Choosing the BEST Hardware to Run My Smart Home
I’ve FINALLY found the best hardware to run my smart home. Here’s exactly how I have everything set up!
*Links in chronological order*
Beelink Mini S13: https://amzn.to/4mcclyV
USB Extension Cable: https://amzn.to/47w32p5
Zooz 800 series Z-Wave stick on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4158KKI on AmerDroid: https://ameridroid.com/products/zooz-800-series-z-wave-long-range-usb-stick-zst39-lr?ref=jpvafmyq
Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2: https://ameridroid.com/products/home-assistant-connect-zwa-2?ref=jpvafmyq
Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro on Amazon: https://amzn.to/45oucvi on AmeriDroid: https://ameridroid.com/products/z-stick-10-pro?_pos=1&_sid=5cf924c4d&_ss=r&ref=jpvafmyq
Unifi Dream Machine Pro: https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/udm-pro?a_aid=SmartHomeSolver
Server rack keyboard: https://amzn.to/45PYuIU
Server rack keyboard tray: https://amzn.to/46R2ji3
Patch Panel: https://amzn.to/45illwD
Patch Cables: https://amzn.to/4fzuJzv
(affiliate)
Second channel video about Mini PC: https://youtu.be/BRKJSH8a7bU?si=7iBHn9Y-BjcXZ46I
My smart home favorites: https://www.amazon.com/shop/smarthomesolver
My smart home shirts!
USA: https://smarthomesolver.big3creative.com/
International: https://smart-home-solver-shop.fourthwall.com/
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0:00 Intro
0:17 What I’ve used
1:17 Mini PC
4:18 Z-Wave LR
7:02 Upgrading Z-Wave/Zigbee
8:29 Best wireless signal
12:06 Server rack updates
14:18 I’m getting old
———
MUSIC
Ending song is The End by EVA.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6UIs5b0zSXztIW5GHkCTkK
This video feels professional.
Amazing job, keep it up.
I like running Home Assistant via a VMWare VM installed on the BeeLinkโs OEM Windows 11. I do that so I can remote login from anywhere and make changes to HA.
Did anyone else rewind that part?
Has anyone bought a smartphone from ameridroid? I’m hoping to get my hands on a de-googled phone.
Zigbee channel numbers and wifi channel numbers are not the same I have a chart that helps.
Do Unifi superlink devices work in home assistant?
You explained that so well.
Whatโs the little case you mention and minute 2:06?
Thanks Reed, great stuffโฆ
Wow, just wow.
Great video again! What lightstrips did you use for your server rack?
Iโve never clicked โlikeโ so fast.
I laughed way too hard at this.
You already have a server rack, it’s wasteful not to not just run a proxmox server with home assistant on it. Proper backups and restore in seconds. Plus you can run other services like adblocking and virtual servers for your kids games.
And you can separate out z2mqtt and the databases but run all on one physical devices
This was helpful! I’m getting ready to migrate off of my old Raspberry Pi4 with mini-SD card storage (which honestly has worked just fine for 3 years and over 100 physical devices) and onto a Home Assistant Green – so this will be a helpful set of things for me to watch/think about as I try to restore a backup, get my Zigbee controller moved over, etc.
What are your thoughts on Control4?
What about using a laptop? I have a very good laptop with a broken display. I was thinking about using it as a HUB for HS.
You never disappoint.
I love your content and I am dying to know – how do you make your smarthome accessible for your family and visitor?
I only have a bunch of smart bulbs and its already a pain when people come over or to setup on my significant other devices
It’s been a while! I took a little time off to hang with the kids while school was out but I have lots of great content coming up for you guys!
My attention span actually survived this one.
Youโre an amazing creator.
Iโm definitely trying this out.
Iโll be back for more videos like this.
I smiled the whole way through.
Aeotec’s Windows only firmware updates has put me off them.
That twist was unexpected!
I want to step up the quality of my camera detection. Currently I can detect animals on my lawn and blast a horn to scare them away. But I want to use AI to detect specific animals (corellas) as currently it only does a simple animal detection with no discrimination. I know it can be done with HA AI image analysis, just havenโt found a solution.
well if you read this comment get your grabby hands a SLZB-06M this version… it you can use it as an extender or a zigbee cordinator i use 2 in my house just plug it to usb c wifi and home assistant detects it… and the device to zigbee
good knowledge content, thanks
Whatโs your personal favorite moment?
Hi, can you configure auto power on?, my beelink dont have that option on bios setup ๐ข
Is it bad I want more of this?
$170 inexpensive?!???? ๐๐๐๐๐
Everything about this video is perfect.
My beelink quit entirely as well, without the USB extender…
do you use ZHA or Zigbee2Mqtt?
@SmartHomeSolver any value for money smart bulds? Currently got SmartThings but might change to home assistant soon.
This deserves to go viral.
You deserve every bit of success coming your way.
Absolutely.
Golly, gee willickers! I have that same old Z-Wave/Zigbee combo stick. Now that I’m starting to upgrade/improve my smart home system, it seems I should replace it now instead of waiting until after I add another 50 devices.
Imagine this but in [location].
I bought the Home Seer long rage motion detector and home assistant zwa-2 and connected both through Z Wave JS UI but not Im stuck I dont know how to create automations with them since I cant see them in the entities list. What am I missing?
This deserves more views.
This is top-tier content.
Don’t use USB sticks, look into smlight.
This was really enjoyable.
Hey! Do you think the mini S was more than enough for a good home assistant setup? Ive been trying to decide between that and a SER 5. Always love the videos