Hubitat

[rcjordan]

>Dot (v2)

We have 8 or 9 scattered about.  The original intent was to have a cheap, whole-house intercom system.  In reality, we seldom use that feature.  Later, I installed the Hubitat and integrated it with Alexa to provide Louise with easy, quick, & non-tech lighting control for security.  Of all the options, voice control requires the least user know-how.  She likes it and uses it for routine stuff like "turn on the TV".  For her, this wasn't much of a stretch from setting timers, reminders, and grocery lists.  When I tossed the G Minis and installed Sonos in their stead, again it wasn't much of a stretch for her to control those, too.

[rcjordan]

Internet has been out here for 5 hours now.  Hubitat has been working great, even TTS notifications worked now that I replaced G Mini speakers with Sonos.

Alexa is out, of course.  I'm going to keep an eye out for local voice control options.

[rcjordan]

When I got into smarthome stuff it was to replace a couple of hard-wired timeclock circuits (water heater timer) with an easier to manage UI.  Then maybe add a few light switches for security & convenience.  It's gone a bit beyond that;

Curbside mailbox announcer ^{(200 ft from house)}
Magnetic field vehicle announcer ^{(100 ft from house)}
Garage door opener voice or phone control ^{(overrides existing standard manufacturer controls)}
Schedule and launch 2 old Roomba 520s via IR
Repeat reminders via TTS ^{(managing repeat reminders on ALexa is a PITA)}

[Rupert]

 

Had a bit of bother with waf at this end, but now I have improved the wifi the garage lights come on reliably, but not yet got acceptance with the heating.  My zone management went awol, and got too hot once.


Sounds like you are doing way better, well done !!!!

[rcjordan]

<update>

Hubitat's capabilities are growing at an exponential rate.  It is both gratifying and scary to observe it develop and put hundreds of assorted devices under its control --many of which were never intended to be controlled by a 3rd party hub.

If it ever has an IPO, buy!

[Rupert]

Just had a bit of time to update the code in my Hubitat.  Its been working well for a few years now, and needed tidying.

After breaking my squeezebox software I found this.
https://community.hubitat.com/t/beta-hubitat-package-manager/38016

It Makes updates (third party)  happen automatically, easier for the user, and developer.

Squeezebox now working.

Just need to work out which drivers I don't need anymore!  I suspect I can replace several with pre installed drivers, but need a bit more time to worth through those

[rcjordan]

>package manager

I only use a few 3rd-party apps, mostly from @bptworld and several are now unsupported as his apps evolved.  I have not installed the very popular PM because (while I cannot write drivers I can read them enough to modify them, some extensively) I'm afraid I might inadvertently overwrite my customizations.

>been working well for a few years now, and needed tidying

Yeah, my old C4 was purring along just fine until the lightning fried it a couple of months ago. Now on a C7 and also did quite a bit of tidying while installing it.

Hubitat is a winner. The danger is that it works so well that you can forget how to do stuff, **particularly** if you are zigbee-only.

<added>
I'm still using Rule Machine 4.1, though.

[Rupert]

I'm still using Rule Machine 4.1, though.

Top trumps... i have 2 legacy Rule 3.0....

Not for long I think. They are heating ones, and never worked well

Most of mine are Simple Automation Rules, Simple device timers, Or Konnected and Squeezebox. apps.

I bet you have way more groups and scenes than me.

[rcjordan]

>more groups and scenes

zero scenes.

All my groups are lighting and are defined in Alexa for voice control, not Hubitat.  We only have about 6 groups that we use --common stuff like "all downstairs lights" and "kitchen lights", etc.

[Rupert]

Have you tried the AI for setting up rules.
I just did a simple one:

"When towel rail is turned on, keep it on for 30 mins before turning towel rail off"

It wrote the rule and works.

It is actually a simpler rule than trying to write something with  rule machine  (5.1 which seem very complex, with its multiple levels).
 I just built a rule for a time on and off, and while it leads you through the levels, getting at the time to change it just seems hard.

[rcjordan]

No, I'm still on RM4/C7 -everything works and has been doing so for more than a year, maybe two, so I've not had the need to do more than a tweak.  I also purposely have not upgraded the firmware because the forum members were reporting lots of zigbee problems. I'm 100% zigbee.

For a year now, I've been thinking of downsizing the HE network. There are several switches and a dozen⁺ Rules that we never use.  I ought to streamline my setup.

Is the AI now part of Hubitat? Or a 3rd party like ChatGPT?  I'm not surprised that it's generating good code, given my recent experiences with OpenAI for my own scripts. Even Google search is writing working perl-ish code snippets for me.

[Rupert]

It's an integral part of the set up. I didn't dig into who they use.

It's even got a "suggest new rules" which I haven't played with yet, but cannot help thinking it will set up seasons, modes etc that I don't use at present.

My bathroom UFH controller has broken, and has been a pain for years, difficult UI, looses setting everytime the power is off. I have ordered a zigbee one, at half the price of the standard item.
I guess there is less in it.

It will probably be a pain when we move, unless I leave it all in.

[rcjordan]

>thinking of downsizing the HE network
>pain when we move, unless I leave it all in.
add: 'if I predecease my wife' & 'beware of Creeping Elegance'

I tried to be mindful of all the above as I built out my system. As a consequence, I only have a total of 8-10 hardwired switches & sensors ....and the switches match the original and would work if I just left them in situ. I have a good stock of the originals, so reverting back to Dumb House would take me a couple of hours.

>leave it

Methinks that the chances of the new owner knowing|wanting my system are slim-to-none. The chances that they could maintain my RMs are slimmer still.

I've tried to keep us from becoming overly dependent on SH tech and to be able to recreate the features we really need or use should we move to -say- senior living.

[Rupert]

Good point, this is probably my second move away from easy.

Most I could leave in and everything would still work.

Tish, anyone moving in here would be delighted with my tech 

[Rupert]

They use Gemini