- Adrian’s High Availability Home Assistant
How do you make Home Assistant resilient when an update fails or your primary server goes offline? Phil and Rohan talk with Adrian from Western Australia about his dual Home Assistant setup, webhook heartbeat failover, Git-based YAML configuration, and a 12V battery-backed home network.
Adrian has shared some notes on his setup here: https://docs.na.id.au/
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA250
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 Adrian's Home Assistant origin
00:05:00 12V battery-backed infrastructure
00:08:00 Presence and smart-light logic
00:13:00 Wi-Fi scale and interference
00:16:00 Matter, LIFX and 433MHz
00:21:00 Alarm integrations and appliances
00:29:00 Home Assistant high availability
00:34:00 Zigbee, MQTT and Matter
00:39:00 Git, YAML and device naming
00:44:00 DHCP reservations and static IPs
00:47:00 EV charging and roller shutters
00:51:00 Upgrades and family installations
00:55:00 Local AI and language learning
00:59:00 Wrap-up
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Get Tidy Today! Get 7 days free and use our code ASSISTANT for 20% off
Want Phil to help with your smart home?
You’ve heard him troubleshoot Home Assistant on the podcast. Now you can book him to troubleshoot yours. From broken automations and confusing YAML to dashboards, devices, and complete smart home setups: https://smarthomecto.com
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE250 - 59m - Sep 15, 2026 - Rob went from 15 Apps to One Smart Home With Home Assistant
Rob joins Phil and Rohan from New Zealand to share how he replaced 15 smart-home apps with Home Assistant. Discover his AI-assisted workflow using VS Code, Claude Code, Codex, Git, YAML documentation, solar optimisation, camera-powered number plate recognition, and a resilient smart-home network.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA249
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 Escaping the app overload
00:07:00 First automations and Wi-Fi devices
00:10:00 Batteries, presence sensors and vacuums
00:17:00 UniFi network and Home Assistant upgrade
00:20:00 Solar, Modbus and energy optimisation
00:23:00 AI coding workflow with VS Code
00:33:00 OpenCode, MCP and custom workflows
00:37:00 AI documentation and automation intent
00:42:00 Fail-safe smart home design
00:45:00 AI camera gate recognition
00:50:00 Security, modes and alarm integration
00:54:00 Backup power and future projects
01:01:00 Advice for a new setup
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Want Phil to help with your smart home?
You’ve heard him troubleshoot Home Assistant on the podcast. Now you can book him to troubleshoot yours. From broken automations and confusing YAML to dashboards, devices, and complete smart home setups: https://smarthomecto.com
Products Discussed
AirGradient air-quality sensor: https://www.airgradient.com/
Home Assistant Connect ZWA2 (Z‑Wave radio): https://amzn.to/3MfPzsP
Aqara FP300 presence sensor: https://amzn.to/3LpkZ02
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE249 - 1h 3m - Sep 8, 2026 - Home Assistant 2026.9 improves Modbus integrations, and a better activity history
Home Assistant 2026.9 is here. Maps suffer an unexpected turn of events and easier Modbus integrations arrive. Activity history gets some love. Nabu Casa subscribers can start testing a new and improved speech to text provider via Labs.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA248
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:46 Home Assistant map outage
00:05:57 Community Day, Apollo and iOS
00:10:19 Mailbag: locks, pools and moving
00:18:13 AI assistants versus closed ecosystems
00:23:43 Proxmox upgrade compatibility warning
00:29:04 Home Assistant Cloud and Modbus
00:35:04 Dashboard updates
00:38:12 History, accessibility and Matter maps
00:43:39 New integrations and release wrap-up
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Want Phil to help with your smart home?
