I'd been running a handful of smart plugs and bulbs through their own apps for a while, and honestly, it was a mess. Four different apps, four different accounts, and none of them talked to each other. That's what finally pushed me to set up Zigbee with Home Assistant. Here's how the first weekend went, mistakes included.
Picking a Coordinator
The first decision I had to make was which Zigbee coordinator to buy. There are a lot of options, and it's easy to get stuck comparing spec sheets forever. I ended up going with a USB coordinator based on the Silicon Labs chipset, mainly because it had strong community support and good documentation for flashing custom firmware later on if I needed it.
If you're just starting out, my advice is to not overthink this step. Any well-supported coordinator will get you running. You can always upgrade later once you know what you actually need.
Choosing Between ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT
This was the decision that took me the longest. ZHA is built into Home Assistant, so it's the path of least resistance. Zigbee2MQTT (Z2M) requires a bit more setup since it runs as a separate add-on and talks to Home Assistant over MQTT, but it has broader device support and more detailed configuration options.
I went with Z2M in the end. I have a mix of devices from different brands, and I wanted the flexibility to tweak things like reporting intervals and device-specific settings that ZHA didn't expose at the time. If your setup is simpler, ZHA is a perfectly reasonable choice and it's less to manage.
Pairing My First Devices
Once the coordinator was plugged in and Z2M was running, I started pairing devices one at a time. A tip that saved me a lot of frustration: pair devices starting closest to the coordinator and work your way outward. This helps build a stronger mesh from the start, since router-capable devices near the coordinator extend range for devices further away.
My first pair was a smart plug, since those tend to be reliable Zigbee routers. After that I added a couple of bulbs and a door sensor. Watching them show up in the Z2M interface for the first time felt like a small win.
Where I Ran Into Trouble
Not everything went smoothly. A couple of lessons from that first weekend:

I initially placed my coordinator right next to my Wi-Fi router, which caused interference. Moving it just a few feet away, and away from USB 3.0 ports and cables, made pairing and stability noticeably better.
I paired too many devices too quickly without giving the mesh time to settle. Zigbee networks take a bit of time to build stable routes between devices, so pairing everything in one sitting and expecting it to behave perfectly right away wasn't realistic.
I didn't check firmware versions on my devices before pairing. A couple of older bulbs needed updates before they'd report data reliably.

What I'd Tell Someone Starting Today
Start small. Pair a handful of devices, let the network settle for a day or two, then keep expanding. Pay attention to coordinator placement early, since it saves you troubleshooting later. And don't be afraid to spend a bit of time deciding between ZHA and Z2M, since switching later is possible but adds friction you can avoid by choosing carefully up front.
That first weekend of setup is what got me hooked on the smart home rabbit hole. Happy to answer questions if anyone's just getting started and hitting similar snags

Most guides on switching from ZHA to Zigbee2MQTT assume you're using a USB coordinator and tell you to re-pair every device from scratch. If you're running a SLZB-06M ethernet gateway, there's a lower-effort path that a few people in the Home Assistant community forum have pieced together, though it's still light on detail, so treat this as a starting point rather than a guaranteed walkthrough.
Why the naive approach fails
Just deleting the ZHA integration and spinning up Z2M on the same gateway doesn't work by default. Your Zigbee devices are bound to a specific PAN ID and extended PAN ID. If Z2M starts a fresh network with different IDs, your devices simply won't recognize the new controller and every one of them has to be factory reset and re-joined.
The workaround

Update your SLZB-06M firmware first. Firmware 2.7.1 and later added the ability for the gateway to associate with more than one client at once, which is what makes this approach possible at all.
Back up your ZHA coordinator configuration before touching anything. This is your safety net if the migration goes sideways.
Copy your ZHA network settings into Z2M. Instead of letting Z2M generate a new network, configure it with the same PAN ID, extended PAN ID, and network key that ZHA is already using. This is the step that avoids the re-pairing problem entirely.
Export your ZHA device list and use it to build your Z2M device configuration. This saves you from manually re-entering every device.
Run "interview" on each device from the Z2M UI. This is what lets Z2M actually recognize and populate details for devices it didn't originally pair.
Once you've confirmed everything shows up correctly in Z2M, disable the ZHA integration. Running both at once will give you duplicate entities for every device.

