I want to be able to control my thermostat from my phone, so I’m looking for recommendations for one that meets the following:
- Works with no network access (as in, I can access it but it can’t access anywhere else, enforced via VLAN on my firewall)
- Lets me control my single apartment thermostat (temperature, heat/cool, maybe programming but it’s okay if I have to do that on the unit directly)
- Not hundreds of dollars
- No microphone
Any thoughts? Really just want something simple.
Edit: I have no other smart home devices right now, if that matters.
Look into open therm gateway with something like a dumb Honeywell Round modulating thermostat unless your thermostat already supports open therm.
A ZigBee local control thermostat OTH4000-ZB. No cloud services needed.
I like my Venstar Explorer Minis. They have both a local API and cloud, both of which can be disabled independently (so you can have local ON and cloud OFF).
I use the Sensi ST55 with the Home Assistant HomeKit integration. I got it from my utility company for $1 as part of an Earth Day promotion, but they sell it for $25 now. You might be able to find it pretty cheap where you are.
I’m pretty sure sensi thermostats, when controlled by home assistant, do what you want. I haven’t confirmed they don’t still try to phone home, but that could be dealt with by some firewall rules. Other thermostats that support homekit should also work.