Basics of wireless smart home solutions

Don't you have a single (smart) device in use that is connected wirelessly? For example something like a robot vacuum cleaner or similar, that only runs wirelessly, or am I mistaken? What do you do with the cables that are not laid? Do you retroactively pull in a bus cable or does it end up being a device wirelessly after all?

Wireless as a last resort is okay in many cases, but only as a last resort or if a device like the robot vacuum cleaner basically doesn’t have a cord... Others want to build their entire new build on wireless - that’s just nonsense. If the walls are closed or the house doesn’t belong to me, that’s how it is and you have to bite the bullet with wireless. But only in this case. I even have a few WiFi bulbs because dimmable sockets are somehow dumb. And I haven’t been struck by lightning yet :)

On the other hand, if you want to automate only a little and keep everything at the level of a model railway, you can of course do everything wirelessly right away. Unfortunately, it still happens quite often that manufacturers then give up one or the other radio line. So careful pre-selection is necessary here. With cables, it’s simply easier.

That is always the whole crux. Some talk about smart homes and mean the range from Alexa to motion-controlled lighting systems, while others talk about automatic preheating of the whirlpool when the lady of the house takes the wine from the wine rack. A Passat is luxurious when seen from the perspective of a scooter, and a wooden bench when seen from a Rolls Royce.

Especially people who deal more intensively with the subject (or even do it professionally) naturally want the entire area to be understood under the term and then meet about 90% of people for whom only the smaller/cheaper area is important (or better known). This then leads to the usual debates here about what is more expensive/better because often it is simply viewed at a different level.

Unfortunately, that's true. 95% of the "Smart Homes" I see (and I see quite a few each year) have absolutely nothing to do with "Smart". They're just expensive light switches or light switches with an app, nothing else.

Ein Passat ist luxeriös wenn man vom Roller schaut, und eine Holzbank vom Rolls Royce gesehen.

That's also true. But in both, I appreciate electric windows and automatic climate control.

unfortunately there are many reasons why proper wiring doesn’t work. Sounds silly but it happened to me too (I chose the wrong construction partners, who unfortunately are not very flexible and acted very passively). But I have thought a lot about it and still come to the conclusion that there are now great wireless solutions that can be "layered" as a "smart IO layer" over a conventional electrical installation.

Who can, should of course try to position and wire their actuators centrally.

I’m also curious to see how my wireless actuators will perform in the coming years and whether there will be communication failures, etc.

That is always the whole point. Some talk about smart home and mean the range from Alexa to motion-controlled lighting systems, and others talk about automatic whirlpool preheating when the lady of the house takes the wine from the wine rack. A Passat is luxurious if you look from a scooter’s perspective, and a wooden bench if you have seen a Rolls Royce.

We do agree, however, that a smart home should at least include a somewhat more intelligent control of HVAC than just on/off... Furthermore, lighting, windows, and shading should be part of the basic equipment and should be able to do more than just on/off, and certain interactions between the components should also be possible. I think everyone agrees that these functions should at least be fulfilled. This is where the wheat separates from the chaff. Because even with HVAC, wireless communication is already massively lacking. What I constantly notice is that the average builder or house/apartment resident imagines a trivial remotely controllable domicile under the term smart home. Something like a TV but in house form where you still basically have to make every decision yourself and interaction is absolutely necessary... That is, of course, far from what a smart home should be.

What I constantly notice is that the average builder or house/apartment resident imagines a banal remotely controllable dwelling under the term Smarthome. Like a TV but in house form where you still have to make almost every decision yourself and interaction is absolutely necessary... Of course, that is far from what a Smarthome should be.

It could also be formulated like this: Level 1 ("basic course"): "The term Smarthome stands for the POSSIBILITY to carry out intelligent decisions automatically. For this, you have installed these great devices/actuators. Haven't you?" Level 2: "You can now use this great remote/app and thereby save yourself the trip to the light switch." Level 10: "You make 1000 considerations about how everything is connected, sit down and program the coolest scenes and from now on use time and resources more effectively." btw: A house can also be "smart" with radio actuators.