EZVIZHome Gateway for Alarm Security System, Control Center Hub up to 64 EZVIZ Devices, 200M Connection for Sensor/Detector, Alexa/Google, Instant Alert, Works with T1C, T2C, T3C, T9C, T10C, T51C

Simple device that does what it needs to do. Will also show in app by highlighting in red when a door/window is open.

I’m a big EZVIZ fan, and happy with the many cameras and even the EZVIZ cordless floor mop that I have, but I cannot recommend this particular alarm product -1/ The internal gateway/alarm unit is tiny, with a really feeble volume level.2/ There is apparently, no way presently, to tie in a proper external alarm box or additional, more robust internal alarms.3/ I’m not sure the tiny gateway unit will have sufficient wi-fi range for a larger property to connect to the sensors - and a signal repeater does not presently seem to be available.4/ The price of all the range of additional sensors is very prohibitive to expand the system.5/ I am very familiar with setting up EZVIZ units, but struggled with all the items to get them connected.6/ The portable control button, or puck, has no clear instructions on how to operate the different functions - and so, although connected, it is sitting on a shelf unused.I’m resigned to just using the product to cover one door and room with the gateway/alarm in the hall nearby.All told, a poorly developed, overpriced novelty product and not recommended under any circumstances.

This alarm kit comes in a branded cardboard which is shrink wrapped in plastic so you know that it hasn’t been opened before. The four-piece kit contains a gateway central hub, a human detection sensor, an open / close sensor and a smart button but if you want a camera to monitor as part of the setup this will need to be purchased separately. Personally, I feel without this important piece of surveillance kit you will be left in the dark about what is happening in your house in terms of a security breach.The system is setup up through the gateway device which acts as the central hub with which all your devices will communicate – this can be connected wirelessly or with an ethernet cable and can support up to 64 different sensors / devices! It is relatively small and discreet and there is a range of alarm sounds that can be activated. Through the EZVIZ app in combination with the gateway hub you can connect remotely to the devices, which allows you to receive instant notifications if any of the sensors detect activity. You can also arm and disarm the system and set timers to a particular time schedule. The app is fairly easy to navigate and the alerts have been working well so far.The kit also comes with a PIR motion sensor which is adjustable so you can direct it to monitor a certain area of the room (for example a door) and it has automatic human motion detection which filters out the movement detected from pets and sends an alert straight to your phone. This is similar for the open / close sensor which will trigger a notification if the window / door that the sensor is installed onto is opened. Installation of the PIR motion and open / close sensors are easy by implementing the peel and stick system (so no drilling required) and each has a battery life of 2 years. Finally, the last piece of kit is a smart button which can switch on and off the entire system as you leave the house or alternatively it can be used as an emergency alert button – this has a battery life of 1 year.Priced at £149.99 (with an additional £40 off voucher valid until the 14th May 2023) at the time of reviewing this kit does represent good value considering it will cost much more to purchase the items separately, but I personally wouldn’t suggest buying this setup without a camera too if you buying it for security reasons, otherwise you will have no idea what is going on in your home if an alert is triggered unexpectedly.

A number of years I go I retrofitted individually controlled thermostatic valves to each radiator in the house as I longed for individual control. This was a system I had to write myself using Raspberry Pi as I am a bit of a geek and software developer that was all good. It worked great but as time has gone on these kinds of systems are now commercially available to all without needing to be able to code.This comes supplied with a Gateway which needs to plug into an ethernet port on your router and 2 radiator valves. At the time of writing more were not available. :(The app is pretty straightforward and for those semi geeky it is supported in Home Assistant which to me makes these really attractive.The valves themselves are really slick with a white LED display 'under' the plastic which is discrete but really easy to read unlike my old ones which are LCD.The app pairs really easily and you can simply unscrew your existing manual valves and screw these on in their place. Don't worry the valve head is not part of the "wet" side so no need for a plumber or to drain down your heating.Once installed you can then set schedules that are individual to the valves so for example bedrooms on in the evening but off during the day, and lounge on during the day but off evening/night. Only heat where you use. You can also turn it on remotely which is great if you want to come home to a lovely warm house. Some smarter integration with HomeAssistant means mine will turn off if HomeAssistant realises no one is home - saving even more money!I eagerly await availability of individual valves to replace my ageing ones.