Home Assistant Podcast

HK Media
  • 4.9 (60)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Home Assistant Podcast

Join hosts Phil Hawthorne and Rohan Karamandi as they explore the newest Home Assistant releases and the latest Home Automation news. Featuring guests who use or contribute to Home Assistant, the podcast aims to inspire new ways to make your home smarter.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Grant Hinds on his smart home journey with Home Assistant

    Grant is a South African tech enthusiast and content creator, who joins Rohan and Phil to discuss his joy of using Home Assistant in his smart home Chapters 00:01:23 - Background in Tech and Smart Homes 00:02:04 - Discussion on Home Assistant Setups 00:04:12 - Synology and NAS Performance 00:05:27 - Exploring Efficient Tech Solutions 00:11:21 - Innovative South African Technology Solutions 00:17:14 - Load Shedding Solutions Using Smart Technologies 00:22:09 - Utilizing ESPHome and Bluetooth for Smart Homes 00:25:40 - Introduction to Home Automation 00:29:02 - Samsung Smart Tags and Security 00:37:20 - Getting Started with Home Assistant 00:41:20 - Advanced Home Automation Setup 00:45:20 - Building and Using Home Assistant Dashboards 00:47:40 - Innovative Uses of Smart Devices 00:51:41 - Vacation Mode and Convenience Features 00:52:22 - Accessibility and Family Considerations 00:54:43 - Smart Alarm System Integration 00:56:01 - Challenges and Improvements in Home Automation 00:57:05 - Importance of Consistency and Reliability 01:00:01 - Designing User-Friendly Interfaces for Smart Homes 01:02:51 - Redundancy and Reliability in Smart Home Systems 01:05:02 - Limitations and Opportunities of Smart Home Technology 01:10:36 - Role of Home Assistant in Smart Home Ecosystem 01:17:42 - Discussion on Consumer Standpoint 01:18:13 - Cloud Frustrations for Consumers 01:18:22 - Recommendation for Local Servers 01:18:44 - Corporate Struggle with Costs Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha166/ Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. ExpressVPN Secure your digital life and get an extra three months free Hello Fresh With HelloFresh, you get farm-fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and seasonal recipes delivered right to your doorstep. Skip trips to the grocery store and count on HelloFresh to make home cooking easy, fun, AND affordable Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 20m
  2. Google Photos Integration and Energy Usage Monitoring in Home Assistant 2024.10

    OCT 2

    Google Photos Integration and Energy Usage Monitoring in Home Assistant 2024.10

    In this episode 2024.10 of the Home Assistant Podcast, hosts Rohan Karamandi and Phil Hawthorne discuss many exciting updates which extend from YAML updates to Tesla Fleet and EV integration. From new Matter integration surprises to advanced dashboard customization features, this episode breaks down the key improvements you’ll want to implement in your home setup. Phil shares his hands-on experience with a Matter presence sensor, while Rohan discusses the latest support for button and valve entities, smart devices, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned automation enthusiast or just getting started, this episode offers plenty of insights to help you optimize your smart home. Key Takeaways: Home Assistant 2024.10 Release Overview: A comprehensive breakdown of the latest updates, including the new heading style card, Matter integration updates, and the introduction of button and valve entities.Matter Integration Experiences: Phil's firsthand experience with a Matter-enabled presence sensor, from setup surprises to the challenges of managing devices through Amazon Echo.Dashboard Improvements: The new heading style for Home Assistant dashboards allows for better organization and customization, with support for subheadings and sensor data integration.YAML Updates: Changes to YAML formatting now allow for easier readability and section collapsibility, making automation scripting more intuitive.Long-Term Statistics Repair: Home Assistant now offers better visibility and repair options for long-term statistics, helping users maintain accurate data tracking.Tesla Fleet and EV Integration: Expanded support for Tesla vehicles, offering more control over climate, media players, and other essential features within the Home Assistant ecosystem. Timestamps: 00:15 - Introduction00:55 - Overview of Home Assistant 2024.10 Release01:47 - New Dashboard Features - Heading Style04:34 - Limitations of the New Heading Card07:01 - Long-term Statistics Repairs07:25 - Using SQLite vs MySQL for Data Storage10:53 - YAML Updates - Pluralized Top-Level Items14:37 - Automation UI vs YAML for Creating Automation18:44 - Wish for Auto-Tagging YAML Automation22:10 - Phil’s Experience with Matter Devices24:00 - Phil’s Matter Integration with Amazon Echo31:04 - Ring Device Updates - Motion Detection35:59 - Assist Satellite for Upcoming Hardware38:34 - YAML Editor Enhancements45:46 - Limiting Template Render Output Watch the full episode on YouTube https://hasspodcast.io/ha165/ Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML. Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    48 min
  3. From Slopes to Smart Homes: Using Home Assistant for Ski Conditions and Traffic Tracking w/ Nick Dawson

