The Smart Home Freak Show Stops here!

[ckelly78z]

It was all just so much easier growing up without all this crap. My son was horrified that when I was in high school, you had to sit in the kitchen and talk on a phone, that was attched to the wall, and had to dial each number of the phone # you wanted (god forbid, you get to the end of the dialing, and your finger slips out, and have to start all over again).

Somehow, we found entertainment out of doors till the streetlights came on, whether it was riding bikes, building forts, throwing the pigskin around, playing board games, or swimming in a pond.

We didn't have any electronic annoyances, and had to actually get off the couch to change the channel (choice of 3-4 channels) on the TV. No one here can convince me why I need remote control for anything other than the TV. I'm getting too old to jump off the couch to channel surf.

[Bill Douglas]

I'm waiting for the New Zealand version that says "Hey Bro, put the beer down and throw some more wood on the burner."

GF's got a rental with a smart meter and it's never had a problem. It was already there when she bought the place, and it gives fractionally cheaper power and no old man coming around to read the meter.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Somehow, we found entertainment out of doors till the streetlights came on, whether it was riding bikes, building forts, throwing the pigskin around, playing board games, or swimming in a pond.

You had a pigskin? We had a rock!

My wife grew up in Oregon and played in the drainage ditch next to I-5... THE HORROR!!!

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Because if it happens in South Africa with corrupt local municipalities with extremely questionable grid reliability, that means it will happen here next!

Power Outages Mar South Africa

https://news.vice.com/article/south-africas-power-grid-is-on-the-brink-of-collapse

South African firm suspends officials amid anger over power outages - LA Times

You think maybe, just maybe, South Africa has different drivers than the US?

butsurfer1, what is your point to cite these articles?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Retain control of free thermostats? Again, any source to site here or just more talking out of your ass?

The power company isn't giving you the free thermostat just because they are feeling generous.

Per the Nest website

Rush Hour Rewards

Your energy company will pay you to save energy. Depending on your provider, you could earn $20-$60 back per Nest Thermostat each summer. Here’s how it works:

Your energy company wants to lower demand during energy rush hours, like those hot summer afternoons when everyone’s cranking up the air conditioning.

Nest Thermostat can help you avoid using energy during those rush hours by automatically cooling your home ahead of time.

You’re in control. If you’re home, Nest won’t let the temperature rise more than a few degrees. But if you start feeling warm, you can change the temperature at any time.

For one of our local providers, it's that deal, $5/month for 6 months for a total of $30, and they can jack your thermostat up to 3° warmer than you have it set. If you start to feel warm, you can crank it back down.

Yeah, if they can increase the temp by 3° when they want, then I don't have full control. 3° is plenty to make me uncomfortably warmer. No thanks, I'll pay full price and retain control of my own temps.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I'm no expert in this field... however IF I was going to start this as a business (probably too much $$ for a one off) first this is setting up a computer/LAN that can be accessed from the internet via a smartphone. Seeing as you access you home security cam via your smart phone I would think it could be done... anyone want to gofund me?

I can see myself adjusting the mini blinds from the beach right now!

The problem is that normally, the ONLY way to adjust the smart stuff is via the manufacturer's server on the Internet. The app on your phone can talk to the server on the Internet. The Server on the Internet can talk to your smart thermostat or whatever. But your phone often/usually cannot in any way talk to the smart thermostat and adjust it. You have to use the manufacturers website. Most manufacturers of smart stuff don't invest enough in security, so their servers get hacked, and then your stuff is under control of the script kiddie.

FYI, Radio Thermostat, thermostats can be controlled directly via their local LAN, but not via the phone app which only works through their servers. But I was able to purchase an app for my PC and control the thermostat from my PC.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Seeing as you access you home security cam via your smart phone I would think it could be done

Only because it is served to you by an outside host. The only way you can "go direct" is if you are on the local LAN or if you connect to your home via a VPN.

[pitargue]

Here's a presentation of the Nest thermostat at Blackhat.

https://www.blackhat.com/docs/us-14/materials/us-14-Jin-Smart-Nest-Thermostat-A-Smart-Spy-In-Your-Home.pdf

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

My local utility offers free wifi thermostats. By accepting the thermostat you agree to allow the utility to shut off your AC compressor (but not the furnace fan) for up to two hours between 9AM and 5PM on weekdays.

They also have additional incentives if you allow your electric hot water heater to be shut down the same way.

I can PM you the site if you doubt my claim.

Although I don't use my central AC, I have no interest in their offer.

We gladly accepted the dongle that controls electricity to our water heater. The previous owner of the home put a 119 gallon tank in and we put a ground loop geothermal unit it that heats the water any time the unit is running. The electric elements never get used on the water heater.

