I agree, the upfront costs for smart bulbs can definitely sting at first—especially if you're outfitting multiple rooms.
A few quick points from my experience:
- Mesh Wi-Fi systems can feel pricey initially, but honestly, they're worth it if your house layout or materials cause connectivity headaches. My older house (built in the 50s) has thick walls and weird angles, so a single router just wasn't cutting it.
- I didn't go for the top-of-the-line brand; I found a mid-tier mesh system on sale. It handles my smart bulbs and other devices really well without breaking the bank.
- One thing to remember is that mesh systems don't just benefit your smart bulbs—they boost your entire home's Wi-Fi performance. So, while it's an extra cost upfront, you get more value overall than just improving bulb connectivity.
"old wiring and thick plaster walls made setup a bit tricky."
Yeah, totally relate to this. I initially thought my smart bulbs were faulty until I realized my Wi-Fi signal was barely reaching certain parts of the house. After setting up mesh nodes strategically, no issues since.
Bottom line: manageable expense if you shop smart and consider it as a broader home upgrade rather than just for your bulbs.
I had a similar experience with smart bulbs in an older property. Initially, I was skeptical about mesh Wi-Fi—seemed like another tech gimmick—but after struggling with spotty connections due to thick stone walls, I finally gave in. Went for a mid-range system as well, nothing fancy. Honestly, it made a noticeable difference, not just for bulbs but overall network stability. Still think the upfront costs are a bit steep, but admittedly, it's a solid investment if you're dealing with tricky layouts.
