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  • How Will Automates His Parents' Pool from 2,000 Miles Away and a Period UK Home

    How Will Automates His Parents' Pool from 2,000 Miles Away and a Period UK Home
    Feb 17 2026
    Will joins Phil and Rohan to share how he tamed a period UK home and a remote Canary Islands vacation property with Home Assistant, ESPHome, and Zigbee. We dive into DIY pool chemistry control, fridge monitoring with a ‘strawtenna’, tactile dashboards, AI‑assisted heating, and why Shelly is everywhereWatch this episode on YouTubeShow notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA222Special Thanks to Today's GuestWill Osborne-KennedyWebsiteSupport the PodcastGet early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.https://homeassistant.fm/patreonShare your storyWe wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.Chapters00:00:00 Welcome00:03:30 Will’s origin story and tinkering00:08:30 Finding Home Assistant and ESPHome00:12:00 Hot tub and pool control projects00:17:00 Remote Canary Islands setup00:22:00 Zigbee vs Wi‑Fi in old homes00:27:00 Antennas and fridge sensor hacks00:32:00 Dashboards and tactile panels00:37:00 AI and heating optimizations00:42:00 Remote access: fiber and TailScale00:46:00 Multi‑site management and ideas00:50:00 Favorite automations and LLM Vision00:56:00 Home lab, IPTV, and Channels DVR01:00:00 2026 goals: energy, irrigation, WLED01:05:00 Shelly scripts and local‑first01:07:00 Community vendorsThis episode was made possible thanks to our sponsorsHome Assistant Cloud by Nabu CasaEasily 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.ZoozIf you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.comClean My MacGet Tidy Today! Get 7 days free and use our code ASSISTANT for 20% offhttps://clnmy.com/ASSISTANTProducts DiscussedShelly Bluetooth button/tile: https://amzn.to/4bJcvvyOrbit B‑Hyve irrigation controller: https://amzn.to/4bJcvvyHDHomeRun TV tuner: https://amzn.to/4klnoFUPhilips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor: https://amzn.to/4cf3r1pHostsPhil HawthorneWebsiteSmart Home ProductsTwitter: @philhawthorneBluesky: @philhawthorne.comBuy Phil a CoffeeRohan KaramandiWebsiteSmart Home ProductsTwitter: @rohank9Buy Rohan a CoffeeThis episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    1 Std. und 9 Min.
  • Hiding Smart Tech in a 1950s Home: Mike’s Home Assistant Journey

    Hiding Smart Tech in a 1950s Home: Mike’s Home Assistant Journey
    Feb 10 2026
    Mike joins Phil and Rohan to share how he hides smart tech in a 1953 mid‑century home so it looks analog but works like magic. Plus: Roborock tricks, leak sensors that turn rooms blue, HomePod TTS vs Sonos ducking, Samsung Frame art‑mode headaches, and running full HA OS in a VMware Fusion VM on a Mac mini.Watch this episode on YouTubeShow notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA221Support the PodcastGet early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.https://homeassistant.fm/patreonShare your storyWe wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.Chapters00:00:00 Welcome00:03:00 Lighting gateway and Hue hack00:05:30 Sneaking tech and dance reveal00:08:00 From HomeKit/HomeBridge to HA00:10:30 Dashboards and camera setup00:12:30 Bulbs vs switches in 50s home00:14:30 Bathroom fan and comforts00:16:30 Homelab and Zigbee backbone00:19:00 LLMs and announcements00:21:30 Laundry alerts and Mac lab00:25:30 Presence sensing strategy00:28:00 Leak sensors and water safety00:31:00 Light signals around the home00:33:00 Roborock automations and hacks00:40:30 Bedroom presence routines00:43:00 Bayesian sensors and design00:49:50 Time Machine and Frame TV00:54:30 Pool fountain control00:56:30 Power and crawlspace cabling00:59:10 Party trick and outroThis episode was made possible thanks to our sponsorsHome Assistant Cloud by Nabu CasaEasily 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.ZoozIf you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.comProducts DiscussedPhilips Hue bulbs and lightstrips: https://amzn.to/4k7paurAqara T2 wall switch: https://amzn.to/4jUTZm1Samsung The Frame TV (43"): https://amzn.to/4t5mTnrZigbee main water shutoff valve (generic): https://amzn.to/4aURldjAqara water leak sensors: https://amzn.to/3Nest6AAqara door/window sensors: https://amzn.to/49hmu9BThird Reality sensors: https://amzn.to/455ZR5FEcobee thermostat with room sensors: https://amzn.to/4t4XYjOBond Bridge (ceiling fan RF hub): https://amzn.to/3YAbHBmAqara roller shade controllers: https://amzn.to/3O8ihwILevel Lock: https://amzn.to/3ZcU3UgSwitchBot Lock (with keypad/fingerprint accessory): https://amzn.to/4a55H92HostsPhil HawthorneWebsiteSmart Home ProductsTwitter: @philhawthorneBluesky: @philhawthorne.comBuy Phil a CoffeeRohan KaramandiWebsiteSmart Home ProductsTwitter: @rohank9Buy Rohan a CoffeeThis episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    1 Std. und 2 Min.
  • Home Assistant 2026.2: New Home Dashboard, Apps & our CES2026 wrap

