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Home automation Knowledgebase

What is geofencing and how do smart thermostats use it?

Your smart thermostat can use your phone’s location to figure out if you’re home or not. What is geofencing? Imagine an invisible border surrounding your home. When you’re “inside” the border you’re considered to be “home”, so your thermostat makes things nice and comfy for you. When you’re outside that boundary, your thermostat lets the […]

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Accessories Humidity and temperature sensors Nest News

Nest Temperature Sensor solves a common problem but does little else

Nest owners, rejoice! With the new Nest Temperature Sensor, your Nest can take (and use) a temperature reading from somewhere else in your home! This new sensor is a small, wireless, battery powered “puck” about 2″ in diameter. It can be used with the Nest Thermostat E and the Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen. only). It’s sold […]

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Accessories Humidity and temperature sensors

Review: Engbird Wireless Bluetooth Temperature and Humidity Sensor gives clear insights into temperature and moisture levels basically anywhere

Our Engbird IBS-TH1 temperature and humidity smart sensor rating: Engbird temperature and humidity sensor at a glance The Engbird Wireless Bluetooth Temperature and Humidity Smart Data Logger is a small, battery-powered sensor that passively captures data 24/7 and displays it in a neat, easy-to-read app. It’s easy to connect to the sensor via the app (note that […]

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Accessories Amazon Echo Home automation News

An Echo for every room: Amazon announces a huge update to the Echo family

Amazon surprised us today with a huge update to the Echo family! The family is getting big – whether this is overwhelming fragmentation or marketing brilliance depends who you ask, but we are excited! Meet the (growing!) Echo family Echo 2nd generation – New! This is the new “default Echo”. It’s shorter and more compact […]

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Home automation

Review: Belkin WeMo Wi-Fi Enabled Insight Switch

Last updated 8/31/2015 There’s a newer version of the Belkin WeMo Click here to see the latest WeMo on Amazon.com Our Belkin WeMo Insight Switch rating: Belkin WeMo At a Glance The Belkin WeMo Insight Switch is a smart plug that gives you remote control over your plugged-in electronics, easy energy usage monitoring and scheduling via the app, […]

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Accessories Reviews Wiring adapters

No C-Wire? Venstar Add-a-Wire adapter has you covered

Problem: Your HVAC system lacks a C-wire (common wire) for your new WiFi thermostat Solution: Install a Venstar Add-a-Wire adapter! Venstar Add-a-Wire Adapter: a Simple Solution to a “Common” Problem Short a wire? If you are lacking the (ironically named) “common wire”, also known as the C-wire, you might be pleased to learn that there’s an adapter for that. The Venstar Add-a-Wire […]