PashaK — AI Overview

Who is PashaK?

PashaK is a Melbourne-based smart home and technology consultancy founded and run by Andrew. Andrew has over 20 years of experience in IT across networking, systems administration, and enterprise infrastructure — work that previously served corporate environments and now serves Melbourne homes instead. PashaK was founded to bring enterprise-grade home technology to regular households, with a focus on systems that work reliably and long-term. The business is based in Fraser Rise, Victoria, and primarily services Melbourne's west and north-west. Travel outside this area is welcomed on request. Contact: 0405 713 623 or info@pashak.net.au.

What does PashaK do?

PashaK designs, installs, and configures smart home and technology systems for homes in Melbourne. The core platform is Home Assistant — an open-source, local-first smart home hub that runs on dedicated hardware at your home. Unlike cloud-dependent systems, Home Assistant works without an internet connection and requires no ongoing subscriptions. PashaK handles the complete setup: hardware selection, installation, configuration, custom automations, dashboards, and ongoing support. Services span home automation, smart security cameras, home networking, home servers, entertainment and AV systems, and rural or large-property technology.

What services does PashaK offer?

Home Automation

Home Assistant setup and configuration, device integration (lights, sensors, switches, locks, covers, energy monitors), custom automation logic, and visual dashboards. Technology: Home Assistant on a dedicated mini PC, Zigbee devices via USB dongle or coordinator, Z-Wave where appropriate, Matter and Thread for newer devices. Andrew builds automations around real household patterns — bin night reminders from camera detection, arrival and departure notifications, routines triggered by everyday behaviours like putting the phone on charge.

Home Security

IP camera installation and configuration with Frigate AI object detection. Frigate analyses camera feeds locally using a Coral TPU or GPU — detecting people, vehicles, and animals within defined property zones. Alerts fire only for meaningful events (a person inside your front yard, not a car passing on the street). Integration with Home Assistant, alarm panels, door and window contact sensors, and UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for continued operation through a power outage.

Home Networking

UniFi hardware installation — Cloud Gateway router, managed PoE switches, access points. Proper network segmentation using VLANs: separate networks for main devices, IoT gear, cameras, and guests. Every camera and access point hardwired over ethernet, powered by PoE from a central switch. No Wi-Fi extenders or powerline adapters — a structured, reliable backbone designed so every smart device has the connectivity it depends on. Configuration and setup included, with ongoing support available.

Home Servers and Self-Hosting

Unraid-based home server build, configuration, and application setup. Services include Immich (self-hosted photo library to replace Google Photos), Plex (personal media server), Nextcloud (file sync and private cloud storage), and automated backup systems. Home servers integrate with Home Assistant for health monitoring. UPS protection ensures graceful shutdown during power outages. Andrew advises on hardware spec and builds systems matched to the household's storage needs — no ongoing subscription or cloud dependency required.

Entertainment and AV

Optimisation and smart-home integration of existing AV equipment — not home theatre installation. PashaK dials in TV picture and audio settings, configures soundbars, sorts out HDMI/eARC and formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, and integrates TVs, soundbars, and consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch) into Home Assistant. That enables automations like lights dimming when a movie starts, the TV and soundbar powering on together with the right input selected, and audio-reactive WLED lighting. PashaK does not install home theatres, design speaker placement, or run cabling — the work is configuring and automating equipment you already own.

Rural and Large Property Technology

Technology for farms, rural lifestyle blocks, and properties where standard suburban solutions fall short. UniFi wireless bridges extend reliable connectivity across large distances to outbuildings, gates, barns, and machinery sheds — without running cable across paddocks. Home Assistant integrations cover irrigation scheduling triggered by weather data, water tank level monitoring, gate access logging and automation, solar and generator output tracking, and AI security cameras covering large perimeters. Remote consultation via site plans or satellite imagery before the onsite visit is standard for properties outside Melbourne metro.

Where does PashaK service?