    SEP 18

    From Slopes to Smart Homes: Using Home Assistant for Ski Conditions and Traffic Tracking w/ Nick Dawson

    In this episode of the Home Assistant Podcast, hosts Rohan Karamandi and Phil Hawthorne are joined by Nick Dawson, a ski instructor, mountain guide, and passionate home automation enthusiast. The conversation takes a deep dive into Nick's unique approach to home automation, particularly how he integrates smart technology into his life both on and off the ski slopes. From automating his morning routine to ensuring his dog's safety while he's away, Nick's insights provide a wealth of practical advice for those looking to enhance their home automation setups. Nick Dawson shares his journey of balancing a dual life as a ski instructor in the winter and a designer in the summer. His home automation setup reflects this balance, focusing on reducing cognitive load and ensuring safety, especially when he's an hour away on a ski mountain. Nick discusses how he began with simple smart devices and eventually embraced Home Assistant, despite initially finding it overwhelming. The episode explores a wide range of automation projects, including heating the garage on cold Montana mornings, scraping ski condition data to plan his day, and even using Frigate to detect his dog's barking. Nick also delves into the challenges and successes of room-level presence detection and his continuous quest to design a seamless, automated home experience. Key Takeaways: Reducing Cognitive Load: Nick's primary goal with home automation is to reduce cognitive load by automating tasks like adjusting thermostats and managing morning routines, allowing him to focus on more important aspects of his day.Advanced Ski Automation: Nick discusses how he automates his ski-related tasks, including scraping data from weather stations and managing his drive to the ski resort, ensuring he has all the necessary information for a safe and efficient day on the slopes.Innovative Dog Safety Measures: Nick uses various technologies, including Frigate and a whistle tracker, to ensure his dog's safety while he's away, showcasing how automation can provide peace of mind.Home Automation as a Design Challenge: As a designer by trade, Nick approaches home automation as a design problem, aiming to create solutions that are not only functional but also intuitive and user-friendly.The Struggles with Room-Level Presence Detection: Despite his best efforts, Nick has found room-level presence detection to be unreliable in his setup, highlighting the challenges many face with this advanced automation feature. Chapters: [00:00:00] - Introduction of Nick Dawson[00:02:56] - How Nick Got Into Home Automation[00:04:48] - Automating Tasks for Convenience[00:14:47] - Automation and Reducing Cognitive Load[00:21:59] - Home Assistant Dashboard[00:32:23] - Home Automation Focused on Safety[00:42:18] - Designing Home Automation Systems[00:50:57] - Dashboard Design and User Experience[01:08:09] - Room-Level Presence Detection Challenges[01:12:18] - Future Projects and Home Automation Exploration[01:14:17] - Conclusion For complete show notes and more information about the topics discussed in this episode, be sure to check the notes at https://hasspodcast.io/ha164/ Watch this episode on YouTube Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS or YAML. Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 15m
  4. HACS 2.0 and New Integration Features in Home Assistant 2024.9

    SEP 4

    HACS 2.0 and New Integration Features in Home Assistant 2024.9

    In this episode of the Home Assistant Podcast, hosts Phil Hawthorne and Rohan Karamandi, discuss the recent appointment of Paulus on the Z-Wave Alliance board, and dive into the improvements with HACS 2.0 and energy management discrepancies. The hosts also highlight innovative use cases for technologies like LoRa and the integration of Claude LLM into Home Assistant. This episode is packed with insights, technical discussions, and a few fun anecdotes about their personal experiences with home automation setups. Key Takeaways: Z-Wave Alliance Board Appointment: Paulus joins the Z-Wave Alliance board, bringing a voice for open-source and home automation users.HACS 2.0 Release: A major update to HACS has been released, providing a more integrated experience with Home Assistant and reducing API requests to GitHub.Energy Management Improvements: New features in Home Assistant’s energy dashboard help users identify discrepancies in energy usage, providing a more accurate understanding of household energy consumption.Yale Smart Lock Integration: Updates to the Yale Smart Lock integration for European users now include a WebSocket for real-time updates, reducing server strain and improving response times.New Integrations: Introduction of Claude LLM, a new LLM model, and other new integrations such as Nice Geo and Fujitsu HVAC control, expanding Home Assistant's capabilities.LoRa Technology in Home Automation: Discussion on the potential of LoRa technology for low-power, long-range communication in home automation, including experimental use cases like creating mesh networks for offline messaging. Chapters: Introduction to the Episode - (00:00:12)Z-Wave Alliance Board Appointment (00:02:44)Discussion on HACS 2.0 Update (00:06:34)New iOS Widgets (00:11:15)The headline feature for 2024.9 - The Dashboards (00:12:28)Energy Management and Discrepancies (00:15:40)Yale Smart Lock Integration Update (00:24:07)KNX Integration Updates (00:30:56)New Integrations and Features (00:31:13)LoRa Technology Exploration (00:43:03)Technical Discussion on LoRa Implementations (00:47:44)Exploring Further Uses of LoRa Technology (00:53:30)Potential Home Automation Applications for LoRa (00:57:32)Conclusion (01:02:36) For complete show notes and more information about the topics discussed in this episode, be sure to check the notes at: https://hasspodcast.io/ha163/ Watch this episode on YouTube Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS or YAML. Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 4m
  5. Integrating and Advancing Smart Home Technologies with Nir Lavi

