Smart home / Home automation - Consulting

I have to agree with you there, but very few actually need this kind of up-to-dateness.


No, if I didn’t have to watch the price, or had to, then I would definitely have chosen KNX, less because of the possibilities, more because of the size of the community.

I can only agree with FreakErn. We are also planning Loxone, my brother has installed KNX in his home. The important question remains: "What do I personally want to implement with it, what is personally important to me and what is not?"

Loxone offers an affordable solution. In my opinion, smart home is still more of a luxury than a necessity. The cost calculation is always very individual, no matter which system. The software for 500 euros (KNX) and free with Loxone is rather less significant. I also always have to calculate the alternatives: If I want an alarm system or a presence simulation or want to centrally control electric blinds, etc. - then I quickly end up with a smart home system.

If the luxury helpers are not important to me, then I don't need a smart home either. Whether it is KNX or Loxone, I am definitely flexible with both systems regarding expansion.

We install Loxone in combination with KNX. Almost all sensors and actuators are in KNX and the logic in Loxone. The additional wiring effort for Loxone and the slightly higher costs (1000€) for the KNX components then convinced me. Just what I would have needed for all connections with Loxone Extensions, each of which requires a complete DIN rail in one enclosure...

Loxone has the advantage that a server solution with huge logic functionality is integrated, which you really have to buy very expensively with KNX (e.g. Gira HomeServer) or have to build yourself. KNX has clear weaknesses here, hence the combination.

Using home automation as such is, as you can see here, more of an idealistic topic: Either you are a tinkerer and enjoy the technology and experimenting yourself, or not. In the latter case, you can do without it, because I hardly see any reason for home automation in single-family homes if you do not want or cannot deal with it yourself (KNX license or programming and/or logic knowledge and corresponding imagination are prerequisites).

I have to agree with you there, but very few actually need this up-to-dateness.

Exactly there you need the up-to-dateness – it is supposed to respond to wind, direct sunlight, or rain. A forecast from the internet cannot provide this kind of local precision even remotely.

That's exactly where you need up-to-dateness – it should react to wind, direct sunlight, or rain. A forecast from the internet simply can't provide such locally precise information, not even close.

Definitely, it is crucial whether the wind blows with the forecasted 50 km/h or 100 km/h. When I look at the rain forecast from recent days and what actually came down, there is a clear difference.

You also need this information for the adjustment of the blinds. I don't want them down if it's cloudy enough, but it can be completely different half an hour later. A forecast doesn't provide you that accuracy.

Clearly the costs.

As several have confirmed here by now, Loxone and KNX don't differ much in acquisition costs etc., so which costs are you talking about?

but since Loxone can also do EIB

Well, you see, you are actually relying on the KNX protocol, so why the detour via Loxone and then still EIB/KNX?

And please don't let yourself be impressed by a weather station, there are countless free services on the internet that provide data for the next 16 days with just three clicks!

Ah yes, exactly... because today home automation already comes with a built-in web server and every roller shutter motor etc. immediately understands what the free service wants from it and what it should do with the data.

Loxone offers an inexpensive solution.

Only at first glance...

that a server solution with huge logic functionality is integrated, which you really have to buy very expensively with KNX (e.g. Gira HomeServer)

Hmm exactly, because the powerful home server from Radevormwald is the be-all and end-all and you absolutely need exactly that and nothing else... there are no alternatives!

Well, I don’t have a server in my KNX system (apart from the Raspberry PI which is responsible for visualization), all logic is already provided by the devices themselves because the actuators can do much more than just on/off. Nowadays, a server is really only mandatory for external access or for visualization, all other logic can be wonderfully handled with the built-in means.

you really have to buy very expensively with KNX

So either someone is very poorly informed, or was very badly advised... there are tons of inexpensive (or cost-neutral compared to Loxone) ready-made servers for KNX like Wiregate or EibPC to name just two, but there are many, many more and new ones come out every day.