Does Having a Mish-Mash of Different Manufacturer Devices Matter at All?

 

Because I am a Techie and a Reviewer, I have a mish-mash of Smart Devices from different manufacturers.  The downside to this is having at least a half-dozen different apps on my phone, with each manufacturer providing its own app.  I have to keep all of these apps to re-configure my devices, as needed, despite the fact I have control integrated through Alexa.  The cheaper the plug, the worse the app, and the generic plugs tend to require more background data than the name brands. In other words, the generic Smart Devices tend to be bandwidth hogs, which is a definite negative if your network is already strained. They also seem to have more connectivity issues, especially when it comes to remote control, (i.e. controlling from an outside Wi-Fi network.)  When I finally find a generic plug and control app that I can recommend, this blog's readers will be the first to hear.  In other words, if your network is already struggling, and you don't like tinkering, you may want to stick to the more reliable brands. There could be several reasons when Alexa notresponding or Alexa is not working. 

Hue Bulbs, and other Smart Devices using the ZigBee protocol, act as their own repeaters.  This means they carry signals to each other, rather than relying solely on your router to deliver them.  Thus, they do not place the same drag on your network as individual Smart Outlets. They may be a better choice for Wi-Fi dead spots, so long as they are in proximity of another bulb that the signal reaches.  They may be a better choice than hub-less Smart Bulbs from your Smart Plug manufacturer for already congested networks.  It may also be a reason to consider an Echo Plus for your next Alexa device, sometimes our device did not catch the echo so our echo doesnot respond. as it acts as the Hub for Hue Bulbs and other Smart Devices.  If you do not already own a hub, it is an economical way to integrate its functions into your Alexa-powered Smart Home.

Likewise, if your mobile device is already overloaded with apps, and you don't have an old phone or tablet you've dedicated to Smart Home control, you may want to pick a brand or two and stick with them.  Just about EVERY Smart Device Manufacturer requires its own app for initial set-up, and you need to keep them in order for the device to operate correctly. Remote control is much more difficult when you have to open 10 different apps to do what you want.  

But when you get down to it, it really doesn't matter if you have devices from 20 different manufacturers or just a few.  The best thing about Alexa is that she can integrate devices from a slew of different manufacturers into scenes and groups, for easy, single word control.  Apps like Yonami and IFTTT can also help.  If someone buys you a TP-Link Bulb, there's no reason to say "We're a WeMo family!" or "We're a Hue Household!"  So long as the device has the features and functions you need, and its Alexa-compatible, it doesn't matter who makes it.    The Alexa ecosystem ties together devices from a plethora of different manufacturers to make control a breeze, be it via voice command or the Alexa app.