Devices barely responding, status' not updating.... hub status not even showing offline when unplugged (15 July 2024)

[JDRoberts]

I was a field tech before I got sick (I have a degenerative progressive neuromuscular disease, something like MS, but not MS), so I had a career pretty much based on all the things that didn’t get tested before they got released. LOL! I can put up with a lot, but I have my own standards for my own stuff.

A lot of power users come into SmartThings expecting one level of capability and then discover over time that it’s not what they thought they were getting. Like the fact that the hub is a black box and we can’t run our own code on it except for custom edge drivers. And the fact that the app always requires the cloud.

Some of them move on after a year or two. Some of them, like me, stay and run multiple systems. Some of them add additional servers and end up doing some really cool stuff.

Unleash the Power of SmartThings with Advanced Automations Using Node-Red

Some of them move on and found their own own home automation companies, like the hubitat guys.

I think most of the people who stay stay at least in part because they have other household members with android phones who really like the SmartThings app.

Choice is good.

[JDRoberts]

@allanp

@JDRoberts

I’ve gradually moved all of my critical stuff to other platforms

Out of curiosity, what are your other platforms that you would trust your more critical stuff to?

My story, including detailed equipment lists, is in the following project report:

Adding Home Automation in Phases: my limited investment strategy

[Andreas_Roedl]

@JDRoberts

FWIW, mine is working, but it’s also telling me I need an app update for some devices and I’m not going to do that right now.

What do you mean? The Smartthings app?

[JDRoberts]

@Andreas_Roedl

@JDRoberts

FWIW, mine is working, but it’s also telling me I need an app update for some devices and I’m not going to do that right now.

What do you mean? The Smartthings app?

Yes.

[KyleIoT (KYLE ENGELBERT)]

And sorry for the livid response. I should’ve toned it down a notch… It’s just been a little bit of a nightmare recently, and I do know it’s growing pains, but I also feel like your biggest supporters are just flat out being ignored because Samsung would rather sell the TVs and we are just a vehicle to that. But we are the ones who go and talk up our smart Home in the conversation comes up and we do drive sales but apparently not enough.

I just wanted to hook up in a straightforward fashion to just a PoE 4K ip cam or Surveillance station for/blue Iris/iSpy/any of the other main systems for surveillance

I feel like people have been screaming at the top of their lungs to be given legitimate camera interoperability. And not hooking up with a third-party… No, we want to own our footage and maybe some don’t but really the option should be there.

I just think that after these kinds of things, I don’t know if I can trust companies to have the value of privacy that I have. It always backfires
Thanks
Kyle (Much more cool calm & collected)

[Andreas_Roedl]

Smartthings wouldn’t be where it is now without this community.

I’m quite active in the German Samsung Members community which has its own smart home sub forum. I would guess that 90% of the users don’t even know that they own a smart hub. They bought a Samsung TV or a Samsung fridge and don’t know what this mysterious Smartthings hub is good for. People like us are the ones who show them what’s possible.

[Drewicecold (Andrew Galietta)]

Working now😃

[allanp (Allan)]

Here too.

It’s just so annoying that the official status website said “All Systems Operational” all day. At the very least, say “we have a problem”. Just so users who notice something’s not quite right don’t have to wonder whether it’s just their own system, or to relax because it’s a wider problem.

[art_333]

Ah… I guess I was a little too trusting…
But all my devices and routines seem to be working fine…

[art_333]

It also wouldn’t hurt to realize that this is a Users forum, not an official SmartThings site - but they do occasionally see issues raised here.
(and I certainly agree that there a lots of problems - but it’s mostly a free product…)

[KyleIoT (KYLE ENGELBERT)]

To everyone who mentioned that this is a user forum, I totally agree. I apologize to all because there’s a lot of talent in here and it was directed towards the SmartThings organization, not the wonderful users here who are beyond Generous!

I’m blown away with the talented people and their generosity, sharing their drivers and just their knowledge.

The part that stops me in my tracks is when an organization does not acknowledge problems. In this case, it’s that site we were directed to, which supposedly was intended to let you know if anything was down. Interesting that it said all was well because there was plenty of action on this entire thread where people are saying it’s not working!

I just wish Samsung would say, “hey, we’re updating it and it’s going to be better, but expect it to go down from time to time” Not just play dumb and have a bunch of green is for go on all aspects of the service. There should’ve been some red on that status page!!

