Automating your Smart Home

October 13, 2021 GMD No Comments Smarthome, Tips smart home

Simply put, having an automated home means that you have a central unit that gives you control over any compatible devices that is connected to it. This gives you the benefit of being able to program different devices to work together automatically, from one central control unit. You can control your heating, smart lighting, entertainment devices, security and much more for example.

The aim of creating a more automated smart home is to save you time, effort and to generally enhance your lifestyle.

Some of the great features of home automation, is being able to do things like programme your heating to come on when the temperature reaches a certain level or even control your thermostat from the comfort of your sofa. To provide more security you could programme your security or camera system to recognise your family but alert you to any strangers, or use them to communicate with delivery drivers or visitors.

Love your entertainment – take the opportunity to conceal your high-tech kit to create a cleaner interior design or use your home automation system to play your favourite songs throughout the house. The whole idea is to make your life simpler.

Some key reasons to move towards home automation: –

Simplicity – getting up each time you want to change your heating setting or getting ready upstairs and want to play some music – these are all mundane tasks – home automation makes this easier, no more walking round the house!

Management – being able to control all your smart devices in your home from one place (unit or app) makes it easier to manage rather than having to operate each device separately and from different apps.

Energy – by having the control of your devices at your fingertips, you home will naturally become more efficient. By using home automation, you will know exactly what is on and what is off and how much energy is being used. It is great way to control your heating in each room, setting the temperatures and save energy by linking your lighting to sensors so they area only on when they need to be.

Security – as we have all become more security conscious, a smart home system and automation will give you better peace of mind as you can control and set up your devices to protect your home and to know who is visiting etc. All this when you are at home and not there.

Fun and interactive – technology isn’t just about making life easier but also more fun. With home automation you can simply change the mood lighting in your room from your app, crank up the music in all rooms in your home and press a button to reveal a hidden TV – all fun.

House value – as we all demand simpler lives and solutions that not only save us time and money, selling on your house complete with a smart home system can be it more attractive to buyers and increase the value.

Some great benefits but do remember building your smart home can take time. There are some quick fixes, smart bulbs, a doorbell, but building your home to be fully automated takes time and planning as well as looking at the budget you have available to reach your desired goal. Bear in mind that a typical cost for a smart home automation project can set you back circa £10k but can be a lot higher depending on what you want to achieve. Obviously the more you spend the more that can achieve. One great bit of advice before you even start any project is to make sure you have a good internet service as this is the base operation of any system. Get in touch with your provider to ensure that you are getting the best service possible.

With any system of this scale, don’t try doing it yourself. No harm in doing the research, checking what products and systems are out there, but to achieve the best results use an Approved Installer who will not only be able ensure that everything is installed and working correctly but will also be able to advise you to get the results you want.

Save your energy

October 13, 2021 GMD 1 Comment Smart Heating, Smart Lighting, Smart Monitoring, Tips consumer advice, smart heating, smart home, smart lighting, tips

With the rise in cost in gas and electric, there is no better time to look at how you can use less energy and become more efficient in the home. Surprisingly the average household (containing 4 occupants) uses 13 electronic devices – all using energy. Naturally over the past 10 years we have been increasing our energy usage with new devices that we use in the home such as TV’s and laptops. Although energy usage has increased directly linked to the number of devices they are now produced being energy efficient, this doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to reduce your energy usage.

Let start with your Gas usage – look at your appliances, how old are they? Older models will use more energy and it may be worth upgrading where you can to a more energy efficient model. Installing a smart thermostat is also a great way to control your heating more easily and track your usage.

And your Electricity usage – again look at your devices and gadgets, are they old, are there more energy efficient options available to you – always make sure you look at this when buying new ones. Look out for energy saving lightbulbs, the rating on items such as dishwashers. One key thing is to switch off your appliances at the plug when not being used – if they don’t need to be on, switch them off.

Some quick tips to save energy: –

Buy and install a smart thermostat– they will make your heating more efficient but only heating the rooms that are being used, at the right temperature, at the right time. You can control them by your phone which means you can easily change what is needed. Just by installing room thermostats, programmers, and thermostatic radiators, you could save upto £75 per year. You may be surprised to know by just turning your heating down by 1 degree could save you upto £80 per year!

