Add home assistant post

_posts/2024-05-09-home-assistant.md

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+---
+layout: post
+title: "Home Assistant"
+date: 2024-05-09
+---
+
+In a slight departure from my usual amateur radio topics, I've been busy setting up more smart home
+stuff. I've been curious about home automation for several years and slowly accumulating things like
+Google Home speakers, Leviton dimmer switches and Nest outdoor cameras. However, using the Google
+Home app as the central integration point and relying on WiFi for communication for everything has
+been showing its limitations lately.
+
+Enter [Home Assistant](https://www.home-assistant.io/), an open-source home automation platform that
+focuses on local control and privacy. I have several work friends that have rave reviews of Home
+Assistant, so I decided to give it a try. This has required revamping a lot of my basic home IT
+infrastructure: I picked up a used workstation from
+[The Server Store](https://www.theserverstore.com/) to use as a home lab server (for more than just
+HA), and have replaced my Google WiFi mesh network with a Unifi setup. To add communication options,
+I also picked up a [GoControl HUSBZB-1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ826F8) USB stick that
+supports both Zigbee and Z-Wave.
+
+From there, I've been setting up Home Assistant on the server, adding integrations for existing
+devices and services, and adding new devices. Most things have been wonderfully easy. Considering
+it's open source, Home Assistant is really well polished in terms of usability and seamless
+integration. I've added quite a few ThirdReality Zigbee devices like
+[motion](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MVKWBFF/),
+[door](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XCWRHCT/), and
+[temperature](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLTNZSQK/) sensors,
+[wall plugs](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BPY5D1KC/), and some
+[Innr color light bulbs](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08428JSDZ/). I was even pleasantly
+surprised to see that my OctoPi 3D printer server popped right in!
+
+I have some overriding goals for my smart home:
+
+1. Value add. Walking into a room turns on the lights, saving effort; the lights turn off when no
+   one is there, saving energy. Notifications let us know when the garage door is left open or when
+   the girls have dance class. The thermostat prioritizes rooms that are actually in use.
+1. Spouse-approved. I don't want to make things more complicated for my family or guests. Everything
+   should be intuitive and reliable.
+1. Fail-open operation. I don't want to have to worry about my home being unusable if a sensor, the
+   internet, WiFi or local HA server are down. Wall switches and the thermostat still need to do
+   their basic job. Everything needs to revert to a dumb appliance in the absence of smart control.