Why I will NEVER have a smart house

[5030]

there wouldn't be as big of a strain on the power grids.

Irrevelant far as I'm concerned because I'm paying for the consumption. Upgrade the system if it's an issue.

 

[/pine]

A network firewall can be programmed to block inbound/outbound traffic from any device (node) connected to a network including wireless networks...

Any wireless device like cameras, door locks, thermostats etc., etc...should have the default password changed...

 

[ericm979]

With many "smart" devices, if you block their outbound traffic they won't work. It's because they store their data on the company's servers. This is so if you have for example an app that monitors your backup generator at your vacation home, you can monitor it from anywhere. Which is a useful feature but now the generator company has you by the short hairs. They can charge a monthly fee. They can take your data and monetize it by selling it to data brokers who combine it with other data they have to figure out when you're home and when you're at the vacation place, and sell that to advertisers. They can decide they no longer want to support the service and shut it down. That's happened with some smart thermostats. A rival buys the company and bricks everyone's thermostat.

I bet they're using port 443 so they blend in with all the other web traffic (and make it through the ISP's outbound filtering). They don't need to accept any connections from the outside to do what the manufacturer wants- they can poll the servers.

 

[PILOON]

And I wonder how these same energy companies plan to charge millions of electric cars . If you can’t run a 30 amp ac, how can you charge an 80 amp f150.

ill gladly pay for the electricity that keeps my house cool in the summer.

Might also ask where the money will come from to maintain highways when most cars are electric.

Also will the energy grids be able to withstand all that added power draw to charge all the electric vehicles.

OK, I also like clean air but are we simply moving the problem elsewhere.
More electric power means more coal/wood burning = more (displaced) pollution.

Me thinks we are simply moving the problems to somebody's else's back yard.

 

[Jchonline]

How do you get internet?

MoKelly

Starlink! It is awesome.

 

[Jchonline]

Might also ask where the money will come from to maintain highways when most cars are electric.

Also will the energy grids be able to withstand all that added power draw to charge all the electric vehicles.

OK, I also like clean air but are we simply moving the problem elsewhere.
More electric power means more coal/wood burning = more (displaced) pollution.

Me thinks we are simply moving the problems to somebody's else's back yard.

Yes just making another set of industrial giants billions of dollars.. with no real impact on the actual problem.

 

[/pine]

With many "smart" devices, if you block their outbound traffic they won't work. It's because they store their data on the company's servers. This is so if you have for example an app that monitors your backup generator at your vacation home, you can monitor it from anywhere. Which is a useful feature but now the generator company has you by the short hairs. They can charge a monthly fee. They can take your data and monetize it by selling it to data brokers who combine it with other data they have to figure out when you're home and when you're at the vacation place, and sell that to advertisers. They can decide they no longer want to support the service and shut it down. That's happened with some smart thermostats. A rival buys the company and bricks everyone's thermostat.

I bet they're using port 443 so they blend in with all the other web traffic (and make it through the ISP's outbound filtering). They don't need to accept any connections from the outside to do what the manufacturer wants- they can poll the servers.

Most of those devices have integrated servers...exactly what type of data needs to be stored ?...there is really no need to go through a third party to monitor/control a "smart" device from a mobile device etc...with the right firewall a user should be able to tunnel directly into the "smart" device across the Internet...with encrypted access...

 

[lman]

I have a 'smart' home, full of automation and controls, I love it. BUT it is a stand alone system and is NOT connected to the internet, never will be. No Alexa, Ring, Siri, Google Nest etc for me.

How do you monitor your weather station and thermostat from 100 miles away. How do you adjust your thermostat away from home if it's not connected to the internet? I thought that was what a smart home was.

 

[IXLR8]

Most of those devices have integrated servers...exactly what type of data needs to be stored ?...there is really no need to go through a third party to monitor/control a "smart" device from a mobile device etc...with the right firewall a user should be able to tunnel directly into the "smart" device across the Internet...with encrypted access...

Part of the problem is that most folks don't know how to properly setup a firewall to do that, me included. Hence no internet connection for any of my 'smart' devices.

 

[IXLR8]

How do you monitor your weather station and thermostat from 100 miles away. How do you adjust your thermostat away from home if it's not connected to the internet? I thought that was what a smart home was.

I don't. For me a smart home is the ability to monitor my shop if the garage door is open or if the lights are on and have the ability to close the door and turn off the lights from the house. It is the ability to have lights turn on/off either on a schedule or if someone is present in the room. It is the ability to have my air compressor come on when I enter the shop and stay on until I leave and then automatically shut off. For me, it is convenience features not remote monitoring. I had the wifi disabled on the new garage door openers when they were installed so they couldn't connect to the internet and I installed my own modules to control/monitor the doors.