Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Recommendation Needed: Best house management system

  1. #1

    Default Recommendation Needed: Best house management system

    I found a few interesting smart home products, but cannot figure out what system works well. Read some reviews, but those were more advertisements then reviews.
    Can anybody on this forum advice or share their experience with these systems?
    The systems I came accross:
    - Smartthings
    - intraHouse Home automation
    - Revolv
    - Qivicon
    - Home Wizard
    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Automated Home Guru Vangelis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    131

    Default

    Depends if you want a dedicated system or one based on sofware (running on a 24/7 PC)?

    All of your list seems to be dedicated hardware, albeit based on standard protocols (Zwave / ZigBee)

    However, from recollection...

    intraHouse appears to be based in the UAE - Might struggle with support / parts
    Revolv has just been bought by Nest - Might struggle with your data being on the Internet

    You've missed off Fibaro HC2 (however thats getting a bit of a slating on the forums right now), also Loxone (which appears quite flexible)

    If you want something to work out of the box with little config, then go with dedicated hardware. However if you want to tinker with it and have it do exactly what you want it to do (bespoke requirements), then Software based is the way to go.

    Whichever you go with, make sure it has a good, supported API, as that will allow flexibility moving forwards.

    Vangelis

  3. #3
    Automated Home Lurker
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Also depends on your budget I was also going to say look at Loxone but also take a look at Control4

  4. #4
    Moderator toscal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Near Alicante Spain
    Posts
    2,061

    Default

    Loxone is very good just installing one at the moment. Programming it isn't for everyone though, but the tutorials on the website are very good and the loxone forum is excellent. The smartphone app and webpages are built automatically based on what you have told the Loxone miniserver is connected and how it works.
    IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
    Renovation Spain Blog

  5. #5
    Automated Home Lurker JeremyOlm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Colchester
    Posts
    5

    Default

    When my estate agent brought me for a few viewings, I had in mind the system I wanted for that particular house and whether or not it would be suitable once I have moved in. The entire decision has to depend on your preference and the specifications and features that the system has got to offer to you. If you think it suits your needs and what you are looking for with an affordable price, then by all means stick to it.
    Jeremy Olm

  6. #6
    Automated Home Guru MichaelD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Lancashire
    Posts
    167

    Default

    But recognise that what you think you need today won't be what you need in a year or two when your priorities change.

    Go for systems that have been around a while, and get good reviews, they are likely to be ones that survive a few years more. If you invest heavily in something very new, there is every chance it will fold in a year or so, leaving you with something unsupportable.

  7. #7
    Automated Home Legend TimH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    509

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JohnSmith01 View Post
    I found a few interesting smart home products, but cannot figure out what system works well. Read some reviews, but those were more advertisements then reviews.
    Can anybody on this forum advice or share their experience with these systems?
    The systems I came accross:
    A few more systems here:
    http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/home-...nology-choices

    There are also write-ups in this site of peoples' installs, e.g. Chris Hunter's Idratek system (Part 1 of 3 here: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/insta...me-part-1.html).
    Search the site to find relevant reviews, you'll soon spot whether the write-up is an advert or a real user's system

    HTH,
    Tim.

  8. #8
    Automated Home Legend TimH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    509

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JeremyOlm View Post
    When my estate agent brought me for a few viewings, I had in mind the system I wanted for that particular house and whether or not it would be suitable once I have moved in. The entire decision has to depend on your preference and the specifications and features that the system has got to offer to you. If you think it suits your needs and what you are looking for with an affordable price, then by all means stick to it.
    Hi Jeremy,

    You raise an interesting point - were you considering different automation systems based on the type of house you were viewing?
    Can you expand on that a bit more? (i.e. pros/cons of systems vs. houses)

    Cheers,
    Tim.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •