice to turn the heating on when I leave work.
Home automation is future, this will be great in my house!
I have lightbulbs that can be turned off using an app. I never thought it would be something I would buy, but I was bought some for Christmas 2017 and they’re actually super handy!
Use small cam’s that people canylt see
Smart home technology is amazing and in the long run can save you time and money as well as keep your home secure when you are not there. One thing I think should be implimented is a simplified way of using it for older people, many do not have the technological education that 80’s plus people have and although they could make use of being able to close curtains from their armchair and turn off the television or lights they may have forgotten to but not have the energy or mobility to go back downstairs. Creating a one for all app would be a great start but it would have to be extremly user freindly with newbies in mind such as people who are 60 plus and may not even own a mobile phone. I think the way that smartphones especially for people with poor sight and little tech knowledge are great. If this could be implimented for smart home control it would be something that older people could not only benefit from but it would also give smart home device creators a whole new generation to sell to and accomodate for. If someone could find a way to get my kids to stay in their beds at night short of duct tape that would also be awesome lol.
Wireless HDMI connections are a must have! Makes the living room still look slick when a ps4,switch,PC and cable box are plugged into the flat screen which is hung on the wall. Rule of thumb is the more cables you can get rid of the better your setup will look,nothing worst than cables cluttering the whole look!
Research your stuff! Start small and don’t make rash decisions as you may regret years down the line. Implementing the smaller stuff first like automatic light bulbs is a good starter point and serves as a good security feature too.
Do your research and look at on line reviews ,wireless tech is the way forward
I think there should be an app that you can use on your phone that is kind of like “Team Viewer” which can control your PC while your out to load everything you want up ready for when your back. Instead of having to sit there to wait for Windows Updates as well as getting Steam update all my games ready for me to play! <3
I would like a smart economy 7 meter that automatically turns on my Electric car charge point during the off peak hours. currently I have to guess when I will receive off peak power and set the car timer to charge.
When buying tech never rush into a rash decision, research it well… very well, and wait a few months for new equipment to have been tested out by other consumers… I know someone has to be first but it can be an expensive mistake
My advice would be don’t buy new tech as soon as it comes out. Sometimes, it won’t stand the test of time (Eg. HD DVD players!) and if it does last, it will come down in price!
A few tips:
* plan things meticulously, it’s easy to change things on paper but not so easy once you’ve plastered over your walls!
* use a cable if you can. wireless is great but has it’s limitations. Cables are faster and more secure
* run more cables than you need. the cable itself is cheap as it’s the connections at the end which are expensive (time to terminate and cost of connectors). pull plenty of cables, even to places you think you’ll *never* need it, and leave it coiled in the wall. the pain saved is worth the extra pennies in cable cost!
Good luck!
Tim.
i am so behind on tech. i dont have any fancy gadgets yet so havent got any advide other than before spending alot of money, think about whether you really need this in your life!
AUKEY RGB LED Projector
before buying any new smart appliance check if compatible with what you already own
I really, really want to connect everything up; i have an amazing retro separates stereo with great sound and a separate TV and wifi speakers upstairs – i just want them all to link up
ask an expert and do your research first
My piece of advise for anyone starting home automation would be to understand your expectations, and then probably limit them. You won’t get an ‘all singing all dancing’ system yet, no matter how much money you through at it.
Consider how long the technology with be relevant to your needs. Tech is ever changing so it needs to last.
Make sure you read lots of reviews before making purchases and make sure to compare prices to get a good buy. Sometimes it’s worth paying more to buy a major piece of kit if it comes with long guarantee.
My advice would be to go for connected kit that justifies its existence by paying for itself and reducing your costs.
I would love the AUKEY 28W Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports. Spend a lot of time outdoors.
Research, make sure the smart tech you are after is compatible, eg lightbulbs with alexa etc. If you are not sure, ask in store. You can always search prices online after you have done research.
Only advice is to do research on smart tech devices online, reading blogs, websites etc.
Always shop around. You can always find it cheaper somewhere else. Also never be afraid of taking a gamble with something faulty, if you think you have a use for a product, do some research then try and fix it. You’ll find it much cheaper that way…. Talking from experience
I have some health issues affecting my sleep at the moment and I am planning to get a sleep monitor to find out the truth of whether I have really had the amount of sleep (or not) that I think I have. One that helps me get to sleep and wakes me up gently too sounds great. One day perhaps they will also control the temperature of the bedroom all night for optimum sleep too.
Do your research, make sure you’re getting the right smart tech for your home.
Don’t be pressured into buying high-tech gadgets for the home just because they’re trendy or the ‘current thing’. Think about what you actually need or will benefit from, instead of trying to simply keep up with the Jones’s.
I’d love to have everything in my home controllable by my voice.
Because smart homes rely on components being able to communicate with one another, before you stock up your shopping cart with all the latest and greatest smart home gadgets make sure they’re compatible with any other smart devices you own including your phone, tablet and any smart speaker and other gear you already own.
Check for compatibility with any existing products and just buy products you know you’ll use immediately. The technology is so new that most products will be obsolete within a matter of months so don’t buy stuff intending to use it when you’ve bought something else in the future
My advice would be to do ur research. Not everything will be suitable for every house and will depend upon what you already have. Also little at a time… start small and grow.
Energy -usage monitor which lets you know your usage each day and the cost which will prompt a change of habits which are costing you money and help the planet .Win Win
Make sure you rearch home tech well to make sure it’s all compatible! Especially if you’re using the amazon echo!
do your research before you buy
I’d like to setup a system that dynamically controls lighting to suit the conditions outside.
Research, plan and future proof as much as possible. Don’t buy what you want today, think about what you’ll need in the longer term.