Smart Home Automation Guides and Reviews
Hands-on reviews and setup guides for smart home devices and IoT products. Coverage spans smart lighting, security cameras, door locks, leak detection, thermostats, and sensors — with a focus on real-world installation, honest performance assessments, and value for money.
Topics and devices covered include:
- Smart lighting — TP-Link Kasa switches, bulbs, and light strips
- Security cameras — Amcrest webcam and IP camera reviews
- Smart locks — Yale door lock installation and setup
- Sensors and monitors — Ecobee thermostat, Flume water meter, SwitchBot devices
- Portable power — generator and power station comparisons
17 articles
Reviewing SwitchBot door contact and motion sensor home automation
In this review I'll use SwitchBot door contact and motion sensors to setup smart home automation routines using Amazon Alexa and the SwitchBot app to turn on lights when I open the door or shut lights off when occupancy isn't detected in the room.
Testing the Flume 2 for wifi water monitoring and leak detection
The Flume 2 provides wifi whole-house water monitoring without requiring cutting plumbing or external power allowing you to see check water usage and get notified of leaks in near real time. Learn about how to install the Flume and my impressions after 3 months.
Review and setup of Amcrest's AWC897 4K webcam
Amcrest has been releasing 1080p and now 4k webcams at budget-friendly prices throughout 2020 and 2021. This review will setup their latest 4k webcam and test the microphone audio, resolution, and color balance to see if they've improved over their previous webcam models.
Using SwitchBot to install a smart switch without a neutral
Renters who can't replace their switches or homeowners without neutral wires needed for smart switches have trouble installing smart switches in their homes. Switchbot makes a unique product that allows you to convert your dumb switches into smart switches.
Review of Crenova's XPE660 1080P HD LED projector
Crenova recently released a 1080p (upscaled from 1280x800) projector which makes a great companion for projecting streamed content from smart devices like an Amazon FireTV stick. In budget projectors brightness and sharpness are usually sacrificed. Let's see how it holds up in this review.
Review and setup of Amcrest's AWC195-B 1080P HD webcam
Amcrest, normally known for their security cameras, has recently released their second HD webcam, the AWC195-B to meet the demand from remote workers. Their first HD webcam had acceptable video quality, but terrible microphone. In this post I'll review their latest webcam and see if there are improvements to video and audio quality.
