Smart home hubs are the heart of every connected home. This category helps beginners figure out which hub to choose and how to make everything work together. You’ll find simple guides, ecosystem comparisons, setup tips, and real world advice from Jason Miller who has spent more than 12 years installing smart home systems that actually stay connected. If you want your smart home to feel smooth and not confusing, start here.
Resetting a smart hub usually means starting over from scratch. All your devices disconnect, your automations disappear, and you spend the next few hours rebuilding everything. But there are ways to reset your hub without losing your entire setup if you plan ahead. I’ve reset dozens of hubs over the past decade, sometimes because they … Read more
Setting up a smart hub sounds more complicated than it actually is. The process takes maybe 30 minutes if you go slow, and most of that time is waiting for devices to connect. The confusing part isn’t the setup itself, it’s figuring out what order to do things and knowing which settings actually matter. I’ve … Read more
The short answer is no, most people don’t need a dedicated smart home hub anymore. Wi-Fi devices connect directly to your phone. Matter devices work across platforms without extra hardware. Voice assistants built into speakers handle basic control just fine. But that’s not the whole story. I’ve installed smart home systems in dozens of houses … Read more
Google Home and Home Assistant solve the same basic problem, but they do it in completely different ways. Google Home is a ready-to-use system that works out of the box. Home Assistant is a DIY platform that requires setup, learning, and ongoing maintenance. Both control smart devices, both run automations, and both have passionate users … Read more
Choosing between HomeKit and Alexa feels harder than it should be. Both work, both have loyal users, and both will control lights, locks, cameras, and other smart devices. The real question isn’t which one is better overall. It’s which one fits the way you actually live and what gear you already own. I’ve installed both … Read more
Matter was supposed to fix the smart home compatibility nightmare. One standard, all devices work together, no more choosing between Alexa, Google, and Apple ecosystems. The reality is more complicated. Matter exists and it works, but support is still rolling out. Some hubs have full Matter integration, others added it through software updates, and a … Read more
Most smart hub guides assume you own the place and can run wires wherever you want. That doesn’t help when you’re renting a 900-square-foot apartment or living in a small condo where every square inch matters. The good news is you don’t need a massive home automation system to control your lights, locks, and thermostats. … Read more
Choosing your smart home ecosystem is the biggest decision you’ll make when building your setup. Pick the right one and your devices work smooth every day. Pick the wrong one and you’ll deal with constant drops, confusing menus, or routines that fail for no reason. This guide breaks down each ecosystem in simple language so … Read more
Once you pick HomeKit as your system, the next step is deciding which devices are actually worth buying. Beginners usually get lost fast because HomeKit does not support every brand. The good news is that the devices it does support tend to be high quality and stable. This guide shows the top HomeKit devices to … Read more
HomeKit is Apple’s smart home system and it works a lot smoother than most people think. Apple users already live in one big connected world with iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch, so adding smart home control feels natural. The problem is that beginners still get confused about what HomeKit actually does and how it compares … Read more