Appliances – make sure any appliance which just sits in standby is turned off at the plug – this could save you upto £30 per year alone. Make it easy for yourself by using smart plugs/sockets that you can control easily from your phone – there is no excuse then. When buying new appliances, check out the energy-efficiency rating. For example a washing machine with a rating of A+++ is expected to use £65 less energy than one which is rated A+. Even better savings are with a fridge freezer, an A+++ rated appliance could save you £320 in energy bills over its lifetime.

Washing – change your habits and wash at a lower temperature, going from 40 degrees to 30 degrees will reduce your energy usage and cutting out one cycle per week will add an additional £5 saving per year.

Check how much energy you are using – this is one of the best ways to change your habits. Knowing what you are using and when will help you identify what you need to do. When you start doing some of the things mentioned in this blog and then see in front of your eyes the impact it has on your energy usage – you will form new habits and become far more aware of how you can save money. Don’t just look at your appliances, check out your boiler, insulate your roof, check if you have draughts and consider investing in double glazing.

Making your home smarter overall will in the long-term help you become energy efficient.

Does a fitness tracker really help your fitness?

September 23, 2021 GMD No Comments Smart Health Smart Health

You see these more and more on people’s wrists and the buzz is about how many calories have you burned, how many steps you have taken, but do fitness trackers really help with your fitness.

We do all know that moving more and exercising more is good for our heart, but do we know if we are doing this enough or as much as we think? This is where a fitness tracker really helps. We may think we have walked a lot or been active, but unless you see the results what you think and what you have achieved could be entirely different.

A fitness tracker will enable you to monitor how much you have moved, how many steps you have taken and help you with goals. You can set goals to increase your steps or the distance you walk/run each day. This can create good habits and increase your knowledge on what you are achieving.

The positive outcome of a fitness tracker is that it can change your mindset. Seeing your steps and activity each day will remind you that you need to move and create positivity and targets. It empowers you to achieve a fitness level each day. Before fitness trackers, you wouldn’t really have known this information and would make presumptions.

There are many to choose from, which include smartphone tracking apps, simple pedometers, and more complex wearable devices such as the Apple Watch. When you decide what you want, what suits you and your budget, away you go.

Some top tips:-

Set a goal – 10,000 steps as a daily goal are talked about a lot. Check with your doctor and set your own and have goals to increase it.

Use daily – consistency is key to get the most out of your activity and to build habits.

Enjoyment – find walking routes you enjoy or go at a time of day that suits you best. Find an activity that you want to do and will do regularly.

Work as a group – many trackers enable you to link with friends and family – this can create a great support network to keep you on track and committed.

Accountability – check your numbers each day and if you see your doctor regularly keep them updated – answering to yourself can be very powerful.

Fitness trackers are here to stay, and they will get more complex and collect more data, but most importantly they get people moving more.

Phone contract ended, what should you do next?

August 23, 2021 GMD No Comments Tips, Mobile Phones consumer advice, mobile phones

Phone contract ended, what should you do next?

Phone contracts can last 12 months, 24 in a lot of cases, but what options do you have when your phone contract ends?

It is important to ensure you know when your contract is due to end. Some providers don’t tell you and you could end up paying more than you need to. You also need to decide if you want to enter another contract when your contract ends.

If you are happy with your phone, then do you really need to get another contract with a new phone. If you are, then make sure you tell your provider and don’t continue paying the same monthly cost as you could be paying twice for the phone that you have had on contract. Also, mobile phone tariffs are coming down so you may be paying a higher tariff than you need to. Think about some of the options below: –

Pay as you Go

This is the option you need if you don’t want to be tied into any contract at all. You basically pay for what you need upfront using top-ups which can be done online or via your phone on an app. You don’t have to go through a credit check but be aware that the tariffs can sometimes be a little bit more expensive than some other options. Shop around to get the best tariff.

Sim Only

When looking for this option you will see that there are two choices; fixed term contracts which will typically lock you into a contract for 12 months or a 30-day rolling contract which you can leave with a month’s notice. It is thought that you usually get a better deal with the 12-month contract but that isn’t always the case so check before you commit. If you are happy with your current phone, this is a great option to save some money and you can get some great packages if you are data hungry. You will still have to go through a credit check for this option.

