See Home Automation in technology
Amazon Alexa (Echo & Dot) and Chromecast Audio in

In 1989 we built a new house and I installed X-10 Powerline carrier switches to control all outside lights, some inside lights and control my thermostats For example I could hit one button on controllers through the house to turn on all outside lights. I had a controller program on my Mac that would do things like turn lights off and on at sundown when I was traveling. Turn my coffee pot on in the morning. Another to control heat and AC using my old style thermostats with a small heading element mounted below to fool it.
Also motion detectors which turned on lights when detecting motion at night.
Remote access was via a GE dial-up device with a modem which connected to your TV.

X10 is now obsolete, but the Insteon hub still works with it.

Current systems:
Current systems now use wireless technology to send spread spectrum signals over the 908.4 MHz and 916 MHz bands in the US (860 MHz in Europe), Wi-FI and bluetooth.
Devices can repeat the signals creating a mesh network for extended range.

They can control such items as window blinds/shades, light bulbs, home security, motion sensors, smart door locks, cameras, smoke/fire/CO detectors, garage door sensors and many other "intelligent/connected" products such as Coffee makers and stereos.
In addition to smart thermostats there are heating vents you can open and close.

There are a variety of controllers (hubs) which allow you to set up schedules (turn porch lights on at sunset), Combine actions (turn the heat up, unlock the door and turn the hall light on when you get home.), Turn on lights and send a text when motion is detected.
Not all hubs can do all of these things.
You can set them up and trigger them with an app on your smartphone.

Things like robot vacuum cleaners, robot lawn mowers, smart appliances, pet food dispensers, litter box cleaners, smart-start cars are frequently included in home automation.

Protocols: Most home automation products use z-wave or ZigBee protocols, because they require less power than Wi-Fi and support mesh networking without additional repeaters.
See What Are “ZigBee” and “Z-Wave” Smarthome Products? How-To Geek

	Z-Wave	ZigBee	WeMo	Thread
Operating range	100 feet	35 feet	100 feet	100 feet (theoretical)
Max no. devices	232	65,000	Router-dependent	250-300
Data rate	9.6-100 kbps	40-250 kbps	Router-dependent	250 kbps
Frequency	908/916 MHz (U.S.)	915 MHz/2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
Network type	Mesh	Mesh	Star	Mesh
Needs hub?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

Source: TomsGuide.com

Technology Compared

	Insteon	Z-Wave	WiFi	Bluetooth	Zigbee
Maximum Theoretical Network Size	Unlimited	232	256	9	256
Maximum Practical Network Size	1,000s	30-35	Dozens?	9	Dozens?
Physical Layer 1	RF	RF	RF	RF	RF
Physical Layer 1 Frequency	915MHz	915MHz	2.4GHz	2.4GHz	2.4GHz
Physical Layer 2	Powerline	-	-	-	-
Physical Layer 2 Frequency	132KHz	-	-	-	-
Mesh Enrollment	Automatic	Procedural	Procedural	Procedural	Procedural
Operate w/o Hub		-	-	-	-
Cost	$	$$	$$$	$	$$
Compatibility Classes (less is more)	1	>1	Many	3	>>9
Forward & Backward Compatible		-	-	-	-
Scenes without delay		-	-	-	-
Message Propagation	Simulcast	Routed	Routed	Theoretical	Routed
Network Configuration	Full Mesh	Partial Mesh	Star	Star	Star + Mesh
Controller Failure	Remote Access Failure	Complete Network Failure	Complete Network Failure	Complete Network Failure	Complete Network Failure
Mobile Devices	Automatic	Breakdown	Automatic	Automatic	Breakdown
Initial Products	Fully Supported	Obsolete	Just Launched	Just Launched	Obsolete
Physical Interoperability					Not Assured
Brand Interoperability		Not Assured	w / software/SDK	w / software/SDK	Limited
Messages Acknowledged
Unique Addressing		-	-	-	Not Enforced
Error Detection
Error Correction
Collision Avoidance

Source: Technology -- insteon.com
See Z-Wave vs Insteon - ZwaveGuide

Z-Wave - The Z-Wave Alliance, now boasts over 1,000 different compatible devices
ZigBee - Some users have noted that Zigbee devices frequently have difficulty communicating
 with those made by different manufacturers.
WeMo (Belkin) wifi
Insteon (SmartLabs)- Insteon is a home automation protocol designed to bridge the gap
 between powerline-based and wireless protocols, so it uses both.
It's also compatible with x10 devices,
RadioRA (Lutron)
Caseta (Lutron)
Nest

As of 2018-19 smart speakers, Google Assistant and Alexa started adding hub features.

