Smart home hub setup in Exeter
Professional smart home hub setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-110
Typical Duration
1-2 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Smart home hub set up as central control for all your devices. I'll connect it to your network, add your devices, create automations, and show you how to control everything from one app.
Stop Juggling Seven Different Apps
Every smart device came with its own app. Hue app for lights, Nest app for thermostat, Ring app for doorbell, Alexa app for voice control... your phone looks like a tech shop. And none of them talk to each other properly.
A smart home hub fixes this. One app, one control point, everything working together.
💡 Pro tip: Not all hubs do the same thing. Hue Bridge only controls Hue lights. SmartThings/Hubitat can control multiple brands. HomeKit (Apple) only works with compatible devices. Choose based on what you've already got and what you want to do.
Hub vs No Hub Reality
| ✅ With Proper Hub | ❌ Without Hub |
|---|---|
| One app controls everything | Seven apps for seven device types |
| Devices work together (automations) | Each device isolated |
| Local control (works if internet drops) | Cloud-dependent, offline when internet drops |
| Less WiFi congestion | 20 devices hammering WiFi |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Install hub | Connect to network, update firmware, set up account |
| Add devices | Pair your smart devices to the hub |
| Create automations | Set up cross-brand automations and scenes |
| Configure & teach | App setup, show you controls, explain how to expand |
📦 You're Left With
- Hub controlling all compatible devices
- One app for most things
- Automations between different brands working
- Knowledge to add devices and create routines
Pricing Guide
| Scenario | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Basic hub + few devices | 1 hr | £60 |
| Hub + 10-20 devices | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Complex setup with multiple automations | 2 hrs | £110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Hub hardware not included.
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ Lots of smart devices - tired of multiple apps
✅ Cross-brand automations - want different devices working together
✅ Reliability - WiFi-only devices keep dropping
✅ Future-proofing - planning to expand smart home
Why Choose Us for Smart home hub setup in Exeter?
Hub connected and controlling all devices
Everything in one app instead of ten
Automations set up between different brands
More reliable than WiFi-only devices
What to Expect
Step 1: Install & Configure Hub
Connect hub to your router, power it up, update firmware. Set up account in the hub's app, configure basic settings.
Step 2: Add Your Devices
Pair your existing smart devices to the hub (lights, sensors, switches, locks). Organize them by room and function.
Step 3: Create Automations
Set up the automations you want - lights with motion sensors, doorbell notifications, bedtime routines. Show you how to create and modify your own.
🔧 DIY Tips
Thinking of setting up a hub yourself? Here's what's involved:
🔧 What you'll need
- Smart home hub (Philips Hue Bridge, SmartThings, Hubitat, etc.)
- Ethernet cable for most hubs (connects to router)
- Smartphone with manufacturer's app
- List of what devices you want connected
📱 Hub setup process
- Connect hub to router via Ethernet cable
- Plug in power
- Download hub's app on your phone
- Follow setup wizard (create account, name hub, etc.)
- Update firmware (usually automatic, takes 10-15 minutes)
🏠 Adding devices
- Put device in pairing mode (varies by device type)
- In hub app, select Add Device
- Follow prompts for device type
- Name device clearly (living room main light, not bulb_47392)
- Assign to room/zone
🔧 Hub types compared
| Hub | Best For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Philips Hue Bridge | Hue lighting system | Only Hue bulbs |
| SmartThings | Mixed brand setup | Needs cloud connection |
| Hubitat | Local control enthusiast | Steeper learning curve |
| Apple HomeKit | Apple ecosystem users | Only HomeKit devices |
| Amazon Echo Plus | Voice control first | Limited device support |
🤖 Creating automations
- Simple: IF this happens THEN do that
- Complex: IF this AND that THEN do this UNLESS that
- Start simple, add complexity as you learn
- Test automations before relying on them
⚠️ Common DIY problems
- Hub not found by app - check both on same WiFi network
- Devices won't pair - check compatible with hub type
- Automations don't trigger - check conditions are actually met
- Hub shows offline - usually router/network issue
- Devices keep dropping - too far from hub (Zigbee/Z-Wave range limited)
💡 Pro trick: When adding devices to a hub, do it one room at a time. Much easier to manage and troubleshoot than adding all 20 devices then trying to organize them.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Already got smart devices? Most can be moved to a hub without factory resetting. I can migrate them over keeping names and groups where possible. Saves you reconfiguring everything.
Which hub should you buy? Depends what you've already got and what you want to do. Call me before buying - 10 minutes on the phone can save you buying the wrong hub and returning it.
Voice control still works. Hubs integrate with Alexa and Google Assistant - you don't lose voice control by adding a hub. Often works better because the hub becomes one "skill" instead of ten.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a smart home hub and do I need one?
It's a central controller for your smart devices. Some systems require one (Philips Hue, Zigbee/Z-Wave devices). Others work without but are more reliable with one (less WiFi congestion). If you've got lots of smart stuff or want advanced automations, a hub makes life much easier.
Will a hub work with all my existing smart devices?
Depends on the hub and devices. Philips Hue Bridge only controls Hue bulbs. SmartThings or Hubitat can control lots of different brands (Zigbee, Z-Wave, some WiFi). I'll check what you've got and advise which hub will work best, or if you even need one.
Can you set up automations between different brands?
Yes - that's where hubs shine. 'When Ring doorbell pressed, flash Hue lights and send notification'. Stuff that doesn't work with individual apps suddenly becomes possible. I'll set up the automations you want and show you how to create more.
I've got a hub but never set it up properly - can you help?
Absolutely - most hubs ship with terrible instructions and overwhelming apps. I'll get it configured properly, migrate your devices to it if needed, and show you the features that actually matter (not the 50 things you'll never use).
How long does hub setup take?
Basic hub setup with a few devices - about an hour. Migrating lots of devices and setting up complex automations - up to 2 hours. Depends how much you want automated.
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