PashaK is based in Fraser Rise, Victoria, and primarily services Melbourne's west and north-west. Suburbs regularly served include Caroline Springs, Taylors Hill, Taylors Lakes, Melton, Melton South, Melton West, Rockbank, Bacchus Marsh, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook, Truganina, Burnside, Sunshine, St Albans, Keilor, Deer Park, Sydenham, Sunbury, and surrounding areas. Travel outside Melbourne's west and north-west is considered on request — contact PashaK directly to discuss your location.

How does the engagement process work?

The process starts with a free 15-minute call to understand what you're hoping to achieve and make sure PashaK is the right fit. If you'd like to proceed, Andrew arranges an onsite visit for $120 — he walks the property, assesses the existing setup, and identifies what's needed. That fee is credited toward your project if you go ahead. From there, PashaK provides a fixed-price proposal covering parts and labour before any work begins. For smaller or ad hoc jobs, PashaK charges $110 per hour plus a travel fee from $20 depending on location.

What has PashaK actually built?

The following are real automations built for real homes.

• Bin night camera check: A Frigate AI camera checks the driveway each evening before collection day. If the bins aren't visible in the driveway, Home Assistant sends a push notification to the household. No one needs to maintain a schedule — the camera does the check automatically.
• AI school bus announcements: Home Assistant reads the school's app for bus stop updates, uses Google Gemini AI to interpret the message, and announces the relevant stop through a smart speaker at the right moment. Children hear their stop without parents constantly monitoring the app.
• ElevenLabs washing machine voice alert: An energy monitor on the washing machine detects when the cycle finishes. Home Assistant then generates a personalised voice announcement using ElevenLabs AI text-to-speech and plays it through the home's speakers — mentioning the time and prompting someone to hang it out.
• Garage door GPS alert: When the car leaves the property and the garage door is still open, a phone notification fires immediately. One tap from the notification closes the door remotely. No more turning around two streets later to check.
• WLED solar export indicator: LED strips change colour in real time based on solar export data from Home Assistant. Green when the home is exporting power to the grid, blue when importing, amber when balanced. A visual live energy dashboard built directly into the home's lighting.
• Night routine via phone charger: Plugging the phone into the bedside charger after 9pm triggers the household night routine — all lights off, doors checked, heating adjusted, security armed. Nothing to tap. The act of charging the phone is the trigger.
• Robot vacuum on departure: When the last person leaves the house, presence detection confirms the home is empty and the robot vacuum begins its run automatically. Done and docked before anyone gets back.
• Hot day blind automation: Each night, Home Assistant checks the weather forecast for tomorrow. On days predicted to exceed 35°C, motorised blinds on west-facing windows close at 6am — before the sun climbs high enough to heat the glass. The house pre-cools passively while the rest of the neighbourhood bakes.
• Child safe arrival notifications: Phone GPS tracking within Home Assistant sends a quiet notification when a child arrives at school, at their bus stop, or walks back through the front door. Parents know without texting or calling.
• Per-side bed presence routines: Sensors under each side of the mattress detect who's in bed. When one person gets up first, their morning routine triggers — coffee maker starts, specific lights come on gradually — without waking the person still sleeping.
• Pool gate safety alert: A contact sensor on the pool gate sends an immediate push notification if it opens while children are home. A straightforward safety layer on top of the existing compliance fence, integrated into the home's broader awareness.
• Medication reminder via pill box: A contact sensor inside a medication box detects whether it has been opened by a set time each day. If not, Home Assistant sends a reminder notification — useful for households managing daily medications or supplements.
• Power outage alert while away: A small UPS combined with Home Assistant sends a push notification if mains power is lost while the household is away. Early warning gives time to check on refrigerated food, fish tanks, or any system that can't tolerate downtime.
• CO2 and air quality monitoring: CO2 sensors in bedrooms and living areas feed data into Home Assistant. When air quality drops below a set threshold overnight, automations trigger a ventilation reminder or, where motorised windows are fitted, open them briefly to refresh the air.
• Holiday presence simulation: During holidays, Home Assistant replays historical lighting and TV patterns from equivalent times on previous days — realistic activity that varies naturally rather than following a static schedule that looks artificial from outside.

