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Can a lamp completely transform the atmosphere of your bedroom or desk setup? In this in-depth review, we test the Govee Table Lamp 2, a device that combines minimalist design, powerful functional lighting and an advanced smart home ecosystem compatible with Matter and Home Assistant.
Have you ever been left in the dark in the living room or office simply because you were sitting still reading or working? Traditional motion detectors with passive infrared technology (PIR) have done their job for years, but they have an obvious problem: they detect visible movement, not static presence. The Aqara FP2 presence sensor solves this thanks to millimeter-wave radar technology (mmWave). In this guide, we take an in-depth look at how it works, its key features, how to integrate it with Home Assistant, and how to create real advanced automations for a smart bedroom.
Having pets at home brings great companionship, but also everyday challenges: accumulated hair, dust, dander and airborne microparticles that can worsen indoor air quality. In this review, we put the Lefant A1 Pro to the test, an air purifier with an H13 HEPA filter designed for homes with animals, measuring its real effectiveness and seeing how to integrate it 100% locally into Home Assistant.
The M5Stack PaperMono (C153) is one of the most versatile and efficient solutions for controlling your smart home. Thanks to its e-paper display, advanced connectivity and built-in sensors, this device goes from being a simple data viewer to becoming an interactive remote control and ultra-low-power home automation panel. In this guide, we cover all its technical specifications and how the custom firmware developed with ESPHome allows it to be fully integrated with Home Assistant.
In the digital age, the question is no longer whether you will run out of space, but when. For content creators, photographers, or engineers, data management is critical. However, there is a widespread misconception: is a NAS always the best option? In this article, we take an in-depth look at the differences between NAS and DAS, explore the different RAID types, and put the powerful ORICO 9958RC3 Pro to the test.
Have you ever had to unlock your phone, open the WLED app and wait for it to connect just to change the brightness or colour of your LED strips? Smart home technology is supposed to make life easier, but too many steps can quickly get in the way of convenience. In this guide, we turn an M5Stack Dial into a dedicated physical controller for WLED. Best of all, it works completely independently, with no external servers and no complex Home Assistant setup required.
Learn how to turn the M5Stack Dial into a practical physical controller for Home Assistant using ESPHome. This guide covers hardware testing, ready-made open-source firmware, customisation, wall or desk installation, and control of lights, climate, blinds and media players—without having to build everything from scratch.
In the world of smart home technology, we often make the mistake of confusing different devices. Do you need a smart peephole camera, a video intercom, or a video doorbell? Answering this question can save you money and frustration. After testing the new Aqara G400 Wired, it is clear that this device is not designed to replace a traditional video intercom, but to refine the concept of security and communication at your front door.
Is it simply another camera, or can it really become a key part of your smart home? After testing the new Aqara G350, I encountered several surprises, both good and bad. In this article, we will separate the marketing claims from the real-world experience, integrate it with Home Assistant, configure it in Frigate, and explore automations you can copy in your own home.
In the crowded robot vacuum market, we often accept certain problems as normal: robots getting stuck between chair legs, pushing objects around the house, or using a mopping system that is little more than a damp cloth dragging dirt across the floor. However, after testing the Lefant M210 Pro OMNI thoroughly in a real home environment, I found that you do not need to spend €800 to solve these issues. In this review, we look at why this compact robot vacuum and mop is shaking up the budget and mid-range segment.
If you are building a smart home with Home Assistant, presence detection is one of the most powerful upgrades you can add to your automations. We are no longer talking about basic PIR motion sensors that turn the lights off while you are sitting still on the sofa. We are talking about mmWave presence sensors. In this guide, we compare some of the most popular Home Assistant presence sensors on the market: from affordable AliExpress models to premium devices such as the eMotion Ultra. Is it really worth paying more for a high-end mmWave sensor? Let’s find out.
The CrowPanel ESP32-P4 is one of those displays that, at first glance, looks like a small tablet for testing. But it can actually become something much more interesting: a Home Assistant touch panel, a sensor display, a notification system, a smart home dashboard and even a voice interaction point. In this article, I show everything I tested with this display: from the initial hardware connection to ESPHome integration, Home Assistant sensor visualization, an air quality panel, on-screen text notifications, full WallPanel-style dashboards and a final test using the display as a Voice Assistant. The idea is not simply to turn on the screen. The idea is to turn it into a useful device inside a real smart home installation.
