Ajax, as the name would suggest, is all about enabling smart home technologies in a smartphone-friendly interface. Their approach is to use easy-to-learn programming languages like JavaScript to allow non-techies to easily integrate smart home services like monitoring and controlling temperature, lighting and security with just a few taps on their smartphone screen.
Here's how it works: When you visit the website, you'll see a button that says "Get started" with an arrow next to it. Click that button and a prompt will appear on your screen that asks you to sign in with your email address and password. Once you do that, you'll get a confirmation screen with a link to click that says "Activate my account." Once you do that, you'll see a splash screen with the logo for HomeAjax and the tagline "The most reliable and user-friendly way to control your home."
From there, you'll see a screen that takes you to the dashboard and then to a homescreen. On the homescreen, you'll see a button that says "Add room" with an arrow next to it. Click that button and you'll see a prompt screen that allows you to choose the monitoring device you want to use (most people will choose the SmartThings Monitoring Plan, a.k.a the SmartThings Connect Smart ajax alarms nz .)
From there, you can choose which room you want to monitor (based on the button you clicked on the previous screen). For now, we're going to monitor Room 1. Once you've chosen your room, you'll see a screen with a graph showing the temperature and humidity in Room 1 over the last hour. You can also see the last 5 alarms that have been triggered and what device they were for – a helpful indicator of whether or not these devices work well together. Finally, you'll see a button that says "Save" at the bottom. Click that button and you'll be taken to a page where you can see all the devices you've configured so far (including the alarm you just created). If you want to monitor a different room, just repeat the process until you get to the room you want to monitor.
Set Up Your Alerts
To create an alarm, you'll need to do a few things. First, you'll need to choose an alert type (either motion or noise). Then, you'll have to set the distance and time trigger for the alarm. Last, you'll need to set who is allowed to respond (typically, only your spouse or trusted family members are permitted to respond to an alarm).
After you've set up your alarm, you can test it by pressing the "Test" button on the alarm's page. This will verify that the alarm works and that your spouse or trusted family members are notified when they're needed. You can also set the alarm to alert you by phone if someone does respond – handy if you're not in the house and don't have access to your smartphone.
Control Temperature And Lighting
The dashboard for HomeAjax also allows you to control temperature and lighting in your home. First, you can see your indoor air temperature and choose from 5 different temperature settings (based on what's comfortable for you). Then, you can turn on the outdoor lights to give yourself some extra night time visibility. If you'd like, you can also adjust the temperature of your heating and cooling systems based on how you feel during the day. For instance, if you set the temperature to ‘Cool', your system will switch on to provide additional cold air when you wake up in the morning. When the temperature is at its lowest setting (‘Frigid'), your system will work harder to keep you warm in the winter and you'll save on your energy bills too!
You can access these settings from the dashboard by clicking on “Settings” at the bottom of the screen. From there, you'll be able to change the settings for your fridge, freezer and air conditioner. To set the temperature manually, you'll need to enter your zip code first (in case the system isn't set to your region) and then choose the temperature you want for the day (typically, the morning is the best time to set the temperature as your bedtime temperature will make you more likely to sleep through the alarm).
More Than Just Temperature
While temperature is a vital factor to keep an eye on, you can use the monitoring plan from SmartThings to easily monitor your other appliances and sensors. For instance, if you have a smoke detector in your house and set up the alarm with the free version of SmartThings (which only requires a smartphone), you'll be able to get an alert when the detector is triggered. From there, you can either contact the authorities or, if the alarm is set to your phone, you can call the authorities yourself and have them come and investigate. If a sensor in your home reaches a certain threshold (for example, if the temperature in your kitchen reaches 102 degrees Fahrenheit), you'll get an alert and then you can decide what to do about it (most people will choose to adjust the temperature or turn off the appliance that caused the alarm).
You'll also be able to monitor your home's WiFi connection to see if the internet connection is stable or declining (based on your previous experience). If it declines, you may want to consider upgrading your internet service (most people won't have problems with their internet connection, but it's good to be aware of this option).
Security
Besides temperature and humidity sensors, the SmartThings Connect Smart Alarm also monitors your house's security cameras (most people will choose this option since it's cheaper than buying a dedicated security system). You'll be able to monitor the live video from your security cameras through the HomeAjax interface, which is pretty cool. If there's suspicious activity (like someone knocking at your front door), you'll get a notification and then you can review the video to see who it is.
If you set up the alarm with the security option, you'll notice that it comes with a 10-day free trial of the SmartThings cloud recording app. This app allows you to view your security camera's live video in case you forget to check your email for the confirmation code. You can also download the code onto your smartphone so you don't have to check the email in case you lose your phone (or it breaks).
Other Devices That Work With HomeAjax
Besides temperature and lighting, home automation extends to other appliances and devices in your house. You can use the free version of HomeAjax to monitor your front doorbell, garage door opener and outdoor patio door. If you'd like to monitor these items, simply go to the website, click on the “add item” button and follow the prompts. You'll then be able to monitor these devices from the HomeAjax interface on your smartphone (or tablet). If you set up the monitor for your front doorbell, for example, you'll be able to see who comes to your door – and decide whether or not to open it with your smartphone's lock screen (most people set this option so their guests can easily access their homes without having to input a password).
The Bottom Line
With HomeAjax, setting up an alarm and being able to control your home's temperature and lighting are straightforward. You'll simply need to decide which items you want to monitor and then enter your email address and password to create an account. From there, you can choose the room you'd like to monitor and set the distance and time for the alarm. Once that's done, you can test the alarm's functionality and then set it to alert your spouse or trusted family members when an intruder is detected.