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VoxCommando Basics and Core Features / Advice on my home automation future
« on: December 13, 2016, 09:13:38 PM »
My current smart systems are fragmented, many of them don't work together, although until recently most of them were all at least operated from my Android. I really like Voxcommando, it's very powerful software and is a lot of fun to play with. It's not as plug and play as other systems like the Alexa or Google Home, but it is so capable. I'm just having a hard time figuring out how to integrate everything in a seamless, cost effective manor while doing what I want, or decided which products to potentially abandon.
So these are the systems I have in play:
I've considered wall mounting androids for intercoms, lighting and music control, but then I have been messing with vox and really like it so I considered doing windows tablets instead, although that might not be as useful since it really only needs a microphone to control systems and that's available on android. Ideally I would like control both from phone as well as voice, and either a nice panel integration using tablets, or my current wall switches to run as a system for the wife. Obviously this is all very personal in which way to go, but if anyone has suggestions i'm open. It also helps for me to type it out to kind of map through my own ideas.[/list]
So these are the systems I have in play:
- Two wemo switches, one for outside carport lights and one for an outside amplifier.
- Firetv with built in Alexa and Kodi installed in the livingroom. I use either amazon fire remote or Yatsi to control it. Although I might try to get it working with Vox, I've played with it a little and see it does work. Although I don't think I can launch it from voice.
- HTPC in the bedroom with voxcommando and k400 keyboard and kinect.
- I have 9 tp-link smart plugs on their way. I bought 9 because they were $6 each and i couldn't pass on a $26 per plug savings. Both wemo and tplink are compatible with Alexa, I "think" only Wemo is compatible with VC. And google home is supposed to have compatibly with both soon.
- I also bought some smart ëco plugs a couple years ago, was a 2 pack for $7, I don't think they will be part of the system, but goes to show the extent of the fragmentation.
- 3 ceiling fans with dimmers and are controlled by RF remotes. I've had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to control them via smart without losing fan speed control, and dimmer. I'm hoping the beam sphere will be my answer there. Maybe??
- For audio I was using a Logitech squeezbox, with 3 linux pogoplug squeezeboxes. This was a cost effective alternative to Sonos and worked well for multiroom audio but it reached the end of its lifespan. I have since purchased 4 Chromecast audios which work well, but I have no way to Voice integrate them unless I use google home. Google home is rather limited at the moment. Having multiple assistants seems kinda redundant, but each one by themselves doesn't do exactly what I want.
- I'm also part of Nest beta and they send me different products to beta test, but the beta program isn't compatible with Works with nest", google now or anything like that. You get an app similar to the default app to control everything from there, or login to a web address.
I've considered wall mounting androids for intercoms, lighting and music control, but then I have been messing with vox and really like it so I considered doing windows tablets instead, although that might not be as useful since it really only needs a microphone to control systems and that's available on android. Ideally I would like control both from phone as well as voice, and either a nice panel integration using tablets, or my current wall switches to run as a system for the wife. Obviously this is all very personal in which way to go, but if anyone has suggestions i'm open. It also helps for me to type it out to kind of map through my own ideas.[/list]
