. Pros Easy to install. Doubles as a home automation hub. Supports MU-MIMO data streaming. Strong close-range throughput performance. Cons Most settings require switching to the Plume app. No QoS settings or anti-malware tools.
Limited parental controls. Middling MU-MIMO performance. Bottom Line The Samsung SmartThings WiFi is a combination mesh system and home automation hub that will bring speedy close-range Wi-Fi to all corners of your home. When we reviewed the last year, we gave it high marks for its versatility, ease of use, and ability to control numerous smart home devices, but bemoaned its lack of malware protection and limited parental controls and QoS settings. The Samsung SmartThings Wifi ($279.99 for the three-pack) represents the company's second-generation, and like its predecessor, it doubles as a SmartThings home automation hub and is a breeze to install. Except for small tweaks, the design and system specs haven't changed, but Samsung now leverages Plume's Adaptive Wi-Fi technology to deliver much better close-range performance.
It also uses Plume's mobile app for network settings, including guest networking, but it lacks the malware protection, robust parental control options, and overall performance that you get with the. Familiar Looks A trio of identical nodes is included with the SmartThings three-pack, one of which acts as a router while the other two serve as mesh satellites. At 1.1 by 4.7 by 4.7 inches (HWD), the nodes are roughly the same size as the first-gen nodes and look almost identical, although the newer nodes sport a SmartThings badge. Inside, the specs are also similar to the previous generation: Each node is powered by a quad-core 710MHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, but the newer nodes use 8GB of flash memory instead of 4GB. In addition to the increased flash memory, one of the biggest differences between this system and its predecessor is the use of Plume's Adaptive Wi-Fi technology, which analyzes your network traffic to provide optimal bandwidth for clients that need it most.
Dec 11, 2015 - Hello, All. Is there any way for me to control things through my ST Hub from my Mac (OS X), just like my iPhone App is able to do? I'm pretty new.
Each SmartThings node covers up to 1,500 square feet, which means the three-pack system reviewed here is designed for homes of up to 4,500 square feet. A single node is also available for $199.99. The nodes are AC1300 dual-band routers that can reach maximum speeds of up to 400Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 866Mbps on the 5GHz band, but they utilize automatic band-steering, which means you can't separate the two bands. They are equipped with 802.11ac Wave 2 circuitry which supports MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming (with compatible clients) and direct-to-client beamforming.
Under the hood are two 5GHz antennas, two 2.4GHz antennas, and Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Z-Wave antennas. There are two gigabit LAN ports and a power jack at the back of each node and a small status LED on the front.
As with the original nodes, there are no USB ports, and the LAN ports do not currently support wired backhaul, but that's on the roadmap. In addition to its mesh Wi-Fi duties, this system serves as a SmartThings home automation hub that can control hundreds of Z-Wave, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth devices including lights, thermostats, security cameras, smart outlets, and more, all from within the same app.
The TP-Link Deco M9 Plus Mesh Wi-Fi System also acts as a home automation hub that will control numerous devices, but it doesn't support Z-Wave products. The SmartThings mobile app (iOS and Android) lets you manage certain aspects of your network and control home automation gadgets, but most network settings have to be configured using the Plume mobile app, which is easy to use but adds an unnecessary level of complexity to a device that is supposed to be all about ease of use. The SmartThings app opens to a Dashboard screen that offers options to buy components and add devices, and a link to several how-to articles with videos that show you how to get started with SmartThings, how to add devices, how to create Scenes, and how to use automations.
In the upper right corner is a button that lets you customize the Dashboard, view app and update notifications, update firmware, manage your account, enable location services, and access a help database. Along the bottom of the screen are Dashboard, Devices, and Automations buttons. The Dashboard button takes you back to the Dashboard screen and the Automations button is where you go to add automations to control smart devices and create Scenes where smart devices work together. To access the router's rather limited settings, tap the Devices button and then tap the SmartThings button. This takes you to a screen that shows how many gadgets are connected to your Wi-Fi network. Tap the Connected Devices button to see a list of linked clients and information such as signal strength, IP address, and current radio band connection.
