智能家居(Smart home)技术简直令人难以置信。现在有数以千计的设备几乎可以控制您家的方方面面，包括滑动玻璃开门(glass door)器、智能马桶，甚至智能吊扇。
问题是这些设备中有很多是相互独立的，这意味着您需要一个单独的应用程序来控制它们。如果您在离开时必须搜索两打应用程序来关闭您的家，这并不能真正为您节省任何时间。
解决这个问题的最佳方法是投资一个好的智能家居中心(smart home hub)。这些集线器将您所有不同的设备连接到一个地方，并允许您从一个界面控制整个家庭。有一些主要的竞争者，但更专业但仍然同样有用的小型中心正在出现。
由于使用了Wi-Fi、Zigbee和Z-Wave协议，三星 SmartThings Hub(Samsung SmartThings Hub)可与大量设备配合使用。它还兼容Amazon Alexa 和 Google Home 智能助手(Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart assistants)，让您可以通过语音控制任何兼容设备。
如果您之前使用过任何SmartThings设备，它们应该与第三代SmartThings Hub兼容。
您还可以使用“早安”、“晚安”和“再见”等预设命令词设置计划和控制系统。由于其Wi-Fi 连接(Wi-Fi connection)，SmartThings Hub(SmartThings Hub doesn)不需要设置以太网端口(Ethernet port)，从而为您的路由器留出更多可用空间。
要知道的事情：(Things To Know:)
- SmartThings Hub(SmartThings Hub)与 40 多个品牌兼容。
- 它不适用于 Nest 设备。
- 集线器(Hub)会提醒您家中的意外活动，充当一种临时安全设备(makeshift security device)。
最广泛的协议支持：(Most Widespread Protocol Support: )Wink Hub 2
多年来， Wink 和三星(Wink and Samsung)一直是智能家居中心行业的主要竞争对手，而(home hub industry)Wink Hub 2的发布只会进一步加剧这种竞争。
与SmartThings Hub一样，Wink Hub 2是可与Amazon Alexa 和 Google Home(Amazon Alexa and Google Home)配合使用的最佳智能家居集线器之一(home hubs)，但由于与几种稀有协议的兼容性，它使自己与众不同。这些协议包括Kidde 和 Lutron Clear Connect(Kidde and Lutron Clear Connect)，这些更小众的系统为Wink Hub 2提供了市场上任何智能集线器中最广泛的协议支持。
当然，Wink Hub 2还具有用户想要的其他功能，例如能够设置时间表、监控(monitor activity)家中的活动，甚至在检测到烟雾时自动触发灯光。
要知道的事情： (Things To Know: )
- Wink Hub 2适用于400 多种设备，包括Nest。
- Wink Hub 2适用于 5 GHz Wi-Fi ，而大多数智能家居设备的标准 2.4 GHz。
最佳预算智能中心：(Best Smart Hub On a Budget: )Amazon Echo Dot
如果您正在寻找预算有限的智能家居中心，(home hub)亚马逊 Echo Dot(Amazon Echo Dot)是一个不错的选择。虽然它与该列表中的前两个条目的兼容性范围不同，但Echo Dot仍然与各种不同的设备兼容。
其缺乏兼容性的主要原因是没有Z-Wave 或 Zigbee 兼容性(Z-Wave or Zigbee compatibility)；但是，如果您想升级到稍微贵一点（但仍然负担得起）的集线器，Amazon Echo Plus确实有一个Zigbee 连接(Zigbee connection)。
Echo Dot具有出色的设计和可靠的音频，但成本只是其他智能集线器的一小部分。如果您正在寻找预算有限的智能家居控制（默认情况下与(home control)Alexa兼容），那么这是一项很好的投资。
要知道的事情：(Things To Know:)
- 您可以使用Amazon Echo Dot拨打电话。
- Alexa拥有数以万计的不同技能，可进一步提高您对智能家居的控制能力。
大多数拥有智能家居的人通过使用(home control)智能手机或平板电脑(smartphone or tablet)来控制它。智能助手也可以提供帮助，但很难找到另一种控制一切的方法。
大多数智能设备都内置了手动控件，但它们可能笨重且难以使用，尤其是在您不经常寻找它们的情况下。入墙式控制面板(control panel)可能看起来很古老，但它是控制智能家居的好方法，特别是对于那些可能不是最精通技术的人。
Brilliant是市场上为数不多的将大量智能家居设备连接在一起的入墙式系统之一。显示面板(display panel)是触控兼容的，可让您控制灯光、气候锁等。它甚至可以显示从门铃到面板本身 的视频源。(video feed)
Brilliant与Google Home 和 Amazon Alexa(Google Home and Amazon Alexa)合作，但该公司表示Apple HomeKit(Apple HomeKit compatibility)的兼容性正在进行中。它还可以与SmartThings Hub配合使用，因此，如果您想将传统的集线器与入墙式单元相结合，Brilliant可以实现。
Brilliant 没有(Brilliant doesn)SmartThings 或 Wink(SmartThings or Wink)那么多的兼容性，但考虑到该系统在市场上相对较新，未来还有很大的增长空间。
要知道的事情：(Things To Know:)
- Brilliant与Hue、LIFX、TP-Link、WeMo、Lutron、Leviton、ecobee、Honeywell、August、Kwikset、Schlage、Ring、Yale、Emitek和Butterfly MX合作。
- 您可以向家居控制系统(Home Control system)添加两个附加配件：调光开关(dimmer switch)和智能插头。
您使用上面哪个最好的智能家居集线器来控制您的家？请在下面的评论中告诉我们。
The 4 Best Smart Home Hubs
Smart hоme technology is nothing short of incredible. There are now thousands of devіces that can control nearly eνery aѕpect of your home, including sliding glass door openers, smart toilеts, and even ѕmart ceiling fаns.
