📚 Guide Library
Smart Home Guides
Smart home gear is great when it all talks to each other — and maddening when it doesn't. These guides help you set it up the right way, once.
All 28 Smart Home guides
Free to read, print, or share — no sign-up, no email. Every one written and reviewed by Bill.
Aging in Place with Smart Home Help
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Buying Smart Home Gear Without Overpaying
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Catching a Wet Basement Early
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Everyday Smart Home Routines Worth Setting up
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Freeze & Temperature Sensors for Empty Houses
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Home Assistant & Home Automation — A Plain-English Guide
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Keeping Your Smart Home Private & Secure
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Living with a Robot Vacuum — Setup, Cleaning & Fixes
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Local-First Smart Home
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Matter, Explained — Making Alexa, Google & Apple Play Nice
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Robot Vacuums & Mops — A Buyer's Guide
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Samsung SmartThings for Normal People
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Smart Blinds & Shades — Light Without Getting up
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Smart Ceiling Fans & Comfort Controls
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Smart Pet Care — Feeders, Cameras & Trackers
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Smart Sprinklers & Outdoor Watering
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The Alexa App, Room by Room
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The Apple Home App on Your iPhone
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The Google Home App, Made Simple
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The Snowbird Tech Checklist — Before You Leave & When You Return
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Thread & Border Routers — the New Plumbing of Smart Homes
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Watching Your House from Florida — Cameras, Thermostat & Alerts
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Water Leak Sensors & Auto-Shutoff Valves — Catch the Drip Before It's a Disaster
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When Smart Devices Won't Respond — A Troubleshooting Playbook
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Wi-Fi Ready for a Smart Home
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Your First Smart Home — A Calm Starter Plan
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Your GE Smart Appliances, Made Simple
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Zigbee vs. Z-Wave vs. Wi-Fi
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