Great videos, I learn a lot from watching them. I have many wi-fi controlled devices in my home, Switches, plugs, light strips, etc. no Zwave or Zigby devices. I currently just use Alexa to control but I really want a couple of wall-mounted tablets to control everything. What is the best route when I only have Wi-Fi devices? I have a new Smartthings hub but have not successfully got it up and running. I really wish I knew before buying all my devices that I needed Zwave or Zigby to get this up and running easier.
Yea unfortunately it will be tough in your situation. You can use the Alexa app on the walls but it’s not very easy to use or customize like SharpTools and SmartThings working together. I wish you had found my 3 simple steps sooner because now it will be difficult to bring everything together :(
so from what i understand so far. 6mins into vid, is that its a easier similar system like home assistant. Im assuming with little to no coding and since it is not open ended, you wouldn't have to worry about forgetting to check updates yourself.. If i am right then I am excited to start!
Unfortunately I don’t as I have stayed away from Nest products. But there is a Smart App called “NST Manager” that might help! You can download it from the community installer. Check out this video: th-cam.com/video/03t7iZEMrMw/w-d-xo.html
sharptools looks great. So many smart systems have triggers and actions, but completely miss conditional logic. I've tried IFTTT but my phone didn't reliably execute the logic. I have an Echo Plus to announce door sensors and reminders, and a Ring Hub to monitor water sensors etc. I'm a little frustrated that this will require a 3rd hub in my home, because the first 2 were overly proprietary... My goal for SharpTools would be to tell my thermostat to change it's target temperature based on the outside temperature. I would also like to turn on hvac fans based on the temperature upstairs. My Nest thermostat is not interested in communicating with other devices, so I will probably get a cheaper one that works with smartthings. Before I invest the time and money, I would value your opinion. Does that sounds like something SharpTools can do.
Anything that can be added to SmartThings will be available to work with SharpTools. Once you get all of your devices in one place they can all work together. That is why a SmartThings hub is a must. You might have to replace devices to get the compatibility though.
3 ปีที่แล้ว +1
Just found your channel today and got pretty pumped about Sharptools but it seems it only works with SmartThings or Hubitat :( On that note, I have a question: when we tap to manage connections it has also a “phone” option; what is that for? Sorry if the answer is already in one of your videos but I haven’t had the time to watch them all yet (if that’s the case, can you - or anyone else - point me towards that video? Thanks 👍🏼)
When you connect your phone you will be able to get SMS alerts and also login using your phone number. What are you using for your hub now?
3 ปีที่แล้ว
OK, I was hoping for something different :/ That's exactly the case: I don't use any hub (yet); I only have wifi devices. And I'm mainly undecided between HomeKit or Amazon Echo. I also can consider other options (Hubitat seems great) but I live in Portugal and we don't have much choice here.
wow nice video! I am just confused how did you bring over your smart devices over to your sharptools profile. Can you please elaborate on that? Thank you!
@@SimplySmart123 Thank you for quick reply! So I would need to purchase hardware(hub) to use smart things? That sucks. I thought I could just use the smart things app and add all my devices there. Are there any free solutions for creating your own smart home dashboard? I just want to mount one my tablets and have my ring and kasa devices on it. Thank you again for your help!
A hub is a critical part of your smart home. It's the brain. Without it, you will not get far. If you follow my 3 steps to building the ultimate smart home you will never struggle. Some devices might be able to be added without a hub but all of the good devices will require a hub. There is no subscription after you purchase the hub so it's a one-time investment in your smart future. The great part of a smart home is you can start small and build or add at your own pace.
@SimplySmart123 thank you. I tried to connect ring cams and so far it worked. But I see your point not everything can be available. Keep up the good job. Appreciate your help in this
Excellent video on sharp tools. I have several smart devices around the house and im currently using alexa to control them. I'd like to set up a fire tablet , which i already bought, as wall mounted control. my question is if i need to purchase a hub to use my table with sharp tools? Thank you
SharpTools only works with SmartThings or Hubitat so you will need to have one of these hubs. SmartThings is more user-friendly and my recommendation. They have stopped making hardware but the Aeotec version should be available in the US soon!
