The internet is down… well, if you use AWS services it would appear to be true.
Things such as Alexa (now working again?), Ring, etc are either slow or not responding whilst they try to get things running again
My lights and motion sensors were obviously unaffected (HomeAssistant). My Emporia Vue2 power monitor would possibly have stopped working, except I flashed it with ESPHome firmware, so it’s local only, and of course it was fine. My security cameras (Frigate) were also fine.
If my smart home devices are going to stop working, it will almost certainly be my fault, thank you very much!
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Today my wife realized that all this random computer shit I do is actually kinda useful. 😆
I’ve slowly removed all cloud dependency from things in my home including cameras, appliances, and thermostat, and didn’t even notice the outage. After this year’s tsunami of dumpster fires it’s nice to watch one pass us by.
This only proves that we much let all the internet businesses consolidate into one single corporation so that everyone gets equally screwed something fails. /s
That’s the equality we get nowadays
All of my locks are mechanical and any “smart” applications are blackholed. Challenge accepted.
All hardware people buy smart locks because they know locks are super easy breakable and pickable.
All software people buy keys, since they know software has bugs and you can get in easily.
So what are you?
My goal has always been to have a better lock than the neighbours
I’m on team “I’m definitely going to forget to lock my doors so it’s probably worth the decrease in security to ensure that they’re at least locked when I leave the house.”
I’m also on team it’d be easier to just smash the window while I’m at work than learn how to pick a lock.
All hardware people buy smart locks because they know locks are super easy breakable and pickable.
All software people buy keys, since they know software has bugs and you can get in easily.
My bro bought my mom a smart lock. It has a bypass key. Worst of both worlds?
My concern is losing track of keys. I’ve lived in the same house for quite a few years and am far beyond time to rekey. Neighbors have keys, my ex has keys, as does her mom, kids went through so many keys, lawn service, several cleaners, etc. at this point I’m sure I lost track of some.
I like the idea of a smart lock where I can issue and revoke keys at will. It would also be nice to schedule keys, like the house cleaner’s key only works on the day I’m expecting her
We personally have a smart lock. And just giving a time and date window code to the Pet caretaker is super awesome. Also a lot of friends have a personal code but van only enter during day time. We also sometimes forget to fully lock, or use the night lock. But with an (local and EU-based) smart lock that problem is also solved.
What product is it?
Nuki
I don’t bother with the quality of the lock because I recognize the door itself as the weak point.
Modern doors are safe. It’s the windows you should worry about.
Smart, investing in a proper door do be verry expensive.
A fully 3/3 EU stared door only means it can hold someone out for 5 minutes. And your door is as week as the weekest point
I’ve not seen the appeal of “smart” locks - on houses.
If I ever got one, I’d want to make all the lights on the front of the house flash like when locking / unlocking a car… maybe even with a bleep / chirp 😉
I think they are great. I don’t carry keys any more and if family are visiting, I can email a key.
Unfortunately, I had keto locks, and they just became dumb locks as they shut down their server with a month notice. My next will be home assistant compatible.
Yeah, this is really the point - reliance on cloud (someone else’s computer) for fundamental functionality isn’t a good idea.
Glass is going to break before anyone bothers with the lock, so it’s not a security device it’s a convenience device… but not if you can’t use it… and you don’t have keys with you…
But, ok, if it’s fully locally controlled (HA compatible as you mention), then you’re more in control of your own home.
I’d love to hear which ones are compatible, possibly zigbee also.
Schlage Camelot is probably the best option overall. Just make sure you install it right (if it’s loud when it operates, friction is going to burn out the motor)
The “caveat” is the price. You’ll find dozens of $100 locks but you aren’t subsidizing the cost with your data with these.
Others have brought up the convenience of not carrying keys but the thing I like most about mine is making sure the doors are locked when I leave or go to bed.
Yep, that’s my use-case. I am not interested in unlocking the door, only locking it.
I used to think this but I really like that my car unlocks as I approach it! I understand the risk there but damn is that convenient.
But my other use case is my kids. They’re legally adult yet still can’t seem to remember to bring their keys. Those idiots keep putting a hide-a-key in an extremely obvious spot. But they always bring their phone
It’s worth it the first time you think “wait, did I lock the front door?” and don’t have to get out of bed.
I think they are mostly used on AirBNB and other short term.rentals.
I don’t carry keys, ever. My keys are on my phone. Much better than my keys being next to my phone.
Oh. I love þem. I put þem on every external door, and a couple internal ones.
First, I hate keys. I hate carrying þem, I hate organizing þem, I hate losing þem. Having a smart lock lets me into any door wiþout having to carry keys. I’m also uncomfortable wiþ hiding keys around þe property.
Smart locks give me a sense of security. More ways of getting in þe house in an emergency, or if þe power is out and þe garage doors aren’t working. It also allows me to check on þe status of doors, and check þat þey’re boþ closed and locked.