You’ve heard him troubleshoot Home Assistant on the podcast. Now you can book him to troubleshoot yours. From broken automations and confusing YAML to dashboards, devices, and complete smart home setups: https://smarthomecto.com
Products Discussed
Apollo Automation ESPHome Starter Kit: https://esphome.io/starter-kit/
Apollo Automation Cast 1: https://apolloautomation.com/products/cast-1-audio-casting-device
Home Assistant Connect ZWA2 (Z‑Wave radio): https://amzn.to/3MfPzsP
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE248 - 49m - Sep 1, 2026 - Living With Home Assistant: The Other Side of the Smart Home
Sofia lives in a Home Assistant smart home, but she didn’t install it. We’re breaking down what its like on the other side of the fence and how open communication and involvement make for a happier smart home.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA247
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:00 Home Assistant origins
00:04:00 Philips Hue beginnings
00:06:30 Building automations together
00:09:00 Sensors and safety alerts
00:12:00 Magic mirror project
00:15:00 Apple Home scenes
00:18:00 Home Assistant usability
00:21:00 Privacy and stability
00:24:30 Voice control and wrap-up
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Want Phil to help with your smart home?
You’ve heard him troubleshoot Home Assistant on the podcast. Now you can book him to troubleshoot yours. From broken automations and confusing YAML to dashboards, devices, and complete smart home setups: https://smarthomecto.com
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on this link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE247 - 37m - Aug 18, 2026 - Rohan is Packing Up his Smart Home and Starting Over
Rohan is moving house! Phil and Rohan dive into the realities of selling a Home Assistant-powered home and moving into a new property. They discuss what smart home gear is worth leaving behind, how to keep a house buyer-friendly, and why removable devices are often the safest choice. Plus, Rohan shares his plan to rebuild his smart home from scratch in a new house with a pool, septic, a generator, and plenty of new automation opportunities.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA246
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00: Intro
00:01:45: Moving House Update
00:04:41: Leaving Smart Gear
00:08:51: Selling Smart Homes
00:14:40: Lockbox Troubles
00:17:31: Open House Modes
00:19:59: Preparing The Yard
00:23:43: Packing The Tech
00:25:48: Home Assistant Move
00:28:50: Server Rack Plans
00:31:14: Doorbell And Locks
00:34:09: Irrigation Controller
00:35:19: New House Criteria
00:39:00: Pool And Irrigation
00:43:19: Fresh Home Assistant
00:48:03: New UI Features
00:51:26: Well Septic And Generator
00:55:09: Move Planning Tools
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
Get Tidy Today! Get 7 days free and use our code ASSISTANT for 20% off
Want Phil to help with your smart home?
You’ve heard him troubleshoot Home Assistant on the podcast. Now you can book him to troubleshoot yours. From broken automations and confusing YAML to dashboards, devices, and complete smart home setups: https://smarthomecto.com
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE246 - 59m - Aug 11, 2026 - Home Assistant 2026.8 says goodbye to 8123, while SmartThings goes behind a paywall
Home Assistant 2026.8 is here, we unpack the biggest changes. From port 8123 to port 80 for new Home Assistant OS installs, customizable entity ID formats, moon and vibration automation triggers, and the device-registry separation that may affect merged devices.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA245
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:47 - Perth meetup and SmartThings API
00:07:47 - Battery charging and leak sensors
00:14:52 - Port 80 and HTTP settings
00:18:03 - UI wording and entity IDs
00:22:49 - Moon and vibration automations
00:24:23 - Device registry separation
00:30:00 - Template editor
00:32:21 - Dashboards and integration updates
00:36:37 - New Home Assistant integrations
00:44:48 - Breaking changes and upgrade advice
00:46:34 - Rohan's house move
00:48:14 - Proxmox migration and Zigbee
00:51:02 - Z-Wave migration and lock codes
00:55:31 - AI agent automations
00:57:36 - Network troubleshooting with Hermes
00:59:48 - Picture frame project and closing
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Want Phil to help with your smart home?
