Anyone into home automation/smart homes with integration to Alexa, Google Home, Siri, etc.?

**@alon** · January 31st, 2020 10:49 AM

Just discovered na meron Echo Dot embedded sa polk audio soundbar. Very interested especially $299 lang kaso mukhang wala pa sa Philippines. Any tips how can I purchase online with minimal delivery fee?

https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&r...dxUF3WGcmUQCZa

**jut703** · January 31st, 2020 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by *alon

Just discovered na meron Echo Dot embedded sa polk audio soundbar. Very interested especially $299 lang kaso mukhang wala pa sa Philippines. Any tips how can I purchase online with minimal delivery fee?

https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&r...dxUF3WGcmUQCZa

There are equivalent JBL speakers with built in Google Home if you want something available locally. I had both (Alexa and Google Home) and I prefer Google Home so I gave away my Echo Dot.

But if you really want to purchase that, easiest way is to have it hand carried by a friend coming home from overseas.

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**@alon** · January 31st, 2020 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by jut703

There are equivalent JBL speakers with built in Google Home if you want something available locally. I had both (Alexa and Google Home) and I prefer Google Home so I gave away my Echo Dot.

But if you really want to purchase that, easiest way is to have it hand carried by a friend coming home from overseas.

Sent from my SM-N970F using Tapatalk

Thanks, iniisip ko nga to try Goggle home since yung Amazon Alexa app is not really available sa PH.
Guess more reading at viewing muna ng reviews.

**JohnM** · February 2nd, 2020 11:21 PM

Ganto magiging setup ko....

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**oj88** · February 7th, 2020 06:26 PM

You'd be forgiven to assume that the smart home craze only started recently. In fact, it began way back over 40 years ago in the mid-70’s. Granted, they weren’t what they are today and were generally crude compared to the the modern concept of the smart home.

Back in the day, I can only read about smart home from electronics magazines and library literature. They prominently feature various devices that uses the X10 protocol for control using your home’s electrical power lines. But as it was developed in the US, it will only work on 120V AC systems.

The earliest I ever got to starting my smart home "dream" was in 1996. While in HK, I bought an 8-channel “dry-contact” relay board that can be controlled via a PC’s Centronics (aka parallel or printer) port. It came with a floppy disk with the API, drivers, and applications that runs on both DOS and Windows 3.x/95. However, this never left the prototype stage as wiring it to my home was just too much work and very expensive. But even if I can afford it, there’s nothing available in the market that I can use for my specific application (ie. Actuators, solenoids, etc.). The most I can do is use the Windows app to automate (via scheduling) lights and certain appliances. But no. All I was able to do was blink lights and click relays.

Anyway, in one of LGR's episodes, he briefly discussed the history of X10, integration with the PC, along with an early implementation of voice control that pre-dates Alexa and Google Assistant by 20 years. It’s really a good watch. It puts into perspective how much smart home and AI digital assistants in general have progressed.

As it is plainly apparent, smart home devices were no more than a glorified remote control that allowed for centralized control and basic scheduling. It was only when the Amazon Echo got released some 5-6 years ago that it became THE de facto unifying device for smart homes. When I got my first Echo Dot, everything just fell into place.

**jut703** · July 31st, 2020 04:17 PM

First crack at installing a Smart Switch is successful! Voice activated bedroom light when you're too lazy to get up.

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**jut703** · August 15th, 2020 07:19 PM

Completed my smart home project. My lights, TVs, and aircons are now connected to Google Home.

Setup is pretty straightforward (and not as expensive as I thought):
- Google Home Mini (1.5k)
- 2 x Smart IR remote for aircons (600 each)
- 3 x Smart light switch (1.2k each)
- Chromecast for non-smart TV (2k)
- Electrician labor to install neutral wire for lights (1.5k)

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**ray_noel** · August 16th, 2020 04:15 AM

Originally Posted by jut703

Completed my smart home project. My lights, TVs, and aircons are now connected to Google Home.

Setup is pretty straightforward (and not as expensive as I thought):
- Google Home Mini (1.5k)
- 2 x Smart IR remote for aircons (600 each)
- 3 x Smart light switch (1.2k each)
- Chromecast for non-smart TV (2k)
- Electrician labor to install neutral wire for lights (1.5k)

Sent from my SM-N970F using Tapatalk

Gratz bruh!!!

Plan to have the same set-up sana... esp pag tinamad ka na lumabas sa kwarto just to turn off your sala appliances...

kasi minsan pag antok na antok na ako, nawawala antok ko pag gumalaw like maglakad at makakita ng liwanag hehhe..

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**jut703** · August 16th, 2020 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by ray_noel

Gratz bruh!!!

Plan to have the same set-up sana... esp pag tinamad ka na lumabas sa kwarto just to turn off your sala appliances...

kasi minsan pag antok na antok na ako, nawawala antok ko pag gumalaw like maglakad at makakita ng liwanag hehhe..

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Yeah that's what started this - para I can turn off everything with just one command, pag tamad na bumabgon.