Modular Installation to Old House

Things are progressing nicely, with a few hiccups.


Wave 1 involved the installation of:

  • SmartThings Hub in the living room
  • SmartThings Arrival Sensor in the glove box of the car
  • 2 x Quirky GE Link bulb in the living room

Wave 1 issues included:

  • Windows Phone not providing accurate presence information
  • Arrival Sensor being a Presence Sensor (the old one)
  • Arrival Sensor having much lower battery value than expected
  • Arrival Sensor not providing accurate presence information

Wave 1 resolution actions included:

  • Asking on the forums when we can expect a Windows Phone / Windows Universal update
  • Confirming the Presence Sensor is the same as the Arrival Sensor
  • Expecting the presence information for the thing in the car to improve as the mesh develops

Wave 2 involved the installation of:

  • Quirky GE Link bulbs in the front entrance, back entrance, hall, garage x 2, and storage area
  • SmartThings Multipurpose Sensors on the front, kitchen, back, and garage access doors
  • SmartThings Motion Sensor in the front entrance, hall, back entrance, and garage
  • SmartThings Motion Sensors for the living room, kitchen, storage area, and utility have been purchased but not yet installed
  • First Alert Smoke and CO Detectors in the hall and utility

Wave 2 issues included:

  • Windows Phone app “Smart Lighting” SmartApp not recognising any triggers
  • SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor not connecting when in the garage
  • Quirky GE Link bulb not turning on in the utility room socket

Wave 2 resolution actions included:


Wave 3 will involve the purchase of a number of SmartThings Outlets, plus some SmartThings Water Leak Sensors and two more Quirky GE Link bulbs.

Wave 4 will involve the purchase of an Indoor Siren and a few Minimotes, plus hopefully two Garage Door Controllers, a Doorbell, and a few Wireless Touch Panels (I’m looking at you, Aeotec!).

Wave 5 is where I sort out the thermostat, locks, and windows sensors, but this ties in with a general replacement of all the external doors and windows (it IS an old house after all).

However, all purchases are on hold until I can resolve the issues with the triggers.


As you can see from this screenshot of my SmartTiles:

  • The Arrival Sensor (Glitch) is at 63% rather than 100% as with the other new battery devices
  • (I have a Toyota Matrix - so there’s a Glitch in the Matrix. Shut up.)
  • The garage door Multipurpose Sensor is reporting that the door is open, shaking, and warm (24C)
  • The garage door is actually shut, still, and around 14C
  • I find it odd that the Arrival Sensor is detected, but the Multipurpose Sensor is acting a little messed up,
  • They’re both in the Garage, so maybe I should get an Outlet to repeat the mesh?

You can also see here how the Arrival Sensor freaks out a little bit:


(That’s understated Englishness for “lost it completely”)


Anyway, that’s where I am so far. Not ideal, especially considering the lack of Triggers. Hopefully ST will get back to me soon about this.

1 Like