Hey everyone, I wanted to share my experience with integrating Vinli with SmartThings. I’ve been using Vinli for a couple of months now, and it’s been a game-changer for my home automation setup. Let me walk you through how I made it work and why I think it’s worth considering if you’re looking for a reliable presence sensor.
So, my journey started with trying to find a better presence sensor than the ones I had been using. I tried the SmartThings arrival sensors, but they had too much lag. Geofencing through SmartThings with the arrival sensor didn’t help either—it still had delays. I even tried IFTTT geofencing, but that also had too much lag. I was really frustrated because I wanted a seamless experience when I come home.
Then, I stumbled upon Vinli. It’s a device that connects to your car’s OBD-II port and provides a range of features, including geofencing. I decided to give it a shot, and I’m so glad I did. Here’s how I set it up:
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Installation: I installed the Vinli device in my car. It was super easy—just plug it into the OBD-II port. No need for any complicated wiring or setup.
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Geofencing Setup: I set up my geofence in the Vinli Home Connect app. I chose a small area around my driveway. The idea was that when I get close to my driveway, my garage door opens and my lights turn on. I also set up a larger geofence in SmartThings to change my home’s security state before the Vinli geofence triggers the garage door. This eliminated the lag I was experiencing before.
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Integration with SmartThings: I linked the Vinli geofence with SmartThings. The moment I reach my driveway, my garage door opens, and my lights come on exactly as I set it up. It’s like magic! I also use this integration to change my SmartThings Home Monitoring (STHM) state before the geofence triggers the garage door. This way, I avoid false alarms in STHM.
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Benefits: The biggest benefit is the lack of lag. With Vinli, everything happens almost instantly. My garage door opens as soon as I get close, and my lights are already on when I walk in. It’s made my life so much easier, especially in the winter when I want to get inside quickly.
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Tips: If you’re considering Vinli, I recommend setting up both a larger geofence in SmartThings and a smaller one in Vinli. This ensures that your home’s security state changes before the garage door opens, preventing any delays or false alarms.
Overall, I’m thrilled with how Vinli has integrated with my SmartThings setup. It’s taken my home automation to the next level, and I can’t imagine going back to the old system. If you’re looking for a reliable presence sensor, I highly recommend giving Vinli a try!
Happy automating! 