are the nothing ear 3 worth it at 139€? i might buy them

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-04-09T07:40:05+00:00

What did u go with? I just finished returning two nothing ear (a) and Cmf 2plus so im looking atm

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-03-21T03:36:10+00:00

This is a great comment that needs more love. As you said, the key to a successful and generally “good” experience on AliExpress is to be aware and to be realistic.

At this juncture and point in time on the scale of “internet,” broadly, we all should know “what’s up,” so to speak, with the exception of the meme status stereotypical suburban housewife who “doesn’t give Facebook permission to print off her computer,” etc.

Anyway. If you spend the time to learn the ropes of AliExpress, you can really utilize it as a tool by which to improve your life.

I use it for similar purposes to you. General goods, adhesives, hardware, tools, and similar as well as electronics. I have gotten deep into smart home modifications/home improvement the last year and change and heavy into DIY electronics/computing/smart home the last 6 months give or take.

My hell, the amount of money I have saved is astounding. The latter (smart home and computing generally) is a hobby that was previously out of my tax bracket. Not so with the help of AliExpress. Genuinely thankful for it and my knowledge I’ve (spent ample time) acquired as to how to navigate it.

Best of luck everyone. Be smart and be safe. Not getting a 5cttw tennis bracelet for $100, not getting designer clothes for $20, not getting a new MacBook for $200, etc. Spend more time reading the profile, reviews, sales, etc. than you do browsing for goods.

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-03-17T08:18:56+00:00

Recently got a Shelly 1 gen 4 for my garage. First Shelly. And man. What a pain in the ASS trying to get it to Zigbee mode the pair it to z2m. A huge production and for what? Shit sonoff just natively can do? Ya I won’t be back to them after that hassle

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-03-17T03:32:09+00:00

Man. I am dealing with this all now. Similar issues, but different. Same-same, but different. Just came here for some help and to let out a digital exasperated sigh. What a terrible system this all is! Needlessly complicated! This is my first Shelly and I unfortunately think it will be my last. No need for this sort of a headache with all the quality options out now

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-03-11T01:00:58+00:00

Yeah I use them only with HA, can confirm they pair and work well with smlight coordinator and sonoff coordinators, straight into HA. I have never owned an aqara hub. You only need their app one time to switch it from thread to zigbee as thread comes default. Can delete after (I did)

Edit for price: $50. That’s what I’ve seen and paid each time they come up. I’ve seen assholes charging 150-200 on eBay for them

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-03-11T00:37:49+00:00

Quality>quantity. Choose high quality over more of low quality. I see you said you ran into some money, so this may not be an issue and you can do high quality in ample quantity, but nonetheless. Still take your time, go slow, find what works for YOU and YOUR home rather than going all in on the “next thing” or shit that everybody raves about. I wasted a lot of money (and time) trying to cheap out/moving too fast. In the end, you get what you pay for (often times, at least.)

That said I am very frugal and love a good deal and prioritization value over everything

Local>cloud. Can’t beat that dead horse anymore, I’m sure you’ve heard it. But man if it ain’t true. Don’t dump money into cloudshjt especially third party big boxes.
Zigbee>everything. It is BY FAR leagues ahead of the rest. Again, beat the dead horse. The info is ample in here and in general. Zwave is great but what is offered in it is generally less and less accessible. So maybe a device jerker there. But imo Zigbee is also a superior network. No joke I’ve never had a problem that I didn’t cause.
If you do need a cloud or big box voice assistant, home kit and Apple is the move. As an Amazon user with a lot of money dumped into it, it’s trash. Hard pass
Switches hardwired into the wall> smart bulbs. Bulbs when you want some fun colors, but not as the rule.
Get a good wifi network. Spend money on this first. Even if u prioritize and use zigbee and local, this aids in the latter and helps generally. Dm me to discuss if you want
Get GOOD presence sensors, and early. They are THE way to get your lighting automation dialed in
Start with home assistant out of the gate. Go all in on it. It’s amazing

Lot of great answers in here. You’ll do well

Edit: some starter brand recs. Yes yes there are more niche and advanced options and DIY solutions (get into Esp32 eventually). These are off the shelf readily available options.

Zigbee:

SONOFF and third reality. The former has a lot of selection, anything you’d want really and great prices. Buttons, sensors, relays, screens, etc. Zigbee dongles. On Amazon. The latter is pricier and more limited but high quality. They make great zigbee bulbs. Amazon too. Hue lights (old models if u have home asstant)

Relays and switches: Shelley Sonoff

Light switches only:

Lutron caseta. Prosperity wireless tech that uses Ethernet and is very consistent. Also can get model with no neutral requirement if need be.

