Home Assistant · Local control · Real setups

Practical smart-home guidance for systems that work locally.

Real Home Assistant setups, local-control guides, and carefully researched buying advice.

From Our Own Smart Home Setups

What we use, how it is configured, and what we learned living with it.

Hands-on

TP-Link Tapo Cameras with Home Assistant: My Setup (2026)

I run 4 Tapo cameras with Home Assistant. No cloud, no subscription, local RTSP streaming. Here's my complete setup and what I've learned after a year.

 Real setup

My PoE Camera Setup: Reolink + Ubiquiti (Full Walkthrough)

I run 6 Reolink PoE cameras on a Ubiquiti network with local NVR. Zero cloud, zero subscriptions. Here's my complete setup and what I'd change.

 Real setup

Dreame Robot Vacuum + Home Assistant: My Automations (2026)

I automated my Dreame vacuum with Home Assistant. It cleans when I leave, avoids rooms when occupied, and empties itself at night. Here's how.

 Real setup

Zigbee2MQTT Setup Guide: Cloud-Free Smart Home (2026)

Complete Zigbee2MQTT setup guide for 2026. I run 40+ Zigbee devices without touching the cloud. Here's how to set it up from scratch.

 Long-term use

WiZ Lights Review: Best Budget Smart Bulbs? (2026)

I've been running WiZ bulbs for over a year. At €10 per bulb with Matter support, they're hard to beat on value. But there are tradeoffs. My honest review.

 Long-term use

Why I Don't Trust Cloud Cameras (And What I Use Instead)

Cloud cameras send your footage to servers you don't control. Here's why I refuse to use them and the local-only alternative that costs less long-term.

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Practical Smart Home Guides

Clear steps for local control, privacy, automation, and reliable integrations.

Guide

Home Assistant Voice Setup: Local Control Without the Cloud (2026)

Set up local voice control in Home Assistant with Wyoming or ESPHome. No cloud, no subscriptions, no data leaving your home.

 Guide

How to Build a Subscription-Free Smart Home (2026)

Build a complete smart home with zero monthly subscriptions in 2026. Every category covered with no-fee alternatives to Ring, Nest, and Arlo.

 Guide

10 Home Assistant Automations for Beginners That Actually Matter (2026)

Practical Home Assistant automations for beginners. Motion lights, door alerts, thermostat schedules, presence detection, and more.

 Guide

How to Isolate Security Cameras on a VLAN (2026 Guide)

Your cameras shouldn't have internet access. Here's how to set up a VLAN to isolate IoT cameras from your main network using Ubiquiti or any managed switch.

 Guide

Reolink Cameras Home Assistant Setup: PoE, RTSP, and Frigate Guide (2026)

Complete setup guide for Reolink PoE cameras with Home Assistant. RTSP streams, person detection, NVR vs direct integration.

 Guide

Matter Devices That Work Without Internet (2026)

Matter devices that work without internet in 2026. Local control over Thread means your smart home keeps running during outages.

Research-Based Buyer Guides

Careful comparisons based on published specifications, features, costs, and available owner feedback.

Research-based guide

Best Matter-Compatible Devices — Complete 2026 List

The best Matter-compatible smart home devices in 2026. Complete list of lights, locks, sensors, plugs, and hubs that support the Matter standard.

 Research-based guide

Best Robot Vacuums 2026: Researched Buyer Guide

Compare leading robot vacuums from Roborock, Roomba, Ecovacs, and Dreame using published specifications, features, costs, and owner feedback.

 Research-based guide

Best Smart Plugs With Energy Tracking (2026)

Best smart plugs with energy monitoring in 2026. Track electricity usage, identify vampire loads, and automate devices with Kasa, Eve, Aqara, and more.

 Research-based guide

Best Video Doorbells 2026 — Ranked and Compared

Research-based comparison of video doorbells from Ring, Eufy, Arlo, Reolink, and Google, including features, storage, and subscription costs.

Latest Content

Newly published guides, updates, and comparisons.