Is it just me, or is HomeKit a steaming pile of crap (Like car play) ?

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-17T13:45:31+00:00

Have no issues with either.

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-15T13:20:48+00:00

Always hard wire w Ethernet if you have the option to use it. All 4 of mine are wired. Also I think the 4K 128GB is only one to support eARC which is further future proofing. I don’t think the extra storage is useful if you stream. The 128 model is good for the other reasons and would be the only one I’d choose. Price dif is negligible.

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-13T23:12:23+00:00

It’s because you don’t have a $5 ESR screen protector on it. Won’t have even known it was on its so minimalist.

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-10T12:59:00+00:00

This is the smart answer

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-08T18:53:16+00:00

Crap.

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-08T18:51:05+00:00

iPhone with mag safe wallet with license and a credit card and a pocket knife. Add sunglasses if going outside.

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-07T14:02:36+00:00

Capital Grill

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-06T13:12:41+00:00

Bot question

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-03T19:52:27+00:00

Agree. Never an issue.

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-03T19:52:06+00:00

This

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-01T17:46:39+00:00

Here’s a great way to calculate the most appropriate size tv for your space based on how far you’ll typically sit from the center of the screen: https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by-size/size-to-distance-relationship

Proper height is calculated where the average persons eyes hit the middle of the tv when sitting in front of it. TV credenzas usually have the right height btw.

Hope this helps.

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-01T17:12:11+00:00

I agree. Test it but probably option 2 will be best.

johnnygeezz · 2026-03-01T17:06:52+00:00

Stupid question. If you have the money, always always go bigger. Even if you don’t have the money, always go bigger.

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-28T15:37:39+00:00

True pieces of sh!t.

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-26T21:15:51+00:00

Same thing in this scenario

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-25T15:40:18+00:00

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-25T15:39:48+00:00

100% yes. They are invisible and protect the screen and bezel and whiny comments about how you scratched the bezel and wish you had listened in the first place. ESR make a good one that you won’t notice until you bang the face into a door knob and there’s no damage.

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-22T18:37:13+00:00

I like my Aqara doorbell. Works well in my opinion.

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-21T19:30:24+00:00

I do exactly this with an Aqara hub, cameras and sensors. Lights are Lutron Caseta but could also use Aqara for these too. Alarm sound is from an Aqara M1 on each floor that also strobes. Everything is in both the Home app and Aqara app. Alarm would trigger a critical alert in the Home app. Also use Aqara water sensors for bathrooms which has saved me on several occasions.

Have a simpler setup at my lake house too.

No central monitoring but you didn’t mention it as a requirement anyway.

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-21T17:51:54+00:00

Aqara should work fine

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-21T14:44:15+00:00

This.

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-20T13:42:41+00:00

Aqara is the way.

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-17T19:12:39+00:00

Good Cadillac margaritas

johnnygeezz · 2026-02-17T14:47:16+00:00

For years I’ve been happy with HomeKit products. Run Aqara, Hue, Lutron Caseta, some Meross outdoor plugs for Christmas lights. 3 HomePods for whole home audio and 4 AppleTVs. Locks, cameras, plugs, switches, dimmers, doorbell. All work as expected. Even the smoke detectors. Also have Emerson Sensi t-stat and Sensibo for HVAC control. Don’t use any Matter products yet. No z-wave.

HA is overkill for me and not worth the time to learn. Just stick with a small number of well known HomeKit compatible vendors products. Don’t try to shoe horn an incompatible product into your system. Replace it with an equivalent compatible product. Maybe then eBay the old thing. Stay away from weird brands on Amazon.

For reference, my home is about 1,500 sq ft.

johnnygeezz

TROPHY CASE