This is the fourth episode of GearBrain's series on "How to Build a Smart Home".  This episode focuses on the role of the smart home connected hub.  These devices are the foundation and controllers of your smart home.  They come in all shapes and sizes as well as work on different wireless  protocols.  We explore all the things you need to know about hubs before you buy one and set it up in your new smart home.  

This podcast will help you learn about the five different types of hubs which help control your smart home and help you save money on your energy and water bills.  

You can use The GearBrain, our new compatibility to help you find a smart home hub that is compatible with your existing smart devices.  It's free and easy to use.  And if you can't find it, let us know and we will find the smart device for you within 24 hours, if not sooner.

For more information on other smart home hubs, switches, tools and devices, you can visit GearBrain and follow us on social media:

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In part three of our Podcast series on How to Build a Smart Home, we discussed budgeting.  Learn how to build your budget for building a smart home.  Mark Westlake, Founder of GearBrain will help you understand the cost of all these new smart devices and systems and provide guidance on the key questions and issues you need to answer and address in determining your budget for building a smart home.  He will walk you through options to consider and offer advice on how and where you can save money.

You can go to GearBrain.com to learn more about all of the smart devices and systems.  And use The GearBrain, our compatibility find engine for smart devices to find the smart devices you want to use in building your smart home.

In this episode, GearBrain is going to help you learn how to build a smart home if you're a renter or have a rental property or are an Airbnb owner. We're going to explore the types of devices and the things that you can do in a rental property. For instance, how to install lights or smart switches, or even a video doorbell. Will also dig into why these devices can help make your space smart as well as learn about devices like security cameras and locks and how they can work well in an apartment. Will also cover some of the best smart tech for you that you could secure your Airbnb or  rental property. And lastly, we will also talk about some of the interesting IoT or connected devices that work in apartments or small spaces.

For more in-depth information, you can visit GearBrain to learn about all of the smart devices we covered today.  You can also use GearBrain’s new smart home compatibility find engine, The GearBrain, to help you find the devices. The GearBrain is free and easy to use. It can help you not only find these smart devices but you can ask questions and see which products are compatible with the existing smart devices in your rental property, Airbnb or rented apartment.

We also encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel as well as follow us on social media:

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Welcome to GearBrain’s Podcast on building a smart home. GearBrain is the home for simplifying smart devices for consumers. We help you understand how all these new connected products, like voice assistants, smart lights and Wi-Fi mesh systems work and assist you in finding the ones that are compatible with your existing smart devices in your home.  Some say we are the Pinterest of IoT which sounds rather nice.

This is the first of a multi series of podcasts centered around what you need to know to build a smart home. Mark Westlake, GearBrain's founder is asked quite often by friends and colleagues what do I need to do to start building a smart home. And he always answers with how much time do you have? The answer is not that easy and there is a lot to think about when trying to add devices and systems to make your house smart.

Since GearBrain's mission is to simplify smart devices for consumers, Mark does his best to prepare you and guide you through the process of building a smart home that best fits your needs today and for tomorrow. (You can always visit GearBrain's What You Need to Know to Build a Smart Home for more in-depth information. You can also use The GearBrain, our compatibility find engine to find compatible smart devices.)

There will be 8 segments. Each will tackle key topics which will are critical for you to be aware of when building your smart home solution.

The first series today will be about smart home systems. It will cover the basics like wireless protocols, types of controllers, devices and systems to consider, DIY versus professional installation and other important options which play a role in building your smart home.

in Mark and Zach's new tech adventure, we dive into the pros and cons of the new iPhone and Android smartphones.  We compare iPhone XR and 11 to Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus . Listen to the issues you might not be aware of in these new smartphones as well as hidden features.  Learn how iPhones work better with Sonos speakers and how easy it is to setup Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in your car.  We tackle the challenges of using Samsung's Bixby voice assistant and SmartThings platform.  If you are thinking of buying any of these smartphones, you must listen in.  We can help you decide if an Android or iPhone is best for you.

Also don't forget to visit Gearbrain to learn more about how to connect your smartphone to your car's infotainment system, or what is Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.  You can also learn more about iPhone 11 and Galaxy S10 smartphones or any other connected device.  And please follow us on social media.

In this episode, GearBrain will talk about the best tech toys for you to buy this holiday season.  You will hear about STEM toys and new devices your kids will love, especially if they are into coding and robots.  Hear about the latest tech toys from Sphero, Piper, 3Doodler, Ubtech and others.  You can also visit GearBrain"s 9 Best Tech Toys for Children for the 2019 holiday season to  learn more about these new tech toys.  

Hope you enjoy and remember to follow us.  Happy Thanksgiving.

In part 2 of our discussion with Charles Cheevers, CTO of Arris, we continue to explore the benefits and challenges the new Wi-Fi technology, Wi-Fi6 is offering our new connected world.  Charles will expand on how this wireless frequency works and differs from previous versions.  We will also discuss on Wi-Fi6 is backward compatible with smart devices which work on either a 2.4GHz or 5GHz wireless internet connection.  This is key because the last thing you need to do is replace all of your smart home devices to work with a new and more powerful wireless connection.  

You can also visit https://www.gearbrain.com/wi-fi-6-smart-home-2640381476.html to learn more about Wi-Fi6.  

Have you heard of Wi-Fi 6?  Do you know how Wi-Fi 6 works?  And do you have any idea on how this next generation of Wi-Fi technology is going to impact how we connect devices in our homes and offices?  No worries, GearBrain had a chance to talk with Arris's CTO Customer Premises Equipment, Charles Cheevers.  

In Part 1 of our two part discussion, we explore what is Wi-Fi 6 and how it's going to impact our lives.  We also touch upon the impact Wi-Fi 6 will have on all of our connected devices found in smart homes as well as other devices that need a good wireless Internet connection, like augmented reality and virtual reality headsets.    

To learn more about Wi-Fi and which are the best Wi-Fi 6 routers to consider, visit GearBrain (http://bit.ly/2BT1l54 ) . 

You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel as well as follow us on social media:  

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In this GearBrain podcast, we review the new Galaxy Watch with our resident GearBrain tester, Zach Murov.  Zach takes us through what he likes about the new Samsung Galaxy Watch and how it works with the new Samsung Galaxy S10+ smartphone.  We explore the different ways you canuse the smart watch as well as get an inside look at what it felt like when you first leave your house with just your Galaxy Watch and no smartphone.  

If you are thinking of getting a smartwatch and have an Android device, listen in to our discussion.  We will help you learn on what you need to do to setup and operate your new Galaxy Watch which can also function as an extra smartphone or computer, depending on how you want to use your new Android smartwatch.

Also, visit GearBrain.com to learn more about the Galaxy Watch, Samsung Galaxy S10+ and other smartwatches and phones.

GearBrain recently sat down with Sengled's SVP Sales & Marketing Todd Manigold to discuss the role of smart lights in today's smart home. For those of you who have never heard of Sengled, they are a manufacturer of smart lighting.  They make smart LEDs as well as smart light systems to integrate with other home automation systems.  In this episode of GearBrain TV, Todd provides his insights on what is happening in today's marketplace for lighting and how easy manufacturers are making it for consumers to get the right lighting for their home. We uncover some interesting trends and provide solutions to help consumers learn how they can easily put these devices in their home and how it can be the starting point for building your own customized smart home. Hope you enjoy our conversation.  If you want to learn more about Sengled and smart lights, just visit GearBrain.com or follow us on social media.