Hey everyone! I’ve been using Home Assistant to automate my home, and it’s been working great for the most part. My setup uses the Home Assistant companion app on my phone to detect when I’m home or away, which then triggers things like turning lights on or off. But I’ve run into a couple of issues that I’d love to get some advice on!
The first problem is that sometimes the location update doesn’t happen right away. I’ve walked into my apartment a few times only to find it completely dark because the system didn’t realize I was home yet. I usually end up opening the app or Google Maps to force a location update, which is a bit of a hassle but manageable.
The bigger concern, though, is what happens if my phone dies? If my phone’s battery runs out, there’s no way for Home Assistant to know I’m home. I’ve thought about using a smart button near the door that I could press to manually tell the system I’m back, but I’m not exactly sure how to set that up. Are there other solutions out there that could help with this?
I’ve heard about using motion sensors or even RFID tags to detect when someone enters the house, but I’m not sure how feasible that is for my setup. Maybe there’s a simpler way? I’d love to hear how others have solved this problem or if there are any integrations or automations that could make this easier.
If anyone has tips or recommendations, I’d really appreciate it! Let’s brainstorm some reliable ways to let Home Assistant know I’m home without relying solely on my phone’s location services. Thanks in advance for your help!