What is the best home automation system?

Home automation is now more within everyone’s reach than it has ever been. Not only because of the maturation of technologies and cheap prices, but because you will find a multitude of very different systems and devices, for almost all needs and tastes. However, this enormous variety also makes the choice difficult. But with this guide you won’t have problems, since you will be able to know which is the best home automation system for your case…

Index of contents

• Types of home automation systems
  • Bluetooth
    • LV Features
  • Bluetooth versions
  • WiFi
    • Characteristics
    • WiFi connectivity standards
  • LORA
    • Advantages
  • Zigbee
    • Characteristics
    • Advantages
  • Z-Wave
    • • Advantages
      • Characteristics
    • RFID
  • Choosing the best home automation system: available systems
    • Somfy vs Cherubini
  • HomeKit (Apple Siri) vs Nest (Google Assistant) vs Echo (Amazon Alexa)
    • IKEA
    • Xiaomi
    • Legrand (Netatmo)
    • Fibaro
    • Belkin Wemo
    • SPC
    • Trust
    • Philips
    • Arlo
  • conclusions

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Types of home automation systems

The first thing to keep in mind when choosing a home automation device for your home is the type of technology or link protocol used (Zigbee, Delta Dore, Inssteon, Z-Wave, Bluetooth,…).

As you know, other wired protocols like the NKX bus, or PLCs through X10 were used in the past . But in these cases, a compatible electrical network was needed that was linked to all the rooms where you wanted to distribute the connected smart devices.

Instead, now the new wireless technologies have solved those limitations, but you should know how to choose well:

Bluetooth

Bluetooth (BT) is one of the most widespread wireless technologies today, compatible with a multitude of devices, such as mobile devices. Therefore, it is a quite wise choice if what you are looking for is good compatibility.

This technology was designed by the Swedish company Ericsson and a group of companies from the technology sector. The joint effort of all of them allowed this technology to be standardized.

The name comes from a Norse mythological god and its symbol is two blue teeth created in turn by two runes.

BT technology has brought good performance and energy efficiency , especially in the latest versions of this wireless communication protocol, such as 5.0, 5.2, etc. In addition, at present it has also been adding security improvements, additional functions, codecs to transport audio signals, etc.

LV Features

• It operates in a free ISM band between 2.402 and 2.480 Ghz.
• It does not require any license.
• Its range goes from 10 meters to some that could exceed that under certain conditions.
• It is oriented to point-to-point connections or mesh network, with few nodes.
• Its maximum transmission speed depends on the version, but it can reach 50 Mbps or more in the latest versions.
• It does not overcome obstacles like walls and other barriers well.

Bluetooth versions

WiFi

WiFi or Wireless Fidelity wireless connectivity technology is another of the most popular now for IoT or Internet-connected devices, and many home automation devices also allow you to use it.

This technology is also a standard , like Bluetooth, making it ideal in terms of interoperability and compatibility. It is developed by the WiFi Alliance, another large conglomerate of companies in the technology sector, and is standardized under the IEEE 802.11 identification.

Characteristics

Among the main characteristics of WiFi, the following should be noted:

• It operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz frequency band. Although in WiFi 6E the 6 Ghz band has also appeared.
• Its range can vary depending on external factors, but it goes further than Bluetooth. More the lower the frequency at which it operates: 2.4 > 5 > 6 Ghz. As the frequency is higher, it has more difficulties to cross obstacles, that is, the signal is less permeable.
• Its speed is also higher than that of the BT. For example, WiFi 6 can transfer data at 9.6Gbps.

WiFi connectivity standards

As with BT, WiFi also has several versions with improvements that have been appearing on the market:

The more advanced the standard, the faster transfer speeds and better encryption security you will have. There is backward compatibility , but for two devices connected by WiFi to enjoy maximum speed and features, both have to be compatible with the most advanced standard. That is, if for example you have a WiFi 5 device and a WiFi 6 device, both will work with the features of version 5.