    Home Assistant 2026.2: New Home Dashboard, Apps & our CES2026 wrap
    Feb 4 2026

    We break down Home Assistant 2026.2: the Home Dashboard is now default, the new Command‑K command palette, a dedicated Matter dashboard, and add‑ons renamed to Apps. Plus: CES 2026 highlights, the Open Home Foundation device database and a Google Home outage.


    Watch this episode on YouTube

    Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA220



    Support the Podcast

    Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

    https://homeassistant.fm/patreon


    Share your story

    We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.


    Chapters

    00:00:00 Intro

    00:03:00 CES Highlights and Shoutouts

    00:06:00 Device Database and Open Home

    00:11:30 Cloud Outage and Local Control

    00:13:50 Listener Feedback and Tips

    00:21:20 2026.2 Release Overview

    00:23:20 Home Dashboard Becomes Default

    00:26:45 Command Palette and Shortcuts

    00:29:40 Matter Dashboard and Apps Rename

    00:32:40 Automations, Cards, and Buttons

    00:37:10 Music Assistant, Media, Sponsor Break

    00:41:10 New Integrations Roundup

    00:46:25 Breaking Changes: Groups, Tuya

    00:49:38 Closing Thoughts and Predictions


    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.


    Zooz

    If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.


    For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com



    Hosts

    Phil Hawthorne

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @philhawthorne

    Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

    Buy Phil a Coffee


    Rohan Karamandi

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @rohank9

    Buy Rohan a Coffee



    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    52 Min.
  • Inside the Works With Home Assistant program with Miranda Bishop

    Inside the Works With Home Assistant program with Miranda Bishop
    Jan 27 2026

    Miranda from the Open Home Foundation takes us inside the Works With Home Assistant program: how devices are tested, why the badge matters, and how vendors—from startups to big brands—can get certified. We cover Zigbee vs Z‑Wave vs Matter, badge misuse, regional device coverage, and Miranda’s own fun automations.


    Watch this episode on YouTube

    Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA219


    Support the Podcast

    Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

    https://homeassistant.fm/patreon


    Share your story

    We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.


    Chapters

    00:00:00 Intro

    00:03:20 Miranda’s path to HA

    00:08:00 CES stories and community

    00:14:30 Moving program to Foundation

    00:22:30 Fees, pushback, endorsement?

    00:29:30 Guidance, safety, and testing

    00:36:30 Zigbee, Z‑Wave, Matter realities

    00:43:00 Big brands, IKEA, relationships

    00:50:30 Cloud integrations, Genie

    00:55:30 Miranda’s home and automations

    01:03:30 Blinds, garden, robots

    01:10:00 Regional coverage and filters

    01:15:30 Badge misuse and enforcement

    01:20:30 2026 goals and wrap‑up


    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.


    Zooz

    If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.


    For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com



    Products Discussed

    Home Assistant Connect ZWA2 (Z‑Wave radio): https://amzn.to/3MfPzsP


    Hosts

    Phil Hawthorne

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @philhawthorne

    Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

    Buy Phil a Coffee


    Rohan Karamandi

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @rohank9

    Buy Rohan a Coffee



    This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.