Buying a new phone

You may be at the end of your contract but still want a new phone. You do have the option of buying the phone outright which could be a good option. If you are looking to buy a cheaper phone, consider…

Buying a phone and getting a Sim only contract

Easy to do, you buy the phone and find the Sim option that suits you. Compared to a two-year contract, this can work out cheaper if you get the right Sim only deal. If you looking to avoid a credit check then bolt on a Pay as you Go deal. To keep the cost of the phone down, consider looking at refurbished phones as they are usually a lot cheaper. Most places will offer a warranty and they will have been tested. Some may not have packaging or accessories, but these are easy to pick up.

Don’t want to lay out up-front cost

This could be an option if you want the latest phone, but it is too pricey to pay for upfront and you still don’t want to be committed to a mobile phone operator via a contract. Apple for example offer a purchase option where you don’t pay any interest. Apple Monthly Payments is their offering for interest-free financing of a phone. Now it is available for the iPhone 12, 12 mini and also the 12 Pro Max – go on to Apple.com where you will find out all the details.

Compare Network deals

It could be the only option you have if you want a new phone. It is recommended to look at reseller companies rather than go direct to the network operators – typically you will get a better deal – sites such as Mobile.co.uk and Carphone Warehouse. They can quite often come up with deals to cut down on the phone cost and give you access to some great Sim deals. Ultimately the contract is with the network provider, so you get the same service but at a cheaper price.

So, when your contract is up, stop and think and review all your options before making a commitment to a new contract.

What do I need in a laptop?

August 23, 2021 GMD No Comments Tips, Computing computing, consumer advice

What do I need in a Laptop?

Buying a new laptop can be confusing, with the number of laptops available, the difference in costs and understanding what you need. It is worth having a think about what you want to use your laptop for, day to day tasks, work, etc. Also think about your budget and look for the best you can get for your money.

Here are some tips to help make your decision: –

How powerful do you need it to be?

This is important depending on what you want to use your laptop for. If you are planning to be a heavy user, maybe using your laptop for photo or video editing then this is vital to get right. When looking at different laptops, you will see they all tell you what processors they have, and they will also show something called ‘clock speed’ measured in GHz and number of cores. Simply put, if a laptop comes with a higher number of cores this will open the user ability for speed, it’s like driving down a motorway rather than a country lane – you can go faster.

The other area to consider with power is the RAM (Random Access Memory). A high level of RAM gives you ability to instantly access files or content on your laptop. It’s like getting something out of your drawer and having it on your desk – your desk is RAM – it is easier and quicker for you to get your hands on it. Also, the bigger your desk (RAM) the more you can have on it! 4GB of RAM is standard now on most laptops, but if you are a heavy user, it is recommended to go for *GB. Cheaper laptops or Chromebooks come with 2GB, so even a normal user may find this a little slow.

Operating System

Like the scenario with phones with them being in iOS or Android, laptops are now different. There are three operating systems: MacOS, Windows and ChromeOS. There are reasons to choose each of them: –

Mac

Opt for a MacBook – You will need a budget of at least £999 and if you want something to last you for years as they come with high build quality. If you are an avid Apple user, then this is also a must.

Win Laptop1

Opt for a Windows 10 Laptop – If you know Windows well and used it for most of your life – this is the option for you. If you already use specialist software that you need to keep using, then again opting for a Windows 10 laptop is essential – you will also get a big choice of laptops to choose from.

Chromebook

Opt for a Chromebook – This is a great option if you don’t have a lot of budget and want something simple to use. You will also need to be willing to work on web-based applications.

Screen Size

It is best unless you have a really low budget to go opt for Full HD for any size laptop. Bigger doesn’t always mean better either. The larger the screen the heavier the laptop so bear this in mind. An 11, 12 or 13 inch display will help preserve the battery life and give you a more portable laptop. The majority of laptops you will see will come with a Full-HD 1920×1080 pixel resolution screen which is ideal for most uses – the more you pay and the more expensive models some with a higher resolution and some come with 4K Ultra HD.