The last two most current specifications are WiFi:

LORA

LoRa stands for Long Range , a wireless technology patented by the French company Cycleo, currently part of Semtech. This technology is capable of modulating the low power wide area network based on CSS derived spectrum modulation techniques. It is currently under LoRa Alliance, as a standard.

It uses radio waves below gigahertz, such as 863-870 / 873 Mhz, 915-928 Mhz, etc. Due to its long range, it can be used for IoT devices that need to be geolocated.

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a low consumption wireless network technology that covers long distances, is bidirectional and for low volume data transmission. This could be used as an alternative to Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi, etc., for urbotics, that is, home automation brought to the entire city (Smart Cities).

Advantages

The advantages of LoRaWAN are the following:

• It allows to know the status of a device at a great distance, even hundreds of kilometers.
• Remote control is supported.
• Very low consumption, suitable for devices that depend on batteries.
• It is very simple.
• It is safe.
• Due to its low operating frequencies, it gets around obstacles that get in the way well.
• It is quite a successful technology in Europe.

Zigbee

Zigbee is a widely used wireless communication protocol today, since it has great advantages. It is compatible with a multitude of home automation devices, and also uses radio waves such as WiFi. And it is operated by the Zigbee Alliance, made up of several manufacturers.

Zigbee allows direct connection between devices, without the need for a router as was the case with WiFi. What is needed is a bridge or hub , a device that acts as an intermediate link between the connected devices, something typical of many smart bulb kits, etc.

Characteristics

As for the key features of ZigBee are:

• You need a hub or bridge.
• Allows you to create meshes or net mesh.
• Devices do not connect individually to the Internet.
• Low energy consumption.
• Coverage between 10 and 20 meters.
• Speeds of only 250 kbit/s.
• It is an open protocol.

Advantages

• Avoid WiFi saturation by using your own hub and leaving the WiFi signal for other apps.
• It is cheaper and less sophisticated than Bluetooth and WiFi.
• It consumes less power than BT and WiFi.
• It is an open protocol, so you do not need licenses to use it.
• Perfect for home automation or home automation.
• Very good current compatibility.
• Supports up to 65,000 connected devices.
• Allows the use of 2.4 Ghz frequencies worldwide.

Z-Wave

Z-Wave is another good alternative to Zigbee, Bluetooth and WiFi for home automation applications. It is not as popular as the previous ones, but little by little it is gaining ground.

Z-Wave similarities with Zigbee, although it also has notable differences. For example, instead of being managed by an alliance of companies and being open, Z-Wave is a proprietary and private technology , so you cannot make changes to it and you will need a license to implement it.

Advantages

Among the advantages of Z-Wave for home automation are:

• When closed, all devices will be 100% compatible with the specifications established by the company.
• It has a greater range than ZigBee, with up to 100 meters of coverage.
• It is more stable.
• Allows up to 200 connected devices.
• Suitable for Smart Cities and Industry 4.0.

Although not all are advantages , you also need your own bridge or hub to establish the connection, it is proprietary, as I said, it does not allow the frequencies to be used freely throughout the world, etc.

Characteristics

Regarding the characteristics of Z-Wave, we can highlight:

• You need a hub or bridge.
• Supports mesh or malla type networks.
• Devices do not connect individually to the Internet.
• Offers low power consumption.
• Maximum range of 100 meters.
• Very low data transfer rates, up to 100 kbit/s.
• It is a closed protocol.
• It uses various frequencies depending on the country.

RFID

Finally, we also have RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology . With it you can remotely transmit and store information on labels or tags (transponders) and using readers to read the stored information. Although it is not as flexible for all types of applications as the previous ones, it is also used by some home automation devices.

These tags include a chip or integrated circuit on FR4 carbon fiber or PCB that is usually flexible, an antenna that is also implemented with copper or other metals and can be flexible or rigid, and a substrate that acts as a base. The tags themselves can be of two types:

• Passives: those that do not need a power supply, receiving all the power from the reader itself.
• Active: they need a power supply, but they allow the signal to be transmitted without the need for the reader to act.