You’ve heard him troubleshoot Home Assistant on the podcast. Now you can book him to troubleshoot yours. From broken automations and confusing YAML to dashboards, devices, and complete smart home setups: https://smarthomecto.com
Products Discussed
SwitchBot Candle Warmer Lamp: https://amzn.to/45plQEt
Roborock Q10 robot vacuum: https://amzn.to/4fVu105
Harbor Sleep Baby Monitor: https://amzn.to/3Rt73VV
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE245 - 1h 3m - Aug 5, 2026 - How Eugene Built a .NET Home Assistant Brain for his Smart Home
Phil and Rohan chat with Eugene about how he built a deeply automated smart home using Home Assistant, Raspberry Pi, Zigbee, Shelly devices, Aqara sensors, and even C#/.NET with NetDaemon. They explore practical automations for alarms, presence, notifications, kid management, and more.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA244
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00: Intro
00:02:00: Getting Into Automation
00:04:15: Choosing Hardware Wisely
00:06:30: Network Lessons Learned
00:10:30: Current Home Setup
00:15:00: Presence And Notifications
00:20:30: Actionable Alerts
00:27:55: Chores And Screen Time
00:34:20: Morning Summaries
00:39:00: .NET Automations
00:46:50: School Dates
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Products Discussed
Shelly One relay: https://amzn.to/4wUFxj6
CC2531 Zigbee controller: https://amzn.to/3RFhwgS
Amazon Echo Dot: https://amzn.to/44DIBUB
Aqara contact sensor: https://amzn.to/4vIfUky
Aqara passive infrared motion sensor: https://amzn.to/4wWJ3tn
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE244 - 51m - Jul 28, 2026 - Khaled - The dentist with a Kubernetes Cluster and Home Assistant
Phil and Rohan chat with Khaled, a periodontist who turned Home Assistant into the central brain of his home. From Roomba integrations and Soma shades to barcode-driven dog treat tracking, e-ink dashboards, and local AI workflows, this conversation is packed with practical smart home ideas.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA243
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:56 Khaled’s Background
00:04:21 First Home Assistant Use
00:08:52 GUI Over YAML
00:12:24 Hardware And Green
00:16:27 Grocy And Barcodes
00:20:45 Scanner Workflow
00:26:20 NFC And More Ideas
00:35:35 Voice PE Remote
00:39:52 Terminal Displays
00:47:23 Local AI Tools
00:53:04 Automating CV Updates
00:56:39 Paperless NGX
01:00:46 Hermes And Agents
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Symcode 2D QR Bluetooth Barcode Scanner
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE243 - 1h 9m - Jul 21, 2026 - The Home Assistant Smart Home That Reminds, Nudges, and almost Pours Tea
Phil and Rohan chat with Jason from the UK about building a truly proactive smart home with Home Assistant. From room-aware dashboards and presence detection to Alexa routines, Google Calendar, Todoist, Zigbee, ESP32s, and AI-powered driveway monitoring, Jason shares how he turned automations into a daily life assistant.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA242
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:06 Jason’s smart home journey
00:05:19 Voice, automations, and helpers
00:12:00 Car, tea, and problem solving
00:18:45 Presence detection and room dashboards
00:26:50 Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Matter choices
00:34:35 Todoist and calendar automation
00:44:30 Doorbells, garages, and briefings
00:52:40 Driveway security and Gemini
00:58:03 Sports dashboards and future plans
01:05:07 Getting started with smarter automations
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Get Tidy Today! Get 7 days free and use our code ASSISTANT for 20% off
Products Discussed
LinknLink presence sensor and IR blaster: https://amzn.to/4oXjLIF
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE242 - 1h 7m - Jul 14, 2026 - Omri Peretz the creator of QuickBars for Android TV
In this episode Phil and Rohan chat with Omri, the creator of QuickBars, an Android TV and Google TV app for controlling Home Assistant from the couch. They dig into his smart home journey, how he replaced a slow proprietary Zigbee setup, and how Home Assistant became the central brain for his parents' house and his own apartment.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA241
