Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen

elf_lord_ZC5

elf_lord_ZC5

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How well will the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Generation, work as a hub gor Smart lights, plugs, a camera and Ring Doorbell.
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
How well will the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Generation, work as a hub gor Smart lights, plugs, a camera and Ring Doorbell.
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Would you expect it to work any differently than the previous generation Dots?
 
bwana said:
Would you expect it to work any differently than the previous generation Dots?
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No idea, how suitable the previous, versions where, and assume the newest would be best, if it has a useful - use case for controling smart devices. A new Apple TV - by all reports is a very good device for control smart devices, but am not particularly fond of Apple, and I don't need another streaming device.

So "wondering" about the suitablity of an Echo Dot for this purpose. Again not particularly fond of smart speakers but it is at least cheaper than an Apple TV by more than a fair margin.
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
No idea, how suitable the previous, versions where, and assume the newest would be best, if it has a useful - use case for controling smart devices. A new Apple TV - by all reports is a very good device for control smart devices, but am not particularly fond of Apple, and I don't need another streaming device.

So "wondering" about the suitablity of an Echo Dot for this purpose. Again not particularly fond of smart speakers but it is at least cheaper than an Apple TV by more than a fair margin.
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I only asked as I've got the Dot 3rd gen so I can only comment on that. It works well with my Sonoff devices and obviously it works with my Ring doorbell but really, what's the point? It's audio only. The whole point of a Ring doorbell is to see who's there so I just use my phone for that.

EDIT - I only have one smart lightbulb atm and it works just fine with that via linking the SmartLife app to it.
 
bwana said:
I only asked as I've got the Dot 3rd gen so I can only comment on that. It works well with my Sonoff devices and obviously it works with my Ring doorbell but really, what's the point? It's audio only. The whole point of a Ring doorbell is to see who's there so I just use my phone for that.

EDIT - I only have one smart lightbulb atm and it works just fine with that via linking the SmartLife app to it.
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You make a pretty fair argument, friend :)

Thanks

Edit:

Just my understanding, that when you have a number of Smart devices, you need a "hub" of some sort.
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
You make a pretty fair argument, friend :)

Thanks

Edit:

Just my understanding, that when you have a number of Smart devices, you need a "hub" of some sort.
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Some devices will need a hub, some devices won't and you may end up running a combination of the two.
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
You make a pretty fair argument, friend :)

Thanks

Edit:

Just my understanding, that when you have a number of Smart devices, you need a "hub" of some sort.
Click to expand...
I think it depends on the brand. None of my sonoff or Ring devices do.

At this stage I would probably avoid anything that needed a hub.
 
bwana said:
I think it depends on the brand. None of my sonoff or Ring devices do.

At this stage I would probably avoid anything that needed a hub.
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Okay, so it seems, there are a lot of potholes in this particular minefield.
 
I’ve got a brand new Echo Show 5, still in the box, for R1000 plus R100 counter to counter if you want to see your Ring doorbell. Or for anyone else for that matter.

British plug, I’ve got a new adapter I’ll also check in :)
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
Oof!
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Not really a big deal.

So, our lights and plugs don't need to be connected to a hub and you can run them with any home assistant... Our motion and contact sensors do need a hub 'tho, but they're not devices you're constantly asking your home assistant to run. You just pair them to the hub, set up your smart actions and forget about them.
 
The new echo's (not dots) have a zigbee hub built into them, so it obviates need for separate zigbee hub.

Only worry about that if you considering zigbee devices.
 
Spizz said:
I’ve got a brand new Echo Show 5, still in the box, for R1000 plus R100 counter to counter if you want to see your Ring doorbell. Or for anyone else for that matter.

British plug, I’ve got a new adapter I’ll also check in :)
Click to expand...

You are tempting me ...
 
greg0205 said:
Not really a big deal.

So, our lights and plugs don't need to be connected to a hub and you can run them with any home assistant... Our motion and contact sensors do need a hub 'tho, but they're not devices you're constantly asking your home assistant to run. You just pair them to the hub, set up your smart actions and forget about them.
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:thumbsup:
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
You are tempting me ...
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Actually advertised it early this morning and there's a queue for it all of a sudden. Should be gone in an hour or so :)

Edit: That is not a hard sell, someone with first option coming to collect in an hour, but you never know.
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
Oops! this can turn into a deep rabbit hole fast, I am thinking.
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It can, but it can be pretty simple too.

There's a thread on Home Assistant which I had a look at, but I'm not really interested in setting up a VM or buying a Pi just to run my home... Maybe later, but way too much effort right now IMO.

If you're careful picking your devices you'll be able to run your home with Alexa, Google Home or Siri right out of the box, no worries.
 
greg0205 said:
It can, but it can be pretty simple too.

There's a thread on Home Assistant which I had a look at, but I'm not really interested in setting up a VM or buying a Pi just to run my home... Maybe later, but way too much effort right now IMO.

If you're careful picking your devices you'll be able to run your home with Alexa, Google Home or Siri right out of the box, no worries.
Click to expand...

Thanks, will keep on looking, just concerned that the Ring Doorbell is just too easy to steal.
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
Thanks, will keep on looking, just concerned that the Ring Doorbell is just too easy to steal.
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We have no need for a doorbell, but I'll be putting up a security camera for the back yard in the new year.

Comes back to picking your devices carefully... If you see a valid use-case go for it, if not there's no point.
 
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