MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a lightweight messaging protocol designed for devices to send and receive data over the internet or a local network. It was created for situations where bandwidth is limited, devices have low processing power, or connections can be unreliable. This makes it ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home systems.
An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules and tools that lets software and devices talk to one another. In smart home systems an API is the bridge that allows apps, services and hubs to read data from and send commands to each other
When building a smart home, understanding the wireless bands your devices use is essential. Different technologies use different frequencies to communicate, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a clear breakdown of the most common wireless bands used in smart home tech: WiFi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, LoRa and Bluetooth.
Smart electricity meters are common in UK and European homes. They track energy usage in near real time and send readings directly to your energy supplier, removing the need for manual meter readings. The good news is they can also be used as part of a smart home setup for insights to energy use and smart automations.
Smart Home devices that connect to a home network directly using WiFi or network cable will automatically be assigned an IP address by your router. Below are some methods of finding out what IP address has been assigned
Connecting YoLink’s long range smart sensors and actuators into Home Assistant unlocks powerful automations, centralises monitoring and remote control from a single dashboard. Whether you’re securing a remote horse livery yard, automating outdoor lighting, or monitoring garden soil moisture, this integration bridges YoLink’s outdoor hardware with Home Assistant’s automations.
Voice control can make your YoLink smart home system go from “smart” to “smarter.” By linking YoLink devices to Alexa, you unlock hands free operation, advanced routines and cross platform automations. Here’s how to get set up, what you can do, and some trade offs to think about. It’s not fairly straight forward to do.
Combining Home Assistant with Amazon Alexa is a great way of balancing local smart home control with voice activated convenience. Whether you prefer a cloud free environment or the ease of cloud services, multiple integration methods are available.
Smart home devices rely on wireless connections, whether that’s Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Bluetooth. When a device keeps going offline, responds slowly, or doesn’t work at all, signal strength is often the culprit. But “signal strength” isn’t just one thing. There are a few different factors that affect how well your smart home devices stay connected.
A lot of outdoor smart home tech from irrigation timers to security cameras relies on a solid Wi-Fi connection. But once you step outside into a garden or outbuilding, signal strength often drops. Here’s how to fix that.