A safer alternative if you don't want to risk your live network
If you'd rather not experiment directly on your working setup, one option is to temporarily move ZHA onto a cheaper secondary coordinator, freeing up the SLZB-06M to become your fresh Z2M coordinator. You can then repurpose the original USB coordinator as a dedicated Zigbee router afterward instead of letting it go to waste.
A word of caution
This method hasn't been fully documented step by step by anyone who's actually done it end to end. The one person who described it didn't go into detail on how the "interview" step behaves in practice, so budget time for trial and error, and definitely don't skip the backup step.
Has anyone here actually completed this migration on a SLZB-06M? Curious what the interview step looked like in practice and whether all device types carried over cleanly.

My Zigbee network used to have a dead zone at the far end of the house, a couple of sensors would drop out constantly, and the garage door sensor was basically useless. After a few weekends of tinkering, I finally got full, reliable coverage everywhere. Here's what actually made the difference, combining a few different fixes rather than one silver bullet.

1. Added more mains-powered routers
   Zigbee is a mesh network, and battery devices (like most sensors) don't repeat signal, only mains-powered ones do. I added a couple of cheap plug-in smart outlets in the hallway and garage specifically to act as routers. That alone filled in a lot of the gaps.
2. Repositioned the coordinator
   My hub was originally tucked inside a media cabinet next to the router and a bunch of other electronics. Moving it out into the open, up on a shelf and away from Wi-Fi gear, made a noticeable difference. Zigbee and Wi-Fi both use the 2.4GHz band, so proximity to your router can cause real interference.
3. Picked a clean Zigbee channel
   I checked which Wi-Fi channels my router was using and picked a Zigbee channel (in the Zigbee 2.4GHz range) that overlapped as little as possible. Less contention means fewer dropped packets.
4. Let the mesh rebuild
   After making these changes, I gave the network a day or two to let devices re-route through the new mesh paths rather than force-repairing everything at once. Route optimization isn't instant.
   The combination of these fixes took my Zigbee network from "flaky at the edges" to rock solid, including the garage sensor that used to fail constantly. If you're dealing with a dead zone, I'd start with router placement (#1) since it usually gives the biggest bang for the buck.

Zigbee is one of the most reliable protocols for smart home devices, but a lot of people run into flaky connections or dropped devices because of a few common mistakes. Here's how to get the most out of it:

1. Build a strong mesh network
   Zigbee is a mesh protocol — mains-powered devices (smart plugs, bulbs, in-wall switches) act as routers and extend your network. Battery devices (sensors, buttons) don't. Aim for a good spread of mains-powered devices throughout your home so signal has multiple paths to travel.

2. Avoid Wi-Fi channel overlap
   Zigbee operates in the 2.4GHz band, same as Wi-Fi. If your Zigbee network feels unstable, set your Wi-Fi router to channels 1, 6, or 11 and pick a Zigbee channel that doesn't overlap (e.g. channel 25 or 26).

3. Don't overload a single hub
   Most Zigbee coordinators can handle 50-200 devices depending on hardware, but performance degrades if you cram too many onto one hub without any routers. Spread devices out and let mains-powered ones do their job as repeaters.

4. Keep your coordinator central and elevated
   Place your Zigbee hub/coordinator in a central location, elevated off the floor, and away from metal objects, mirrors, or thick concrete walls that can block signal.

5. Update firmware regularly
   Zigbee firmware updates often fix bugs related to pairing, range, and interference. Check your hub manufacturer's app periodically for updates.

6. Use pairing correctly
   Always factory reset a device before pairing it to a new network, and pair devices one at a time and close to the coordinator initially — you can move them to their final location afterward once they've joined the mesh.

7. Group similar devices logically
   Use rooms/zones and groups in your hub software so scenes and automations are easier to manage and troubleshoot later.

Following these basics will get you a Zigbee network that stays online and responsive instead of one that needs constant re-pairing. Happy to answer questions if anyone's running into specific issues.

One of the most common frustrations in the Home Assistant community right now: Zigbee devices that pair fine, work for a day or two, then drop off and show as unavailable, sometimes coming back on their own, sometimes not.
The generic answer you'll find everywhere is "improve your mesh." That's not wrong, but it's not useful on its own. Here's what's actually worth checking, in order:

1. Coordinator placement first, mesh second
   The coordinator is the root of the entire Zigbee mesh. If it's plugged directly into a USB port on your Home Assistant machine, USB 3.0 interference is a likely culprit. It broadcasts in the 2.4GHz range and drowns out Zigbee signals. Fix: use a USB 2.0 extension cable (1–2 metres) to move the coordinator away from the machine. This alone solves the problem for a large number of people.

