Blog
News in automation, audio and video.
February 7, 2026
Brazil Smart Home Market to Reach R$ 34.9 Billion by 2033
The smart home market in Brazil is expected to reach R$ 34.9 billion by 2033, according to IMARC Group. See what is driving home automation.
September 29, 2025
Series and Parallel Wiring: How to Connect Speakers
Series and parallel wiring made simple: how impedance adds up or drops, what two 8-ohm speakers in parallel give you, and how to wire speakers to an amp.
August 26, 2025
Gemini in the Smart Home: What Is Gemini for Home?
Gemini for Home: Google's AI that replaces Google Assistant on Nest speakers. See what it does at home, what's free, and whether it has reached Brazil.
February 27, 2025
Alexa+ in Brazil: What Alexa Plus Is and How Much It Costs
Alexa+ (Alexa Plus) is Alexa with AI, in early access in Brazil. See what it does, how to get it and what it will cost: free with Prime or R$ 99.90/month.
January 21, 2025
How to Size Dimmers and Relays Correctly
Learn how to size dimmers and relays correctly: power factor, leading and trailing edge dimming, protection, and sample calculations for LEDs and motors.
January 2, 2025
Home Automation Trends for 2025
Home automation trends for 2025: generative AI in voice assistants, Apple's bet, more mature consumers and the shortage of skilled labor.
December 5, 2024
The Automation Your Condominium Needs
Condominium automation: scenarios that strengthen security at the gatehouse and save energy in the party room, the gym and the common areas.
March 3, 2024
Types of LED Strip Lights: Models, Width and Wattage
LED strip types: SMD or COB, single color, CCT or RGB, width, watts and lumens per meter, 12 or 24 V power supply and which to use as main lighting.
November 16, 2023
mmWave Sensor: What It Is and How It Saves Energy
An mmWave sensor is a radar presence sensor that even detects people sitting still. See how it works, where to use it, and how it saves on lights and AC.
November 3, 2023
Smart Switch or Automation Module? How They Compare
Smart switch or automation module? See what each one is, compare design, features and installation, and learn when to use one or the other, with video.
October 28, 2023
Measuring Home Energy Consumption
With electric cars and solar power, measuring energy use has become essential. See how to track consumption, generation, and surplus in Home Assistant.
June 3, 2023
Zigbee IR Hub: What It Is, What It Does and How to Set It Up
Zigbee IR hub: what an infrared hub is, how it controls the air conditioner and TV by app and voice, and the step-by-step setup in Tuya and Home Assistant.
May 18, 2023
Double-Depth 4x2 Wall Box: How to Make One for Automation
Double-depth 4x2 or 4x4 wall box: how to make one by joining two electrical boxes so the automation module fits behind the switch. With video.
March 13, 2023
Play Music on Alexa Through Home Automation
How to play music on Alexa through home automation: a wall button triggers a routine that closes the curtain, adjusts the lights, and plays your playlist.
February 27, 2023
Eight Mistakes When Entering the Home Automation Business
On video, the eight most common mistakes people make when entering the home automation market, gathered from conversations with hundreds of students.
February 14, 2023
How to Trigger an Alexa Routine from a Switch
See how to trigger an Alexa routine from QA's smart switch and turn off devices from other brands, such as a Wi-Fi air conditioner.
January 22, 2023
Watch Before You Buy a Smart Home Device
Behind the scenes of the Tuya platform: what the manufacturer needs to get right, from firmware to Alexa and Google integration, for a device to work well.
December 19, 2022
How to Fix Common Home Automation Problems (Part 3)
Part 3 of the series: when the provider's modem won't accept bridge mode, using Sonoff and Tuya together and automating the garage gate.
December 13, 2022
How to Fix Common Home Automation Problems (Part 2)
Part 2 of the series: set up three-way switching between automation modules, dim LEDs, fix an LED that won't turn off, and assess no-neutral devices.
November 14, 2022
How to Fix Common Home Automation Problems (Part 1)
Part 1 of the series on the main home automation problems: offline modules, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, DHCP, voice commands and discrete IR codes.
July 19, 2022
How to Automate Your Air Conditioner, TV and Lighting
How to automate your air conditioner with a Wi-Fi or Zigbee IR hub, and your TV and lighting with switches or mini modules: what to buy and how to install.
