Home automation with Google Home and Z-Wave from the ground up

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    • #3215 Reply
      Jim
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      So I just ordered a Google Home and it should arrive soon. I’m looking to do some home automation and media control. My current setup is:
      Main TV in family room:
      Windows Media Center computer with CableCARD tuner going through the HDMI pass-through of an Xbox One used for cable TV and gaming
      Roku Premiere+ used for streaming apps like Netflix, Spectrum On Demand, HBOGo, etc.
      Both connected through a Yamaha AV Receiver for sound and HDMI switching
      AV Receiver connected to a 4k Vizio TV
      Logitech Harmony 650 as a universal remote
      Secondary TV in living room:
      Xbox 360 with Media Center Extender used for cable TV and occasional gaming
      Roku Premiere+ used for streaming apps like Netflix, Spectrum On Demand, HBOGo, etc.
      Both connected to a HD Vizio TV
      Logitech Harmony 650 as a universal remote
      Master Bedroom and Kid’s Playroom:
      Xbox 360 with Media Center Extender used for cable TV and occasional gaming
      Connected to an Insignia TV with built-in Roku for streaming apps like Netflix, Spectrum On Demand, HBOGo, etc.
      Logitech Harmony 650 as a universal remote
      I also already have a WiFi capable Chamberlain garage door opener and Nest thermostat. The home automation that I would like to add at first would be a Kwikset 910 deadbolt for the front door and an outlet to control the family room lamps.

      For media control, it doesn’t appear that Google Home currently integrates with Roku, which is what I would like it to control the most. Having it be able to control our family room “cable box” (actually, the Media Center computer) would be an added bonus, but not necessary. I would also like it to be able to cast Spotify music throughout the home.

      My initial thoughts are to purchase a Samsung SmartThings hub for the home automation, a Logitech Harmony Hub for media control of the family room devices, and Google Chromecast Audio devices for casting Spotify. I just wanted someone with more experience in this to take a look at my setup and what I’m planning to see if it looks good and if there are any other recommendations.

    • #3217 Reply
      Nathan Kinkead
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      Wow, your setup sounds a LOT like mine (or at least what it was a year ago).  Except I don’t have any Roku boxes.  I use Kodi instead.
       
      I am absolutely on board with your plan at the bottom of your post.
       
      SmartThings is my recommended smart home hub of choice.  It has a lot of support for integrations, and it makes management of automation so simple.  I wrote about it on Samsung SmartThings vs Vera – Why I Switched.
       
      Logitech Harmony Home Hub is probably one of the most underrated upgrade.  When it first came out, I was very skeptical.  But, what I didn’t realize was how well it would integrate with other home automation systems like SmartThings.  I came to this realization and wrote about it on Hey Google, Turn On the Xbox – Google Home, IFTTT, Harmony Integration.
       
      You mentioned wanting media control from the Google Home… I don’t think that would be very useful.  What’s useful is being able to switch Logitech scenes using the Google Home (or Google Assistant on an Android 6.0+ phone).
       
      I also really like the Chromecast Audio’s capability to be included in “groups” in the Google Home app so that you can cast music using simultaneous playback.  It’s unfortunate that the standard HDMI Chromecasts don’t support this feature.
       
      Regarding Home Automation, here are some tips…
       
      Get some GE Z-Wave light switches and swap out some of your old light switches.  Then, you can plug whatever you want into the switched outlet.  The Z-Wave switches are sometimes better than modules that you plug into the outlet, because you then get that convenient switch you can use as a trigger for other things.
       
      In SmartThings, you might start creating routines for everything, but it’ll get cluttered and unmanageable very quickly.  Instead, take a look at the SmartApps, and use the Smart Lighting app to add all your rules for lights turning on and off in groups.  I have loaded that one SmartApp with lots of rules, and it keeps the routines page clean.
       
      Kwikset 910 is a great choice that I wrote about on DIY Home Security Automation with Z-Wave Deadbolt Lock.  That was from when I had the Vera, but it works even better on SmartThings.  Don’t use the auto-lock physical pin switch on the device, but instead use the SmartThings SmartApp called “Enhanced Auto Lock Door” to have a much more seamless auto-lock when you combine it with a Z-Wave door sensor.  It prevents the door from locking if the door is left open too long.  No more slamming the deadbolt into the door frame, or having the door try locking while in mid-closing!

    • #3218 Reply
      Jim
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      Thanks for the detailed response! I just went ahead and placed an order on Amazon for a Samsung SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit, Logitech Home Hub, and Kwikset 910. A nice little starter kit which, including the price of the Google Home, only cost me about $550. I’ll look into ordering some Z-Wave light switches, too, once I get all that hooked up and tested. Thanks for the tip!
      Also, I’ve kind of know about Kodi for a long time, since back in the Xbox Media Center days, but I’ve never really looked into it fully. I’ve had Windows Media Center as the hub of my entertainment since around the time that the first Media Center Extenders came out and it’s always done what I’ve needed. But since WMC is living on borrowed time, I know I eventually need to find a replacement. I’ve been thinking I need to look into Kodi and other WMC replacements, but just can’t get around to taking the time to do it since WMC still works.

    • #3239 Reply
      Jim
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      So I’ve started to get a few things in place. I ended up returning the Kwikset 910 to replace it with the Kwikset 914 because the 914 was metal versus the 910 being plastic on the interior side. I have some basic functionality configured for the lock, a few lights, Harmony Hub control of the media, and alarming the home. Next, I need to sit down with Visio and map out the exact flow of how I want everything to work as far as automation upon arrivals/departures and timed events. One disappointment so far is that while the Harmony Hub can control the Roku TVs in the master bedroom and kid’s playroom via IP control, including powering off the TVs, it cannot power them on.
       

    • #3240 Reply
      Nathan Kinkead
      Keymaster
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      Oh, cool.  I don’t think the Kwikset 914 was out when I got my 910.  Otherwise, I would have gone for that too.  It is all metal, plus individually numbered keys.
       
      With the Harmony Hub, that is cool that you could control the Roku TVs via network, but that’s probably more than what the Harmony Hub is indented to do.  I think of it as a hub to control all the AV devices in one room, because you will need the IR blaster for power control.

    • #3265 Reply
      Jim
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      So I would like to be able to have SmartThings run the “I’m Back” routine upon unlocking the Kwikset 914 lock. I have “I’m Back” already run when automatically when SmartThings detects that my wife or I are home by the presence detection of our smartphones. However, when the cleaning lady or nanny have come over and entered their code to unlock the door and come in, they end up triggering the door sensor while SmartThings is still has the alarm enabled. Any suggestions before I go spending a bunch of time looking into options?

    • #3266 Reply
      Nathan Kinkead
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      Oh, that’s a great question.  Ya, it looks like the action of locking or unlocking is not showing up as a possible trigger of a routine.
       
      I wonder if there’s a SmartApp somewhere that would give you that kind of functionality.
       
      However, I would probably recommend you not go that route, because if someone breaks into your house buy guessing the passkey or by watching someone enter in the passkey, then you would want the alarm to go off in that case.
       
      What you should do is get some SmartThings Arrival Sensors and give them to your cleaning lady and nanny to put on their keychains (or keep in their purse).  You can add those in Add a Thing > Sensors > Presence Sensors > SmartThings Arrival Sensor

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