I’ve been exploring ways to improve the reliability of my family’s presence monitoring system. After some research, I stumbled upon the idea of using Beacons as a more reliable alternative to my iPhone’s presence monitoring feature. Here’s my journey and some tips for anyone looking to do the same!
The Goal
My wife and kids use iPhones for presence monitoring, but it’s not always reliable. I wanted a solution that’s more consistent and less dependent on their phone usage. Beacons seemed like the perfect fit since they can reliably detect when someone is near.
What I’ve Tried
I’ve been experimenting with setting up multiple beacons around my home. Each beacon is assigned to a family member, and I’ve created a system where the beacons trigger alerts when someone enters or leaves specific zones. This has already made a noticeable difference in how consistently I receive notifications.
Challenges and Solutions
One challenge I faced was figuring out how to integrate multiple beacons for different family members. I did some digging in the community and found a few helpful tutorials, but nothing that was a step-by-step guide for multiple users. So, I decided to create my own setup:
- Assign Beacons to Each Family Member: Each beacon is paired with a specific person’s phone.
- Set Up Zones: I created zones for different areas of my home (e.g., front door, bedrooms).
- Configure Alerts: I programmed the system to send alerts when a beacon detects movement in or out of these zones.
Tips for Others
- Start Small: Begin with one or two beacons to get comfortable with the setup before scaling up.
- Test Placement: Experiment with beacon placement to ensure optimal coverage.
- Use Apps for Management: There are some great apps that help manage beacon configurations and alerts.
A Little Story
One evening, my daughter left her phone at home and used a friend’s phone to come back. The beacon system still detected her through her assigned beacon, which was a pleasant surprise! It showed how reliable the system can be, even when phones aren’t involved.
Looking Ahead
I’m excited to explore more features and maybe even integrate this with my existing smart home devices for even smarter automation. If anyone has tips or experiences to share, I’d love to hear them!
Happy automating! 