What’s the simplest way to control my elderly mother’s TV remotely over the internet?
I'm trying to help my 93-year-old mother use her TV from a distance. She has some dementia, so even familiar tasks can become confusing, and changing the setup…
Smart Home
How Can a Beginner Build a Personal AI Assistant?
I'm completely new to programming, but I learn quickly and I'm motivated to figure this out. I'd like to build a personal AI assistant that can be tailored…
Does an Offline, Voice-Controlled “Dumb Alexa” Exist for Accessibility?
I'm looking for an accessibility-focused voice assistant that works mostly or entirely offline and doesn't rely on a phone as its main device. Ideally, it would have a…
Why Did a Windows Desktop Briefly Appear on My Nan’s Smart TV?
While watching TV at my nan's house, the picture repeatedly froze, broke up, and sometimes went completely black while the sound cut in and out. During one of…
What’s a budget-friendly way to remotely show “Come In” or “Busy” outside my home office?
I'm looking for something like a doorbell indicator that can display either "Come In" or "Busy" when someone approaches my office. It should be controllable from an app…
Does Sofabaton Work with Alexa?
I'm trying to set up Alexa routines that involve Sofabaton activities. Both accounts are linked with the same email and connected to the same 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. The…
What caused all my remote-controlled devices to turn on and off at 1:30 AM?
Last night at 1:30 AM, all my remote-controlled devices went haywire! My smart TV, ceiling fans, and lights flashed on and off, which woke everyone up. Strangely, even…
How Can I Set Up a 2.4 GHz Network for My Older Devices?
After my roommate upgraded to fiber optic internet while I was away, I found out that all of my smart home devices, including lightbulbs, no longer work because…
Getting Home Assistant to Work with a Zigbee Dongle on Docker Desktop
I'm trying to set up Home Assistant using Docker Desktop on Windows 11, and I have a SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus (TI CC2652P). Is it possible…
Creative Ways to Use a Blacklisted Wi-Fi Only Phone
Hey folks! I recently ended up with a Google Pixel 8a phone that's blacklisted, so it won't connect to any cellular networks. I know I can still use…
Why Did a Random Security Camera Show Up on My New WiFi Network?
I recently set up a new modem from my ISP and needed to connect my Marmitek smart power plugs for my 3D printers. After disabling my smart WiFi…
What Technology Can Help Monitor Grandma's Falls at Home?
I'm looking for reliable technology to notify us when my grandma has a fall while we're at work. She currently has a watch that's supposed to report falls,…
Can Smart TVs Save Audio When They’re Off?
I'm wondering if smart TVs can actually store any audio clips, even when they're turned off or unplugged. I have this older Samsung smart TV from around 2018…
Should I be worried about a WiFi-connected device I just got?
I recently received a gift of Govee lights that connect to WiFi, but I'm really worried that someone might be trying to spy on me. I'm not very…
Can I Schedule My Xiaomi Router to Turn On and Off Without My Phone?
Hey everyone! I just got a Xiaomi AX3000T router and installed the Xiaomi Home app to manage it. I want to set it to turn off at midnight…
Can I Automatically Wake My NAS When My PC Starts?
Hey everyone! I've set up my NAS with Windows 10, and I'm familiar with TrueNAS, but I'm limited because I can't connect a LAN cable. I've managed to…
What Smart Home Gadgets Have Actually Made a Difference for You?
I'm considering upgrading my home with smart technology but want to avoid spending money on things that don't really work or end up being gimmicks. I'm looking for…
Which Smart Home Gadgets Have Truly Improved Your Life?
I'm considering adding some smart devices to my home but I want to avoid any that are just fancy gimmicks. Can anyone share which smart home tech has…