Offline Smart Homes: Are They Possible & How?

Can You Have a Smart Home Without the Internet?

Yes, you can have a smart home without the internet. But you need compatible devices.

Only some devices will work on local networks or with offline protocols. And it's easier to set some systems up than others. Again, a professional will help you here. Off-the-shelf solutions use the internet as the default connectivity, making it hard to create an offline DIY setup. But professional installers know the right workarounds.

Key Offline Smart Home Technologies

Offline smart homes don’t use Wi-Fi or wired internet connections. They use other technologies to connect and control devices instead.

The most popular offline smart home technologies are:

Bluetooth and Zigbee Protocols

Bluetooth and Zigbee are wireless protocols that work within short-range networks. They connect devices without the internet. So, when you connect your wireless headphones to your phone, you’ll usually do so via Bluetooth. It doesn’t matter if you’re online, but you'll need to stay nearby. If you go out for a run and forget your phone, your music will cut off. Connecting devices in your smart home is similar. It will only work if everything is in close range.

While most people will be familiar with Bluetooth, Zigbee is lesser known. However, it’s widely used in offline-compatible smart home devices. Lots of lights, locks and temperature sensors communicate over Zigbee. It also has a longer coverage range than Bluetooth, so it's more suitable for larger properties.

Local Servers and Hubs

Devices like Home Assistant, OpenHAB and other smart hubs operate on a local server. Having a hub like this gives you centralised control without the internet.

A hub allows for automation and communication between devices offline. Think of it as the “brain” of the smart home.

Having your own server keeps your data within your home – increasing security and privacy. Plus, as you’re not reliant on an external cloud server, you’re less likely to suffer downtime.

RF (Radio Frequency) and IR (Infrared) Remotes

You can use RF and IR remotes to manage smart home devices like fans, air conditioning units and home entertainment systems. RF and IR remotes use electromagnetic energy to send signals, avoiding network dependency. Sound futuristic? You probably already use an IR remote for your TV. 

An RF or IR remote lets you adjust your smart home with one device. Having a smart RF or IR remote for your home brings everything together.

Essential Offline Smart Home Devices

What you need in your smart home depends on what you hope to achieve. Do you want to integrate all your tech? Or are you looking for a few elements that make life easier? 

For a comprehensive offline smart home, consider the following devices:

Lighting and Switches

You can control offline smart lighting systems via local protocols like Zigbee or Bluetooth. 

If your lighting is reliant on Wi-Fi, you can't turn your lights on and off if there’s an internet outage. This can make an internet connection blip feel like a power cut. By using local protocols, you don’t need to rely on external sources for your lighting.

Thermostats

Did you know you can have smart temperature control without the internet? Offline thermostats exist. They use Bluetooth connectivity and built-in manual controls. 

You don’t need Wi-Fi to program smart heating patterns. A compatible heating control panel will 'talk' to your system offline (i.e. via local protocols). 

Security Cameras with Local Storage

To achieve offline smart home security, you need devices with local storage.

A lot of smart cameras send recordings to the cloud. They’re not suitable for an offline smart home as you’ll need to keep your camera connected to the internet.

For an offline smart home, look for cameras that record to SD memory cards (the physical card you insert for storage). Alternatively, search for those that upload images into local network storage. You need footage that is accessible offline. Even if you’re connected to the internet, these features give you a physical backup.

Sensors (Motion, Temperature, Humidity)

You don’t need to connect sensors to the internet for them to pick up on what’s happening.

Many motion, temperature and humidity sensors communicate with smart hubs via Zigbee or Z-Wave. Once the sensors tell the hub what they’ve identified, the hub will trigger automation (e.g. turning on lights when a movement is detected or cooling a room down once it’s reached a certain temperature).

Setting Up an Offline Smart Home Network

To bring your offline-compatible devices together, you need to set up a network. If your network doesn’t work, nothing will.

Choosing a Central Hub

Choosing a reliable local hub or server (e.g. Hubitat, Home Assistant) is an important first step. You need a hub that lets you coordinate and automate devices without the internet. While individual devices will work offline, you need to bring everything together to maximise your smart home.

Finding a compatible hub and setting it up can be complex. A CEDIA-certified member will help. Although you can do some things DIY, establishing a network is one of the things you’ll need a professional smart home installer for.

Connecting Devices Locally

Local protocols like Zigbee, Bluetooth and Z-Wave function by pairing devices. So, you (or a professional installer) will need to pair the devices. This creates a closed local network between the two (or more) devices so that they 'talk' together.

So, if you want to control your Bluetooth-enabled lock with your phone as its remote, you’ll need to pair them together.

Maintaining the Setup

Your offline smart home journey doesn’t end once you set everything up. You’ll need to maintain your system and make changes when desired.

Although an offline smart home is less vulnerable to online security breaches, you still need regular firmware updates to keep things safe. As you’re using your devices offline, you might not get the notifications for updates that other users do. So, get into the habit of periodically checking for updates and downloading them. You don’t want your hub to become so outdated that it stops functioning. You'll need the internet to install updates, but only temporarily. 

You also need to check that everything stays connected and reconnect devices if anything falls out of range.

Some CEDIA-certified members offer maintenance options. They’ll check that everything is working as intended and deal with any issues.

Limitations of an Offline Smart Home

Two of the main downsides of an offline smart home are:

• Reduced access to remote control and monitoring – Without the internet, users lose the ability to control their homes from afar. This limits functionality for frequent travellers and those who like to check on things when out and about.
• Limited compatibility and fewer integration options – Some devices, such as voice assistants, require the internet for most features. Other smart appliances won’t work when offline. Choosing an offline smart home means you’ll have to take more care to pick compatible products.

One potential workaround for some of the downsides is to use a hybrid setup. With a hybrid setup, the critical and sensitive functions remain offline (so you keep ownership of your data and control over key elements). But non-sensitive functions use internet connectivity. That means you can ask your voice assistant to play your workout music but keep your surveillance footage away from the cloud.