Favorite smart garage items?

[GTO]

My Liftmaster 3800 is about the smartest thing I got in the Garage.

 

[dfiler2]

My shop is three blocks from home, I have Alexa at the house, anyone know if I can use the "Drop In" feature when they are on different routers?

 

[Pathfinders]

My Laptop.

 

[trashmanssd]

Wifi Thermostat so I can warm it up before I get home, Wifi garage door opener system, Ruko Tv, Wifi built in 7.2 surround receiver, Sonos Connect on said stereo, Laptop, cell phone, Wifi Nest smoke detector, Soon to as echo dot for intercom thanks to this thread.

 

[TheLurker]

Garage door opener, a few WeMo light switches and some motion detecting floodlights.

Once the HVAC gets installed, it'll have an Ecobee thermostat like the house.

 

[fordkid88]

What about smart smoke detectors? God forbid you actually need it, but what if you had a fire while your gone. It would be nice to get a notification and call and get there as soon as you could?

 

[Git]

My shop is three blocks from home, I have Alexa at the house, anyone know if I can use the "Drop In" feature when they are on different routers?

I don't know, you may just have to try it. Here is the help page, but it is not very clear. But it does look like if both devices are registered on your account it should work

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202153130

and for info - when an Echo is is 'intercom mode' the light ring turns green and you need to say something like "hang up" to end. I think that feature was originally developed so you could have Alexa make phone calls for you

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-alexa-drop-in-intercom/

 

[ctyke]

My shop is three blocks from home, I have Alexa at the house, anyone know if I can use the "Drop In" feature when they are on different routers?

It works wherever they are. I can drop-in the lake place 100 miles from my house. It also works on the phone app from where ever you are.

 

[freekwonder]

What about smart smoke detectors? God forbid you actually need it, but what if you had a fire while your gone. It would be nice to get a notification and call and get there as soon as you could?

Good point, a smart smoke detector is on my short list for safety. Other than the nest, are there any that are worth the cost?

 

[dfiler2]

Thanks, Git and ctyke!

I forgot to list my favorite smart device. it would have to be the thermostat that I can turn up before I leave work in the evening or on Sat morning. The MYQ is also nice, it allows me to make sure the big front door is shut or open it for someone without having to be there. Smoke detectors are the next thing and eventually cameras, no real need for cameras but might be interesting to play with.

 

[The Wizard]

Fordkid88,

Mind sharing which access point you went with? I'm in the market for one as I finally ran ethernet from the house to the detached garage 120' away. Wifey is still asking for Wifi in the garage though....

 

[Git]

Most routers can be used as an 'access point' by just changing a setting or two.

Instead of buying a new 'access point', consider upgrading your router and using the old one as your access point in the garage

 

[58Yeoman]

Don't need any of the smart stuff in my shop. I mean, it's a shop, not a mancave with more amenities than I have in my house. Two doors, only one has an opener. I did install a single traffic light outside the shop today so that my wife can see when the light is on, I'm in the shop.

 

[isb cornbinder]

WIFI is number one. The stereo system is a close second.

 

[Denwood]

Fordkid88,

Mind sharing which access point you went with? I'm in the market for one as I finally ran ethernet from the house to the detached garage 120' away. Wifey is still asking for Wifi in the garage though....

Netgear’s EX7000 is an AC class Wi-Fi access point (can also be set up as a Wi-Fi extender as well) but is a nice choice for a garage that is direct wired as it has 5 gigabit Ethernet ports as well. It’s less expensive than most routers but also has AC class Wi-Fi, allowing newer iOS devices to connect at much higher speeds.

Adding a Zwave relay and open/close to my garage door, as well as SmartThings automation for things like the overhead “disco” lights (kids like to dance in there) means you can automate a bunch of things. An IP camera connected directly to the EX7000 also adds motion sensing security, and lets you check on the door if away.

If motion from the SmartThings motion sensor is not detected for a set period, the door is closed automatically...after a few warnings via push messages. It also manages the man door locking and overhead door closing automatically when our iOS devices leave the area. In other words, it’s pretty hard to leave the detached garage doors open or unlocked now...the automation handles it if we forget. The system can’t physically close the man door of course, but the iOS devices get messages every 10 minutes if that door is left open. The overhead door is much smarter as the system knows if open or closed, and can operate the remote to close or open the door.

I found that adding the pan/tilt/zoom camera adds that extra level of security so you can physically check on the garage if the motion sensor reports motion while the system is armed etc.

 

[Bama447]

When y'all do stuf like this on here we lowly mortals can only stare in awe!!!! Awesome job!!!!!