Now that the Network is secure and there is video surveillance around the property, it’s time to add more software to enhance security. Part of the software install was to add Home Assistant. For now, I am using it to notify my wife and me of certain events:
- Fire, though a Z Wave tie to the some detectors
- Security while we are not home- every door and window has a sensor and opening them will set off the alarm and notify us. It also takes a snapshot of the door that is open (through the closest security camera) and attaches it to the message.
- Security at night- opening outside doors or windows will notify
- Status report- every time we leave the house and every night, the house sends a status report that notifies us of any abnormal conditions in the house
- The system also controls the water heater through a smart switch, turning it off when we are not using it
- It also warns us of water in areas where it shouldn’t be, temps too warm in the freezer, and other anomalous data
I’m not going to be doing many automations for now- mostly notifications.
11 Comments
Michael · July 9, 2026 at 6:19 am
I hope your physical defenses are as good as your tech defenses.
I recently replaced my old school storm doors with a highly resistant real lockable storm door.
Already reenforced my door frames and replaced std 2 inch screws with 4 inch.
I was around when Mr. Bigfoot was simply kicking in doors back in Washington State in the 70″s.
Having photos emailed of a smash and grab is interesting but will Insurance accept them for making you whole again?
ghostsniper · July 9, 2026 at 8:57 am
All we have/need out here in the sticks is a wireless driveway alarm and a few shotguns and we stay home most of the time.
After all, we spent a fortune creating our paradise over the past 20 years, why would we want to leave?
At this point in life peace of mind is the most important thing – more valuable than money.
Swede · July 9, 2026 at 8:59 am
You’re very comprehensive. You have motivated me to start evaluating my own place in a similar fashion. I’ve just gotten a Meshtastic device and was able to communicate with it via a web browser. Going to be experimenting with it, among a lot of other things…
Divemedic · July 9, 2026 at 10:48 am
I wonder how many of these “encrypted” devices have backdoors put in by NSA? Remember when the FBI did exactly that?
polimath · July 9, 2026 at 11:31 am
That’s pretty much what John MacAfee said in one of his last interviews.
Grumpy51 · July 9, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Echoing thanks for the posts.
I ran my system through ChatGPTand found 2 holes in my system which will be corrected shortly.
One was having a separate UPS on my ONT (Optical Network Terminal). It’s out in the garage so had “forgotten” about it.
I use ChatGPT (and others) to run generic information through to find holes. Not that they’re 100% but gives me fresh look and I can either pay attention or not.
Divemedic · July 9, 2026 at 1:28 pm
It can be useful, but also a pain in the ass. You can be having an issue, and send them a debugging log, it will tell you “That’s very useful information” then it will spend three paragraphs telling you and asking you about something totally unrelated, then ask 14 questions about something you already told it 5 minutes ago. You call it out, and it says “”You are right for pointing that out. I was wrong” then keeps doing it.
Then you get angry and type “You are still doing it. Stop with your pointless bullshit” before it replies: “You sound frustrated. Maybe this is a point where we should take a break.”
lynn · July 9, 2026 at 2:08 pm
That is a lot of events and sensors. Are you going to be chasing bad sensors all the time?
Divemedic · July 9, 2026 at 2:15 pm
My last house was my first smart house, and it was ridiculous how much work went into it. I was constantly chasing issues. I learned a lot from it.
I will use that knowledge to make it more friendly. For example, battery monitoring is one of the automations. The system let’s me know when a battery in a sensor is low.
lynn · July 9, 2026 at 3:19 pm
So does the battery in the sensor die at 5 years like my UPS batteries? If so, eep.
lynn · July 9, 2026 at 3:21 pm
I own a small office building with about 100 light bulbs in it. Just keeping up with the LED light bulbs is exhausting. Yes, I am on my third generation of LED light bulbs, I get 3 to 5 years out of the bulbs as they overheat in the can lights and split their casings.