TESTED: Smart Home Automation - Comparing Apple HomeKit vs Samsung SmartThings Hub vs Wink Connected Home Hub vs INSTEON Hub Pro vs Amazon Echo vs Belkin WeMo | ari jay comet : blog
Wink Hub 2 vs Samsung Smartthings 2019 Review and Comparison
Wink Hub 2 vs Samsung SmartThings Wink
Wink vs. SmartThings — What's the Best Smart Home Hub?
Samsung SmartThings Hub V3 Review: Still the Best, But Could Be Better
Wink vs. SmartThings Gen 3 — Differences Explained | 2018 JCA

SmartThings v3:
Doesn't work with Next

Wink 2:
The Wink system doesn’t have quite as many accessories,
 but they are still quite useful

 scores a.a/b.b CNet |  [n.n] - PCMagazine
 SmartThings (Samsung) $95
>3.5/7.7 [4.5] AZ 3.6 (1035)
 Samsung SmartThings Hub | Wirecutter

Wink 2 (GE) $95 3.5/7.7 [4.5 EC]  AZ 4.0 (68) 
  Wink | Buy and View Smart Home Products
  Amazon.com: wink hub compatible devices 
Wink Smart Home Wall controller 6x6.6 
Wink Relay wall controller 4.3" (not compatible with 3-way switches)
Wink help

HomeKit (Apple)
 - A framework in iOS 8 for communicating with
   and controlling connected accessories in a users home.
    Apple Stores Will Sell Yves Behar's Smart Lock for HomeKit - Businessweek
         
Works with Nest (Google) - Makes it possible for your Nest devices (Thermostat, Smoke/CO detector, ...) to
        securely interact with the things you already use every day. 
        
Connect (Staples) - hub 3.5/7.8 Discontinued
   Works with Z-Wave, ZigBee, Lutron, Wi-Fi
   3.5/7.8


Amazon Echo  &Dot (Alexa) May need another hub for many things
  WeMo must be on same wi-fi 2.4 GHz or 5GHz to work with Echo
  How to Connect Amazon Echo to Wemo Light Switch/ Hue Bulbs + Home Groups - YouTube
Harmony (Logitech)
Insteon (SmartLabs)
Vera  3.6 (565)
Caseta Smart Bridge (Lutron) 3.7 (35)
  Works with Alexa, Apple Homekit, Ecobee, Nest, Honeywell, Logitech, Sonos
See
Best Smart Home Hub: Insteon vs SmartThings vs Wink vs WeMo etc. | SafeSmartLiving

Best Smart Home Hubs of 2017 - Home Automation Hubs and Controllers | Tom's Guide
Home Automation Hubs PC Magazine
Lutron L-BDG2-WH Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge, HomeKit-enabled - - Amazon.com


Controllable devices - Switches - ...
 Outlets:
 WeMo  (Belkin) $40 (Programmable timer)
 GE Wall-switch Light Control Remote With 1 Outlet Receiver | Staples
 Lightbox Smart Remote Control WiFi Plug | DealWiki.net

Light Switches:

GE - Z-Wave Products
  Z-Wave Product Catalog - GE Z-Wave In-Wall Smart Switch 4.2 (2,233) $38
  These are the same as the GE iris switches at Lowes
Z-Wave - Leviton $34  4.2 (75) 
Lutron  Caséta $60 4.5/8.8 4.5 (15)
Linear WS15Z-1 Z-Wave Wall Switch - Wink@Home Wiki
 WeMo Light Switch (Belkin) $30-$45 3.7(4,908) 4/8.1
  (Reports of reliability problems and bad customer support)
  Official Belkin Support Site | WEMO Light Switch - Setup

Insteon $50

  Need Lutron bridge connected to router or a hub like Wink which supports Lutron


iDevices 4/8.0  

3-way switches.
 Caseta
  You can replace a standard 3-way switch with a switch and pico remote control.
  The GE Auxiliary Switch for Z-Wave is required for Three-way or Four-way installations. 
  GE Add-On Switch works with a GE switch to add 1 or more switches to a circuit
  
See:
The Best Z-Wave In-Wall Dimmer | The Wirecutter
  Smart switch buying guide - CNET
The Best Smart Lighting Controls of 2016 | Top Ten Reviews
Wink - Smart Outlets, Dimmers & Switches - Smart Lighting - Smart Home -  The Home Depot

Lights:
Cree bulbs
 
 Color Changing 
 
 Philips Hue (good) [Hue hub gives more flexibility] $60 4.4 (104)
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 Single Bulb - Gen 3 $50
Philips  Hue 65W Equivalent BR30 Single LED Light Bulb - F Amazon.com $55
 
   Philips Hue bridge $60  (Required even with Wink hub)
   Philips Hue upgrade Bridge ?- 1 star rating at Apple

Sylvania Osram Lightify RGBW $40 for A19, $40  for a BR30 
Lightify Gateway $37  (Not required with Wink Hub)
 LIFX $60
Bayit LED Lighting Starter Kit,  2.9 (6)

See The Best Smart LED Light Bulbs | The Wirecutter
White:
TP-Link Smart LED Light Bulb, Wi-Fi, $32 3.9 (1,085)

Light bulb sizes and type.

