Is Amazon Sidewalk the Next Step in Smart Home Development?
In episode two of 'Smart Home on the Range,' Tod Caflisch explores Amazon Sidewalk, a low-bandwidth, long-range wireless protocol designed to extend the connectivity of smart home devices beyond the range of a home Wi-Fi network. Caflisch examines how Sidewalk works, its potential benefits for IoT device reliability, and the privacy considerations users should be aware of. The episode aims to demystify the technology for homeowners undertaking smart home projects.
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Key takeaways
Amazon Sidewalk creates a shared, low-bandwidth network using compatible Amazon devices to extend smart home device range.
The technology can help maintain connectivity for IoT devices like sensors and locks that fall outside typical Wi-Fi coverage.
Privacy and opt-in/opt-out settings are important considerations for homeowners evaluating Amazon Sidewalk.
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In episode two of Smart Home on the Range, a podcast devoted to the step-by-step design and construction process of a new smart home and other content, Tod Caflisch walks us through some of the mysteries surrounding Smart Home devices and one of Amazon’s newer technologies, Amazon Sidewalk. Caflisch started his renovation projects about seven years ago after a tenure of over twenty-five years in the IT industry.
Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that, simply put, helps devices “work better” together. Sidewalk claims it can aid with device setup, extend the low-bandwidth working range of devices to help find pets or valuables with accessories like Tile trackers, and help devices stay online even if they are stuck outside the range of their home wireless network. Caflisch remarks, “There’s a road for future Sidewalk development.”
A few out there may be wary of interlinking devices and possibly eating up extra cellular data, but Caflisch implores us with this rallying cry: “But don’t get the impression you have to be some kind of tech expert to use and enjoy Smart Home devices,” he says. Amazon Sidewalk was designed to bridge the gap between wifi and cellular connections, and both Caflisch and Amazon are looking forward to a future where the technology can be seamlessly tied to other devices such as Ring, robotic vacuums, and the like. Follow his adventures in innovation and construction at his website, Smart Home on the Range, and check out MarketScale for more information on home technology.
Article written by Brian Fence.
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