2. Powered devices vs. battery devices
   Battery-powered devices (sensors, buttons) are end devices — they don't route traffic. Only mains-powered devices (plugs, bulbs) act as routers and extend your mesh. If most of your devices are battery-powered, your mesh has almost no routing capacity. Add at least 2–3 mains-powered devices within range of the coordinator before assuming anything else is broken.

3. Channel conflicts with Wi-Fi
   Zigbee and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi share spectrum. Zigbee channels 11–13 overlap heavily with Wi-Fi channel 1; Zigbee channels 25–26 overlap with Wi-Fi channel 11. If you haven't set your Zigbee channel deliberately, check what your Wi-Fi is using and pick a Zigbee channel that doesn't overlap. Zigbee channel 15, 20, or 25 are usually the safest depending on your Wi-Fi setup.

4. ZHA vs. Zigbee2MQTT coordinator handling
   Both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT handle coordinator recovery differently after a Home Assistant restart or power cut. If devices drop specifically after HA restarts, check whether your coordinator firmware is current — outdated firmware on Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB dongles in particular is a known cause of post-restart drops.

5. Check LQI before assuming range
   In Zigbee2MQTT, go to the map view and look at the LQI (Link Quality Indicator) values on the connections to your dropping devices. Anything below 50 is weak; below 20 is effectively broken. This tells you whether it's a range/routing problem or something else entirely.

What coordinator are you running, and are the drops happening on specific device types or randomly across the mesh? Drop your setup below, happy to help diagnose.

I've been going through everything Apple announced for the Home app at WWDC, and the camera changes are the most interesting thing HomeKit has done in years. But I want to argue about the part nobody's really pinning down: does this actually match the paid cloud tiers, or just look like it does?

What's actually coming

Confirmed for the fall releases (iOS 27 / tvOS 27 / HomePod 27):

• AI-written summaries — instead of "motion detected," you get "a person walked up to the door" or "a dog was in the yard." Toggleable per camera.
• Cross-camera event grouping driveway cam + doorbell cam get stitched into one event with one summary, automatically. No manual linking.
• Rolling notifications — related alerts collapse into a single notification that updates in real time instead of blowing up your lock screen.
• Searchable footage — type "package delivery" and it jumps to the clip instead of you scrubbing a 3-hour timeline.
• Long-press previews + 4K recording (4K doesn't even need Apple Intelligence).

On paper, that's feature parity with Nest Aware and Ring Protect's "smart" tiers.

Here's where I want to push back on the hype

Two things I keep seeing repeated that aren't quite right:

1. "It's all local, no cloud." Not exactly. The AI runs through your home hub (Apple TV or HomePod), not purely on your phone and HomeKit Secure Video still needs an iCloud+ subscription. So it's "on your hardware" but it is not subscription-free. You're still paying Apple monthly; the money just goes to iCloud instead of Ring.

2. Nobody's tested the accuracy yet. These features ship in the fall — everything floating around right now is announcement footage, not real-world review. Google shipped near-identical AI summaries last year and raised prices, and reviewers still griped about wrong summaries. Apple gets no free pass here until people actually run it.

The actual debate

So the real question isn't "are these cool" (they are). It's:

If HomeKit Secure Video now does named people, package detection, multi-cam event stitching, and natural-language search all bundled into an iCloud+ plan you probably already pay for what's left justifying a separate Ring or Nest subscription?

Counter-argument I keep landing on: the iCloud+ camera limits are stingy (50GB = one camera, 200GB = five), and Nest/Ring still win on hardware range and battery cameras.

Where do you land? Specifically:

• Anyone in the beta actually seeing the AI summaries fire yet? How accurate?
• Is the iCloud+ per-tier camera cap a dealbreaker vs. a flat Nest Aware plan?
• Does "processed on my own Apple TV" actually matter to you privacy-wise, or is that overrated when the footage is in iCloud anyway?

Today people expect something a little smarter with the advent of Smart devices. Traditional TVs are almost on the way out. And also, Smart Televisions are becoming more popular.