A lot of people like the ease of use in building a polished looking dashboard with SharpTools. There's also a number of unique features like News Feeds, Calendars, Album Art and more! I'd suggest giving the free trial a spin for yourself to try it out. 😀
Once again....another great video. I like the concept...... but it doesn’t seem with $36 a year....for me at least. Maybe if it were a one time fee.....maybe!!!!
I haven’t looked into it because I have never had any issues with SmartThings and SmartThings is easier to use. If you have the time to learn it I would use it in addition to SmartThings but not fully switch as they work together.
Hi Justin I use Wyze eco system for my home and I would like to use fully kiosk browser and home assistant. My question is can use fully kiosk and home assistant for Wyze?? Please help me
Yes. I always register my tablet with my Amazon account because I want all the benefits of my prime account and Alexa. On the motion sensor, I assume you're saying with Fully Kiosk Browser? It seems to work well for me. I haven't gotten mine on the wall yet. Trying to make a video on it.
Simply Smart 123 I had registered my tablet but then I couldn’t get my fully kiosk motion to work. It may have been a settings issue. Anyhow, please keep up the great videos. They are extremely helpful with my home automation hobby (more like obsession). Going to watch your how to add music to my sharptools video again and give it a shot. Thanks
Seems to be a lot of similarities between SharpTools and SmartTiles! What platform do you prefer? Can you do a short vid comparing the featureset? Love your videos.
I think you may be referring to ActionTiles which was formerly SmartTiles. SharpTools is more that just Dashboards because they have an entire Rules Engine that can be used with the Dashboards. There is nothing that SharpTools can’t do that I am aware of that other smart dashboards are capable of at this time. That is why I am SharpTools all the way. With the rules there is really no comparison. Glad you are enjoying the videos. Many more coming!!
I think you are referring to ActionTiles or SharpTools? SharpTools has a full rules engine in addition to the dashboards which makes it more powerful than ActionTiles.
Thanks for the vid, this is great. I followed your instructions on a previous vid for the accuweather, but mine on SharpTools I just see a picture of a thermometer and nothing else. Any ideas?
Only certain devices will connect to SmartThings. You will need a hub for full functionality. I would try and get away from WiFi devices and start to switch to Zigbee and Zwave.
Unfortunately the entire smart home industry is going to subscriptions. Wink has already switched and so did IFFTT. SharpTools is just ahead of the curve. There are always sales around holidays also and there is a free version as well. It’s some great software and always getting better!
Lol. Most Smart Home programs are going to subscriptions, Wink, IFTTT, etc. SharpTools is just ahead of the curve and won't piss a bunch of people off in the future! You also get a lot with a free account.
@@SimplySmart123 would pay for this software, but cloud stuff is lame. so if i setup super cool dashboard and if your company folds like a cheap lawn chair then i dont have access to my dashboard, but whoever decides to at your company (or whoever buys it for pennies on the dollar) has access to my dashboard, my home, my info, my front door lock..everything. yet you are "ahead of the curve" uh no thanks.
The whole point of Hubitat is local control and no internet access required for that control. Doesnt your cloud based subscription model just re-introduces a requirement for internet access and once again losing local control without that internet access since the dash resides on your servers and not on the Hubitat hub?
@@SimplySmart123 You're lucky, I lose internet regularly. Plus if I get the pro version, my house becomes unusable if my monthly credit card dies (or I do!).
Unfortunately I had to remove it because I have two community strikes for absolutely no reason and if I get a third my channel will be completely shut down. So anything that could be considered unsafe I removed.
@@SimplySmart123 Thanks. I switched to Hubitat to avoid cloud dependence. It certainly looks nice, but I may stick with hubitat's rule machine and menus.
The smart things app and sharp tools app are both free but you will have to buy smart devices that connect to smart things to be able to use them in SharpTools
@@SimplySmart123 awesome...much appreciated your responses. I am just debating about what model of Tablet I should purchase that can work well with home automation?
You have to let it know by creating automation. Most common way is to use your family’s phones 📱 to determine presence. If everyone is gone you are away if anyone returns you are home.
