home automation Archives - Pocketables

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Pocketables Reviews

Benexmart Tuya Zigbee kit

September 2, 2019September 2, 2019 Mat Zolnierczyk 0 Comments benexmart, home automation, sensors, Zigbee

When it comes to home automation, Aqara and Xiaomi aren’t the only Zigbee options – first look at Benexmart Zigbee kit and functions.

<img width="500" height="445" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/41x0VHlckoL-500x445.jpg" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="" data-attachment-id="110745" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2019/02/gosund-mini-wifi-outlet-serves-up-the-most-affordable-smart-plug-weve-seen.html/41x0vhlckol" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/41x0VHlckoL.jpg" data-orig-size="500,500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="41x0VHlckoL" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/41x0VHlckoL-304x304.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/41x0VHlckoL.jpg" />

Gosund Mini Wifi Outlet serves up the most affordable smart plug we’ve seen

February 28, 2019February 28, 2019 Paul E King 2 Comments home automation, Smart Outlet

The Gosund mini WiFi Outlets work with the Smart Life app, don’t overlap plugs, and come in at about $8

<img width="800" height="445" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/maxresdefault-2-1024x576-800x445.jpg" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="" data-attachment-id="110658" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2019/02/things-they-dont-tell-you-about-ikea-tradfri.html/maxresdefault-2-1024x576" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/maxresdefault-2-1024x576.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,576" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="maxresdefault-2-1024×576" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/maxresdefault-2-1024x576-304x171.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/maxresdefault-2-1024x576-608x342.jpg" />

Things they don’t tell you about IKEA Trådfri

February 26, 2019February 24, 2019 Mat Zolnierczyk 0 Comments home automation, IKEA, MiHome

I got a couple of IKEA Trådfri kits and the Gateway. I covered the “out of the box” functionality in this

nest Guard

<img width="679" height="422" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nest-Guard.png" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="nest Guard" srcset="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nest-Guard.png 679w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nest-Guard-304x189.png 304w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nest-Guard-608x378.png 608w" sizes="(max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px" data-attachment-id="110584" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2019/02/google-lets-put-a-microphone-in-a-product-and-not-tell-anyone-about-it.html/nest-guard" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nest-Guard.png" data-orig-size="679,422" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="nest Guard" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nest-Guard-304x189.png" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nest-Guard-608x378.png" />

Google: Let’s put a microphone in a product and not tell anyone about it

February 20, 2019February 20, 2019 Paul E King 1 Comment Google, home automation, Home security, Nest

If you’re the owner of a Nest Guard, I’m betting you’re probably about to be a member of a class

<img width="800" height="445" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IKEA-Trådfri-1-800x445.jpg" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="" data-attachment-id="110360" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2019/02/ikea-tradfri-everything-you-need-to-know.html/ikea-tradfri-1" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IKEA-Trådfri-1.jpg" data-orig-size="800,800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"Pixel 3","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1549297179","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.44","iso":"60","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IKEA-Trådfri-1" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IKEA-Trådfri-1-304x304.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IKEA-Trådfri-1-608x608.jpg" />

Pocketables Reviews

IKEA Trådfri – everything you need to know

February 8, 2019February 7, 2019 Mat Zolnierczyk 6 Comments home automation, IKEA, smart home, smart lights, Tradfri

Encouraged by the news about IKEA Trådfri and Xiaomi cooperation I splashed out some money to get IKEA Trådfri lights and switches.

<img width="800" height="445" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/hub2-800x445.jpg" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="" data-attachment-id="109824" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/hub2" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/hub2.jpg" data-orig-size="4032,3024" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"Pixel 3","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1545910960","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.44","iso":"56","shutter_speed":"0.002302","title":"","orientation":"6"}" data-image-title="hub2" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/hub2-304x228.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/hub2-608x456.jpg" />

Pocketables Reviews

Xiaomi’s Mijia hub (Mi Home): more than a hub

December 29, 2018January 5, 2019 Mat Zolnierczyk 0 Comments aqara, home automation, Hub, xiaomi

I have been dismissing the idea of buying a “hub” device for a while. I run a NodeRED server and

<img width="800" height="445" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-12-26-14.08.34-800x445.jpg" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="" data-attachment-id="109764" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2018/12/how-to-use-google-assistant-and-a-multicolored-led-bulb-to-make-a-child-sleep-light.html/2018-12-26-14-08-34" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-12-26-14.08.34.jpg" data-orig-size="719,497" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2018-12-26 14.08.34" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-12-26-14.08.34-304x210.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-12-26-14.08.34-608x420.jpg" />

Assistant - Home How To Pocketables

How to use Google Assistant and a multicolored LED bulb to make a child sleep light

December 26, 2018December 26, 2018 Paul E King 0 Comments hack, home automation, How-to

The purpose of this project is to have a light be a certain color when it’s near bedtime, another color