Traditional TVs can only display content from an HDTV antenna, cable, or another A/V source. However, the new TV with powerful processors, and internet access, is more like a smartphone or tablet than the tube TV of the past.

Smart TVs can connect to the internet and run a variety of applications. Also, Smart TVs are acquiring more Smart Home integration functionality, and some are also the best Smart home gadgets.

Many TVs are compliant with other connected devices in the home, such as the best Smart lights, best Smart locks , and other sensors, and some TVs also come with a dedicated dashboard for managing all of your connected devices.

What is the difference between “Traditional Television” and “Smart Television”?

A Smart TV can link to the internet through Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection. This Smart Television is equipped with apps that enable users to watch OTT (Over the Top) content. Also, OTT refers to television programs, movies, and other content that is broadcast over a high-speed internet connection without the use of a third-party service provider.

A traditional TV has an LED or LCD screen and various ports for connectivity. Also, HDMI and USB were most popular, and you can attach your DTH set-top box, DVD player, laptop, and other devices to the HDMI port.

Moreover, Android TV is a smart TV that has the Android operating system built in. The majority of Android TVs come with Chromecast built-in. And yeah! You can quickly cast your favorite apps from your Android or iPhone.

Nowadays, there are so many Streaming devices on the market. And yeap! You don't think about whether your TV is a smart TV or a regular TV. Now, you can easily convert your TV into Smart TV.

What are the Features of Smart TVs, and How do they vary from one another?

Let’s see some interesting features of Smart TV. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and HBO Max are only a few of the streaming services and content options available on smart TVs. Moreover, there is an increasing number of ad-supported free streaming services like PlutoTV, Tubi, and Crackle.

This also has popular video-sharing sites, such as YouTube, and their own smart TV apps that are optimized for watching on television and navigating with remote control. Smart TVs are also a perfect way to listen to streaming music with internet radio services like Spotify and Pandora.

Furthermore, most Smart TVs allow you to access social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook without a keyboard. One of the biggest trends in smart TVs is the use of voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

How to Convert Normal TV to Smart TV using Streaming Sticks?

Sometimes you may be confused about how to convert Normal TV into a Smart TV. Relax; it is just easy. Because, you can convert any TV into a smart TV by using Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, or Airtel Xstreme Stick.

Firstly, you want to find the HDMI port on your television. An HDMI port looks like a small, large slot with a tapered bottom, and HDMI ports are typically found on the back or side of your television set.

Also, take note of the number next to the HDMI port, as this is the input channel you'll need to use with your Apple TV. Three types of converting methods are mentioned below.

Google Chrome Cast

You can use Chromecast to cast and stream content from OTT apps to your TV. To set up a Chromecast client for the first time, you'll need to download the Google Home app to your Android or iOS device. It is the best way to turn normal TV into Smart TV.

To use Chromecast, open any app on your phone, such as Hotstar, Voot, Prime Video, Netflix, and so on, and then start casting from the casting icon in the top right corner. Until you start casting video, it will be picked up by the Chromecast system and streamed over Wi-Fi.

You can also use Chrome and Chromecast to cast from your laptop to your TV. Chromecast Ultra, a 4K-capable Chromecast, was also released by Google.

Following are the easy steps to convert your odd TV into Smart TV using Chromecast

Step 1 - Connect the Fire Stick to the HDMI port on your TV. And then, connect a power outlet to the Fire Stick and replace the batteries in the remote control for your Fire Stick.

Connect the Fire Stick to the HDMI port on your TV

Step 2 - Switch on the television and press the power button on your television.

Step 3 - Change the input on the TV to HDMI. And then, press the "Play/Pause" button

Change the input on the TV to HDMI

Step 4 - Choose a wireless network to connect, enter the password and allow time for any updates to be installed.

Choose a wireless network to connect

Step 5 - When asked, sign in with your Amazon account and locate the HDMI port on your television.

locate the HDMI port on your television.

Step 6 - Connect the Chromecast to the HDMI port on your television and also connect the USB power cable to the device.

Connect the Chromecast to the HDMI port on your television

Step 7 - Install the Google Home app on your iPhone or Android device and go to Google Home and open it.

Install the Google Home app on your iPhone or Android device and go to Google Home and open it

Step 8 - When asked, choose to ACCEPT and tap the Devices icon and allow time for your Chromecast to recognize your phone. When asked, select Continue.