    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    1 Std. und 23 Min.
  • From SimpliSafe to Matter: We’re re-visiting Aaron

    From SimpliSafe to Matter: We’re re-visiting Aaron
    Jan 20 2026

    Aaron returns to share how his Home Assistant setup evolved from endless tinkering to a rock‑solid system that runs his family life. We cover Z‑Wave provisioning, ESPHome vs off‑the‑shelf reliability, RATGDO for garage doors, HA Green/Yellow, voice‑first routines, and the rise of AI‑powered helpers.

    Watch this episode on YouTube

    Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA218


    Support the Podcast

    Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

    https://homeassistant.fm/patreon


    Share your story

    We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.


    Chapters

    00:00:00 - Welcome, guest intro

    00:02:30 - Aaron’s Home Assistant dev journey

    00:06:30 - Life change and HA evolving

    00:10:30 - HA Green/Yellow setup ease

    00:14:30 - Proxmox vs appliance hubs

    00:18:30 - Remote radios and antennas

    00:22:30 - AppDaemon to UI automations

    00:26:30 - AI helpers and sensors

    00:30:30 - Dashboards vs default view

    00:34:30 - Voice and automation-first

    00:38:30 - Community ideas and sharing

    00:42:30 - Maintain vs rebuild strategy

    00:46:30 - Vacuum and dishwasher flows

    00:50:30 - Guest mode with Shortcuts

    00:54:30 - ESPHome vs plug-and-play

    00:58:30 - Z-Wave provisioning

    01:02:30 - Local-first hardware wins

    01:06:30 - Matter, cameras, standards

    01:10:00 - Open-source continuity, advice


    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.


    Zooz

    If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

    For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com



    Products Discussed

    Home Assistant Connect Z-Wave (ZWA2) antenna: https://amzn.to/48PrphT

    Ubiquiti Protect cameras: https://amzn.to/4asHXxt



    Hosts

    Phil Hawthorne

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @philhawthorne

    Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

    Buy Phil a Coffee


    Rohan Karamandi

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @rohank9

    Buy Rohan a Coffee



    This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.



    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    1 Std. und 12 Min.
  • Artem’s Energy‑Smart Automations Without the Chaos

    Artem’s Energy‑Smart Automations Without the Chaos
    Jan 13 2026

    By day Artem works for JetBrains, developing coding IDEs for software professionals. But today we want to learn about his smart home, and how he is using Home Assistant to make it more energy efficient


    Watch this episode on YouTube

    Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA217



    Support the Podcast

    Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

    https://homeassistant.fm/patreon


    Share your story

    We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.


    Chapters

    00:00:00 - Welcome, sponsors, guest intro

    00:02:30 - Developer life and new home

    00:06:30 - Shutters and first automations

    00:12:20 - Wi‑Fi presence and WAF/PAF

    00:17:30 - Cabling regrets and PoE lessons

    00:21:30 - Zigbee over Ethernet; IKEA fix

    00:25:58 - Dynamic tariffs, solar and battery

    00:33:20 - Smart appliance scheduling

    00:41:00 - mmWave presence sensors

    00:45:20 - Doorbell NFC and Nuki lock

    00:50:10 - Wishlist, Hue and wiring

    00:53:10 - Climate tuning and valve fix

    00:58:40 - Versatile thermostat and wrap‑up


    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.


    Zooz

    If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.


    For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com



    Products Discussed

    Ubiquiti UniFi Protect G4 Pro Doorbell: https://amzn.to/4aT1IhF

    Aqara FP2 mmWave presence sensor: https://amzn.to/4s4M4WM



    Hosts

    Phil Hawthorne

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @philhawthorne

    Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

    Buy Phil a Coffee


    Rohan Karamandi

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @rohank9

    Buy Rohan a Coffee



    This podcast contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.



    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    1 Std. und 2 Min.
  • Home Assistant 2026.1: SendSpin, new Home Dashboard improvements and presence using labels

    Home Assistant 2026.1: SendSpin, new Home Dashboard improvements and presence using labels
    Jan 6 2026

    Rohan and Phil are here to break down the 2026.1 release. We’re talking Home Dashboard improvements, a new multi-room audio protocol from Music Assistant, and of course some Zigbee quirks thrown into the mix


    Watch this episode on YouTube

    Show notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA216


    Support the Podcast

    Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

    https://homeassistant.fm/patreon


    Share your story

    We wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.