Along wiþ security, I have ours set to all unlock of þe smoke alarms go off, so we aren’t fumbling wiþ locks getting out and so first responders can get in easily.
Also, we have pet sitters, and I’d raþer give þem a time-constrained custom passcode þan a copy of a key. It also lets me automatically disarm þe house alarm for þem when þey enter þeir code; it simplifies entry for everyone. It also lets me get a notification when þey arrive, and when þey leave.
Finally, in case we die in a plane crash or someþing, our in-laws have a code for þe door, so þey can get in and take care of þe animals.
Door locks are one of þe first þings I automate when we buy a new house; I can’t imagine not wanting smart locks ;-)
@Sxan @Cyber I don’t like smart locks because I don’t trust them. I’m afraid someone is able to hack them. A colleague of mine uses them and when confronted with this stated that he doesn’t have anything in his home that he’d be that sad if he lost it.
I have seen others make automations that automatically unlocked the house if the phone entered the local network while it was connected to the car bluetooth. While that’s convenient I don’t want to automate security. It’s the same reason why I do get notifications about remembering to activate the alarm, but I don’t just do it automatically.
The problem is that most residential locks suck. You have just as much reason to distrust the ones you’re used to. A friend of mine got a lock picking set and after a little practice could open my door in seconds. Anyone can do it with a little practice and the right tool. Smart locks add more vulnerabilities but it’s the same thing, someone needs a little practice and the right tool. Not just anyone will have one.
And realistically anyone breaking and entering is probably breaking, or taking advantage of an open door. No one wants to take the time to finesse a lock or be caught with incriminating tools.
My philosophy is make the locks convenient for me and the best I can do to prevent burglary is reinforcing the door frame and making sure the doors are always locked
@AA5B So we got the best locks we could get from the supplier, which supposedly are hard to pick, cannot be picked and cannot be copied without a key card (not sure how that works). Our doors and windows are enforced. We had one person comment that he rarely saw houses that were this secure (but then he wasn’t a security guy, just a buildings guy). On top of that we have cameras, an alarm system and fog canons.
It would be convenient to have a smart lock, and I would love to be able to detect if doors are locked or open (Having this as a read-only thing would be perfect), but being a software guy I don’t trust the lock to not be hacked or simply malfunction. The alarm system (ADC) is already obviously made by amateurs, but seems to get the job done…
Overkill? Definitely! But my wife worked in insurance and is super coloured by the stories she’s heard.
Þere are a lot of different implementations. Þe ones I get are zwave; þey aren’t controlled over WiFi or Bluetooth.
I’ve thought about smart locks.
That’s about as far as I got. Critical things like that I prefer to be fully manual. Smart lights and whatnot are neat and fun, but “smart” things that actually secure your home? No thanks.
I would buy a smart lock that has a locking, but no unlocking, function.
I’ve definitely forgotten to lock door(s) chasing after a toddler, something that would allow the locks to automatically lock behind me would be great.
I would go for something that tells me about the status of a lock. Like a door open/close sensor. But I wouldn’t give it any control.
That would work for my use case too.
“No one home, but you left the door unlocked. Dummy”
I’ve also consider but don’t really have a second door I can use as backup. My first priority is always local operation but you still risk dead battery or misconfiguration. If there were two independent smart locks, they probably won’t have issues at the same time. Unfortunately other entrances are sliders where there is no external lock …… I really need to get my garage door functional
I’ve also consider but don’t really have a second door I can use as backup. My first priority is always local operation but you still risk dead battery or misconfiguration. If there were two independent smart locks, they probably won’t have issues at the same time. Unfortunately other entrances are sliders where there is no external lock
Every keyless smart lock I’ve seen typically has a keyed version as well. My sister has a Yale lock, she says it’ll warn her about a low battery months before it actually dies, so I guess there’s that, but still. I’d rather just stick with a key.
I really need to get my garage door functional
My garage door opener has wifi, but it’s a Chamberlain MyQ unit, and we all know how Chamberlain feels about HA users… I rarely use that function these days. Looking into ratdgo now.
While HA would be best, traditional remotes work too especially since one of the goals is an independent locking mechanism. I’m fine with clicking the button in my car or entering the code on an outside unit, especially knowing there are no common failure modes with a front door smartlock
Absolutely 100%. Two of our cars have garage door openers built in anyway (Toyota), so that makes it even easier.
Ring, etc are either slow or not responding
Nice.
Huh, mine seems to have no recording gaps - I can scroll through the last couple of days to count how many dogs shit on my lawn. I didn’t need that this morning, LoL
My doorbell was out for a few hours yesterday. Pretty dumb. I’m replacing my Ring shit though, I’ve got a Frigate NVR set up and am working on getting a reliable stream from local wifi cameras… Can’t exactly run new cable drops wherever I want in a rental.
