Aeotec SmartThings Hub

We manage vacation rental properties and use these in all of our properties to automate the smart technology. We do need a 3rd party provider to be able to automate everything. It's nice to be able to connect all smart technology to one Hub for each property. The downfalls are: 1. No automation 2. Not enough room for all devices, so we have to get creative. You only have a certain # of locations that can be added.Would love to keep each property as a separate location vs adding several properties to one location. 3. Not all integrations work fantastically. Our ring camera always shows the battery is dead or nearly dead. So we ended up removing it and just use the Ring app

Initial setup was incredibly time consuming and "buggy". Literally took a day and a half even with continual, very quick & frequent communications with Tech Support. The firmware would not update; setup would time out; I would have to repeatedly clear out & go back to Step 1 to restart the entire update and setup process. The directions were clear; they just didn't work. Once the required updates and setup finally completed, everything worked. I use this to pair with the Kwikset SmartCode 916. The pairing was simple, quick and straightforward. As for the Kwikset lock and the SmartThings App, I want to be able to "see" and get an alert every time the lock changes state (locked or unlocked) whether the code was used to enter or not; regardless of locking/ unlocking with code, key or manually (like the Vera setup). The Aeotec SmartThings App only triggers an alert if a code is entered. The App also does not allow the Administrator to view a User's Code once it is created. This makes no sense yet you can work around this by including the Code itself in the User's Name. (Why would the Administrator who grants and controls access be blocked from viewing what he/ she created??) After all that.... the Hub and App now consistently work the way they were designed.

the set up process took a long time during my failures and then with a chat with representative. But we finally got thru the process. since then I have not had any problems.

This has been the best hub I have ever used. Especially for the money. It has connected everything including all zwave devices. It has never failed or lost connection to anything. Super easy to set up and connect everything.

Unfortunately Vera got bought out and the new company created Ezlo which is not ready for prime time. Ezlo is a true disappointment. The interface with the Aeotec Smartthings hub is smooth. The major problem I have with it is that it's not fully compatible with all zwave products regardless of whether they're zwave or zwave plus certified or not. You can control door locks to lock/unlock but can't create entry codes or delete them remotely. You were able to easily do so with Vera. So as the home automation war continues to heat up, from what I've tested, the Smartthings hub is the only current choice to use.