How To Make SmartThings Actually Reliable (Yes, it CAN be done)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- I know it's hard to work with SmartThings sometimes. We've all had the reliability issues where our system has stopped working, or some automation has broken. It's infuriating, and frankly, I'm tired of it.
The thing is though, I've had really good reliability with this system, so this video's how I've managed that. I know the early on stuff is boring, but I promise you...this builds to a place where you'll be able to do anything with SmartThings in your home.
You probably need this video for your WiFi setup. Good, easy WiFi is key! • 5 Tips For EASY and AM...
Here's the app I use to diagnose Wifi channels: play.google.co...
This is part of our massive Hidden Tips and Tricks Series with SmartThings! Check out the other parts here:
Part 1 - • Hidden Tips and Tricks... (upgrade your security)
Part 2 - • Sneaky Device Tricks w... (sneaky device tricks)
Part 3 - • The Best Products and ... (best SmartThings compatible products)
Part 4 - • How To Make SmartThing... (this video)
Part 5 - Cancelled...sorry!
Subscribe to Take The Frustration Out Of Automation: / @automateyourlife
Join our Patreon Group to get direct access to me (and for even deeper content): / automateyourlife
Get in touch with us through the About Page on TH-cam, or at automatelife.net
Thanks for watching, and Don't Hate, Automate.
Brian
![[TH] VALORANT Champions Seoul - Grand Final - EDG vs TH](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WvObMc9VelI/mqdefault.jpg)
Very useful and well presented! I can see your engineering background shining through. This is what separates you from other smart home channels
Thank you Frank! Just trying to bring it every once in a while 😉
The fact that this video is free, is unreal.
So much value in this one!
That's how I like it! Thanks sir!
When setting up WiFi and ZigBee networks for best co-existence then in addition to selecting non-overlapping channels for them, as you have pointed out, it can also be helpful to set the WiFi channel bandwidth to be 20MHz. Many routers default to 40MHz or some kind of 20/40 Auto setting in order to support the highest connection speeds possible with 802.11n and now 802.11ax (i.e WiFi 6).
40MHz wide channels in the 2.4GHz band usually occupies 1+6, or 6+11 which can then overlap with ZigBee channels 15 or 20, making 25 (or 26 if in a region that supports it) a better choice.
However, since both WiFi and ZigBee use Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) both networks can probably work well enough if they overlap, provided that the WiFi network (which uses higher power transmissions than ZigBee) is not in continuous use. For example WiFi streaming video constantly is more likely to block ZigBee communications making them slow or dropped connection.
Great comment David. Clear you have some serious experience here.
I have a question here! I've not been able to find good, reliable information about the relative strength of the power transmissions. Have you seen something that's given you this clarity?
Very cool! Never knew you could do this! Great video once again
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent tutorial and review of network characteristics and troubleshooting to choose the best channeling for effectiveness for home networking.
Much appreciated!
Very useful! Thanks Brian - have overall pretty good reliability with smartthings but a couple of annoying devices that I will have to try this on, thanks!
Hope it helps! Good luck!
On the 2.4ghz band here in UK we also have a channel 14. Very few older devices support that channel. With only some new devices recognising it.
Learn something new everyday...
I know others have reliability issues often but in the 6+ years I've used SmartThings I've had maybe a total of 3 outages and never anything crazy like devices disappearing or automations breaking
Which I think means you get a lot of this video! I wouldn't expect any less ;)
Same here. Smartthings has been very reliable for me. Most of the devices I have a ZigBee or Zwave though.
Great info Brian. Thanks. 👍🏻
You bet! Thank you sir!