If you use Home Assistant, you have probably faced the protocol dilemma: you start with Zigbee, then Matter over Wi-Fi arrives, and now Thread is becoming increasingly important. Until recently, you needed a separate dongle or coordinator for each one. But the SMLIGHT SLZB-MR4U changes the game. In this guide, we explain why this device is so powerful, how to configure it step by step, and how to migrate your current Zigbee network without losing your devices.
Setting up a home server usually means spending hundreds of euros or settling for limited development boards. However, there is an option that often goes unnoticed and that, even in 2026, remains one of the best alternatives for its price-to-performance ratio: the ZimaBlade. In this article, we will analyze why this small Intel-based hardware can be the perfect heart for your Home Assistant, NAS or Docker server, outperforming the classic Raspberry Pi in many aspects.
Tired of your ISP router crashing when you connect over 20 devices? If you run Home Assistant, use a NAS, or manage a Proxmox server, the GL.iNet Flint 3 (GL-BE9300) aims to be the ultimate fix. In this article we explain why this WiFi 7 router could be the brain your smart home needs.
Summer arrives and with it the same dilemma: a weak fan or an air conditioner that blows up the energy bill? We take a deep look at the DREO TurboCool 516S, a smart misting fan that promises to cool without wetting surfaces and offers full Home Assistant integration.
If you’re looking for a Zigbee smart outlet that works with Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA, Alexa, Google Home and Tuya Smart Life, the BSEED Zigbee Smart Socket is one of the most interesting options you can install right now. After testing it for several days, I honestly think it has important advantages over the common bulky WiFi smart plugs that stick out from the wall and end up taking half the power strip.
In the vast world of smart home automation, choosing the brain of your connected home can be a real dilemma. On one side, you have ultra-simple but closed systems; on the other, the limitless power (and sometimes complexity) of Home Assistant. Today we take a close look at the iSG Box SE, a device that aims to sit right in the middle, offering a hybrid experience that combines a unified hub with the power of HA.
Want Home Assistant to be the brain of your home and Alexa and Google Home to act only as the voice layer—without Nabu Casa, without opening ports, and for free?
Have you ever connected a Tuya device to Home Assistant and only seen a generic “status” entity or maybe just a temperature sensor, even though you know the device measures much more? You are not alone. The official Tuya integration is known for being somewhat limited. Today I show you the definitive solution: Xtend Tuya. With this method, you can unlock hidden sensors from your air quality monitors, smart plugs with energy monitoring and many other Tuya and Smart Life devices inside Home Assistant.
If you are looking for a cheap air quality monitor that actually works and does not simply show two generic values, you are in the right place. In the world of smart home automation and Home Assistant, finding accurate sensors for under €40 is usually a challenge, but this Tuya device changes the game. In this article, we take an in-depth look at this air quality monitor that measures everything from CO2 to PM2.5 particles, and why it may be one of the best budget buys for your health and your smart home.
Can you imagine your roller blinds opening automatically at sunrise or closing by themselves when you leave home? Even better: without building work, without replacing your existing wall switches and for less than €20. In this article, I show you step by step how to install and configure the SONOFF MINI-RBS, a smart relay for motorized blinds that is becoming a very interesting option thanks to its Matter compatibility and ultra-compact size.
Have you ever imagined that your web browser could turn off the lights in your room, activate a full privacy mode when someone opens the door, or manage your laptop battery? It may sound like science fiction, but it is now a reality. In this article, I explain how Opera GX has changed the game by becoming the first browser that can act as a smart device inside your Home Assistant ecosystem.
Do you have an outdoor or indoor lamp with an infrared (IR) remote and feel frustrated because you can’t include it in your automations? In this article, we’re going to turn a “dumb” lamp into a 100% smart device integrated into Home Assistant. We’ll use the spectacular 1.20 m outdoor water drop-shaped lamp as an example, but this method works for any IR device: air conditioners, fans, or old LED strips.