    Chapters

    00:00:00 - New Year, housekeeping, sponsors

    00:03:00 - SendSpin: open sync audio arrives

    00:10:00 - Cross‑ecosystem sync caveats

    00:14:00 - Voice PE audio and DIY speakers

    00:16:00 - Listener Q&A and AI log help

    00:20:00 - 2026.1 mobile Home dashboard

    00:24:00 - Purpose‑specific triggers expansion

    00:27:00 - New integrations

    00:31:00 - Labels/templates for presence

    00:37:00 - Protocol hubs, Matter, graphs, devices

    00:41:00 - Breaking changes, EcoWitt PSA, CES


    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.


    Zooz

    If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.


    For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.com



    Products Discussed

    Roborock Q7 robot vacuum: https://amzn.to/4bkyEjo

    EcoWitt weather station: https://amzn.to/4jBcX0M

    Sonos One: https://amzn.to/4pmsz9H



    Hosts

    Phil Hawthorne

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @philhawthorne

    Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

    Buy Phil a Coffee


    Rohan Karamandi

    Website

    Smart Home Products

    Twitter: @rohank9

    Buy Rohan a Coffee


    This episode contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.



    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    43 Min.
  • 187 Automations, 300 Devices: Josh’s Smart Home Assistant Journey

    187 Automations, 300 Devices: Josh’s Smart Home Assistant Journey
    Dec 16 2025
    Josh from Josh’s Smart Home joins Phil and Rohan to unpack a 300-device Home Assistant setup running on Home Assistant Green. We dive into the move from SmartThings, building a reliable Zigbee mesh, energy automations with Tesla Powerwall and a smart pool pump and theatre room presence.Watch this episode on YouTubeShow notes for this episode are available at https://homeassistant.fm/HA215Support the PodcastGet early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.https://homeassistant.fm/patreonShare your storyWe wouldn't be able to do this podcast without community members and home automation enthusiasts sharing their stories. To register your interest to come share your home automation journey, head over to homeassistant.fm and click share your story.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:01:22 - Meet Josh00:02:18 - Early smart home missteps00:04:12 - SmartThings and Lutron00:05:54 - WebCoRE ends, HA begins00:09:29 - Home Assistant Green setup00:09:34 - Zigbee mesh with Aqara00:12:55 - Theater gear quirks00:14:18 - Theater automation philosophy00:22:02 - Time-of-use energy automations00:23:00 - Powerwall + solar in HA00:26:31 - ROI and arbitrage00:28:28 - Tesla automations00:32:42 - Dashboards and voice control00:37:19 - Washer/dryer and doorbell alerts00:40:37 - 187 automations, time saved00:44:20 - Motion and humidity control00:48:56 - Measuring automation impact00:50:02 - Smart blinds convenience00:50:19 - Yarbo mower and snowblower00:58:43 - Security and utility uses01:06:59 - Starting Josh’s Smart Home01:10:27 - Automation content plans01:12:45 - Top new-build tips01:15:56 - Designing and building01:21:26 - Where to find JoshThis episode was made possible thanks to our sponsorsHome Assistant Cloud by Nabu CasaEasily 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.ZoozIf you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.For the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to https://thesmartesthouse.comProducts DiscussedReolink Video Doorbell: https://amzn.to/4a7LIIdApple TV 4K: https://amzn.to/4prsT7nNarwal robot vacuum and mop: https://amzn.to/3KgSaSKUV insect light traps: https://amzn.to/484CNEYYarbo robotic core with mower/snow modules: https://amzn.to/3LOtOQVHostsPhil HawthorneWebsiteSmart Home ProductsTwitter: @philhawthorneBluesky: @philhawthorne.comBuy Phil a CoffeeRohan KaramandiWebsiteSmart Home ProductsTwitter: @rohank9Buy Rohan a CoffeeThis podcast contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on one of them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    1 Std. und 22 Min.