Battery Life

All laptops will come with an indication of the battery life but this is dependent on what you are using the laptop for. Just use the guidance as an indication and don’t rely on it. If you are out for several hours, it is always recommended to carry your charger. Once you get used to your laptop, you will get a feel for exactly how long the battery lasts for.

Cost

Some guides to what you will expect to get for your money: –

Over £800 – This budget is recommended for technical tasks such as photo or video editing and gaming. Great speakers and screen definition.

Under £800 – Good all-round spec, rounding up everything you get in a cheaper laptop as per below and a good battery life.

Under £600 – Expect 8GB of RAM, Intel Core i5, i7 or equivalent. Good for general photo editing – you should be able to get a thin and light design that comes with a full HD screen.

Under £450 – Check it is a Intel Premium processor or equivalent and 4GB of RAM. You will get a good allrounder for general use with browsing and work tasks. You should be able to get one with a full HD screen.

Under £300 – You should see the newer Intel Celeron processors with a max of 4GB of RAM. Won’t provide you a fast user experience but for a light use you won’t be let down.

Under £200 – Expect to see an Intel Celeron or Atom processor and the maximum you are likely to get is 2GB of RAM. Won’t be fast but for browsing and note taking, should serve you well.

The key to buying any laptop is to shop around, lots of options in store and online, read reviews and ask questions. Following this, you should find the laptop for you.

Do I need a smart doorbell?

August 19, 2021 GMD No Comments Smart Doorbell, Smarthome Smart Doorbell, smart home

Smart doorbells are becoming more and more popular and with many more choices on the market than ever. Is it just a trend or do you need one? They are encouraged to enhance your home security and help you manage deliveries, so you never miss one again.

Smart doorbells or sometimes known as video doorbells, are a WiFi connected product and acts as an intercom system for your home. Via an app which is specific to the doorbell that you opt, you will receive direct notifications to your phone and a live feed so you can see who is at your door. This gives you the option to speak to the caller without even opening your door or from wherever you are – helps if you don’t want to open the door to a stranger or arrange where you want the delivery driver to leave your parcel.

Some models will come equipped with motion detection sensors or AI facial recognition – this will allow your smart doorbell to notify you when someone is approaching without them even pressing the buzzer.

Smart doorbells are typically easy and straight forward to install – especially if you choose a battery (usually rechargeable) operated device, you then don’t need to worry about wiring. It’s as easy as securing the device to your door or home and then connecting it to you WiFi, download the relevant app and then away you go.

Some makes of smart doorbells have the ability to interact with other smart devices such as your Alexa products. With the increased use of IFTTT (IF This Then That) you can use some smart doorbells to trigger and communicate with other smart devices. The two dominant companies providing smart doorbells on the market are Nest and Ring – worth checking them both out and decide the model which is best for what you want and your budget.

If you need any help or advice on installing your doorbell, it may be useful to contact one of our Approved Installers by using the search box on our homepage.

Do I need a digital camera as well as my smartphone?

August 11, 2021 GMD No Comments Tips, Photography, Technology camera, consumer advice, photos

As smartphones have developed so have their in-built cameras. For example, the iPhone 12 Pro, comes with an ultra-wide, wide and telephoto lens, 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out and 4x optical zoom range with a digital zoom upto 10x and completed with night mode. With this spec is there any need to invest in a digital camera?

There are thoughts, that yes there is. Options such as the GoPro or a high-end DSLR with bring added enjoyment and quality to your photos. Before making the decision, ask yourself the following: –

Exactly what are you going to use the camera for? – Both options are there to capture your memories, whether you are on holiday, at a family event or simply out and about walking. It is important to think, once taken, what do you want to do with your photos. It is obvious that using your smartphone as your sole camera is convenient – you already carry your phone with you, so it makes sense. It also means that you are ready to capture a photo at any time. The apps for photo editing that are now available to download to your smartphone are also endless which makes it easy for you to make changes to create the perfect picture. In today’s experiences and with the social media platforms such as TikTok, it is likely that many photos taken will just end up on social media. With larger screens now available with smartphones you can even see more of what you are capturing and great for video playback.