There's also a button that lets you freeze internet access. Below the Connected Devices button is an Advanced Settings tab that launches the Plume app. The Plume Home screen shows the main router and all installed nodes with dots orbiting each node to show how many clients are connected. Tap any node to see who is connected, and tap any client to see what radio band and channel they are using, the MAC and IP addresses, and the percentage of bandwidth used.
At the bottom of the Home screen are Menu, People, and Devices buttons. Use the Menu button to access Wi-Fi and Hub settings. In the Wi-Fi settings menu you can set up guest networking rules and passwords using Plume's HomePass settings, which allow you to create a Home password that gives users full access to the network, a Guests password that provides limited access to your network, and an Internet Only password that lets users access the internet but denies access to all devices on the network. Here you can also select router or bridge mode and configure DNS and Port Forwarding settings. Hub settings allow you to check the signal strength for each hub, rename hubs, and add new hubs, but to do this you have to go back to the SmartThings app.
The People button allows you to create user profiles and assign devices to each user. Tap on any user to see a history of consumed bandwidth and to freeze internet access for specific devices. You can also view MAC and IP address information for each device. At the time of this review, the SmartThings WiFi system lacked the age-appropriate parental controls, Secure and Protect malware protection, and Adblocking settings that you get with the Plume SuperPod system, but they are slated for a future firmware update and will be powered by Plume. Also missing are the dedicated QoS settings that allow you to assign network priority to individual clients that you get with other Wi-Fi systems such as the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus and the systems. Good Close-Range Performance.
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Installing the SmartThings Wifi system was fast and painless. I downloaded the mobile app and created an account. Once the email was verified, I plugged one of the nodes into my modem and powered it up.
I then tapped Add device on the app's dashboard and the router was immediately found. I tapped it and when the LED began blinking green and red I hit Next to connect my phone to the router. I then created a network name and password and waited about 30 seconds for the network to be created. I gave the router a location and was ready to connect the remaining nodes. I tapped Add Hubs, plugged the next node into an outlet in my living room, and when the LED flashed green and red, tapped Next.
I waited another 30 seconds for the node to be added to my network, gave it a location, and repeated the process for the third node, which I placed in my basement. The SmartThings Wifi system turned in mixed results on our throughput tests. The main router's score of 553Mbps on the close-proximity (same-room) test was slightly faster than the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus, the, and the. Its score of 105Mbps at 30 feet was a tad faster than the Linksys Velop but more than 100Mbps slower than the TP-Link Deco M9 and the Gryphon routers.
The SmartThings satellite node scored 205Mbps on the close-proximity test, beating the Linksys Velop node but not the Gryphon and the TP-Link Deco M9 nodes. Its score of 118Mbps at 30 feet was again faster than the Linksys Velop but trailed the Gryphon and the TP-Link Deco M9 nodes by a wide margin. On our MU-MIMO throughput tests, in which we use three identical Acer Aspire E15 laptops equipped with Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 wireless 802.11ac network adapters as clients, the SmartThings router's score of 81Mbps on the close-proximity test was slower than the TP-Link Deco M9 and the Gryphon router, while the Linksys Velop took top honors with a score of 138Mbps. On the 30-foot test, the SmartThings router garnered 71Mbps, beating the Gryphon and the Linksys Velop routers and coming in right behind the TP-Link Deco M9 router. The SmartThings satellite node's score of 59Mbps on the close-proximity test trailed the pack, while the TP-Link Deco M9 node led with a score 100Mbps. At a distance of 30 feet, the SmartThings node scored 46 Mbps, besting the Linksys Velop node but not the Gryphon node.
Once again, the TP-Link Deco M9 node turned in the highest score (99Mbps). I connected a Honeywell thermostat to the SmartThings hub and had no trouble turning it on and off and adjusting the temperature. I also hooked up a Belkin Wemo Insight smart switch and it responded instantly to my on and off commands.
