I typically avoid anything smart, but given practicality, I’m looking for general tips or recommendations for smart bulbs?
I have just started self-hosting home-assistant, and would prefer ones which integrate well with that.
What should I look out for when buying them? Any brands to avoid? Any cybersecurity concerns you’ve come across? Or should I avoid them altogether?
**Thanks everyone for the responses! I may not get back individually, but it’s a great point to jump in from
In terms of security, it’s definitely best to use either zigbee or thread bulbs with a dedicated dongle plugged directly into your HA server (never use the manufacturer’s hub). That way, they can only communicate with your HA directly, and there’s no way for them to access the internet surreptitiously.
I highly recommended the Sonoff dongles, I’m using the MG24 for my thread devices and an older model for my zigbee ones and they’ve been rock solid. Just make sure to use a USB extension cable to plug them in as your USB ports can generate electrical interference - do not ignore this advice! I did at first and it caused me problems. (Iirc the MG24 actually comes with one in the box)
Something else to note is that you can’t use the same dongle for both ZigBee and Thread at the same time, they each need to be flashed with the respective firmware for the protocol you want to use.
Well, If you, and quite a few others in this thread seem to have had to fight USB fuckery, I wouldn’t consider them rock solid.