On the other hand, the RFID system also has other auxiliary elements for its operation, such as these:

• Reader: is the device in charge of transmitting an energy signal to the tag or label in order to receive information stored in the tag. Although it is called a reader, it acts as both a sender and a receiver.
• Controller: it can be from a mobile device, to a computer, among others. It is in charge of executing an app that can process the data obtained by the RFID reader or send orders.
• Middleware: this is software in charge of reading, filtering, deciphering, and managing the information that comes from nearby controllers.

RFID uses the radio frequency spectrum or radio waves to function. That is, it can operate at frequencies such as 125 KHz, 13.56 MHz, 433-860-960 MHz, and 2.45 GHz.

Choosing the best home automation system: available systems

Once we have talked about the existing protocols, now we must focus on the commercial home automation systems available to know which one to choose:

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Somfy vs Cherubini

To begin with, we have to differentiate between Somfy and Cherubini systems . These brands tend to be more focused on motors for automatic shutters. Both are good in their field, although for other systems outside of this I recommend other brands.

HomeKit (Apple Siri) vs Nest (Google Assistant) vs Echo (Amazon Alexa)

As you know, there are also smart speakers or screens that use the three great virtual assistants for their operation, and that these are compatible with a multitude of home automation devices to be able to control them with voice commands, very easily.

On the other hand, when choosing between the three, it must be said that smart home or IoT device companies have preferred Alexa as the main assistant, so you will find the greatest compatibility with it. It is followed by Google Assistant in second position and Apple devices in third place, with a lot of difference compared to the previous ones.

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IKEA

The Swedish company started its home automation line with low-cost smart bulbs, but it has been growing in number of devices. These are very diverse today, such as sensors, smart blinds, smart lamps, etc. And the positive thing is that they are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.

Xiaomi

The Chinese technology giant has also delved into its own range of products for home automation, with light bulbs, surveillance cameras, air purifiers, etc. But you should know that these devices generally use WiFi and Bluetooth protocols , and not all of them are compatible with the aforementioned virtual assistants.

Legrand (Netatmo)

Netatmo is also among the most popular brands of smart home devices, such as lighting devices, air conditioning, roller blinds, smart thermostats, etc. This company has products compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant mainly, and also with Siri in some cases.

Fibaro

You have both the famous Fibaro Home and many other solutions from this brand, such as motorized blinds with home automation, lighting, doors, air conditioning, security and much more. This company uses the Z-Wave protocol to interconnect its devices and its hub to the router, also making them compatible with the voice assistants Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri.

Belkin Wemo

It is another French brand with a multitude of devices for your home automation ecosystem. It has its own app and is more oriented to the Apple ecosystem . You can find everything from smart plugs, surveillance cameras, light bulbs, to controllers, through motion sensors, etc. Almost all of them connected via WiFi.

SPC

Another of the best-known home automation ecosystems is SPC. This brand has a multitude of devices for your home, both indoors and outdoors. You can find in its catalog: smart bulbs, plugs, aromatizers, sensors, switches, Smart heaters, air purifiers, etc. All of them compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa , and connected via WiFi.

Trust

The famous manufacturer of electronics and computer devices has also joined the home automation sector with light bulbs, bells, push buttons, video cameras, alarms, sensors, etc. Its products are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Regarding protocols, they are divided, some use WiFi and others Zigbee .

Philips

The big tech giant of European technology also has its own smart products under the Hue series . Philips is a benchmark in smart lighting, given its high quality and versatility and quality. In other words, it is the best home automation system when it comes to light. And it is compatible with various protocols and assistants, such as Alexa and Assistant.

Arlo

Last but not least, we also have Arlo products. If you are obsessed with security, you should know that these are designed with security in mind, with surveillance cameras, among other security devices for the smart home. These home automation products are only compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa.

conclusions

Finally, as you can see, it is a question of preferences , between the connection protocols that best suit your needs or that are compatible with what you already have. The same goes for virtual assistants, you should choose the one that is compatible if you want a voice-controlled home automation system.

In addition, you should document yourself well before choosing , identify the peculiarities of your home, make sure that the chosen system adapts well to the environment, and think about the future in case you want to expand or scale the system…