Wi-Fi and Home Automation in One With the Samsung SmartThings Wifi three-pack, you can bring speedy close-range Wi-Fi to all corners of your home and control all sorts of connected smart home devices such as lights, thermostats, security cameras, and door locks. As with any Wi-Fi system worth its salt, it is very easy to install, but having to switch between apps to configure network settings is a bit inconvenient.
Moreover, the Plume-powered parental controls were not ready in time for this review, and the system lacks anti-malware protection. For robust parental controls, dedicated quality of service settings, and protection against viruses and other malicious programs and websites, the TP-Link Deco M9 Plus is a better option for a Wi-Fi system/home automation hub and remains our Editors' Choice.
One of the great features of SmartThings is the open platform. That means the system isn't just compatible with first-party devices, but a plethora of officially (and unofficially) supported devices as well. One such device that works with SmartThings — though isn't yet officially supported — is the smart WiFi thermostat. If you haven't heard of it before, SmartThings is a smart home system that supports various connected devices like door sensors, smart locks, motion sensors, connected lights, and much more.
Using SmartThings is one of the easiest ways to get started making your home a smart one. Using the ecobee 3 with SmartThings, you have the ability to take total control over your heating and cooling beyond just what the thermostat itself can do, and also control the temperature in your home based on actions of other devices like door/window sensors, motion, switches, or even presence sensors. The biggest thing to note here is that while the ecobee 3 works great with SmartThings (I've been using one for a few months) it's still not officially supported. (The platform, just not the ecobee 3, yet). That means you'll need to use a custom device type and smartapp,.
If you don't know much about custom devices or apps — not to worry. The instructions there are very thorough, so you should have no problems getting up and running for the first time. The basis is to add the custom ecobee 3 device type, then use a smartapp on your mobile device to get it all set up. I did all these steps with no issues, and the SmartThings app found my thermostat without a hitch. Once you have your ecobee 3 integrated into your SmartThings setup, the fun begins.
There truly are a ton of ways to use your thermostat with SmartThings, but it really comes down to what other devices you have on your system, and just what exactly you want to accomplish. For me, I use my ecobee 3 temperature to talk to SmartThings and trigger an external switch for a window AC unit. Sounds like a lot, but it's simple, and works like magic. The possibilities for using the ecobee 3 with your SmartThings system really just depends on your actual setup. I have various motion & door sensors, a few presence sensors, water sensors, and door locks in my house. All of these can be connected to the ecobee 3 (or any SmartThings-compatible thermostat) with ease, to perform any number of actions. The custom ecobee 3 device type within SmartThings allows you to take total control of your thermostat.
You'll have the ability to change the temperature, view alerts, and change modes all from the SmartThings app. SmartThings allows you to go above and beyond what the ecobee 3 can do just on its own. As in my use case, you can use the ecobee 3 to talk to other switches for things like fans or heaters, branching out from just what is connected to your HVAC. If you have one room that is cooler than others during the winter, you can use your ecobee 3 remote sensor to talk to SmartThings, and use it to turn on a space heater for a certain temperature threshold. Conversely, you can do the same to turn on a fan switch should the humidity be too high, for example.
Even though the ecobee 3 has scheduled modes built in, you can also automate them through SmartThings. Using the modes within SmartThings, you can change the temperature based on home or away (or any other mode you have setup. So when everyone leaves the house, SmartThings can set the temperature accordingly to save on heating/cooling costs.
When you return, it sets the temp right where you need it without you ever touching a button. You can also tie in your ecobee 3 and SmartThings with IFTTT — giving you even more control for custom triggers and actions.
While you can, you can go even deeper by adding SmartThings into the mix as well. Doing so gives you access to all of your SmartThings-connected devices so you can do anything from flashing your Hue lights if your house gets too warm, to calling your phone if the humidity is too high.
After the initial setup, there really are dozens and dozens of ways to use the ecobee 3 with SmartThings. As I said earlier, it's really only limited by your specific setup and what devices you're using with SmartThing.
Any way you look at it, the ecobee 3 and SmartThings are a killer combination. Hit up the links below for more!.
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