Great info and review as always.👍
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for recommending this video as well as the other ones you suggested. i jumped straight to this video (part 4) as i wanted to see how i can check the signal strength and quality. now ive decided to use a motion sensor that i haven't installed yet as general guide on the LQ & RSSI. i've got an iphone and couldnt find an app to check the 2.4ghz wifi signals. I did find a windows free app that does the same as your suggested android app but i'd need to go borrow a laptop so i can move around. this video provided me with alot of help as i wanted to know signal strength, the amount of devices and hops i can utilize, etc. think i'd need to order a few ikea tradfri signal repeaters/outlets and replace some bulbs with zigbee ones. the aeotec ones are quite expensive IMO in australia unless you think i'm better off with aeotec smart plugs long term? from what i've read and videos i've watched so far the the powered zigbee devices should be all the same in terms of repeating the signal. currently watching part 3 video right now :)
its unfortunate that we cant check the signal strength and quality of z-wave devices via smartthings. based upon what you've shown in your video it looks like i've got good signal to one of my z-wave devices as i've only had 1 failure out of 469. :)
once i've set up everything the way i want it inside my house and my backyard the next thing i need to figure out is to get most if not all my devices on smartthings to run locally :)
It sounds like you're on your way now! I'm really excited that you've been able to take this stuff and make sense of it. Now you can keep everything reliable, which is the biggest complaint of ST users (and IoT users).
I think do a little research on the repeaters you're going to use. Some are better than others, but I think you'll be just fine with Ikea ones. :)
@@AutomateYourLife I had done a quick sketch of the layout of my house and outlined where my weak spots are and where I could possibly install a smart plug or bulb as a repeater. Might need quite a few repeaters as I have a 2 storey house.
Yea I’ve heard some repeaters are more compatible with other Zigbee devices than others. Not sure if it’s just me in Australia but it seems like we don’t have much variety u less I order them overseas. I’ve ordered some ikea ones for now since there quite cheap. Love the content so far.
@@AutomateYourLife I guess I’m making sense of it coz I love tech like this and I’ve grown up building PCs and taking things apart to see how it all works. I can see others that may get frustrated with this but a little patience and planning goes a long way.
You forgot the link to the WiFi app in the description.
Apologies! Here you go: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubnt.usurvey
When I can afford to give you more than a dollar I will. I know I always say this but the VALUE from this channel.... I just started experiencing some of those Zigbee drops from my smartthings platform that you talked about in your last video thanks a ton !
Happy to help sir!
@ct. I think it was the one where he broke down matter. Or the 45 min smart things video
Amazing video, thank you! Question... have 18 Cree bulbs connected to my ST hub. In every one of them, I've noticed the "Route" says the following:
"This Device (insert ID of the device here) ↔ Unknown Route (????) ↔ Home Hub"
Any idea why the "unknown route" part is showing?
That means there used to be something there that was in the routing path. Could have been a plug, switch, or something else (but it was a repeater). You could work to get rid of those by unpairing/re-pairing devices, but I don't think it's necessary as long as you're having good reliable messaging between the hub and your devices!
Very nice and detailed video! Although I'm glad that I already know the interference read years ago but still I find this video useful with those CQI indicators! Thanks a lot Brian. One question on hue motion sensor though you tipped it as local execution but I think it requires a custom handler?
Good point out. It depends how you do the Hue Motion sensor and actually now there are 3 options!
Through Hue or Alexa hub - Cloud
Direct connect with device handler - Cloud
Edge Driver - Local (more to come on this)
@@AutomateYourLife ah thanks for the clarification, I'm actually waiting for edge drivers to become official since they are still in beta now
I have a question and not sure where to ask. I am thinking of converting my existing legacy alarm(30 years old ) to Smarttings . My question is how to create a virutal keypad for arm/disarm. I am aware there are some custom apps such as 'Sharp Tools' or 'Magic Tiles' but don't need anything that robust. By the way, I am planning on using Konnected to handle the sensore. I love you videos
thank you
So I thought Konnected had a way to use your old keypad if I remember correctly.
The DIY method does mean you can use other methods to arm/disarm. Let's say: Door Unlocking with code or Presence or something else that you think works for your home.
Could be pressing Flic buttons in the right order if you wanted it to. You have many options when you go DIY bob!
@@AutomateYourLife thank you so much
Hi Brian , Thank you for this video I couldn't find Zigbee repeaters only Zwave any suggestion? Thank you
Most smart plugs that are zigbee will be repeaters. Here's one: amzn.to/3rXldiL (amazon affiliate link)
Since the Groovy IDE is ended, is there another portal coming up where we can see all those utilities ?
Not that I see yet...there is a new dashboard but it remains to be seen how far that goes.
My.smartthings.com
Wow really great (and specific to my exact issues). One question though... I have a bunch of Z-Wave switches (Zooz and Ge/Jasco). Both were installed with a custom device handler and are controlled/in use by "Smart Lighting." In the IDE, they all say "Local Execution." Am I being lied to?