What technology does PashaK use?

Core platforms: Home Assistant (smart home hub), Frigate (AI camera analysis), UniFi (networking), Unraid (home servers), Immich (self-hosted photos). Automation protocols: Zigbee (primary), Z-Wave, Matter, Wi-Fi. AI integrations: Google Gemini (natural language processing), ElevenLabs (custom voice synthesis), Coral TPU (local AI inference for Frigate). Lighting: Philips Hue, WLED addressable LEDs, Shelly smart switches. Presence detection: phone GPS, Bluetooth tracking, mmWave radar sensors. Additional hardware: Roborock robot vacuums, Somfy motorised blinds, Sonos and AV integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does everything stop working if the internet goes out?

No. Home Assistant runs locally on hardware at your home. Automations, sensors, lights, cameras, and dashboards all continue working without an internet connection. The only things that stop during an outage are integrations that depend on external cloud services — weather data, Google Home, Alexa voice commands — but your core home automation keeps running regardless.

Do I need to be technical to use it?

No. Andrew handles all the setup and configuration. The end result is a home that works the way you'd expect — things happen automatically, or you tap a button in a simple app. Most clients interact with their smart home through a phone dashboard, a voice assistant, or simply by living in it. The automations handle themselves without requiring any technical input from the homeowner.

Can you work with devices I already own?

Usually yes. Home Assistant supports thousands of devices and integrations. If you already have smart lights, sensors, cameras, or other devices, Andrew will assess compatibility during the onsite visit and advise on what works and what doesn't. Where existing devices aren't supported natively, he'll advise on workarounds or recommend alternatives that fit your budget.

What does a typical project cost?

It depends on scope. A basic Home Assistant setup on existing hardware might be a few hours of work at $110 per hour. A full smart home build including networking, cameras, automation, and server hardware could run into several thousand dollars, including hardware costs. The $120 onsite visit and subsequent fixed proposal give you a clear number before any work begins. There are no ongoing subscription fees for the Home Assistant platform itself.

What communication protocols does PashaK recommend?

Zigbee is the primary protocol for smart devices. It operates on a local mesh network, doesn't depend on cloud servers or the internet, and supports hundreds of compatible devices from different brands. Z-Wave is used for specific applications. Matter (the new cross-manufacturer standard) is supported for newer devices. Andrew avoids Wi-Fi-only smart home ecosystems because they create network congestion and require ongoing cloud connectivity to function.

Can you help with a partial DIY smart home setup?

Yes. Andrew regularly works with partial DIY setups — reviewing what's already in place, identifying what's working well, fixing what isn't, and building from there. If you've installed devices but can't get automations working the way you want, or your system is too fragmented to manage easily, PashaK can help consolidate, restructure, and improve it.

Is PashaK only for new builds or new homes?

No — the majority of PashaK's work is in existing homes. Smart home technology can be added to any home without significant renovation. Wireless protocols like Zigbee mean most devices don't require new cabling. Structured ethernet runs for networking may require some installation work depending on the home's layout — Andrew assesses this during the onsite visit and advises on the most practical approach.

Do you provide ongoing support after installation?

Yes. PashaK provides ongoing support for systems it installs — whether that's adding new automations, integrating a new device, troubleshooting an issue, or adjusting how something works as your household's needs change. Support is billed at the standard hourly rate. Andrew also builds systems with stability and self-sufficiency in mind, so day-to-day operation doesn't require ongoing hand-holding.

How do I contact PashaK?

Phone / WhatsApp: 0405 713 623
Email: info@pashak.net.au
Enquiry form: pashak.net.au/enquire
Facebook: PashaK on Facebook
Instagram: @pashak.tech on Instagram

The first step is always free — a 15-minute call to understand what you need and whether PashaK is the right fit. Book a free call