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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Duane 3NE 2NR » February 16th, 2021, 10:46 pm

Country_Bookie wrote:Anyone ordered from wyze recently ? I placed an order for the v3 cam last week, used the US address on my card and shipping address was to a skybox with Blue Sky. Wyze initially accepted the order then cancelled it 3 days later. I'm assuming it's because it was being shipped to a skybox. Anyone was able to get thru using a skybox address? Lemme know which skybox company u used.

Also did anyone buy the USB cable extender from wyze or one of those from Amazon?

I haven't ordered recently but it used to work all along

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby src1983 » February 19th, 2021, 9:26 am

Hi all what do you all use to make your gates smart? I used gogogate, but I find there is a delay when I swipe (not sure if the newer models better). So I am looking for options

Also anyone have experience with HomeAssistant?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Duane 3NE 2NR » February 19th, 2021, 9:33 am

src1983 wrote:Hi all what do you all use to make your gates smart? I used gogogate, but I find there is a delay when I swipe (not sure if the newer models better). So I am looking for options

Also anyone have experience with HomeAssistant?

is it that gogogate sells iSmartGate?
or are they the same company?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby src1983 » February 20th, 2021, 12:59 am

Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:
src1983 wrote:Hi all what do you all use to make your gates smart? I used gogogate, but I find there is a delay when I swipe (not sure if the newer models better). So I am looking for options

Also anyone have experience with HomeAssistant?

is it that gogogate sells iSmartGate?
or are they the same company?


same company, this is the 2nd time they changed the name

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Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby 2WNBoost » February 20th, 2021, 4:43 am

Old FBI press release but take note:

Cyber Actors Use Internet of Things Devices as Proxies for Anonymity and Pursuit of Malicious Cyber Activities

Cyber actors actively search for and compromise vulnerable Internet of Things (IoT) devices for use as proxies or intermediaries for Internet requests to route malicious traffic for cyber-attacks and computer network exploitation. IoT devices, sometimes referred to as “smart” devices, are devices that communicate with the Internet to send or receive data. Examples of targeted IoT devices include: routers, wireless radios links, time clocks, audio/video streaming devices, Raspberry Pis, IP cameras, DVRs, satellite antenna equipment, smart garage door openers, and network attached storage devices.

IoT proxy servers are attractive to malicious cyber actors because they provide a layer of anonymity by transmitting all Internet requests through the victim device’s IP address. Devices in developed nations are particularly attractive targets because they allow access to many business websites that block traffic from suspicious or foreign IP addresses. Cyber actors use the compromised device’s IP address to engage in intrusion activities, making it difficult to filter regular traffic from malicious traffic...

https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2018/PSA180802

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby nervewrecker » February 20th, 2021, 5:56 am

Phone Surgeon wrote:
Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:Got an Echo Flex on sale for Prime day for $9.99
skybox delivered it yesterday

This review is pretty much spot on



nice, i ordered 6 that $9.99 price was great.
waiting for mine to clear customs

also ordered some of the motion sensors to pair with them


selling any of the sensors?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Duane 3NE 2NR » February 20th, 2021, 10:56 am

^ how you fellas using the motion sensor?
You have it connected to a smart switch or bulb?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby nervewrecker » February 22nd, 2021, 6:25 pm

I'd use a contactor or relay for a bulb.

The set we bought from modern electrical are rubbish. Salesman was laughing at it over lunch with moi today at my home.

Told him I'd pelt him with it but he already left the job
Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:^ how you fellas using the motion sensor?
You have it connected to a smart switch or bulb?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Strugglerzinc » February 22nd, 2021, 7:22 pm

Pretty sure he meant a smart bulb.

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby nervewrecker » February 22nd, 2021, 8:32 pm

These bulbs eh smart nah.

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby GLANIMAL » April 28th, 2021, 10:15 pm

Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:Many smart switches require a neutral wire because they need to be powered all the time to stay connected to WiFi or z-wave or whatever protocol the switch uses to communicate.

Switches that don’t use a neutral will have to power down to very low power, causing LED/CFL bulbs to flicker or remain on but very dimly.

