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SMART HOME

TECH FEATURE

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6 STEPS FOR SETTING UP A SMART HOME Building a smart home can seem daunting at first but it’s simpler than you think, even if you’re not tech savvy.These six handy steps will help get your smart home up and running in no time. Words Bec Summer

3. CONTROL A smart speaker is a simple way to control smart home devices using voice commands. Tell it to turn off the

1. START SMALL From little things, smart homes grow. Begin with a basic device like a smart light bulb or plug that’s easy to install, so you can get a feel the companion app on your phone can control it remotely and set timers and schedules. Once you’ve got a handle on the basics, progress to a more advanced device like a security

lights, start the coffee machine, and also get news/weather updates, reminders, and answers to questions on demand. Smart home devices can be connected via a speaker’s app for basic voice control, but to automate and customise settings you’ll want a dedicated smart home hub that conveniently consolidates all your devices into a single app. The hub becomes the control centre, or brain of the smart home, and should ideally be positioned in an area that’s accessible to all members of the family or household, and user profiles can be easily set up. Hubs with a

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for optimal connection and control of your smart home. Consign your old router to the outer and upgrade to a new one for faster and smoother operation. Also consider setting up a mesh network for wider and stronger coverage throughout the home, to banish buffering and any dead zones (see page 16).

camera or video doorbell, and then graduate to more sophisticated tech like HVAC controllers. 2. CONNECT Strong, speedy, and stable Wi-Fi is essential

10 NOVEMBER 2023

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