If they don’t consider the system to be down in any way with what I just went through, what do they need, their entire server farm just completely ruined and demolished before they will say it’s down? Doesn’t add up.

[KyleIoT (KYLE ENGELBERT)]

Yeah, I have to agree with you on all points you made. I guess for me the question is do I take the leap over to Home Assistant, do I just integrate and use the features.

I’m a kind of person who wants redundancy for a protective purpose, but don’t want multiple tools doing the same thing. For example, it’s irritating to have Meross send me notifications that the garage door has been opened or it’s closed, then SmartThings tells me the same thing. So I end up getting tons of these notices and the idea is that I turn off everything but SmartThings. I expect them to catch it all and be the one stop shop.

I don’t want to be running 10 different items that connect to the cloud, need access in the background, etc. because I can see the drain on my phone and it’s also not local.

It’s fair to say that most people just want plug-and-play things like what Google gives out and I need to realize that I’m not the majority at all. Most people don’t know what a NAS does and how amazing of a product it can be. Even further, I absolutely love surveillance station, which is just one of the aspects of the system. You guys all know, but it’s got so many different things.

Anyways It would be interesting to know how To achieve what those who want a system comparable Control4, Elan, And those other amazing services where I’m pretty sure they’ll develop any driver you need, but you’ll also be paying 50 grand for the set up at minimum.

My thought is that for sure, running a tablet and a custom flush mounted holder on the wall under POE is the answer to making it look, elegant and pretty much rival some of those expensive guys.

To me, it seems as though Home Assistant would be easier to make it happen. My devices are adding up so it would definitely be something I Would not be looking forward to doing as far as converting

Well, mine is working now.

Here’s to hoping they can really bump up local camera options. And when I mention that, I’m not talking about a virtual driver.

So we’ll see. But you guys are all awesome so thanks!

[JDRoberts]

@KyleIoT

Anyways It would be interesting to know how To achieve what those who want a system comparable Control4, Elan, And those other amazing services where I’m pretty sure they’ll develop any driver you need, but you’ll also be paying 50 grand for the set up at minimum.

I don’t know of anyone who has achieved a DIY equivalent to that level of system, regardless of platform.

Those systems typically cost about 10% of the value of the home Plus, an annual service contract and additional per hour fees, but they integrate security, home theater, hvac, and home automation into systems that can handle 6000 square foot homes with multiple outbuildings and perimeter security. Multiroom audio is important—and that includes purpose-built garden speakers. Lots of keypads, wall panels, button remotes: in multiple finish options and sizes, but that all go together.

It is the opposite of “plug and play“ – – most customers call the dealer for almost any changes, and it’s professionally installed, and usually hardwired.

Is Control4 Considered a "Closed System" vs. Z-Wave/ST?

it’s feature-rich, reliable, and secure.

If you have a lot of money, you want a nice home theater fully integrated with your security and hvac systems, and you want to spend your time on other things than fiddling with device pairing, it’s a candidate. But it’s not the kind of system one person typically builds for themselves.

[h0ckeysk8er (Bruce Pinsky)]

@JDRoberts

If you have a lot of money, you want a nice home theater fully integrated with your security and hvac systems, and you want to spend your time on other things than fiddling with device pairing, it’s a candidate. But it’s not the kind of system one person typically builds for themselves.

Exactly…there is simply no comparison between a professional, proprietary home automation system and a DIY, consumer grade, open standards system. For example, here’s a single room control solution that’s nearly $1K:

https://www.stereoeast.com/product/control4-single-room-bundle-with-core-lite-sr260-remote-and-charging-station-c4-core-lite-rsk-1510941?srsltid=AfmBOooWh1mm75hb7ClZ777czTo3qMUQ2vzTrBd8ajFP97KHFRlgRiaslzw

We have folks on this forum complaining that a $50 smart dimmer is “expensive”. Oh, and it requires a subscription as well.

[JDRoberts]

@h0ckeysk8er

For example, here’s a single room control solution that’s nearly $1K:

And that’s for the “lite” model!

[Jan_Eves]

Newbie here…our ST hub was not responding on 7-15 and we thought it might be interference from a new garage door opener that was installed on that day. We restarted the hub and it came back but when I installed a 2nd zwave smart switch it connected it with no functionality. We have one just like it that works but this has been stagnant for 24 hours.
It has the message…”status not updating, blah, blah.”
Any suggestions?