Smart Home Installation Tips, New Users Must Read!

Those of you who always do in-depth research before buying a new phone, raise your hands. From repeatedly watching reviews from content creators , comparing specifications and benchmarks , to meditating in Alas Purwo, no mountain is too high in the smartphone selection process .

Indeed, technology products require a more in-depth approach, and this extra effort also applies to smart homes . While it doesn't require a PhD, Ranger encountered some challenges during his first smart home installation , folks !

Smart Home Installation Tips and Methods

Ever built your own PC? Or perhaps have experience renovating a small house or room? Combining technology with home improvement projects , Ranger sees the smart home installation process as a hybrid of the two.

Although Ranger himself is actually well-versed in technology, he admittedly almost tripped up some aspects of his smart home installation . However, Ranger's misfortune can be a lesson for you.

So, for those of you who want to follow in Ranger's footsteps and take your home to the next level, these smart home installation tips can be a guide!

Make sure there are no WiFi dead zones at the smart home installation location.

Even though Ranger's house is relatively small, there are still some corners where the Wi-Fi signal doesn't reach. Since smart homes rely heavily on internet access, Wi-Fi dead zones like these are something you should be wary of .

Ranger was a bit careless and didn't do a survey before installing the smart camera near the front door, which turned out to be a Wi-Fi dead zone . As a result, the installation process was disrupted because Ranger had to wait for the Wi-Fi extender package first.

With the majority of smart cameras now having resolutions of 3MP and above, bandwidth requirements for video transmission must also be taken into consideration. Roughly speaking, 3MP resolution has 50% more pixels than Full HD or 1080p video.

Verify the connection protocol of smart home devices

Ranger has been a big fan of Wi-Fi, but Wi-Fi isn't the only connection protocol option for smart homes . Besides Wi-Fi, there's also Bluetooth and smart home- specific protocols like Zigbee and Thread , though Wi-Fi remains the most popular.

Thread actually has several advantages over Wi-Fi, such as lower power consumption and a peer-to-peer network model . However, with routers typically only supporting Wi-Fi, devices relying on Bluetooth or Thread require intermediary .

This mediation comes in the form of a hub that can act as an intermediary between a Wi-Fi router and a Thread device, but it will, of course, incur additional costs. This is also one of the reasons Ranger chose BIOTA, which exclusively uses Wi-Fi, so Ranger doesn't have to worry about this.

Check whether the smart home electrical installation supports it

Ranger chose a smart camera battery from BIOTA Smart Home from the start , eliminating the need for any cables. However, it's a different story if the type of camera you want requires an external power source.

Since smart cameras are often installed far from electrical outlets, be prepared mentally and physically to pull cables . Even for smart home components like smart wall sockets and smart wall switches , dismantling the electrical installation is mandatory.

Specifically for smart wall switches , also verify whether the switch requires an additional neutral wire, which isn't always available. But don't despair if your carpentry skills aren't up to snuff; BIOTA provides reliable smart home electrical installation services .

Choose the smart home ecosystem you want

While not as severe as the divide between Android and iOS, the diversity of ecosystems in smart home technology can also create divisions . This choice isn't trivial, either, as the ecosystem will determine the type of voice assistant you can use.

As the only voice assistant currently able to speak Indonesian, Google Assistant is the most popular choice. But if your heart is truly set on Apple, staying loyal to Siri and Apple Home is perfectly fine.

The bottom line is, make sure your smart home devices support the ecosystem before checking out . That way, when you decide to purchase a smart speaker , all your smart home components can be controlled directly from it .

Ideally, smart home installation is done in a permanent home.

It's called smart home technology , not smart rental technology. So don't be surprised if this technology is ideal for those who already have a permanent residence , especially for products that require rewiring, like smart switches , to install .

This doesn't mean that perpetual renters can't enjoy a smart home , but they have to be smart about it. For example, Ranger deliberately chooses products that are relatively easy to install , like smart plugs and smart LED strips that can be removed with a hair dryer .

Other battery -powered smart home tech, such as the smart wireless doorbell and the fixed-battery smart camera from BIOTA, are also options. Keep in mind that changing locations and changing Wi-Fi SSIDs will require resetting all devices , and this is a must-have consideration.

Preparation for smart home technology installation

Smart home technology has come a long way since the early 2010s, and smart homes have become much more affordable and easier to use. However, smart home installation isn't completely plug-and-play , and there are several things to consider first.

So, as long as you can eliminate any doubts regarding the above matters, the smart home installation process should go smoothly!