Higher quality with digital cameras

Even though smartphone cameras have developed with technology, they are still best capturing a static picture and one that has good lighting. Capturing moving pictures and those that aren’t in great light should drive you towards buying a digital camera. Not only are they better here but they provide higher quality images which is enabled by larger sensors on a digital camera which capture more light. You can also add on a more powerful flash and with a 10x optical zoom – you just won’t get this with a smartphone.

You will have many options available to you for lenses if you opt for a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) that enables you to capture the results you want depending on the type of photos that you are taking.

If you plan on printing pictures you will get a higher quality image using a digital camera. Typically, with a smartphone image you will need to blow it up for a larger print, meaning the grain levels are more noticeable than with digital cameras which have higher megapixels and resolution.

Most people will continue to use their smartphone as it is so convenient and for its purpose, they provide good quality pictures and video which suit uploading to social media etc. If you want high quality printable pictures or take photography a bit more seriously then a digital camera is a must. GoPros are great for action shots and DSLR’s are great for pure photography for the best images.

Make your Smart Home secure

August 11, 2021 GMD No Comments Smart Locks, Alarms and Security smart home, Smart Lock

Years ago, a secure home meant you had locks, deadbolts, and latchkeys with little keys for all your windows. Since then, home security has come a long way with smart and keyless security options for your home.

Before deciding on what you need or want, it is worth taking a bit of time to research the options such as motion sensors, alarms, cameras, and smart locks. With online security a hot topic, also take the time to understand what data is stored and shared by the devices that you opt for.

Here we explore smart locks.

Keyless systems for the home may seem new and almost futuristic but we have been using this type of technology for years from the office down to the local gym. It seems a sensible and obvious step for this technology to be used for the home. Don’t be scared off by the technology. Digital keys are safer than the more traditional keys that we are all used to due to dual encryption used in many keyless solutions – think about it being like the encryption used when you log into online banking. Many solutions now also link to your Alexa or Google Assistant making is easy and integrated to what you may have already in the home. In many circumstances you may also be able to link in light and heater timings so your smart lock can act as a trigger.

Worried about physical keys ending up in the wrong hands? Geofencing technology is provided with many options – this technology uses a smartphones GPS capability to understand where you are and will secure or unlock your home accordingly – far better than searching for your keys at the bottom of your bag! Some that come with the Yale Access App will unlock your door as soon as it senses that you are within five metres of your front door, or you can set the mode to away or change the distance. You have the control of timing to always suit you best with remote access to check the status of your locks.

We recommend you explore the web to find out more about smart locks..

Get Ready for the Summer with WiFi in your garden

August 2, 2021 GMD No Comments WiFi, Tips consumer advice, wifi

We are still set to have a heatwave in August and even without the heatwave, the weather hasn’t been too bad. With the kids off, wouldn’t it be great to get even more out of your garden and enjoy summer nights of entertainment.

Having WiFi in your garden will enable you to enjoy streaming films, playing music and even connecting to other smart devices and solutions like lighting.

Before you start anything, it is best to check that your broadband and WiFi in the home is working at the best level it can – this will ensure that you get the best experience as you extend into your garden.

Here are the best options to get the connectivity you need:-

WiFi Extenders

Using extenders provide one of the easiest and simplest ways to increase your connectivity to the garden. You may already be using extenders around your home, so this will be an easy solution for you.

You need to consider where your router is and where you place your extender is important. Pick a plug socket that is closest to your garden but still as close to your router as possible. Just bear in mind though – they boost your signal range from your router but they won’t boost the speed – this is why it is important to ensure you have the best broadband service available for your area. When choosing an extender, it is also worth checking the maximum speed it can handle, invest in a good model.

Two extenders which may be worth considering are the Netgear Nighthawk X6 WiFi Range Extender (£113). Handles speeds upto 2.2Gbps and also comes with a Smart Roaming feature.

Or a more affordable option is the TP-Link RE450 WiFi Range Extender (£52). Handles speeds upto 1.75 Gbps and has an intelligent signal indicator which helps you find the best location to plug it in.