Be sure that you have the correct fully kiosk browser installed for your device. It should work fine without a license except for it will have a watermark.
Your content is great but I can't hear you... Your voice is 3 notches quieter than the average TH-cam video and for old guys like me it's harder to hear clear
For some reason when I try to authorize smart tools to access my Smartthings account it’s showing zero devices but I have a bunch of Hue bulbs, Tuya bulbs, etc already in my ST app. I have location services turned on but cannot get this to work. I also cannot sync my ST hub with Alexa. I just got the ST hun yesterday so maybe there’s a weird setting I’m missing. Please help.
I’m not sure what you mean by primary account. I used a gmail account for SharpTools, but a different email account (me.com acct) for SmartThings. But when I’m in SharpTools or the Alexa app I am logging in using the acct I setup for SmartThings. I’m not sure what else I should do. I’ve never had any problems authorizing Alexa for any other apps.
When you log in to your SharpTools Account be sure you're using the same account you are using when you log in to your SmartThings app. I also must be the first account created on SmartThings. Check out this video and see if it help you out: th-cam.com/video/hTENR2Z0Buc/w-d-xo.html
It's hard to say exactly without seeing your specific rule and your devices. I have never had a rule not run or execute unless there is some issue with the trigger device.
@@SimplySmart123 There are no triggers, just the flow with a if condition (Current time between "TIME")Then (Action-Turn on fan) I created this for testing
What you would want to do is have the trigger be a time trigger with that time range. With no Trigger it will not start. You can add a rule to the dashboard without a trigger and run it with a tap also.
![[Watch Party] RoV Pro League 2024 Winter | ( Bacon Time Vs FS )](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lD6z1BugdZw/mqdefault.jpg)
Great videos, I learn a lot from watching them. I have many wi-fi controlled devices in my home, Switches, plugs, light strips, etc. no Zwave or Zigby devices. I currently just use Alexa to control but I really want a couple of wall-mounted tablets to control everything. What is the best route when I only have Wi-Fi devices? I have a new Smartthings hub but have not successfully got it up and running. I really wish I knew before buying all my devices that I needed Zwave or Zigby to get this up and running easier.
Yea unfortunately it will be tough in your situation. You can use the Alexa app on the walls but it’s not very easy to use or customize like SharpTools and SmartThings working together. I wish you had found my 3 simple steps sooner because now it will be difficult to bring everything together :(
so from what i understand so far. 6mins into vid, is that its a easier similar system like home assistant.
Im assuming with little to no coding and since it is not open ended, you wouldn't have to worry about forgetting to check updates yourself.. If i am right then I am excited to start!
Very easy to use and getting better every week. You do need SmartThings to add your devices.
Great videos! By any chance do you have any tutorial for nest lock integration with SmartThings?????
Unfortunately I don’t as I have stayed away from Nest products. But there is a Smart App called “NST Manager” that might help! You can download it from the community installer. Check out this video: th-cam.com/video/03t7iZEMrMw/w-d-xo.html
sharptools looks great. So many smart systems have triggers and actions, but completely miss conditional logic. I've tried IFTTT but my phone didn't reliably execute the logic. I have an Echo Plus to announce door sensors and reminders, and a Ring Hub to monitor water sensors etc. I'm a little frustrated that this will require a 3rd hub in my home, because the first 2 were overly proprietary... My goal for SharpTools would be to tell my thermostat to change it's target temperature based on the outside temperature. I would also like to turn on hvac fans based on the temperature upstairs. My Nest thermostat is not interested in communicating with other devices, so I will probably get a cheaper one that works with smartthings. Before I invest the time and money, I would value your opinion. Does that sounds like something SharpTools can do.
Anything that can be added to SmartThings will be available to work with SharpTools. Once you get all of your devices in one place they can all work together. That is why a SmartThings hub is a must. You might have to replace devices to get the compatibility though.