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:26 QuickBars overview
00:03:07 Broken smart home origin
00:05:58 Rebuilding with Home Assistant
00:10:04 Running two Home Assistant homes
00:14:51 House automations and cameras
00:18:57 Building QuickBars
00:28:29 App development lessons
00:31:34 Community response and use cases
00:35:04 Notification and camera features
00:38:40 Open source and AI coding
00:42:13 Apartment automations and alerts
00:48:39 Wrapping up QuickBars
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Products Discussed
Google Coral: https://amzn.to/4b44TCm
Nvidia Shield: https://amzn.to/4eCreYH
HomePod: https://amzn.to/4uWeu5A
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE241 - 49m - Jul 7, 2026 - Home Assistant 2026.7 Brings The Biggest Automation Upgrade Yet
Phil and Rohan unpack the massive 2026.7 release, including purpose-specific triggers and conditions graduating from Labs, the move to Matter.js, faster templates, improved dashboards, and better debugging tools. They also discuss mailbag comments and Rohan’s progress on his e-ink display.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA240
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:10 Unify 2026 recap
00:10:45 Listener feedback and Yoto
00:28:40 E-Ink project update
00:32:43 Home Assistant 2026.7
00:40:52 Updates and integrations
00:50:40 Breaking changes and wrap-up
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This video contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE240 - 55m - Jul 1, 2026 - Neil takes us through how he is using AI to build his ultimate smart home with Home Assistant
Neil walks us through how he has managed to leverage AI tools to create his dream smart home with Home Assistant. From automating blinds to automating a winter cottage
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA239
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Welcome
00:01:21 - Neil’s background
00:03:33 - Starting with Google Home
00:04:53 - Lutron and motion sensors
00:06:06 - Complex HVAC challenge
00:08:52 - DIY manifold control
00:10:52 - Radiant cooling by dew point
00:13:23 - Gas vs electrification debate
00:15:51 - Coding with AI tools
00:19:59 - Sauna and smart blinds
00:24:21 - Cottage winter automation
00:31:20 - Remote access choices
00:33:55 - Multi-building MQTT design
00:40:41 - Plant care automation
00:44:54 - Device health monitoring
00:49:59 - Zigbee vs Z-Wave talk
00:55:06 - Future plans and tools
00:59:38 - Wrap-up
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE239 - 1h 0m - Jun 23, 2026 - From an Orange Bulb to a Smart Home: Claudia’s Home Assistant Journey
Claudia joins Phil and Rohan to share how an orange Philips Hue bulb sparked a full-blown smart home powered by Home Assistant.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA238
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:35 - Early lights to Apple Home
00:06:24 - Why local-first and fewer subs
00:07:59 - Server closet hardware and UDM
00:10:24 - Magic lights with mmWave
00:15:12 - Nap-time button and scenes
00:19:22 - Local voice, Music Assistant
00:27:03 - Protocols: Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread
00:31:00 - Door sensors and recessed mods
00:34:40 - Climate data and ESPHome AC
00:38:30 - Ceiling fans and canopy modules
00:41:30 - Partner approval and tweaks
00:44:30 - Cats: Litter-Robot and cameras
00:45:15 - Robot vacuums and Valetudo
00:48:30 - Dashboards that are simple
00:52:10 - YAML, AI helpers, and costs
00:56:20 - Cloud-optional philosophy
01:01:06 - Robot mowers and real limits
01:01:06 - Humanoid robots chat and wrap
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Sign up for your free trial in your Home Assistant system: https://my.home-assistant.io/redirect/cloud/ or visit https://nabucasa.com
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Get Tidy Today! Get 7 days free and use our code ASSISTANT for 20% off
Products Discussed
Unifi Dream Machine (UDM) router: https://amzn.to/4wPeLJG
Aqara FP1E mmWave presence sensor (Zigbee): https://amzn.to/4wLIrXY
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE238 - 1h 5m - Jun 16, 2026 - From Tuya to Home Assistant: A Kiwi’s Smart Home Journey
