Creating a Smart Home Network

[Danie_Canuck]

Hi all, I am trying to make my home “smart” I had two CE Smart home switches but they suck to put it mildly.  

 

I know its expensive, but I was looking at the Phillips Hue system.  The bridge would obviously be needed, but this is where I am confused.  The Philips website says a bdige does up to 50 lights.   I could be over-thinking but is this 50 light bulbs or light fixtures?  For example in my living room and hallway I have two ikea track lights - 5 light bulbs each, my kitchen has a track light with 6 bulbs.  That’s 16 lightbulbs right there.  Bathrooms have fixtures with more than 3 bulbs…  I would assume this is fixture vs bulb, correct?

 

And what if one hypothetically had than 50 fixtures in their home? Would they need more than one bridge? 

 

Contrary - if anyone has better idea to create a smart home lighting system compatible with Amazon Alexa I would welcome the suggestion.  

 

Some basic info - my home is approximately 3000 sq ft two floors, I am on 1G Telus with the new WIFI 6 router set up they have. 

[JM_]

I have the Hue system, like it a lot. It is probably the most expensive system but its been bulletproof, zero issues at all. I'm only using it in 3 rooms so I've never maxed out the 50 light part but given how well its worked for us I would think it would do just fine with one bridge. Its very easy to create different room controls on the app. 

 

[sonoman]

I use Alexa with smart switches (Gosund). Works well for the most part but have 2 three way switches that keep losing connection.  Have Shaw Blue curve and these switches are supposed to automatically connect to lower wifi band but don’t.  Had to create 2 networks through the router to get things working.   I just have a few lights, smart plugs and thermostat on this system. 

[aGENT]

I switched to the open source Home Assitant (https://www.home-assistant.io/) when Insteon was shut down for  a while there, to control all my Insteon switches, dimmers etc and haven't looked back. It's more powerful, great user support/community, controls and does more (I can pause my kids shows on our Nvida Shield when they're not listening and turn down the volume on our stereo if they have it too loud).

 

I believe it can also control Phillips Hue and run Alexa FWIW and I think they have a Hue Bridge Emulator.