Deal: Ring 2 Smart Doorbell for $89.99

-
B&H is currently having a sale on the Ring 2 Doorbell for $89.99. We've discussed the Ring 2 previously in our Beginners Guide to Smart Video Doorbells and still maintain that it is one of the best wireless camera doorbells available. As it usually costs $200 and is occasionally on sale for $150 - this is a great deal at $90! This deal expires today.

Click here to see it on B&H's website.


Popular posts from this blog

A Beginner's Guide to Smart Bulbs

-
Image
Last week we discussed the various options available for replacing your light switches. Another way to smarten up your home’s lighting is with smart bulbs. These are light bulbs that are controllable via your all-purpose hub or a dedicated bridge via an app or automations. Smart bulbs have several advantages and disadvantages over smart switches which means they might have a place in your home, even if you’ve installed switches!

Let’s talk about some of the pros of using smart bulbs:
Read more

A Beginner's Guide to Smart Switches

-
Image
We’ve installed our thermostats, set up our doorbell and are loving the control it gives us. We’re starting to see the possibilities that home automation brings. Some of the key components that any smart house needs live on the walls of just about every room in our house. That’s right, we’re going to talk about light switches.

We physically interact with light switches every day. They are some of the most simple and reliable pieces of equipment in our houses. Every family member and guest understands how to use them without instructions. And therein lies the problem. How do we change out a simple, reliable, and intuitive piece of hardware for an inherently more complex one without sacrificing reliability and intuitiveness? Each manufacturer tries to answer these questions in its own way; some more successfully than others. Let’s examine some of the factors that go into choosing a good switch.

Read more

A Beginner's Guide to Automation: Getting Automation Right

-
Image
Last time, we talked about the different levels of automation. To recap: Level 1 is a simple “if this happens then do that” process. Level 2 adds fixed conditions such as the day of the week or time of the day. Level 3 introduces the concept of modes which are essentially shortcuts to represent other actions or automations and allows you to constrain your automation to certain modes. Finally, Level 4 automations are complex, allowing an arbitrary number of conditions and if statements to be chained together. The automation level provided by Alexa and Google Assistant is Level 2 with basic day and time conditions. This week we’ll discuss why Level 2 is not enough for most multi-person households. We’ll also go through some strategies to help ensure the automations you create are as reliable as possible.
Read more