THE SHORT ANSWER For a pet owner living in a typical Portland apartment, the short answer is yes, but only if you prioritize local control and specific navigation algorithms over marketing fluff. In my own basement lab, where I run a four-node Proxmox cluster and a 24-bay Synology NAS, I have spent hours reverse-engineering the […]
Are Robot Vacuums Worth It For Pet Owners Read More »
# THE SHORT ANSWER **Buy Sensibo Sky if:** * You run a multi-unit HVAC system where standard Wi-Fi thermostats fail to control zone dampers, and you need the Sky’s proprietary infrared signal to trigger specific indoor units (e.g., Daikin or Mitsubishi). * You are tired of “phantom loads” from wall units staying on because the
Sensibo Sky vs Honeywell Home T6 Pro: Which Should You Buy? Read More »
# Who Should Buy the Level Lock Plus If you run a Home Assistant instance on a Proxmox node in your basement and prioritize sub-second local response times, the Level Lock Plus is a viable option, provided you accept its limitations. I have been managing enterprise networks for eight years, and I know that “cloud-dependent”
Level Lock Plus Review: Is It Worth It? Read More »
1. THE SHORT ANSWER Buy Blink Video Doorbell if: You are running a Proxmox cluster and need a device that accepts local LAN triggers via MQTT or Home Assistant webhook events without requiring constant internet connectivity for basic motion detection. Your internet connection drops frequently, and you need a battery-powered unit that caches events locally
Blink Video Doorbell vs Ring Video Doorbell Wired: Which Should You Buy? Read More »
# Who Should Buy the Govee Glide Wall Light If you are running a multi-node Proxmox cluster and need lighting that can be scripted via Home Assistant without relying on cloud APIs, the Govee Glide Wall Light is a viable candidate, but only if you are willing to navigate its bridge requirements. In my testing
Govee Glide Wall Light Review: Is It Worth It? Read More »
# THE SHORT ANSWER If you are wiring a new circuit in my Portland basement, you absolutely need a neutral wire for a smart switch. Without it, you are limited to “switch leg” configurations that turn a 240V line into a single-pole circuit, which is fine for lights but terrible for smart devices that need
Do I Need A Neutral Wire For Smart Switches Read More »
1. THE SHORT ANSWER If you are building a smart home ecosystem where your elderly parents live, the Amazon Echo Show 10 (2nd Gen) is currently my top pick for this specific demographic. I have spent the last six years running a four-node Proxmox cluster and a 24-bay Synology NAS in my Portland basement, and
Best Smart Speaker For Elderly Parents Read More »
# Who Should Buy the Eufy Security S330 EufyCam If you are running a Home Assistant instance on a Proxmox node and need a camera that offers decent local storage without demanding a constant 5GHz connection, this is one of the few options left that doesn’t force you into a walled garden immediately. Specifically, if
Eufy Security S330 EufyCam Review: Is It Worth It? Read More »
# THE SHORT ANSWER If you are running a Linux-based home lab like my Proxmox cluster in the Portland basement, you need a device that can sit on your LAN without hogging bandwidth or requiring constant cloud pings. For protecting a water heater, I recommend the **Eve Water Leak Sensor** paired with a local MQTT
How To Protect Water Heater With Smart Leak Sensor Read More »
1. THE SHORT ANSWER If you are running a multi-unit building or a commercial entry with a Linux-based backend, the 2N IP Verso is my immediate top pick for replacing legacy analog intercoms. In my basement home lab, I replaced a decade-old Aiphone analog system with a cluster of IP units, and the Verso became
Best Smart Doorbells & Intercoms for Replacing Analog Intercom System Read More »