Steve from New Zealand (Kiwi Smart Tech) shares his journey from Tuya bulbs to a powerful Home Assistant setup. We dig into garage door woes and wins, cross‑protocol sensors, mmWave presence, and why Apple Home is his go‑to interface
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA237
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:00 Steve’s Kiwi smart home origin
00:10:15 First Home Assistant wins and fails
00:16:00 Garage door saga and ESPHome
00:23:50 Access control
00:28:01 From tinkerer to creator
00:41:00 Apple Home as UI
00:46:30 Ambient alerts: plants, leaks
00:55:10 Appliances, HACS, lock‑in
01:04:00 Cameras and continuous video
01:07:30 Wrap‑up and links
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE237 - 1h 7m - Jun 9, 2026 - Home Assistant 2026.6, E‑Ink Unboxing, Yoto, and Smarter Automations
Rohan and Phil are breaking down the 2026.6 release, which features updates for Infrared, Purpose specific triggers and conditions. Plus we talk KVM’s, eInk displays and starting from scratch in 2026.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA236
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:04:30 - New Works With HA gear
00:06:30 - Open Display collab, e‑ink
00:12:00 - E‑ink uses and costs
00:16:30 - OHF privacy paper
00:18:30 - RF and plugs
00:26:00 - JetKVM and PiKVM talk
00:29:30 - 2026.6: IR receivers
00:34:30 - Dashboards and Matter BLE
00:36:32 - Cards and automations
00:42:30 - Z‑Wave, Sonos, Reolink, Tuya
00:47:30 - New integrations roundup
00:54:30 - Breaking changes
00:56:30 - Fresh HA vs restore
01:00:00 - UniFi hiccup resilience
01:02:00 - Wrap‑up and callouts
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Products Discussed
JetKVM IP KVM: https://amzn.to/4wU1bEO
Yale Z‑Wave smart locks: https://amzn.to/4visNSl
MyPropane tank monitor: https://amzn.to/3QjJZbn
Yoto audio player: https://amzn.to/4xlZhNJ
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE236 - 1h 1m - Jun 3, 2026 - MiciMike will turn your Google Home Mini into a Home Assistant Voice Satellite
Imre is a Home Assistant user, who was frustrated with his Google Home mini, so he created a PCB that can turn your Google Home Mini into a Home Assistant Voice Satellite
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA235
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Welcome & sponsors
00:02:30 - Imi’s smart home origin
00:05:00 - Lights first, then sensors
00:07:30 - Heating logic in Node-RED
00:10:00 - Room presence tactics
00:12:30 - Millimeter wave realities
00:15:00 - Cameras, alarms, UniFi
00:17:30 - Notifications via Telegram
00:20:00 - AI greetings at the door
00:22:30 - Protocols: Zigbee to Matter
00:25:00 - Wi‑Fi at scale pitfalls
00:28:30 - Voice stack & languages
00:31:30 - MickiMic: project intro
00:35:00 - Drop‑in PCB details
00:38:00 - HA Voice compatibility
00:41:00 - Gen2 plans & audio
00:44:00 - Echo future & limits
00:47:00 - Firmware hurdles
00:49:30 - Crowdsupply journey
00:53:00 - Pricing & sustainability
00:56:00 - What’s next & thanks
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Products Discussed
MiciMic PCB (Google Home Mini drop-in board): https://www.crowdsupply.com/micimike-rev-devices/micimike-home-mini-drop-in-pcb#products
Google Home Mini (Gen 1): https://amzn.to/3RtvxxG
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE235 - 58m - May 26, 2026 - Giovanni’s Self-Hosted Home
Giovanni joins Rohan and Phil to dive into a fully local, privacy-first smart home. We cover Home Assistant on an Intel N100, Shelly devices, Zigbee vs Wi‑Fi, ESP32 Bluetooth proxies, Frigate with a Coral TPU, Reolink cams, and smart lighting with pets.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA234
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:05:00 Local-only gear and protocols
00:12:00 Lighting, presence, and pets
00:18:00 Cameras, Frigate and automations
00:27:20 Media servers
00:33:00 Plex vs Jellyfin
00:41:00 Nextcloud and Immich photos
00:47:00 Backups and offsite strategy
00:53:00 Security, reverse proxy, wrap-up
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Get Tidy Today! Get 7 days free and use our code ASSISTANT for 20% off
Products Discussed
Intel N100 mini PC: https://amzn.to/3OP00FI
NVIDIA Shield TV: https://amzn.to/4w9E2Ok
Google Coral USB TPU accelerator: https://amzn.to/4cNVot1
