So, I finally took the plunge into smart home gear after watching way too many YouTube videos. Started out pretty clueless, just wanted something cheap but reliable to keep my place safe without going full Mission Impossible.
Aqara turned out to be a lifesaver. Grabbed a couple of their door/window sensors, motion detectors, and the M2 hub during a sale (shoutout to random coupon codes). Set it all up with Home Assistant, and now I’ve got a solid basic security system that notifies me on my phone if anything’s off.
Was it super smooth at first? Nope. Zigbee range issues drove me crazy for like two weeks until I added a smart plug as a repeater. Total game changer. Also, setting up automations was kinda intimidating, but once you get how Aqara devices talk to HA, it clicks.
If you’re just starting and don’t want to spend a fortune, seriously consider piecing together a setup like this. Super affordable, everything just works (most of the time), and I actually feel like I learned something.
Anyone else here gone full-Aqara DIY for security? Keen to hear how you made yours even smarter or what I might be missing.