<img width="445" height="445" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2.jpg" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2.jpg 1000w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-304x304.jpg 304w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-608x608.jpg 608w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-50x50.jpg 50w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-600x600.jpg 600w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-144x144.jpg 144w" sizes="(max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px" data-attachment-id="109044" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2018/11/affordable-alexagoogle-assistant-enabled-koogeek-smart-plug-klup1.html/koogeek-smart-plug-klup1-2-of-2" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1000,1000" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2","credit":"","camera":"Pixel","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1542463088","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.67","iso":"291","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Koogeek Smart Plug KLUP1 (2 of 2)" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-304x304.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Koogeek-Smart-Plug-KLUP1-2-of-2-608x608.jpg" />

Pocketables Reviews

Affordable Alexa|Google Assistant enabled Koogeek Smart Plug KLUP1

November 21, 2018November 21, 2018 Mat Zolnierczyk 0 Comments home automation, Koogeek, smart plug

If there is a way of turning a smart socket review into an interesting read, let me know. I’m covering

Sense Home Energy Monitor

<img data-lazyloaded="1" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI3OTEiIGhlaWdodD0iNDQ1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzkxIDQ0NSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgZmlsbD0iI2NmZDRkYiIvPjwvc3ZnPg==" width="791" height="445" data-src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Sense Home Energy Monitor" data-srcset="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png 1365w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-304x171.png 304w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-768x432.png 768w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-608x342.png 608w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-600x338.png 600w" data-sizes="(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" data-attachment-id="100563" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2017/06/22-days-using-the-sense-home-energy-monitor.html/2017-06-04-14-56-59" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png" data-orig-size="1365,768" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sense Home Energy Monitor" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-304x171.png" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-608x342.png" /><noscript><img width="791" height="445" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Sense Home Energy Monitor" srcset="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png 1365w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-304x171.png 304w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-768x432.png 768w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-608x342.png 608w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-600x338.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" data-attachment-id="100563" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2017/06/22-days-using-the-sense-home-energy-monitor.html/2017-06-04-14-56-59" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png" data-orig-size="1365,768" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sense Home Energy Monitor" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-304x171.png" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-608x342.png" />

Accessories How To

9 things I’ve done with the Sense Home Energy Monitor that aren’t listed as selling points

September 14, 2018 Paul E King 0 Comments home automation

Every time I see an advertisement for the Sense Home Energy Monitor there’s always the same slew of comments from

Sense Home Energy Monitor

<img data-lazyloaded="1" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI3OTEiIGhlaWdodD0iNDQ1IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzkxIDQ0NSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgZmlsbD0iI2NmZDRkYiIvPjwvc3ZnPg==" width="791" height="445" data-src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Sense Home Energy Monitor" data-srcset="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png 1365w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-304x171.png 304w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-768x432.png 768w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-608x342.png 608w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-600x338.png 600w" data-sizes="(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" data-attachment-id="100563" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2017/06/22-days-using-the-sense-home-energy-monitor.html/2017-06-04-14-56-59" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png" data-orig-size="1365,768" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sense Home Energy Monitor" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-304x171.png" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-608x342.png" /><noscript><img width="791" height="445" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Sense Home Energy Monitor" srcset="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png 1365w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-304x171.png 304w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-768x432.png 768w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-608x342.png 608w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-600x338.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" data-attachment-id="100563" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2017/06/22-days-using-the-sense-home-energy-monitor.html/2017-06-04-14-56-59" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59.png" data-orig-size="1365,768" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Sense Home Energy Monitor" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-304x171.png" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-06-04-14.56.59-608x342.png" />

Accessories IoT Reviews

A year into the Sense Home Energy Monitor

June 25, 2018 Paul E King 10 Comments home automation, home improvement, monitoring

People have asked what sense the Sense Home Energy Monitor makes, and after a year of using it and with

<img width="800" height="358" src="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001.jpg" class="attachment-colormag-featured-image size-colormag-featured-image wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001.jpg 1200w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001-304x136.jpg 304w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001-768x344.jpg 768w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001-608x272.jpg 608w, https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001-600x269.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="102435" data-permalink="https://www.pocketables.com/2017/08/today-i-review-oittm-wifi-smart-plug.html/dsc_3317-001" data-orig-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,537" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"Picasa","camera":"NIKON D5200","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1501936681","copyright":"","focal_length":"50","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.00025","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Oittm WiFI Smart Plug" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001-304x136.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.pocketables.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_3317-001-608x272.jpg" />

Amazon Pocketables Reviews

Today, I review Oittm WiFI Smart Plug

August 5, 2017August 6, 2017 Mat Zolnierczyk 0 Comments home automation, smart home, smart plug, wifi plug

While I’m working on a smart WiFi switch of my own design, I got my hands on an Oittm WiFI

Paul King Easiest way is to use https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.sarangnamu.apk_extractor APK Extractor to get the package names. You can also refer here:...
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Paul King We've been mostly using internet non-local so no VPNs involved. Did a meeting with FB Messenger and so far for ease of use for up to 8 that's been the winner for us - not that the meeting had to have...
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Jin Moon Thank you for this informative article. I got this charge in April 2020 and used this article for reference.
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