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE234 - 58m - May 19, 2026 - Mark's Home Assistant Setup: The Good, The Bad, The Exploded Server
Mark went from a rocky SmartThings world to a rock-solid Home Assistant install. He shares his tails of disaster and recovery, as well as his journey from Tasmota to ESPHome.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA233
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:00 - SmartThings beginnings and first automations
00:06:00 - Old timers to cameras after a theft
00:09:30 - Discovering Home Assistant and server build
00:16:00 - From Node-RED to cleaner HA automations
00:19:50 - Reolink AI triggers outside lighting
00:23:30 - Server failure and Proxmox migration
00:28:30 - UPS woes and garage door backup issue
00:38:00 - Presence, Ecobee, salt and propane projects
00:44:00 - Matter locks, long-range Z-Wave ideas
00:49:00 - New Overview, Alarmo plans, wrap-up
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Products Discussed
Aladdin garage door openers (with battery backup): https://amzn.to/4mxGfPl
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This video contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE233 - 52m - May 12, 2026 - Home Assistant 2026.5 introduces RF and RS-232 Control
We’re diving into Home Assistant 2026.5 and re-capping the highlights from State of the Open Home 2026. There’s new RS-232 serial control, dashboard strategies, and more purpose-specific triggers.
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA232
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:10:30 Roadmap deep-dive and HTTP 80
00:15:30 Easter eggs, Project BLAST, merch
00:19:30 IR databases and Z-Wave spectrum
00:23:00 2026.5: RS-232 and RF proxies
00:28:30 RF rolling codes and SDR hopes
00:31:30 Dashboards: strategies and shortcuts
00:36:00 Vacuums chat and power strip ad
00:41:00 Purpose-specific triggers (Labs)
00:44:00 MQTT, Matter, ESPHome updates
00:46:30 Shelly, Sonos, groups, and S1/S2
00:50:30 Apple TV typing, WLED, notifications
00:54:00 Immich photos, Subaru, and UniFi
00:57:00 New integrations roundup
01:00:00 Breaking changes: Ring, webhooks
01:01:30 Template docs overhaul
01:02:30 Network outage story and resilience
01:05:30 Wrap-up and sign-off
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Products Discussed
Broadlink RM4 Pro (433 MHz IR/RF blaster): https://amzn.to/4tesZk8
UniFi Protect PoE Smart Siren: https://amzn.to/4w4ZWCh
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE232 - 1h 5m - May 6, 2026 - How FireAvert wants to prevent house fires with a smart home twist
We’re sitting down with Nick and Larsen from FireAvert to talk about how FireAvert aims to stop house fires, and how they can tie into smart home systems like Home Assistant
Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA231
Support the Podcast
Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.
https://homeassistant.fm/patreon
Share your story
We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro and Sponsors
00:04:00 What FireAvert Does
00:08:00 Technical Challenges and Detection
00:12:00 Form Factor and Installation
00:16:00 Accuracy, ML, and Notifications
00:20:00 Smart Automations and Control
00:24:00 Product Evolution and Z-Wave/LoRa
00:31:00 Risk Areas: Kitchens, EVs, Dryers
00:35:00 Water Leaks and Mitigation
00:39:00 Startup Lessons and Team
00:43:00 Home Assistant Dev and Roadmap
00:46:00 Global Availability and Wrap-up
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors
Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa
Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.
If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.
For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com
Apollo Automation are the makers of open source smart home sensors built for the Home Assistant ecosystem. They're an official Open Home Foundation commercial partner and their devices are built with local control, privacy, and reliability in mind, giving you full control and flexibility right out of the box.
Products Discussed
FireAvert Gas Auto Shut-Off: https://amzn.to/4vLz0rl
Hosts
Phil Hawthorne
Twitter: @philhawthorne
Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com
Rohan Karamandi
Twitter: @rohank9
This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyE231 - 47m - Apr 21, 2026