    AUG 21

    Integrating and Advancing Smart Home Technologies with Nir Lavi

    In this episode of the Home Assistant Podcast, hosts Rohan Karamandi and Phil Hawthorne have a fascinating discussion with Nir Lavi, an enthusiast and active contributor to the home automation community. The conversation delves deep into Nir’s journey with home automation, focusing on the practical aspects and challenges of integrating advanced smart technologies into everyday life. Nir shares his experiences, from early experimentation with home automation to the sophisticated systems he uses today. The discussion covers a wide range of topics including lighting, security, energy management, and redundancy in smart home setups. Nir’s insights provide valuable lessons for both beginners and seasoned home automation enthusiasts, making this episode a treasure trove of practical advice and innovative ideas. Nir’s innovative projects include setting up a ring keypad, using millimeter wave sensors for presence detection, integrating a fingerprint scanner for secure home entry, and developing a OneDrive backup add-on for Home Assistant. His approach to automating routine tasks and enhancing the smart home experience highlights the importance of balancing technology with convenience and reliability. Key Takeaways: Predictive Maintenance: Utilizing energy consumption data to identify anomalies and predict potential failures in home appliances.Touchless Automation: Implementing presence-based automation with millimeter wave sensors for a more intuitive and convenient smart home experience.Voice Assistant Integration: The importance of local, cloud-independent voice assistants for enhanced privacy and reliability in smart home control.Sensor Utilization: Maximizing the use of various sensors, such as air quality, CO2 levels, and water leak detectors, for a healthier and safer living environment.Redundancy and Reliability: Ensuring the smart home remains functional even if the primary systems go down, highlighting the importance of failover mechanisms and backup plans. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction & Sponsorship 00:01:12 - Nir’s Background in Technology 00:02:01 - Early Smart Home Experiments 00:05:21 - Challenges with Smart Lighting 00:09:24- Smart Home Projects 00:10:51 - Smart Speakers 00:18:54- Automating the Roborock S7 00:24:10- Security Setup 00:26:37- Challenges with Redundancy & System Reliability on Home Security 00:35:23- Contributing to the Home Assistant Community 00:39:26- Presence Detection & Sensor Utilization 00:43:50- Challenges with Smart Home Dashboards 00:45:48- Redundancy in Smart Home Systems 00:54:28- Favorite Automation & Lighting Projects 00:56:38- Frigate and Camera Integration 01:01:16- Conclusion For complete show notes and more information about the topics discussed in this episode, be sure to check the notes at https://hasspodcast.io/ha162/ Watch this episode on YouTube Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS or YAML. Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 2m
  6. Local LLM Integration and UI Updates in 2024.8