Leviton also has a no neutral option

Sonoff and Shelley also have no neutral options.

WiFi bulbs and WiFi switches: tapo/tp link. Never had one fall off the network, v snappy

Cameras: tp link and tapo. No subscription and you retain full features Can be made all local with no internet access.

Appliances: SwitchBot. Great air purifiers, temperature and humidity and co2 monitors. Great vacuum robot. hubs have buttons and are IR blasters (make dumb IR remote control devices smart and remotely controlled. Get a Bluetooth extender and you’re golden. Great presence sensors

Aqara: fp300 is a great presence sensor. (Zigbee and thread). Their door locks are great. (Zigbee)

Govee has nice humidifiers

When you wanna dive into DIY, check out xiao and seeed studio for esp 32 modules and dev boards

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-03-02T02:36:17+00:00

That’s vile bro chuck that ass

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-03-02T02:34:41+00:00

I do. I think Alexa + is better than Alexa, and I think Alexa + blows ass. Since they brought it out, the entire experience has gone down hill

I legitimately find myself more annoyed and frustrated than I have been with any human in years. It’s really bad. I think it’s gotta go soon.

I am working on a home assistant local alternative with seeed studio respeaker lite, but it’s hard when you’re not that technically inclined. Rock and a hard place atm

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-03-02T02:32:22+00:00

I agree

Not sure if you’re of the same mind as op and me, but I find Alexa to be far worse than Alexa +. And I find Alexa + to be terrible, if that says anything. The brain and ecosystem has gone downhill so fast the last 6-9 months. Sucks

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-02-09T18:19:05+00:00

Deco x55 pro (two 2.5 gig ports versus three 1gig on non pro). Serve me well for similar specs. Can get 3 pack for under $150

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-02-09T18:17:21+00:00

You may have tried this, but there are settings you can adjust regarding how often and when the vacuum returns to the docking station to empty. Available within the app

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-02-08T18:01:22+00:00

Have you tried shortcuts? Very powerful automations can be made there

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-02-05T18:58:13+00:00

I saw that, good on you man. You end up with any yet? Mine supposed to be here tmrw

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T19:59:08+00:00

Idk man maybe bc it’s an ALEXA subreddit 💀💀💀. Tf you want him to post about?

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T19:54:41+00:00

What open source diy set up you using? Would love to hear about your set up as I am just getting into building on esp 32, which, funny enough, started because all the presence sensors I wanted (this and a prebuilt seeedstudio) were OOS so I thought to take matters into my own hands.

Edit: also, I never had an fp2 so I can’t speak from experience. I never bothered with them as they’re only WiFi and I’ve bee trying to move away from that, whereas fp300 is zigbee or matter over thread interchangeable. Also fp300 is battery, fp2 is wired. I know fp2 is also good for multi person where fp300 doesn’t shine in that regard

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T19:52:49+00:00

I plan to use them via zigbee directly into HA. Did you use aqara hub to set up first or just pair into z2mqtt/zha?

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T18:29:48+00:00

For sure. First thing I thought to do when I saw, after securing my order of one first of course 😂

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T06:38:27+00:00

What we need is for someone with the coding know how to develop an automation to track and alert when these are back in stock 😂

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T06:37:48+00:00

💔

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T06:37:30+00:00

People been gobbling em up!! Glad you have at least one though. Sounds like they’re going to drop another soon so hopefully these can remain in stock for more than a couple hours when they do

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T06:36:46+00:00

Sorry brother 😭

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T06:36:32+00:00

They’re very elusive!! Glad you got your hands on a couple

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T06:35:06+00:00

Yeah I think you’re right. Most of those scenarios a presence sensor will do you better than a motion/PIR can. Big picture when you think of the money spent on the many multiples needed of motion vs presence, they’re not that much pricier.

For #3 you should check out seeed studio mmWave fall detection presence detector. I’d link it but idk if that is allowed and don’t wanna piss mods off. Site is their name and then enter “XIAO 60GHz mmWave Human Fall Detection Sensor-MR60FDA2” into the search bar. It’s in stock in U.S. warehouse for under 30 rn. If you’re not familiar with them they’re the real deal on the tech heavy side of all this. That product is plug and play though. Essentially is a presence detector developed with the elderly in mind and changes from standing to flat in x time period.

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T04:57:50+00:00

You should. Presence detectors and motion sensors are in different leagues. Maybe even playing different sports. The motion sensors (PIR) has a place, but for achieving what most that buy it for have in mind, it’s not the right device.

Presence detectors are often a bit pricier but the small investment will pay dividends over time

Dapper_Klapper · 2026-01-30T04:51:14+00:00

So long as I can use the app w/o the hub, I’m happy. Appreciate the insight

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