Just found your channel today and got pretty pumped about Sharptools but it seems it only works with SmartThings or Hubitat :(
On that note, I have a question: when we tap to manage connections it has also a “phone” option; what is that for? Sorry if the answer is already in one of your videos but I haven’t had the time to watch them all yet (if that’s the case, can you - or anyone else - point me towards that video? Thanks 👍🏼)
When you connect your phone you will be able to get SMS alerts and also login using your phone number. What are you using for your hub now?
OK, I was hoping for something different :/
That's exactly the case: I don't use any hub (yet); I only have wifi devices.
And I'm mainly undecided between HomeKit or Amazon Echo.
I also can consider other options (Hubitat seems great) but I live in Portugal and we don't have much choice here.
wow nice video! I am just confused how did you bring over your smart devices over to your sharptools profile. Can you please elaborate on that? Thank you!
Everything in your SmartThings hub will flow into SharpTools. You do need a hub for everything to work.
@@SimplySmart123 Thank you for quick reply! So I would need to purchase hardware(hub) to use smart things? That sucks. I thought I could just use the smart things app and add all my devices there. Are there any free solutions for creating your own smart home dashboard? I just want to mount one my tablets and have my ring and kasa devices on it. Thank you again for your help!
A hub is a critical part of your smart home. It's the brain. Without it, you will not get far. If you follow my 3 steps to building the ultimate smart home you will never struggle. Some devices might be able to be added without a hub but all of the good devices will require a hub. There is no subscription after you purchase the hub so it's a one-time investment in your smart future. The great part of a smart home is you can start small and build or add at your own pace.
@SimplySmart123 thank you. I tried to connect ring cams and so far it worked. But I see your point not everything can be available. Keep up the good job. Appreciate your help in this
You are welcome!
Excellent video on sharp tools. I have several smart devices around the house and im currently using alexa to control them. I'd like to set up a fire tablet , which i already bought, as wall mounted control. my question is if i need to purchase a hub to use my table with sharp tools? Thank you
SharpTools only works with SmartThings or Hubitat so you will need to have one of these hubs. SmartThings is more user-friendly and my recommendation. They have stopped making hardware but the Aeotec version should be available in the US soon!
Like your work. Was wondering what advantages Sharptools have over Hubitat?
A lot of people like the ease of use in building a polished looking dashboard with SharpTools. There's also a number of unique features like News Feeds, Calendars, Album Art and more! I'd suggest giving the free trial a spin for yourself to try it out. 😀
I don’t have Hubitat but there is really no reason not to try SharpTools. I put all of my Automations in SharpTools to keep my smart home simple.
Keep up the good work. I like the simplicity of your videos.
Simple is key. Nothing hard when you know how to do it!
Once again....another great video. I like the concept...... but it doesn’t seem with $36 a year....for me at least. Maybe if it were a one time fee.....maybe!!!!
It’s actually 100% Free. Just use the free version and let it prove its value!
Is t the free version limited to the number of tiles and dashboards that you can use
Yes the free version you can have on dashboard and 15 tiles. But you can do alot with that and unlimited rules!
Simply Smart 123 Ok. I’ll probably give it a try. I’m thinking about switching over to hubitat......any thoughts????
I haven’t looked into it because I have never had any issues with SmartThings and SmartThings is easier to use. If you have the time to learn it I would use it in addition to SmartThings but not fully switch as they work together.
What Awesome Dashboards and Rules with you Create?
You can find some cool dashboard examples in the following community post:
community.sharptools.io/t/share-your-cool-sharptools-project/36/20?u=josh
Hi Justin
I use Wyze eco system for my home and I would like to use fully kiosk browser and home assistant. My question is can use fully kiosk and home assistant for Wyze?? Please help me
Fully kiosk browser is just a browser that overlays your device. Do you mean SharpTools?
Excellent Video. Great Job.
Thank you so much Raul!
Did you register your fire tablet? And if so, did you have an issue with the tablets motion sensor through fully? Thanks
Yes. I always register my tablet with my Amazon account because I want all the benefits of my prime account and Alexa.
On the motion sensor, I assume you're saying with Fully Kiosk Browser? It seems to work well for me. I haven't gotten mine on the wall yet. Trying to make a video on it.