April 28, 2022
Movie Theater Screens: Size, IMAX, Projector or TV at Home
How big a movie screen is, up to the world's largest IMAX, and how to choose a projector or TV at home, plus the right screen and projector for the room.
February 16, 2022
How to Prepare Your Home for Automation: Part 3
Part 3 of the series on how to prepare your home for automation: simple scenes, using the app and the right names for Alexa, Google and Siri.
January 12, 2022
How to Prepare Your Home for Automation: Part 2
Part 2 of the checklist for preparing your home for automation: motorized blinds, sensors, cameras, air conditioning, and home theater.
January 10, 2022
How to Prepare Your Home for Automation: Part 1
Checklist for preparing your home for Wi-Fi and Zigbee automation: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, modules, flush-mount boxes and wiring. Part 1 of the series.
November 22, 2021
Zigbee and Wi-Fi Coexistence in the Smart Home
Zigbee and Wi-Fi share the 2.4 GHz band. See how to plan Wi-Fi and Zigbee channels to reduce interference in your smart home.
October 26, 2021
5 Ways to Get More Home Automation Clients
Integrators: here are 5 ways to win more clients, through referrals, architects, home decor stores, builders' model homes, and the QA directory.
June 8, 2021
How the Matter Standard Will Change the Smart Home Market
Learn how the Matter standard will change the smart home market, how the Thread protocol differs, and the companies behind this movement.
May 4, 2021
How to Automate Your Home: 9 Practical Ways
Home automation step by step: see where to start and 9 ways to automate yours, with lighting, locks, air conditioning, sensors, cameras, and voice.
March 16, 2021
Mesh Wi-Fi Router: How to Choose the Best One for Your Home
Mesh router: learn what a mesh network is, how to choose the best system for your home and the installation tips for strong Wi-Fi in every corner.
March 3, 2021
Sonoff and Tuya: How to Fix Wi-Fi Connection Problems
Sonoff and Tuya need 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. See how to set up your network so devices don't go offline, and whether Sonoff works with the Tuya Smart app.
December 2, 2020
Smart Apartment: 5 Devices to Get Started
How to automate your apartment without breaking walls: good Wi-Fi, camera, smart plug, IR hub, touch switch and Alexa, plus the scenes worth setting up.
November 24, 2020
Which Home Automation Brand Should You Choose?
Wired or wireless system? Understand KNX, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Matter and see the main home automation brands in Brazil.
October 16, 2020
BLE, BT, and BT Mesh: How Bluetooth and Zigbee Work
BLE and BT: learn how Bluetooth Classic, BLE, and Bluetooth Mesh differ, what Wi-Fi + BLE means, and when to use Zigbee or BLE in home automation.
March 23, 2020
What Are the Most Common Smart Home Gadgets?
Smart locks, fire detectors, bulbs, smart hubs and voice assistants: the most common smart home gadgets and how to use them.
March 23, 2020
How to Set Up Home Automation: What It Is and How to Start
How to set up home automation: what it is, how it works, what you can automate, where to start, how to prepare the build and how to choose an integrator.
March 23, 2020
How to Build a Smart Home
See how to build a smart home: what to include in the plans, how to prepare the construction for automation, and how to choose technologies and brands.
February 28, 2020
Automation in Daily Life: 10 Examples That Make Life Easier
10 examples of automation in daily life (turning everything off as you leave, opening curtains from bed, gas alerts) and the benefits of home automation.
February 19, 2020
Zigbee vs Wi-Fi for Home Automation: What Is the Difference?
Zigbee or Wi-Fi? See how they differ in home automation, whether Zigbee works without internet and which to choose for switches and sensors.
February 4, 2020
How to Automate Your Home Security, Step by Step
How to automate home security: smart lock, cameras, door and window sensors, smoke and gas detectors, phone alerts, and presence simulation.
December 10, 2019
What Is Alexa and What Does It Do? Amazon Alexa Features
What Amazon Alexa is and what it can do: shopping, music, routines, and smart home control. Plus: Alexa+ in Brazil and Alexa vs. Google Home.
November 28, 2019
What Is Google Home For? What It Is and What the App Does
What Google Home is for: what it is, what the app does, how Nest speakers control your home by voice, whether it's free, and what changes with Gemini.
November 26, 2019
Home Tech Devices: 7 New Smart Home Technologies
Tech devices for the home: the most common ones and 7 new technologies, such as robot vacuums, phone-controlled locks, irrigation and voice assistants.