I use Lutron Caseta PD-6WCL dimmers that don’t require a neutral but power low enough that it works with LED and CFL bulbs.

https://theiotpad.com/tips/smart-switch ... utral-wire

The Lutron Caseta on/off switches that require a neutral, I just get an electrician to run a neutral wire for that light and switch.

I like the Lutron cause it works with a hub so doesn’t take up multiple WiFi connections and clutter up the router and more importantly it works with a ton of home protocols including Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Home. Many switches don’t do all those together. It’s also very solid. Many smart switches need to be restarted or lose connection. I have stress with multiple Koogeek switches that disconnect every other week and work with HomeKit but not Alexa.


QUESTION

I see you are using lutron smart switches, do you use single inwall electrical gang box for each one...

I want to use lutron....i will have like 5, 4, 3, 2 switches in a line at certain areas.. I called around ..no one seems to be selling the bigger gang boxes like what they they have in the USA so u can fit a 5 switch stand wallplate on the switches etc....

Are you using the bigger gang box switches..if bought locally..can u tell me where?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Duane 3NE 2NR » April 28th, 2021, 11:15 pm

^ yes that has been a challenge.

In many cases where I had two or three gang switch plates I would condemn some of the switches by closing the circuit (always on) and either use a smart bulb or put two sets of lights on one switch once the load permitted.
It's a lot of hassle to break the wall and put more 4x2 or ganged cans for multiple switches - so it was a trade-off.

You can get multi-gang switch boxes/cans on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Madison-Electric ... 00H8NUVQA/

as well as multi gang Lutron/Claro switch plates
https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-Claro-Dec ... 0000V2UMU/

You may be able to get the multi-gang cans locally at places like Modern Electrical.
If not you may be able to join multiply 4x2 cans together
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-combin ... es-1152549

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby GLANIMAL » April 29th, 2021, 12:03 am

Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:^ yes that has been a challenge.

In many cases where I had two or three gang switch plates I would condemn some of the switches by closing the circuit (always on) and either use a smart bulb or put two sets of lights on one switch once the load permitted.
It's a lot of hassle to break the wall and put more 4x2 or ganged cans for multiple switches - so it was a trade-off.

You can get multi-gang switch boxes/cans on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Madison-Electric ... 00H8NUVQA/

as well as multi gang Lutron/Claro switch plates
https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-Claro-Dec ... 0000V2UMU/

You may be able to get the multi-gang cans locally at places like Modern Electrical.
If not you may be able to join multiply 4x2 cans together
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-combin ... es-1152549


No breaking wall..new build...yeah..ill order from amazon

ill go with the metal boxes though..safer and will hold up better with concrete plaster

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby GLANIMAL » April 30th, 2021, 10:00 am

GLANIMAL wrote:
Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:^ yes that has been a challenge.

In many cases where I had two or three gang switch plates I would condemn some of the switches by closing the circuit (always on) and either use a smart bulb or put two sets of lights on one switch once the load permitted.
It's a lot of hassle to break the wall and put more 4x2 or ganged cans for multiple switches - so it was a trade-off.

You can get multi-gang switch boxes/cans on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Madison-Electric ... 00H8NUVQA/

as well as multi gang Lutron/Claro switch plates
https://www.amazon.com/Lutron-Claro-Dec ... 0000V2UMU/

You may be able to get the multi-gang cans locally at places like Modern Electrical.
If not you may be able to join multiply 4x2 cans together
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-combin ... es-1152549


No breaking wall..new build...yeah..ill order from amazon

ill go with the metal boxes though..safer and will hold up better with concrete plaster


Nova Lighting Trinidad stocks all the box

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Duane 3NE 2NR » April 30th, 2021, 12:15 pm

^ ok good info
Post pics of the 3 and 4 gang boxes they have if you get any

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby GLANIMAL » May 1st, 2021, 8:15 pm

Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:^ ok good info
Post pics of the 3 and 4 gang boxes they have if you get any


Will do..unfortunately..they do stock them as they sell lutron smartnswitches as well..currently out of stockk..theu waiting on shipment

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby st7 » August 17th, 2021, 5:01 pm

has anyone repurposed older model tablets to act as a screen-always-on hub to control their devices?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Duane 3NE 2NR » August 17th, 2021, 6:11 pm

st7 wrote:has anyone repurposed older model tablets to act as a screen-always-on hub to control their devices?