Also, with the geothermal it is better to not mess with the temp so we have no need for a smart thermostat.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yeah, if they can increase the temp by 3° when they want, then I don't have full control. 3° is plenty to make me uncomfortably warmer. No thanks, I'll pay full price and retain control of my own temps.

There is no program that says they can increase the temperature "whenever" they want, everything is explained and agreed and there are specific time frames they will increase the temp.

There is no program where you don't have full control of your thermostat at all times...granted you will lose the incentive if you opt out of an event, but opting out can mean as little as just getting up and changing the set point back. Even your own quote says that "You’re in control. If you’re home, Nest won’t let the temperature rise more than a few degrees. But if you start feeling warm, you can change the temperature at any time."

Obviously you have made up your mind before even attempting to understand the program, which is fine. These are not required programs. Just go back to your porch, those squirrels aren't going to yell at themselves!

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

I love reading what all the tin foil crazy people come up with

Smart meters can shed load?? Can you site a source for this? Turn your power off, sure, but only if you don't pay your bill.

Retain control of free thermostats? Again, any source to site here or just more talking out of your ass?

Wonder which causes more damage, data collection or people spouting false facts on the internet?

It is the stated purpose of smart meters. As a recipient of one of these meters you would agree to allow your load adjusted as needed.

What's my source? It was a constant topic when I was chair of our town's utility commission (our town has it's own generating capability which is used to offset peak loads).

[biosurfer1]

Almost as bad as spam bots having that info

[aigel]

When reading 1984 for the first time, I found it completely unrealistic. How would an autocracy / dictatorship get to install monitoring hardware in every household? How would people be on board with that without a revolution?

30 years later, I see we bring the devices into our homes and lives ourselves. Even pay for them. We even carry them on us - something that Wells didn't conceive. All it takes is an autocratic government to take over and the system is already in place.

I just bought a programmable thermostat. $40 and completely standalone. I have a very boring life - I get up at the same time every weekday and weekends largely look the same. Moderate climate results in very little heating and cooling expenses. No upside in a NEST for me.

I can't say I escape the allure of a smartphone and trackers, such as WAZE or Strava to make daily life easier and more enjoyable. That's bad, but at least those are one-way and won't change my home environment, or hit the brakes on my car ...

G

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by aigel

When reading 1984 for the first time, I found it completely unrealistic.

When watching "Idiocracy" for the first time I thought it was funny and satirical. Now it's true, too... along with 1984 !

[GH85Carrera]

I am a self admitted geek. I love gizmos and my iPhone 6S has 128 gig of memory only because I wanted it to.

I just can't fathom any reason to hook my thermostat and lights in the house and sure as heck any appliance to the internet. I do have my house alarm system hooked to the internet and I can turn the system on or off and more important make sure I closed the garage door after I dive a mile or so and start wondering if I forgot to close it.

I have two video cameras that are OUTSIDE. If a hacker wants to watch a real darn boring live feed of my driveway or the front porch they are welcome to be bored.

I do understand in theory a good hacker can get into the system. First they have to know what hardware I have and which national company is hosting the site. The local alarm company has stickers on the doors but they sell several systems. Then they have to figure out my account and then gain access. Possible, but not very likely.

I find it very handy to be able to see a feed of my driveway when we are waiting for a friend or the pizza delivery.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Only because it is served to you by an outside host. The only way you can "go direct" is if you are on the local LAN or if you connect to your home via a VPN.

Pfft! I will just hook up with a land line and a modem

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by red-beard

go to Google and log on using your google account.

Select google maps.

Select the pull down menu and select "Your Timeline"

You now have a map of everyplace you've been since you turned on location tracking

Lower left, you have a list of the place you've been AND the number of times you have gone there, including the last time you went.

nope, nothing there

[john70t]

Man behind the curtain.

The invisible hand.

[pcardude]

To hell with the conspiracy stuff

Can anyone here tell me how nest will actually save me money?

I turn my heat down to 58 every morning before leaving the house and I turn it up to 64 when I get home. I use a space heater in my bedroom for an hour every night and every morning.

And I don't have AC.

So how will nest save me any money?

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by pcardude

To hell with the conspiracy stuff

Can anyone here tell me how nest will actually save me money?

I turn my heat down to 58 every morning before leaving the house and I turn it up to 64 when I get home. I use a space heater in my bedroom for an hour every night and every morning.

And I don't have AC.

So how will nest save me any money?

Wow, you must have ice water in your veins, I get cold very quickly and seem to stay that way, and am most comfortable when my woodburner has the house in the mid 70s. I don't turn on my A/C unless the house is over 80.

No nest for me, I want to be in control.