I'm asking the hive mind because I'm stumped and don't know who else to ask.
The internet at home is being weird and lots of dropping. Here's the backstory:
We have DSL (it's the only option besides dial up at this point) and over wireless for the most part.
Mom has a Samsung Tab 3, I have a desktop computer, we both have Samsung phones. Those all connect wireless. I have an xbox 360 that is hardwired.
There is no way to hardwire my computer.
For the past few months the connection just drops. The speed will go from 7mbps to sometimes 600 kbps. And the phones and tablet will lose connection and need to be reconnected.
The internet people (it's a regional thing called Comporium) have been out and checked the modem/router (which is theirs) and the connection to the house. They say that both are working fine.
The tech dude suggested there may be a device that is running some kind of update or program that is causing the slow down BUT my phone will lose connection when everything is turned off.
Comporium has basically said this is not their issue and I'm not sure what else to do...maybe get my own modem/router and see if that works. I'm hesitant to do that because supposdely in the next 6 -8 months we are going to be upgraded to cable internet (I doubt it but with my luck I'll buy something and we'll get upgraded rather quickly).
so any trouble shooting suggestions or possible causes.
Does the xbox ever lose its connection?
Occasionally Netflix will slow down enough it can't load something fully but not often.
So DH's latest project is making the house Smart.
I'm running Homekit on part of the office, and I've got the Hue system with Homekit and home and looking at doing from IFTTT work on it as well, though if I go too crazy I think I'll drive Pix nuts.
I'm also putting a new alarm into the office that is Z-Wave compatible so I'll be getting more familiar with that. The issue is that each of the product areas tend to have market leaders, which then aren't on the same systems as the others.
The leader in lighting is really Philips Hue, but they don't do Z-Wave. Alarm systems tend to do Z-Wave, but the really good thermostats are EcoBee and Nest, and they do Homekit. I have an August Smartlock, which is an amazing product, but it is Homekit and not Z-Wave.
Homekit would be a good way to go, but there aren't any really good alarm systems that I can find that will leverage it.
Oh, hm. My dad has an iPhone and my mom has, I don't remember what exactly but not Apple, I should look into whether there are smart house options that would work for both of them simultaneously. I forgot that was even possibility.
I've been using Open Office for serious word processing, but it requires Java to run the macros. I do not have a Java Runtime Environment on my Win10 machine, and I'm not sure if I should download it. Is it save to put a JRE on my Win10 machine, or is there another free word processor I should switch to?
Putting on a JRE should be fine. Not much different than having .NET on your computer.
I should look into whether there are smart house options that would work for both of them simultaneously. I forgot that was even possibility.
Iris has both iPhone and Android apps with equal capability.
Ask here, because I'm interested in the answers! We have Hue, but it's been a tad wonky.
I'll let you know how the Z-Wave integration goes once we install the new alarm system. We got one from Frontpoint that should be coming in at the beginning of next week and I'm planning to use a Z-Wave IO controller to interface the alarm with a powered gate at the front of the property so that we can open and close remotely.
Thermostats are next on the list since there are three of them in the office and they are all totally different and it's a pain turning everything on and off and scheduling them. That's where I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'm looking at EcoBee3, which is really nice and will do it all and will integrate with Homekit for Siri control along with our Smartlock, but there will be no integration with the alarm system.