Sensors - Motion sensors, push buttons, doorbells, ...

Amazon.com: Logitech Pop Home Switch Starter Pack for One-Touch Control of Smart Home Devices In Any Room: 3.4 (36)

Amazon.com: Pebblebee Onyx Stone Gen 2 Bluetooth Smart Button: Amazon Launchpad 3.3(6)

Flic – The Bluetooth Smart Button 3.1 (197) Some things don't work,  Poor support, poor paring,



Aeon Labs Z-Wave Minimote - Wink@Home Wiki Seems to only work with their devices.


 
  
Thermostats:
  See Smart thermostat page

Kits:
Staples Connect Home Starter Kit, 1KTHCSKD  $189


          
    Connect hub      Caseta dimmer kit   Pico remote   Plug-in dimmer
   D-Link Staples Connect Hub              $77
   Lutron Caseta(TM) Wireless Dimmer Kit  $60 
   Lutron Pico(R) Remote Control           $15 
   GE Plug-in Dimmer Module               $66
                                  Total $218
Garage Door sensors and openers:
The Best Smart Garage-Door Controller | The Wirecutter - Chamberlain’s MyQ

Appliances:
GE WiFi Connected Appliances  (Refigrators, Ovens, Dishwashers)

SmartThings to control Samsung's smart appliances - CNET

Gardening:

Rachio Smart WiFi Sprinkler Controller - Features $199 for an 8 zone system

Rachio is the most popular brand. 

Works with existing electronic controlled valve systems.

Rain sensor and soil sensor.

Will check weather report and not come on with 100% chance of rain.

Reports water usage.

See Watering timers

Services:
Security
Comcast, ADT, Dictograph will install 
  Comcast $40/month  + installation $100-$400




Source: Home Automation Compatibility: Does This Work With That? | Mar. 2017

IFTTT - If this then that


Terms:

IFTTT - If This Then That

Connect Wink: Shortcuts to hundreds of other services - IFTTT

Wink compatible products:

Wink | Buy and View Smart Home Products

Links:

Home Automation under Technology

Best Smart Home Hub: Insteon vs SmartThings vs Wink vs WeMo etc. | SafeSmartLiving

Wink@Home Wiki
Smarthome - Home Automation Systems, Products, Kits, Hubs & Ideas

TESTED: Home Automation - Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, Lutron Caseta,
 Wink Hub, Logitech Harmony Home Hub, and INSTEON Hub | ari jay comet : blog

Amazon.com: wink hub compatible devices 

TESTED: Home Automation - Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, Lutron Caseta,
 Wink Hub, Staples Connect,
 Logitech Harmony Home Hub, and INSTEON Hub - ari jay comet : blog

Smart Home @ Amazon.com

Home Automation Technology

The Best Smart Home Devices of 2016 | PCMag.com


Everything that works with Amazon Echo and Dot (Alexa) - Reviewed.com Smart Home

Lutron Caseta Wireless Lighting Review: Pros/Cons, Summary, Award | Smarter Home Automation | Smarter Home Automation

Which Home Automation Technology Is Best?

Linux Home Automation | Neil Cherry

ACGNJ Window Pains - Home Automation Links | Frank Warren

FHEM (TM) is a GPL'd perl server for house automation. It is used to automate some common tasks in the household like switching lamps / shutters / heating / etc. and to log events like temperature / humidity / power consumption.

Best Home Automation System - Consumer Reports 2014

The WeMo vs Wink Smart Home Control Systems - All Home Robotics

Caseta® Wireless - Overview

Smartthings Home Automation Review

Videos like this "Top 5 Best Smart Home Automation Hubs of 2015" for the June 2015 GoPro

Simply Automated -- Home Automation Made Simple

Audio Video Networking

Light Bulb Size/Shape

SAIWhitePaperTechnologylightingcontrolNov212014

Simply Automated -- Home Automation Made Simple

GE Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Control Smart Toggle Switch, In-Wall, White, 12727 - - Amazon.com
TESTED: Smart Home Automation – Comparing Apple HomeKit vs Samsung SmartThings Hub
 vs Wink Connected Home Hub vs INSTEON Hub Pro vs Amazon Echo vs Belkin WeMo – ari jay comet : blog
TESTED: Home Automation – Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, Lutron Caseta, Wink Hub
, Logitech Harmony Home Hub, and INSTEON Hub – ari jay comet : blog
ZigBee, Z-Wave, Thread and WeMo: What's the Difference?
Everything that works with Amazon Echo and Dot (Alexa) - Reviewed.com Smart Home

The Best Z-Wave In-Wall Light Switches? - DarwinsDen.com


Leviton Decora Switch, Z-Wave, 15-Amp, Scene Capable, Works with Amazon Alexa - - Amazon.com
The WeMo vs Wink Smart Home Control Systems - All Home Robotics



Old 2003 information


last updated 14 Aug 2016