Unplug your internet and find out!
Nice video thanks 🤖
Thanks Andrew!
Which is better to keep everything local? zigbee or z-wave?
Neither with SmartThings at this point. Anything will turn to local in about 1 month. Watch our latest video if you haven't already!
Still dont get these hub things. Everything i have uses wifi and there is no trouble really. I think echo show 10 even has one built in I think but no idea how i would even use that. Hub are just confusing to me and do nothing it seems
That's ok. If the Echo Show 10 is working for you, then you have a hub anyways and you're good to go. Hubs come in as useful most times for keeping stuff off WiFi
One advantage of using a hub instead of WiFi is that they work with lower power communications, such as ZigBee or Z-Wave, and this makes possible smartswitches or smartdimmers that can work without a Neutral connection or a load bypass device, and battery powered smartdevices such as sensors can have much longer battery life.
Brian you rock!
Thanks Paul! 😀😀😀
@@AutomateYourLife always! 🤜🤛
Does this work with the Ring Doorbell - will it audibly notify you of someone at the door as well as the visual
There are ways to make any event in ST audibly notify you. I've used Sonos speakers (th-cam.com/video/KtOUiMAWXQg/w-d-xo.html), some use Bose speakers, and I also have this: th-cam.com/video/z6qh6_BoC1o/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video, any chance you can review the maximum number of devices (got a message recently of 200) and similar with automation (routines) also 200
What do you mean by review Fahad? I know they're getting rid of max devices in some cases, but I imagine max routines will be there a bit.
It is hard to "exclude" a device that has short-circuited and shot sparks out of it! I've never understood the design surrounding the exclusion process. On that topic, any zwave you trust? All my Jasco's are dying. I see Aeotec is producing these now. Would like to get your thoughts.
Aeotec products have always been good for me. I heard a few Jascos are having those problems more often now. You're not the first....
Aeotec is pricey, but very good.
All I’m seeing is Pizza Hut. But it’s past lunch and I’m really hungry so that could have something to do with it.
Mmmmm pizza 🍕
What do I buy now? 🤔 I need to get a hub to connect my philips hue and various older ge plugs. I do I buy a aeotec hub or can i get a used v2?
Either or, but I'd get the Aeotec if you can. V2 may be nearing end of life due to the coming Matter standard.
@@AutomateYourLife thank you
@@AutomateYourLife i am definitely going with the aeotec.
Can you recommend door sensors, smart plugs and motion sensors to trigger routines? Thank you
Hi mate. PHILIPS hue motion sensor is not local. Why you say that is it?
This sensor is cinnect with device handler.
Not mine!
Still, wrong to say it the way I did in this video. :)
@@AutomateYourLife hmm.. maybe can say how connected you are?
Samsung as far as I know wasn't selling any Smartthings hub in India in the past nor aeotec currently has any presence in India.. I had once mailed Aeotec's support a couple of weeks ago, asking the status of their expansion in India and the possible opportunities of such a big marketplace.. They replied that, they'll surely make a move towards India but for the time-being I can import their hub which has India specific frequencies..
Does it make any sense to import that hub in India.. If yes, which devices should I add to it.
PS: I got a quotation for my 3BHK apartment for a full Fibaro system with some retrofit relay switches and a few sensors.. the asking price is crazy high
Also I want a reliable/fuss-free automation system as I'm moving to Germany the coming September and only my parents will be at home..
I think if you're about to move from India -> Germany, I'd do something simpler that will be easy to manage remotely. I think Alexa is more going to be your parents' level. Anything WiFi breaks, they simply reset the Wifi and the device and it should work again.
With hubs, it can be more complex to manage and get devices reconnected if something happens.
Otherwise, if you think you can get it going in time (which you have plenty of time), go for the one from Aeotec. It's a great system when setup well.
I'm completely starting again with my SmartThings set up, neglected it for waaaaay too long
Fix it fix it fix it fix it!
@@AutomateYourLife Taking back control of my house 💪
Love it man! If you need anything...you know who to call!
@@AutomateYourLife The Ghostbusters?
I have never used a Smart Things hub, the only hub I use is for my Sengled lights.
That's alright! It's up to you if you need a hub's extra features :)