Step 9 - Check the code on your television and continue by tapping the Continue button.

Step 10 - Choose a wireless network for your Chromecast. As the last step, follow the instructions on the screen and use your Chromecast as if it were a smart television.

Follow the instructions on the screen

Amazon Fire Stick [Method 02]

Amazon Fire Stick

Amazon Firestick is a streaming system that connects to your TV's HDMI port. The Amazon Firestick differs from the Chromecast in that it comes with software pre-installed on the computer. Further, casting is also possible via smartphone, but the same app must be enabled on both your phone and your fire stick. Do you know how to convert your normal TV into Smart TV in South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan? It is the cheapest way to make a TV smart without Chromecast.

Amazon Fire Stick is available in two models: full HD and 4K. If the OTT app (Netflix, Prime, etc.) and your TV both support 4K, you can stream videos in 4K using the 4K stick. A Prime Video membership is required to stream Prime Video from an Amazon Fire Stick.

Following are the easy steps to convert your odd TV into Smart TV using Amazon Firestick.

Step 1 - Locate the HDMI port on your television and connect the Fire Stick to the HDMI port on your TV.

connect the Fire Stick to the HDMI port on your TV

Step 2 - Connect a power outlet to the Fire Stick and also connect the power cable.

Replace the batteries in the remote control for your Fire Stick

Step 3 - Replace the batteries in the remote control for your Fire Stick. Then, switch on the television and press the power button on your television.

Change the input on your TV to HDMI

Step 4 - Change the input on your TV to HDMI. When asked, press the "Play/Pause" button. Then, choose a wireless network to connect to and enter the password.

Choose a wireless network to connect to and enter the password.

Step 5 - Switch on the television and press the power button on your television.

Airtel Xstreme Stick [Method 03]

Airtel Xstreme Stick

Airtel recently introduced a streaming device that functions similarly to Chromecast and Firestick. The Airtel Xstreme stick runs Android 8.0 and allows you to download applications from the Google Play Store. This computer comes with the Airtel Xstreme software pre-installed. Previously known as Airtel TV, the app is now known as Airtel Xstreme.

Many TV shows and series from various platforms, such as Colors, HOOQ, ZEE TV, Sony TV, and thousands of movies, are available on this app. However, live TV is only available via an app and cannot be seen on television. You'll also need an active Xstreme app subscription to use the Xstreme stick.

The Airtel Xstreme stick includes a voice-activated remote for searching and controlling content on the Stick. This stick also has Chromecast built-in, so you can use your phone to cast apps to your TV.

What devices turn your TV into Smart TV? How can I turn your Non-smart TV into Smart TV?  Don't worry. You know all the answers now, and you have some idea about how to convert your LED TV or Samsung TV into Smart TV clearly.

Briefly, you got some idea about these three methods. Smart Televisions have been around for several years and millions of people all over the world already own this device. If you plan to buy a new Television and are wondering whether you should get a Smart TV. As I think, you had better to convert your ordinary TV to Smart TV.

We hope you enjoyed this article. So, if you're keen to learn more about Smart Home related things, you can visit our Kodmy Smart Home Blog. And, please subscribe to Kodmy using the subscribe button below.

Below is the step-by-step guide to reset myQ smart garage opener.

Step 1: As the first step, you have to delete the previous program. There’s a setting button at the bottom of the Smart Garage Controller. First, you need to erase the Wi-Fi settings on the controller.

To erase Wi-Fi settings, the green LED must be turned on or blinking. There’re some buttons on the right-hand side of the controller.

Step 2: Then, what you want to do is simply press and hold for approximately the setting button until that light goes out. Once your LED goes away all keyless entry codes and remote control will have been successfully deleted.

Step 3: After that, you need to set up the myQ Garage door opener back to factory default and reconnect your remote control. Press and hold the setting button in the myQ Garage door controller until the blue LED blinks then you can release it.

Step 4: Once you release the button, you can press and hold the setting button again while the blue LED is blinking until the blue LED pauses and then blinks or beeps. Finally, you can set your myQ Garage door opener to factory default.

Step 5: As the final step, you need to clear buttons. To do this, you can press and hold the button. Then, you can see a yellow button will turn on. Next, you have to hold this button until the yellow LED turns off.

Again, you need to press and hold the button until the yellow lights turn on. Now, again hold the button until the yellow LED turns off. You’ll be all set now!