Yup used an old Kindle Fire but it conked out eventually.
Will probably get a used iPad Mini to do it.

Was looking at these wall mounts for the iPad that you can run a charge cable to inside the wall
https://www.iportproducts.com/surface-mount

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby st7 » August 17th, 2021, 6:19 pm

lol only brick walls i got but i exploring ideas atm. it's not priority but i figure i can see which tablets are suitable now, and grab those for black friday sales (if it's even cheaper lol)... so i got a couple months of planning.

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby worksux101 » August 17th, 2021, 6:50 pm

st7 wrote:has anyone repurposed older model tablets to act as a screen-always-on hub to control their devices?

Using an old ipad and new Lenovo as designated. Just a matter of wiping every other app and installing those you use. I have to use separate apps though so can't leave on just one as I'd like.

Love Duane's idea - never thought of that but will check it out

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Duane 3NE 2NR » August 17th, 2021, 7:11 pm

st7 wrote:lol only brick walls i got but i exploring ideas atm. it's not priority but i figure i can see which tablets are suitable now, and grab those for black friday sales (if it's even cheaper lol)... so i got a couple months of planning.

You can do it with a concrete wall but the work to get it done is a bit messy.
Chase the wall with a chisel and chip out a box and channel to run your power cable from a plug outlet.
Check this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvkc79jTHRA

The hidden wires and flush mount will look very clean though.

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby Superstar2704 » August 18th, 2021, 5:32 pm

src1983 wrote:
Duane 3NE 2NR wrote:
src1983 wrote:Hi all what do you all use to make your gates smart? I used gogogate, but I find there is a delay when I swipe (not sure if the newer models better). So I am looking for options

Also anyone have experience with HomeAssistant?

is it that gogogate sells iSmartGate?
or are they the same company?


same company, this is the 2nd time they changed the name


Does anyone know where i purchase gogogate locally.

Will it work on a FAAC Brand Gate motor?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby worksux101 » August 18th, 2021, 7:06 pm

Not sure if this is the right thread, but I bought the next wifi extender from pricesmart and hooked up to my flow 200mbps connection.
However, the most I'm getting from any of the nexxt nodes is 30mbps, even when it's right next to the flow router.
Any suggestions? Should I return and buy a different type/brand?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby st7 » August 18th, 2021, 7:50 pm

worksux101 wrote:Not sure if this is the right thread, but I bought the next wifi extender from pricesmart and hooked up to my flow 200mbps connection.
However, the most I'm getting from any of the nexxt nodes is 30mbps, even when it's right next to the flow router.
Any suggestions? Should I return and buy a different type/brand?


what is the throughput rating for the 2.4ghz and 5.0 ghz on the extender?

what are you using to test this speed? laptop? phone? what is the throughput rating on the wifi adapter on the device?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby worksux101 » August 18th, 2021, 8:25 pm

Testing on phone. Flow speedtest.
They claim 300mbps per device for both 2.4 and 5g

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby st7 » August 18th, 2021, 8:47 pm

can you give me the model number for the extender?

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby worksux101 » August 18th, 2021, 9:40 pm

Nexxt vektor 3600AC.
Thanks alot man!

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby st7 » August 18th, 2021, 10:17 pm

okay so given that this is the maximum speeds of the device: 300Mbps at 2.4GHz /867Mbps at 5.0GHz, you should be getting the full speed.

can you do a speed test connected through the flow router alone and tell me if you're getting the 200mbps?

rather than use speedtest.net, use fast.com (netflix's speed test). for sure flow and any ISP will give u the max bandwidth so you will see high speeds when testing to their servers. but since they only act as a gateway to the internet, ur actual internet speed will be from the internet servers themselves -- so fast.com is one way to determine your true speeds

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby worksux101 » August 18th, 2021, 10:35 pm

130mbps on fast.com
The wired extender is only showing 60.

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Re: Everything Smart Homes in Trinidad & Tobago

Postby st7 » August 19th, 2021, 9:18 am

hmmm... cant say why the nexxt device isnt delivering what's advertised, esp if it's right next to the flow router for the tests

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