UPDATE: This was originally written back in 2021 and somehow since then, back then all we had to worry about was a pandemic. That’s still a problem but we now also have war and a cost of living crisis. What a time to be alive. I have therefore updated this post with more accurate pricing, … Read more
Following on from my previous Insteon posts about setting up Home Assistant Windows Portable (HassWP) and cheap PCs to run as a server for Docker/Insteon. This post is a guide for anyone wanting to get Home Assistant Windows Portable working on a PC running Windows Home. In my HassWP original post, I installed Home Assistant … Read more
This is my second Home Assistant for Insteon post, and I will be writing a couple more to help anyone that is trying to get their Insteon smart home back up and running. Earlier this month, Insteon unexpectedly ceased trading and disabled all its cloud server functionality, effectively making the Insteon hub useless. Not all … Read more
The term “smart” is the right term to use when describing the latest advancement in the development of smart speakers. Smart speakers play your favorite music, automatically control the electronic components of your home, and give answers to questions asked verbally by anyone inside of a house. According to the audio experts at Selby, smart … Read more
Yesterday, I reported that Insteon has gone out of business and shut down all their cloud services with no notice. The Insteon app uses the Insteon servers to process the requests from the app, effectively making it useless. Things like schedules are stored on the hub, so these will continue to be processed. However, not … Read more
Update: I have written a basic guide on how to get Insteon working with Home Assistant on Windows. Update 2: Confirming what we already knew, Insteon has formally ceased trading and has posted a notification on the website. Users are also being contacted with a Important Notice to Creditors. It is currently being reported that … Read more
This will be a bit of a short review. Recently I gave a glowing review of the Eufy Security Dual Camera Video Doorbell, and I was a big fan of the Video Doorbell 2K I reviewed two years ago. When I did the Video Doorbell 2K review, Eufy didn’t sell additional chimes. You had a … Read more
The AIRROBO T10+ is a high spec, low price robot vacuum. This has pretty much all the features you could want from a robot vacuum, LiDAR navigation, vacuuming and mopping with no go and no mop zones, a long lasting battery and a self empty station. It is also one of the cheapest options on … Read more
I recently wrote a post on ways to try and reduce your electricity bills. One of the main tools I have used in identifying power-hungry devices is the now discontinued TP-Link Kasa HS110. It is a superb smart plug, and have used several of them in combination with the KP105 to monitor and control some … Read more
I have loved most of the Eufy Security products I have reviewed in the past few years. I was first incredibly impressed with the EufyCam 2C, which had a spotlight and colour video and superb battery life, outclassing competing brands. More recently, I was equally impressed with the Eufy Security Floodlight Cam 2 Pro, being … Read more
I have always loved the idea of smart kitchen tech. Being able to schedule or remote start cooking, so my food is ready for when I get home is very appealing to me. I have previously reviewed the Proscenic T21 smart air fryer, and I was impressed and still use it today. Recently Ultenic sent … Read more
Many sellers on Amazon are having 12 day Spring sales, including affordable applicant brand Proscenic. Proscenic M8 PRO Robot Vacuum & Self Empty Station I am a big fan of robot vacuums with laser navigation. They have been one of my favourite pieces of tech in the past couple of years. The Proscenic M8 PRO … Read more
We.Lock, or Welock, depending on which site you go on, is an affordable Chinese brand specialising in smart locks. They offer a wide range of locks catering for different markets. This includes locks to cater to US deadlocks and a different set of products for the EU market, which typically having a more secure multi-point … Read more
I have previously reviewed the innovative and quirky POE powered Reolink Duo. More recently, I reviewed the Reolink Go Plus, which is the 4G camera that competes with the Arlo Go 2. The Reolink Duo 4G is a sort of love child of those cameras. It has good potential for remote surveillance as you have … Read more
Since taking an interest in Indoor Air Quality and using and reviewing air purifiers I have found my hay fever and breathing has improved quite a bit. With so many people suffering from allergies and breathing issues I think air quality is an area of health that is becoming increasingly important to people. I have … Read more
I am lucky that I signed up for a new fixed tariff just before everything got too crazy with gas and electricity. However, I did see our monthly bill rise about 40% and now pay £220 a month, which is a lot for a two-person household. Like everyone else, I have been exploring ways to … Read more