Unlocking Home Automation with Joshua Kelleway of IAM Systems

Curious about how to get started with Home Automation? This episode of the Uncast Show promises to teach you with expert insights from Joshua Kelleway, the founder and lead system integration consultant at IAM Systems in Australia. Whether you're starting out with small home projects or working on professional setups, Josh’s journey and expertise will guide you through the nuances of home automation.

Joshua shares his top recommendations for hardware and home lab servers, explaining why Unraid stands out with its user-friendly interface, ease of training, and efficient deployment and recovery capabilities. These reasons make it a reliable choice for their IAMHOME server product, which is deployed in hundreds of sites across Australia.

For the DIY smart home enthusiasts, get the latest on current home automation trends and general advice on brands and hardware to avoid. Joshua also provides practical advice on starting with Home Assistant and using Zigbee-based devices for retrofitting lighting systems. Also, we compare various home automation technologies and examine the best practices for smart camera placements and climate control systems. Security-conscious listeners will appreciate our deep dive into the benefits of PoE cameras over Wi-Fi cameras, and how advanced geolocation-based automation can make managing your home a breeze from anywhere. Tune in for an info-packed hour filled with expert recommendations and innovative solutions for your smart home needs.

Episode Chapters:

• 01:13: Quick Fire Questions to get to know Joshua
• 03:30: What inspired Joshua to start up IAMSystems
• 04:25: Initial deployments of Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi's
• 06:37: IAMHome product offering on Unraid
• 08:09: Home Assistant, Home Bridge and Scrypted
• 14:05: Initial OS requirements and selection criteria for IAMHOME
• 18:00 Benefits of Booting Unraid from a USB
• 21:06 Excitement around new features in Unraid 7
• 22:32 Unraid features wishlist for IAMSystems
• 24:12 IAMSystem's autonomous backups, testing and monitoring at scale
• 27:45 Featured IAMSystems Projects
• 34:27 Future plans for IAMSystems
• 37:00 Top trends in Home Automation
• 39:20 Advice for DIYers doing Home Automation
• 48:30 Cameras and NVR advice
• 52:15 Thermostats and climate control
• 53:10 Products and categories to avoid in Home Automation
• 59:27 The most underrated Home Automation devices and technologies
• 1:02:29 Common pitfalls and mistakes setting up Smart Homes
• 1:04:29 New technologies in IoT/Home Automation to look forward to