    AUG 7

    Local LLM Integration and UI Updates in 2024.8

    In this episode of the Home Assistant Podcast, hosts Phil Hawthorne and Rohan Karamandi provide the latest updates and features of Home Assistant version 2024.8 and more! They discuss various topics, including the discontinuation of Telstra TV and Nike's self-lacing shoes, environmental concerns related to e-waste, and notable updates in the Home Assistant ecosystem, including new local LLM integrations, updates to the Home Assistant Yellow and Green devices, and enhancements to the user interface. Key Highlights: Background Discussion: Phil and Rohan go over the key features of the Home Assistant 2024.8 release, including updates to the dashboard, service calls, and new integrations. Cloud Strikes Again: A lighthearted segment where Phil shares his experiences with tech products that have been rendered obsolete due to cloud service shutdowns, including the Telstra TV box and Nike's self-lacing shoes. Home Assistant Yellow Update: Rohan provides insights into the latest updates for Home Assistant Yellow and Green, discussing their functionalities and the ease of use for beginners and advanced users. Home Assistant Blog Link: https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2024/08/01/streamlining-the-home-assistant-yellow-lineup/ New Integrations: A detailed discussion on the new integrations added in this release, including Otarco, Bright Evolution, Iron OS, and Tesla Fleet API. Breaking Changes: An overview of the breaking changes introduced in this update, focusing on the impact on users and how to navigate them. Chapters00:00:15 Introduction and Sponsor Mention 00:01:30 Telstra TV Discussion Begins 00:03:35 Telstra TV Discontinuation 00:04:24 Environmental Concerns with E-Waste 00:07:00 Nike Self-Lacing Shoes 00:07:58 Frustration Over Discontinued Products 00:11:30 Home Assistant Yellow and Green 00:17:27 Wave JS and Home Assistant Green Performance 00:20:07 2024.8 Home Assistant Update 00:22:30 Transition from Services to Actions 00:26:30 Introduction of Local LLaMA AI 00:37:30 New UI for KNX Integration 00:42:00 YAML-Based Integrations Now Visible in UI 00:52:00 Wake Word Collective Announcement 00:55:55 Episode Conclusion and Closing Remarks For complete show notes and more information about the topics discussed in this episode, be sure to check the notes at https://hasspodcast.io/ha161/ Watch this episode on YouTube Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS or YAML. Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    59 min
  7. Customize Your Home with Advanced Automation with Jason Shearer

    JUL 19

    Customize Your Home with Advanced Automation with Jason Shearer

    In this episode of the Home Assistant Podcast, Rohan Karamandi and Phil Hawthorne have an engaging conversation with Jason Shearer, a long-time listener and an engineering leader in the technology industry. Jason shares his fascinating journey from experimenting with home automation in his first condo to integrating advanced technologies into his current home. His expertise spans various domains, including lighting, irrigation, security, and energy management. Jason's story is filled with intriguing projects, such as transitioning from SmartThings to Home Assistant, automating a sit-stand desk, and creating elaborate holiday light displays using individually addressable LEDs. He delves into the importance of understanding energy consumption, leveraging predictive maintenance, and the integration of various protocols for a seamless smart home experience. Jason's innovative approaches and practical solutions provide valuable insights for both novice and experienced home automation enthusiasts. Key Takeaways: Predictive Maintenance: Using energy consumption data to identify anomalies and predict potential failures in home appliances. Touchless Automation: Implementing presence-based automation with millimeter wave sensors for a more intuitive and convenient smart home experience. Holiday Lighting Automation: Combining physical and software skills to create impressive holiday light displays, controlled via Home Assistant and MQTT. Voice Assistant Integration: The importance of local, cloud-independent voice assistants for enhanced privacy and reliability in smart home control. Sensor Utilization: Maximizing the use of various sensors, such as air quality, CO2 levels, and water leak detectors, for a healthier and safer living environment. Chapters00:16 Introduction 00:47 Guest Introduction 01:24 Consumer vs. Commercial Automation 03:03 Jason's Home Automation Journey 05:59 Lighting Automation and Christmas Decorations 09:58 Physical Setup and Cable Management 12:50 Weather Automation 15:20 LED Longevity and Replacement 17:36 Sequence Programming for Lights 22:06 Lighting Effects and Home Assistant Integration 28:01 Future Plans for Lighting Automation 31:56 ESP Home Projects 35:26 Leak Detection and Mitigation 49:55 Energy Monitoring 57:39 Daily Use of Automation 01:12:16 Closing Remarks To learn more about Jason and his home automation projects, connect with him through the Home Assistant community. For complete show notes and more information about the topics discussed in this episode, be sure to check the notes at https://hasspodcast.io/ha160/ Watch this episode on YouTube Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS or YAML. Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 13m

  8. JUL 3

    Taking control of Blueprints, Voice gets smarter in 2024.7

    2024.7, Year of the voice chapter 7, and an amazing ESPHome update are just some of the goodies released Rohan and Phil break down. Chapters00:44 ESPHome Update Entities 05:16 Year of the voice chapter 7 18:49 2204.7 20:11 Home Assistant Roadmap 29:05 20247 Continued For complete show notes and more information about the topics discussed in this episode, be sure to check the notes at https://hasspodcast.io/ha159 Watch this episode on YouTube Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS or YAML. Hosts Phil Hawthorne Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @philhawthorne Buy Phil a Coffee Rohan Karamandi Website Smart Home Products Twitter: @rohank9 Buy Rohan a Coffee Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 2m
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4.9
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

Join hosts Phil Hawthorne and Rohan Karamandi as they explore the newest Home Assistant releases and the latest Home Automation news. Featuring guests who use or contribute to Home Assistant, the podcast aims to inspire new ways to make your home smarter.

Information

  • Channel
    HK Media
  • Creator
    HK Media
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2024
  • Episodes
    179
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021 Home Assistant Podcast
  • Show Website
    Home Assistant Podcast

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