Simply Smart 123 I had registered my tablet but then I couldn’t get my fully kiosk motion to work. It may have been a settings issue. Anyhow, please keep up the great videos. They are extremely helpful with my home automation hobby (more like obsession). Going to watch your how to add music to my sharptools video again and give it a shot. Thanks
Seems to be a lot of similarities between SharpTools and SmartTiles!
What platform do you prefer?
Can you do a short vid comparing the featureset?
Love your videos.
I think you may be referring to ActionTiles which was formerly SmartTiles. SharpTools is more that just Dashboards because they have an entire Rules Engine that can be used with the Dashboards. There is nothing that SharpTools can’t do that I am aware of that other smart dashboards are capable of at this time. That is why I am SharpTools all the way. With the rules there is really no comparison.
Glad you are enjoying the videos. Many more coming!!
@@SimplySmart123 Great, yes , I was referring to ActionTiles :)
Many thanks for the clarification.
@@SimplySmart123 Hue Accessories?
Which one is the best between Action Tiles vs Fully Kiosk Bower ? Thanks
I think you are referring to ActionTiles or SharpTools? SharpTools has a full rules engine in addition to the dashboards which makes it more powerful than ActionTiles.
Thanks for the vid, this is great. I followed your instructions on a previous vid for the accuweather, but mine on SharpTools I just see a picture of a thermometer and nothing else. Any ideas?
Yes. Check out this video instead :)
th-cam.com/video/m7z5Bfgxei4/w-d-xo.html
@@SimplySmart123 Yep, that's what I said I watched 😁
The Weather Station is not the same as the AccuWeather integration. You will need to follow the weather station video instead.
Hi, I have many wifi devices at home, such as bulbs, cameras etc, do I need a smartthings hub or just a samsung account?
Only certain devices will connect to SmartThings. You will need a hub for full functionality. I would try and get away from WiFi devices and start to switch to Zigbee and Zwave.
I thought about switching to Sharptools but I don't like that monthly subscription. Cool dashboard though!
Unfortunately the entire smart home industry is going to subscriptions. Wink has already switched and so did IFFTT. SharpTools is just ahead of the curve. There are always sales around holidays also and there is a free version as well. It’s some great software and always getting better!
Lol. Most Smart Home programs are going to subscriptions, Wink, IFTTT, etc. SharpTools is just ahead of the curve and won't piss a bunch of people off in the future! You also get a lot with a free account.
@@SimplySmart123 would pay for this software, but cloud stuff is lame. so if i setup super cool dashboard and if your company folds like a cheap lawn chair then i dont have access to my dashboard, but whoever decides to at your company (or whoever buys it for pennies on the dollar) has access to my dashboard, my home, my info, my front door lock..everything. yet you are "ahead of the curve" uh no thanks.
SharpTools is the leading Dashboard and works on any device with internet but the choice is yours.
The whole point of Hubitat is local control and no internet access required for that control. Doesnt your cloud based subscription model just re-introduces a requirement for internet access and once again losing local control without that internet access since the dash resides on your servers and not on the Hubitat hub?
Yes. But I only loose internet when I lose power so my smart home is dead anyway.
@@SimplySmart123 You're lucky, I lose internet regularly. Plus if I get the pro version, my house becomes unusable if my monthly credit card dies (or I do!).
I have been trying to find the video of how to delete ads from lock screen. I have not been able to locate it. PLEASE help me.
Unfortunately I had to remove it because I have two community strikes for absolutely no reason and if I get a third my channel will be completely shut down. So anything that could be considered unsafe I removed.
So Tasmota devices a no go then ????
If it can connect to your SharpTools compatibility hub it will work.
How did you add the weather tile?
I have a video on that. Basically you just need to add a device and change its type to be a weather tile in the IDE of SmartThings.
@@SimplySmart123 ok awesome! Can you comment the link to that video. Thank you!
Add a Weather Station to SmartThings for Free
th-cam.com/video/m7z5Bfgxei4/w-d-xo.html
Instead of using “smart things” is it the same if you use iOS?
You can use iOS or android with SharpTools. But you do need a smart things hub and account or a habitat hub and account for SharpTools to work.