Are you tired of your organic waste bin becoming a source of bad smells and fruit flies? 🤢 Managing food waste at home can be unpleasant, but technology has a solution: a smart electric kitchen composter. Today we take an in-depth look at the Beeco HQD 314 Pro, a device that promises to reduce your waste by up to 90% and turn it into useful compost for your plants in just a few hours. Let’s see if it is really worth it!
Saving money on your electricity bill is not just about turning lights off. It is about understanding what your home consumes and when. In this guide, we take a look at the Refoss EM06P PRO, a 6-channel energy monitor that integrates locally with Home Assistant and can even help manage solar surplus energy.
If you want to control your pool, garden lighting or Christmas lights safely and accurately, the Meross MOP320 is one of the most robust outdoor smart plug options available. In this review, we break down its main features, how to integrate it locally with Home Assistant and how to use it in real automations.
If you want a 3D printer that works right out of the box, comes enclosed and is extremely affordable, the Artillery M1 Pro could be your next big buy. Bambu Lab has long been the go-to for "plug and print" ease of use, but Artillery has shaken things up with this model, proving you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a top-notch user experience. In this review, we break down why this machine is getting so much attention, from unboxing to real-world tests with technical materials.
Imagine controlling your entire smart home from your wrist without paying €300 for an Apple Watch or dealing with Wear OS battery headaches. On HectorziN | Home Automation and Home Assistant we review the Amazfit Bip 6, a smartwatch that the community has turned into the perfect smart home companion.
Have you ever imagined a mug that not only holds your drink but also tells the time, shows the weather and lets you play games? In the world of tech gadgets, few devices are as surprising as the Pixel Mug. If you love home automation, retro design or you’re looking for the perfect geeky gift, stick around—we’ll take a close look at this tiny TV mug.
Got a classic amp that sounds amazing but has become "deaf" to modern streaming? Don’t retire it. In this guide I show how I turned my vintage stereo into a cutting-edge smart system using the Arylic LP10. For about $99 you get AirPlay 2, Google Cast at 96kHz/24bit and full Home Assistant integration.
Did you know we spend nearly 80% of our time indoors and that the air at home can be more polluted than outside? Here I review the AirGradient ONE (I-9PSL), an open-source air quality monitor that became the missing piece in my smart home setup.
If you want the ultimate presence sensor for Home Assistant, the Linknlink eMotion Ultra stands out as the undisputed leader. It’s more than a presence radar: it’s a full control hub combining 60GHz mmWave radar, infrared (IR) control, environmental sensors and even a Bluetooth hub.
Ever wondered if the air you let into your home when you ventilate is actually healthy? In home automation we often focus on the indoors, but the AirGradient Open Air O-1PST changes the game. This professional-grade open-source sensor integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant, letting you make smart decisions based on real environmental data.
Are your counters covered in RF remotes for blinds, a ceiling fan, or a projector screen? This guide shows how to consolidate all your RF remotes into a single smart hub—the LinknLink eHome—and how to integrate it natively with Home Assistant via MQTT.
Did you know there are electrical draws you never see but still pay for every month? Identifying these “phantom loads” is the first step to cutting your bill. In this article we take an in-depth look at the REFOSS/MEROSS EM06 energy meter, a professional, versatile tool that helps you take full control of your home’s energy usage.
If you’re into home automation and Home Assistant, you know finding the perfect sensor is like chasing the Holy Grail. We want accuracy, speed, and ideally not a house full of a dozen different gadgets. Today we’re taking a deep dive into the LinknLink eMotion Pro, a device that not only detects presence with millimetre-level technology, but also includes an infrared (IR) transmitter to control your air conditioner and TV. And the best part is its native Home Assistant integration!
Looking for a way to dramatically change the atmosphere of your home with a single device? In this article, we take an in-depth look at the Govee Uplighter, a smart floor lamp that goes far beyond conventional lighting. From ripple effects on the ceiling to full Home Assistant integration via Matter, here’s why it could be the perfect addition to your connected home.
