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.
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).
You can turn off the internet access at almost all Tuya devices by making use of the local tuya HACS add on in home assistant. Maybe that’s helpful for your research
Tuya was also supposedly reworking their API/integration to allow for local control, though idk if that ever happened.
A ZigBee local control thermostat OTH4000-ZB. No cloud services needed.
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.
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.