Can you use alexa with this instead of smart things
Oli Anderson no. This is only compatible with SmartThings or Hubitat hubs.
Do you know if SharpTools rules run on Hubitat over the LAN or does it go out to the WAN?
It works through the cloud ☁️ currently.
@@SimplySmart123 Thanks. I switched to Hubitat to avoid cloud dependence. It certainly looks nice, but I may stick with hubitat's rule machine and menus.
how did you get your office lamp to turned ON or OFF using this tool? you must have done some other integration before!!
Basically, you put all of your smart devices into SmartThings and then you can control them using SharpTools.
@@SimplySmart123 both are available for FREE to try?
The smart things app and sharp tools app are both free but you will have to buy smart devices that connect to smart things to be able to use them in SharpTools
@@SimplySmart123 awesome...much appreciated your responses. I am just debating about what model of Tablet I should purchase that can work well with home automation?
Any of them will work. Amazon fire 🔥 tablets are cost effective.
How do I get my routines to work? Its says there are none currently available. I have routines in my smartting classic app setup.
Do you have your SmartThings connected to SharpTools and are you on the Dashboards or the Rules Engine?
@@SimplySmart123 I got it to work. I had to reconnect my smartthings. But thanks for all the videos!! They are great!
When In away or home mode, how does if know if you are away or back?
You have to let it know by creating automation. Most common way is to use your family’s phones 📱 to determine presence. If everyone is gone you are away if anyone returns you are home.
@@SimplySmart123 thank you for responding. I just got the smart things hub and I'm trying to create an alarm system.
@@SimplySmart123 can you make a video showing how to set it up?
Check out this video th-cam.com/video/G4Zygq_VO3A/w-d-xo.html
I'm getting a "license server error" and nothing is refreshing.....
In SharpTools?
@@SimplySmart123 Sorry! Fully Kiosk.
Be sure that you have the correct fully kiosk browser installed for your device. It should work fine without a license except for it will have a watermark.
@@SimplySmart123 Will do. I paid for a full license. Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it.
It's worth it.
Your content is great but I can't hear you... Your voice is 3 notches quieter than the average TH-cam video and for old guys like me it's harder to hear clear
I have fixed this in newer videos. TH-cam is supposed to normalize the audio but obviously not very well.
For some reason when I try to authorize smart tools to access my Smartthings account it’s showing zero devices but I have a bunch of Hue bulbs, Tuya bulbs, etc already in my ST app. I have location services turned on but cannot get this to work. I also cannot sync my ST hub with Alexa. I just got the ST hun yesterday so maybe there’s a weird setting I’m missing. Please help.
Be sure when you login to your SmartThings or Samsung account you are login in with your primary account. The account that you setup you hub with.
I’m not sure what you mean by primary account. I used a gmail account for SharpTools, but a different email account (me.com acct) for SmartThings. But when I’m in SharpTools or the Alexa app I am logging in using the acct I setup for SmartThings. I’m not sure what else I should do. I’ve never had any problems authorizing Alexa for any other apps.
When you log in to your SharpTools Account be sure you're using the same account you are using when you log in to your SmartThings app. I also must be the first account created on SmartThings. Check out this video and see if it help you out:
th-cam.com/video/hTENR2Z0Buc/w-d-xo.html
Why doesnt the rules in the rule engine dosent work with my devices. Rules wont execute
It's hard to say exactly without seeing your specific rule and your devices. I have never had a rule not run or execute unless there is some issue with the trigger device.
@@SimplySmart123 There are no triggers, just the flow with a if condition (Current time between "TIME")Then (Action-Turn on fan) I created this for testing
@@SimplySmart123 Is the Trigger event a must or can a rule run without a trigger?
What you would want to do is have the trigger be a time trigger with that time range. With no Trigger it will not start. You can add a rule to the dashboard without a trigger and run it with a tap also.
A better looking ActionTiles dashboard but $36 a year instead of a one time fee of $29, no thanks.
You can still use the Rules Engine for free.
There's also a free option which gives you one dashboard with up to 15 tiles.