Homey Review
In the second part of my Homey review, I focus on the desktop app. In my opinion, it has the best UI/UX of any smart home hub. Built in Node.js and packaged with Electron, it's split into several sections.
Z-Wave
Z-Wave smart-home devices, from hubs and sensors to switches and sirens.
Homey Review – Unboxing & Setup
Homey is a smart home hub from Athom supporting a wide range of wireless technologies. It began as a Kickstarter in May 2014, raising €203,918 from 996 backers, but shipped well past its targeted June 2015 date.
Samsung SmartThings V2 Hub (UK)
I bought the Samsung SmartThings V2 Hub (UK) from Amazon UK for £99.99, dropping to £83.33 with the 20% VAT exemption. Direct UPS delivery to Singapore was pricey at £15.18 but fast, arriving four days later.
Fibaro Z-Wave Universal Door & Window Sensor 2 Gen5
Vesternet runs a weekly Monday sale on Z-Wave products, so I picked up a couple of Fibaro Z-Wave Universal Door & Window Sensor 2 Gen5 at about S$52 each, plus some TKB TZ69E Z-Wave wall plug switches.
Remotec Z-Wave AC IR Extender (ZXT-120)
I bought the Remotec Z-Wave AC IR Extender (ZXT-120) from Vesternet during its Vesternet Mondays promotion, which offers up to 20% off rotating brands like Vera, Fibaro, Aeon, and Foscam. The ZXT-120 brings my air conditioner into Z-Wave.
Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Siren
During Vesternet's Mondays promotion, which offers up to 20% off rotating Z-Wave brands, I bought the Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Siren for about S$51, down from S$65. It's a loud siren I can trigger from my smart home automations.
Popp Z-Wave KFOB Remote Control
Vesternet mistakenly shipped me the Popp Z-Wave KFOB Remote Control instead of the Aeotec Key Fob I'd ordered. After I contacted support, they sent the correct item two days later and let me keep the wrong one.
TKB Z-Wave Wall Plug Switch/Meter
I bought five TKB Z-Wave Wall Plug Switch/Meters from Vesternet at about S$47 each, down from S$52 thanks to a bulk discount for buying four or more. They're a budget-friendly way to add metered Z-Wave plugs to my home.
Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Key Fob Remote
I bought the Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Key Fob Remote from Vesternet for S$69, alongside the Minimote; locally it's S$90 at Automate Asia. It's similar to the Minimote but more portable, designed to clip onto your keys.
Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Minimote
I bought the Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Minimote from Vesternet for about S$63, or S$80 locally at Automate Asia. Despite four buttons, each can trigger two actions, controlling up to eight devices or scenes.
Using MCO Touch Panel With Storage Water Heater
I use an Ariston Andris Lux 15L storage water heater. As working adults out from 9am to 9pm, Li Xiang and I often forget to switch it off, wasting electricity, so I added smart control with an MCO Touch Panel.
Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Home Energy Meter
I bought the Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Home Energy Meter from Automate Asia for S$140. It measures your whole house's electrical usage by clamping onto the incoming cable at your circuit breaker, reading the flow of electricity via magnetic flux.
Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave MultiSensor 6 (Gen5)
I bought the Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave MultiSensor 6 from Automate Asia for S$110, alongside the Smart Switch 6. It runs on Micro-USB power or two CR123A batteries (not included), which last about two years, packing six sensors into one.
Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Smart Switch 6 (Gen5)
I bought the Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Smart Switch 6 from Automate Asia for S$110, so new it wasn't yet on their site. After the Fibaro Starter Kit hooked me on energy monitoring, I added these for my always-on appliances.
The Start Of My Smart Home Journey
When I wanted to make my home smarter, I engaged Automate Asia, which I'd come across in the local news. Not a sponsored post, I paid for their services. A shout-out to Mike and the team for their great help.
Samsung SmartThings
During SmartThings' Spring sale and a follow-up Memorial Day promotion until 4th June 2016, most products were 20% off, on both the SmartThings store and Amazon. I bought my items from Amazon, since they qualified for free AmazonGlobal Saver shipping.