Got an air conditioner or an older TV that only works with a remote? No need to replace it. In this article, I’ll show you how to fully integrate them into Home Assistant using an infrared transmitter like the Broadlink RM4 Pro and the powerful SmartIR integration. With this setup, you’ll not only be able to turn your devices on and off from your phone, but also create smart thermostats and advanced media controls.
Can you imagine turning any switch in your home into a smart one without major work or running new cables? If you live in an older house, chances are there’s no neutral wire in your switch boxes. Until recently, that was a nightmare for smart home enthusiasts, but the new Shelly 1L Gen 3 and Shelly 2L Gen 3 are here to change the game. In this article, we’ll break down how these relays work, how to install them step by step, and why they’re the ultimate solution for modernizing your home.
Keeping pool water crystal clear can be a headache. How much chlorine does it have? Is the pH balanced? Today we take a look at two of the most popular smart meters on AliExpress: the YIERYI YY-1099L (Yellow) and the BLE-YL01 (Green). We’ll cover their differences, how to integrate them into Home Assistant via Zigbee2MQTT, and how to create a visual alert system so you never have to open the app again.
If you’re into smart home automation and Home Assistant, sooner or later you’re going to need a 3D printer. Whether it’s for printing a wall tablet mount, an enclosure for an ESP32 sensor, or a part that broke at home. Today we’re taking a look at the Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo, a printer that promises speed, ease of use, and, most notably, multicolor printing with its ACE Pro system. Is it really the rival Bambu Lab should be worried about? Let’s see it from a beginner’s point of view.
Have you ever felt like your Home Assistant dashboard is too cluttered? Checking one by one whether a light is on, a window is open, or you’ve left the air conditioning running can be tedious. Today I’m bringing you the ultimate solution: Status Card. A dynamic card that only shows information when there’s actually something that needs attention. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to install and configure it step by step—and the best part is that we won’t need to touch a single line of YAML code!
Imagine a video intercom that not only lets you open the door, but also serves as the central hub for your smart home? In this article, we take a deep dive into the Hikvision DS-KH9510-WTE1 display, a device that goes far beyond traditional features thanks to its Android operating system. You’ll learn everything from the physical installation to how to integrate it with Home Assistant so you can turn it into the ultimate wall panel.
One of the biggest challenges when getting started with Home Assistant or home servers built around Mini PCs is limited storage. Mini PCs are powerful and efficient, but they are usually limited to one or two internal drives. To solve that, I’ve been testing the Orico DS Series drive enclosure, an external storage station with up to 5 bays that aims to be the ideal companion for your home lab.
If you're looking to take your home security to the next level, you've probably already come across Reolink. On its 16th anniversary, the brand has launched and improved some of its most iconic models. Today, we're taking a deep dive into the Reolink TrackMix WiFi 6, a camera that doesn't just monitor — it automatically tracks and zooms so not a single detail slips by. In this article, we'll break down why this PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera is quickly becoming a favorite among smart home enthusiasts and Home Assistant users.
If you’re passionate about home automation, you’ll know that finding the perfect video doorbell is no easy task. After trying several models, today I’m bringing you what I consider the best option on the market for integrating with Home Assistant: Hikvision’s video doorbell system. In this article, we’ll cover the unboxing, physical installation, technical setup, and of course, full integration into your smart home ecosystem.
Have you ever arrived home with your hands full and wished the door would unlock itself when it saw you? With the new SwitchBot Lock Ultra Touch and Keypad Vision, that future is here. In this article, we take an in-depth look at what may be the most complete smart lock on the market today.
If you got started in home automation or virtualization using VirtualBox or VMware on your main PC, chances are you’ve already outgrown it. The logical next step is to move to Proxmox, a professional hypervisor that lets you run your systems, like Home Assistant, efficiently 24/7. In this article, I’ll show you the easiest way to migrate your virtual disks without losing a single piece of data.
If you're a Harry Potter fan, you'll remember the Weasley clock that showed the location of each family member. Thanks to Home Assistant and Wizard Clock Card, you can have exactly the same thing on your Dashboard. In this article, I'll show you how to set up this visual location tracker, ideal for wall tablets or centralized control panels.
