As a homeowner with two properties, I’ve been exploring ways to streamline my smart home setup, particularly with cameras and sensors. I recently came across the idea of grouping devices by location, which sounds promising but has proven tricky to implement. Here’s what I’ve been thinking and experiencing:
I have about 15 cameras split between my southern vacation home (Group S) and my northern residence (Group N). My goal is to turn these cameras on and off, along with motion and contact sensors, based on my location. Ideally, I’d like to set up just four rules: turning everything on and off for both groups. This would simplify my current setup, which involves 30 individual rules—15 for each camera to turn on and another 15 to turn off.
I’ve tried using IFTTT, but it hasn’t been reliable. Sometimes the cameras turn on when they should be off, especially when I’m at home with both my iPhone and iPad. This inconsistency has led me to delete all my IFTTT rules and start over. I’m now exploring Vera and Luup code, but I’m not sure how to send Luup code directly via AutoVera or Tasker. Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Another consideration is how location-based rules work when only one of my devices is present. For example, if my iPhone leaves the house but my iPad stays, how does the system determine my location? I’d love to ensure that my cameras are only active when I’m away, but it seems like there’s room for improvement in how these location triggers function.
If anyone has successfully implemented group rules or has tips for simplifying this setup, I’d love to hear about it. Whether it’s through Vera, IFTTT, or another platform, I’m open to any suggestions that can make my smart home more efficient and reliable.