The problem is that so many of these devices are independent of one another, which means you need a separate app to control them. It isn’t really saving you any time if you have to search through two dozen apps to shut down your home when you leave.
The best solution to this problem is to invest in a good smart home hub. These hubs connect all of your disparate devices into one place and allow you to control your entire home from a single interface. There are a few main contenders, but smaller hubs are emerging that are more specialized but still just as useful.
The Samsung SmartThings Hub works with a huge range of devices thanks to its use of Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Z-Wave protocols. It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart assistants, allowing you to control any compatible device with your voice.
If you have previously used any SmartThings devices, they should be compatible with the third-generation of the SmartThings Hub.
You can also set up schedules and control the system with pre-set command words like, “Good morning,” “Good night,” and “Goodbye.” Thanks to its Wi-Fi connection, the SmartThings Hub doesn’t require an Ethernet port to set up, leaving more space available on your router.
Things To Know:
- The SmartThings Hub is compatible with more than 40 brands.
- It does not work with Nest devices.
- The Hub will alert you to unexpected activity in your home, acting as a sort of makeshift security device.
Most Widespread Protocol Support: Wink Hub 2
Wink and Samsung have been the main competitors in the smart home hub industry for several years now, and the release of the Wink Hub 2 has only furthered that rivalry.
Like the SmartThings Hub, the Wink Hub 2 is one of the best smart home hubs that works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but it sets itself apart thanks to its compatibility with several rare protocols. These protocols include Kidde and Lutron Clear Connect, more niche systems that give the Wink Hub 2 the widest range of protocol support of any smart hub on the market.
Of course, Wink Hub 2 also has other features that users want, such as the ability to set up schedules, monitor activity within the home, and even automatically trigger lights if smoke is detected.
Things To Know:
- The Wink Hub 2 works with more than 400 devices, including Nest.
- The Wink Hub 2 works with 5 GHz Wi-Fi versus the standard 2.4 GHz of most smart home devices.
If you’re looking for a smart home hub on a budget, the Amazon Echo Dot is a solid choice. While it doesn’t have the same range of compatibility as the first two entries on this list, the Echo Dot is still compatible with a broad range of different devices.
The main reason for its lack of compatibility is the absence of Z-Wave or Zigbee compatibility; however, if you want to upgrade to a slightly more expensive (but still affordable) hub, the Amazon Echo Plus does have a Zigbee connection.
The Echo Dot has a great design and solid audio, but costs a fraction of what the other smart hubs do. If you’re looking for smart home control on a budget (that is compatible with Alexa by default), then it’s a great investment.
Things To Know:
- You can use the Amazon Echo Dot to make calls.
- Alexa has tens of thousands of different skills to further improve your control of your smart home.
Most people with a smart home control it through the use of a smartphone or tablet. Smart assistants can also help, but it’s difficult to find another way to control everything.
Manual controls are built-in on most smart devices, but they can be unwieldy and difficult to use, especially if you don’t seek them out often. An in-wall control panel might seem archaic, but it’s a great way to control a smart home, particularly for those that might not be the most tech-savvy.
Brilliant is one of the few in-wall systems on the market that connects a wide number of smart home devices together. The display panel is touch-compatible and allows you to control your lights, climate locks, and much more. It can even display the video feed from your doorbell to the panel itself.
Brilliant works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, but the company says that Apple HomeKit compatibility is on the way. It also works with the SmartThings Hub, so if you want to combine a traditional hub with an in-wall unit, Brilliant makes it possible.
Brilliant doesn’t have as much compatibility as either SmartThings or Wink, but given how relatively new to the market the system is, there is plenty of room for growth in the future.
Things To Know:
- Brilliant works with Hue, LIFX, TP-Link, WeMo, Lutron, Leviton, ecobee, Honeywell, August, Kwikset, Schlage, Ring, Yale, Emitek, and Butterfly MX.
- There are two additional accessories you can add to the Home Control system: a dimmer switch and a smart plug.
Which of the best smart home hubs above do you use to control your home? Let us know in the comments below.