Is your WiFi constantly dropping out? Are there areas in your home where the signal simply never reaches? If you have lots of smart devices or a large house, your ISP router quickly runs out of steam. The ultimate solution is a WiFi Mesh network. In this article, I’ll show you how to install and properly set up the Tenda Nova MX15 AX5400 system (and its sibling, the MX12 AX3000) for full coverage and top speed.
If you’ve installed solar panels, you’ve probably run into the same dilemma: should you deduct 40% or 60% on your tax return? While many tax advisers play it safe and recommend the lower option, this article explains why Option 3 is perfectly valid for single-family homes, backed by official documents from the Spanish Tax Agency.
If you installed solar panels at home, the 2024 tax return is the key moment to recover a significant part of your investment. Many users claimed the deduction last year, but when the second year of the tax break arrives, critical questions come up about how to handle unused amounts so you don't leave money on the table. In this article, I explain how to apply the energy efficiency improvement deduction correctly.
If you’re the kind of person who worries whether your pet has eaten while you’re away, smart feeders are the ultimate solution. But is one with a camera really worth it? And, more importantly for us, how does it integrate with Home Assistant? In this article, we take a look at Tuya/Smart Life’s smart dispenser and how to take its automation to the next level.
mmWave presence sensors have completely changed home automation. If you're coming from traditional PIR sensors, this is a whole different game: here you're not just detecting motion... you're detecting whether someone is breathing in a room. But now there's a new question when buying on AliExpress: should you choose a 24GHz sensor or a 5.8GHz one? In this article, you'll find a clear, no-nonsense guide: the real differences, when to choose each one, and how to set them up correctly in Home Assistant.
🔍 Home security matters more than ever today. With the rise of WiFi security cameras, protecting our homes has become easier and more accessible.
Integrating a TV Box or Smart TV into Home Assistant is one of the most rewarding steps in home automation. It is not just about controlling volume; it is about getting camera alerts on screen or automating a "cinema mode" when you open Netflix. In this article, we will use the IOTWE T95W, a powerful and affordable Android 13 TV Box, but these steps work for almost any Android TV or Fire TV Stick.
If you're looking to improve the stability and range of your Zigbee network in Home Assistant, choosing the right coordinator is essential. In this article, we'll walk through how to set up the SMLIGHT SLZB-07MG24 step by step, a compact and powerful USB dongle that stands out for its large memory capacity (RAM and Flash) and excellent electrical isolation. The best thing about this device is that, thanks to its design, it usually doesn't need the typical USB extension cable to avoid interference, and its size means you can plug it in alongside other USB devices without blocking nearby ports.
How to Install a Smart Heating Thermostat – Complete Guide with BTicino Smarther XG8002 In the age of home automation and smart living, smart thermostats have changed the way we manage heating.
One of the biggest challenges when turning an older home into a smart home is discovering that only two wires run behind the light switch: live and the lamp return. That is where no-neutral smart relays come in. But are they always the best choice? In this article, we look at when to use them, the risks involved, and why cheap can sometimes end up being expensive.
Love weather and home automation? Having your own weather station not only lets you monitor the exact conditions at your location, it also opens up a world of possibilities for automating your home. In this article, we break down step by step how to set up the Ecowitt WS2910, one of the best value weather stations on the market, and how to integrate it locally with Home Assistant.
Until now, presence sensors (mmWave radar) had one major drawback: they always needed to be plugged in. But that has changed. In this article, we take a look at the new wireless Zigbee presence sensor, a device you can place anywhere without worrying about cables, and one that integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant.
Special occasions, Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, or just wanting to decorate our home a little. But why settle for static lights if you have Home Assistant? In this article, I’ll show you how to create an RGB animation script so your lights change color automatically, creating a unique and fully automated festive atmosphere.
Do you have a POCO Pad or a Redmi Pad Pro and want to take your smart home to the next level? Don’t let it sit in a drawer. In this article, we’ll show you how to turn it into a professional Home Assistant Wall Panel, so you can control your entire smart home with a single tap from the wall in your living room.