Mesh Network

There are a few reasons to consider a mesh network; if you have a large house, large garden or just worried that the extender won’t give you the strength of signal needed. Mesh networks operate in a similar way to extenders but they typically provide a more powerful solution, offer greater reliability and are more effective at creating a network for your garden for multiple devices.

To simply explain what a mesh network is – it is a group of devices that act together as a single WiFi network for you to connect to. Compared to the extenders, they don’t boost the signal they act as additional access points for WiFi across your home or garden. Placed in the correct position they can cover dead-spots in your home and then out into the garden with many mesh devices designed specifically for the garden. Some broadband providers can supply you with a solution so it is worth checking with them first before you invest independently. The benefit of buying independently is that it will work with any broadband solution.

Two options outside of your broadband supplier include the Google WiFi Mesh Whole Home System which starts at £189 for a triple pack or another option is the Amazon eero system – these are sold in packs from one to three with each additional units priced at £89 rising to £399 for the Amazon eero pro.

Ethernet Cable

This option will provide you the best and most robust option and will give you the best internet speeds in your garden. You need to run ethernet cables direct from your router into any ethernet port – for example, into the back of your TV or laptop – you can also place a secondary router in a suitable position in your garden, maybe in a shed for example. It prevents loss of signal which you often get with WiFi. Cabling can be a cheap option but when using cables it is advised to protect the cable from weather and the sun. You can buy different casing and trunking which will help you to achieve this and remember to protect any ports, sockets or routers from the rain. We recommend getting this option professionally installed.

Powerline

A good option for you if you don’t want to run cables. You build a network using two plug in adaptors into a regular mains plug socket. Each has a short ethernet cable with the first being plugged into the mains and the cable plugged into the back of your router. You then plug the second adaptor into a location where you want the signal – so close to your garden even into a garage. From here you can then use the cable to plug into the back of your TV, laptop, etc. Or as with previous solutions you can opt to plug the cable into the back of a secondary router again where you are looking to gain connectivity to which you can connect to wirelessly.

Powerline adaptor kits can be purchased for as little as £25 or you can opt for more sophisticated solutions costing nearer £250. The main difference is usually the number of adaptors you get and the speeds that they are capable of achieving.

Two options include the TP-Link AV600 Nano Powerline Starter Kit (£24), which comes complete with two adaptors and transfer speeds upto 600 Mbps or opt for the Devolo Magic 2 WiFi Next Powerline Whole Home Kit, priced at £250 and comes with three adaptors with transfer speeds upto 2.4Gbps.

We hope that you have the solution that suits you and you enjoy your summer nights in the garden.

If you need any help or advice on installing your WiFi, it may be useful to contact one of our Approved WiFi Installers.

Thinking about getting a smart doorbell?

August 2, 2021 GMD No Comments Smart Monitoring, Smarthome, Tips, WiFi camera, smart home

Smart Doorbells are becoming more and more popular to enable homeowners to see who is at their door and to provide additional home security. With the increase of smart devices and smart assistants, we can all get a bit overwhelmed with the different options, amount of apps we have to install to control and interact with the devices – it can be enough to put you off.

Smart Doorbells can be a great addition to your home and a great new feature which will be available soon, may encourage you now to take the plunge.

The new feature is Quick Replies which enables you to use an automated response from your Amazon Alexa to answer the doorbell for you if you are unable to make it to the door in time. You need to select a pre-recorded messages so a little time is required initially. You are able to choose from six pre-recorded messages which options such as ‘Please leave the parcel outside’ or a simple message to ask the caller to wait to give you time to get to the door.

It has the flexibility to be set to be activated with the ring of the doorbell or even just by the detection of motion – this is helpful if you have concerns for parcels being taken from your doorstep when left by a delivery driver.

If you opt for the Ring Video Doorbell Pro – you will have more options, however, you will need an active Ring Protect subscription. The added features include, when the bell is rung, your Alexa can ask how she can help the caller – either take a message or even provide a location for a parcel to be left. The messages can be easily accessed via your Ring app and can also be watched back or in real-time if you can’t make it to the door.

Linking it to your Alexa could just be the right time to take the plunge and get a smart doorbell from Ring.